Have you ever walked into an establishment and feel you just entered an episode of the ol' 60's Twilight Zone? It happened here at Elmers. With the hustle & bustle, the noise & congestion of Capitol Blvd's partial street closures, drivers with long faces honking away, officers with whistles directed traffic on the main thoroughfare. Walking in through the doors all changed in an instant. A nice calming noise suppression from the outside world happened when the doors closed behind us. Once inside, it was a down-home country cottage feel. The smile of the hostess was genuine & happy to see us. Background white noise was that of silverware klinking against stoneware & diners humming as they noshed. She showed us to the one open booth by the windows & introduced us to our server, Katie, who was already setting glasses of ice water down on our table. Katie smiled, and though her station looked busy, she made friendly small talk & gave us a moment to decide. When both our menus where on the table, she was there in an instant ready take our order. Unusual as I witnessed that she was hustling in her section. I'm already impressed with her attentiveness. We ordered & she committed everything to memory. For the wife: Bacon burger w/Tillamook Ched sat on a grilled Kaiser bun & came with bottomless fries! She likes her burgers "medium" & she had the "Cheshire cat" grin that signaled that it was cooked to perfection. We shared her fries as we knew we'd get s'more! They're good...but then I'm reminded, "...we ARE in IDAHO!" It bein' Saturday mid-morning & nursing the effects from a night out on the town, I went with the Saturday Market Skillet. A hefty meal of Hickory smoked ham, smoked bacon, German sausage, hash browns, red & green peppers, onions topped off with fluffy Tillamook Ched-scrambled eggs; served on a small cast-iron skillet. There on the side sat a fresh-baked buttermilk biscuit to die for. I love that my dish isn't overly seasoned as I like to add the salt n' pep myself and the bacon/ham added just enough saltiness that didn't warrant any. But I like pepper. A pinch here, a pinch there, over the perfectly cooked eggs & the crispy outer bits of the hash, this dish was solid & guaranteed to knock last night's cobwebs outcha head! My wife's fries were dwindling & somehow I locked eyes with Katie from a distance & she seemed to know what I was thinking as she mouthed the words "...more fries?" I couldn't help but grin & nod. Only in the Twilight Zone... Kuddo's to the staff @ Elmer's for the awesome hospitality we'd received while in BoDo. Stepping back into the outside world, it was a return to the hustle, bustle & long faces. Night & day I tell'ya. It was 3.5-Star food, but a 5-Star experience throughout. The FREE Wi-Fi & Katie, being on point and easy on the eyes put it over the top. Plenty of parking on their private lot & a short walk from our hotel the Residence Inn Boise Downtown.
(5)
Jason H.
Great breakfast, nice waitresses, will definitely come back. Huge selection of breakfast and other good too.
(5)
Tanya P.
Great service and great food. We tried the German pancake with berries and it was great. My mom tried the farmers omelet and she said she loved it. Don't know about lunch and dinner but they are fantastic for breakfast! Wish they were closer to home.
(5)
Sara L.
We tried Elmer's based on Yelp reviews,and we were not disappointed. The French toast sticks have an awesome caramel sauce, the chicken apple sausage was great, and the potato cakes were some of the best I've had. Our waitress was a lovely woman who took the time to talk with us, make recommendation, and point us in the direction of our next adventure in Boise, and my 4 year old struck up a friendship with one of the good runners (college age). The food isn't anything out of the ordinary, but it's very good, and they use several local Northwest products. They are willing to accommodate special requests, restaurant is very clean, staff is wonderful. Great breakfast all around!
(4)
Jackie G.
Pros: Very friendly and attentive staff. I enjoyed the old school home-like feel. It's a great place to bring family and catch up with old friends. Cons: The food was mediocre. I had the Eggs Benedict w/ Avocado & Tomato. The English Muffins tasted old. I had my boyfriend taste it too just to make sure I wasn't delusional, and he felt the same way. He had eggs, biscuit and gravy, pork sausage and hash browns and he also thought the meal was bland. I probably will not return again.
(2)
El G.
Do not go here if you're in a hurry. I ordered something really simple and there were only 3 other people in the restaurant. It took 25 minutes to get my food, leaving me no time to eat. Also, coffee was really weak. Santos the server and hostess were great, but the kitchen staff are slacking :( I won't be coming back.
(3)
Keilly W.
I go to Elmer's at least a few times every week. My favorite dish is the potato cakes with sour cream and bacon. They normally come with eggs, but I always ask for a side salad instead, and they always try to make you happy by accommodating special requests. They also have great onion rings. I think they are homemade, because they are better than any I've had anywhere else. The service is normally really good here. There are three reasons why I didn't give them 5 stars: while the breakfast menu is great, the lunch and dinner menus feel a bit limited; it's always too hot in the main dining area, because they run the gas fireplace even when it's 75 degrees outside (I think the elderly people request it); and finally, this place just seems like the type of place that should have a nice selection of pies, but they don't. They offer one type of pie every season, and sometimes their pie of the season isn't even pie. Right now, it's cheesecake. In sum, this is one of my favorite places in Boise, but there is room for improvement.
(4)
Michelle G.
I love the Capitol location. I've been coming to this place regularly since last fall, and have always had a nice experience. The service is always on point and breakfast is always filling and delicious! I'm a huge fan of their hashbrowns and pancakes. The bacon is also good. And when I ask for my eggs overeasy, they are! Weekends are super busy, so plan ahead if you've got a schedule. It's to be expected since the location is close to downtown and the university.
(5)
Greg M.
Great breakfast in downtown Boise. I love that Elmer's uses so many northwest favorites in their menu items, Tillamook cheese, Snoqualmie Falls oatmeal, etc. I hadn't eaten at an Elmer's in years, and happy to see that they are still as good as ever, maybe better! On the recommendation of our server, I went with the potato pancakes this morning, which were amazing! Nothing fancy about this place, but if it's a legit breakfast, good coffee and friendly service you're after, you can't go wrong with Elmer's!
(4)
Kelly F.
Very average. Checked this place out as my mom and I needed a place to eat near the airport before our flight back home. This place had decent reviews so we decided to give it a try. Essentially it is a local Boise version of a Denny's or Cocos. It is decorated like a grandmothers house from the 80s (floral wallpaper, fake plants, etc) and the hostess and servers all look like they could be the grandmother who owns the house. Not that anything is wrong with that. The staff was very nice but just kind of moved at a slow pace. We both ordered salads which were fine but not amazing. But I guess you can't really have super high expectations at a local diner like this. All of my other dining experiences in Boise were so great so was just kind of a bummer to leave the city on a just average note. Maybe we should have tried it for breakfast. Sounds like they are more well known for that?
(3)
Drea G.
This place is great, I used to go all the time as a kid so I wasn't sure what to expect as an adult. I had the clubhouse omelette, which was amazing! The portion sizes were spot on, just enough to where you don't leave disgustingly full! The three others I was with enjoyed their meals as well, can't remember what they got... Service was great, my only complaint is how loud it is there... Hard to have conversations...
(4)
Tres B.
This place is meticulously clean and well cared for and my Cobb salad was super fresh and huge! But I arrived at 8:30 ( they close at 9) and my wife texted me at 8:45 asking me to bring home a BLT. When the server put my order in I could hear the cook complaining he had just put bacon on my salad and now he'd have to make more. And on it went. I shouldn't have to hear that. Then a couple came in explaining they just got in from Arizona and they were exhausted ( there are two adjacent Marriott hotels so I'm guessing that's why they came to Elmers) the waitress made sure to point out they were closing in five minutes. The customers pleaded to get food to go.... Seems to me if you determine your business closes at 9, it should close at 9. They are free to change their hours to 8:30. I get being a cook or server are on-your-feet hard jobs with long hours. But the guests that keep the lights on shouldn't feel unwelcome.
(3)
Deanna K.
My family of 5 ate there two nights ago and it was a average meal. Best highlight is that they offer organic greens on their salad menu. Service was great. Very pleasant and attentive staff.
(3)
Meg D.
I've gotta say that really like Elmer's Restaurant for breakfast. Haven't been there for lunch or dinner so I can't speak to those menus, but I thoroughly enjoy their breakfast menu. It's got a great selection of the breakfast classics we all love. My personal favorite item is the Blueberry pancakes, which are absolutely fabulous! It's making my mouth water just to think of them. The staff, for the most part, are really nice and attentive. It's not necessarily one of the more popular places around that area of Boise, but it's definitely worthwhile. So here's a thumbs up!
(4)
Jeannie M.
An extremely rare occasion of my being awake and hungry on a Saturday Morning at 6:30 a.m. I needed breakfast that somebody else prepared. I've been terribly sick and eating has been a challenge, so since I was finally hungry, I forced myself to go out into the cold rain to get what I assumed from past experience would be a good breakfast. I like the atmosphere here as it is warm, not overly lit and low on clanking dish and loud patrons racket so I was happy to be there. Service was prompt, friendly, professional and I tipped accordingly. However the food was seriously phoned in. The omelet was kind of semi-warm , rubbery and tasteless except for the salsa on top. Hash browns were decidedly beige, coldish and tasteless as was the biscuit. I loved the tomato juice. Coffee was OK not great. I pushed the food around, sighed, drank my juice and called it quits. There were very few people in the restaurant at that hour and the kitchen could have made a much better effort. I always think that Goldie's is over priced and overrated and it is, although people still think it's the gold standard. I'm sticking with the good old greasy spoon, The Capri down on Main in the car/warehouse district; Orange Naugahyde, lots of noise but hot, fresh and predictably good, if not fancy. Being from New Jersey, I know a good Diner. No more Elmer's for me. $20 wasted but again, the server deserved her tip. Now that I think about it, everything tasted pre-fab, frozen and dumped out over heat or worse, microwaved. I tasted no browning, crunch or fry effect. Breakfast demands fresh, crunchy, hot and fresh.
(2)
Kris N.
This place has changed a bit. Our waiter, Santos, is 5 star! He brought more soda before I was out, he joked with us and was just excellent. Hand battered fish and chips was phenomenal.
(5)
Janet N.
It's my go-to breakfast place in Boise when I want delicious breakfast at a reasonable price and without a long wait. I have not been disappointed with my breakfast here. I usually order eggs, biscuit and gravy, and a hash brown. It's enough for me to share with my significant other if I ask for two biscuits. The hash browns are what impressed me and keeps me coming back. The potato is shredded in thicker slices to make the texture of the hash brown right in between soft and crunchy. I'm new to biscuits and gravy, but so far Elmer's has my favorite biscuits and gravy. The decor and fireplace remind me of winter cabin resorts in Lake Tahoe or Yosemite. Overall, the atmosphere, service, and food make for a pleasant dining experience.
(4)
Joe P.
Went for breakfast yesterday with my elderly mother. The ac was very cold. My mother had to ask our server to reheat her omelette. My mother had to put on a sweater. It takes a lot to get me cold, but I was relieved to exit the building and feel the sunshine. Our meal and service were very good, but the ac needs tweaking. Obviously, you don't need it as cold in the AM as you do in the PM.
(3)
Gwyneth W.
Went there with some friends from a conference, and this place was delicious. While my own sandwich (Prime Rib Au Jus) and soup (clam chowder) were both quite good, I think next time I am going to go for one of those German pancakes -- it looked pretty amazing! Our waitress was nice (and patient) and I would absolutely eat here again.
(4)
Scott J.
**** Elmer's made it right **** The waitress was very nice and did her job well. The food was substandard. We both ordered the hazelnut encrusted cod. It had been microwaved and was practically tasteless. The veggies were limp and way over seasoned with pepper. The "rice pilaf" had been microwaved so long that it stuck together in large chewy clumps. My wife's mashed potatoes were cold, lumpy and tasteless. The gravy was cold. Very disappointing. This was at 6:00 pm on a Friday. After this review was posted, I was contacted by the Elmer's PR people and the Manager of this restaurant. The Manager ,Candi Minburg, was very apologetic and went the extra mile in trying to make things right. She sent us a very nice apology card, and an open value certificate for two free meals at Elmer's. This all happened very quickly after my poor review of the business, and I was slow in updating this review. Thank you to Ms. Minburg & the Bose Elmer's
(4)
Tawnie R.
Great service and food! Elmer's is a great environment for all ages. Great location for locals, Boise State students/families, and those just passing through. Great menu variety, great for health nuts and food junkies! Breakfast is our favorite and we love that you can order it anytime! We highly recommend Elmer's
(5)
Cody M.
Not a bad spot. Staff is usually pretty good.
(4)
Angela P.
In town for the weekend and found Elmer's on yelp. The reviews were spot on: excellent service, delicious food, we visited twice!
(5)
Scott B.
Been there a couple of times and the food is overpriced and not that good.
(2)
Beth C.
We have been here twice since moving to Boise and each time it has been awesome. The food is so much better than the so called "trendy" breakfast places around. Service is consistently good and the food is delicious. Prices are about average for breakfast places in the area. The first time I had the crabacado omelet and my husband had the potato pancakes. The second time I had the Willamette valley omelet (with some hollandaise on the side, because their hollandaise is AMAZING) and my husband had bacon shrimp skillet. We will go again and plan to bring our parents when they visit.
(5)
Red N.
I have always had very good experience at Elmer's restaurants all over the country. Elmer's in Idaho has top notch service; very friendly staff, pretty fast service even in the busy morning and the food was cooked property. Overall very good place to eat.
(5)
Jim V.
Elmer's has an incredible menu for every meal. My personal favorite is breakfast. My wife and I have been Sunday regulars for more than 10 years. In all that time Candy and her staff have never left us disappointed. I look forward each week to Sunday morning breakfast and while the meals and service I have when traveling are often good, they are never better than right here at Elmer,a.
(5)
Maureen K.
UPDATE!! 2/16/14: Within a day of my original review, I was contacted by Social Media Mgr of Elmer's Restaurants who had forwarded my review to the General Mgr of the Boise Elmers (Candice M) who was concerned about my experience and wanted to make things right. She offered us a free meal each if we would give them another chance. Of course we graciously, humbly accepted (to be honest, we were a bit stunned-- in a good way!) So exactly one week later we went back about an hour earlier than previously. This time there were at least 3-4 times the clientele, but the service was even more prompt, orders correct, and the food delicious! I had the grilled shrimp & chipotle bacon skillet, and hubs had the Oregon trail steak & eggs. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of shrimp, and the steak was quite good, perfectly cooked as ordered. I brought home about 1/3 of mine to have later, it was filling! Prices for what you get are very reasonable (I should have pointed that out in my first review). I changed my review to 5 stars and couldn't wait to update our experience. For customer service, you won't find better. We were truly blown away by the outreach of Elmer's corporately, and then locally. Candi, you and Kolten L. are to be commended. We were deeply touched that you both cared to reach out to us the way you did. And we will certainly recommend Elmer's to everyone we know! It was our great pleasure to have met you today in person, Candi. Thank you so very much for caring about your customers and Elmer's reputation. They are so very fortunate to have you both on their team. :-) ORIGINAL REVIEW, 2/9/14 (3 stars): Mixed feelings. Hubby thought this was a notch above a Dennys. I loved my crabacado omelet. Hash browns were decent, nothing special. Server messed up hub's order. He clearly asked for the prime rib special that was on the sign at the entrance. It included eggs and a biscuit. When I ordered my omelet I asked for the egg substitute and hubs asked for actual eggs. Waiter came back after a few mins. to say he hadn't written it down and how did he want his steak cooked? Also, did he want fries, potato or hash browns, and did he want a salad with it? We thought it a bit odd, and in hindsight should have questioned the order. Anyway, what was brought out was their prime rib dinner with fries, onion rings, steamed veggies (that were a bit too oily) and the salad. Certainly not a breakfast special. We didn't say anything, but it was obvious the server was distracted, and the place was mostly empty so it's not like he was rushed. I would be willing to go back again, but hubs is done with the place. He didn't like the ambiance, and said there were some bones he had to pick out of his prime rib and that he's definitely had better. I tried a piece and thought it was just OK. There are other places that do breakfast/brunch as well if not better, and when Sunday racing and then football starts up again, we like to go to places with a TV, as well. We realize this place is more of a diner, though, so not unexpected.
(5)
Kathy B.
Elmer's has incredible food, prices, and customer service. What an accommodating restaurant also. My son, who is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Boise State, was looking for a restaurant to accommodate about 30 moms and sons for Mother's Weekend. When he contacted Elmer's (because we have eaten there so many times before for the delicious food), they were more than accommodating. When we arrived, the area was all set up and our waitress, Katie, could not have been sweeter or more efficient. She greeted us with a smile and made us feel welcomed. We really wanted to say thanks for making the weekend so tasty and memorable.
(5)
Timothy R.
Went there for dinner. I didn't mind the decor or atmosphere, seemed kinda home-style cozy. It wasn't busy when I went there. My girlfriend got the chicken caesar salad. The chicken was flat out awful, tasted like it had been taken from a frozen TV dinner, left out too long, refrozen, and then microwaved. Was barely warm. Rubbery, off taste, and generally unedible. The salad itself was mediocre at best. I got the chicken fried steak. Imagine a truck stop diner where they don't have to care about the quality of their food, where the CFS would be cooked barely to code, swimming in a watery sauce, and lukewarm. Elmer's chicken fried steak was just, and barely just, above that. I ate it, but I didn't like it. The potatoes looked like they were squeezed out of a tube, the vegetables were completely tasteless and undercooked. Overall? $30 down the drain. I was hoping to find a regular spot close to my house to go to. This is not it.
(2)
Judy R.
Went for breakfast this a.m. Food was really good, coffee was wonderful. I will probably never go back as the service was horrible and beyond horrible. The waitress was sweet and pleasant but we waited over ten minutes for her to take our order, then had to ask again five minutes later for her to bring the coffee and water to our table.
(3)
Jim P.
An excellent breakfast in Boise at last. I have been to all of the usual local spots including Goldie's, the Griddle, Emelio's, Joe mamas, etc. This small Northwest chain (25 restaurants) has the best pancakes by far. Local Northwest ingredients are highlighted. Seriously, how can a restaurant called the Griddle, have such taste free heavy pancakes. They sell their pancake mix? Give me a break. Elmer's have great polite and attentive service the minute we hit the door. Special requests, no problem. Eggbeaters instead of eggs, no extra charge. My omelette was great, along with everything else. My new go to spot for breakfast in Boise.
(5)
Amber W.
Food was great...but the service was AWESOME!! We showed up with the players and families of our competition soccer team and they sat us quickly and catered to the girls :) They even split the check without complaint....will definitely be back!
(5)
Jonathan C.
Ok so the inside looks a early 90s bob newheart scene probably needs a renovation. But it does have a warm and friendly atmosphere. The breakfast menu is large offering something for everyone and offers healthy options. Service is fairly quick. It appears from what I can see that although they offer three meals a day, breakfast is their main specialty. I was pleasantly surprised to see the offered German style pancakes but did not order any. Overall the food was good. It was the equivalent of a meal at Denny's. I would say if you can't find a Denny's come here.
(4)
Cindi R.
OMG! Stumbled onto this AMAZING restaurant while staying at the Marriott Residence Inn Boise! Had my 87 year old mother in law in a wheel chair, (no problem)! Although the place was packed, we were seated in minutes! Everyone of the employees were efficient, kind, and most important, they all looked happy to be working for Elmer's! Now, the food. AMAZBALLS! I had the "FRESH" Crab Louie. My mother in law had eggs and pancakes, husband had biscuits and gravy, and OMG our son had a to die for burger! I am salivating just writing about it! I wish I lived in Boise, I would hook it up as often as possible at Elmer's! Next time I drive through Boise, I am going to try the German Pancakes at Elmer's. They are the size of a plate with lemon, butter, powdered sugar. Kind of looks like a crape! MMMMMMMM! OH! The portions are huge! I almost forgot the atmosphere, warm and cozy, lodge like with burning fireplace. Can not wait to go back!
(5)
Selena H.
Great, friendly, fast service. The food was just ok, and the atmosphere was pretty bad. I guess I was expecting much tastier food based on the previous reviews, but I was disappointed. The hash browns were the highlight of both our meals, those were pretty good, and it was on the plus side that the food is not especially greasy, but the flavors of the meats, eggs, and biscuits are just not great. Sorry, I was really hoping to write a better review!
(3)
Roland E.
Great value. Genuine hospitality. Feels like you're grabbing breakfast with grandpa as a kid.
(5)
Betsy H.
Two words: GERMAN PANCAKES. Get them, and get them immediately. Ask for the caramel apples variety, and get the fruit and caramel on the side. The German pancakes were so amazing, we wound up eating here twice in the course of our two day trip to Boise. The caramel topping is not your run of the mill caramel sauce from a can- oh, no my friend. It is much more than that. It is this gooey, sticky, buttery, stretchy, messy concoction that brings back memories of Grandma's home made caramel candies. The pancake itself is huge, puffy, and oh so good. I wish they would bring an Elmer's to Salt Lake City. Then again, for my own health, its probably best they don't.
(5)
Ashley R.
I ordered the breakfast burrito, with avocado. It was damn good.
(4)
Brant W.
Can you give me an omlet with my omlet? Damn these restraunts for slimming down their servings and jacking up the price. Wheres the BEEF? Food tasted good. Should be more food for the price. Good help. No other complaints. Oh, there are a bunch of old people there. -B
(3)
Paul M.
Boise Classic! Come get some!
(4)
Jewel M.
We were visiting Boise from Salt Lake City, Utah. Our hotel had free hot breakfast that was not that great, so on morning number two an online search directed me to Elmer's. Outside you could tell that they care about details. The inside had the old fashioned diner charm and the service was impeccable. They were almost too on top of refilling coffee and water. Very friendly staff. I had the German Pancake with fruit combo. Real thick cut bacon was a delight. Basic scrambled eggs cooked perfectly and the German Pancake was huge and delicious. I had the triple berry and they didn't skimp at all. My son, who normally hates breakfast cleaned his plate with the strawberry crepe combo. It was delicious. I wish there was an Elmer's in the Salt Lake Valley.
(5)
Milo R.
Awesome home cookin breakfast & VERY friendly service. Best place since I've been on the mainland. Better than the places in Seattle.
(4)
Matt S.
Awsome! Dutch Babys are a little thinner than I make them at home, but so good. I like the Dutch Baby Combo with eggs and bacon on the side.
(5)
Emile L.
I really like Elmers and have been going there for years. Good cooking and friendly staff. Toss up between the quality of food between here and teh Egg Factory. Much better than IHOP.
(4)
Josh K.
me and my wife went to elmer's for breakfast. and well the services was decent to good. the food was not all that good. i was very unimpressed. the eggs were overdone and the hash browns as well.
(2)
Tritia T.
Definitely NOT the best first impression of Boise's dining scene. AT. ALL. Elmer's was the first eatery I tried when I finally survived the 15 hour journey from Los Angeles, CA to the university. The first "real" food since leaving SoCal at 3am. And, the first time encountering a 9PM sunset. The restaurant is located at the entrance of a hotel cul-de-sac, like Residence Inn and Townplace Marriott. It's like any other American diner serving breakfast fare all day, sandwiches and burgers, and hot food plates with a mild touch of fancehh. There's an older woman running the show, she's very friendly, but she didn't talk much and a group of young'uns serving the folks. The servers are interesting, one of them, Justin looks like he could be a GQ model or something, not an apron wearing type guy. Heck, he's not very good serving, he forgot straws three times (there were only 2 tables, us included). Though, servers are friendly and very glad they kept a smile on their faces till the end. The place is rundown and old, it's outdated, dusty, sticky, and ughh. The booths are the worst, your thigh skin/calf skin will stick to the seat and don't touch the window sill or anything by the booths, they don't wipe it down or remove the dead flies. The carpet is like late 70s flower pattern and it's nasty, nasty enough I don't even want it to touch my shoes, heh. The wall decorations are nice, they add that cozy factor along with their dustmiteous wall drapes. Other than whatever is going on in there, it's a pleasant restaurant with semi-decent edible food. My group ordered: Pot Roast w/ Broccolini and Mash Potatoes - SALTY. VERY SALTY. Mashed potatoes were wonderful, but the Pot Roast ruined it with so much salt. I felt like a cow licking a salt block. The broccolini was served as the "seasonal vegetables," and I find this to be somewhat fancehh for a place like this, but nonetheless, it was fresh and tender. Hazelnut-Crusted Alaskan Cod w/ Pilaf and Broccolini - Probably the smallest portion of fish and pilaf I've ever seen on a big empty plate. It was tasty enough though, and Granny somewhat enjoyed it so it's A-Okay. Farmer's Omelet w/ Hash Browns and Biscuit - Thee best value out of all. The omelet wasn't cooked very well, it's like they ran out of eggs so the omelet itself was mostly a flat egg tortilla, but it was loaded! The country gravy isn't my thing, so I just took it off. Overall, this was a good choice and it lasted for 2 meals!! Oh, and ask for hash browns well done, it will taste better. Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs - My brother is obsessed with Chicken Fried Steak and will order it just about anywhere. He said this was just ok, he said IHOP had better... I don't know what that says about Elmer's but, I think it's weird he compares it to IHOP LOL. Anyway, funny story. The older woman came around to check on us and refill drinks, she tried to do the "pour over someone's meal" serving technique and it FAILED miserably. The water pooled all over my bro's meal and on the table and his shorts. Yup. She came and got him a new, dry plate, but not a new meal... Saturday Market Skillet - My bf's dad ordered this and was slightly disappointed because it didn't come in a skillet. The picture showed a cast iron skillet that would perhaps keep his food warm for awhile, it didn't happen. Breakfast Sandwich - typical sandwich. Bf enjoyed it, he took out the bacon because he thought there was too many slices (only 2 slices) LOL. Oh well, more for me! Short Stack - PANCAKES! JUST COME HERE FOR PANCAKES!! Pretty much the best edible thing here. Hot, fluffy, buttery pancakes with warm maple syrup. Made me happy for sure. GOOD JOB ON PANCAKES!! So, our server Justin gives us the bill, we split the check, give him money, and only to find out that the bill didn't include the pancakes and he awkwardly hands us the new bill with the correct total. Really?! Overall, for semi-decent, semi-warm food, a solid 3.2 stars. Menu pictures look way better than in real life. Menu pictures also taste a bit better than in real life too, haha jk. Not that wonderful but for the convenience (it's across from Boise U and by Residence Inn) it's ok. No one got potty problems, so that was wonderful. Happy eating Boise!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Derrick E.
Have you ever walked into an establishment and feel you just entered an episode of the ol' 60's Twilight Zone? It happened here at Elmers. With the hustle & bustle, the noise & congestion of Capitol Blvd's partial street closures, drivers with long faces honking away, officers with whistles directed traffic on the main thoroughfare. Walking in through the doors all changed in an instant. A nice calming noise suppression from the outside world happened when the doors closed behind us. Once inside, it was a down-home country cottage feel. The smile of the hostess was genuine & happy to see us. Background white noise was that of silverware klinking against stoneware & diners humming as they noshed. She showed us to the one open booth by the windows & introduced us to our server, Katie, who was already setting glasses of ice water down on our table. Katie smiled, and though her station looked busy, she made friendly small talk & gave us a moment to decide. When both our menus where on the table, she was there in an instant ready take our order. Unusual as I witnessed that she was hustling in her section. I'm already impressed with her attentiveness. We ordered & she committed everything to memory. For the wife: Bacon burger w/Tillamook Ched sat on a grilled Kaiser bun & came with bottomless fries! She likes her burgers "medium" & she had the "Cheshire cat" grin that signaled that it was cooked to perfection. We shared her fries as we knew we'd get s'more! They're good...but then I'm reminded, "...we ARE in IDAHO!" It bein' Saturday mid-morning & nursing the effects from a night out on the town, I went with the Saturday Market Skillet. A hefty meal of Hickory smoked ham, smoked bacon, German sausage, hash browns, red & green peppers, onions topped off with fluffy Tillamook Ched-scrambled eggs; served on a small cast-iron skillet. There on the side sat a fresh-baked buttermilk biscuit to die for. I love that my dish isn't overly seasoned as I like to add the salt n' pep myself and the bacon/ham added just enough saltiness that didn't warrant any. But I like pepper. A pinch here, a pinch there, over the perfectly cooked eggs & the crispy outer bits of the hash, this dish was solid & guaranteed to knock last night's cobwebs outcha head! My wife's fries were dwindling & somehow I locked eyes with Katie from a distance & she seemed to know what I was thinking as she mouthed the words "...more fries?" I couldn't help but grin & nod. Only in the Twilight Zone... Kuddo's to the staff @ Elmer's for the awesome hospitality we'd received while in BoDo. Stepping back into the outside world, it was a return to the hustle, bustle & long faces. Night & day I tell'ya. It was 3.5-Star food, but a 5-Star experience throughout. The FREE Wi-Fi & Katie, being on point and easy on the eyes put it over the top. Plenty of parking on their private lot & a short walk from our hotel the Residence Inn Boise Downtown.
(5)Jason H.
Great breakfast, nice waitresses, will definitely come back. Huge selection of breakfast and other good too.
(5)Tanya P.
Great service and great food. We tried the German pancake with berries and it was great. My mom tried the farmers omelet and she said she loved it. Don't know about lunch and dinner but they are fantastic for breakfast! Wish they were closer to home.
(5)Sara L.
We tried Elmer's based on Yelp reviews,and we were not disappointed. The French toast sticks have an awesome caramel sauce, the chicken apple sausage was great, and the potato cakes were some of the best I've had. Our waitress was a lovely woman who took the time to talk with us, make recommendation, and point us in the direction of our next adventure in Boise, and my 4 year old struck up a friendship with one of the good runners (college age). The food isn't anything out of the ordinary, but it's very good, and they use several local Northwest products. They are willing to accommodate special requests, restaurant is very clean, staff is wonderful. Great breakfast all around!
(4)Jackie G.
Pros: Very friendly and attentive staff. I enjoyed the old school home-like feel. It's a great place to bring family and catch up with old friends. Cons: The food was mediocre. I had the Eggs Benedict w/ Avocado & Tomato. The English Muffins tasted old. I had my boyfriend taste it too just to make sure I wasn't delusional, and he felt the same way. He had eggs, biscuit and gravy, pork sausage and hash browns and he also thought the meal was bland. I probably will not return again.
(2)El G.
Do not go here if you're in a hurry. I ordered something really simple and there were only 3 other people in the restaurant. It took 25 minutes to get my food, leaving me no time to eat. Also, coffee was really weak. Santos the server and hostess were great, but the kitchen staff are slacking :( I won't be coming back.
(3)Keilly W.
I go to Elmer's at least a few times every week. My favorite dish is the potato cakes with sour cream and bacon. They normally come with eggs, but I always ask for a side salad instead, and they always try to make you happy by accommodating special requests. They also have great onion rings. I think they are homemade, because they are better than any I've had anywhere else. The service is normally really good here. There are three reasons why I didn't give them 5 stars: while the breakfast menu is great, the lunch and dinner menus feel a bit limited; it's always too hot in the main dining area, because they run the gas fireplace even when it's 75 degrees outside (I think the elderly people request it); and finally, this place just seems like the type of place that should have a nice selection of pies, but they don't. They offer one type of pie every season, and sometimes their pie of the season isn't even pie. Right now, it's cheesecake. In sum, this is one of my favorite places in Boise, but there is room for improvement.
(4)Michelle G.
I love the Capitol location. I've been coming to this place regularly since last fall, and have always had a nice experience. The service is always on point and breakfast is always filling and delicious! I'm a huge fan of their hashbrowns and pancakes. The bacon is also good. And when I ask for my eggs overeasy, they are! Weekends are super busy, so plan ahead if you've got a schedule. It's to be expected since the location is close to downtown and the university.
(5)Greg M.
Great breakfast in downtown Boise. I love that Elmer's uses so many northwest favorites in their menu items, Tillamook cheese, Snoqualmie Falls oatmeal, etc. I hadn't eaten at an Elmer's in years, and happy to see that they are still as good as ever, maybe better! On the recommendation of our server, I went with the potato pancakes this morning, which were amazing! Nothing fancy about this place, but if it's a legit breakfast, good coffee and friendly service you're after, you can't go wrong with Elmer's!
(4)Kelly F.
Very average. Checked this place out as my mom and I needed a place to eat near the airport before our flight back home. This place had decent reviews so we decided to give it a try. Essentially it is a local Boise version of a Denny's or Cocos. It is decorated like a grandmothers house from the 80s (floral wallpaper, fake plants, etc) and the hostess and servers all look like they could be the grandmother who owns the house. Not that anything is wrong with that. The staff was very nice but just kind of moved at a slow pace. We both ordered salads which were fine but not amazing. But I guess you can't really have super high expectations at a local diner like this. All of my other dining experiences in Boise were so great so was just kind of a bummer to leave the city on a just average note. Maybe we should have tried it for breakfast. Sounds like they are more well known for that?
(3)Drea G.
This place is great, I used to go all the time as a kid so I wasn't sure what to expect as an adult. I had the clubhouse omelette, which was amazing! The portion sizes were spot on, just enough to where you don't leave disgustingly full! The three others I was with enjoyed their meals as well, can't remember what they got... Service was great, my only complaint is how loud it is there... Hard to have conversations...
(4)Tres B.
This place is meticulously clean and well cared for and my Cobb salad was super fresh and huge! But I arrived at 8:30 ( they close at 9) and my wife texted me at 8:45 asking me to bring home a BLT. When the server put my order in I could hear the cook complaining he had just put bacon on my salad and now he'd have to make more. And on it went. I shouldn't have to hear that. Then a couple came in explaining they just got in from Arizona and they were exhausted ( there are two adjacent Marriott hotels so I'm guessing that's why they came to Elmers) the waitress made sure to point out they were closing in five minutes. The customers pleaded to get food to go.... Seems to me if you determine your business closes at 9, it should close at 9. They are free to change their hours to 8:30. I get being a cook or server are on-your-feet hard jobs with long hours. But the guests that keep the lights on shouldn't feel unwelcome.
(3)Deanna K.
My family of 5 ate there two nights ago and it was a average meal. Best highlight is that they offer organic greens on their salad menu. Service was great. Very pleasant and attentive staff.
(3)Meg D.
I've gotta say that really like Elmer's Restaurant for breakfast. Haven't been there for lunch or dinner so I can't speak to those menus, but I thoroughly enjoy their breakfast menu. It's got a great selection of the breakfast classics we all love. My personal favorite item is the Blueberry pancakes, which are absolutely fabulous! It's making my mouth water just to think of them. The staff, for the most part, are really nice and attentive. It's not necessarily one of the more popular places around that area of Boise, but it's definitely worthwhile. So here's a thumbs up!
(4)Jeannie M.
An extremely rare occasion of my being awake and hungry on a Saturday Morning at 6:30 a.m. I needed breakfast that somebody else prepared. I've been terribly sick and eating has been a challenge, so since I was finally hungry, I forced myself to go out into the cold rain to get what I assumed from past experience would be a good breakfast. I like the atmosphere here as it is warm, not overly lit and low on clanking dish and loud patrons racket so I was happy to be there. Service was prompt, friendly, professional and I tipped accordingly. However the food was seriously phoned in. The omelet was kind of semi-warm , rubbery and tasteless except for the salsa on top. Hash browns were decidedly beige, coldish and tasteless as was the biscuit. I loved the tomato juice. Coffee was OK not great. I pushed the food around, sighed, drank my juice and called it quits. There were very few people in the restaurant at that hour and the kitchen could have made a much better effort. I always think that Goldie's is over priced and overrated and it is, although people still think it's the gold standard. I'm sticking with the good old greasy spoon, The Capri down on Main in the car/warehouse district; Orange Naugahyde, lots of noise but hot, fresh and predictably good, if not fancy. Being from New Jersey, I know a good Diner. No more Elmer's for me. $20 wasted but again, the server deserved her tip. Now that I think about it, everything tasted pre-fab, frozen and dumped out over heat or worse, microwaved. I tasted no browning, crunch or fry effect. Breakfast demands fresh, crunchy, hot and fresh.
(2)Kris N.
This place has changed a bit. Our waiter, Santos, is 5 star! He brought more soda before I was out, he joked with us and was just excellent. Hand battered fish and chips was phenomenal.
(5)Janet N.
It's my go-to breakfast place in Boise when I want delicious breakfast at a reasonable price and without a long wait. I have not been disappointed with my breakfast here. I usually order eggs, biscuit and gravy, and a hash brown. It's enough for me to share with my significant other if I ask for two biscuits. The hash browns are what impressed me and keeps me coming back. The potato is shredded in thicker slices to make the texture of the hash brown right in between soft and crunchy. I'm new to biscuits and gravy, but so far Elmer's has my favorite biscuits and gravy. The decor and fireplace remind me of winter cabin resorts in Lake Tahoe or Yosemite. Overall, the atmosphere, service, and food make for a pleasant dining experience.
(4)Joe P.
Went for breakfast yesterday with my elderly mother. The ac was very cold. My mother had to ask our server to reheat her omelette. My mother had to put on a sweater. It takes a lot to get me cold, but I was relieved to exit the building and feel the sunshine. Our meal and service were very good, but the ac needs tweaking. Obviously, you don't need it as cold in the AM as you do in the PM.
(3)Gwyneth W.
Went there with some friends from a conference, and this place was delicious. While my own sandwich (Prime Rib Au Jus) and soup (clam chowder) were both quite good, I think next time I am going to go for one of those German pancakes -- it looked pretty amazing! Our waitress was nice (and patient) and I would absolutely eat here again.
(4)Scott J.
**** Elmer's made it right **** The waitress was very nice and did her job well. The food was substandard. We both ordered the hazelnut encrusted cod. It had been microwaved and was practically tasteless. The veggies were limp and way over seasoned with pepper. The "rice pilaf" had been microwaved so long that it stuck together in large chewy clumps. My wife's mashed potatoes were cold, lumpy and tasteless. The gravy was cold. Very disappointing. This was at 6:00 pm on a Friday. After this review was posted, I was contacted by the Elmer's PR people and the Manager of this restaurant. The Manager ,Candi Minburg, was very apologetic and went the extra mile in trying to make things right. She sent us a very nice apology card, and an open value certificate for two free meals at Elmer's. This all happened very quickly after my poor review of the business, and I was slow in updating this review. Thank you to Ms. Minburg & the Bose Elmer's
(4)Tawnie R.
Great service and food! Elmer's is a great environment for all ages. Great location for locals, Boise State students/families, and those just passing through. Great menu variety, great for health nuts and food junkies! Breakfast is our favorite and we love that you can order it anytime! We highly recommend Elmer's
(5)Cody M.
Not a bad spot. Staff is usually pretty good.
(4)Angela P.
In town for the weekend and found Elmer's on yelp. The reviews were spot on: excellent service, delicious food, we visited twice!
(5)Scott B.
Been there a couple of times and the food is overpriced and not that good.
(2)Beth C.
We have been here twice since moving to Boise and each time it has been awesome. The food is so much better than the so called "trendy" breakfast places around. Service is consistently good and the food is delicious. Prices are about average for breakfast places in the area. The first time I had the crabacado omelet and my husband had the potato pancakes. The second time I had the Willamette valley omelet (with some hollandaise on the side, because their hollandaise is AMAZING) and my husband had bacon shrimp skillet. We will go again and plan to bring our parents when they visit.
(5)Red N.
I have always had very good experience at Elmer's restaurants all over the country. Elmer's in Idaho has top notch service; very friendly staff, pretty fast service even in the busy morning and the food was cooked property. Overall very good place to eat.
(5)Jim V.
Elmer's has an incredible menu for every meal. My personal favorite is breakfast. My wife and I have been Sunday regulars for more than 10 years. In all that time Candy and her staff have never left us disappointed. I look forward each week to Sunday morning breakfast and while the meals and service I have when traveling are often good, they are never better than right here at Elmer,a.
(5)Maureen K.
UPDATE!! 2/16/14: Within a day of my original review, I was contacted by Social Media Mgr of Elmer's Restaurants who had forwarded my review to the General Mgr of the Boise Elmers (Candice M) who was concerned about my experience and wanted to make things right. She offered us a free meal each if we would give them another chance. Of course we graciously, humbly accepted (to be honest, we were a bit stunned-- in a good way!) So exactly one week later we went back about an hour earlier than previously. This time there were at least 3-4 times the clientele, but the service was even more prompt, orders correct, and the food delicious! I had the grilled shrimp & chipotle bacon skillet, and hubs had the Oregon trail steak & eggs. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of shrimp, and the steak was quite good, perfectly cooked as ordered. I brought home about 1/3 of mine to have later, it was filling! Prices for what you get are very reasonable (I should have pointed that out in my first review). I changed my review to 5 stars and couldn't wait to update our experience. For customer service, you won't find better. We were truly blown away by the outreach of Elmer's corporately, and then locally. Candi, you and Kolten L. are to be commended. We were deeply touched that you both cared to reach out to us the way you did. And we will certainly recommend Elmer's to everyone we know! It was our great pleasure to have met you today in person, Candi. Thank you so very much for caring about your customers and Elmer's reputation. They are so very fortunate to have you both on their team. :-) ORIGINAL REVIEW, 2/9/14 (3 stars): Mixed feelings. Hubby thought this was a notch above a Dennys. I loved my crabacado omelet. Hash browns were decent, nothing special. Server messed up hub's order. He clearly asked for the prime rib special that was on the sign at the entrance. It included eggs and a biscuit. When I ordered my omelet I asked for the egg substitute and hubs asked for actual eggs. Waiter came back after a few mins. to say he hadn't written it down and how did he want his steak cooked? Also, did he want fries, potato or hash browns, and did he want a salad with it? We thought it a bit odd, and in hindsight should have questioned the order. Anyway, what was brought out was their prime rib dinner with fries, onion rings, steamed veggies (that were a bit too oily) and the salad. Certainly not a breakfast special. We didn't say anything, but it was obvious the server was distracted, and the place was mostly empty so it's not like he was rushed. I would be willing to go back again, but hubs is done with the place. He didn't like the ambiance, and said there were some bones he had to pick out of his prime rib and that he's definitely had better. I tried a piece and thought it was just OK. There are other places that do breakfast/brunch as well if not better, and when Sunday racing and then football starts up again, we like to go to places with a TV, as well. We realize this place is more of a diner, though, so not unexpected.
(5)Kathy B.
Elmer's has incredible food, prices, and customer service. What an accommodating restaurant also. My son, who is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Boise State, was looking for a restaurant to accommodate about 30 moms and sons for Mother's Weekend. When he contacted Elmer's (because we have eaten there so many times before for the delicious food), they were more than accommodating. When we arrived, the area was all set up and our waitress, Katie, could not have been sweeter or more efficient. She greeted us with a smile and made us feel welcomed. We really wanted to say thanks for making the weekend so tasty and memorable.
(5)Timothy R.
Went there for dinner. I didn't mind the decor or atmosphere, seemed kinda home-style cozy. It wasn't busy when I went there. My girlfriend got the chicken caesar salad. The chicken was flat out awful, tasted like it had been taken from a frozen TV dinner, left out too long, refrozen, and then microwaved. Was barely warm. Rubbery, off taste, and generally unedible. The salad itself was mediocre at best. I got the chicken fried steak. Imagine a truck stop diner where they don't have to care about the quality of their food, where the CFS would be cooked barely to code, swimming in a watery sauce, and lukewarm. Elmer's chicken fried steak was just, and barely just, above that. I ate it, but I didn't like it. The potatoes looked like they were squeezed out of a tube, the vegetables were completely tasteless and undercooked. Overall? $30 down the drain. I was hoping to find a regular spot close to my house to go to. This is not it.
(2)Judy R.
Went for breakfast this a.m. Food was really good, coffee was wonderful. I will probably never go back as the service was horrible and beyond horrible. The waitress was sweet and pleasant but we waited over ten minutes for her to take our order, then had to ask again five minutes later for her to bring the coffee and water to our table.
(3)Jim P.
An excellent breakfast in Boise at last. I have been to all of the usual local spots including Goldie's, the Griddle, Emelio's, Joe mamas, etc. This small Northwest chain (25 restaurants) has the best pancakes by far. Local Northwest ingredients are highlighted. Seriously, how can a restaurant called the Griddle, have such taste free heavy pancakes. They sell their pancake mix? Give me a break. Elmer's have great polite and attentive service the minute we hit the door. Special requests, no problem. Eggbeaters instead of eggs, no extra charge. My omelette was great, along with everything else. My new go to spot for breakfast in Boise.
(5)Amber W.
Food was great...but the service was AWESOME!! We showed up with the players and families of our competition soccer team and they sat us quickly and catered to the girls :) They even split the check without complaint....will definitely be back!
(5)Jonathan C.
Ok so the inside looks a early 90s bob newheart scene probably needs a renovation. But it does have a warm and friendly atmosphere. The breakfast menu is large offering something for everyone and offers healthy options. Service is fairly quick. It appears from what I can see that although they offer three meals a day, breakfast is their main specialty. I was pleasantly surprised to see the offered German style pancakes but did not order any. Overall the food was good. It was the equivalent of a meal at Denny's. I would say if you can't find a Denny's come here.
(4)Cindi R.
OMG! Stumbled onto this AMAZING restaurant while staying at the Marriott Residence Inn Boise! Had my 87 year old mother in law in a wheel chair, (no problem)! Although the place was packed, we were seated in minutes! Everyone of the employees were efficient, kind, and most important, they all looked happy to be working for Elmer's! Now, the food. AMAZBALLS! I had the "FRESH" Crab Louie. My mother in law had eggs and pancakes, husband had biscuits and gravy, and OMG our son had a to die for burger! I am salivating just writing about it! I wish I lived in Boise, I would hook it up as often as possible at Elmer's! Next time I drive through Boise, I am going to try the German Pancakes at Elmer's. They are the size of a plate with lemon, butter, powdered sugar. Kind of looks like a crape! MMMMMMMM! OH! The portions are huge! I almost forgot the atmosphere, warm and cozy, lodge like with burning fireplace. Can not wait to go back!
(5)Selena H.
Great, friendly, fast service. The food was just ok, and the atmosphere was pretty bad. I guess I was expecting much tastier food based on the previous reviews, but I was disappointed. The hash browns were the highlight of both our meals, those were pretty good, and it was on the plus side that the food is not especially greasy, but the flavors of the meats, eggs, and biscuits are just not great. Sorry, I was really hoping to write a better review!
(3)Roland E.
Great value. Genuine hospitality. Feels like you're grabbing breakfast with grandpa as a kid.
(5)Betsy H.
Two words: GERMAN PANCAKES. Get them, and get them immediately. Ask for the caramel apples variety, and get the fruit and caramel on the side. The German pancakes were so amazing, we wound up eating here twice in the course of our two day trip to Boise. The caramel topping is not your run of the mill caramel sauce from a can- oh, no my friend. It is much more than that. It is this gooey, sticky, buttery, stretchy, messy concoction that brings back memories of Grandma's home made caramel candies. The pancake itself is huge, puffy, and oh so good. I wish they would bring an Elmer's to Salt Lake City. Then again, for my own health, its probably best they don't.
(5)Ashley R.
I ordered the breakfast burrito, with avocado. It was damn good.
(4)Brant W.
Can you give me an omlet with my omlet? Damn these restraunts for slimming down their servings and jacking up the price. Wheres the BEEF? Food tasted good. Should be more food for the price. Good help. No other complaints. Oh, there are a bunch of old people there. -B
(3)Paul M.
Boise Classic! Come get some!
(4)Jewel M.
We were visiting Boise from Salt Lake City, Utah. Our hotel had free hot breakfast that was not that great, so on morning number two an online search directed me to Elmer's. Outside you could tell that they care about details. The inside had the old fashioned diner charm and the service was impeccable. They were almost too on top of refilling coffee and water. Very friendly staff. I had the German Pancake with fruit combo. Real thick cut bacon was a delight. Basic scrambled eggs cooked perfectly and the German Pancake was huge and delicious. I had the triple berry and they didn't skimp at all. My son, who normally hates breakfast cleaned his plate with the strawberry crepe combo. It was delicious. I wish there was an Elmer's in the Salt Lake Valley.
(5)Milo R.
Awesome home cookin breakfast & VERY friendly service. Best place since I've been on the mainland. Better than the places in Seattle.
(4)Matt S.
Awsome! Dutch Babys are a little thinner than I make them at home, but so good. I like the Dutch Baby Combo with eggs and bacon on the side.
(5)Emile L.
I really like Elmers and have been going there for years. Good cooking and friendly staff. Toss up between the quality of food between here and teh Egg Factory. Much better than IHOP.
(4)Josh K.
me and my wife went to elmer's for breakfast. and well the services was decent to good. the food was not all that good. i was very unimpressed. the eggs were overdone and the hash browns as well.
(2)Tritia T.
Definitely NOT the best first impression of Boise's dining scene. AT. ALL. Elmer's was the first eatery I tried when I finally survived the 15 hour journey from Los Angeles, CA to the university. The first "real" food since leaving SoCal at 3am. And, the first time encountering a 9PM sunset. The restaurant is located at the entrance of a hotel cul-de-sac, like Residence Inn and Townplace Marriott. It's like any other American diner serving breakfast fare all day, sandwiches and burgers, and hot food plates with a mild touch of fancehh. There's an older woman running the show, she's very friendly, but she didn't talk much and a group of young'uns serving the folks. The servers are interesting, one of them, Justin looks like he could be a GQ model or something, not an apron wearing type guy. Heck, he's not very good serving, he forgot straws three times (there were only 2 tables, us included). Though, servers are friendly and very glad they kept a smile on their faces till the end. The place is rundown and old, it's outdated, dusty, sticky, and ughh. The booths are the worst, your thigh skin/calf skin will stick to the seat and don't touch the window sill or anything by the booths, they don't wipe it down or remove the dead flies. The carpet is like late 70s flower pattern and it's nasty, nasty enough I don't even want it to touch my shoes, heh. The wall decorations are nice, they add that cozy factor along with their dustmiteous wall drapes. Other than whatever is going on in there, it's a pleasant restaurant with semi-decent edible food. My group ordered: Pot Roast w/ Broccolini and Mash Potatoes - SALTY. VERY SALTY. Mashed potatoes were wonderful, but the Pot Roast ruined it with so much salt. I felt like a cow licking a salt block. The broccolini was served as the "seasonal vegetables," and I find this to be somewhat fancehh for a place like this, but nonetheless, it was fresh and tender. Hazelnut-Crusted Alaskan Cod w/ Pilaf and Broccolini - Probably the smallest portion of fish and pilaf I've ever seen on a big empty plate. It was tasty enough though, and Granny somewhat enjoyed it so it's A-Okay. Farmer's Omelet w/ Hash Browns and Biscuit - Thee best value out of all. The omelet wasn't cooked very well, it's like they ran out of eggs so the omelet itself was mostly a flat egg tortilla, but it was loaded! The country gravy isn't my thing, so I just took it off. Overall, this was a good choice and it lasted for 2 meals!! Oh, and ask for hash browns well done, it will taste better. Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs - My brother is obsessed with Chicken Fried Steak and will order it just about anywhere. He said this was just ok, he said IHOP had better... I don't know what that says about Elmer's but, I think it's weird he compares it to IHOP LOL. Anyway, funny story. The older woman came around to check on us and refill drinks, she tried to do the "pour over someone's meal" serving technique and it FAILED miserably. The water pooled all over my bro's meal and on the table and his shorts. Yup. She came and got him a new, dry plate, but not a new meal... Saturday Market Skillet - My bf's dad ordered this and was slightly disappointed because it didn't come in a skillet. The picture showed a cast iron skillet that would perhaps keep his food warm for awhile, it didn't happen. Breakfast Sandwich - typical sandwich. Bf enjoyed it, he took out the bacon because he thought there was too many slices (only 2 slices) LOL. Oh well, more for me! Short Stack - PANCAKES! JUST COME HERE FOR PANCAKES!! Pretty much the best edible thing here. Hot, fluffy, buttery pancakes with warm maple syrup. Made me happy for sure. GOOD JOB ON PANCAKES!! So, our server Justin gives us the bill, we split the check, give him money, and only to find out that the bill didn't include the pancakes and he awkwardly hands us the new bill with the correct total. Really?! Overall, for semi-decent, semi-warm food, a solid 3.2 stars. Menu pictures look way better than in real life. Menu pictures also taste a bit better than in real life too, haha jk. Not that wonderful but for the convenience (it's across from Boise U and by Residence Inn) it's ok. No one got potty problems, so that was wonderful. Happy eating Boise!
(3)