Make no mistake -- this is NOT where you would go for healthy food. However, if you're in the mood for delicious, mouth-watering burgers and fries, this is the place to be.
(4)
Karen J.
Split an order of fish and chips for lunch and was satisfied with both the flavor and serving size. What a great location just off the Bogus Basin road. The outdoor seating area is adorned with lovely hanging flower baskets, reason enough for me to return again.
(4)
TheStranger 2.
This place is a real Boise treat! Great micro brewed beer and fantastic food. The service is very good and the staff knowledgeable about the selections. A ski-lodge/brew-house atmosphere allows one to feel as if they are miles away from the city, while only being blocks. Highlands Hollow is a must-eat-at, when in the area.
(5)
emily b.
Great place to go with friends to have a nice conversation and food/beers.
(5)
Justin H.
Highlands Hollow serves, for my family, a very specific purpose. It's a great, great, terribly underrated brewery; however, it's location is so far from us, with so many great beer spots in-between, that it's normally hard to go here. It is the absolute perfect stop after coming down from a hiking, biking or skiing session at Bogus. After all of the winding, bicycle dodging, pulling over (so the guy in the monster truck who's been riding your ass for the last ten minutes can go 45 mph down that hill), we're typically ready for a cold beer and some tasty treats. Our most recent visit found us sampling all of their delicious standard beers and rotating seasonals, and only eating one food item. I found that focus on just a few items made my reflecting and this review so much more enjoyable. I'll start with the food, because we only ordered the hummus plate. I typically shy away from these, because they are usually overpriced for what you get, the hummus is boring and the accouterments just passable. May I please say: Best. Hummus. Ever. The hummus was creamy and garlicky and had nothing to which we objected. The marinated cucumbers weren't an excuse to chop up some cucs and drizzle vinegar; they were actually marinated in something quite delicious. There were the typical sides of feta cheese and kalamata olives, along with pita triangles and, for whatever reason, it was a really nice experience. The beers were outstanding and I couldn't believe it'd been so long since we'd tried them. Spoon Tongue was an awesome blonde, like your mother. Hippie Shake was not nearly as pleasing as we'd heard others describe, but Thunder Monkey was fun and Fieg Wild still drove us nuts (in a good way, of course). Doolie's was a roasty, toasty treat and testament to my palette's new found love for maltier (as opposed to hoppier) brews. Finally, we got to try Pollywog IPA (a seasonal), brewed with fresh hops. Our server wasn't aware, but when I mentioned that there was a fresh hops festival coming up (Hoptober Freshtival at Boise Brewing), she wondered if it wasn't brewed especially for that event. I certainly hope it was, my friends, because it was frickin' amazing. When it came time to order a pint, I was absolutely torn between the Fieg Wild, Doolie's and Pollywog. Being a hops addict, Pollywog won out. Service, atmosphere, all dat stuff was on point, as we usually expect. I should mention that our server and the hostess who seated us were totally friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating of our baby. All-in-all, an outstanding experience that will probably draw us up to Bogus for a few more epic hikes before it gets too cold out, so we have a good excuse to drink some quality beer.
(4)
Nick T.
Came here with a large group after a killer Mtbiking sesh at Bogus. The beers were excellent, the Hippie Shake is my favorite one they brew and the name is great. Thunder Monkey is another good one, but a little too bitter for my taste. The brimstone burger was excellent also, with a soft and buttery bun from Acme bakery it was perfectly cooked and the Anaheim chile wasn't too spicy, in fact I wish it had been just a little more spicy. The kale slaw also was an excellent side and the waitress was very patient and attentive to our large party of 8 stinky bikers.
(5)
Twosox S.
Solid. Best Fries in Boise hands down. The food can be hit or miss but it's mostly "hit". Family friendly, cool ambiance, good beer selection, and there is always great music on Wednesday nights. A Boise institution. Don't ever sleep on the "mess o Chops". :
(4)
Wendy P.
My husband and I are new to Boise. This place is less than a mile from our house in the Northend so we decided to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised! It definitely has a ski lodge atmosphere. Kind of Swiss/German feel to it with exposed wooden beams with flags hanging from them and vintage posters. A cute fire pit in the center with a bar around it. The food all sounded delicious. Hubbs got the smokehouse burger and I got the pulled pork sandwich. Both came with what seemed like a pound of French fries! Seriously, enough to feed 4 people on fries alone. We both loved our meals. They had a little tray of condiments which were amazing! This special ketchup that was all natural, tiger sauce, BBQ, a few kinds of mustard. Definitely elevated the taste of the food. They had about 8 beers on tap that they brew themselves (by hand notably). We ended up getting a sampler of all of them and it was only about $8. They were all good with a selection of lights to hoppy to dark. The service was spectacular and our waiter Wyatt was super helpful and friendly. He even gave us two "free beer" tickets for next time! All in all we loved it and will definitely be back!
(4)
Melissa K.
I honestly was a little disappointed with my visit here. I read so many great reviews, maybe I set my expectations to high for what to expect? I dunno. . . Perhaps, what everyone loves the most here is the beer. I unfortunately have had to eliminate beer from my diet, so I can't say if it is good or not. The server was very friendly, I think she was spread a little thin on the amount of tables she was managing, but she did her best at keeping up. I ordered a burger, I can't recall the name, but it was a cross between a cheeseburger and a mexican burrito. It was just okay. I ordered it with the gluten free bun, and am 99% sure that I did not get one. If I am wrong, then whoever makes them should market them to the world because they do not taste or look anything like the 15+ different other gluten free buns I have tried. The soft drinks were flat and syrupy. The atmosphere of the restaurant is definitely: ski lodge. I can definitely see this being the place to stop in for a beer after coming down off the mountain. All in all, I have been to other breweries with better food. So again, maybe it's all about the beer here. Not sure I have a strong reason to return anytime soon.
(2)
Dan H.
These guys are awesome! Great casual place. Friendly folks. Got some TV's if you want to watch games. Round fireplace in the middle to sit by. Music in there sometimes. Mess O Chops is the way to go! Great down to earth place. One of my favorites!
(5)
Matt T.
Excellent food, great beer, awesome atmosphere, fabulous, seasoned, laid back, yet professional staff. Great local brew house. Looking for local, unique, and great food and service? Look no further! You'll find it at The Hollow.
(5)
Gary P.
Let the majority speak. If you're looking at the rating and it's a solid 4. You can be assured that this place is legit. I always think it's funny how people claim something sucked but never give the reason why. I never understand the few yelpers who say all these bad things when clearly (according to the rest of the reviews) this place rocks. I have to assume a few things. A. They are stupid B. They are super picky C. They lost their tastebuds in the war Either way, be assured, this place is great. Went here with my lovely wife and had some amazing food coupled with what I believe is some of the best beer in Boise. I was surprised to learn that they brewed all their own beer (something like 15 beers on tap). Our waiter, Wyatt, was super friendly, and knowledgeable about the beers and food. He went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed and made us feel right at home. Our previous home in San Diego is one the nations hubs for craft beers, and I like to think we have a bit of a taste for what passes as good/bad beer. This place has GOOD beer. That atmosphere was pretty sweet too... it felt as if we were transported to Bogus Basin and were at the lodge after a ski run drinking some beer and savoring the memories of not losing any limbs on the black diamond. I recommend this place HIGHLY!
(5)
Clark K.
Boise and Idaho are home to the beginning of Simplot French Fries (think McDonald's Fries and Ore Ida, both begin here years ago/still here). You can not serve a bad French Fry here and keep your self respect, so when you go to Highlands and they are even more awesome, it means some of the best in the world of Fries Paradise, back those up with an amazing fish sandwich (don't forget the great tartar sauce) and you are stuffed and put to bed happy! Just around the corner is Simplot Hill and the home on top is where the Potato King - Mr Simplot spent his last years.
(5)
Julia L.
Mmmmm!! Best beer in town.. Hippie shake all the way. I've been coming here since I first moved to Boise and its still one of my favorite places to eat. Very cozy inside, great place to meet up with friends and share a brew. Yum. I like the spicy beef salad, meatball sub and crab artichoke dip! So good!
(5)
Nicole W.
I was excited to check out another brewery in Boise. I mean i love beer, this place looked good! Alas... Location is cute, not too far out of downtown. Staff is friendly and tries! I saw the Berry Wheat beer and knew i wanted it, but when we got there they were also brewing a heff... So i tried that... Sadly it tasted... watery... say what? So i asked for a taster of the berry wheat after that to see what i was missing... nope, wasn't missing much. Bummer and sad. And then the food - O M G.... dont ask the adorable servers, use your own judgement! We started with the hummus - it was fabulous, and the picked cucumber (yes i know i'm being redundant, but yes, picked cucumber and they were great! Then i went with the halibut tacos... bad and terrible choice... gross... super gross. don't go there. All in all if i lived near by i'd try more items on the menu and give the beer another try, but alas 10 barrel and table rock and others are between my hotel and this place... Give it a try, eat and drink what you like and make your own decisions!
(2)
Drew C.
Another stop on the burger tour. My friend and I went on a wed night so it was super packed. The live music was actually really good tonight. It was a little loud had to shout to have conversation. Mountain music is always fun. I honestly should have gone with my gut just got a plain cheeseburger. I am finding lots of places speciality burgers are just not that special; meat and cheese packs more flavor. I ordered the avalanche burger what I got was a dried out patty and a massive side of flavorless black beans(might i say an avalanche of black beans lol). The pile of black beans is so big you can't even find the patty much less eat it like a burger. I ate my way through the beans to discover there was a hamburger under there after all!! Once you sort out the mess of beans what you are left with is a dried tasteless meat patty. The bun was nice and soft had good flavor. The patty was very dry didn't help there wasn't any sauce or cheese. Black beans on a hamburger patty do little for flavor. The best part of the burger was the presentation once you get past that was the only thing going for it. Don't be like me go for a different burger. My buddy got the bbq burger he said it was good mixture of cheese, bbq sauce, bacon and meat. We both remarked the portions of fries were huge. The fries were okay but like my burger lacked seasoning. Lastly on busy nights like this service goes out the window. I had to basically yell at someone not my server just to get a glass of water. Our waitress was swamped most of the night we hardly saw her. The most annoying part of the dinner was after going to the bathroom during my meal I found they had taken my plate without wanting to see I wanted the leftovers to go. If you pay for something I think you should have a choice to take home your left overs so that was a little annoying. Lastly we tried the local cider; it was interesting. It tasted at first like warm freshly pressed apple cider with alcohol in it. I honestly wasn't too impressed it was just to warm and lacked that cool crisp flavor I come to expect from a cider. The atmosphere is great; portions are huge thus the higher prices overall if you can find a better entree that packs more flavor than my burger did this might work out better for you. I will choose to go to another place to get my burger in the future not impressed not what I would call one of boise's best burger spots.
(2)
Thomas M.
Got sat in a corner table, and waited way too long to be served. Our waitress forgot our beers apparently at the bar.and we were forced to go and get them ourselves. Found a hair in my burger, not very happy. This place is inconsistent at best. And they need to update their tired beer selection.
(1)
Event L.
Good local brew. Yummy sandwiches. Grossly over-sized french fry orders. Four people can share one order and walk away sobering-ly full. Happy and pleasant waitstaff. Good post-skiing establishment for tired hungry families.
(3)
Megs H.
Dark and rustic with no natural light but with a super funky ski lodge feel... and pretty dang good food and beer. This place constantly falls off my radar due to location but I've been told good things, so I finally made it here with The Husband. We ordered Pip Squeak and Spoon Tongue beers... both were light, sweet, and refreshing enough. Maybe not hearty enough for hairy chested beer folk but good enough for us. The Husband ordered the Avalanche burger which was a 3:1 ratio of black beans to burger. Patty was bland but the toppings made up for it. He said he would want to try the regular burger next to before judging. Natural cut fries were great, though! I got the Mexican Chicken salad based almost entirely on the number of fellow patrons with it in front of them. It was super tasty though light on dressing, and portion size was good but not for hungry peeps. Chicken had amazing flavor, though. We'll be back for sure!
(4)
Joe E.
This place is a Boise staple. One of the best atmosphere's in town in my opinion, the food is awesome, friendly staff. The Brewer's club is amazing! This is one of our family's favorite places to go. You get the feel like you are in a ski lodge, or fun resort style place. Very authentic feeling, very local. We will always be huge fans!
(5)
Tom D.
Bowl of fries! So, the fries are outstanding. You can order a "small" as an app for only $3.50 that is HUGE. There is a whole bowl you can get for $4.50, I can only image the size of that one. Along with those fries are a nice assortments of condiments, including Boise's own MFT gourmet ketchup, yum! They offer gluten free buns for only a dollar extra, and these buns are really tasty. If I didn't know they were gluten free, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Chicken sandwich I ordered was tremendous, with guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and a chili pepper. Absolutely delicious. Wife ordered a burger with bacon which she seemed to enjoy since she licked her plate clean. And I did the same. Service was great, waitress was very cool and drinks were re-filled without even asking. Not much of a beer drinker, so I can't really comment on that. But they do seem to have a great selection of beers on tap. Anyway, moral of the story, if you want delicious pub food with a welcoming atmosphere, this is the place for ya!
(5)
Sean D.
Good food, great beer and a good atmosphere. I've been eating at highlands for 15 years and I'm always satisfied with the quality and taste. The soba salad and the mess o chops are my favorite and to finish it up do yourself a favor and get the snickers pie.
(5)
Andrew P.
I've been going to this place since I was a kid and it was still called Harrison Hollow. It's one of my favorite go to destinations for a good dinner in a friendly environment. The brewhouse decor creates a great atmosphere for both a big dinner or just a quick beer after work. I'm not much of a beer drinker but everyone I talk to says the house brews are delicious. The menu isn't huge so what they do have on it is done well. My current favorite is the pepper steak on soba noodles. Delicious every time. Frequent live music and outdoor seating in the summer round out this establishment as a great casual hangout
(5)
Tyler D.
I was excited to take my parents to eat at one of my favorite local spots for a good meal. I've been here a few times and always had the chicken Parmesan- it is so good that I've had zero desire to try anything else. My dad loves pasta, so he ordered the fettuccini. It was so bland he couldn't eat it. It tasted like noodles and warm skim milk- zero flavor. When we told the server about this he responded very smugly. 'Well, what did you expect? That is not a flavorful dish.', he said. No concession to add more (or even check) sauce or try something else was offered. We simply got an 'ah shux... That's too bad.' attitude. Stick with the chicken parm and don't question the server is what I'll do IF I ever go back. The beer is good but not good enough to warrant a beer only visit.
(2)
Brianne M.
Beer was very good, food not so good. It didn't have much flavor, and items were trenched in cheese and sauce that was tasteless. The service was just okay it was pretty slow when we went in and we got pushed aside a lot.
(3)
David F.
The Highlands' Reuben isn't especially distinct, but it is worthy of the genre. Of course, there is the requisite marble rye. Not too much sauce. In all, I would dub this sandwich delicious. The side salad is a notch down from better mixes found elsewhere but a cut above preservative laden cellulose masquerading as leaves at lesser institutions. When I'm not working, I opt for the Hippie Shake these days. Not as good as Dagger, but still damn fine.
(4)
David L.
This is a great place for American cuisine and craft brews. I'm 80% Paleo and come to Highlands Hollow for the comfort and convenience Close to my neighborhood, I love it for a great burger when I just have to have a burger. For other folks escaping the tyranny of diets and "good eating", try the Highlands Burger, Fish & Chips or Spinach Salad.
(4)
Chris G.
Had lunch here with family on a Saturday, after some fun up at Bogus. Overall: I liked it, I recommend it. Reasonable prices, nice atmosphere, and good food. I had a Reuben; my wife had a portobello sandwich, the kids had kid's meal chicken fingers (they need to broaden their horizons, but were a bit tired today). Reuben was very good, bread wasn't overly greasy, decent amount of corned beef, and they added grilled onions. I wasn't jumping up and down about the grilled onions, but they weren't bad. Could've used more Russian dressing, but like I said, it was pretty good. Served with an enormous amount of shoestring fries on the side. My wife's portobello sandwich was quite good; on a toasted hoagie bun, with a balsamic vinaigrette and feta cheese and roasted peppers. Quite good! Lots of flavor! I had a couple of Hippie Shakes, and my wife had the raspberry wheat beer...beers were excellent. The whole meal was about $50 with tax and tip; not bad for a sit-down lunch for the family with a few beers. The Good: -Beer -Food quality...worth coming back for. The not-so-good: -Can't say anything from experience, but I saw two "issues" on the menu...first, the fish and chips had pan-fried fish, which is not for me...I think it should be battered. Second, and more alarming, the menu says all burgers there would be cooked medium well. I *hope* you could order and receive a medium rare burger; if not 1/3 of the menu's out. All in all, I'd definitely go back, or send a friend there.
(4)
Jenna W.
Yelp has let me down for the very first time. My hubby and I visited Highlands Hollow Brewhouse on our first night in Boise, and our experience here was a huge disappointment. I ordered the fish and chips which were both extremely under seasoned. The breading on the fish fell off which made it very hard to eat. Also, a note to the chefs: when you put something that's hot (i.e., fish) on top of something that is fried (i.e., chips) the fried stuff underneath becomes soggy and gross! It's a sad day when you order fish and chips and the thing that you enjoyed the most was a simple salad that came with the meal. My husband ordered the avalanche burger which he seemed to enjoy. We had the snicker's pie which most likely came out of a box. The pie consisted of an extremely thin layer of brownie crust with a huge amount of ice cream topped with raw peanuts and caramel. Overall, we had a bad experience here, and I regret supporting this establishment. Needless to say, we won't be coming back.
(1)
Felicia S.
I love the environment Highlands Hollow has to offer. The food is delicious and I would encourage anyone to stop by and try a number of their beers. I recommend the Keg Tosser with fries, but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu.
(5)
Lena L.
I've only been to Boise twice and I've eaten here both times. They have a Mexican Chicken Salad that is awesome. It comes with guac, sour cream, grilled chicken, tortilla chips, etc and has hit the spot on both visits. We also got the grilled polenta, which was tasty and nicely grilled. It too had a mexican flair with black beans, sour cream and guac. I had the ginger wheat the night before at Red Feather and was pleasently surprised. Our server was pleasent but not memorable like some of the other places I've visited in Boise. Overall, I'm a fan and would return.
(4)
deanna h.
Highlands Hollow needs to ditch their landfill clogging styrofoam clam shell to go boxes.
(3)
Andrew B.
Not bad. Reasonable prices on Wine\Beer, especially during happy hour. I like they have the big fireplace in the winter.
(4)
L. C.
This is a friendly, relaxed place to eat. I always get the tuna meltdown with a salad and am never disappointed. Don't bring anybody who is a stickler for pristine cleanliness, since the lived-in feeling is what's so comfortable. P.S. I'm not so sure that a person in a wheelchair would actually find the bathrooms accessible.
(4)
Tony C.
Pros: - excellent service - relaxed place to chill - good crispy fries with potato taste Cons: - not very good fish n chips We went there for someone's birthday and they were able to accommodate our 12+ table with no problem. The place is a really nice relaxing place to chill. Their patio is supposed to be very nice but sadly it's been raining like crazy in Boise. Very unusual. I tried the fish and chips and was excited because the menu says that it is market price usually indicating that the fish is really fresh. They use halibut and it wasn't as good as I was hoping it to be. The fish was really fishy-smelling; dry and flaky, and the batter was kind of soggy. On the other hand, the mess o chops looked good.
(3)
KT T.
Best polenta ever! Fish and chips were quite good as well. Wait staff is always friendly without being too obtrusive. The patio is great during warm months.
(4)
Nicholas R.
We decided to try this brewpub out based on the lone review it had on this wonderful website. It wasn't quite the spectacular establishment as we were lead to believe, but that isn't to say we didn't enjoy ourselves. We walked through the door and were immediately greeted by the shrill sound of a dozen or so children of various ages running rampant. The decor was warm and inviting, but the hundreds of coasters pasted on the wall reminded me of some sort of nightmare frat house. I ordered the mess-o-chops and my fiance ordered the jalapeno cheese soup. Both came with salads that were fresh and large, and the blue cheese dressing I had contained the biggest chunks of blue cheese I've had to date. Both entrees were very large and tasty. The wait-staff was friendly, albeit a little overworked. Overall it was a good value for the money we spent. Give it a try.
(3)
Anastasia B.
This was formerly Harrison Hollow. I've eaten here a few times before they changed their name. I haven't been here since then, but their menu still looks the same. They deserve five gleaming stars just for their Mess-O-Chops, which is thinly sliced marinated pork chops, charbroiled and served on a large bed of hand cut fries and streaked with molasses. This glorious, gluttonous pile of meat and potatoes is a perfect accompaniment to one of their freshly brewed ales. Great place to get your grub on!
(5)
Talo P.
This is one of my favorite places in Boise! Just a great all-around place for food and excellent beers. I'm a micro-brew nut & snob, and Highlands Hollow has some great beers. My favorites are the Fiegwild, a pale ale, and the Hippie Shake (you gotta love their names!). Food is solid and VERY affordable. Great prices and huge portions, but good quality too. When you order a burger with fries, you get enough fries to feed three people. You won't leave here hungry! Best blue cheese dressing in town too. Mixed menu of different dishes but I haven't been disappointed yet. Nice, casual, and very family-friendly environment. Staff are friendly and attentive. Decor is fun with all the old pictures and ski memorabilia. It's like a cross between neighborhood restaurant and ski-resort pub. Live music on some weekends. Fun place to stop coming down from the mountain, since it's at the bottom of Bogus Basin Rd. Try it!
(4)
Amy K.
Holy menu batman! Appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, entrees what does this place NOT have? I am usually concerned when I see a menu this large as most places can't execute that well on everything but I certainly wasn't disappointed with my experience at Highlands Hollow this past weekend. We are still trying to get our bearings in Boise and were meeting some people for a casual bite and they mentioned this was one of their favorite places. It's a totally eclectic, casual environment which I think summarizes Boise. The beer list was promising and since I am a wimp and like lighter beers I ordered the Spoon Tongue which was by far the best beer I tasted all weekend. So good that I had two. The food coming out of the kitchen looked good but we were full of chili from the First Annual Hyde Park Chili Cook-Off so that limited my stomach's ability to order anything substantial (plus I had to save room for the second beer). I ordered the Mexican Chicken Salad and it was great...quality lettuce, well cooked chicken and the dressing was well done. In a town full of casual restaurants I think Highlands Hollow stands out based on the quality of their beer and tasty bites. Looking forward to trying out additional items on the menu post-Bogus or biking.
(4)
Jenn T.
I am honestly in love with this place. It's quirky, totally local, out of the way and has some seriously good food and beer. They have an incredible Ginger Wheat- this from a girl who would take wine or liquor over beer any day of the week. Their menu is weirdly diverse- lots of vegetarian options, some standard pub food and a ton of mexican inspired dishes. Last time we visited, I had their loaded beans and rice (I have an inexplicable love for beans and rice)- it was incredible. My darling hubs had their Wednesday special- Chili Verde and it was perfect. Great ingredients, none of it tasted pre-packaged or frozen, perfectly cooked. It's nothing fancy and the prices are totally reasonable. I'm not saying take someone here on a first date. I am saying, however, that when you're looking for something simple and relaxed, this is your place. We love it!
(5)
Seth R.
I love this place. The service is good even when they're busy. The beer isn't amazing, but it's quality. The fireplace is perfect for getting cozy and grabbing a beer. And they let you substitute a vegetarian burger in place of any of their other burgers (meat eater or not, get the Brimstone!). I've been coming to the Hollow since before the name change and it's never let me down!
(5)
Chris H.
I really like this place. They have a great menu and the prices are reasonable. During lunch you can get a pint of ale for $1.50 with any meal over $5.95. What a deal. I usually get one of their sandwiches or burgers with a salad. They have some very approachable beers for people who don't care for strong flavors in their beer, but they've got some pretty solid craft beers.
(4)
Carl B.
No problems with the service, and the funky vibe inside is just what you'd expect from a ski bar/restaurant. And to be fair, the beer (I had the Fieg Wild pale ale) was pretty solid. But my fish taco (singular [??]) was weird and gooey, nothing like the hot and crispy deliciousness I expect from a fish taco. That said, my wife liked her Tex-Mex polenta dish, so maybe the menu hit or miss. I'll probably go back someday after skiing for a beer and some onion rings or something, just because it's a good place for that sort of thing.
(2)
Patrick S.
Good local brews.
(4)
Patrick L.
Food isn't award winning. It's decent though. But I love the old school atmosphere and great service and great beer!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner 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 : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Laura L.
Make no mistake -- this is NOT where you would go for healthy food. However, if you're in the mood for delicious, mouth-watering burgers and fries, this is the place to be.
(4)Karen J.
Split an order of fish and chips for lunch and was satisfied with both the flavor and serving size. What a great location just off the Bogus Basin road. The outdoor seating area is adorned with lovely hanging flower baskets, reason enough for me to return again.
(4)TheStranger 2.
This place is a real Boise treat! Great micro brewed beer and fantastic food. The service is very good and the staff knowledgeable about the selections. A ski-lodge/brew-house atmosphere allows one to feel as if they are miles away from the city, while only being blocks. Highlands Hollow is a must-eat-at, when in the area.
(5)emily b.
Great place to go with friends to have a nice conversation and food/beers.
(5)Justin H.
Highlands Hollow serves, for my family, a very specific purpose. It's a great, great, terribly underrated brewery; however, it's location is so far from us, with so many great beer spots in-between, that it's normally hard to go here. It is the absolute perfect stop after coming down from a hiking, biking or skiing session at Bogus. After all of the winding, bicycle dodging, pulling over (so the guy in the monster truck who's been riding your ass for the last ten minutes can go 45 mph down that hill), we're typically ready for a cold beer and some tasty treats. Our most recent visit found us sampling all of their delicious standard beers and rotating seasonals, and only eating one food item. I found that focus on just a few items made my reflecting and this review so much more enjoyable. I'll start with the food, because we only ordered the hummus plate. I typically shy away from these, because they are usually overpriced for what you get, the hummus is boring and the accouterments just passable. May I please say: Best. Hummus. Ever. The hummus was creamy and garlicky and had nothing to which we objected. The marinated cucumbers weren't an excuse to chop up some cucs and drizzle vinegar; they were actually marinated in something quite delicious. There were the typical sides of feta cheese and kalamata olives, along with pita triangles and, for whatever reason, it was a really nice experience. The beers were outstanding and I couldn't believe it'd been so long since we'd tried them. Spoon Tongue was an awesome blonde, like your mother. Hippie Shake was not nearly as pleasing as we'd heard others describe, but Thunder Monkey was fun and Fieg Wild still drove us nuts (in a good way, of course). Doolie's was a roasty, toasty treat and testament to my palette's new found love for maltier (as opposed to hoppier) brews. Finally, we got to try Pollywog IPA (a seasonal), brewed with fresh hops. Our server wasn't aware, but when I mentioned that there was a fresh hops festival coming up (Hoptober Freshtival at Boise Brewing), she wondered if it wasn't brewed especially for that event. I certainly hope it was, my friends, because it was frickin' amazing. When it came time to order a pint, I was absolutely torn between the Fieg Wild, Doolie's and Pollywog. Being a hops addict, Pollywog won out. Service, atmosphere, all dat stuff was on point, as we usually expect. I should mention that our server and the hostess who seated us were totally friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating of our baby. All-in-all, an outstanding experience that will probably draw us up to Bogus for a few more epic hikes before it gets too cold out, so we have a good excuse to drink some quality beer.
(4)Nick T.
Came here with a large group after a killer Mtbiking sesh at Bogus. The beers were excellent, the Hippie Shake is my favorite one they brew and the name is great. Thunder Monkey is another good one, but a little too bitter for my taste. The brimstone burger was excellent also, with a soft and buttery bun from Acme bakery it was perfectly cooked and the Anaheim chile wasn't too spicy, in fact I wish it had been just a little more spicy. The kale slaw also was an excellent side and the waitress was very patient and attentive to our large party of 8 stinky bikers.
(5)Twosox S.
Solid. Best Fries in Boise hands down. The food can be hit or miss but it's mostly "hit". Family friendly, cool ambiance, good beer selection, and there is always great music on Wednesday nights. A Boise institution. Don't ever sleep on the "mess o Chops". :
(4)Wendy P.
My husband and I are new to Boise. This place is less than a mile from our house in the Northend so we decided to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised! It definitely has a ski lodge atmosphere. Kind of Swiss/German feel to it with exposed wooden beams with flags hanging from them and vintage posters. A cute fire pit in the center with a bar around it. The food all sounded delicious. Hubbs got the smokehouse burger and I got the pulled pork sandwich. Both came with what seemed like a pound of French fries! Seriously, enough to feed 4 people on fries alone. We both loved our meals. They had a little tray of condiments which were amazing! This special ketchup that was all natural, tiger sauce, BBQ, a few kinds of mustard. Definitely elevated the taste of the food. They had about 8 beers on tap that they brew themselves (by hand notably). We ended up getting a sampler of all of them and it was only about $8. They were all good with a selection of lights to hoppy to dark. The service was spectacular and our waiter Wyatt was super helpful and friendly. He even gave us two "free beer" tickets for next time! All in all we loved it and will definitely be back!
(4)Melissa K.
I honestly was a little disappointed with my visit here. I read so many great reviews, maybe I set my expectations to high for what to expect? I dunno. . . Perhaps, what everyone loves the most here is the beer. I unfortunately have had to eliminate beer from my diet, so I can't say if it is good or not. The server was very friendly, I think she was spread a little thin on the amount of tables she was managing, but she did her best at keeping up. I ordered a burger, I can't recall the name, but it was a cross between a cheeseburger and a mexican burrito. It was just okay. I ordered it with the gluten free bun, and am 99% sure that I did not get one. If I am wrong, then whoever makes them should market them to the world because they do not taste or look anything like the 15+ different other gluten free buns I have tried. The soft drinks were flat and syrupy. The atmosphere of the restaurant is definitely: ski lodge. I can definitely see this being the place to stop in for a beer after coming down off the mountain. All in all, I have been to other breweries with better food. So again, maybe it's all about the beer here. Not sure I have a strong reason to return anytime soon.
(2)Dan H.
These guys are awesome! Great casual place. Friendly folks. Got some TV's if you want to watch games. Round fireplace in the middle to sit by. Music in there sometimes. Mess O Chops is the way to go! Great down to earth place. One of my favorites!
(5)Matt T.
Excellent food, great beer, awesome atmosphere, fabulous, seasoned, laid back, yet professional staff. Great local brew house. Looking for local, unique, and great food and service? Look no further! You'll find it at The Hollow.
(5)Gary P.
Let the majority speak. If you're looking at the rating and it's a solid 4. You can be assured that this place is legit. I always think it's funny how people claim something sucked but never give the reason why. I never understand the few yelpers who say all these bad things when clearly (according to the rest of the reviews) this place rocks. I have to assume a few things. A. They are stupid B. They are super picky C. They lost their tastebuds in the war Either way, be assured, this place is great. Went here with my lovely wife and had some amazing food coupled with what I believe is some of the best beer in Boise. I was surprised to learn that they brewed all their own beer (something like 15 beers on tap). Our waiter, Wyatt, was super friendly, and knowledgeable about the beers and food. He went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed and made us feel right at home. Our previous home in San Diego is one the nations hubs for craft beers, and I like to think we have a bit of a taste for what passes as good/bad beer. This place has GOOD beer. That atmosphere was pretty sweet too... it felt as if we were transported to Bogus Basin and were at the lodge after a ski run drinking some beer and savoring the memories of not losing any limbs on the black diamond. I recommend this place HIGHLY!
(5)Clark K.
Boise and Idaho are home to the beginning of Simplot French Fries (think McDonald's Fries and Ore Ida, both begin here years ago/still here). You can not serve a bad French Fry here and keep your self respect, so when you go to Highlands and they are even more awesome, it means some of the best in the world of Fries Paradise, back those up with an amazing fish sandwich (don't forget the great tartar sauce) and you are stuffed and put to bed happy! Just around the corner is Simplot Hill and the home on top is where the Potato King - Mr Simplot spent his last years.
(5)Julia L.
Mmmmm!! Best beer in town.. Hippie shake all the way. I've been coming here since I first moved to Boise and its still one of my favorite places to eat. Very cozy inside, great place to meet up with friends and share a brew. Yum. I like the spicy beef salad, meatball sub and crab artichoke dip! So good!
(5)Nicole W.
I was excited to check out another brewery in Boise. I mean i love beer, this place looked good! Alas... Location is cute, not too far out of downtown. Staff is friendly and tries! I saw the Berry Wheat beer and knew i wanted it, but when we got there they were also brewing a heff... So i tried that... Sadly it tasted... watery... say what? So i asked for a taster of the berry wheat after that to see what i was missing... nope, wasn't missing much. Bummer and sad. And then the food - O M G.... dont ask the adorable servers, use your own judgement! We started with the hummus - it was fabulous, and the picked cucumber (yes i know i'm being redundant, but yes, picked cucumber and they were great! Then i went with the halibut tacos... bad and terrible choice... gross... super gross. don't go there. All in all if i lived near by i'd try more items on the menu and give the beer another try, but alas 10 barrel and table rock and others are between my hotel and this place... Give it a try, eat and drink what you like and make your own decisions!
(2)Drew C.
Another stop on the burger tour. My friend and I went on a wed night so it was super packed. The live music was actually really good tonight. It was a little loud had to shout to have conversation. Mountain music is always fun. I honestly should have gone with my gut just got a plain cheeseburger. I am finding lots of places speciality burgers are just not that special; meat and cheese packs more flavor. I ordered the avalanche burger what I got was a dried out patty and a massive side of flavorless black beans(might i say an avalanche of black beans lol). The pile of black beans is so big you can't even find the patty much less eat it like a burger. I ate my way through the beans to discover there was a hamburger under there after all!! Once you sort out the mess of beans what you are left with is a dried tasteless meat patty. The bun was nice and soft had good flavor. The patty was very dry didn't help there wasn't any sauce or cheese. Black beans on a hamburger patty do little for flavor. The best part of the burger was the presentation once you get past that was the only thing going for it. Don't be like me go for a different burger. My buddy got the bbq burger he said it was good mixture of cheese, bbq sauce, bacon and meat. We both remarked the portions of fries were huge. The fries were okay but like my burger lacked seasoning. Lastly on busy nights like this service goes out the window. I had to basically yell at someone not my server just to get a glass of water. Our waitress was swamped most of the night we hardly saw her. The most annoying part of the dinner was after going to the bathroom during my meal I found they had taken my plate without wanting to see I wanted the leftovers to go. If you pay for something I think you should have a choice to take home your left overs so that was a little annoying. Lastly we tried the local cider; it was interesting. It tasted at first like warm freshly pressed apple cider with alcohol in it. I honestly wasn't too impressed it was just to warm and lacked that cool crisp flavor I come to expect from a cider. The atmosphere is great; portions are huge thus the higher prices overall if you can find a better entree that packs more flavor than my burger did this might work out better for you. I will choose to go to another place to get my burger in the future not impressed not what I would call one of boise's best burger spots.
(2)Thomas M.
Got sat in a corner table, and waited way too long to be served. Our waitress forgot our beers apparently at the bar.and we were forced to go and get them ourselves. Found a hair in my burger, not very happy. This place is inconsistent at best. And they need to update their tired beer selection.
(1)Event L.
Good local brew. Yummy sandwiches. Grossly over-sized french fry orders. Four people can share one order and walk away sobering-ly full. Happy and pleasant waitstaff. Good post-skiing establishment for tired hungry families.
(3)Megs H.
Dark and rustic with no natural light but with a super funky ski lodge feel... and pretty dang good food and beer. This place constantly falls off my radar due to location but I've been told good things, so I finally made it here with The Husband. We ordered Pip Squeak and Spoon Tongue beers... both were light, sweet, and refreshing enough. Maybe not hearty enough for hairy chested beer folk but good enough for us. The Husband ordered the Avalanche burger which was a 3:1 ratio of black beans to burger. Patty was bland but the toppings made up for it. He said he would want to try the regular burger next to before judging. Natural cut fries were great, though! I got the Mexican Chicken salad based almost entirely on the number of fellow patrons with it in front of them. It was super tasty though light on dressing, and portion size was good but not for hungry peeps. Chicken had amazing flavor, though. We'll be back for sure!
(4)Joe E.
This place is a Boise staple. One of the best atmosphere's in town in my opinion, the food is awesome, friendly staff. The Brewer's club is amazing! This is one of our family's favorite places to go. You get the feel like you are in a ski lodge, or fun resort style place. Very authentic feeling, very local. We will always be huge fans!
(5)Tom D.
Bowl of fries! So, the fries are outstanding. You can order a "small" as an app for only $3.50 that is HUGE. There is a whole bowl you can get for $4.50, I can only image the size of that one. Along with those fries are a nice assortments of condiments, including Boise's own MFT gourmet ketchup, yum! They offer gluten free buns for only a dollar extra, and these buns are really tasty. If I didn't know they were gluten free, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Chicken sandwich I ordered was tremendous, with guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and a chili pepper. Absolutely delicious. Wife ordered a burger with bacon which she seemed to enjoy since she licked her plate clean. And I did the same. Service was great, waitress was very cool and drinks were re-filled without even asking. Not much of a beer drinker, so I can't really comment on that. But they do seem to have a great selection of beers on tap. Anyway, moral of the story, if you want delicious pub food with a welcoming atmosphere, this is the place for ya!
(5)Sean D.
Good food, great beer and a good atmosphere. I've been eating at highlands for 15 years and I'm always satisfied with the quality and taste. The soba salad and the mess o chops are my favorite and to finish it up do yourself a favor and get the snickers pie.
(5)Andrew P.
I've been going to this place since I was a kid and it was still called Harrison Hollow. It's one of my favorite go to destinations for a good dinner in a friendly environment. The brewhouse decor creates a great atmosphere for both a big dinner or just a quick beer after work. I'm not much of a beer drinker but everyone I talk to says the house brews are delicious. The menu isn't huge so what they do have on it is done well. My current favorite is the pepper steak on soba noodles. Delicious every time. Frequent live music and outdoor seating in the summer round out this establishment as a great casual hangout
(5)Tyler D.
I was excited to take my parents to eat at one of my favorite local spots for a good meal. I've been here a few times and always had the chicken Parmesan- it is so good that I've had zero desire to try anything else. My dad loves pasta, so he ordered the fettuccini. It was so bland he couldn't eat it. It tasted like noodles and warm skim milk- zero flavor. When we told the server about this he responded very smugly. 'Well, what did you expect? That is not a flavorful dish.', he said. No concession to add more (or even check) sauce or try something else was offered. We simply got an 'ah shux... That's too bad.' attitude. Stick with the chicken parm and don't question the server is what I'll do IF I ever go back. The beer is good but not good enough to warrant a beer only visit.
(2)Brianne M.
Beer was very good, food not so good. It didn't have much flavor, and items were trenched in cheese and sauce that was tasteless. The service was just okay it was pretty slow when we went in and we got pushed aside a lot.
(3)David F.
The Highlands' Reuben isn't especially distinct, but it is worthy of the genre. Of course, there is the requisite marble rye. Not too much sauce. In all, I would dub this sandwich delicious. The side salad is a notch down from better mixes found elsewhere but a cut above preservative laden cellulose masquerading as leaves at lesser institutions. When I'm not working, I opt for the Hippie Shake these days. Not as good as Dagger, but still damn fine.
(4)David L.
This is a great place for American cuisine and craft brews. I'm 80% Paleo and come to Highlands Hollow for the comfort and convenience Close to my neighborhood, I love it for a great burger when I just have to have a burger. For other folks escaping the tyranny of diets and "good eating", try the Highlands Burger, Fish & Chips or Spinach Salad.
(4)Chris G.
Had lunch here with family on a Saturday, after some fun up at Bogus. Overall: I liked it, I recommend it. Reasonable prices, nice atmosphere, and good food. I had a Reuben; my wife had a portobello sandwich, the kids had kid's meal chicken fingers (they need to broaden their horizons, but were a bit tired today). Reuben was very good, bread wasn't overly greasy, decent amount of corned beef, and they added grilled onions. I wasn't jumping up and down about the grilled onions, but they weren't bad. Could've used more Russian dressing, but like I said, it was pretty good. Served with an enormous amount of shoestring fries on the side. My wife's portobello sandwich was quite good; on a toasted hoagie bun, with a balsamic vinaigrette and feta cheese and roasted peppers. Quite good! Lots of flavor! I had a couple of Hippie Shakes, and my wife had the raspberry wheat beer...beers were excellent. The whole meal was about $50 with tax and tip; not bad for a sit-down lunch for the family with a few beers. The Good: -Beer -Food quality...worth coming back for. The not-so-good: -Can't say anything from experience, but I saw two "issues" on the menu...first, the fish and chips had pan-fried fish, which is not for me...I think it should be battered. Second, and more alarming, the menu says all burgers there would be cooked medium well. I *hope* you could order and receive a medium rare burger; if not 1/3 of the menu's out. All in all, I'd definitely go back, or send a friend there.
(4)Jenna W.
Yelp has let me down for the very first time. My hubby and I visited Highlands Hollow Brewhouse on our first night in Boise, and our experience here was a huge disappointment. I ordered the fish and chips which were both extremely under seasoned. The breading on the fish fell off which made it very hard to eat. Also, a note to the chefs: when you put something that's hot (i.e., fish) on top of something that is fried (i.e., chips) the fried stuff underneath becomes soggy and gross! It's a sad day when you order fish and chips and the thing that you enjoyed the most was a simple salad that came with the meal. My husband ordered the avalanche burger which he seemed to enjoy. We had the snicker's pie which most likely came out of a box. The pie consisted of an extremely thin layer of brownie crust with a huge amount of ice cream topped with raw peanuts and caramel. Overall, we had a bad experience here, and I regret supporting this establishment. Needless to say, we won't be coming back.
(1)Felicia S.
I love the environment Highlands Hollow has to offer. The food is delicious and I would encourage anyone to stop by and try a number of their beers. I recommend the Keg Tosser with fries, but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu.
(5)Lena L.
I've only been to Boise twice and I've eaten here both times. They have a Mexican Chicken Salad that is awesome. It comes with guac, sour cream, grilled chicken, tortilla chips, etc and has hit the spot on both visits. We also got the grilled polenta, which was tasty and nicely grilled. It too had a mexican flair with black beans, sour cream and guac. I had the ginger wheat the night before at Red Feather and was pleasently surprised. Our server was pleasent but not memorable like some of the other places I've visited in Boise. Overall, I'm a fan and would return.
(4)deanna h.
Highlands Hollow needs to ditch their landfill clogging styrofoam clam shell to go boxes.
(3)Andrew B.
Not bad. Reasonable prices on Wine\Beer, especially during happy hour. I like they have the big fireplace in the winter.
(4)L. C.
This is a friendly, relaxed place to eat. I always get the tuna meltdown with a salad and am never disappointed. Don't bring anybody who is a stickler for pristine cleanliness, since the lived-in feeling is what's so comfortable. P.S. I'm not so sure that a person in a wheelchair would actually find the bathrooms accessible.
(4)Tony C.
Pros: - excellent service - relaxed place to chill - good crispy fries with potato taste Cons: - not very good fish n chips We went there for someone's birthday and they were able to accommodate our 12+ table with no problem. The place is a really nice relaxing place to chill. Their patio is supposed to be very nice but sadly it's been raining like crazy in Boise. Very unusual. I tried the fish and chips and was excited because the menu says that it is market price usually indicating that the fish is really fresh. They use halibut and it wasn't as good as I was hoping it to be. The fish was really fishy-smelling; dry and flaky, and the batter was kind of soggy. On the other hand, the mess o chops looked good.
(3)KT T.
Best polenta ever! Fish and chips were quite good as well. Wait staff is always friendly without being too obtrusive. The patio is great during warm months.
(4)Nicholas R.
We decided to try this brewpub out based on the lone review it had on this wonderful website. It wasn't quite the spectacular establishment as we were lead to believe, but that isn't to say we didn't enjoy ourselves. We walked through the door and were immediately greeted by the shrill sound of a dozen or so children of various ages running rampant. The decor was warm and inviting, but the hundreds of coasters pasted on the wall reminded me of some sort of nightmare frat house. I ordered the mess-o-chops and my fiance ordered the jalapeno cheese soup. Both came with salads that were fresh and large, and the blue cheese dressing I had contained the biggest chunks of blue cheese I've had to date. Both entrees were very large and tasty. The wait-staff was friendly, albeit a little overworked. Overall it was a good value for the money we spent. Give it a try.
(3)Anastasia B.
This was formerly Harrison Hollow. I've eaten here a few times before they changed their name. I haven't been here since then, but their menu still looks the same. They deserve five gleaming stars just for their Mess-O-Chops, which is thinly sliced marinated pork chops, charbroiled and served on a large bed of hand cut fries and streaked with molasses. This glorious, gluttonous pile of meat and potatoes is a perfect accompaniment to one of their freshly brewed ales. Great place to get your grub on!
(5)Talo P.
This is one of my favorite places in Boise! Just a great all-around place for food and excellent beers. I'm a micro-brew nut & snob, and Highlands Hollow has some great beers. My favorites are the Fiegwild, a pale ale, and the Hippie Shake (you gotta love their names!). Food is solid and VERY affordable. Great prices and huge portions, but good quality too. When you order a burger with fries, you get enough fries to feed three people. You won't leave here hungry! Best blue cheese dressing in town too. Mixed menu of different dishes but I haven't been disappointed yet. Nice, casual, and very family-friendly environment. Staff are friendly and attentive. Decor is fun with all the old pictures and ski memorabilia. It's like a cross between neighborhood restaurant and ski-resort pub. Live music on some weekends. Fun place to stop coming down from the mountain, since it's at the bottom of Bogus Basin Rd. Try it!
(4)Amy K.
Holy menu batman! Appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, entrees what does this place NOT have? I am usually concerned when I see a menu this large as most places can't execute that well on everything but I certainly wasn't disappointed with my experience at Highlands Hollow this past weekend. We are still trying to get our bearings in Boise and were meeting some people for a casual bite and they mentioned this was one of their favorite places. It's a totally eclectic, casual environment which I think summarizes Boise. The beer list was promising and since I am a wimp and like lighter beers I ordered the Spoon Tongue which was by far the best beer I tasted all weekend. So good that I had two. The food coming out of the kitchen looked good but we were full of chili from the First Annual Hyde Park Chili Cook-Off so that limited my stomach's ability to order anything substantial (plus I had to save room for the second beer). I ordered the Mexican Chicken Salad and it was great...quality lettuce, well cooked chicken and the dressing was well done. In a town full of casual restaurants I think Highlands Hollow stands out based on the quality of their beer and tasty bites. Looking forward to trying out additional items on the menu post-Bogus or biking.
(4)Jenn T.
I am honestly in love with this place. It's quirky, totally local, out of the way and has some seriously good food and beer. They have an incredible Ginger Wheat- this from a girl who would take wine or liquor over beer any day of the week. Their menu is weirdly diverse- lots of vegetarian options, some standard pub food and a ton of mexican inspired dishes. Last time we visited, I had their loaded beans and rice (I have an inexplicable love for beans and rice)- it was incredible. My darling hubs had their Wednesday special- Chili Verde and it was perfect. Great ingredients, none of it tasted pre-packaged or frozen, perfectly cooked. It's nothing fancy and the prices are totally reasonable. I'm not saying take someone here on a first date. I am saying, however, that when you're looking for something simple and relaxed, this is your place. We love it!
(5)Seth R.
I love this place. The service is good even when they're busy. The beer isn't amazing, but it's quality. The fireplace is perfect for getting cozy and grabbing a beer. And they let you substitute a vegetarian burger in place of any of their other burgers (meat eater or not, get the Brimstone!). I've been coming to the Hollow since before the name change and it's never let me down!
(5)Chris H.
I really like this place. They have a great menu and the prices are reasonable. During lunch you can get a pint of ale for $1.50 with any meal over $5.95. What a deal. I usually get one of their sandwiches or burgers with a salad. They have some very approachable beers for people who don't care for strong flavors in their beer, but they've got some pretty solid craft beers.
(4)Carl B.
No problems with the service, and the funky vibe inside is just what you'd expect from a ski bar/restaurant. And to be fair, the beer (I had the Fieg Wild pale ale) was pretty solid. But my fish taco (singular [??]) was weird and gooey, nothing like the hot and crispy deliciousness I expect from a fish taco. That said, my wife liked her Tex-Mex polenta dish, so maybe the menu hit or miss. I'll probably go back someday after skiing for a beer and some onion rings or something, just because it's a good place for that sort of thing.
(2)Patrick S.
Good local brews.
(4)Patrick L.
Food isn't award winning. It's decent though. But I love the old school atmosphere and great service and great beer!
(4)