If you sensed something fishy about the continuing vacancy at the former Brick Oven Bistro, which closed last November, well, you were sort of right.
The spot has been snapped up by Lucky Fins Seafood Grill — which is aiming to make a splash.
The former Bistro and its adjacent Alive-After-Five-friendly patio will have a completely different look and feel than what Boiseans grew accustomed to since 1991.
Plans for the new Lucky Fins next to the Grove Plaza include an indoor/outdoor bar with a roll-up garage door, and the opportunity to shuck oysters or nibble sushi while fire elements crackle on the patio.
“We think it’s a fantastic space with huge potential for a patio, and you’re right in the heart of Downtown Boise,” said Lucky Fins co-owner Derek Hood.
With all due respect to the Bistro’s long tradition, Lucky Fins most likely will be a more chic environment for hanging out.
“The vibe that we’re going to create, I think it’s going to be awesome,” Hood said. “… If people want to have a martini and sushi, or somebody wants fish and chips, they’re going to be able to get what they want. We’re real excited about it.”
This will be the second Lucky Fins location in the Treasure Valley. The original restaurant opened in November 2011 at 1441 N. Eagle Road in Meridian. Chef Mark Ballen’s concept was to target health- and budget-conscious seafood diners. The menu since has been expanded and refined, providing additional options for nonfish fans and — even in the case of seafood — keeping most items under $15.
“We’re very passionate about the food we serve,” Hood said.
Plans for Lucky Fins in Downtown Boise include carryout and delivery, as well as catering.
So when will it open?
“That’s the $64,000 question,” Hood said. “We’d like to be open before the first Alive After Five. That’s our goal.”
If all goes according to plan, a third Lucky Fins Seafood Grill will beat the Downtown Boise location to the punch; construction is under way on a Lucky Fins in Greeley, Colo., scheduled to open in April.
Eh, I’ll pass. I’d rather spend a couple extra bucks and get some excellent seafood as opposed to “budget” seafood. Give me some halibut fish and chips any day as compared to cod.
If the patio rocks, it will be a cool spot.
Nevertheless, here’s an excerpt from a 2011 review of Lucky Fins by the Statesman. The reviewer had just returned to Boise from a visit to Key West., Fla.:
“Seeing as how it had been a few days since getting home from the islands, I was ready to put this place to the true test: I ordered the whole red snapper. Outside of some steamed snow crab platters, this $17 dish is on the upper price end of the menu – but it seemed like a good deal compared to the $18 going rate in Key West for a filet of yellowtail, the red’s snapper cousin.
Ballen cooks it “escavitch” style, which is a Jamaican technique that uses some of the same hot peppers and spices as the more well-known “jerk, ” but includes a healthy dose of vinegar (a sweet and tart secret ingredient that I am deeply into at the moment). The fish was perfectly cooked, with a burst of flavor in its crispy skin, and it came off the bone easily in meaty chunks. It came on a bed of rice pilaf, which is not a menu item that fills me with excitement, but once the rice soaked up the fishy sauce, I had a hard time offering up bites to my wife.
I’d go back and eat it again tomorrow, if it wasn’t for this one thing on the menu I didn’t get a chance to try: the $9 shrimp-steer burger. A half pound of beef topped with popcorn shrimp. They call it their kind of surf and turf. I call it my kind of fusion. If you check out Lucky Fins soon, you may catch me in the corner with my fists full of this.”
Another mediocre restaurant with a patio. Boise has no idea how good food is in Seattle/Portland, and it wouldn’t take much for a chef to do some work in raising the bar, but no restaurant in Boise is up to the task. This will be another one year restaurant with little to offer. Of course Deeds will go there, he is a wanker…
Don’t look at me then…I still miss SKIPPER’S.
This is a good option. It should be able to hang onto its target crowd with the surrounding competition. Call me odd, but I always liked Sole fish and chips. The only place I can get those is Ivar’s, when I am up that way.
Deeds is a wanker!
Are you a naught-naught spy or a private eye?
I cannot flag you or I would for ‘fishy language’.
Yes good seafood is impossible to find here in Boise. But then most don’t understand the dynamic’s of the seafood industry. I am not holding my breath thou, I doubt any restaurant will match what you can get on the coast. On a side note I really am getting tired of seeing the phrase wild halibut, all halibut is wild. To my knowledge there are no halibut or shrimp farms yet??? Yes there are farmed salmon and tilapia.
Lets see some good Ling cod, petrale sole, sand sole, yellow eye rock fish, halibut and of course wild salmon
yes, there are shrimp farms, check out the shrimp you buy in 2 lb bags from Thailand and other places like that. They are a dirty business, wrecking the environment. BUY WILD! The cooked salad shrimp is domestic and wild, I’m told. Same goes for Salmon, buy wild!
From the posts left previously it is obvious no one has been to Lucky Fin’s. I have, many times and it is not a “budget” seafood restaurant. The food is delicious and the prices are affordable. I’ll take Lucky Fin’s over Cottenwood any day. My time is split between Boise and L.A. so I know good seafood. The chef uses only the freshest of ingredients and is creative with his menu. Why don’t you give it a try first before shooting it down so quickly. You might be plesantly surprised.
Sorry, but I’ve been there. I’m glad it’s a local business doing well, but I think it’s pretty average. It’s almost unfair to compare it to restaurants on the coast, because they do have the advantage of having fresh seafood readily available. However, when I compare it to a restaurant such as Market Street Grill or Broiler in Salt Lake City, Lucky Fin’s pales in comparison. Just my two cents.
It’s disappointing that such a good, long-standing family-owned local restaurant will replaced with a chain.
No disrespect, but Lucky Fin’s IS a locally owned restaurant. It opened in November 2011. I am glad to see that it has been recieved so warmly in a town that appreciates local merchants over chains.
It is also good to see that in this economy a business is doing so well that it is expanding, which means more people will be employed.
I am looking forward to the future success of this restaurant and hope it comes to L.A. one day.
OMG! Restaurant Police!
Lucky Fins is a great place to eat and the people that work there do a great job. It has become one of my and my wife’s favorite places to eat seafood. I also appreciated the Bistro, but it is no no longer. The people that frequent the downtown should really like that Lucky Fins will open a 2nd location in the valley. Try it you will like it!
Lucky Fins IS a locally owned business – it is not a chain and has some of the best sushi in the valley. Support local – buy local and eat local – YOU ARE LOCAL and stop comparing everything to the BIG cities. (eye roll)
My houae IS LOCAL.
But the fish AIN’T/
Ya the seafood on the coast is fresh, but still you have the dynamic’s of the fishing industry. A trawl boat goes out on a Monday and fishes for 4 days and comes back into the seafood plant, depending on how busy the seafood plant is it might take a day or two for it to get processed. If restaurants wanted fresher seafood they could have it flown in or trucked, its only an 8 hour drive to the coast. But then that drives up the cost. I use to haul seafood up to Seatac and Portland international airport all the time. But there are other things you may not want to hear.
As the online voice for Lucky Fins, I would first like to thank all the people that gave positive feedback. We appreciate your business and hope you continue to let us know how we are doing. We are listening!
We ARE a locally owned company that strives to serve great food in a great atmosphere. Most days of the week you will find the owner refilling your drink or bringing your food to the table. We are also involved in programs that give back to the community we serve.
The downtown location will provide us a great opportunity to serve more of the Boise community and demonstrate the immense talent of our Chef, Mark Ballen. Not only does he bring 17 years experience and a twist to the normal seafood, but he is also the Vice President of the American Culinary Federation/Idaho.
So, if you haven’t been to our Meridian location come join us! We are having a great FAT Tuesday party (on February 12th) with specials featuring alligator, crawfish and frog legs. They’ll make you feel like you are in the French Quarter! We will also have our newly expanded our menu that includes more dishes from the grill and something for everyone. Find us on Facebook to hear more!
Lucky Fins has been much appreciated in Meridian. I certainly wouldn’t call it average – I think it compares with the Gastronomy restaurants like Market Street in SLC. Great food and great service. Good luck to them on their new space on the Grove.