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Barbacoa
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
19 reviews for Barbacoa
Dropped by here on a business trip. Had the duck quessadilla which was sweet due to the pineapples. Even so, it was prett good. After that I had the soup of the day. It turned out to be some chicken vegetable soup that reminded me of something I could get in a can. Not the greatest. The steak however was delicious. My side of jalapeño rice wasn't so delicious. Average place but a tad expensive
At least it looks pretty?
Pretty big disappointment. Had a family dinner observing a major event and - ah., where do we start? Well, the put us on a table that was essentially in a walkway - and it wobbled so badly we requested a move after the waiter couldn't stabilize the wobble (it wobbled easily 2 inches). We were told we'd have to wait 20 minutes to get a new table - (after waiting 10 minutes to GET the wobbly table - all this for a 10 day old reservation). I got pretty snippy with the waiter (waiting was NOT an option; we had an 85 year old in the party). I asked him to please bring drinks ASAP.
We were majorly annoyed. Then (we think) they heard me talking about making a post on Yelp about how this was turning out. Suddenly we were moved. Kinda skanky...
The noise in this place is intolerable. Impossible to carry on a conversation (and I'm not talking about the 85 year old). The only way to converse was to shout.
The presentation of the food was ridiculous; it seemed to be made up to compensate for the fact that the food is really mediocre. Outback steakhouse comes to mind...
Stunning this place is as popular as it is... not going back. Ick.
I ate/drank at Barbacoa for the first time last night. The wine list was good. They didn't have the wine I ordered but brought a suitable substitute that went well with dinner. I asked the waiter to ask the chef to bring me whatever he considered his best cut of meat. He did not disappoint. The Rib-eye was one of the best I've ever had, perfectly prepared and served with an incredible sauce. The server in the restaurant was very professional and handled himself well.
Unfortunately, everything else on the plate was barely passable. The garlic mashed potatoes were something I could have prepared better at home. The asparagus was over sized (too thick) and to compensate they cut them in half. The asparagus was also dry. The green beans were not bad but unremarkable.
Barbacoa was on it's way to a home run with the meat and wine and then layed down between 2nd and 3rd base with the sides. Bummer, I hope they work on it and yet I know that they probably will not.
The bar was not as happening as I have heard it was. My guess is that if you are 20 something this place is going to blow your skirt up. For me, an old 40 something, it left me flat. I can't decide which bothered me more.....the obnoxious douche-bag with his hat on backwards yelling across the bar or the fuck-sticks behind the bar who were too busy flirting with every titty in the house to bother offering us a drink. It wasn't until I put a hundred dollar bill on the bar that the little bitch decided I was worthy of a libation.
I was not impressed.
I've come here a couple times for business dinners. It's not too bad, but I'm not sure why my coworkers love this place so much. It's okay... but I wouldn't call it my favorite...
This time around we started with the table guacamole. We ordered two types - the spicy and the mild. I'd totally recommend you get the spicy - the mild is way too bland!!!
My own meal started with the sweet corn and crab bisque - rich and creamy. Unfortunately, not much crab meat and the jalapeño pancake was a mushy disappointment - no flavor in that thing at all. They seem to love being showy here, though. You get a bowl and with the lump crab atop the pancake and the server actually pours the soup over it.
Next came my entree - or rather, my zuchinni chips. My entree took another ten minutes or so AFTER all the rest of my coworkers were served. The chips weren't really what I was expecting - you know, chips? Crunchy? Nah... these things were tender and lightly breaded - sorta like a not crispy tempura. There was some good flavor from the cheese, but not so much from sauce.
The Duck Two Ways was a major disappointment. Even though it came later than everyone elses' dishes, my entire plate was lukewarm at best. The duck was underseasoned while the risotto was way overseasoned. Perhaps the chef's choice - mix a little of each and enjoy! ... right? Not really... the duck breast was not good because of the temperature... the skin and fat was attached, but because it was cold, it just had a really odd fatty texture instead of the warm juicey goodness that you'd expect. The confit was a little better - I liked the crispiness of the skin... but again, cold! WTF?
The best part of the night had to be dessert - Mango Creme Brûlée. It was sweet, but not overly so with a nice mango overtone and a perfectly torched top. The chocolate biscotti was a little odd, but the strawberry and mint complimented the mango creme well.
The entire restaurant is a little dark... and as I said before, they're into flashiness - from the table prepared guac to the "hot rock filet" - a filet mignon that is served atop a hot rock (literally) and doused with a bourbon sauce that they light on fire. Midway through the night, they dimmed the lights even more - why? I dunno... it was a little TOO dark...
Would I come here again? Maybe for another business dinner... but with that sorta pricing and the so-so quality of food, I dunno if I'd come here on my own...
If an Interior designer and a theatre art director opened a restaurant, it would be Barbacoa. This place tries so hard to be cool that it undermines itself.
How would you like your (overcooked & tough) sirloin tips served swinging on a rack that looks like a torture device? Or your classic martini in a glass made of ice? Ok, maybe someone would. But. these chain restaurant type tricks upstage the last priority in this place is the food quality.
Prices are $25 a plate and up.
Quality is Red Robin, which is by the way next door and maybe a better value for the $.
The Hot Rock filet is the best meal in the galaxy. The service is impeccable. The bartender Casey is amazing. The atmosphere sets the standards for all other atmospheres in Boise. The winelist is very impressive. I love this place for every occasion. My dream would be to have my wedding here. Take friends and enjoy!
Update time. On Saturday night, a group of 8 of us sat in the taco bar area and ordered the shrimp tacos, guac, flatbreads and lots o' yummy martinis... fantastic experience. I LOVE the bartenders down there, don't know their names yet but I'm learning. Nick is the best server ever. Ask for him!
As for the bartender up at the main bar who I wrote about last time, no joke, he went out of his way to get up in my boyfriend's face for my Yelp review that night and ruined an otherwise lovely night. I was embarrassed to say the least but I'm not doing anything wrong. It was a bad experience that I am allowed to share with the public. That is the point of Yelp.
Not backing down, still not impressed with the main bar. Taco bar and restaurant are money though. :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/2/2009
Here's a little background. Last winter, I frequented the Coa every Wednesday-Sunday nights (or so… Read more »
I went to Barbacoa wwith some family for appetizers and drinks before a movie. The guac was great, the pizza was great, the wine was good. Love the real estate and the decor. The waitress was so very terrible and the live music was unbearably bad and so loud that it hampered conversation. Some of the other staff was good, so we gave our tip directly to one gentleman, who was maybe an Expo? Wish he had been our server; it would have made for a more pleasant evening. Oh, and they stopped happy hour 5 minutes early. LAME.
Wow, Barbacoa. Besides all the promising outdoor activities in Boise and vicinity, you are the reason that I'll bring Nacho along next time I have to be in town again.
Ice-tinis: i was hoping that the solid-ice glass would look like a martini glass, but good enough! what a novel idea. the outer glass is a good measure to prevent frostbite. of all the flavors they offer, I chose the pear ice-tini, hoping that they'd use Grey Goose La Poire. I think they do.
Tableside Guacamole: I wish I wasn't eating with my boss and the client because I wanted to watch this guy make guacamole. I mean, that's why we're paying $9 for it, right? Plantain tortilla chips make great dipping partners.
Maysara Jamsheed Pinot Noir (Dijon and Pommard clone vines) from Oregon: el jefe picked this one and it went well with our steaks.
Sweet Corn & Crab Bisque: While the other two got the Caesar Salad (which by the way were way too big), the waitress poured sweet corn bisque from a copper steamer over a blue corn jalepeño pancake and lump of fresh crab. The bowl is elevated by a wire stand.
One of the specials of the day was the 12 oz. Kobe with polenta logs and asparagus. As you may already know, Kobe beef in America is not the same as Kobe in Japan. I really should have gotten the New York, which comes with green beans, and chose the mac and cheese as my side. Don't get me wrong, my steak was great but in hindsight, I should have gotten what Barbacoa prides itself on - dry aged 31 days steak.
I was already a pigeon ready to explode my guts all over the table and walls but because we're treating our client to dinner, it must end on a sweet note. Given three choices picked by my boss, I was designated the dessert-chooser. Of course I went for the most interesting one that I may not be able to get anywhere else. Fried Ice Cream it is. We ordered the big tree. Tree, you ask? Yes. these balls of fried ice cream (more like ice cream balls rolled in edible sandlike cookie crumbs you get with candied apples) are held on a lollipop stick and artistically arranged on a wire tree stand. If you never look at my pictures, you should at least check this tree out. Once we ordered it, surrounding tables ordered it too.
Pardon some of the blurry pictures. i was trying to sneak a click here and there on the camera while the client wasn't watching (yeah so professional, i know. totally reinforcing the asians-with-camera stereotype): http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Barbacoa, I had such a great night here that I must bring Nacho here to try for himself.
Maybe i'm a sucker for pretty things. Barbacoa is nothing if not pretty ... and knows how to evoke a dramatic mood. The sidewalk is flanked by torches, the lighting inside oozes sultry. But Barbacoa isn't just about appearances.
True, my husband's Hot Rock Filet Mignon appeared engulfed in blue cognac flames. The taste, though, warranted the dramatic presentation. We ordered guacamole which was made table side (of course) with our choice of kicky add-ins. I think I was stuffed after the guacamole alone. BEWARE: it is very tempting to over-order here. I ordered a salad and appetizer for my dinner and couldn't even finish my salad (which combined orange and mint and poppyseed -- interesting and yummy, if surprisingly large).
Our server was knowledgeable (about the food, about the mostly-local art) and attentive -- our water and wine glasses were always full -- but we weren't at all rushed with the check, despite the growing (and generally pretty) crowd. We didn't have a reservation on a saturday night and sat in the bar, which was fine for dining until after 10 when it got a little rowdy.
I didn't get to see the wine list as our friends ordered a bottle before we arrived, but their choice was an excellent one.
If you're wishing to impress your date, romance your spouse, or do a little people-watching, all while noshing on some tasty morsels, Barbacoa is a good pick.
I too really wanted to like this place more than I did. The decor is great, the food is good, but the service was questionable at best. The night I went we had a large group that didn't all arrive at the same time - so it was easy to forgive missing water glasses or only having 2 menus for 8 people until we asked for more, and the slow service and food arrival. But when we sent a small group of friends (3 people total) there the next night and they too had to wait a long time to order and then over an hour for their food to arrive - well, 0 for 2.
I'd like to give it another try because the menu is interesting and I didn't get to try desert or the special martinis. Hopefully they can get their service up to the standard their image presents. I really do still want to love them ... I don't know why.
My hubby and I tried Barbacoa for dinner on a weekend. It was pretty busy and super noisy - but really, it added to the ambiance. I had the chicken pot pie (I know, how boring) and he had a steak. He wasn't impressed with the steak - he thought that Sizzler could do better. The pot pie was pretty good but very rich - I was feeling ill before I was half way through. By the end of it we had spent almost $100 and felt that it could've been better. Meh.
Apparently if you don't have a reservation, the hostess thinks you are something sub-par. Whatever, the bar seating was fine, we didn't care that much for the attitude, but it did seem to be a busy night.
Drinks: Ok. Nothing super, interesting names for standby drinks.
Food: Hubs had 'when pigs fly' and it was excellent. I stole bits and he said it was super. The quail was nicely seasoned and had good flavor. The green rice just sent me right back to Peru where my auntie makes a very similar rice. I thought the pork was meh, but he thought it was good (I'm generally not a pork fan).
Now, my paella. Definitely over cooked. And yet, the rice was wet. Soggy. The shellfish were overcooked and tasted bitter. I ordered a cob of corn on the side as I love corn, and it sounded interesting with its pesto and grilled aspects, was ok. Underdone.
Dessert: Hubs ordered the bananas foster which was very tasty. I ordered the coffee and doughnuts which was tasty for the first two and not after, as they cooled very quickly. The coffee bit was a small, over-sweet cup of something milky, not a good balance with the sweet sweet doughnuts. Had to sub a latte, which worked well. Some of the doughnuts weren't fully cooked, they looked as though too much dough had been piped.
Overall: Do order the 'when pigs fly' dish and the bananas foster. I suppose it's all in what is ordered. Needs better quality control.
Walk in and you know that the money/design came from CA. Nice setting, a bit over the top, but that's ok. Food was only ok. A bit overpriced and overcooked.
I like the decor here, from the front entry way with cow hides and door knobs all the way to the hand tiled bathroom. There has been some money invested here! The food was ok, just ok. I wanted it to be more so I could make this my new favorite place, but right now its going to have to stay on the drink and apps only status.
Barbacoa is located in an excellent location right next to the parkcenter pond, which makes for great patio dining. The decor is beautiful. It's clear someone paid a lot of attention to detail. I love their "ice-tini's", which are martini's served in an ice-lined glass, it's pretty snazzy! Both their salmon and halibut is fantastic. The New York is my boyfriends favorite. It's a bit pricey but I feel its worth the little extra. The creme brule is to die for! We can't ever get out of there without having it. The service is always great. We love the "Coa"!
Tried to hard to design eclectic, service moderate, the food was ok, nothing outstanding, odd location. Good for a few visits.
Barbacoa is a new entry into the budding wine and culinary revolution taking place in the small but rapidly growing city of Boise, Idaho. Located off ParkCenter Boulevard and pond, just down the road from the famed blue turf of Boise State University, the entire restaurant was recently remodeled from a former Jaker's Steakhouse. Having previously been to Jaker's I was amazed by the transformation.
From the outside the remodeled restaurant looks relatively similar except for the darker clay coloring of the walls. But as you walk inside through the three-hundred-year-old brass Spanish doors you'll see that the interior has gone through an amazing transformation. Everywhere you look is an amazing blend of exotic art and worldly architecture. Actually you could probably visit the restaurant multiple times and discover new details that you had never seen before. It's really quite impressive.
Besides the great interior they also offer an eclectic mix of food as well as an extensive wine list. The glass walled wine cellar is viewable just to the right of the host desk as you walk passed on the way to your table. The available wines include many selections from the Northwest and California as well as several international offerings from several "new world" locations.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to enjoy any of the great food, which looks delicious, but instead I just had enough time to grab a glass of wine at the bar. But I look forward to the opportunity to return and really experience all that Barbacoa has to offer. I'll write another review when I do.
One of the best restaurants in Boise! The entire restaurant show emense amount of detail and style. The service was superb, and the food was perfect. Even had a great wine selection. I will definately go back!
