Modern Bar and Restaurant

Classic, groovy, and the best company! Amazing staff who went above and beyond. The hotel is updated, clean, and in a perfect spot of downtown. Walking distance to so many things. They also offer bikes at no charge to the guests. Make sure to visit the bar... Amaro makes the perfect slightly dirty martini. For being downtown, it's still quiet and very comfortable. Highly recommend. Great local feel. Retro vibes. Amazing staff. Great, I mean great, food.

A great chic little local spot on the ground floor of a hotel. They serve great food and drinks and are constantly changing the menu. The menu selection is a little small but they do have some different sections of the menu to choose from, apps, soups and salads, entrees and desserts, just only around 4 options in each category. Everything I have ever had here has been great, it's just a little pricey if you want to try lots of different things.

A very cute and quirky restaurant tucked inside a modern motel. I had dinner there twice in a row and really enjoyed it—great service, tasty food, and little European portion sizes that I like. Priced accordingly to the size. The food is not perfect, but it’s definitely good enough to come back to for a picky eater

Absolutely outstanding experience at The Modern Bar! Our server (Ngen) was so attentive and her timing was immaculate. She started by telling us their drink special for the evening, as well as the soup of the day, while answering all of our questions and adding recommendations. Extremely knowledgeable and kind! Starting with our cocktails, we were blown away. Very refreshing and delicious. The charred asparagus salad was unique and tasty in every way. Our second round of drinks were different than what my partner or I might usually order and were both, again, thoroughly pleased. For entrees we shared the HALIBUT and oh my goodness!!! So eloquently prepared and displayed- wrapped in a perfectly cooked leafy green, every so tightly that it held its shape and maintained its moisture content. Could not have been more perfectly cooked. The GNOCCHI was also some of the most perfectly cooked that I have ever experienced. Chef Jade came out, upon our request, to explain to us how the halibut is prepared and was very informative and nice! I don't want to be the longest review ever written, but I have nothing but good things to say about this place, their food, and their staff! 10/10 would recommend!

Always a favorite! Their mocktails are wonderful, the apps are filling, and their entrees are fantastic when we stay for dinner. I love the intimate atmosphere. Make sure you catch them hosting Campfire Stories, too! With the extreme heat, the staff made sure everyone had a full water glass whether they were there for dinner/drinks or not. It's a lovely venue for writers to read their work.

My compliments to the chef. This food was so fresh and delicious. The taste was perfectly balanced and pleasing to all the senses. It was light, rich and flavorful. I’m very particular about the quality of my food and I don’t have a single complaint. My server Taryn was very courteous and attentive. I highly recommend supporting this very special small business. I will remember this meal for a long time.

Food is absolutely delicious, with a rich mix of textures and flavors, drinks were equally great although I do wish there had been some pairings offered with the specific dishes! The staff we interacted with was very nice, I do wish the room was bigger for more quiet dining, but didn't take away from how incredibly good the food is!

One of my very favorite restaurants. The food is fresh and local, menu changes frequently, and the patio is wonderful.

Mixology on steroids! Stopped in with my husband early on a Friday - no trouble finding a seat on the patio. The drinks are divine! Happy hour with all drinks 20% off 4:30-6:30 pm. My husband had The Layover and I had the Roseberry Manhattan - both were on fire-great!! Also shared the tempura squash and the gnocchi- both beautifully prepared and presented! Sweet patio courtyard. Taryn and company were great. Thanks, bartender! We will return soon. If you haven't been recently or ever- you should give it a go!

Excellent place for a private party. We booked a bridal shower tea with Polly at Modern Bar and Restaurant. She was so willing to accommodate our vision and even encouraged us to bring in all the special details we knew would make it special for our bride. Zander was our personal server and host for the tea party and provided more than we could have imagined in: enthusiasm, attention and fun. He was knowledgeable about tea and didn't miss a beat with our guests or the bride. Bring your creative ideas to the Modern, they will not disappoint.

Staff is great, felt like I was at my home bar but with a better bartender! Kitchen was down due to hood being replaced, but I'm sure it would have been top notch.

Very OK. Good drink options, ok food. Nice outdoor space. Service was inattentive but not bad. QR code menu required.

My steak was juicy and tender, and the fries were crispy! Clam chowder was delightful as well! All the servers were friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed the elegant, modernist vibes of the restaurant!

I love the Modern and make it a must to stop at the restaurant when I'm in town every couple of months. They have the best menu, and the food is probably one of my favorites in Boise. I love all of their international dishes with in-season ingredients. Though this particular day, I was not too hungry, so I asked the bartender what snack I should get and she recommended the light tempura baked cauliflower. The flavor was out of this world, and I was instantly a fan. For a drink, I was in the mood for something sweeter, so I tried the delicious rum, and coconut milk drink. It was the bartender's favorite recipe from her family in Puerto Rico. She added nutmeg to this cold delicious drink, it was divine!

I don't even recall when I first stayed at this hotel, maybe 2012. I've been back many many times since. The Modern is always the first and/or last stop of my ski season travels. Coming or going, you will find me enjoying a cocktail at the modern bar after a long drive. Given its tiny size and location in a boutique hotel far enough off the main drag to be inconvenient, it's always packed. Kind of the place to be seen in Boise. The drinks are awesome and the food is excellent. If you're a guest of the hotel, their complimentary breakfast is superb ... How many places have you stayed where a bacon fritatta is a breakfast choice? None, that's how many.

Really great meal, perfect spot for a little date night. The inside is small, but quaint. Unfortunately, we did have an older couple sit next to us who watched the news on their phone for half the meal at high volume which was very annoying, but not the restaurants fault... Onto the food, we shared everything. We started with the cauliflower app and it's probably one of the best cauliflower dishes I've had. So much so I went home that week and attempted to re-create it! The Kalamata olives and Peppercinis complemented the baba ganoush flavor wonderfully. My boyfriend who doesn't even like cauliflower loved this dish. Next we got the mushroom soup. It was okay, completely puréed so I got a little bored of it. A cup size would have been perfect. They do add these strange like rice croutons ontop, could have used a bit more for added texture. The chicken dish was fantastic, honestly not even sure what it was filled with but the squash it was accompanied by was to die for. I got a glass of wine and my partner a cider and our bill was over $100 for sharing 3 plates....definitely a pricy meal, but worth it for a nice, quiet evening out.

Very strange setting, but the food and service were great. Starting with the cocktails, very good and unique. The bread and pickles were a good choice to start the meal. As was the heirloom tomatoes. The braised pork belly entree was perfect too.

We came in on an extremely hot day so outside seating for us was a no go though the patio looked great and had a nice big mister. Unfortunately with seating inside it was super loud in there. We had to tell the whole time we talked. The atmosphere inside was also pretty lacking. Our server was super friendly and kind. Everything came out quickly and every single dish had tons of flavor. My husband and I both finished our entrees easily. I wish we would have ordered a salad too since the ahi tuna was very small for our appetizer. The dessert was so fresh and not too heavy. Perfect way to end our meal. We both enjoyed our meal so much. Our only complaint really was the acoustics in the tiny restaurant. Even on a Wednesday night during their rush it was too hard to hear each other.

Revisited - never disappointed- tasty mocktails, amazing appetizers of fresh bread, olives, pickles and whipped butter. Highly recommend this wonderful restaurant.

Excellent, great service, wonderful food, delightful experience. We will be back soon, and will recommend The Modern to friends.

"Woohoo"! The Modern is phasing in to reopening with a limited menu for take out two days a week with first pick up available Friday 5/8/20. See their web page for the details. (Linked at end for your convenience.) HOW IT WORKS: In a nutshell... *Use their easy to navigate interface at the web page to order food (libations available too) and reserve a time of your choice on Tuesdays and Fridays (4p to 7p) for orders placed in advance from a short list of mains and sides. Credit card is charged at order so pick up is transaction contact free. *Orders placed between Thu and Sun to be picked up on Tuesday. *Orders placed between Mon and Wed to be picked up Friday. *Menu changes weekly and is posted on the web page every Thursday. *Mains are $15 - $16 each and sides around $7 to $12. Cocktails start at $40 and sized to serve 4. Wine selections by bottle for as little as $20 to start. Remember to add a gratuity! *Pick up is in Modern's parking lot. Specify at time of order if you want delivery to car or pick up from the outside table. (They provide home delivery option within a limited area.) If to car pull into spaces marked 1 or 2 and call number on sign. UPDATE NOTE 5/9: SOME COOKING IS REQUIRED FOR SOME DISHES. We so appreciate the Modern (see previous reviews) and that their Chef (Nate Whitley) uses the same kind of local sourced products we buy to use at home. So we eagerly placed our order to pick up on Friday 5/8 at 4:15p to try this on their first day. *We were surprised to find mains are not ready to serve but very well packaged (recyclable containers too) refrigerated sort of 'meal kit' that require a little simple cooking at home. ( 1- Example: brown up the gnocchi in a little olive oil in pan on cook top before adding mushroom ragu and kale to simmer a bit to heat all and soften kale, plate it up, add parmesan, good to go. 2 - Example: heat polenta in oven, heat lamb meatballs in pan on cooktop for a little 'color up' then add berbere sauce to simmer and heat through, add spinach to wilt, plate polenta with warm meatballs and sauce, good to go.) A 4x6 card for each dish with easy to follow instructions is provided. *The web page didn't specify when we ordered that some easy finish cooking would be required at home. This is only a tad more complicated than 'heat and eat', but I know (seriously) people who would find this daunting. And some who don't find it at all daunting but who may not want to have to do any finish at home after evening pick up. And pans will be dirtied needing washing. Now you know. *My husband and I sipped a glass of wine as we stood side by side at cooktop preparing the two dishes we ordered. Each of which was absolutely delicious and generously sized. (We pulled Gaston's baguette out of our freezer to heat in the oven along with the polenta so we'd have it to wipe up every drop of the fantabulous sauces. Good plan.) POSTSCRIPT RE DINING GRATITUDE IN TIME OF COVID19: We have valued the "all people are welcome" vibe at Modern so even we whose 60's and beyond are the road ahead find the hospitality has always been a draw for us. (See previous reviews dating back to 2013.) We are local food fan(atics) and miss our meals at Modern that supplies such great ones using the same local farmers and producers product that we do at home. But we are both in an age demographic that is being encouraged to limit restaurant dining even beyond May 16 when eateries who chose to re-open for in house dining in Idaho cam do so. So even after Modern reopens for in house dining, we need to restrain ourselves to eating out for a while longer to follow CDC guidelines in ongoing covid19 management. Which makes us grateful when we can pick up Modern's food to take-away until we can join back in in person. And through take-away have a chance to continue to support the Modern employee team who make it all work so well by buying the food and leaving gratuity. Life is short. Celebrate it with great local food. BUT...EQUAL ACCESS CONCERNS: I have had multiple sclerosis (MS) since college days. I rely on businesses to follow the now 30 year old rules of the Civil Rights law of ADA to be able to park and get in the door to have a seat and participate equally with everyone else. Modern has always done a good job of ADA compliance for parking. I was disappointed to see they have converted their ADA parking into pick up order parking. Had I needed to park to get out of my car, I would have been unable to do that. I'm expecting they will return it to ADA parking when they reopen. And as they move forward to revamp part of their outdoor dining and expand it, I hope they will make the required ADA changes to make the outdoor space accessible. Their existing patio excludes people like me. FOR TO ORDER INFO SEE THIS: https://www.themodernbar.com/modern-to-go-dinner-boise

Had an awesome experience with their NYE dinner menu! The complimentary sips were much appreciated throughout the meal, and there were a number of exciting menu options that made it difficult to choose from. I know things have changed lately, but the food reminded me of what I refer to as the "Remi" days. While he is off elsewhere still doing amazing things, I'm stoked to put this place back on our list as a go-to spot. Great service also!

Absolutely outstanding experience at The Modern Bar! Our server (Ngen) was so attentive and her timing was immaculate. She started by telling us their drink special for the evening, as well as the soup of the day, while answering all of our questions and adding recommendations. Extremely knowledgeable and kind! Starting with our cocktails, we were blown away. Very refreshing and delicious. The charred asparagus salad was unique and tasty in every way. Our second round of drinks were different than what my partner or I might usually order and were both, again, thoroughly pleased. For entrees we shared the HALIBUT and oh my goodness!!! So eloquently prepared and displayed- wrapped in a perfectly cooked leafy green, every so tightly that it held its shape and maintained its moisture content. Could not have been more perfectly cooked. The GNOCCHI was also some of the most perfectly cooked that I have ever experienced. Chef Jade came out, upon our request, to explain to us how the halibut is prepared and was very informative and nice! I don't want to be the longest review ever written, but I have nothing but good things to say about this place, their food, and their staff! 10/10 would recommend!

Boise's BEST cocktail spot. Killer drinks, awesome vibe. Bartenders are on point every time.

So let me just say this! By far best brisket I have had I years. Polenta cake was absolutely mind blowing. I'm not even joking when I say mind-blowing. I've had polenta cake many times. This polenta cake is by far the best I've ever had. Service incredible. Eat here you will not be disappointed.b

This was a surprising find. We were hesitant from the outside as it is on the bottom floor of a motel, but don't be deceived. It's a tiny restaurant, but this just means the service is amazing. We had the fried cauliflower and tempura vegetables for our appetizers, the local melon gazpacho with cucumber sorbet, and for our mains we had the gnocchi and tagliatelle. Everything was excellent.

Not good selections for family and only time for children is in the morning hotel breakfast with no options for children. The two plates I saw looked nasty

My wife and I stayed at the hotel for an anniversary weekend getaway. Nice accommodations with the room and front desk. Was a bit out off by the redheaded barista. She just seem to have an attitude each morning. Didn't offer the best breakfast service either. We decided to give the restaurant a try for dinner. I had the tagliatelle. I would have bet my life that it was Hamburger Helper beef stroganoff. When it was first set on the table, my wife immediately commented that it looked like Hamburger Helper. One bite and I was quickly taken back to my childhood when we used to eat the boxed food. Now that I am an adult, I expect a $27 entree to taste far different from a box meal.

It's been a few weeks, so I can't remember everything we ate and drank, but... we had quite an excellent evening at the Modern. Drinks were the star of the show - the menu had some really interesting combinations and the 5 at our table all enjoyed two rounds - every single cocktail was a huge winner. Food wasn't too shabby either. Fish, duck, pasta, curry. Lots of appetizers too. We left very full and very satisfied. Maybe a few too many fried items but the flavors were fantastic and the portions were good. Decor was a little sterile, service was a little weak (they were short-staffed). But the quality of what they're serving is enough to round them up to 5 stars. This place is worth a visit.

Modern is by far is one of our favorite places to eat! Every time we are in town we have to make our first stop here.. for all of you that are confused by the menu and ingredients do not let it deter you.. yes this is not your average steak and potatoes restaurant! everything on the menu is phenomenal and love the unique ingredients and pairings.. honestly this is the most amazing thing about this place.. modern is not like any other restaurant here.. everything is done so beautifully and tastes amazing.. The service here always Exceeds our expectations everyone that works here is so friendly.. we love this place!!

A friend recommended the Modern Hotel in Boise; we ignored the 1950's motel pictures on the internet and booked on faith of the recommendation... We were not disappointed. The hotel room was spotless, the mattress beyond comfortable, and the décor modern and up to date.. Oh- but the restaurant and bar.... From the opening cocktail, the appetizer; the main courses and the wine pairings; to the closing Armagnac- all were amazing. Our bartenders- Chris and Megan were fantastic hosts, and knew their spirits, wine, and menu offerings. This is my first 5 star rating and am overjoyed to give it! Btw- the crispy duck and the beer filet were aw

Everything is amazing and fresh. It's a taste bud explosion! Service and ambiance is perfect

I drive through Boise once a year every year on my way from Vegas to seattle. I've stayed st this hotel Every Year for the last 3 years since I discovered it's existence. I'm obsessed with the vibe and everything about it. The bar and restaurant attached to it could survive on their own because they are so good. It's definitely part of what keeps me coming back. The cocktail program is legit here. I see fun and innovative new drinks every year. The palmeini was so amazing, I almost ordered a second round. That broth thru come in should be sold in stores! I have ONE complaint. There is this server or staff member that has the most unwelcoming demeanor i've ever encountered. When I sat at the bar she didn't greet me, so i said "hello" to her while she placed a menu in front of me, and... nothing. No smile no nod, just a stare back at me like I sat at the wrong place. If not talking to your guests was bad enough, she had the worst case of resting bitch face ive ever seen. I almost felt bad for her because I could tell she just hated the industry she's in. I'm in the service industry myself, so I totally get having bad days, or just not vibing with a client, but it seemed to just be how she was with everyone. Now, I wouldn't say anything if it was just the one time, but I literally remember this happening LAST YEAR, so it's not an isolated incident. The way she treated me made such an impact last year that I just didn't give a review. I won't take a restaurant down in stars because of one server on one day, but I also don't give them my 5 star. I just felt compelled this time to give my rating for the restaurant/bar and hopefully give the manager or owner a tip about resting bitch face. It's seriously like she doesn't want us to be there.

I LOVE The Modern. I've stayed in the hotel and have dined there many times with friends - usually, me with another couple. Every time was an excellent experience. One of my favorite places in Boise. Recently, I was invited to join four other friends for a Birthday Celebration at The Modern Bar. We had a great time and enjoyed great food and drinks. UNTIL, we were informed that the cashier would only take three cards. (There were five of us.) This information was not given to us up front - only when the almost $300 bill arrived. (Most restaurants these days keep a tab on each diner and give separate receipts.) I had cash. The others only had cards. It took forever figure out how to divide the bill, the tip and who owed whom on Venmo. (I don't have Venmo.) Definitely, put a damper on what was previously a fabulous evening. They could have turned our table over much sooner to the next diners, if the payment had not become such a math problem. Very disappointing. We'll do celebrations elsewhere in the future.

Inviting and unpretentious setting. Thoughtful and unique cocktails. Each food dish was exceptional. Very highly recommend.

What a nice surprise on our Boise stopover. Great cocktails in the courtyard after a bike ride downtown. Small plate dishes were all home runs - very creative, fresh and tasty. Friendly service all around. DO NOT skip the churros.

I'm a big fan of cocktails, and I was blown away by how well made & perfectly balanced drinks we were. Perfection! The octopus pazole and the duck served 2 ways (carnitas on a sopapilla & crispy breast with a pistachio mole) was muy delicioso! Friendly & knowledgeable staff offering fantastic service made it a perfect experience.

Great small bar vibe but pleasant surprise to have wonderful food. Not a huge menu but works to their advantage- and our's . Food especially fresh and delicious. Stop in ! You will enjoy this delightful place .

I could not tell you the name of these drinks because The Modern is always changing up their menu--offering cool, different, and delicious cocktail recipes... but I have to say, these drinks were hands down the best cocktails we had the entire time we visited Boise. I definitely recommend stopping by The Modern for pre-evening cocktails and conversation! We were lucky the place wasn't busy while we were there so we were able to chat with the awesome employees.

We came for appetizers and drinks.The food was beyond excellent perfect small plates. Drinks were delicious and they even have non alcoholic choice. perfect place to start or end a great evening! Will definitely come back! Staff was awesome too!

My friends and I visited the Modern today for the first time since the pandemic. The Modern had been a favorite of ours for years. It used to be my go-to spot for taking out of state friends as a way to show off local cuisine. The menu always had unique dishes with surprising and delightful flavor profiles. Much of the food was locally sourced. I suppose the restaurant is under new management? The menu offerings have completely changed. The menu is now only small tapas-style offerings. That said, the pricing of the menu is not tapas-style. Be prepared to spend quite a lot if you are looking for a meal. Also, as far as I can tell, the menu is no longer focused on locally-sourced ingredients. The menu today included Spanish tortilla. You'll find better around the corner at Txikiteo. Also on the menu was vegetable tempura. Look for better tempura at any number of local Japanese restaurants. The roasted Brussels sprouts were unimaginative and you can find a better sprouts at the Matador. The Buffalo eggs had a fairly interesting blue cheese sauce, but were ultimately forgettable. No one in my group had any "Oh wow!" moment with their food (as once could be expected at the Modern) and everyone planned to get food elsewhere afterwards. That should speak for itself. The cocktails on offer remain diverse in presentation with nuanced flavor profiles. At least that much has remained the same. If I return, it will be for the cocktails and I'll pass on the rest.

One of the best meals I've had in a very long time! From the Chickpea Panisse, to the Gnocchi, all the way to the Peach Cobbler. Everything was fresh and flavorful, and there were great vegetarian options. I can't wait to come back to try what else they have to offer.

Went for brunch and it did not disappoint! Their bloody Mary's are fantastic and the food was delightful. I was told their menu changes seasonally so I can't wait to try more.

Excellent food. The gnocchi was my favorite out of 4 dishes. Outdoor seating area was very nice. A little music playing in the background would have been a nice touch.

Made it just before kitchen closed for the night. Great service, exceptional food. Curried lentil soup was flavorful and served hot. Nicely done. Beef tenderloin was served on jasmine rice with bok choy, green tomatoes and fresh herbs. Again, served hot and very nicely spiced. Both dishes were G-free. Will come back.

Lovely patio dining! The food was very good (truffled egg toast and salad, smoked limo), and service was prompt and attentive. The only miss was the Bloody Mary - the mix had very little pizzazz and tasted like tomato juice (no spice). Would definitely return!

This was by far my favorite place for cocktails pre-pandemic. But now almost all of their cocktails are made with gin. I do not like gin. I did not want the one vodka cocktail on the menu. I politely asked for several cocktails to be made with vodka but was told "no". Getting a yummy cocktail with vodka, at a cocktail bar, should not be such an uphill battle. Very disappointing experience.

So it started with the Pelmini .. A lamb pork dumpling of sorts with the most amazing broth you could imagine. The neighboring table was then eating corn fritters...what are fritters anyway? We asked and she raved ...so we went in. The cherry tomatoes in the dish, the best I've ever had and then there was this sauce with mushrooms and the perfectly fried corn fritter. At this point we were satiated but didn't want to miss out on main dishes so we ordered two... Gnocchi and halibut. Can't even decide which was better because they were both perfect. The halibut had a spicy jalapeño finish. The gnocchi's quite possibly the best I've ever had and my family is Italian. Served with those perfect tomatoes and so many other delightful flavors. Yum! Stuffed beyond stuffed after pretty much licking every plate (not even caring) yet had to have dessert because you'd be a fool to miss one final course. Then the peach cobbler was so that I gnawed on the side of the ramekin to get the final crust remnants off the side. It's true. All manners aside. So full I can barely write this review but had to with the flavors still dominating every thought. The modern for dining... not to be missed. Can't recall being more satisfied. Thank you!

Best restaurant and best brunch in Boise. Excellent service, great cocktails (and mocktails), creative and accessible fine dining cuisine.

First off, I'll preface with a positive note that the staff here were all exceptional...very friendly and attentive. But other than that, the visit was terrible. Came in for breakfast on a Sunday morning...It was just me at the bar. I ordered a simple breakfast sandwich and it took forty minutes to come out...I noted the time when I ordered. The biggest disappointment was that they didn't even offer to comp the meal...although I did pay early, they could have just refunded it. In a growing competitive dining scene, the timing from the kitchen and not comping the meal after that long just isn't going to cut it. And then there was the sandwich itself, $12 for a tiny biscuit sandwich with pickles, fried cauliflower, and an egg with a handful of greens?!? Even with fresh local produce this shouldn't be more than $8-10. Overpriced and terribly slow kitchen. May have to give them another shot as I liked the vibe, but with so many options downtown, might just move on.