Enjoyed happy hour on the patio during a beautiful day. Shared the clams with a friend and they were great. Server was very attentive.
(4)
Rich L.
We have dined at the Cottonwood Grill several times over the past few years and two things come to mind, first I can't believe that I have never contributed a review and second the cottonwood grill isn't nearly the dining experience that it used to be. How so you might say? In the old days the Cottonwood Grille service and food was second to none today the service is moderately attentive but the wait staff will walk by you and not check in as often as needed. The food quality has decreased as well, for instance last night we ordered the Idaho morell mushroom appetizer. The appetizer arrived luke warm and wouldn't a reasonable person expect a wild morell mushroom taste? Instead the appetizer contained a very adequate number of morel mushrooms in puff pastry, but oh what the heck it was so drenched in canned beef bouillon and was so salty that it was almost inedible and you could not taste any mushroom taste at all for the fake beef bouillon!! My wife said the morels tasted like they came from McDonald's. She almost cried. Our bill for two glasses of wine, a couple appetizers one dessert and one cup of coffee was $63 all in all very very disappointing
(2)
Lydier H.
The place reminds me those superior restaurants resides on the urban street. Where ladies, in fancy dresses gathered gossip in the entire afternoon. But I feel this place need a little sexiness to be more attractive - There's no artist sense in any dish I ordered here. The menu need a little twist. Maybe add a little personality. it reads plain and nothing seems extraordinary. The serving utensils here are the same I saw in the supermarket. Not so upscale nor unique.
(3)
Colleen Z.
We ate outside on the patio on a Monday evening. The weather was perfect. The pros include a quiet atmosphere, beautiful, cocktail was tasty and the opah fish was cooked perfectly. The salad, side veggies and rice pilaf were ok not great. The service was not to the level expected for such a nice restaurant. We had a very nice young lady that was new but still needed training. For every question we had about drinks and entrees she had to run inside to get answers. She was not at all prepared to be on the floor without a mentor.
(3)
Jenifer K.
Decided to go give the Cottonwood Grill a try and sit by the river, but the bread they brought out was older than their clientele. Time to upgrade everything.
(1)
Thomas Q.
Beautiful interior. Surf and turf delicious. Tenderloin was the best I've had Lobster sweet and broiled perfectly. Get the cobbler! Ben is a great waiter.
(5)
Heather J.
Salmon in a cage is about the only thing that I like there. The music is dated and in poor taste. Unfortunate because the patio ambience is nice.
BOISE, ID: I have mixed feeling as I write this review. I really like the manager here. He is super friendly, does a nice job, and has an excellent staff that takes care of me each time I've come here (three times). The only problem is that the food is exceptionally average for such a "nice" restaurant. I want to like it: I try recommendations from the waitstaff and keep coming back because the location and service are nice and Im hoping to find the diamond in the rough on the menu. Then they bring me my food and I lose all enthusiasm for the meal because its just not very good. Fish is bland, steak is bad and weakly prepared, I had a basque stew once that was awful. This restaurant is in BAD need of a new menu and fresh culinary influence. Then, perfection.
(3)
David L.
The Cottonwood Grill is like the liberal arts of Boise restaurants...they try to be a little bit of everything, but in doing so, under-deliver in everything. They are a Seafood restaurant, steakhouse, upscale bar, burger joint, soup & salad place, and pasta house. The messaging is quite confusing to me. Their service is not great. Cordial? Sure, but it took 5 minutes talking to a host on the phone to make a reservation for 4 people on the patio at 9:30 PM, they stop serving dinner at 10 PM, and we had 3 different waiters while we dined. They do succeed in making it a fairly intimate & romantic place and offering a variety, but the quality and overall experience - after dining here 3 times - is fair at best. Dinner tab for 4 adults having dinner w/ salad, one app, and a few beverages was $180 with tip. Same price at Ruth's Chris, but quality and service would be far better. Cottonwood was dead - only 2 other couples there on a Saturday night - so parking was ample.
(2)
Joni P.
Valentines with my sweetheart. Lobster and beef tenderloin came with beautiful presentation. Lobster had the wonderful sweet meat and it was delicious. The tenderloin melts in your mouth. Would order again! Halibut was a huge piece. Cooked perfectly. I rarely get halibut perfectly cooked. What a wonderful surprise. Berry cobbler to top it off... order it! BEN was our waiter and a doll. Great server... Enjoyed very much tonight our meal.
(4)
Kathryn C.
The food is pretty mediocre. There are much better brunch places in town. But the have such a nice patio that it makes it worth going here. The staff is friendly and the bathrooms are clean.
(2)
Kevin M.
This was the second time I've eaten at this restaurant. I was disappointed the first time but decided to give them another try. My steak was cooked unevenly, the service was horrid, and the food was egregiously overpriced. My drink sat empty for almost 30 minutes before the waiter asked if I would like another. Honestly, for the money you could do so much better than this place.
(2)
Lenchi J.
Love this place, great food ,great service and the chef Jesus Alcelay is awesome. the decor is nice and spacious ,lodge style... the menu is varied with lots of great choices.
(4)
Judith Y.
I am new to reviewing restaurants but I just felt that I had to comment on lunch at Cottonwood Grille this afternoon. I have been there several times and I will not go back again! My cod lunch was a piece of tasteless cod dipped in egg batter, fried and put in the oven for orders received. Salmon raviolis disgusting looking presentation. The trout salad looked to be the best of all but presentation lacking. Everything on the menu is over priced for the quality. If they had a half star that is what I would give it. The service was lacking since we waited to get hot water for tea and water. The waiter was asked to split the check between two people and could not figure it out! Boise has great restaurants this is not one of them.
(1)
Leah M.
Lunch is our favorite meal to eat here, great pricing and still outstanding service (Cassandra was awesome! ) and always delicious! Patio outside very lovely. 4 of our group had the seafood omlet...yum!
(5)
Mary S.
Been here multiple times for lunch and had a great experience every time. Derick in the bar is the man and provides exceptional service. Love the atmosphere, location, and service.
(5)
Brianne M.
Went for a lunch birthday party, the scenery was great the food not so much at all. A lot of the table ordered the chicken quesdillas and found numerous bones in the chicken ever bite they had to take it apart because they didn't want to choke on a bone. For me i had the goat cheese salad it was okay.. The dressing was sour, the asparagus was way over cooked and super mushy, for a 13 dollar salad it should have been a little better. Overall the food and drinks are pretty typical of a banquet type of establishment. I may come back only to try the Sunday brunch.
(2)
D T.
Very nice interior, nice location by the river, I had the trout and my wife had the Halibut Onate and friends had tenderloin and Atlantic Salmon, All were perfect and nicely presented and we all enjoyed our meal. Limited desserts but we had the Sorbet and French Silk pie, all outstanding I shall return during the summer and eat on the patio.
(5)
Courtney E.
By far one of the best halibut dishes I've had! Great selection of wine and I LOVE the fireplace during the winter :)
(5)
Andrew H.
My least favorite "fine dining" in Boise. I've taken corporate dinners here several times and routinely found the food to be bland and uninspired, despite the local sourcing of product. Location is nice.
(1)
Blanca M.
I have been to Cottonwood Grille several times. I enjoy the lamb shank so much that I have ordered it as a pick up order on busy nights. Remember to make a reservation. It is a perfect place to have a comfortable conversation. The staff is friendly, and professional. I received prompt service.
(5)
Savoy G.
All I have to say is WOW! A little spendy but for what you get with dinner it's well worth it. Excellent food and a great atmosphere. I highly recommend giving it a try. Oh yeah and the coffee is top notch! ;)
Went for lunch yesterday. Patio was perfect for enjoying the beautiful weather. The Idaho Huckleberry cocktail was sweet and strong, my favorite kind of drink! The hot crab melt was the special and it was a little different from what I expected, but still tasty. The prime rib sandwich was good as well. Higher priced for lunch.
(4)
Becky A.
Not very impressed. Extremely overpriced and disappointing. Husbands fish was mushy and undercooked. My fish was overcooked. We told the waitress and she took the food back to the kitchen where they just cooked it a bit more then gave him the same plate of food. Didn't comp us anything. The waitress even told us not to order something because "it wasn't very good meat." Gotta appreciate the honesty. Cool atmosphere, just not worth the price you pay for the food.
(2)
cedro t.
As busy as this place is you'd think it was a great restaurant. DO NOT GO! Impeccable service. Great atmosphere. Better food practically anywhere. It's chuck o Rama -ish.
(1)
Becky R.
Paddle away from the seafood, but fine otherwise. Been twice with friends. Once on the patio, once inside. Service was good. Menu and selection good. Nice place that always seems to come up in conversation around better long time Boise restaurants. Back to the seafood. Not the place. Their seafood is what you'd expect 10 hours from the ocean. Processed. Over cooked. Perhaps with some melted cheese on top. A friend got a crab-oriented sandwich and when it came out, she looked so so disappointed...like crab on this big, thick hoagie...with cheese. Other entrees have been fine and I would certainly come here again - patio is lovely in the spring, summer, and fall.
(3)
Gary T.
My wife and I had the misfortune of having had lunch here. I asked the waitress what she recommended since this was our first visit. She recommended I have the Salmon. Let's cut to the chase...My plate arrives and on it was the driest piece of Salmon I have ever seen. This piece of fish was resting on top of a piece of cheese which was just as dry (Salmon on cheese) ? Now get set for the clincher. The cheese was on top of a dry piece of white bread. Starting to get the picture ? I asked the waitress where the cook came from because of the obvious. She had no answer but she said that she forgot to bring me the Tarter Sauce that went with my dish. I choked and then said, " Tarter Sauce with Salmon ?" She looked at me as though I had never heard of it before. I did the daring thing which was to try a bite of the Salmon sans the Tarter Sauce. If it wasn't for the glass of water next to me, I would have choked on the dryness of that so called lunch. My wife had a similar experience with her dish. By now I have since forgotten what she had ordered. I had shared this experience with someone who is far more knowledgeable about things Boise since we are new here from Los Angeles. He said that years ago Cottonwood was a great place to eat until it was taken over by the landlord for whatever reason and he put his own people in there. Ever since, Cottonwood has lost its fine dining reputation. They say the proof is in the pudding. Well nothing could be more true after mine and my wife's experience. They couldn't pay me to come back there ! Beautiful setting all spoiled because of the food. Disgraceful !! Menus should read: ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK !
(1)
Scott S.
I have been to this restaurant twice and enjoyed the meal both times. The first was on a frigid weeknight in Dec. 2013, and the restaurant was almost empty though we waited a long time to be asked for our orders. Then, they were out of what I ordered. The manager ended up comping both of our meals, charging us only for the wine. He was very apologetic for the slow service and that they were out of what I ordered. In Nov. 2014, I went back with a group of 8 co-workers for dinner. The restaurant was a lot more full, though not "crowded". The food was good and well prepared, and the service was very professional. The Halibut was good, though I wouldn't describe it as outstanding. The French Onion soup was delicious as was the Idaho Trout appetizer - very unique, very good and presentation was creative and appealing. I was interested in the Pheasant, but the server described it as dry, "gamey", and that it had a lot of bones, and recommended the Halibut as one of their "signature dishes". I tasted a bite of the Pheasant from one of my colleagues, and it was very tasty. Next time I will be more adventurous and order the Pheasant. The wines were excellent - my favorite was Jordan Cabernet from Alexander Valley, though the Archery Summit Pinot from Willamette Valley was very nice too. We found the manager who took care of us last December, and he remembered us. We had a nice conversation and my colleague and I really enjoyed talking with him. Very friendly and helpful individual, and we were happy that he could take the time to talk with us.
(4)
Greg M.
Went there tonight for Valentines day. Food was above average. Our waiter was great other than forgetting to offer pepper for our salads. It was probably because of the day, but our table was tiny and much closer to the next than I would prefer. Food was fairly expensive, but no more than I expected. The drinks however are quite expensive. I would probably go back, but maybe not on such a busy night.
(4)
Bill D.
Went here after a coworker advised me to check out the New York and am happy I did. The New York was grilled to perfection. The spuds and Broccoli with onions, unbelievable! Great service and a beautiful setting. Had the smoked trout for an appetizer and what a hit! Service was good and friendly. Price a little high, but the setting offsets that in my book. Give it a try if in Boise!
Service was excellent, food was less than mediocre. Limited choices on carbs and veggies; new york strip was the most gristled piece of meat I've ever had in a restaurant.
(2)
Rachel Z.
I had this as a 5 star. Lost one star because my chicken was overcooked and dry *tear (first time it wasn't cooked perfect) Waiter let us both run out of water, was at the bar talking to his girlfriend most the time, and made me feel awkward for dining there. Worst service and meal, we have had there. (which is ridiculous because it was MONDAY NIGHT haha and no one was there) Its gonna be a while before I go back, hopefully when I do they can get 5 stars out of me again.
(3)
Mike R.
I had a little trepidation about trying Cottonwoood Grille after reading the latest reviews, but we took a shot anyways. I had been there before, but it had been several years. I remembered that the meals were enjoyable, and that there was a nice wine list. My friends an I totaled six last night. We had reservations, and we were seated on time. While the service was so-so,( waiter did for get a few drinks, not very polished), our food was very good. I had the lamb shank, which was very moist. Two of us had the scallops, and they were happy with theirs s well. We shared a few appetizers, and the escargot was excellent. I brought my own wine, and the $15.00 corking fee was a little high, I thought. All in all, we had an enjoyable evening. We were there for a few hours, and were not rushed to leave. I would recommend the food, and atmosphere. Service is spotty, but nothing serious. They do have a beautiful patio on the river for those nice days, and a very nice lounge also.
(4)
MC B.
This was our least favorite restaurant on a recent trip to Boise. We had reservations for three but were taken to a two top. The restaurant has a cavernous feel to it and the tables are very close together. My husband had the meat and cheese appetizer plate and found some of the meat tough and the presentation poor, my son had the prime rib which he enjoyed and I had the chicken Caesar salad (which for $15.00 consisted of several romaine lettuce whole leaves and a piece of chicken plopped on top. I had to do a lot of cutting to eat it and it wasn't very tasty. Service was poor - we had to continually ask for things, which at a place such as this is unacceptable. We had made reservations through Open Table, which we usually do when travelling, and for a week after our visit Open Table indicated we were "no shows" according to the restaurant. I called the restaurant and spoke to a manager, Roger, who first asked if we were sure we went to the right restaurant and after sensing my annoyance said he would "make sure we didn't have a black mark at Open Table". His sarcasm was not appreciated. After waiting a week and nothing happening I emailed Open Table with our dining specifics and after two days Open Table corrected our status. There are not many positive things to say about this restaurant.
(2)
David R.
This was a nice establishment. I was in the Pacific NW [last Fall] and decided to drive to Boise for the weekend. While in that region I wanted to try something new. I searched downtown Boise for a place that served Elk, I was told about the Cottonwood Grille and was not disappointed. The Elk was great and the service was good also! If I ever visit Boise again, I would probably go there! Five stars from me!
(5)
Mindi R.
Sat at our table for 30 minutes & no one even took our drink order, even after we asked. Yet 3 staff members were standing in the corner laughing & chatting. Walked out.
(1)
Tyson C.
The Cottonwood Grille is a fine dining establishment I have frequented dozens of times since they opened their doors and generally, I enjoy their food. I went there last night and tried their buffalo steak and was very happy with it. Actually, the whole meal was very tasty with the exception of their dinner rolls which I would stay away from. The problem with Cottonwood is that their quality is all over the board in terms of food. When it first opened, every meal you ordered was spot on and awesome but over the years something has happened. I know they lost their main chef and the older bartender is now gone too. It just seems like these days consistency is an issue. As I said, my meal last night was awesome but I wouldn't be willing to bet that my next meal there will be as good. Pluses: Great Service Good Lighting Good Drinks Pretty Good Food Very Ripe and Fresh Veggies (given the time of year of this visit especially) Minuses: Inconsistent Food Quality (especially for the price) Pretty Loud on the weekends
(3)
Cyndi J.
My husband and I dined here for Thanksgiving dinner. The restaurant is beautifully appointed, but the three hostesses (yes three) were enough to knock a star off. We arrived about 20 minutes early for our reservation, as we tend to do, and I tell them that I know we're early. Almost every other restaurant hostess has seated us immediately with grace. These three looked at us and said in a condescending tone, one said, "it will be closer to your reservation time." She told us we could wait in the lounge and she'd come get us. The lounge was nice, but after waiting nearly an hour - and over half an hour after our reservation, I nicely asked our bartender how long the reservations were running. She made a phone call, and then snotty hostess number 2 appeared. This was off-putting, when they said they would come get us. But our server was absolutely wonderful. She was gracious and noticed as she opened our bottle of wine (fabulous wine list) that the cork was soaked with wine, and immediately replaced it for us, with apologies. She made the whole evening special. The bread is delicious, soft and tender. The crab cakes were good, not the best I've ever had. The bean and chorizo soup was just okay. I had the tenderloins with wine sauce, so tender and delicious, the mashed potatoes were good, and the green beans were fresh and cooked perfectly. My husband had the Thanksgiving dinner, which he loved. For dessert, the pecan pie - quite possibly one of the best ones I've had, the right amount of sweet, the crust was flaky with a savory taste. Oh, and the wine list is wonderful, a little of everything, including our favorite Paso Robles wine. Don't be put off by the snotty hostesses, why restaurants have "pretty" girls greeting others, I will never know, if you're not going to be nice, pretty doesn't do much. The food and the rest of the service here was wonderful.
(4)
Pity D.
Unacceptably poor service and management. Made reservations for a party of eight for a later dinner on a weeknight. Restaurant was less than 25% full when we arrived. Which makes what what we experienced inexcusable. Our party of eight was crammed into two small tables that were haphazardly and lazily pushed together at an off angle. One table was 1.5 to 2" taller than the other. Two seats were placed at the very uneven and awkward seam between the tables. The seating was so tight that there was no other place for two people to move their plates than this seam. One end of the table was placed under a very bright canned light that shined straight down on one person. Everyone else was sitting under very dim lighting, making looking between the end seat and everyone else at the table awkward and uncomfortable. On a night as slow (or any other night) as this, especially when paying $25-50/ plate, this kind of lazy inattentiveness in absolutely inexcusable. The service was not the worst, but not the greatest and less than mediocre for a restaurant in Cottonwood's price range. Server was very slow to approach our table. Very slow to bring drinks, bread, etc... Most of the food was pretty good, but not particularly impressive for the price range. One dish was awful--the elk chop. It came drenched in an inexplicably strong and relatively bitter sauce. Not sure why a chef would cover elk in a sauce that overwhelmingly contrasts and competes with an already strong-flavored meat, rather than a sauce that complements it. Unless Cottonwood lowers their prices by 80% or drastically improves their management and service, I can not recommend dining there.
(2)
Margaret R.
Your grandma's kind of restaurant--overpriced & bland. My entire family went here for my college graduation party. We were shocked at how terrible everything was considering the prices. It is reminiscent of dinner at my grandparents house. They were typical Midwestern cooks who kept it simple and bland. Spices like cayenne, salt, cumin, and the like were too exotic, and might upset a person's humors. Anyway, the most shockingly bad offering was the Cottonwood Platter. It is a cheese, fruit, fish, and cracker sampler platter. The cheese tasted old and a little dried out, the fruit was a boring assortment of grapes/unripened strawberries, and they serve it with What appeared to be Ritz crackers. We paid $16 for unripened fruit, dried out cheese, and the worst crackers ever. The meat was okay, but we decided that we would have been happier dining in that night.
(1)
Brooke W.
Atmosphere, service and food! One of the best in town. It is a bit pricey so its definitely a great place for special occasions, not every day eating. They have a couple different rooms for groups that are great. We have been there with our staff for our Christmas Party. They were very accommodating. The food portions are a bit smaller, which leaves room for the AMAZING desserts.
(5)
Bob B.
My friend and I were in Boise for 2 days and wanted to go somewhere a little special. We saw this great patio by the River Walk and decided to try it in spite of some reviewers reporting poor service experience. We were glad we did! Our waiter, Christopher, couldn't have been nicer. Though the fall evening was a little cool, when we requested a table outside they got one ready for us right away. Later, 2 guys set up one of those tall kerosene heaters next to us. She had the Idaho trout, I had the Alaska halibut, and we both had a wonderful evening. Recommend highly for a special night in Boise.
(4)
Kathy S.
Went here on our first visit to Boise upon strong recommendations from our realtor. Was really disappointing and way too expensive. Service was mediocre at best ...snotty would be more descriptive. I had an tuna salad that I assumed would be FRESH tuna. Looked and tasted canned. Server nowhere to be found to ask about it. Another server got snotty with me that I did not know fresh tuna when I saw/tasted it. Won't be back
(2)
Anthony M.
Everything was bad. Shrimp Scampi was nothing but Ramen Noodles in a whack sauce. The slow roasted sirloin was just a really bad roast beef served as a steak. The Idaho something trout was good, but tasted nothing of fish. I t was just covered in butter, hence tasty. All in all never going back
(1)
Robbie P.
I've had better food for a whole lot cheaper, the tomahawk steak wasn't anything special you can get a better rib eye from the store for a quarter of the price. I will not be going back
(2)
Kayla in B.
Hubby and I went to Cottonwood Grille tonight to celebrate our anniversary. Overall, it was a great dining experience. There were a few "rough around the edges" details that surprised me. First, we made our reservations online and I specifically mentioned that it was our anniversary and that we'd like a table near the fireplace if possible. When we arrived, there was no mention made of our request and we were seated in the middle of the room. Our reservation was for an odd time - 4:45 p.m., so it was far from hopping at that point. Also, it seemed really dim in the restaurant, and the gas lamp on our table wasn't lit - we had to light it ourselves (thankfully hubby had a lighter on him. We had an extensive wait before a waiter came by to take our orders (first asking, has anyone helped you guys yet?...umm, no..) After this point, the evening improved dramatically. We ordered the croquettas for an appetizer. They were okay, but I've had better at Bar Gernika. Still, they were tasty and for $5, not a bad deal. Both hubby and I ordered the prime rib for dinner and had salad to go with it. The salad was good - not great, but good. The prime rib, however, was amazing. Perfectly cooked, generously cut. Highly recommend it. Hubby loved his sides of baby red potatoes and green beans. My sides were decent - rice pilaf and veggies. We took dessert to go, the banana bread pudding and a slice of french silk pie. The pie was fabulous, the bread pudding, so-so. We would happily return to Cottonwood and recommend it to others. My entree's have always been solid performers, even if the side dishes were just, "meh"...
Lovely ambiance seated outside on the Patio by the river for a Sunday Brunch. Food was terrific, wait staff was attentive and helpful but not in the way. I can see why my daughter and son in law love this place. This was the first restaurant experience for our grandson and it couldn't have been more enjoyable.
(4)
Alexander T.
Fantastic, upscale dining in the midst of the potato county, Had a nice wine selection relatively cheap to moderate priced wines. They had great food with a nice selection of seafood, steaks, pasta, and much more. I had the Elk Loin, and it was delicious, they also had Marlin, which seemed great as well. Basically non traditional meats such as buffalo, elk, venison, and other non steak specialties. Highly recommended for a business dinner (basically micron or hp) or a special occasion, can be tailored to both with a gorgeous outdoor setting as well. Great service, great food, reasonable prices for the quality you get. (30~ a person + 10-20 for drinks)
(3)
John E. Ringo M.
Sunday afternoon, we go in for brunch, while we're handed menus the wait person asks what we'd like to drink, I order ice tea my wife ordered water. (My wife takes medicine can't drink stuff like tea). Five minutes later they come back and set down two glasses of ice tea. My wife says she didn't order tea, she ordered water. The wait person argued she ordered ice tea! Wife said no she just ordered water. The wait person left our table leaving the glass of ice tea we didn't order and quit waiting on us, implying we had what we ordered, so now wife doesn't have water to take her pills with, my glass of tea is empty, and a full glass of ice tea sits on our table orphaned by the ice tea cold war. The wait person didn't take the tea back nor say anything like I'll get you water, they didn't say anything just walked leaving the unordered ice tea. So I'm now out of tea, wife has no water, and that glass of rogue ice tea sits there with the wait person ignoring us. I had to ask for the manager who brings over the wild eyed pissed off wait person who again argues we ordered ice tea! The manager got us water and more tea but by then I'm not digging being there. This happened, sorry and if anyone thinks of a better way I could of handled this please advice, but most everyone says just don't go back. Maybe they're right, why go back when there are great places all around that area?
(1)
Nerob O.
I was here 8 years ago and so we decided to try it again since we were in town. We were here on a Sunday evening a bit worn out from skiing so it was nice to sit and relax at a table by the fire. A real fire I might add. Most of the folks eating looked like they were ordinary folks on a splurge night or birthday. The very professional waiter addressed me and my children as "gentlemen" instead of calling them bud or buddy or trying to humor them. I quite enjoyed the oysters rockefeller and the elk that I ordered but they forgot to bring my black bean and chorizo soup. I didn't need it anyway and besides, I had a lot of stuff like that last month in Tampa. I was impressed that they had sugar snap peas as an included side choice and they were great but the potatoes weren't all that good which is funny since this is spudland. Usually a place like this focuses on their wine list and they certainly did but I was very happy to be able to order a Pilsner Urquell. Often the beer selection is an afterthought at best so I was pleasantly surprized. It would have lessened the experience if I had to settle for something other than my favorite.
(4)
Joseph M.
Visited Boise for the first time with my wife last week and we had dinner at Cottonwood. The Elk was to die for and the staff was excellent. It was a Wednesday night, and yet the place was absolutely packed. We were shocked at the business, and yet the waitress(from California originally, where we live now) introduced herself and gave us the rundown on Boise and how she would never leave. We felt right at home in a new town. After dinner, the manager came over, and he too introduced himself and welcomed us to Boise. For such a busy night, having worked in Food Service for 12 years myself, I was amazed at the personal attention and the accuracy with the ordering. We left Boise looking forward to returning(possibly permanently) and we'll be heading back to Cottonwood our first night back in town. Well worth it.
(5)
Stephanie W.
The Cottonwood has gone downhill over the last year, especially in the areas of food quality and service. For the third time in a row, the sever has brought myself Andy guest the wrong food. The bill was adjusted for the right items - but it is such a bummer to not get what you ordered. Do not order the crab cakes as they taste like they are fried in old grease and are almost always over cooked. They used to be delicious.! Cottonwood used to be one of the places in town for a biz lunch, but not as of late. They are not known for anything exceptional and the crowd there is increasingly older. For the price, there are many other great chooses in dr Boise. And,!what is up with the giant soccer trophy in the bookshelves. Feels like a pawn shop now.
(2)
Mike B.
Just spent 15 minutes sitting on the patio with NO service and NO sign of anybody working the patio. In less time then I was there and being ignored, I have a beer in hand, free chips and salsa and our order placed at a CHAIN restaurant! Not the first time I've had bad service here but it will be the last time I try to patronize this place. Don't waste your time or theirs!
(1)
Laura P.
Had a waitress that insisted on making a scene after my meal was 40 minutes late. The rest of my party had gotten their food and finished by the time our waitress came back to tell me it will only be a couple more minutes. I quietly asked her to put it in a box to go, then she loudly exclaims, "No, are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure." and she continues to ask me the same question 3 more times. I was so offended by her behavior, she then shoves a salad I didn't order in front of my face and says, eat this, I said I was ok, and no thank you, since it was 9 in the morning. Horrible, Horrible. I am so disappointed, and to make matters worse, my mother got food poisoning from her salmon salad. I guess my patronage of the Cottonwood has ended.
(1)
Steve L.
We've been going to the Cottonwood Grille for a number of years now and it continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in town. In fact, we love the ambiance so much that part of our house was designed after their fireplace. The food is consistently outstanding. We love the Steamers appetizer (oysters and clams with garlic and beer, topped with french fries). Our kids love the steamers and there's so much food in that dish, that two orders serves as an appetizer for the adults and serves as a meal for our two kids. The gazpacho soup is just wonderful. If it's one of the soups offered for that day, we pounce on it. There's a variety of main dishes to choose including seafood, chicken, lamb, beef and other Northwest meats, so there's something for everyone. The staff and owners have always been warm, friendly and helpful. You can't go wrong eating here.
(5)
A V.
I am going to review this place just for their lunch, just for the simple fact that I have not had dinner here in years. Well, it is my favorite place in Boise for lunch. I have always had the best service here, except for one time, in the dozens of times I have eaten here. They bring as much bread as you'd like and always obligingly allow me to order my huge house salad in place of a regular meal. Very affordable for lunch and the best patio in Boise. They have the freshest greens in town and are pretty consistent, which is key to me either loving or hating a restaurant. The last time I ate here for dinner, they had the fireplace going and it was a fall dinner years ago, and wonderful, if my memory serves me correctly.
(5)
Julia A.
I was with a big group. Felt like we were forgotten in the side room after food delivered. Food is over priced. Sea food linguine was like soup. Took 45 min after food boxed to get check.
(2)
Shagen M.
I should have listened to the other reviewers on here!! Boy was I disappointed. My husband wanted to go to Red Feather Lounge for his birthday which we've been to before and LOVED but I wanted to try something new and decided on this place for us instead. I owe him big-time next year! The inside seemed a little like it was geared towards the old folks so we decided to eat outside which was nice but I was a little disappointed we couldn't see the river...that wouldn't be part of this review if the food wasn't so awful. My husband ordered the scallops which had zero flavor and I'd have to say about the same for my chicken with augratin potatoes. The sides you can choose from are so 1990 and it just overall seems to cater more to senior citizens than people who are willing to shell out $80 for a nice dinner for 2. We won't be back.
(2)
Glenn P.
I had a business dinner here recently. Started with the app sampler, enjoyed it. There was a nice variety of items and plenty to share with others. The salad was rather standard, as was the dressing . For an entree, I had the monkfish - it was very good and well portioned. Others had the Elk. They didn't like it at all. The first serving was sent back and the second wasn't much better Overall a decent meal.
Wanted to check out this place since I've gotten here... but umm, it wasn't really all that great. I had the elk - dunno what I was expecting - probably something better. My first time with elk and it tasted... so-so. The potatoes, green beans, and yams it came with were BLEH. The salad it came with was nothing special... and the appetizers were okay. We had their appetizer platter - cheeses and meats, calamari sticks, crab cakes, grapes, and strawberries. Overall wasn't really impressed... the waiters had a rude way of interupting conversations to fill water... the place was pretty empty (we were there from 7 - 10 on a Monday)... meh. I would hope there's better places for business dinners...
(2)
Pajemo P.
So my hubby and I made reservations for my 50th birthday, but after some rough patches years ago and after seeing some of the reviews here, we were almost dreading the experience. Did we make the right choice? Should we change our plans? Well, I must say we were both pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is the same as it's always been, very warm and tasteful. Love the patio when it's open. But I was mainly concerned about the food. Would it be average food at a not so average price? We started off with the salmon crab cakes and they were delicious. Okay nice start, but we have a ways to go. Then it was on to salads. Hubby's was the house salad with vinagrette. Very tasty and fresh. I had the ceasar, which was good but the bread cubes were really stale. I know cubes are best with day old bread, but these tasted like 4 day old bread. But the salad was otherwise very good. So still hangin' in there, more impressed than I planned to be. Hubby had the grilled Wahu fish which was done in, I think, an avocado relish and was very tasty. I had the Sea Bass, which was good but not as good as the Walu. A bit bland, but cooked perfectly. Then we topped it off with chocolat bread pudding. My, My that was really good. And to top the evening, my sneaky sister in Phoenix found out where we were going and called ahead and paid for the whole shebang. What a good "seester!" So, it was a very enjoyable evening, much better than we expected. The waitress was very pleasant and accomodating, albeit could have been a bit more attentive to the silverware issue. I just feel a 4 star or above restaurant should be replacing used flatware between courses and one shouldn't have to ask for a fork or knife after the dinner arrives. So don't be afraid to try Cottonwood at least once. Did we hit on a good night? Who's to know, but we enjoyed our experience. It wasn't flawless but it was worth it.
(4)
Lisa E.
We went to Cottonwood Grille because my in-laws were in town and they wanted to go to a fine dining restaurant. At 6:15 p.m. on Friday the place was packed with people. Both the atmosphere and service were wonderful. The food was OK, not terrible but barely worth the high prices. My husband got the smoked fish plate, it had three palm-sized pieces of fish around a huge scoop of garlic mashed potatoes. He's a fisherman and loves fish. He enjoyed it and said he would give it four stars. My mother-in-law got the bucket of oysters (it's an appetizer but she had it as dinner). She ordered it in garlic and beer sauce and said it tasted good except that it was a bit too spicy - she doesn't do well with spicy foods. Grandma ordered Rack of Lamb. The mashed potatoes were cold and lamb was dry. She didn't care for it. I'm vegetarian. There are only two veggie entrees at Cottonwood. I ordered the Tomato Basil Capellini. The dish had way too much sauce for the amount of noodles served. It was edible but not a dish that would cause me to return. My guess is Cottonwood is one of those places that does a few dishes well. We haven't discovered those yet.
(3)
Donna B.
This place is pricey, but the ambiance, food, setting, and pure luxuriousness of the restaurant was an unforgettable experience. I took out of town guests to this restaurant who are accustomed to "fine dining." This experience exceeded their expectations.
(5)
Julie M.
Beautiful restaurant, good food with great selection and the perfect ambiance. Eat outdoors. Staff friendly and efficient. Tina was the best! Don't think the fanciness will cost you a pretty penny, prices are very reasonable for the size and quality of their entrees. Buffalo burger was excellent. Calamari caesar salad was perfect! If you like elk, they have that too in the form of a meatloaf. Worth trying... once. Highly recommended restaurant.
(5)
Kathy W.
Interesting clientelle - i think it used to be the hip place to go, so lots of older clients. BUT, the mussels over fries is really good.
(3)
E C.
I travel to Boise every couple of months and I never miss having dinner at Cottonwood Grille. The food is always amazing - my steak is cooked perfectly, the garlic mashed potatoes are out of this world and the caesar salad is the best I have ever had. If you are in Boise then definitely head straight towards Cottonwood!
(5)
Gina B.
tasty entrees with a great ambiance....like a large log cabin. I had their fish which had a great balance of flavors. Overall, a nice restaurant in Boise!
(4)
Joe T.
The food is decent but not uniquely tasty. A reviewer mentioned it was like hotel food and I have to agree. The atmosphere of this establishment inside is better than the food. I didn't have the Elk but instead went with the standard beef filet and found it to lack any good qualities to the preperation of the meal. I recommend Berryhill any day over this place
(2)
Emile L.
So this is one of my favorite restaurants in Boise. Great location. I love to eat out on the patio during the summertime. It's fun to watch the people go by on the greenbelt. Yep, I'm a people watcher. The best food here is the seafood. Salmon is absolutely the berst. Very tasty. Cottonwood is expensive but worth it.
(4)
Neil M.
The Tenderloin gave "tender" a new meaning. You won't need a knife! And, if you're feeling adventurous, the Buffalo was delicious. Service was excellent, outside dining in August was perfect and the price was extremely affordable. Need I say more? I think not.
(5)
Jeremey P.
I applaud Cottonwood for their focus on organic and/or local food. We ate outside on a cool May evening and it was perfect. Great ambiance and food.
(4)
Shayna W.
A nice place to go for a special occasion. It's right on the greenbelt so a walk after wards really adds to the night. The creme brulee is delicious.
(4)
Eddie K.
One of the greatest restaurants I've been to in the US, and I've been to quite a few. The low prices on the wine list alone are enough to bring me back, but the quality of the food was the star the night we ate at Cottonwood. Can't wait to go back to Boise just so we eat there again!
(5)
Wild W.
Old school food, uptight country club crowd. Good for business lunch.
(3)
geo g.
Drinks were ok. Hour d voes were very good. Baked Bree yum. Calamari on sticks. Breading not so good. Tempura batter would have been better. But tender. Medium rare filet minion was served really rare and cold. Beef stroganoff was around firm wide noodles under cooked. More of a broth with tender beef tips topped off with a mound of sour cream. Ugly. Advertised with mushrooms, Morels. I got a quarter of one mushroom in the whole dish. I looked for the mushrooms. This is not a good way to serve this dish. Paula Dean has a basic recipe on line that would work better. Bean soup and French onion soup. Bean was just ok. FOS was just some onions in beef broth topped with a piece of bread and cheese baked till browned. No rich tastes, no buttery smoothness, onions were not cooked down till glazed, no apple cider, cognac or toasted bread. Could have been LIpton onion soup mix. Manager compt two items 25% for a total of about $15.00. I tipped that much. It is not the servers fault the kitchen does not know what it is doing. Suggest the manager eat some of the stuff coming out of the kitchen and really look at how it is being served.
(1)
Dubya R.
Overpriced, mediocre food served in a generic hotel-like atmosphere. If you want good, creative American food, go to Berryhill or Red Feather instead.
(2)
Lauren W.
You know, this place really is about the sentimental value to me. My mom and I would celebrate our birthdays and mothers day here when I lived in Boise. It was my destination spot for out-of-town guests before some of the newer restaurants popped up. It's comfortable (club chairs), high ceilings, fireplace - high-end lodgy, country club feel. The service is great. While a bit less lax than other locales, they still didn't scoff at my friend and me as we stuffed olives w/ blue cheese for our ritualistic reunion martinis. The patio is just lovely as is relaxing inside on cozy winter nights.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Emma R.
Enjoyed happy hour on the patio during a beautiful day. Shared the clams with a friend and they were great. Server was very attentive.
(4)Rich L.
We have dined at the Cottonwood Grill several times over the past few years and two things come to mind, first I can't believe that I have never contributed a review and second the cottonwood grill isn't nearly the dining experience that it used to be. How so you might say? In the old days the Cottonwood Grille service and food was second to none today the service is moderately attentive but the wait staff will walk by you and not check in as often as needed. The food quality has decreased as well, for instance last night we ordered the Idaho morell mushroom appetizer. The appetizer arrived luke warm and wouldn't a reasonable person expect a wild morell mushroom taste? Instead the appetizer contained a very adequate number of morel mushrooms in puff pastry, but oh what the heck it was so drenched in canned beef bouillon and was so salty that it was almost inedible and you could not taste any mushroom taste at all for the fake beef bouillon!! My wife said the morels tasted like they came from McDonald's. She almost cried. Our bill for two glasses of wine, a couple appetizers one dessert and one cup of coffee was $63 all in all very very disappointing
(2)Lydier H.
The place reminds me those superior restaurants resides on the urban street. Where ladies, in fancy dresses gathered gossip in the entire afternoon. But I feel this place need a little sexiness to be more attractive - There's no artist sense in any dish I ordered here. The menu need a little twist. Maybe add a little personality. it reads plain and nothing seems extraordinary. The serving utensils here are the same I saw in the supermarket. Not so upscale nor unique.
(3)Colleen Z.
We ate outside on the patio on a Monday evening. The weather was perfect. The pros include a quiet atmosphere, beautiful, cocktail was tasty and the opah fish was cooked perfectly. The salad, side veggies and rice pilaf were ok not great. The service was not to the level expected for such a nice restaurant. We had a very nice young lady that was new but still needed training. For every question we had about drinks and entrees she had to run inside to get answers. She was not at all prepared to be on the floor without a mentor.
(3)Jenifer K.
Decided to go give the Cottonwood Grill a try and sit by the river, but the bread they brought out was older than their clientele. Time to upgrade everything.
(1)Thomas Q.
Beautiful interior. Surf and turf delicious. Tenderloin was the best I've had Lobster sweet and broiled perfectly. Get the cobbler! Ben is a great waiter.
(5)Heather J.
Salmon in a cage is about the only thing that I like there. The music is dated and in poor taste. Unfortunate because the patio ambience is nice.
(3)Karen C.
The happy hour is by far one of the best in town! Derek in the bar area always makes sure our drinks are replenished and our service is prompt. The hummus plate is fantastic and the Basque style croquetas are superb. Dinner is always fantastic- melt in your mouth steaks followed by decadent creme brûlée.
(5)Lee L.
BOISE, ID: I have mixed feeling as I write this review. I really like the manager here. He is super friendly, does a nice job, and has an excellent staff that takes care of me each time I've come here (three times). The only problem is that the food is exceptionally average for such a "nice" restaurant. I want to like it: I try recommendations from the waitstaff and keep coming back because the location and service are nice and Im hoping to find the diamond in the rough on the menu. Then they bring me my food and I lose all enthusiasm for the meal because its just not very good. Fish is bland, steak is bad and weakly prepared, I had a basque stew once that was awful. This restaurant is in BAD need of a new menu and fresh culinary influence. Then, perfection.
(3)David L.
The Cottonwood Grill is like the liberal arts of Boise restaurants...they try to be a little bit of everything, but in doing so, under-deliver in everything. They are a Seafood restaurant, steakhouse, upscale bar, burger joint, soup & salad place, and pasta house. The messaging is quite confusing to me. Their service is not great. Cordial? Sure, but it took 5 minutes talking to a host on the phone to make a reservation for 4 people on the patio at 9:30 PM, they stop serving dinner at 10 PM, and we had 3 different waiters while we dined. They do succeed in making it a fairly intimate & romantic place and offering a variety, but the quality and overall experience - after dining here 3 times - is fair at best. Dinner tab for 4 adults having dinner w/ salad, one app, and a few beverages was $180 with tip. Same price at Ruth's Chris, but quality and service would be far better. Cottonwood was dead - only 2 other couples there on a Saturday night - so parking was ample.
(2)Joni P.
Valentines with my sweetheart. Lobster and beef tenderloin came with beautiful presentation. Lobster had the wonderful sweet meat and it was delicious. The tenderloin melts in your mouth. Would order again! Halibut was a huge piece. Cooked perfectly. I rarely get halibut perfectly cooked. What a wonderful surprise. Berry cobbler to top it off... order it! BEN was our waiter and a doll. Great server... Enjoyed very much tonight our meal.
(4)Kathryn C.
The food is pretty mediocre. There are much better brunch places in town. But the have such a nice patio that it makes it worth going here. The staff is friendly and the bathrooms are clean.
(2)Kevin M.
This was the second time I've eaten at this restaurant. I was disappointed the first time but decided to give them another try. My steak was cooked unevenly, the service was horrid, and the food was egregiously overpriced. My drink sat empty for almost 30 minutes before the waiter asked if I would like another. Honestly, for the money you could do so much better than this place.
(2)Lenchi J.
Love this place, great food ,great service and the chef Jesus Alcelay is awesome. the decor is nice and spacious ,lodge style... the menu is varied with lots of great choices.
(4)Judith Y.
I am new to reviewing restaurants but I just felt that I had to comment on lunch at Cottonwood Grille this afternoon. I have been there several times and I will not go back again! My cod lunch was a piece of tasteless cod dipped in egg batter, fried and put in the oven for orders received. Salmon raviolis disgusting looking presentation. The trout salad looked to be the best of all but presentation lacking. Everything on the menu is over priced for the quality. If they had a half star that is what I would give it. The service was lacking since we waited to get hot water for tea and water. The waiter was asked to split the check between two people and could not figure it out! Boise has great restaurants this is not one of them.
(1)Leah M.
Lunch is our favorite meal to eat here, great pricing and still outstanding service (Cassandra was awesome! ) and always delicious! Patio outside very lovely. 4 of our group had the seafood omlet...yum!
(5)Mary S.
Been here multiple times for lunch and had a great experience every time. Derick in the bar is the man and provides exceptional service. Love the atmosphere, location, and service.
(5)Brianne M.
Went for a lunch birthday party, the scenery was great the food not so much at all. A lot of the table ordered the chicken quesdillas and found numerous bones in the chicken ever bite they had to take it apart because they didn't want to choke on a bone. For me i had the goat cheese salad it was okay.. The dressing was sour, the asparagus was way over cooked and super mushy, for a 13 dollar salad it should have been a little better. Overall the food and drinks are pretty typical of a banquet type of establishment. I may come back only to try the Sunday brunch.
(2)D T.
Very nice interior, nice location by the river, I had the trout and my wife had the Halibut Onate and friends had tenderloin and Atlantic Salmon, All were perfect and nicely presented and we all enjoyed our meal. Limited desserts but we had the Sorbet and French Silk pie, all outstanding I shall return during the summer and eat on the patio.
(5)Courtney E.
By far one of the best halibut dishes I've had! Great selection of wine and I LOVE the fireplace during the winter :)
(5)Andrew H.
My least favorite "fine dining" in Boise. I've taken corporate dinners here several times and routinely found the food to be bland and uninspired, despite the local sourcing of product. Location is nice.
(1)Blanca M.
I have been to Cottonwood Grille several times. I enjoy the lamb shank so much that I have ordered it as a pick up order on busy nights. Remember to make a reservation. It is a perfect place to have a comfortable conversation. The staff is friendly, and professional. I received prompt service.
(5)Savoy G.
All I have to say is WOW! A little spendy but for what you get with dinner it's well worth it. Excellent food and a great atmosphere. I highly recommend giving it a try. Oh yeah and the coffee is top notch! ;)
(5)christian C.
I'm glad I went here for a work dinner, otherwise I would have been really disappointed. I think it's a fitting place for work meals. The place is huge and has that created "Western" motif in terms of décor. It's nice that it's right on the greenway. Had the trout, which was a rather large piece of fish. It came smothered in a creamy sauce with slivered almonds. The fish was OK, the sauce unnecessary. It was accompanied by rice pilaf and broccoli. A perfect meal for your grandmother's birthday! The Idaho Cabernet (can't remember the name) was decent, although a little overpowering by the end of a glass.
(2)Sarah H.
Went for lunch yesterday. Patio was perfect for enjoying the beautiful weather. The Idaho Huckleberry cocktail was sweet and strong, my favorite kind of drink! The hot crab melt was the special and it was a little different from what I expected, but still tasty. The prime rib sandwich was good as well. Higher priced for lunch.
(4)Becky A.
Not very impressed. Extremely overpriced and disappointing. Husbands fish was mushy and undercooked. My fish was overcooked. We told the waitress and she took the food back to the kitchen where they just cooked it a bit more then gave him the same plate of food. Didn't comp us anything. The waitress even told us not to order something because "it wasn't very good meat." Gotta appreciate the honesty. Cool atmosphere, just not worth the price you pay for the food.
(2)cedro t.
As busy as this place is you'd think it was a great restaurant. DO NOT GO! Impeccable service. Great atmosphere. Better food practically anywhere. It's chuck o Rama -ish.
(1)Becky R.
Paddle away from the seafood, but fine otherwise. Been twice with friends. Once on the patio, once inside. Service was good. Menu and selection good. Nice place that always seems to come up in conversation around better long time Boise restaurants. Back to the seafood. Not the place. Their seafood is what you'd expect 10 hours from the ocean. Processed. Over cooked. Perhaps with some melted cheese on top. A friend got a crab-oriented sandwich and when it came out, she looked so so disappointed...like crab on this big, thick hoagie...with cheese. Other entrees have been fine and I would certainly come here again - patio is lovely in the spring, summer, and fall.
(3)Gary T.
My wife and I had the misfortune of having had lunch here. I asked the waitress what she recommended since this was our first visit. She recommended I have the Salmon. Let's cut to the chase...My plate arrives and on it was the driest piece of Salmon I have ever seen. This piece of fish was resting on top of a piece of cheese which was just as dry (Salmon on cheese) ? Now get set for the clincher. The cheese was on top of a dry piece of white bread. Starting to get the picture ? I asked the waitress where the cook came from because of the obvious. She had no answer but she said that she forgot to bring me the Tarter Sauce that went with my dish. I choked and then said, " Tarter Sauce with Salmon ?" She looked at me as though I had never heard of it before. I did the daring thing which was to try a bite of the Salmon sans the Tarter Sauce. If it wasn't for the glass of water next to me, I would have choked on the dryness of that so called lunch. My wife had a similar experience with her dish. By now I have since forgotten what she had ordered. I had shared this experience with someone who is far more knowledgeable about things Boise since we are new here from Los Angeles. He said that years ago Cottonwood was a great place to eat until it was taken over by the landlord for whatever reason and he put his own people in there. Ever since, Cottonwood has lost its fine dining reputation. They say the proof is in the pudding. Well nothing could be more true after mine and my wife's experience. They couldn't pay me to come back there ! Beautiful setting all spoiled because of the food. Disgraceful !! Menus should read: ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK !
(1)Scott S.
I have been to this restaurant twice and enjoyed the meal both times. The first was on a frigid weeknight in Dec. 2013, and the restaurant was almost empty though we waited a long time to be asked for our orders. Then, they were out of what I ordered. The manager ended up comping both of our meals, charging us only for the wine. He was very apologetic for the slow service and that they were out of what I ordered. In Nov. 2014, I went back with a group of 8 co-workers for dinner. The restaurant was a lot more full, though not "crowded". The food was good and well prepared, and the service was very professional. The Halibut was good, though I wouldn't describe it as outstanding. The French Onion soup was delicious as was the Idaho Trout appetizer - very unique, very good and presentation was creative and appealing. I was interested in the Pheasant, but the server described it as dry, "gamey", and that it had a lot of bones, and recommended the Halibut as one of their "signature dishes". I tasted a bite of the Pheasant from one of my colleagues, and it was very tasty. Next time I will be more adventurous and order the Pheasant. The wines were excellent - my favorite was Jordan Cabernet from Alexander Valley, though the Archery Summit Pinot from Willamette Valley was very nice too. We found the manager who took care of us last December, and he remembered us. We had a nice conversation and my colleague and I really enjoyed talking with him. Very friendly and helpful individual, and we were happy that he could take the time to talk with us.
(4)Greg M.
Went there tonight for Valentines day. Food was above average. Our waiter was great other than forgetting to offer pepper for our salads. It was probably because of the day, but our table was tiny and much closer to the next than I would prefer. Food was fairly expensive, but no more than I expected. The drinks however are quite expensive. I would probably go back, but maybe not on such a busy night.
(4)Bill D.
Went here after a coworker advised me to check out the New York and am happy I did. The New York was grilled to perfection. The spuds and Broccoli with onions, unbelievable! Great service and a beautiful setting. Had the smoked trout for an appetizer and what a hit! Service was good and friendly. Price a little high, but the setting offsets that in my book. Give it a try if in Boise!
(4)Tara F.
Clearly this place caters to a slightly older clientele, both in terms of prices and menu options. My mom was sweet enough to make a reservation for my birthday dinner (we're from out of town) and I think we were all a little surprised at how...geriatric the place felt. That isn't a put down at all; it's just that all our other meals had been downtown in a much more densely packed district and we were sort of expecting the same kind of youthful energy. Anyway, there weren't many people there at 7:30p on a Sunday evening. The outdoor patio was lovely--but bring a light jacket!--and you could hear the frogs. We sampled a bunch of different things--the calamari frito, french onion soup, elk loin, bison, pheasant. and Kobe beef medallions--and everything was...a-ok. My mom got the beef done medium well (I know, it's a disgrace) but it probably would have been very good if cooked slightly less. The elk and the bison just didn't have much flavor at medium/rare. The frito was a tad chewy, the French onion was solidly fine. The standout was the creme brûlée, and the mixed berry cobbler (free on my birthday!) was tasty as well. The waiter was very young but very sweet, and let us basically close the place down at 9p (stuff closes early in this town!). I think maybe if I was entertaining some much older clients or family members I would come back, but if I'm in Boise again I think I might stick to the downtown density.
(3)Matt S.
Service was excellent, food was less than mediocre. Limited choices on carbs and veggies; new york strip was the most gristled piece of meat I've ever had in a restaurant.
(2)Rachel Z.
I had this as a 5 star. Lost one star because my chicken was overcooked and dry *tear (first time it wasn't cooked perfect) Waiter let us both run out of water, was at the bar talking to his girlfriend most the time, and made me feel awkward for dining there. Worst service and meal, we have had there. (which is ridiculous because it was MONDAY NIGHT haha and no one was there) Its gonna be a while before I go back, hopefully when I do they can get 5 stars out of me again.
(3)Mike R.
I had a little trepidation about trying Cottonwoood Grille after reading the latest reviews, but we took a shot anyways. I had been there before, but it had been several years. I remembered that the meals were enjoyable, and that there was a nice wine list. My friends an I totaled six last night. We had reservations, and we were seated on time. While the service was so-so,( waiter did for get a few drinks, not very polished), our food was very good. I had the lamb shank, which was very moist. Two of us had the scallops, and they were happy with theirs s well. We shared a few appetizers, and the escargot was excellent. I brought my own wine, and the $15.00 corking fee was a little high, I thought. All in all, we had an enjoyable evening. We were there for a few hours, and were not rushed to leave. I would recommend the food, and atmosphere. Service is spotty, but nothing serious. They do have a beautiful patio on the river for those nice days, and a very nice lounge also.
(4)MC B.
This was our least favorite restaurant on a recent trip to Boise. We had reservations for three but were taken to a two top. The restaurant has a cavernous feel to it and the tables are very close together. My husband had the meat and cheese appetizer plate and found some of the meat tough and the presentation poor, my son had the prime rib which he enjoyed and I had the chicken Caesar salad (which for $15.00 consisted of several romaine lettuce whole leaves and a piece of chicken plopped on top. I had to do a lot of cutting to eat it and it wasn't very tasty. Service was poor - we had to continually ask for things, which at a place such as this is unacceptable. We had made reservations through Open Table, which we usually do when travelling, and for a week after our visit Open Table indicated we were "no shows" according to the restaurant. I called the restaurant and spoke to a manager, Roger, who first asked if we were sure we went to the right restaurant and after sensing my annoyance said he would "make sure we didn't have a black mark at Open Table". His sarcasm was not appreciated. After waiting a week and nothing happening I emailed Open Table with our dining specifics and after two days Open Table corrected our status. There are not many positive things to say about this restaurant.
(2)David R.
This was a nice establishment. I was in the Pacific NW [last Fall] and decided to drive to Boise for the weekend. While in that region I wanted to try something new. I searched downtown Boise for a place that served Elk, I was told about the Cottonwood Grille and was not disappointed. The Elk was great and the service was good also! If I ever visit Boise again, I would probably go there! Five stars from me!
(5)Mindi R.
Sat at our table for 30 minutes & no one even took our drink order, even after we asked. Yet 3 staff members were standing in the corner laughing & chatting. Walked out.
(1)Tyson C.
The Cottonwood Grille is a fine dining establishment I have frequented dozens of times since they opened their doors and generally, I enjoy their food. I went there last night and tried their buffalo steak and was very happy with it. Actually, the whole meal was very tasty with the exception of their dinner rolls which I would stay away from. The problem with Cottonwood is that their quality is all over the board in terms of food. When it first opened, every meal you ordered was spot on and awesome but over the years something has happened. I know they lost their main chef and the older bartender is now gone too. It just seems like these days consistency is an issue. As I said, my meal last night was awesome but I wouldn't be willing to bet that my next meal there will be as good. Pluses: Great Service Good Lighting Good Drinks Pretty Good Food Very Ripe and Fresh Veggies (given the time of year of this visit especially) Minuses: Inconsistent Food Quality (especially for the price) Pretty Loud on the weekends
(3)Cyndi J.
My husband and I dined here for Thanksgiving dinner. The restaurant is beautifully appointed, but the three hostesses (yes three) were enough to knock a star off. We arrived about 20 minutes early for our reservation, as we tend to do, and I tell them that I know we're early. Almost every other restaurant hostess has seated us immediately with grace. These three looked at us and said in a condescending tone, one said, "it will be closer to your reservation time." She told us we could wait in the lounge and she'd come get us. The lounge was nice, but after waiting nearly an hour - and over half an hour after our reservation, I nicely asked our bartender how long the reservations were running. She made a phone call, and then snotty hostess number 2 appeared. This was off-putting, when they said they would come get us. But our server was absolutely wonderful. She was gracious and noticed as she opened our bottle of wine (fabulous wine list) that the cork was soaked with wine, and immediately replaced it for us, with apologies. She made the whole evening special. The bread is delicious, soft and tender. The crab cakes were good, not the best I've ever had. The bean and chorizo soup was just okay. I had the tenderloins with wine sauce, so tender and delicious, the mashed potatoes were good, and the green beans were fresh and cooked perfectly. My husband had the Thanksgiving dinner, which he loved. For dessert, the pecan pie - quite possibly one of the best ones I've had, the right amount of sweet, the crust was flaky with a savory taste. Oh, and the wine list is wonderful, a little of everything, including our favorite Paso Robles wine. Don't be put off by the snotty hostesses, why restaurants have "pretty" girls greeting others, I will never know, if you're not going to be nice, pretty doesn't do much. The food and the rest of the service here was wonderful.
(4)Pity D.
Unacceptably poor service and management. Made reservations for a party of eight for a later dinner on a weeknight. Restaurant was less than 25% full when we arrived. Which makes what what we experienced inexcusable. Our party of eight was crammed into two small tables that were haphazardly and lazily pushed together at an off angle. One table was 1.5 to 2" taller than the other. Two seats were placed at the very uneven and awkward seam between the tables. The seating was so tight that there was no other place for two people to move their plates than this seam. One end of the table was placed under a very bright canned light that shined straight down on one person. Everyone else was sitting under very dim lighting, making looking between the end seat and everyone else at the table awkward and uncomfortable. On a night as slow (or any other night) as this, especially when paying $25-50/ plate, this kind of lazy inattentiveness in absolutely inexcusable. The service was not the worst, but not the greatest and less than mediocre for a restaurant in Cottonwood's price range. Server was very slow to approach our table. Very slow to bring drinks, bread, etc... Most of the food was pretty good, but not particularly impressive for the price range. One dish was awful--the elk chop. It came drenched in an inexplicably strong and relatively bitter sauce. Not sure why a chef would cover elk in a sauce that overwhelmingly contrasts and competes with an already strong-flavored meat, rather than a sauce that complements it. Unless Cottonwood lowers their prices by 80% or drastically improves their management and service, I can not recommend dining there.
(2)Margaret R.
Your grandma's kind of restaurant--overpriced & bland. My entire family went here for my college graduation party. We were shocked at how terrible everything was considering the prices. It is reminiscent of dinner at my grandparents house. They were typical Midwestern cooks who kept it simple and bland. Spices like cayenne, salt, cumin, and the like were too exotic, and might upset a person's humors. Anyway, the most shockingly bad offering was the Cottonwood Platter. It is a cheese, fruit, fish, and cracker sampler platter. The cheese tasted old and a little dried out, the fruit was a boring assortment of grapes/unripened strawberries, and they serve it with What appeared to be Ritz crackers. We paid $16 for unripened fruit, dried out cheese, and the worst crackers ever. The meat was okay, but we decided that we would have been happier dining in that night.
(1)Brooke W.
Atmosphere, service and food! One of the best in town. It is a bit pricey so its definitely a great place for special occasions, not every day eating. They have a couple different rooms for groups that are great. We have been there with our staff for our Christmas Party. They were very accommodating. The food portions are a bit smaller, which leaves room for the AMAZING desserts.
(5)Bob B.
My friend and I were in Boise for 2 days and wanted to go somewhere a little special. We saw this great patio by the River Walk and decided to try it in spite of some reviewers reporting poor service experience. We were glad we did! Our waiter, Christopher, couldn't have been nicer. Though the fall evening was a little cool, when we requested a table outside they got one ready for us right away. Later, 2 guys set up one of those tall kerosene heaters next to us. She had the Idaho trout, I had the Alaska halibut, and we both had a wonderful evening. Recommend highly for a special night in Boise.
(4)Kathy S.
Went here on our first visit to Boise upon strong recommendations from our realtor. Was really disappointing and way too expensive. Service was mediocre at best ...snotty would be more descriptive. I had an tuna salad that I assumed would be FRESH tuna. Looked and tasted canned. Server nowhere to be found to ask about it. Another server got snotty with me that I did not know fresh tuna when I saw/tasted it. Won't be back
(2)Anthony M.
Everything was bad. Shrimp Scampi was nothing but Ramen Noodles in a whack sauce. The slow roasted sirloin was just a really bad roast beef served as a steak. The Idaho something trout was good, but tasted nothing of fish. I t was just covered in butter, hence tasty. All in all never going back
(1)Robbie P.
I've had better food for a whole lot cheaper, the tomahawk steak wasn't anything special you can get a better rib eye from the store for a quarter of the price. I will not be going back
(2)Kayla in B.
Hubby and I went to Cottonwood Grille tonight to celebrate our anniversary. Overall, it was a great dining experience. There were a few "rough around the edges" details that surprised me. First, we made our reservations online and I specifically mentioned that it was our anniversary and that we'd like a table near the fireplace if possible. When we arrived, there was no mention made of our request and we were seated in the middle of the room. Our reservation was for an odd time - 4:45 p.m., so it was far from hopping at that point. Also, it seemed really dim in the restaurant, and the gas lamp on our table wasn't lit - we had to light it ourselves (thankfully hubby had a lighter on him. We had an extensive wait before a waiter came by to take our orders (first asking, has anyone helped you guys yet?...umm, no..) After this point, the evening improved dramatically. We ordered the croquettas for an appetizer. They were okay, but I've had better at Bar Gernika. Still, they were tasty and for $5, not a bad deal. Both hubby and I ordered the prime rib for dinner and had salad to go with it. The salad was good - not great, but good. The prime rib, however, was amazing. Perfectly cooked, generously cut. Highly recommend it. Hubby loved his sides of baby red potatoes and green beans. My sides were decent - rice pilaf and veggies. We took dessert to go, the banana bread pudding and a slice of french silk pie. The pie was fabulous, the bread pudding, so-so. We would happily return to Cottonwood and recommend it to others. My entree's have always been solid performers, even if the side dishes were just, "meh"...
(4)Mary A.
I decided it's about time that I updated my review of the Cottonwood Grille. My husband and I have been to the restaurant in the past year--a few times in the summer where we dined on the patio and then last week. Our experiences have been good ones. On Sunday in anticipation of an evening concert we wanted a light meal and of course had time constraints. Both my husband and our friend ordered the crab cake appetizer plate which was ample--two lightly breaded crab cakes with a small salad on the plate. I opted for Shrimp Scampi, an entrée served with a salad. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the waiter was especially attentive. Before the dinner was served, he asked if I would like my salad brought along with my main course since the others had ordered appetizers. I thought this was very considerate of him since he recognized that we were going to a concert and it would save time. It was all good, including the cappuccinos that we opted for instead of dessert. I've found this restaurant to be very accommodating not just to a few diners but to large groups as well. It's also just a very beautiful space with the alder wood paneling, and large stone fireplace. Very nice ambiance and good food!
(4)Bill S.
Lovely ambiance seated outside on the Patio by the river for a Sunday Brunch. Food was terrific, wait staff was attentive and helpful but not in the way. I can see why my daughter and son in law love this place. This was the first restaurant experience for our grandson and it couldn't have been more enjoyable.
(4)Alexander T.
Fantastic, upscale dining in the midst of the potato county, Had a nice wine selection relatively cheap to moderate priced wines. They had great food with a nice selection of seafood, steaks, pasta, and much more. I had the Elk Loin, and it was delicious, they also had Marlin, which seemed great as well. Basically non traditional meats such as buffalo, elk, venison, and other non steak specialties. Highly recommended for a business dinner (basically micron or hp) or a special occasion, can be tailored to both with a gorgeous outdoor setting as well. Great service, great food, reasonable prices for the quality you get. (30~ a person + 10-20 for drinks)
(3)John E. Ringo M.
Sunday afternoon, we go in for brunch, while we're handed menus the wait person asks what we'd like to drink, I order ice tea my wife ordered water. (My wife takes medicine can't drink stuff like tea). Five minutes later they come back and set down two glasses of ice tea. My wife says she didn't order tea, she ordered water. The wait person argued she ordered ice tea! Wife said no she just ordered water. The wait person left our table leaving the glass of ice tea we didn't order and quit waiting on us, implying we had what we ordered, so now wife doesn't have water to take her pills with, my glass of tea is empty, and a full glass of ice tea sits on our table orphaned by the ice tea cold war. The wait person didn't take the tea back nor say anything like I'll get you water, they didn't say anything just walked leaving the unordered ice tea. So I'm now out of tea, wife has no water, and that glass of rogue ice tea sits there with the wait person ignoring us. I had to ask for the manager who brings over the wild eyed pissed off wait person who again argues we ordered ice tea! The manager got us water and more tea but by then I'm not digging being there. This happened, sorry and if anyone thinks of a better way I could of handled this please advice, but most everyone says just don't go back. Maybe they're right, why go back when there are great places all around that area?
(1)Nerob O.
I was here 8 years ago and so we decided to try it again since we were in town. We were here on a Sunday evening a bit worn out from skiing so it was nice to sit and relax at a table by the fire. A real fire I might add. Most of the folks eating looked like they were ordinary folks on a splurge night or birthday. The very professional waiter addressed me and my children as "gentlemen" instead of calling them bud or buddy or trying to humor them. I quite enjoyed the oysters rockefeller and the elk that I ordered but they forgot to bring my black bean and chorizo soup. I didn't need it anyway and besides, I had a lot of stuff like that last month in Tampa. I was impressed that they had sugar snap peas as an included side choice and they were great but the potatoes weren't all that good which is funny since this is spudland. Usually a place like this focuses on their wine list and they certainly did but I was very happy to be able to order a Pilsner Urquell. Often the beer selection is an afterthought at best so I was pleasantly surprized. It would have lessened the experience if I had to settle for something other than my favorite.
(4)Joseph M.
Visited Boise for the first time with my wife last week and we had dinner at Cottonwood. The Elk was to die for and the staff was excellent. It was a Wednesday night, and yet the place was absolutely packed. We were shocked at the business, and yet the waitress(from California originally, where we live now) introduced herself and gave us the rundown on Boise and how she would never leave. We felt right at home in a new town. After dinner, the manager came over, and he too introduced himself and welcomed us to Boise. For such a busy night, having worked in Food Service for 12 years myself, I was amazed at the personal attention and the accuracy with the ordering. We left Boise looking forward to returning(possibly permanently) and we'll be heading back to Cottonwood our first night back in town. Well worth it.
(5)Stephanie W.
The Cottonwood has gone downhill over the last year, especially in the areas of food quality and service. For the third time in a row, the sever has brought myself Andy guest the wrong food. The bill was adjusted for the right items - but it is such a bummer to not get what you ordered. Do not order the crab cakes as they taste like they are fried in old grease and are almost always over cooked. They used to be delicious.! Cottonwood used to be one of the places in town for a biz lunch, but not as of late. They are not known for anything exceptional and the crowd there is increasingly older. For the price, there are many other great chooses in dr Boise. And,!what is up with the giant soccer trophy in the bookshelves. Feels like a pawn shop now.
(2)Mike B.
Just spent 15 minutes sitting on the patio with NO service and NO sign of anybody working the patio. In less time then I was there and being ignored, I have a beer in hand, free chips and salsa and our order placed at a CHAIN restaurant! Not the first time I've had bad service here but it will be the last time I try to patronize this place. Don't waste your time or theirs!
(1)Laura P.
Had a waitress that insisted on making a scene after my meal was 40 minutes late. The rest of my party had gotten their food and finished by the time our waitress came back to tell me it will only be a couple more minutes. I quietly asked her to put it in a box to go, then she loudly exclaims, "No, are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure." and she continues to ask me the same question 3 more times. I was so offended by her behavior, she then shoves a salad I didn't order in front of my face and says, eat this, I said I was ok, and no thank you, since it was 9 in the morning. Horrible, Horrible. I am so disappointed, and to make matters worse, my mother got food poisoning from her salmon salad. I guess my patronage of the Cottonwood has ended.
(1)Steve L.
We've been going to the Cottonwood Grille for a number of years now and it continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in town. In fact, we love the ambiance so much that part of our house was designed after their fireplace. The food is consistently outstanding. We love the Steamers appetizer (oysters and clams with garlic and beer, topped with french fries). Our kids love the steamers and there's so much food in that dish, that two orders serves as an appetizer for the adults and serves as a meal for our two kids. The gazpacho soup is just wonderful. If it's one of the soups offered for that day, we pounce on it. There's a variety of main dishes to choose including seafood, chicken, lamb, beef and other Northwest meats, so there's something for everyone. The staff and owners have always been warm, friendly and helpful. You can't go wrong eating here.
(5)A V.
I am going to review this place just for their lunch, just for the simple fact that I have not had dinner here in years. Well, it is my favorite place in Boise for lunch. I have always had the best service here, except for one time, in the dozens of times I have eaten here. They bring as much bread as you'd like and always obligingly allow me to order my huge house salad in place of a regular meal. Very affordable for lunch and the best patio in Boise. They have the freshest greens in town and are pretty consistent, which is key to me either loving or hating a restaurant. The last time I ate here for dinner, they had the fireplace going and it was a fall dinner years ago, and wonderful, if my memory serves me correctly.
(5)Julia A.
I was with a big group. Felt like we were forgotten in the side room after food delivered. Food is over priced. Sea food linguine was like soup. Took 45 min after food boxed to get check.
(2)Shagen M.
I should have listened to the other reviewers on here!! Boy was I disappointed. My husband wanted to go to Red Feather Lounge for his birthday which we've been to before and LOVED but I wanted to try something new and decided on this place for us instead. I owe him big-time next year! The inside seemed a little like it was geared towards the old folks so we decided to eat outside which was nice but I was a little disappointed we couldn't see the river...that wouldn't be part of this review if the food wasn't so awful. My husband ordered the scallops which had zero flavor and I'd have to say about the same for my chicken with augratin potatoes. The sides you can choose from are so 1990 and it just overall seems to cater more to senior citizens than people who are willing to shell out $80 for a nice dinner for 2. We won't be back.
(2)Glenn P.
I had a business dinner here recently. Started with the app sampler, enjoyed it. There was a nice variety of items and plenty to share with others. The salad was rather standard, as was the dressing . For an entree, I had the monkfish - it was very good and well portioned. Others had the Elk. They didn't like it at all. The first serving was sent back and the second wasn't much better Overall a decent meal.
(3)Danna Z.
The food was excellent. We went for a family dinner and between the six of us we had oysters rockefeller, croquetas, and smoked trout for appetizers. All were very good. The caesar salad was very nice..definitely have the anchovies with it. Entrees included lamb shanks, grilled pheasant, rack of lamb and king salmon. And, of course, desserts that were passed around included wild berry cobbler, raspberry crime brûlée, mousse medley and key lime pie. Needless to say, we were all well-fed.....overly so. I would have given it five stars if the wait staff would have been better. Often, drinks were not refilled timely..we had to ask for more drinks, etc. while that wasn't a big issue, it should have been better service for this type of restaurant. Would definitely go back when we are in Boise again.
(4)Stanton C.
Wanted to check out this place since I've gotten here... but umm, it wasn't really all that great. I had the elk - dunno what I was expecting - probably something better. My first time with elk and it tasted... so-so. The potatoes, green beans, and yams it came with were BLEH. The salad it came with was nothing special... and the appetizers were okay. We had their appetizer platter - cheeses and meats, calamari sticks, crab cakes, grapes, and strawberries. Overall wasn't really impressed... the waiters had a rude way of interupting conversations to fill water... the place was pretty empty (we were there from 7 - 10 on a Monday)... meh. I would hope there's better places for business dinners...
(2)Pajemo P.
So my hubby and I made reservations for my 50th birthday, but after some rough patches years ago and after seeing some of the reviews here, we were almost dreading the experience. Did we make the right choice? Should we change our plans? Well, I must say we were both pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is the same as it's always been, very warm and tasteful. Love the patio when it's open. But I was mainly concerned about the food. Would it be average food at a not so average price? We started off with the salmon crab cakes and they were delicious. Okay nice start, but we have a ways to go. Then it was on to salads. Hubby's was the house salad with vinagrette. Very tasty and fresh. I had the ceasar, which was good but the bread cubes were really stale. I know cubes are best with day old bread, but these tasted like 4 day old bread. But the salad was otherwise very good. So still hangin' in there, more impressed than I planned to be. Hubby had the grilled Wahu fish which was done in, I think, an avocado relish and was very tasty. I had the Sea Bass, which was good but not as good as the Walu. A bit bland, but cooked perfectly. Then we topped it off with chocolat bread pudding. My, My that was really good. And to top the evening, my sneaky sister in Phoenix found out where we were going and called ahead and paid for the whole shebang. What a good "seester!" So, it was a very enjoyable evening, much better than we expected. The waitress was very pleasant and accomodating, albeit could have been a bit more attentive to the silverware issue. I just feel a 4 star or above restaurant should be replacing used flatware between courses and one shouldn't have to ask for a fork or knife after the dinner arrives. So don't be afraid to try Cottonwood at least once. Did we hit on a good night? Who's to know, but we enjoyed our experience. It wasn't flawless but it was worth it.
(4)Lisa E.
We went to Cottonwood Grille because my in-laws were in town and they wanted to go to a fine dining restaurant. At 6:15 p.m. on Friday the place was packed with people. Both the atmosphere and service were wonderful. The food was OK, not terrible but barely worth the high prices. My husband got the smoked fish plate, it had three palm-sized pieces of fish around a huge scoop of garlic mashed potatoes. He's a fisherman and loves fish. He enjoyed it and said he would give it four stars. My mother-in-law got the bucket of oysters (it's an appetizer but she had it as dinner). She ordered it in garlic and beer sauce and said it tasted good except that it was a bit too spicy - she doesn't do well with spicy foods. Grandma ordered Rack of Lamb. The mashed potatoes were cold and lamb was dry. She didn't care for it. I'm vegetarian. There are only two veggie entrees at Cottonwood. I ordered the Tomato Basil Capellini. The dish had way too much sauce for the amount of noodles served. It was edible but not a dish that would cause me to return. My guess is Cottonwood is one of those places that does a few dishes well. We haven't discovered those yet.
(3)Donna B.
This place is pricey, but the ambiance, food, setting, and pure luxuriousness of the restaurant was an unforgettable experience. I took out of town guests to this restaurant who are accustomed to "fine dining." This experience exceeded their expectations.
(5)Julie M.
Beautiful restaurant, good food with great selection and the perfect ambiance. Eat outdoors. Staff friendly and efficient. Tina was the best! Don't think the fanciness will cost you a pretty penny, prices are very reasonable for the size and quality of their entrees. Buffalo burger was excellent. Calamari caesar salad was perfect! If you like elk, they have that too in the form of a meatloaf. Worth trying... once. Highly recommended restaurant.
(5)Kathy W.
Interesting clientelle - i think it used to be the hip place to go, so lots of older clients. BUT, the mussels over fries is really good.
(3)E C.
I travel to Boise every couple of months and I never miss having dinner at Cottonwood Grille. The food is always amazing - my steak is cooked perfectly, the garlic mashed potatoes are out of this world and the caesar salad is the best I have ever had. If you are in Boise then definitely head straight towards Cottonwood!
(5)Gina B.
tasty entrees with a great ambiance....like a large log cabin. I had their fish which had a great balance of flavors. Overall, a nice restaurant in Boise!
(4)Joe T.
The food is decent but not uniquely tasty. A reviewer mentioned it was like hotel food and I have to agree. The atmosphere of this establishment inside is better than the food. I didn't have the Elk but instead went with the standard beef filet and found it to lack any good qualities to the preperation of the meal. I recommend Berryhill any day over this place
(2)Emile L.
So this is one of my favorite restaurants in Boise. Great location. I love to eat out on the patio during the summertime. It's fun to watch the people go by on the greenbelt. Yep, I'm a people watcher. The best food here is the seafood. Salmon is absolutely the berst. Very tasty. Cottonwood is expensive but worth it.
(4)Neil M.
The Tenderloin gave "tender" a new meaning. You won't need a knife! And, if you're feeling adventurous, the Buffalo was delicious. Service was excellent, outside dining in August was perfect and the price was extremely affordable. Need I say more? I think not.
(5)Jeremey P.
I applaud Cottonwood for their focus on organic and/or local food. We ate outside on a cool May evening and it was perfect. Great ambiance and food.
(4)Shayna W.
A nice place to go for a special occasion. It's right on the greenbelt so a walk after wards really adds to the night. The creme brulee is delicious.
(4)Eddie K.
One of the greatest restaurants I've been to in the US, and I've been to quite a few. The low prices on the wine list alone are enough to bring me back, but the quality of the food was the star the night we ate at Cottonwood. Can't wait to go back to Boise just so we eat there again!
(5)Wild W.
Old school food, uptight country club crowd. Good for business lunch.
(3)geo g.
Drinks were ok. Hour d voes were very good. Baked Bree yum. Calamari on sticks. Breading not so good. Tempura batter would have been better. But tender. Medium rare filet minion was served really rare and cold. Beef stroganoff was around firm wide noodles under cooked. More of a broth with tender beef tips topped off with a mound of sour cream. Ugly. Advertised with mushrooms, Morels. I got a quarter of one mushroom in the whole dish. I looked for the mushrooms. This is not a good way to serve this dish. Paula Dean has a basic recipe on line that would work better. Bean soup and French onion soup. Bean was just ok. FOS was just some onions in beef broth topped with a piece of bread and cheese baked till browned. No rich tastes, no buttery smoothness, onions were not cooked down till glazed, no apple cider, cognac or toasted bread. Could have been LIpton onion soup mix. Manager compt two items 25% for a total of about $15.00. I tipped that much. It is not the servers fault the kitchen does not know what it is doing. Suggest the manager eat some of the stuff coming out of the kitchen and really look at how it is being served.
(1)Dubya R.
Overpriced, mediocre food served in a generic hotel-like atmosphere. If you want good, creative American food, go to Berryhill or Red Feather instead.
(2)Lauren W.
You know, this place really is about the sentimental value to me. My mom and I would celebrate our birthdays and mothers day here when I lived in Boise. It was my destination spot for out-of-town guests before some of the newer restaurants popped up. It's comfortable (club chairs), high ceilings, fireplace - high-end lodgy, country club feel. The service is great. While a bit less lax than other locales, they still didn't scoff at my friend and me as we stuffed olives w/ blue cheese for our ritualistic reunion martinis. The patio is just lovely as is relaxing inside on cozy winter nights.
(4)