Mai Thai

750 W Main Street

Time: 5-6:30 M-F 9-10 M-TH
Special: daily bottled beer selection $2, 2 for 1 wells $5, mojitos $5
Appetizer specials
Rating: 4 martinis
Smoking: no

Food specials!
99¢ APPETIZERS
satay (chicken, pork or tofu)
spring roll or summer roll
thai wing
$1.59 APPETIZERS
three flavors popcorn chicken
imperial vegetable potsticker
thai taco
$3.95 APPETIZERS
asian chicken lettuce wraps
seafood packets
lotus dim sum

Matt and I went out for drinks for my birthday! I have gone to Mai Thai on my birthday every year it has been open except one when I was out of town. The bar area was nearly vacant but the restaurant looked mostly full.

Thomas was our bartender. He gave us the low down and we quickly ordered a beverage and appetizers. While the appetizers are cheap, they are also very small. I’m not complaining, because they were very tasty! I’m just saying that you should not expect to get the same item you would get on the regular menu. I ordered the summer roll and the satay. Mai Thai’s summer roll is one of my favorites. I often attempt to recreate it and think I come very close, but there is nothing like having someone else make it for you! ……especially on your birthday. My only problem of the night is Thomas trying to rush us off. Thirty minutes after receiving our drinks, he asked if we were ready to tab out…..it was before 7! He qualified it with “you don’t look like drinkers”. Well that is good but it was my birthday!! I at least enjoyed my company. We moved on…..but I’ll be back sometime…..

Café Ole

www.cafeole.com

8th Street Marketplace
*some call this BODO but technically BODO is the new construction and this is not. The buildings even have signage at the doors stating “8th Street Marketplace”.

Time: 4:30-6 M-F
Special: 2 for 1 drinks (any drink!)
Rating: 4 Martinis
Smoking: No
Other mentions: Free chips and salsa and a $3 all you can eat taco bar (only in the bar). Each day offers up different food specials. Cell reception can be spotty if seated in the back corner of the bar.

I met up with 8 others this particular evening. The bar is rather large so it was easy to accommodate all of us. Several folks ordered a variety of margaritas, including one frothy pink one. By the multiple orders of margaritas, I will assume they were to everyone’s liking. I had my usual Vodka and Soda and it was very satisfactory. The server brought us several baskets of chips served with beans and salsa. Their chips are soooo good. Considering the size of our party, I found the service to be acceptable, however the clearing of our table of the empties was very slow. We really didn’t need to show off how much we can drink! I will definitely return (it also helps that it is across the street from my office too!).

Leku Ona

117 S. 6th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Time: 4-5:30
Special: ½ off Stella and Budweiser draughts, $1.75 wells, ½ off wine M-Sat
Rating: 3 martinis
Smoking: only in the bar which is separate from the restaurant
Other mentions: Full menu available

Located on the Basque block, this restaurant couldn’t have a better location. The place is rather large with its corner location and entrances from Grove Street and 6th Street. Leku Ona has also restored the building next door into a boutique hotel, which I find perfect. The rooms are updated yet cozy, located in the heart of Old Boise, and very reasonably priced (around the $70/night range).

The bar is well stocked with a variety of options and there appeared to be 5 beers on tap- micro brews and domestics. They also have a selection of Basque beers in the bottle. The wine selection is good with just the right amount of options and all reasonably priced. I still have yet to eat at Leku Ona but the menu items look tasty. They are all available in the bar with appetizers ranging from $4-10.

A mixture of folks hangs out at Leku Ona, from local artists to politicians to those from the Basque country. This eclectic assortment of patrons is one of the great things I love about the establishment, plus it is locally owned! While it was rather smoky in there, I would still go back especially in the summer time and enjoy the large patio area.

Highlands Hollow

www.highlandshollow.com
2455 Harrison Hollow Lane

Time: 3-7 S-S
Special: $2.75 draughts
Rating: 3 martinis
Smoking: No
Other mentions: happy hour is 7 days a week! A full menu with a large vegetarian section. Seasonal patio seating.

This place has been around as long as I’ve been in town, but back then it was Harrison Hollow. It has undergone a name change but I haven’t noticed any other distinct changes- this is a good thing. It was great just the way it was and it still is!

Highlands Hollow brews its own tasty beers and offers up a great selection, perfect after a day on the mountain- biking or skiing. Their beers range from light ales to stouts. They feature a ginger wheat, a berry, and a winter selection. The variety is fantastic. They also offer up an unexpectedly good selection of wines.

The clientele varies as much as the beverage selection. I have seen skiers, cyclists, families, even news casters in the establishment at any given time. The food menu is also just as yummy as the beer, and the service is excellent. Definitely a keeper on the short list.

The Modern Hotel and Bar

http://www.themodernhotel.com/
1314 W Grove Street

Time: 5-7 pm
Special: $3.50 wells, $5 wines, and $3 beers
Rating: 4 Martinis
Smoking: No
Other mentions: No food is served

Located in the revamped Linen District, The Modern Hotel is a renovated Travel Lodge with amazing updates. It has gone from dive hotel to swanky destination. This was my first trip to The Modern Bar, a small bar located off the hotel lobby. I’ve ridden my bicycle past the hotel on several occasions when live music was playing in the courtyard and it has been on my short list of places to try, and finally I made it!

When I first walked up to the hotel it wasn’t initially clear where the entrance was to the bar, and still isn’t, so I just walked into the lobby and asked directions. Turns out, it is just down the hall from the front desk.

It was a Monday so it was no surprise to find only two people in the intimate bar. They each had laptops and phone calls going, so I will assume they were still working. If I had to work after 5, The Modern Bar is not a bad place to do it.

The décor is simple and modern, yet soothing. There are five sets of white antlers on one wall that seemed odd but art is often odd so I didn’t think much of it. The inset, overhead lighting was strategically placed over each table to provide enough light to work, see the cocktail menu, or write notes about ones visit.

I was quickly greeted by the bartender/server and told the happy hour specials: $3.50 wells, $5 wines, and $3 beers (I did not see any draught beer however). I ordered up my usual vodka and soda with lime. I did explore the minimal cocktail menu and was surprised by what a punch it really provides for so few items. It is clear that the proprietors put a great deal of thought into it with a less-is-more style. I will return!

Murphy's

Time: 4-6 Monday – Saturday
Special: 2 for 1 Beer, wells, and appetizers
Rating: 3 martinis

While the outside of Murphy’s remains relatively unchanged, the inside has undergone big changes from the days I used to frequent it in the mid-90s. The bar has been expanded greatly with several tables, a designated bar area separate from the restaurant, and many TVs for game viewing. The restaurant also offers up plenty of free parking!

I met Dan for this happy hour. I ordered a vodka soda with lime and he ordered one of the Bighorn Beer on draught. I was surprised they brought the free drink out at the same time so I did end up with a bit of a watered down drink. I could understand if it was busy inside making it difficult to keep track of drinks but there were only a couple of tables filled.

For appetizers, we ordered up the nachos and the tuna roll. They were both very tasty and more than adequate to accommodate our hunger. The nachos had plenty of cheese and beans. The roll had a yummy, spicy sauce drizzled over the top- not too much yet just enough.

While this won’t become a regular stomping ground, I will definitely be back!

The Piper Pub

Time: 4-6

Special: 2 for 1 cocktails, beer, wine, appetizers.

Rating:
1 martini

I recently visited “The Piper” Tuesday 23 December with my friends Kimberlee, Eric, and Cathy. It was a bit noisy but partly due to the Boise State Broncos playing at the Poinsettia Bowl and of course all TVs were on for our viewing pleasure. The restaurant itself is located at a fantastic location at the corner of Main and 8th Streets with a balcony around the whole corner. During warm months it offers great viewing of the street, and unfortunately the whole in the ground. Also worth mentioning, the Piper has one of the largest scotch selections in town.

The Piper offers up 2 for 1 cocktails (except top shelf but martinis are included as well), beers, wine, and appetizers from 4-6 M-F. The service was only fair as I’ve witnessed several times in the past. We had to flag down a server a couple of times and one of Eric’s beers was left at the bar for about 10 minutes before it was finally brought around. We'll be back but it isn't at the top of my list.

Martini Mix-off day 1

Monday marked the first day of the martini mix-off! So Eric and I decided “why waste time” and got started at The Milky Way.

Kevin the Bartender talked us into the 10 Minute Martini. I was a bit dubious as I do not care for gin. He poured the ingredients into the shaker and shoved them into the ice to sit for the next 10 minutes. During that time, he offered us anecdotes and quips to fill the time. He even provided us literature on the invention of this martini as well as the Plymouth gin used.

After the 10 minutes of anticipation our drinks were ready. I could definitely smell the distinct pine aroma but the first taste dispelled any ideas I once had of gin. I found the drink to be very smooth and easy to drink.

While we sat and enjoyed our lovely concoctions, friends filtered in (Greg, Tami, Brent). We were unable to talk them into joining us for more martinis, at least not that night, but we were entertained by Greg’s sax and great company.

Alas, we were off to sample another libation. We sauntered over to Tapas Estrella for martini #2. Here we were greeted by Will the bartender. He made us a Classic Martini which contained Plymouth gin, Lillet vermouth, bitters, and a dash of Cointreau, served with a twist.

This martini was good but a bit on the sweet side for my liking. It was smooth with a slight orange flavor to it. Very drinkable.

The entertainment at Tapas Estrella was quite different as it was drag queen bingo night. We were surrounded by many lively locals with bingo cards in hand. Minerva Jayne was our hostess with the mostest. I actually won the last game! A $10 gift certificate to the new clothing shop on Main- the Projectionist. Sweet!

Eric’s winner for the evening was the Classis; My winner for Monday’s martini was the 10 minute martini.

The winner for best entertainment went to Drag Queen Bingo!

“drive safe; drive deep”- Minerva Jayne