Nestled by the Boise River, the Cottonwood Grille offers seasonal Northwest fare, farm-fresh wild game, Double R Ranch northwest beef and fresh seafood. Our restaurant is ideal for any occasion, whether you want a romantic evening by a crackling fire in a rustic, wood-accented dining room or casual lunch by the river on a relaxed, expansive outdoor patio.
We're open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. We are also home to one of Boise's most popular happy hours, which happens daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along with more than 200 different wines, we offer private dining rooms that can accommodate up to 80 people and are perfect for receptions, business meetings or family celebrations.
We're open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. We are also home to one of Boise's most popular happy hours, which happens daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along with more than 200 different wines, we offer private dining rooms that can accommodate up to 80 people and are perfect for receptions, business meetings or family celebrations.
Services
Chef Jesus Alcelay knows food. He started cooking traditional Basque dishes when he was nine years old, learning alongside his mother Felisa in Onati, Spain. He officially began his culinary career as a sous chef in San Sebastian, Spain when he was 18. Eventually he married an American and followed her to Boise, where he opened his first Basque restaurant.
The full-service bar at the Cottonwood Grille offers something for everyone, featuring new, handcrafted specialty cocktails, Northwest and Idaho microbrews, and a wine list with more than 180 carefully selected vintages from around the world, including more than a dozen available by the glass.
The Cottonwood Grille's bar is also home to one of Boise's most popular Happy Hours, daily from 3-6 p.m and Saturday from 11-6, with $4 wells, $4 house wines and half-priced select appetizers.In warmer months, you can also enjoy these savings on our beautiful patio overlooking the Boise River and Greenbelt.
The Cottonwood Grille's bar is also home to one of Boise's most popular Happy Hours, daily from 3-6 p.m and Saturday from 11-6, with $4 wells, $4 house wines and half-priced select appetizers.In warmer months, you can also enjoy these savings on our beautiful patio overlooking the Boise River and Greenbelt.
Looking for an ideal place to host your next reception, business meeting or family celebration? The River Room is a dedicated banquet and event space at the Cottonwood Grille, perfect for meetings, events, private parties and special occasions, accommodating up to 80 guests. Finally, The Alcove, a more intimate private dining room, offers space for up to 28.
A gift card from the Cottonwood Grille is a great way to celebrate any occasion and the recipient will be treated to a special experience when they visit us. Cottonwood Grille gift cards are sent via first-class mail and usually arrive within 3-7 business days. They never expire and any unused balance can be reserved for a second dining experience.
Reviews (25)
Jessica S.
Jan 23, 2022
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Michele B.
Jan 21, 2022
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My first visit to Cottonwood was a completely underwhelming experience.
Apps were fine.... Calamari, Oysters (shucked early and dry), baked brie, and prawn cocktail.
Entrees were fine.... Seven dinners at the table and not a single person commented on their food being "enjoyable" or "delicious". My stroganoff was a sad, flavorless dish. I picked at it, but it was not worth eating.
The lighting is obnoxiously bright. Dimming the lights for dinner would give some ambiance. It felt like we were having dinner in the dining room of a convalescent home.
None of the staff was masked, making for an
Apps were fine.... Calamari, Oysters (shucked early and dry), baked brie, and prawn cocktail.
Entrees were fine.... Seven dinners at the table and not a single person commented on their food being "enjoyable" or "delicious". My stroganoff was a sad, flavorless dish. I picked at it, but it was not worth eating.
The lighting is obnoxiously bright. Dimming the lights for dinner would give some ambiance. It felt like we were having dinner in the dining room of a convalescent home.
None of the staff was masked, making for an
Michelle W.
Jan 14, 2022
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I find the venue beautiful. Alongside Boise River and surrounded by lush landscaping, it is hands down lovely!
I have enjoyed Happy hour multiple times... finding the bar staff friendly and the prices unbeatable.
The (4) star rating is due to my singular dining experience a recent Saturday evening.
Upon arrival I was greeted kindly. I had reserved in advance a particular table which was held for us. The major problem was the lighting. It was SO bright that it reminded me of a department store. No warmth, no ambiance, simply jarring.
I approached the manager and asked if it could be lowered.
I have enjoyed Happy hour multiple times... finding the bar staff friendly and the prices unbeatable.
The (4) star rating is due to my singular dining experience a recent Saturday evening.
Upon arrival I was greeted kindly. I had reserved in advance a particular table which was held for us. The major problem was the lighting. It was SO bright that it reminded me of a department store. No warmth, no ambiance, simply jarring.
I approached the manager and asked if it could be lowered.
Joyce Baker
Dec 30, 2021
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Dined in October 2021 at 630pm. Food quality has declined the past six months, probably due to the pandemic. Ordered a steak medium and received completely rare. I ate one bite. Fortunately the server was on it and did not charge me for something I never ate. The Oysters Rockefeller were terrific. The first time I had them here they were awful, yet this time they were perfect. Kind of hit and miss depending on the chefs that day.
Same with French Onion Soup. Have had it 4 times, different each time over 5 months.
Overall good, but it's clear they are having a difficult time keeping chefs this
Same with French Onion Soup. Have had it 4 times, different each time over 5 months.
Overall good, but it's clear they are having a difficult time keeping chefs this
Tara McCue
Dec 23, 2021
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My man took me here for my birthday (which happens to be Christmas Eve), and we received the absolute best service. I was able to get a lobster tail that was not on the lunch menu, the food was fantastic, and they even brought us a complimentary birthday dessert. Zach, our waiter, and the rest of the staff were super accommodating. A+ we will definitely be going back!
Molly Putnam
Dec 22, 2021
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We have been having a woman's dinner far beyond when I was allowed to go. At 16 years old we went to cottonwood grill and the experience is still the same. Awesome! It is now three generations that go including my daughter and daughter-in-law. The wait staff is wonderful always willing to accommodate a larger group. The food is wonderful and very mouth-watering. I highly recommend going to cottonwood grill if you want an ambience of fancy, good food, and great company.
Julia Riley
Dec 16, 2021
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Love this restaurant. A bit pricier (their lunch menu is very affordable and delicious too though), but worth it. Their steaks are delicious and the presentations are beautiful for every plate. Would definitely recommend, especially if you like dining outdoors by a beautiful setting and watching the birds in the pond, surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees.
Boid
Nov 21, 2021
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Absolutely overpriced, terribly overrated. The hostesses forgot to seat us a half hour after our reservation time. The waiter couldn't open the wine and it was a screw-top bottle! I almost suggested having my wife help her.
They leave the tails on the shrimp in a white sauce three-cheese ravioli. This is ridiculous. The "toast points" of their toasted brie appetizer are thick chunks of sour dough bread. Ummm, you kidding me?!?!
I'm so disappointed in what this restaurant has sunk to. I would consider this nothing more than a Red Robin with table cloths, however Red Robin is far better for and
They leave the tails on the shrimp in a white sauce three-cheese ravioli. This is ridiculous. The "toast points" of their toasted brie appetizer are thick chunks of sour dough bread. Ummm, you kidding me?!?!
I'm so disappointed in what this restaurant has sunk to. I would consider this nothing more than a Red Robin with table cloths, however Red Robin is far better for and
Cafi
Nov 20, 2021
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I've eaten here once before and had an enjoyable experience both times. This time we went for a wedding reception. Unfortunately, there was a big fiasco in that the reservation was canceled the morning of the wedding and no one knew until we got there. The wedding party confirmed the reservation multiple times but for some reason it was still canceled. BUT the manager on duty was great and the staff were able to accommodate us because they still had the banquet room available. We just had to wait for them to set up. It made for an interesting experience for all. The food and drinks were delicious
Jan S.
Oct 03, 2021
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We had brunch today and all of our meals except one were cold. It really ruined the meal. Potatoes were soggy and not cooked enough either. We did have a seat right next to the beautiful fireplace, but this place needs a makeover. Very outdated. I've lived in Boise for almost 30 years and have only been here a few times. I was reminded why today.
Amanda Morgan
Sep 25, 2021
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I've heard good things, but we had a terrible experience there for our anniversary. It took 20 min after our reservation time to be seated. Another 15 minutes before we were acknowledged by our waiter (and only after I called him over). We got our food an hour and a half after our reservation time. When my husband's steak came out (he had ordered it medium well) it was literally RAW. We had to take it home to cook it.
Marshall M.
Sep 11, 2021
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Tanya B.
Sep 07, 2021
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The location is what really makes this place! The ambiance is perfect for a romantic lunch or dinner! I got the steak sandwich for lunch which came with fries..
I asked for no mushrooms on the sandwich which apparently means no grilled onions either... no sauce or Mayo ext..
so it was meat and bread and super dry... I asked for bbq sauce which helped but overall I was not impressed.
I would not order that again but do think this place does deserve a second try. So next time I'm in town we will try again.
I asked for no mushrooms on the sandwich which apparently means no grilled onions either... no sauce or Mayo ext..
so it was meat and bread and super dry... I asked for bbq sauce which helped but overall I was not impressed.
I would not order that again but do think this place does deserve a second try. So next time I'm in town we will try again.
Mike H.
Aug 26, 2021
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We were very happy with our dining experience here. They are one of the few fine dining restaurants that serve GAME. Great staff, and indoor and outdoor seating. Wife had Ceasar Salad, Halibut Onati with a Lemon butter cream sauce. Added a Lobsters Tail. I had the North Atlantic Sea Scallops served on a bed of spinach with capellini in a creamy saffron sauce. We finished with a shared Blueberry Cobbler and Vanilla Bean Ice cream and a Cappuccino.
Dede S.
Jul 11, 2021
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Worst meal there ever!
Don't order the baked Brie, it had NO taste at all. Must be very cheap cheese. Best thing in the plate was the jam. I ordered spaghetti carbonara, and it too, had zero taste. Pancetta was so mild, there was no taste. This is a dish made with eggs and cheese and I couldn't tell there was either one in this dish.
I should have sent it all back, but with businesses struggling to come back, I felt it wasn't the time. $100 mean for our anniversary was the worst. My husband had pork chops that were good. We are not going back. Sad!!!
Don't order the baked Brie, it had NO taste at all. Must be very cheap cheese. Best thing in the plate was the jam. I ordered spaghetti carbonara, and it too, had zero taste. Pancetta was so mild, there was no taste. This is a dish made with eggs and cheese and I couldn't tell there was either one in this dish.
I should have sent it all back, but with businesses struggling to come back, I felt it wasn't the time. $100 mean for our anniversary was the worst. My husband had pork chops that were good. We are not going back. Sad!!!
Euphorically A.
Jul 06, 2021
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Got the steak salad and the entire dish lacked flavor (as in no flavor on the steak at all)
We also ordered the hummus and whoa! Hello garlic and a weird consistency.
Service matched the food as well. (Don't come around 3, it's a shift change and they would rather chat with one another than take your order or check to see that you actually like the meal)
We were so hoping for a better experience. Oh well.
We also ordered the hummus and whoa! Hello garlic and a weird consistency.
Service matched the food as well. (Don't come around 3, it's a shift change and they would rather chat with one another than take your order or check to see that you actually like the meal)
We were so hoping for a better experience. Oh well.
Keaven M.
Jun 29, 2021
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Phil E.
Jun 17, 2021
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My wife and I ate here 2 nights ago. We were celebrating our 52nd anniversary. I ordered the Ribeye and she the Tenderloin.
The good: Service was excellent and friendly.
The bad: My Ribeye was tough and flavorless. Tasted like a steak from Walmart or Winco. I sent it back and got the Tenderloin. The Tenderloin was tender but had very little flavor.
On our last visit here I had the Halibut which was very good.
If you want a good steak I would not recommend The Cottonwood Grille.
The good: Service was excellent and friendly.
The bad: My Ribeye was tough and flavorless. Tasted like a steak from Walmart or Winco. I sent it back and got the Tenderloin. The Tenderloin was tender but had very little flavor.
On our last visit here I had the Halibut which was very good.
If you want a good steak I would not recommend The Cottonwood Grille.
Ashlynn V.
Jun 17, 2021
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A few things to note here. First of all, I ordered pasta that was supposed to come with my choice of salad or fries. It did not, and I wasn't even asked about it. My pasta was cold and my friends was steaming hot. My pasta is as 16$, and I paid 4$ extra for shrimp. It came with a total of 5 shrimp. We waited about an hour for our food and it definitely wasn't worth the wait. Don't recommend, not worth how expensive it was. On the upside, our waiter was okay and the pasta was tasty, just cold.
Juli S.
Apr 17, 2021
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The Cottonwood Grille is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. The food and service is always excellent, and they have one of the best patios in the entire Treasure Valley. MW and I visited on 4/15/21.
I ordered Beef Stroganov ($23) - Tender morsels of beef slow cooked with onions and Cremini mushrooms in a rich sour cream sauce, served over fettuccine. This is a dish that is not always on the menu. I ordered it once years before and it was served with Elk instead of beef. Both times, it was the best beef stroganoff I have ever had. It's a generous portion that made two meals for me.
I ordered Beef Stroganov ($23) - Tender morsels of beef slow cooked with onions and Cremini mushrooms in a rich sour cream sauce, served over fettuccine. This is a dish that is not always on the menu. I ordered it once years before and it was served with Elk instead of beef. Both times, it was the best beef stroganoff I have ever had. It's a generous portion that made two meals for me.
Tamara C.
Feb 14, 2021
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Kalyn S.
Oct 07, 2020
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We were first timers on Monday. We got married and wanted to sit outside, away from people and have lunch. We were not disappointed. The service was phenomenal, food was good, portions were on the small side but I appreciated that during lunch. My husband had the steak with a butter sauce that was incredible. We had baked Brie as an app, the bread was really hard but the jam delish. I had the Cajun chicken breast over a Caesar salad, really good. Cocktails were great, sound of the fountain relaxing. We'll return.
Christina C.
Sep 18, 2020
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Drew C.
Jun 29, 2020
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This was my first visit to cottonwood; it came highly recommend. I went to try brunch with several friends. We choose yo sit on the patio which was very nice. Our waiter was super friendly and outgoing. We were a big group and he did a fantastic job taking care of us. Our water and coffee cups were never empty the whole time; staff was very attentive. I think for me the dining experience fell flat in terms of the food. I found the food to be average and a bit spendy. I ordered the eggs Benedict was supposed to be with pork tenderloin what came out was more ham than pork tenderloin. The hash browns
Kristann U.
Mar 11, 2020
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Last night hubs and I went to Cottonwood Grille for dinner. We went early to beat the crowd. I went to CG when it first opened up but haven't been back for quiet sometime. The restaurant when arriving was beautiful, spacious, and clean. When we got there initially we sat in the bar area. I have to say our Happy Hour Bartender wasn't impressive. We placed a drink order and after that first initial drink - he never came back. I am guessing it's due to the fact that we weren't chugging drinks like the other table (two loud and obnoxious ladies). The lack of acknowledgement and
