Kindness
1109 W Main St, Boise, ID, 83702
Kindness Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1109 W Main St
Boise, ID, 83702 - Phone (208) 629-7444
- Website https://www.kindnessboise.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Brian M.
No service Let me say that again. No friggin service The cocktail service is incompetent Everyone is just walking up and swamping the bartender It looks like a place opened by someone with money but no experience running a bar or staff.
(1)Brian C.
Our drinks were spot on and the food was super yummy I will come here very often not to forget our awesome sever Ruben was very helpful with the menu and went way above and beyond a typical server.
(5)Todd L.
Food and feel of the restaurant received a 4 star. Service received a 2 star. We arrived on a Friday evening and the place was quiet. Maybe 5 other tables to service. I made this point because the service was not good. It took our server over 5 minutes to greet us. The maturity was not there. Server asked if certain jewelry was real or fake. Server forgot our beer and wine order (took 15 minutes to receive). Server would fumble her towel, pen and menus while holding them. As I mentioned, the place was quiet. Service should have been much more attentive and mature in my opinion. Good thing is, Service can be worked on with a few tweaks. The chef puts our flavorful food! The French Onion soup was amazing. I will get this every time and highly recommend. The 2 entrees were very good as well. Tons of great flavor. I will make one critique on the food. The portions are huge. I am the minority here, but entrees do not need to be so large. If you like big quatities this is a great thing. I recommend Kindness and we will be back because servers have bad days like everybody. Cheers Always and enjoy.
(3)Stephanie M.
I was intrigued by the name. I travel to a new town each week and am always looking for great new options. Unfortunately I was disappointed in this one. I ordered an appetizer and and entree. They both arrived at the same time. The entree; flatbread pizza with wild mushrooms was too salty and not the thin flatbread I'm used to getting in other restaurants. The server, tho very nice, was not a professional. I was left unattended to my dismay. There were only 4 tables occupied and three she could see and speak to just by turning in a circle. Unfortunately I won't be back.
(2)Lance W.
People were awesome. Super nice and informative. Food was decent but pretty much the same menu as 10 barrel and flatbread. I would for sure go there once and try it out yourself. It's in an old hotel and the design of the place is super cool. Some say it's haunted so I might go back just to try and see a ghost.
(3)Stephen K.
let's name a restaurant kindness and paint the building black. and let's have very rude service and overpriced food. what a concept?
(1)Louise B.
I feel bad writing this, because I know how hard it must be to get a restaurant up and running, but something was seriously off here. First impression upon entering is somewhat positive...trendy, cocktail area, lots of black and white tile, high ceilings. Service was warm and generally good. And there was some good focaccia brought to the table with a tasty olive oil and balsamic. But from then on, things fell apart in a somewhat comical way. The waitress described a special soup to us, as "southwestern chicken" which was to be served with avocado, tortilla chips, and some kind of chipotle/southwest seasoning. Several of us ordered it as the description sounded good. What came out was relatively tasty...but was not what was described. It was chicken noodle soup...no avocado, no chips, no southwest flavor (zero). When this was pointed out to the server, they apologized...something about how they changed the soup and forgot to tell the line cooks...and then to make repair, brought out a giant bowl with some (not very fresh) avocado slices and a big pile of...wonton chips. Whaaa...? The ceaser salad with "crispy kale" was a small plate (to be fair, only 5 dollars) of chopped, limp romaine, with the smallest little bit of wilted kale on top. The dressing was on the side (even though no one ordered it that way...not standard in a restaurant in my experience)...and it was a bad ranch. So really, not a ceaser. And a bad one at that! Other salads, including a green salad, and quinoa salad were described as "flavorless". Because none of us had a full dinner (entrees), I have to admit that maybe we just all ordered the wrong things. This seems unlikely though. I didn't feel upset about my experience (you never know what you're going to get with a new restaurant I guess), but I was definitely surprised by it, and it even gave me a few good laughs. I hope they can improve and that they get someone in the kitchen with a better sense of food. "Kindness" is important in a restaurant, but what's on your plate is at least as important if not more so.
(2)John T.
I'm not in love with the menu, but all of the food is really good. Definitely order the special. I've recently tried the double cut pork chop and it should be added to the menu. The breakfast that I had there was possibly the best I've had in the valley.
(4)Diana Z.
The steak salad had a creamy flavor and a slught spice too. It was heavenly. My friends had the boulliabase whuch they said was the best they ever had. Great atmosphere beautiful architecture and even better food
(5)Chelsey R.
Fabulous menu, great happy hour, huge servings! We had the daily soup and the pork chop special, and were so pleased with the depth and flavor of both. Mature wine list and clever cocktails. The interior is a nice compliment of old and new. They do, however, need a street side sign, as it can be a bit hard to find. Shoutout to Daniel, the waiter, who is a doll!
(4)Tyler B.
Kindness my ass you have to pay to park and eat at this Resturant who does that? Not only that the food was cold and not good. The only thing good about this place is the one server chantel she worked her ass off.
(1)Drew B.
Great service, atmosphere, and food! Previous reviews were spot on. Even the bread was fantastic. I had the turkey burger, which was more similar to a meatloaf burger, but I devoured it. My wife got the special, which was lamb and risotto, which she said was the best risotto she's had.
(5)Marie J.
Kindness has definitely become my new favorite happy hour spot. Half off all drinks $8 or less, appetizers, and flatbreads makes for a fantastic early dinner. The sweet potato gnocchi and the wild mushrooms & crostini are my favorites, but everything is so good. Just bring friends and share everything! The service is a little hit or miss, but on the good side. The only other con is I wish they had a bit better of a beer selection, it's usually solid but not exciting. Though I do have to give props for always keeping a couple locals on. The atmosphere is great, plus half off fantastic food & drinks - this happy hour can't be beat.
(5)Jennifer R.
Food is great but service was horrible. Empty water glasses, empty drinks, still signaling for the tab. Seemingly ignored. Caesar salad needs more greens less bread. Bar prawns very good but not like the Stagecoach's. Gnocchi rich and velvety. Flatbread with mushrooms and truffle oil was delightful. The food is good to great but the loud, hard, glaring ambiance overshadows the beautiful windows and architecture in the dining area. A dimming of lights might help but no ideas on how to dim the noise. If you can put up with the negatives the food is worthy.
(3)Caroline N.
We came here for breakfast and it was fantastic. Very good service, beautifully decorated interior and the best food I've had in Boise. I got the soft scrambled eggs with potato pancakes and chorizo - the jams were homemade and not too sweet, the eggs were perfectly cooked, and the chorizo was an excellent compliment to the rest if the meal. A great place for breakfast or brunch!
(5)tona h.
We went to Kindness for an early dinner with another couple last night. The decor is beautiful. It's a mix of modern with the original architectural details. Our server was attentive he was there whenever we needed anything. There were others servers who delivered drinks and appetizers and they knew just who ordered each item, nice touch. Everyone loved their food. For appetizers we ordered the homemade chips and salsa, the homemade Italian croquettes (the tomato sauce was excellent). Our friends ordered the grilled steak salad with smoked blue cheese to share and the potato soup with blue cheese, they were both very pleased. We ordered a duck sausage flatbread, the caramelized onions paired wonderfully with the sausage. The soft shell crab sandwich was awesome, bread was great, it was just the right amount of crunchy goodness.
(5)Tanya V.
Had breakfast at Kindness. Our server was really nice but everything took forever - drinks, food, paying the bill - and it wasn't busy. In fact we were the first table there. When we did get food some plates were really hot so obviously had sat under heat lamp. Food was meh. Ambiance is ok.
(3)Eve-Marie B.
I love the atmosphere of this space; clean and modern in a historic building. I've been about four times for breakfast and overall have had a nice experience. The last time, however, I was slightly disappointed. The chef has started to deep fry the potato pancakes and risotto cakes. They were previously the best item on the menu! While I was told ahead by the server the were fried, I was still surprised to receive deep-fried inedible pancaked hockey pucks. The service was awkward after we brought this up. Regular salt shakers and a comment card would be a helpful addition to the table.
(4)Cj E.
An apparent creative collaboration between a food-themed pinterest board and the deep-fat fryer from the Dutch Goose, my first meal Kindness was, well, confused. At the most superficial level, Kindness does everything right. The decor has an open, atrium-like feel of a vintage hotel restaurant. What the staff might lack in experience, they make up for in training, providing service that is professional, but at times a bit rough around the edges. Beneath its over-designed cuteness, the menu is pleasant sounding array of high-end bar foods, many I still wish to sample. A upscale selection of small plates, some tasty-sounding flat breads, and well edited list of entrees and sandwiches. Some items, like the dip and croquettes hide additional options that sound too much like Costco fare. I don't doubt they are all made in house, but would prefer to see one or two strong items instead of five pedestrian ones. My meal started off the beer-battered Oyster mushrooms. If the words greasy, fleshy and wet don't sound good together that is because they aren't. The dish was a nihilistic display of the horrors a deep-fryer can play on an innocent and delicate mushroom. The beer batter tasted of old, oniony grease and overpowered the underseasoned mushroom within. The sriracha aioli was predictably tasty. Unfortunately its pink hue foreshadowed the pepto shooters needed to help my stomach forget these mayonaise-dipped manifestations of regret. The duck breast salad generally followed the mixed greens, fruit and candied nuts formula. An over-done duck breast not-withstanding (it happens), the dish struggled to become more than a some of its parts. The dressing begged for an herbaceous or spice note to complement the duck, but the salad was tasty nonetheless. French onion soup ranks high among my list of comfort foods and this dish came close to hitting the mark. The crouton and thick sliced onions were near perfect. The broth however had crossed the line from salty to metallic tasting, a forgivable transgression at 10 pm, but not at 8:00 on a Friday. Likewise, the fistful of french french fried onions both figuratively and literally hid the dish beneath, adding nothing to the dish and making it difficult to eat. The Moody Bleu burger was by far the highlight of the evening. A fan of any burger that without ketchup, the beef was nicely seasoned, appropriately thick, and cooked and rested perfectly. The basalmic reduction, added a nice bite but this dish again came piled beneath another sizable pile of greasy french fried onions. After removing about half, the dish ate pretty well. Overall, I still have high hopes that Kindness might live up to its promise of upscale american classics. Whether it be a bad night in the kitchen or unfortunate menu choices on my part, my experience was more like dive-bar dressed in skinny jeans. A few better choices and a hell of a lot less deep fried onion could easily push this two star review to four.
(2)Twosox S.
I've been here twice now and I've been impressed. Hip menu that's well executed. Ambiance and service were tip top and the Bloody Mary was just outstanding. Breakfast enchiladas, southwest Benedict, and the fruit parfait were all very deeeelish. Cannot wait to munch on that lunch fare soon. Don't snooze on this place.
(4)Jared R.
Came here for breakfast and came back for dinner the same day. I was so impressed by the food, the service and the atmosphere! What a great spot located in the historic Owyhee building.
(5)Patrick L.
I struggled with with a 2 vs. a 3 rating. We went to Kindness for Mother's day today. It was $30 a person. I had reservations but later was called and asked to confirm the reservations I already had with a credit card. I asked about the menu. Seemed a little light but my wife said we should do it. I was disappointed immediately that "crab" wasn't crab legs and the prime rib wasn't a prime rib carving station but instead prime rib sitting overcooked in pan. I was even more disappointed when I tried the crab claws and it tasted like it had barely thawed. Frozen... barely thawed... not steamed... not warm... no butter... Major disappointment. However, I loved the risotto even though it and a few other dishes were cold (which isn't uncommon for buffet's but for $30 a person, it should be warm... that is, at least out of the "danger zone"). The flavor profile of a few dishes was good enough to have me come back on a normal day but definitely not for a Buffett again.
(2)Michael S.
Amazing atmosphere and great owner! I'll definitely be coming back! Good prices And friendly staff!
(5)Shelby K.
We chose Kindness for dinner on NYE and it was terrible to the point of comedy. Despite having reservations for the set menu, the staff didn't seem to know what to do with us. Despite it being NYE, our order of champagne completely stumped the waitress. Despite having a set menu and seating times, the restaurant was somehow surprised by so many people having steak at the same time so they ran out of steak knives. We were served our steaks along with 2 knives (for a party of 4) and told to share. And then we were apparently forgotten and sat waiting for dessert, more drinks, and even the bill. Upon our arrival the owner had assured us we should find him if he could help with anything but he was no where to be found when we encountered issues (these are just a few highlights of the evening). After finally get the bill, we did find him...drinking and dancing upstairs. I definitely will not be back!
(1)Jason A.
I eat and drink here all the time. The drinks are great and they have a good beer and wine selection. The "halfy hour" is such a great deal. 1/2 off drinks, appetizers, and flatbread. The duck confit flatbread is amazing as are the meatballs. For breakfast, check out the Hangover. Its a jalapeno biscuit with sausage, eggs, hashbrowns and all covered with chorizo gravy. Amazing!
(5)Justin R.
Great food and service. Good for our group that was having a meeting. Good environment for business or fun.
(5)Andrew H.
Everything on the menu seemed fried. I appreciate them moving into the Owyhee building, but the ambience feels sterile, not grand like a high-end restaurant or cozy, comfy, and quaint like a great steakhouse.
(2)Andy E.
I am writing a review to set the record straight. I was at Kindness this morning for brunch and it was very busy. The staff was dealing with parties of ten or more (one was 18). We came in with a party of 3 and were seated immediately. We were given waters and a menu. After receiving our drinks our waitress took our order ( I can't remember her name, but she had multi colored nails). We got our food within 20 minutes and everything was spot on! My only complaint is NOT about the restaurant, but the other customers that couldn't wait for their food graciously. Come on kids, look around you. Everything our party of three had was exceptional!! I'm sorry that other people don't understand what work goes into making such great food and service seem second nature. Shame on them!
(5)Matthew M.
I had a great experience at Kindness! I don't get to go out to an amazing brunch very often, but I'm so happy about this new restaurant. I loved everything from their homemade toast with a variety of house made jams to my perfectly cooked eggs! The flavor profile of the menu designer is spot on! I can't wait to try more menu items. I got in a little to late to have the bacon bread pudding (sold out) but my second choice (breakfast enchiladas) was delicious. I had a great time... except for the grumpy customers around me complaining about a 20 minute wait on great food. My refillable mimosa was promptly brought, and my server (who was dealing with impatient jerks) was amazingly KIND! I will be back for sure! Can't wait to try more deliciousness!
(5)Carl Y.
A quick light dinner was our first introduction to this newish restaurant. First thing they should probably do is improve their signage as the Owyhee Hotel is not finished and it does look like there is nothing going on from the outside. But once inside, it is easy to see that happy diners are inside. We were promptly seated and the servers are all cheery and cordial. We missed happy hour, but still enjoyed first-rate drinks (try the old-fashioned) with appetizers of the freshly made potato chips and the wild mushroom and cheese dip crostinis. Both were great appetizers, but the chips could stand a little less Rosemary as a seasoning, but still good. My wife was about full by then, but she had a side of their over roasted broccoli and one of my guacamole-beef sliders (3 to the order). The artisan roll buns were made of the same dough as their bread. But in this case I would have gone for the dreaded brioche buns instead as the artisan bread buns were just a bit too tough for the small burgers. That is unless you wanted to one bite them. But for smaller bites, the rolls tended to make the fillings squish out. Other-wise tasty, especially with the fresh potato french fries. Again I would have preferred less Rosemary seasoning on the fries. The dinner menu is a bit sparse, but what they list they do well, at least for those items we had. It was nice to see the insides of the remodeled hotel as we were some of the last customers prior to its closing. Logistics and layout are done well (as usual) by Michele R. so I won't repeat here.
(4)Brad M.
We had high hopes for this place but left disappointed. The atmosphere lacks, well, atmosphere. The dining area was small and sort of sterile. Boring probably describes it best. The menu is pretty limited. The meatballs (appetizer) tasted a little old...definitely not fresh. This was agreed upon by all 6 at our table. The buffalo mozzarella bites were better than average and as it turned out, they were the highlight of our meal. Three of us ordered burgers cooked to medium temperature and all three came out medium rare...more rare than medium, easily. The bottom buns were soaked in blood and totally unappealing to the eye. Two were returned to the kitchen (the other one didn't get eaten) and they came back to the table several minutes later...well done. Actually, they were beyond well done. Super overly well done, if that's possible. Not the medium temperature originally agreed upon. We concluded that they have two temperatures of meat...medium rare and over done. That's it. The bacon that topped the burger...also old. Not fresh. Another at our table ordered the turkey burger and it too, had a less than appealing taste to it. Better than half of it stayed on the plate. Although our waitress was very sweet and accommodating, it turned out to be a less than spectacular food experience. We might be willing to give it another shot some day down the road....maybe. Possibly. Okay, okay, we probably won't go back.
(2)Rich W.
We had such a nice meal here! Incredible food at incredible prices -- plus a full bar. The decorate is historic-modern; think San Francisco/Boise fusion. We will definitely be back. Boise is lucky to have this new addition!
(5)Tina M.
I really wanted to like this place as it seemed to be mindful of gluten free diners. With celiac it's nice to see more restaurants offering these choices. We were greeted by Evelyn who started our brunch with a very friendly attitude. Unfortunately from there we were served by Ryan (the manager we were later told). He was quite unfriendly and not knowledgeable about what items were gf or not. We were also disappointed that the advertised bottomless mimosas were $10 each instead of advertised $5. Our steak came quite rare after asking for medium well. Overall not great unfortunately but I will give it another try for lunch or dinner as I really want them to succeed. Hopefully some of these reviews will help them polish the rough spots. Liked the décor although can feel a little cafeteria-style.
(2)Rita B.
I have had the opportunity to sneak into Kindness during their "soft opening". They are housed in the newly renovated Owyhee Building (Historical Building in Boise). Atmosphere is great, both in the bar and dinning room or on the rooftop patio. The meal was delicious. The menu is unique and creative with what I refer to as elevated comfort food. So good! Be sure and make it point to stop in and experience some really amazing food and a engaging staff who were both attentive and friendly.
(5)Paul S.
Came here with a group and did not get to try the full menu. We were given beef, fish, or vegetarian options. First the place is beautiful, the tile floor is classic and brightens up the space. The servers were quite attentive and friendly. I tried the beef which was a rib eye steak beautifully grilled with a delicious black bean Demi glaze and sautéed kale. The vegetarian meal was a paperdelle pasta with morel mushrooms and peas in a mushroom cream sauce. I tried some and loved it. I did not get to try the fish but it seemed others were pleased. If I return to Boise I'll try it again and order for myself (not much of a steak fan so surprised I liked it so much - would have ordered paperdelle had I known what vegetarian dish was).
(4)MJ P.
Pros: -good menu with plenty of options -nice space (though it seems a little too large to fill) Cons: -portion sizes were HUGE - this might be a pro for some, but I would recommend splitting dishes Bottom line: the food and the service were ok but not great. With a little more attention to detail, this place could be much better. I get the sense that they sacrifice quality for quantity of food.
(3)Lori B.
Food for brunch is very good, and prices are reasonable. Hubby had prime rib chicken fried steak and eggs, and I had the breakfast enchiladas. Mine was served in a cast iron skillet and was hit, fresh and tasty. His was generously portioned, and he liked it, although he would have preferred a more traditional gravy. Toast and berry compote were both delicious. My only minor critique would be about the service. The hostess was lovely and friendly, but our waiter was a bit scattered. He apparently got weeded by a 10 top, so I'll cut him a break this time. He was nice, just maybe a bit slow.
(4)Kristina M.
My boyfriend and I were just talking about Kindness last night, and I realized I never reviewed it after our visit! We went here to celebrate our anniversary/to have a nice night out together. The atmosphere is upscale, yet casual at the same time. The area we were in was echo-y and I felt like we had to whisper to each other. We came overdressed, as we were expecting the venue/atmosphere to be a little classier. You can always tell the vibe by what the wait staff is wearing, and with a mass of Converse and t-shirts, we felt a little out of place. That being said, I like that it's a pretty casual place. It's not often you find food this good somewhere that requires more than jeans. Good to know for future visits. We must have been in shortly after their grand opening, because a lot of the staff was in training and still getting a hold of things. It was great, however, and we were well taken care of. Out drinks were good, definitely poured strong. Nice. And the food... Good lord the food!! We started with the risotto croquettes. To. Die. For. I love croquettes, but have never had them made with risotto. Definitely a fun spin on them! And so delicious! Get them!! We both went with the SRF Kobe Beef Coulette Steak and were NOT disappointed. My boyfriend still claims it to be "the best steak I've EVER had." We also got the roaster garlic mashers and veggie of the day - which was honey-drizzled steamed carrots. Yuuuuum. For dessert, they offer a tray of seasonal choices. We had a pumpkin mousse that was killer. We will certainly be back! In fact, we already have plans to do so :)
(4)Jaime J.
We really enjoyed kindness for Brunch and we're so bummed to show up and find out they switched over to a buffet. We didn't actually stay for the $16.00 buffet so I can't judge it, but with an empty restaurant I would hate to see kindness no do well BC they have a buffet. People willing to buy $25.00 per person are not going to eat at a buffet - it reminds me of a continental breakfast or Easter brunch at Denny's. Bummer. Kindness is now off our list for breakfast.
(3)Chris O.
I found everything about Kindness, from its location in the Owyhee building to its sleek and sexy hipster decor to its get-it-local philosophy, to be absolutely great! I came here as part of a group of local Yelpers who get together on a regular basis to try out Boise area businesses. I can confidently say that each member of our group left Kindness feeling quite satisfied with the choice of our September location. You can expect to find a well rounded selection of offerings on the menu that is sure to please most palates. They serve up everything from steak to vegetarian flat bread pizza. And of course, plenty of libations to wash it all down with. So grab a friend, or five, and head down to Kindness. Oh yeah, plus they have shuffleboard.... Yeah, I'll be back!
(4)Kara B.
Loved the food here tonight. The service was great. Had the place almost to ourselves which was so nice. We ordered a lot off the menu because we wanted to try multiple things. My husband had the lamb and I had the kobe beef burger. Both were splendid. The presentation was wonderful and the depth of flavor was great. We also tried the bacon Mac and cheese and the croquettes. The desserts were awesome. The cocktails and wine were nice too. All in all, we liked Kindness very much and will return.
(5)JoAn E.
I would give Kindness 3 1/2 stars if I could. The food was good but lacked the final finishing touches that would make them truly great. For example the mushroom crostini was good but the crostini was hardly grilled more like luke warm and not crunchy the beer battered mushrooms had a great dipping sauce but to much batter and not enough mushroom. The batter was perfect but a bit to oily like it wasn't allowed to drain. The cocktails were okay as well. Overall it was just good but I would like to come back and try the brunch.
(3)Michele R.
Customer reviews, whether Yelp, TripAdvisor or any other review medium typically reflect a snapshot in time. A single dining experience. A single purchase experience. Sometimes multliple visits are made and then a panorama develops. So has it been for my husband and me after several visits in to Kindness for different times of the day including times with friends along to introduce them to the restaurant. Sad to say those introductions have been uncomfortable given food and service snafus. "Well, their heart is in the right place" has been the outcome. With the sense from those we've introduced that they might come back but they wouldn't make this destination. In particular service where pleasant and eager servers are in the mix, could really do with additional training and maybe more on floor supervision as they learn the ropes. And while we've frequently seen the owner when we've been in, it doesn't quite seem he is paying attention to the service issues in real time to address getting them fixed overall. Most recently our visit was for "Halfy Hour". We sat for some time in the lobby chairs at the bar and finally had to walk into both the restaurant and up to the bar to inquire about menus and placing food and beverage orders. Not the fault of the friendly staff who were responsive once we tagged them, but a seeming absence of process for how customers coming in are monitored and followed up for orders. RELUCTANT UPDATE DOWNGRADE I've been reluctant to write an update and reduce the star rating because these are such nice folks with a great mission. The telling thing was to find myself backing down in my four star comments with out of town Yelp friends who asked if they should make this a stop on their way through town. As in "Well, it's good but the food and service aren't what they should be by now. Maybe you should try (insert alternative) instead..." Two other comments seem worth sharing based on multiple visits. NON REVENUE MODEL? I don't now how this will work for them, but Kindness is, well, kind enough to provide a large community table in the lobby and comfy lounge chairs in the lobby bar. On multiple trips in we've noted folks with laptops and backpacks and their own coffee and commuter mugs brought in, all the while Kindness offers a coffee bar in the lobby. The same was true with happy hour when lounge seating, revenue seating for the bar / restaurant, was taken up by people with their own coffee and soft drink cups in hand and not buying food or beverage from Kindness. As a commumity service, providing these spaces is nice of Kindness. But how they sustain a business when folks don't buy their product is tough to determine. It will be interesting to see if the space they provide generates loyalty from those using it to come back and eat at the restaurant. HALFY HOUR Re the "halfy hour" we discovered their "two for one" cocktails are a la the Barbacoa model, that is one person has to have two cocktails and the second is free. As a one cocktail and done drinker, this kind of policy does nothing for me. At least in kudos to Kindness staff they explain the policy clearly at the time of the order. BOTTOM LINE We are fans of the concept here and the location and the people but we have found inconsistency in service and food that at this point in the restaurants' launch that ought to be better ironed out. We're pulling for Kindness to make it work. There is so much here to admire. But there is also work to do for four stars or better.
(3)John S.
Order the French onion soup and you may not need anything else. It's nearly a meal in itself. Piled high with French-fried onions, it looks almost too good to eat. The cheese came browned and gooey and the underlying soup was complex and flavorful, just as you would expect at a fine dining restaurant. I came as part of a local Yelp group that schedules once-monthly gatherings at Boise area restaurants. Kindness opened over the summer in the renovated Owyhee Plaza that has been a fixture in downtown Boise for more than 100 years. I ordered the pork shank, with the meat sourced from Boise-based Snake River Farms, which uses pigs raised on small family farms with no hormones. The pork was so tender I didn't even touch my knife. The reduction sauce was flavorful but I would have liked it to have been stronger. The cornmeal polenta was fabulous. It's a simple dish, but when made correctly, it allows the corn to shine and is very flavorful. The servers were friendly and came by often to refill water glasses and the ice tea I ordered. I returned a few days later for breakfast and ordered the Breakfast American, two eggs with bacon, ham, sausage or Basque chorizo, a Treasure Valley favorite. The bacon was some of the thickest slices I have ever encountered and was meaty, with little fat. The four half-slices of sourdough bread that came with the meal were fabulous. They tasted of San Francisco tang and must have come from one of the talented local bakeries. They were served with a flavorful strawberry sauce that lacked the pectin of commercial preserves and was quite delightful. The restaurant's Facebook page said it offers early-bird breakfast specials, but there was no mention of that by the server and my bill did not take that into account, either. Some of their menu items had a tad too much "kindness." I got tired of the descriptions of "kindness marinara" on some of the appetizers and "kindness fry sauce." It made me wonder why the house cocktail sauce wasn't elevated to "kindness cocktail sauce." The biggest challenge for Kindness may be its location. The Owyhee isn't a typical destination for most people and even those walking past on the sidewalk on Main Street will be hard pressed to know there's a restaurant inside. There was a small sandwich board sign on the sidewalk that mentioned specials, but it would be easy to miss. There's a restaurant sign on the back side of the building that faces a paid parking lot and West Grove Street, but the uninitiated aren't likely to realize "Kindness" refers to an eatery. I also love their sense of humor. The menu noted that the state of Idaho requires them to notify you that eating raw or undercooked foods may kill you. Likewise, they say they serve "local, natural and constantly hugged proteins.
(4)Randy S.
I need more than 5 stars! This place is the real deal. Casual ambience with amazing food. The staff was friendly and pleasant. I had the duck confit potato skins appetizer as well as a lobster tort. I couldn't pass on the French onion soup and was not disappointed. The entree of double cut pork chop with polenta was perfectly cooked and the local chantrelle mushroom parpadelle was divine. You MUST come here. Who'd a thunk in Boise, but it is truly kindess.
(5)Rob S.
Just had buffet brunch here and it was outstanding. Try the bacon. And the French toast. And the eggs bene. And the muffins. Actually just try everything. Remember to wear your maternity pants or spandex infused jeans.
(5)Melissa K.
Part of the Yelp Supper Club, I joined the crew for our September outing at Kindness. Located inside the newly renovated Owhyee, I give the husband and wife team props for the farm to table approach they strive to provide. I found it a bit confusing as to where to go to check in for our reservation. After a bit of wandering, and taking note of where people seemed to be exiting from we found the hostess desk. For the size of our group we were seated in the " board room", which would be great to reserve for a special occasion of 10 or more people. Our waitress was friendly, but seemed to be lacking confidence in the menu when it came to dietary restrictions. I typically find when I bring up a gluten sensitivity the server is always quick to point out anything that is ordered for the group to share that might oppose an issue. I will assume, that it was assumed I just would know better. I also thought it was odd that fresh bread was brought to the table for everyone, and even though mention was made that they did have gf bread, I was never offered any. She also presented the desserts and did not point out what if anything was ok for me to choose. Maybe this is a little picky, but I have to base this experience on other restaurants service when it comes to dietary restrictions, so unfortunately a little less than perfect. I did sense overall she was not completely educated on this whole dynamic. I also thought it wasn't necessarily handled correctly when one of our members ordered a drink and it was determined to be completely something different. The bartender was very apologetic and offered to make another which was nice, but I think it was messed up that she basically threw the other bartender under the bus saying she was still learning. How does she know the server didn't possibly order the wrong drink? No need to place blame, just apologize and offer to make it right, end of story. I ordered the salmon, which was a little on the dry side with mushrooms and polenta as sides. Both of these were delicious! I do like that the menu is seasonal, so you can look forward to returning for an entirely new set of options. Of course, if you are the type that finds one thing they like and never strays then this might not be the place for you. Overall based on my first visit, I would say 3 1/2 stars if I could.
(3)Christine C.
We came here for their brunch buffet this morning and it did not disappoint. The staff were super-attentive, making sure our coffee and water were always topped off and clearing away dishes in a flash. The food - ah, the food. Everything was amazing, from the risotto cake eggs Benedict to the jalapeno biscuits with chorizo gravy to the fresh fruit and the mouthwatering pastries. Even the cream puffs, which I normally pass up due to sub-par cream, were a great surprise with the perfect chocolate cream filing. This place is DEFINITELY worth it for brunch, too!
(5)Melissa C.
I was extremely excited to try Kindness and it was sadly just ok. The restaurant itself is cool and modern, which is apparently in right now. We ordered three appetizers and I got dinner as well. The chips, salsa and guacamole were extremely delicious but the sliders were colder than I would like and the meat was extremely fatty. The third appetizer we ordered had a cheese dipping sauce that was good, but it too was cold. Overall, the appetizers weren't anything special. I then ordered the Moody Blue Cheese burger and it was topped with crunchy onions. I believe it said it was spicy, but I didn't taste any of that. You have the option of fries, chips, or salad, and I chose fries which in my opinion stood out more than the burger. The patty wasn't evenly cooked but if you aren't picky it could be overlooked. My favorite part of the burger was the balsamic dipping sauce. That was just incredible. I've heard better things about the breakfast and a few lunch items, so I won't count Kindness out yet, I'm just hoping for more next time.
(2)jami V.
First let me state - super cool decor! So right off the bat - sets the stage for something great and they didn't disappoint. Just had the American breakfast. A simple choice but most places don't get it right. Kindness did it. Incredible bacon, great sourdough and the huckleberry jam - crazy good. And to top it off service was great. Definitely coming back when I'm in town.
(5)Dede S.
Happy hour rocked! $2.50 beer and Martini! Food was fabulous, had soft shell crab sandwich and salad! Very good! We will be back!
(5)Janet N.
Happy Hour Review Food items will be reviewed in next visit Pretty good, just average appetizers and drinks. The cocktail menu had your regular margaritas, mojito, and cosmopolitan type drinks. The meatballs with the marinara were Delicious. Summer Salsa was good, it would be better if they had a guacamole with it, but if you mix their salsa with guac you're all good. ! Ambiance - it's pretty mellow and really perfect if you're trying to find a spot to hang out with a few people and not be bombarded by loud music or be in a crowded room. Service - 8/10 Appetizers - 8/10 Drinks - 8/10
(4)Mike T.
The decor is amazing -- that must be stated first. The food was pretty good, not perfect but very tasty. The service... now the service was bad, at best. How bad, you may ask? The wine list has on it "Cotes du Rhone", when my wife asked, "which cotes du rhone do you have?" The waitress absolutely did not understand the question, she just kept repeating, "yep it's the cotes du rhone," as if there is only one... Had to ask to have my water refilled a couple of times. Probably will not be going back, unfortunately because it is so pretty inside!
(2)Ophelia M.
Came here for the September UYE (Yelp Supper Club) and had a lovely experience. Located inside the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, you could easily miss it if you weren't looking for it. And, that would be a mistake as owners, Anna and Michael Tapia, have created something special at Kindness. The restaurant is large and meanders around corners and into more secluded rooms (I don't think there is any seat in which you could sit and have a view of the entire restaurant). Our group was seated in their "board room" which is a wonderful space separate enough for large groups to enjoy lively conversation without fretting that their volume would be bothering other diners. In fact, from what I could tell, all of the tables are a good distance apart, offering plenty of conversation privacy. We began our meal with a couple of appetizers and cocktails. For the appetizers, our table had the gnocchi and their appetizer special of the day, which was beer battered oyster mushrooms. The gnocchi was 5 star, knock your socks off, fantastic. I'm generally a fan of gnocchi, but I was a little apprehensive of theirs. The menu read: Housemade Gnocchi with maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and butternut squash puree. I felt like it could easily be made overly sweet (with too much maple syrup) or too spicy (with the cayenne)--but I needn't have been concerned as it was absolute perfection. Truly, of everything I ate, this was my absolute favorite. All the flavors were beautifully balanced. The beer battered oyster mushrooms weren't quite as transcendental but were none-the-less quite good. We had a bit of inconsistency with our cocktails. I ordered their old fashioned and my main dining companion ordered their Manhattan. And, as is our custom, we each tried the other's cocktail. We both found we very much preferred mine and, so, my companion decided to order an old fashioned for his second cocktail. When it arrived it was not at all the same as the one I'd been served (different glass, iced, instead of up, different garnish, and completely different color). We sent it back (thinking they had just mistakenly given us the wrong cocktail) and found the replacement cocktail had the same differences. The bartender, however, took the time to come to our table and try to figure out the problem and definitely wanted to make sure she mixed us a cocktail we'd enjoy. She determined by site and smell of mine (it had been made by a different bartender, who had left for the day, that had mixed mine) was a Rob Roy. Mystery solved. And, I can now, without hesitation, recommend their Rob Roy. Seriously. So good. And, the cherry garnish? Who knew such a small bit of fruit could hold such an explosion of flavor? Whoa! For my entree I enjoyed their Wild Alaskan Salmon with macaroni & cheese and vegetable of the day. The salmon was ok, if a bit bland. The zucchini ribbons that served as their vegetable of the day were flavorful and delicious. The mac & cheese is a little bit different interpretation of the original with brie adding an unexpected flavor dimension and cayenne offering a nice bit of heat. For dessert, I got some sort of pumpkin pudding. I'd like to tell you precisely what it was as it was delicious, but I did what I normally do when a wait person approaches me with a tray of lovely, sweet, pretty confections: Lose all sense of hearing beyond the word...chocolate...or...caramelized...or...in this case: pumpkin. I know there was cream and pecans on the top. Beyond that all I can tell you is that it was all spiced flavorful deliciousness. Overall, a 4 star experience. I will definitely be dining here again...and....again. Now you...kindly... get to it!
(4)Mandy G.
Amazing breakfast buffet on Saturday! The eggs Benedict with a risotto cake was too die for. Definitely a place we will visit again.
(5)Julie E.
Three stars at this point because it was my first visit (and oh yes, there will be more!) to Kindness. Also, the owners/staff knew that our group was composed of Yelpers (because we used the online reservation system...we didn't know it would reveal that). I plan to go back on my own, and will update my review then. Don't get me wrong, I do not at all believe we were treated differently than any other patrons- but I don't want anyone to get that impression. First of all, the transformation of the Owyhee Plaza is AMAZING. From stodgy dated and cigarette smoke imbued to open, sharp and neato.. but I digress. Because of the size of our party, we had been given space in the 'board room'. The space is open to the shared bar/lounge area, and while it was nicely appointed, because it is in an open area, I found it a little too loud to maintain any conversation, especially across a table put together for a group. I was the last of our party (of six) to arrive. Water had been poured, there were cute cloth bags of wonderful bread out for nibbles, as well as plates of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. Daily menus were laid out, attached to what appeared to be slate 'clip boards'. Others had ordered drinks, and seeing the colorful concoctions arrive popped a spark of color into the white, mylar (ooh shiny) and black space we were in. Because Kindness sticks to their goal of outsourcing fresh local ingredients, I was not surprised to find out a couple of the menu items were not available. The appetizer special WAS available though.. an oyster mushroom lightly breaded and fried, served up in a cocktail glass with a sauce of what I THINK was sriacha and creme fraiche. Now to decide entree! Salmon, beef and pork.. oh the choices.. then choose your two sides! What is a girl to do! Finally I settled.. the pork shank (with a marvelous red wine reduction sauce), and on at the side, a (heavenly) basil polenta, and fresh cut fries. The presentation was delightful- with the protein and polenta served up in cast iron! The pork was falling off the bone, not once did I feel the need to reach for a knife, the fat melting into the meat for a tender juicy joyful union. The polenta! Creamy, savory, light.. no need to look for a salt shaker. The fries.. well.. fries are fries, I DID find myself wishing I had chosen something more adventurous for my 2nd side- they have a mac and cheese done with brie and a bit of kick- perhaps next time! I DID ask for some ketchup, I was rather hoping there would be a unique option, like a homemade ketchup, but hey, no worries! Service was adequate, I did feel at times that because we were in a separate space from the main dining area that we were a bit out of the 'normal flight path). The staff was attentive though, and we did have a minor issue with some of our party receiving the same drink in two VERY different styles. The bartender was amazing though, coming out to converse with the persons involved, and going above and beyond to make certain they were satisfied. The owner (and front of house chief in charge) came out to say hello and welcome us, explaining that his lovely wife is the chef. Yes, I will go back to Kindness. Perhaps for breakfast. One thing though.. parking seems to only be available on the street, as the lot behind the Owyhee is paid parking. I didn't have any trouble finding a spot right in front of the building, but this was after I had gone into the lot behind and realized it was a pay space. I look forward to another visit and an updated review- perhaps to add another star!
(3)Annette B.
This restaurant is new so it's apparent that kinks are being worked out but I'm really glad to have tried it and will definitely return. The wait staff, all very friendly, are young and not schooled yet in the classic manner of serving. (We had to show our waiter how to open a bottle of wine. It was not then served to the person who ordered it, to taste test/approve, but instead to all 4 of us dining.) My suggestions to the restaurant: if you want sidewalk passersby to choose Kindness spontaneously, communicate from sidewalk that Kindness is a restaurant. Maybe your signage says that but if so I missed it. Also, once one enters the Owyhee building, give me a hint how to find the restaurant entrance. One last thing, please serve using larger plates. Our friends' cesar salads were good (though not made w/anchovies) but the moment they forked their first forkful instantly lettuce fell off the teensy plates onto the table. Overall great food, lovely setting that's both refined and casual.
(3)Thom N.
I'm not sure I can even put into words how much I enjoy dining at Kindness, but I'm going to try. The biggest plus Kindness has going for it is its staff. They are attentive, knowledgeable about the rotating seasonal menu, and always going above a beyond to give the best dining experience possible. The menu is always an amazing assortment of local dishes, though I've only ordered the Snake River Kobe steak so far (an amazing piece of meat that would easily cost double at any other restaurant). I highly recommend Kindness to anyone looking to have an amazing restaurant experience without an extravagant price tag.
(5)Sun-hae K.
Love everything about this place. Cool atmosphere and lounge are. Great food. Awesome spicy Bloody Mary.
(5)Lisa R.
Nice atmosphere, nice food, but... quite a few kinks to work out, based on our first visit over the weekend. I'll start with our last interaction, as Ryan, the manager, swung by and asked how the meal went. When I responded with an "okaaaay" he asked for feedback, eager to hear our experience. So he has heard most everything in this review. Food was pretty good... our cocktails were tasty and the mushroom crostini appetizer was delicious... ate the whole thing. Husband's double pork chop was juicy amazing, and the polenta and salad that came with it were enjoyable as well. My dish was the prosciutto-encrusted halibut, but it was overcooked, and sadly, there was only one slice of prosciutto wrapped around the middle, so not every bite got that flavor. At the opposite end, the sliced potato side dish was undercooked. It also came with succotash, which was good. The blue cheese potato soup was good, but very pungent; would've been better as a small cup, rather than a huge bowl. Ryan's response was that the chef believes everybody wants large portions. Not true in our case, especially as entree portions are so generous. Now, on to the service. I mentioned the soup after the entrees above because that's when it arrived. I ordered a salad and that never came, so when my husband told our waiter to go ahead and cancel the salad since it hasn't come out yet, waiter's response was a cheerful "OK" ... no apology or even recognition that soups and salads generally come out before entrees and a mistake was made. Maybe he was embarrassed because we actually didn't see him the rest of the night, so not only were we not offered dessert, we had to ask another waiter who was filling up our water glasses to help us close our tab, and then it was the hostess who took care of us in the end. We had 8 p.m. reservations on a Saturday night, so, prime time, though only 5 other tables were seated when we arrived. It took 53 minutes for our food to arrive. A group of 8 sat next to us midway through our meal and had their dinner before we even got our bill. so sad (for us) to witness. My cocktail glass was empty for 10 minutes. realizing waiter wasn't going to swing by to offer me more, I flagged down my first water re-filler to ask for the drink list. Not recognizing a single wine on the list, I asked our waiter for any recommendations and he replied with a "most popular is X, but probably because it's the cheapest" and then continued with how he's not old enough to try any so... (sigh). Per Ryan, turns out it's the guy's 2nd night on his own after a week of training. I do want the newbie's trained, but not on my 2nd night in 5 months. He needs to stay off the Saturday night shift until his skills are more refined. As I told Ryan, Kindness comes across as a start-up still working out the kinks; I won't say I won't come back, but at the same time, unless I start dreaming about that crostini app, probably won't put Kindness at the top of my list when the next date night swings around.
(3)Justin T.
Unique food with Americana roots. Awesome ambiance that is reminiscent of grand hotels of the 20's and 30's. Throw in a modern twist and there you go. There is also shuffleboard in the lobby. Yup. Shuffleboard. You're welcome.
(5)Oliver J.
Sunday breakfast buffet, perfect, hidden gem of Boise. No big crowd, great service, venue is fantastic, it was a little tricky finding it, but that contributed to the adventure that is kindness
(5)Richard M.
Ordered a special. It was positively great
(5)Jaime H.
A couple of friends and I went here for happy hour on a Wednesday night. Appetizers and drinks were great by service was slow.
(3)Debra G.
Great addition to our Boise dining scene! Well executed dinner specials---yumm ...daily soup was flavorful and the pork chop reduction sauce was awesome. Order dessert- it's how dessert should be done! Service was attentive & friendly. Nice job Kindness! I will certainly be back.
(4)Chris P.
This is a brand new bar in Boise. We just happened to stumble upon this gem. Love it.
(5)Jessica G.
Came here for a dinner with workmates whilst in Boise on business. Aside from having one of the best restaurant names I've come across (how can you hate a place called Kindness?), the entire experience was pretty top notch. The space is a gorgeous blend of historic and modern (don't miss the enormous Kindness push-pin mural) and our server (who called herself a "party host") was full of pep and super friendly. We wisely started with an appetizer that involved dipping bread in various tasty dips (we chose white bean, roasted red pepper, and artichoke dips). I had the salmon entree with Mac n Cheese and wild mushrooms - the salmon was perfectly cooked but I have to say the Mac and cheese was the star. My boss ordered the Kobe beef steak and let us all have a bite (best boss ever)...it was one of the more delicious pieces of meat I've put in my mouth, so I'll definitely be getting the steak if I ever make another trip to Kindness. It's a bit pricey, but perfect for a nice date night (or if you have per diem $ to burn).
(5)Christian C.
Nice little place with friendly staff and great food. The menu is priced very well and has a decent variety for being somewhat small and caters to the vegetarian crowd as well. The furniture and fixtures are very modern which gives it a nice look, but it does feel a bit sterile once seated. Cocktails were pretty good and the happy hour is one of the best I've come across.
(4)Matt M.
This is a great new downtown spot! The menu is not overly complex, yet there are options to satisfy the most demanding foodie. Four people all ordered a different entrée for dinner and we shared then gnocchi appetizer (amazing!). We tried the steak, salmon, quinoa burger, and pork chop special and no one was disappointed. All were served with a great presentation and all the sides paired great with the entrees for a great mix and match experience. Wild mushrooms, a soft polenta, chickpea "waffle", and french fries were all great sides that went with any of the entrees for an awesome mix and match experience. Although new, the kitchen didn't disappoint and the server was more than willing to accommodate any request! Tell your friends!
(5)