Tiner's Alley

theaveryboise.com/tiners-alley/
1010 W Main Street in The Avery Hotel
Time: Tuesday-Friday 4-6
Special: $10 Old Fashioned, Wine $7, Lager $5, Burger & Chips $12
Rating: 4.5 martinis
Other mentions:

Where are the happy hour posts??

Sorry there have not been any posts here for a long time. I actually accepted a job in a different state and moved away! But I still have a home in Boise so I do return several times a year. I will try to get better at posting BHH updates when I do get to town. In the mean time, keep me posted on new places I should try while I'm in town! Cheers!

Mark your calendars....Pub Crawl - 4 September!

The unofficial end of summer calls for a pub crawl. But this isn’t just any pub crawl; this one includes bikes and local fare!

We will make our way amongst the Boise breweries, swilling tasty local brews, all the while helping the environment (our pocketbooks, waistlines, and public safety) by riding our bicycles!

Current itin:
11:30 - Meet at firemans memorial

12:00 – Sockeye

1:30 - Dutch Goose (not a brewery but local and a good stop btwn SE and HH)

3:00 - Highlands Hollow

4:30 – Tablerock Brewpub

6:00 – The Ram

7:30 - Gernika if we are still able to ride

Wandering Wednesdays at Pizzalchik

www.pizzalchik.com
Corner of State Street and Gary Lane

Time: Wednesdays 6-10
Special: $10.95 includes all you can eat pizza and a beverage
Rating: 4.5 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: Patio

I have heard great things about this establishment over the years so when a friend recently suggested we check out Wandering Wednesday, I was game. Our plan, arrive as close to 6pm as possible and grab a table near the kitchen so we could have first pick of the offerings. The price includes all you can eat pizza and a soda or beer (pbr/oly style). You can upgrade to a fancier beer for a buck or two. They have a nice selection of craft beers on tap, albeit a little heavy on the IPA side. We went with the pizzal drizzle (sp??). Tasty, malty brew- perfect after the long bike ride over.

The pizzas come out quickly and they offer quite a variety of tasty pies. We saw plenty of wild mushrooms, elk sausage, slivered squash, seafood, fresh basil,Cajun, even mac n cheese. Don’t like fancy pie? No worries; there were some basic offerings of pepperoni or cheese. Vegetarian? Several options came around throughout the evening. My favorite combination, surprisingly, was the salmon and caper pie. I don’t even really like salmon but this duo was so perfect together.

Pizzalchik was definitely worth every mile of the long, hot bike ride over! I definitely look forward to trying out another Wandering Wednesday!

Ben's Crow Inn Ride

boise happy hours is hosting a fun ride out to Ben's Crow Inn to check out their beer and food! We will meet at 5:30 Thursday 29 July at the Anne Frank Memorial and ride the greenbelt out to BCI! Any bike is welcome; this is just a fun, casual ride. Costumes are always encouraged but not necessary.

bike beer eat beer bike!

*can't go at 5:30 meet us out there later! We'll be there a while!!

stay tuned.....

faithful readers,
My apologies for not posting any happy hours lately. I was on three weeks of travel and then broke my nose as soon as I returned to Boise. I'm having surgery this week, so no happy hour for me until at least next week. I promise to make it up to you however!

I did recently visit Solid in the 8th Street Marketplace and will post my review while I'm convalescing.

Cheers!

Jumpin' Janets

547 Vista Avenue

Time: 4-7 M-F
Special: wells 2 for $3 (really a very strong double for $3!)
Rating: 4 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions:

My friends and I decided to pop in here for happy hour yesterday. I was very happy to see the "no smoking" sign on the door when I entered. I was also pleased to find happy hour is a double for $3- M-F 4-7.

This particular evening table service was provided. The server was friendly and quick. After a couple of drinks, we thought it would be smart to order some food and were surprised by the menu options available- sandwiches, salads, and burgers. One friend ordered the spicy chicken sandwich ($6.75), while i shared a prime rib dip ($7.75)with the other friend. Both sandwiches came with a side salad.

This being somewhat of a dive bar, we really didn't have high hopes for the food but were hungry. Well we were VERY surprised at what we got. The salad had romaine lettuce with tomatoes and grated cheese (no iceberg in sight!). The chicken sandwich wasn't a fried chicken patty but a chicken breast with a tasty sauce. The dip was an amazing amount of sliced prime rib, not deli meat in the least, served up on a tasty roll with a very nice au jus.

I came here for the happy hour; I will return for the food!

Pho Nouveau

780 W Idaho Street

Time: 4-6 M-F
Special: All beer and wine 2 for 1; ½ off appetizers
Rating: 4 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: outside seating during warmer months

This little gem opened up in the old Falcon location in the heart of downtown but I had yet to visit so I made a point to pop in on this brisk winter’s eve. The restaurant is decorated modestly with plenty of seating for such a small establishment. The lay out is still very much as it was with the previous folks but modernized just a bit.

I was very surprised to find all of their drinks on the happy hour specials, even bottled drinks. I ordered up a sake which came in an individual bottle warmed, while my friend enjoyed the plum wine. The menu offered up a nice selection of beers with options spanning Asia. The wine selection was also nice but most options from the U.S.

With ½ off appetizers we would be crazy not to try at least a couple. We ordered the Summer Rolls with Tofu (normally $5.50) and the Sizzling Saigon Crepe (normally $5.75). Both were fantastic. The Summer Rolls came with a very light peanut sauce that provided a delicate flavor without over powering the rolls. The crepe was something I had never had before. It was filled with shrimp and chicken, served with herbs, cucumber, and carrots, and lettuce to wrap around it. Very tasty.

When we first arrived, our service was great with the server being very attentive. But as our time there progressed, the service got a little spotty. I couldn’t tell if a different server had taken over and we were just forgotten about or if our server had just gotten overwhelmed with tables. We still very much enjoyed the food, drinks, and atmosphere. We would definitely return and try some of the other tasty offerings on the menu!

Bonefish Grill

www.bonefishgrill.com
855 W Broad Street

Time: 3-6 and 9-Close daily
Special: $6 featured martinis, $5 premium wines, ½ off wells, ½ off premium liquor, $4 draft beers & house wines. And ½ off select appetizers.
Rating: 4.5 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: They offer an anytime menu with several $5 options including sangria and Svedka Martinis.

My friends and I first came upon Bonefish during the Martini Mix-Off in May and it quickly became one of our favorite stops, especially on the weekends. It is located in a great part of town at the 8th Street Marketplace. The happy hour deals are fantastic and every time we have Shannon for a bartender, the service is stellar. Unfortunately on this visit Shannon had gone home for the day but we still had a great time.

There were several of us on this visit and most of us ordered food so we were able to sample a variety. I personally love the Bang Bang Shrimp. But the mussels were tasty as well and there were plenty to go around. I heard no complaints whatsoever from our group and the food went down quick.

Drinks were plentiful on this visit. A few of my friends continue to return to Bonefish specifically because of one of the martinis they entered into the mix-off: The Bandit. It is a lovely concoction of American Honey Bourbon and Butterscotch Liqueur with a honeyed rim. This particular evening my friends only got one because they ran out of this fine liquor. Note to Bonefish: stock up! Besides this one glitch in our plans, everything else was fantastic. We will continue to return, especially if the American Honey is there!

The Lobby

www.thelobbyboise.com
760 W Main Street

Time: 4-6 M-F
Special: $2 wells, drafts, and house wines
Rating: 4.5 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: Martini Wednesdays 4-7 house martinis $6; $1 PBR pints on Wednesdays; Specials during all Bronco and Vandal games and during Monday Night Football; bike racks

Due to my crazy travel schedule as of late, I was long overdue to try out The Lobby. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Lush, it is in prime downtown real estate- on Main between 8th and Capitol. They have done a great job with the remodel brightening things up while still providing a cozy feeling. They also promote local artists with their works on display, I believe on a rotating basis.

On this brisk evening, I sidled up to the bar and thought it appropriate to order a Widmer Brrr (it didn’t disappoint!). They do offer a fine selection of beers on tap that will fit anyone’s liking. There are a few wine options as well and of course a full bar. Everyone seemed very friendly, staff and patrons alike. I felt right at home here.

They have a few TVs around for folks to watch whatever game happens to be on but they didn’t distract from the bar experience at all. They blended in well with the tastefully decorated lounge.

I was lucky enough to have Adam, one of the proprietors, as my bartender on this visit. He told me they are working on permits for outdoor seating and an outdoor grill so they can serve food. Both will be great additions to this fine establishment. This is definitely a place to which I plan to return again and again. Once they get the food going, it will be moved up to a 5 martini rating!

Bungalow

boisebungalow.com
1520 N 13th Street


Time: 3-7 and 9-1 daily
Special: $6 martinis; $1 off other drinks; 2 for 1 appetizers.
Rating: 3 martinis
Smoking: outside
Other mentions: outside seating, bike racks, full menu, full bar

Bungalow sits in a prime location in the center of Hyde Park in the North end of Boise. Surprisingly, the building has been home to several bars and restaurants in my 15 years of Boise. I’m not even sure I ever had a chance to patron its last resident. Hopefully Bungalow can withstand the necessary turbulence of this economy and hold ground longer.

My friends and I only visited the lounge during this visit so I can not attest to the restaurant area but if it is anything like the lounge, it is tastefully decorated and not overly pretentious. While it appears to be too upscale for many, the variety of patrons during our visit gave the feeling of just another great neighborhood bar. Not sure if that is what the owners are after, but it certainly seems to work.

My friends and I all ordered a variety of items for our enjoyment. The deals I found to be the best: the 2 for 1 appetizers and $6 any martinis. Seriously, any martini....even Grey Goose with a twist. I have ordered similar around town for upwards of $12. The beers came in at around $3 during happy hour and they have some tasty handles, including Widmer’s seasonal Brrrr.

There were four of us this visit so we ordered four appetizers. The meat and cheese plate ($12), the pizza of the day ($10), the wings ($8), and the Brie ($10). All the food was excellent and very filling.

The only real complaint we had was with our service. Sometimes it was good but sometimes it was non-existent. We had to flag down our server several times and it was sort of awkward. There were only five tables that evening with two servers and the bartender was handling those at the bar, so it wasn’t very busy. When the bill arrived, it was incorrect and missing a couple of the happy hour discounts.

Mostly, we were very pleased with their happy hour and are sure to return for the martinis and appetizers.

Barbacoa

www.barbacoa-boise.com
276 W Bobwhite Court


Time: 4-6 daily; 9:30-11 Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
Special: 2 for 1 drinks
Rating: 2.5 martinis
Smoking: outside
Other mentions: outside seating, bike racks, full menu

I had only been to Barbacoa once and that was for lunch about a year ago, so I thought it was time to try out their happy hour. We arrived right at 4 to get things started. Like usual, we cozied up to the bar. We were informed that most any drink is included in the 2 for 1 deal except the list of drinks on the cocktail menu in front of us. Most of those were the fancy drinks that we rarely order anyway, so no loss on our parts. We were much later informed that those drinks are discounted during happy hour, though.

With drinks in front of us, we decided to check out the appetizer menu. It offered a variety of options including mini tacos, pizzas, and tableside guacamole. I’ve heard great things about their guacamole but since I’m allergic to avocados, that was not an option. So we went with our normal standby of nachos. The nachos are available regular ($9) or with topping options (add $3): chicken, barbacoa beef, shrimp, or crab. We went with the barbacoa beef. When the dish came out, it was huge. We could only eat about half the order it was so big, and rather tasty.

It seemed that about every half hour, the lights kept getting dimmed until it was really quite dark in the bar. Sure, it can add a bit of ambiance but too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. Another oddity, the restrooms are not marked well and I had to ask someone which was the women’s. It would be nice to make that just a bit more obvious. A big bonus for the establishment- they have a bike rack, always a huge plus for happy hour attendance.

My friend and I enjoyed Barbacoa but we weren’t wowed by it. The drinks are expensive ($5.50 for well drinks) so happy hour is the only time you may see us there. Granted they do use higher end liquor, such as Smirnoff for vodka instead of Komchatka, but still pricey. The food prices seemed reasonable for what was served. The décor is pleasant and different from other restaurants in the area.

Donnie Mac’s Roadside Cuisine

www.donniemacgrub.com
1515 W Grove Street

Time: 2-7 M-F
Special: $1 PBR pints
Rating: 2.5 martinis
Smoking: outside
Other mentions: outside seating, bike racks, full menu

PBR: cheaper than soda!

It was a beautiful fall day. My friend Bri and I had just finished a nice bike ride along the greenbelt and thought Donnie Mac’s was in order….as did our other friends who met us later. There was one empty table outside….and it happened to be the only table outside, oddly enough for such a fine day. We were pleased nevertheless.

After several minutes at our table and a walk inside to ask for service, we were finally provided a couple of menus but not asked if we wanted any beverages. Several minutes later we were finally asked what we would like- food and drink wise. The food menu has a large variety of items, ranging from salads, grilled sandwiches, and fried foods, where anyone will find what s/he desires. They even have a great kids menu, which I find provides just the right amount of food even for an adult. And the food is great! I highly recommend the sweet potato fries!

You can’t really go wrong with PBR; it was served up cold and for a $1 one can’t complain. It was a perfect thirst quencher to the afternoon ride. I only rated this a 2.5 because PBR is the only happy hour special. Overall, I would rate it a 3.5 because the food is really good and the ambiance fun. The service was rather lacking on this visit but once we got service it was actually really good and from previous visits, I have never found it to be an issue. If you are in the mood for something funky and a cold PBR, give this place a try!

Falcon Tavern- update

I recently visited Falcon Tavern for happy hour. I reviewed them back in March but since, they have relocated. They moved into the old Satchel's location at 705 W Bannock Street and now have a large patio for outdoor dining. They have also modified their happy hour special. Now they are serving half priced beers! This is a great move on several accounts!

Hyde Park Pub

www.hydeparkpub.com
1501 13th Street

Time: 4-6 daily
Special: $1 off drafts
Rating: 3 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: outside seating, bike racks, full menu

Hyde Park Pub used to be called Harry’s and many locals still refer to it by that name. It is in a great location in the heart of Hyde Park of the Boise Northend. It draws a variety of folks from mountain bikers post-ride to football fans catching a game, to the family down the street.

The establishment is far from pretentious but has decent pub fare including burgers, sandwiches, a large selection of fried food, and several beer taps. This is great neighborhood bar with tasty food, a decent selection of beers, and fabulous staff. Definitely worth a visit!

Lock, Stock, & Barrel

www.lsbboise.com
1100 W Jefferson Street

Time: 11-6 M-F
Special: $2.50 wells & house wine, $2 domestic bottles, $3 drafts
Rating: 2 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: restaurant with separate bar

This was a last minute decision to try out Lock, Stock & Barrel when a friend texted me to meet early. Few bars start happy hour before 4pm but LSB starts at 11- wow!

We parked our bikes against a tree outside since they don’t have a bike rack and wondered on it. The bar area is quite substantial with several four-tops and a lengthy bar with seating. It definitely has a feel of an upscale steak house as soon as you walk through their doors.

We were the only patrons at the moment and sidled up to the bar in typical boise happy hour (bhh) fashion. When I asked what the happy hour specials were, we received a slight grunt and a pointing up to a board above the bar. We also noticed another board stating $2 off appetizers. I was a bit surprised by the slim choices on the appetizer menu since it is a large restaurant but the options were substantial. We opted for the baked brie and garlic.

We continued to be amazed by the lack of attention from our bartender, especially being the only two patrons and sitting right at the bar. While nothing was bad at this location, we found it to be very mediocre at best.

Macaroni Grill

www.macaronigrill.com
980 N Milwaukee Street

Time: 3- close
Special: $2.99 small plates; $4.99 wines
Rating: 3 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: bike rack

A friend of mine mentioned enjoying happy hour at Macaroni Grill a while back so the last time I was in the neighborhood I thought it appropriate to pop in and give it a try. The bar area has a few tables and a large wrap-around bar with seating. As I usually prefer, I sidled up to the bar. While there were only two other patrons in the bar, it did take Brian, the bartender, some time to make his way over to me. I also had to ask him a few questions to get the real gist of the happy hour specials out of him.

The happy hour special has a great selection of small plates that ranged from chicken or shrimp skewers with roasted veggies to chicken parmesan atop spaghetti. Any wines by the glass are offered at $4.99 with a food purchase….this was a great deal for me as I ordered what is normally a $10 glass. The catch with this special is one must order a food plate to get the $4.99 price for each order. So for the second glass of wine, I had to order another plate. Luckily I had went with the skewers which were much lighter fare.

I really liked that MG has a bike rack out front as I pretty much only ride my bike to establishments, unfortunately it is located on a very busy road that is not bike friendly. The food was great, the wine fantastic, and the service improved greatly. Brian actually turned out to be a great server with a heavy dose of sarcasm, a couple of my favorite things. I could see returning to Macaroni Grill if in the neighborhood again.

Boise Fry Company

www.boisefrycompany.com/
111 Broadway, Suite 111

Time: 4-6 M-F
Special: buy one pint, get one free; buy one small fry, get one free
Rating: 3 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: seating outside

Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall just on the outskirts of downtown is the Boise Fry Company. They opened their doors a few months ago specializing in fries and having burgers as sides. The day I visited, they had seven different fry options with three of those grown in Idaho. I had no idea they served beer as well until just recently. So here I am.

Happy hour is from 4-6 Monday-Friday and includes buy one pint, get one free and buy one small fry, get one free. They only have three handles but all three are high end beers. Unfortunately, two of them were IPAs and the third not far off. With only three handles, it would be nice to have a different type of beer on each. The upside, one of the handles was from a local brewery, Highlands Hollow.

The service is order at the counter style. Seating is available with regular tables, long bar style tables, and outdoor seating. Wireless internet is available but don’t expect to find outlets to keep the computer charged.

My fries arrived in a fun cylinder like holder and I was directed to doctor them up at the “Seasoning Station”. I found several different salts, including salt & rosemary, salt & vinegar, Cajun, Vanilla, and Jalapeño. I didn’t see any salt & pepper. For sauces, I tried the black bean, roasted garlic, chipotle, and regular ketchup. I was intrigued by the blueberry ketchup option but not enough to try it. I stuck with the regular ketchup.

The Boise Fry Company is certainly worth a try whether for happy hour or for lunch. The fries are great and the beers are just as good quality. It isn’t the bar style atmosphere of some of my reviews but variety is good.

WilliB's Saloon

www.willibs.com
225 N 5th Street

Time: all the time
Special: $3 wells; $4 well martinis
Rating: 2.5 martinis
Smoking: no
Other mentions: seating outside, bike rack

WilliB’s Saloon is located in a rather unlikely location on the corner of 5th and Idaho Streets. What was once a retro clothing shop has now been renovated into a saloon. I was dubious at first by the name but upon stepping inside, the owners definitely captured that saloon feel. With the wooden tabletops and benches and old style barstools, I kept half expecting to find sawdust on the floor and a hitching post outside….they did install a bike rack though, so big bonus points there!

WilliB’s big draw is the $3 wells and $4 martinis all the time. I ordered up a well and my friend ordered a gin martini. My drink arrived in a tall skinny glass that wasn’t fussy nor beyond expectations. My friend’s martini arrived in a rather tiny martini glass that made us both look at each other questionably until the shaker was placed next to it with the remaining contents, which worked out to be a few more glasses worth. We enjoyed the concept and the retro look of it.

WilliB’s has a small food menu with a rotating selection of sandwiches and the like. The prices seemed reasonable but we did not try any of the food. Once striking feature of the place was for such a small venue there were 4 televisions. Good place to catch a game, I suppose. All in all, it was a fun place to try, prices were reasonable, service was good, and it is not like any other bar in town.

I'd like to hear from you

Greetings readers!
I would like to know what restaurants/bars you would like me to review. I'm sure there are several places completely off my radar but could be possible gems. Post your thoughts and ideas here and I will do my best to consume libations, savor vittles, and provide a review of each location.

Thank you!