Kahootz Steak & Alehouse — Restaurant in Meridian

Well to start off, I've never been to this place. Now for the gooey details. Walk inside- WRONG! Hostess is outside. See hostess outside and at 8pm says wait would be 45min for a table inside, or pick outside and it might be sooner. Well the place closes at 9 so I really didn't feel like getting seated as they close and feel rushed. While sitting in my car, I noticed all sorts of people leaving inside and multiple tables being cleaned and sitting empty for 20minutes. Then I get a call. Was told outside table opened. I asked about the inside tables, no good answer. Get seated, 35° it's cold, of course. The 3 fires and radiant heat above barely take the edge off. Really need to think about the thick clear plastic outdoor shields to hang to help with climate if the majority of your business seems to be outdoors. Wife goes to order a French dip. Out of French dip. I go to order soup. Clam Chowder. My other pet peeve. Clam chowder is the normal for a Friday at the majority of every restaurant I've ever been to, and to be told it's just because we have too much leftovers of it they have to use it on Saturday is not acceptable. For someone that does not care for that particular soup, I don't like the fact that I go to a place not expecting it on a Saturday, and it shows it's ugly face. So I order the wings. Not bad, it's the wing and drumstick all together, yah get 5. For $12 something, not sure if I would order again. My wife and I both got the Club sandwich. I wasn't about to get a steak, even though we are at a steakhouse, when I'm sitting in thirty some degree weather just so my steak gets cold before I can finish eating it. I've been writing this review since I've been waiting for our food. Going on 30minutes. Server just came out and told us that the kitchen is out of noodles for my kids meal he wanted. They are 10minutes from closing, guessing they are not out, but just don't want to make any at this time of night. Our club sandwiches come out, fries pilled on top. Gotta grab them and put them on the side to get to the sandwich. The club wasn't anything different from any other deli I've been to. The server was nice, and that's about it. Don't know what else to say, very mediocre performance by a place I took a gamble on with what seemed to be mostly good reviews on it. Guess I was going to be the bad luck. Gave this 2 stars as 1 star described on Google is "hated" it, and hate is a strong word, and is only saved by the most treacherous...

I came to Kahootz and was welcomed by what you'd expect of a locally owned Idaho watering hole I.E. knowledgeable bartender, early greeting, open seating options with just enough hospitality, multiple refreshing drink or appetizers offered without much delay, and a good balance of family friendly options like soda but an impressive display of tap handles that took me on a journey of national favorite, through local selections, and even into a few chilled wine selections.

I found the vibe and selections quite comfortable and after an easy selection and a pleasant conversation with the bartender Roger, I looked over the menu and was honestly surprised at the selection.

Instead of fried everything and be a few sandwiches, I was being offered multiple steak cuts, prime rib specials, creative takes on classics, and not only a weekly special, but a Fresh Look on an entire menu created by the chef and his team, primarily displaying local ingredients or influences.

I choose a Manhattan cut filet because I don't prefer bacon wrapped. I got the loaded baked potatoes, the veggies that accompanied it, and I chose to add on the snow crab. It came accompanied with a firm slice of bread that I was very thankful for after requesting raw horseradish and au sous from the kitchen (yeah they had em on hand in this "bar").

I could write 4 pages about how that food is worth every penny... But I'm going to save that for a blog, as this post is long enough.

I'm no expert but bang for the buck, Kahootz is the best I've seen in a while. If anyone has a rival, man I look forward to trying it too as the culinary world in Idaho is...

I have been a regular patron at Kahootz since just after they opened, and they've been a model of consistency. Although they no longer hold the title of largest beer selection in the valley, they're very selective about the 40 or so taps they have available at any given point...you're not likely to find many brews here that aren't excellent. The wine selection is also top-notch, and in recent years they've added a limited selection of liquors as well, should that tickle your fancy.

Of course, the real reason to come here is the food, and it does not disappoint. If you're in for lunch any of the sandwiches or (gigantic) salads are delicious, but my personal favorites are the club sandwich or the fish tacos (honorable mention for the Hawaiian salad). For dinner you can't go wrong with any of the steaks, but if you're in on one of the nights they offer the prime rib, I'd recommend that as a go-to. For pasta dishes the chicken Marsala is the best I've ever had, and for soups try to get in on a Friday for the clam chowder. On Fridays and Saturdays there is also a fresh sheet of dinner specials, and they're always worth a look. They tend to sell out quickly though, so get in early!

Really about the only negative is the fact that there's limited seating, so if you're there during a busy/popular time there's going to be a wait. Apparently the owners have considered a larger space several times, but were concerned about their ability to continue to deliver an excellent experience on the larger scale. Trust me, it's...