From Barber Valley Live-Fire to Downtown Jazz: Eight Boise Tables Worth Reserving

BOISE, ID—Whether you’re planning a proper anniversary dinner or just tired of defaulting to the same rotation, @selectidaho has rounded up eight local restaurants worth a reservation.

The list skews toward the kind of places that reward a little effort: Hemlock at the Inn at 500 Capitol for prime cuts and craft cocktails in a modern steakhouse setting; Rustica for handmade pasta and scratch pizza with Italian, Spanish, and French influences; and Kin, which runs a five-course prix fixe tasting menu in a communal dining format that’s about as far from a chain restaurant as you can get. The Avery Hotel’s in-house restaurant earns a mention for its house-braised dishes and housemade pasta, and Tia Mo rounds out the Italian corner with a cozy fine-dining atmosphere and fresh seafood.

A few picks lean into what makes Idaho cooking distinctive. Saltbrush works with seasonal ingredients and wood-fired techniques inspired by the Idaho landscape, while House of the Little Pig—tucked out in Barber Valley—centers on live-fire Mediterranean cooking, house-cured charcuterie, and nose-to-tail dishes. Chandler’s, the longest-running name on the list, has held its downtown corner for years with prime steaks, seafood flown in daily, and live jazz on weekends.

For anyone building a short list before a big night out, it’s a solid place to start—though Chandler’s jazz calendar alone might be reason enough.

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