The Gas Lantern Drinking Company — Restaurant in Boise

#boisenative We went here before a show at the Morrison Center. I didn't want to go. Hate downtown now. I was so pleasantly surprised. The food was absolutely amazing and the drinks were off the hook good. I was expecting another overly priced downtown bar and was way wrong. My group of 8 walked in as they opened and I'm pretty sure we ordered everything off both the drink and food menu's. Nothing was bad. We were shocked at how great everything was. You have to try the egg roll poppers!!!

Ok, here's the con. Although our servers were amazing and I was blown away how our bar tender could make suck amazing drinks for as many people as were there the service was incredibly slow. I don't blame any off the staff though. They were trying so hard and so pleasant to everyone. They were just short staffed. If you're a downtown bar you can not have 1 bar tender and 1 server on a Friday evening prior to multiple shows and events. Ownership you have something great going on here. Don't let it slip away because you're afraid to hire people.

I will 💯 go back at least once and I'll continue to tip the amazing staff we had very well, but 2 people can not be expected to keep up with that...

Okay. This isn't a picture of one of their magnificant cocktails, because as cocktails go, these are right up there with the kind of cocktails you'd rave about in New York at the hippest new speakeasy, minus the pricetag. The two page paper cocktail menu has bourbon (whisky) drinks, tequila, vodka and gin drinks with the bulk of the drinks falling into the bourbon (whisky) category. Don't be afraid, they are perfectly crafted and the fact that there aren't any uber trendy cocktails on the menu is refreshing. (If you want a Moscow Mule or vodka soda, go somewhere else like Bardonnay where they cater to that crowd). I digress. The ambiance is somewhere between modern meets Westworld meets subterranean lounge colliding with a bar in one of Robert Rodriguez films. The Mexican tilework next to the cowboy leather round bar stools are a sleek place to sit and imbibe. The curved front of Gas Lantern is all glass and even if you sit inside, it's breezy and light. There's also a very sexy pool table smack dab in the middle of the room. Need anymore? No, no you don't. Boise got lucky with...

VERDICT: The definitive stop for a chill bar experience.

DRINK: Beers are cold and delicious, draught right to the rim of the glass, with a proper head. Their cocktails bring a twist on things, definitely worth a taste. I prefer beers and food, personally.

FOOD: Food service comes from Smoke & Thyme. Their food is par excellence. I recommend their wings with a nitro Cali Creamer or a Bavarian pretzel and their IPA (they rotate, but they've been good). I'll do a more in-depth review on Smoke & Thyme in the future.)

SERVICE: This place is pretty top-notch. Simple service, and then I'm left alone to enjoy my company or solitude.

ATMOSPHERE: There's a pool table that's free. I find the whole experience sublime to eat and drink in peace while playing pool.

ALSO NOTE: The last several times I've gone, the patrons have all respected...