The great thing about Downtown Boise is that new, trendy restaurants can co-exist with old classics like Bar Gernika. Boise’s Basque Block has several good Basque restaurants 
and Bar Gernika in Boise is definitely up there, casual but with great food. They have that feel of a pub in the Basque city of San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque). Stepping in, it looks like a typical small bar, with several tables off to the sides. The popular drink is beer, with a nice selection of beers accompanied by a blackboard listing of eight beers currently on tap. A selection of ciders and wines as well as sodas rounds out the drink menu. Being a whisky fan, the Boulevard Brewing Rye-On-Rye Ale sounded like a good choice and indeed it was. Hearty, aged in an oak whisky barrel, with that rye flavor, it was a really nice dark ale to sip and savor.
Bar Gernika in Boise is known as a bastion of Basque bar food and they certainly do not disappoint. One day, the special was a Potato Jalapeño Soup. Creamy and with just a hint of jalapeño that was enough to pleasingly flavor without being hot, this was a good soup for a drizzly day outside.
Sandwiches are a big part of the experience at Bar Gernika in Boise. The Chorizo Sandwich is a nice sized grilled sausage served on a French roll. The chorizo sausage, Basque style, is full of flavor and slightly spicy. It is served one of two ways, either plain on the roll or as a Chorizo Supreme, topped with sautéed onions and roasted red peppers. Either way is good, but the soft onions and peppers do perfectly complement the chewy sausage and also add a nice flavor element.
Another popular sandwich at Bar Gernika in Boise is the Lamb Dip. Chock full of tender roasted lamb, this is a nice choice for lamb-lovers. The sandwich comes with a nice cup of au jus to dip the sandwich into. The roasted lamb has a marvelous flavor and the au jus really adds to it. The sandwich can also be ordered as a Lamb Grinder. Here, the basic Lamb Dip gets a nice sliced of melted Swiss cheese and is topped with the sauteed onions and red peppers (pimentas). It’s a great way to make a delicious sandwich even more delicious. A Spicy Lamb Grinder is also available which adds jalapeño to the sautéed peppers and onions for a real kick.
Saturdays are a special day at Bar Gernika in Boise. That is the day they make their Basque specialty, Mingaina (beef tongue). Served in a tomato and red pepper sauce, the meat is actually quite tender, beefy and flavorful. The dish is best shared with a group of people so everyone can have a taste of this uncommon cut of beef. The beef tongue is ready to serve at 11:30am and they serve it til they run out of the popular Basque dish.
The one side dish to absolutely get at Bar Gernika is the croquetas. These little balls of goodness are made of flour, milk, butter, finely ground chicken and onion. They are deep-fried, yielding a crispy exterior with a soft, creamy hot interior. They make a wonderful side dish or appetizer to share. They’re a popular item to enjoy along with one of Bar Gernika’s fine beers. Of course, you can also get their seasoned fries, made with fresh Idaho potatoes.
Bar Gernika in Boise also has other menu items to enjoy. Solomo is marinated pork loin and gets the same sandwich treatment as the lamb does. For a lighter meal, there is a Grilled Chicken Salad to try. There are also several versions of the Tortilla, a Spanish/Basque dish that has absolutely nothing to do with the familiar Mexican tortilla. The Tortilla can be compared to an omelet or Quiche, consisting of potatoes, eggs and cheese cooked into a thick circle. In Spain and the Basque region, it is a popular dish to be served as one of a selection of tapas. At Bar Gernika you can get either the basic Tortilla, a version that includes mushrooms and the pimentas, or one with Basque cheese and chorizo.
Located at the near end of the Basque Block in Downtown Boise, there is plenty of street parking, parking lots and garages nearby. Bar Gernika in Boise makes a nice place either before or after a walk through the Basque Block and maybe a visit to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center. It also is only a 2 minute walk to the Egyptian Theatre and can serve as a great place before or after a classic movie, a special event or a Boise Philharmonic Chamber Players concert. They are open til midnight Tuesday through Saturday and 11pm on Monday, so that makes them a good late-night spot. Bar Gernika is also a great place for a few beers, good food and a fun place to meet up with some friends. In its own right, it is a classic in Downtown Boise and a nice snapshot of the city’s Basque heritage.
Bar Gernika
202 S. Capitol Blvd. (corner of Capitol and Grove)
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 344-2175
Bar Gernika Website
Bar Gernika Facebook Page
