MilkyWay

Milky Way Is Gone

by TropicZone

Milky way went out of business in 2007. They were a hot spot for awhile but the space is now occupied by the awesome Sweetwater's Tropic Zone. Caribbean and Island fare. Very authentic and bold. Great decor.

• Pros: Closed last year
• Cons: Not in business any more

A Modern Classic Downtown

by Advoc8

Milky Way is one of the best fine dining establishments in Idaho or Utah, including Sun Valley. A varied menu is supplemented by a nightly fish special, "trifecta" (mixed grill), and soup special. The ambience is agreeably chic with some delightful touches, like the high ceiling (there's upstairs seating), regular tables, modern booth and couch accommodations, and seating at the long, white counter behind which the chefs are doing their magic. (No cell phones, please.) The servers are attentive, professional and friendly. They quietly present new utensils and keep the water glases full. Talk about attention to detail: presentation is first-class. One of the informal pleasures of eating here is that the silver is real antique silver (or at least silver plate) - and none of it matches. A specialty is the braised beef cheeks - like pot-roast but fork tender, with garlic or horseradish mashers and carrots; cioppino in a light, tomato-based sauce; buttermilk chicken with bacon corn gravy; tenderloin with toasted herbed crumbs and mushroom brandy sauce, potatoes au gratin and veg; and red rock crab enchilada with a southwestern flair. Appetizers are fun: crab cakes with red pepper aioli; mac & cheese with bacon lardons; shrimp jalapeno bites with apricot chutney; and lamb in raddichio cups with mint and cilantro. Salads include a red and gold beet with fennel, "Milky Wedge," and Caesar (anchovies optional) - splendid with one of their signature martinis. Milky Way is a perennial winner in the annual May Martini Mix-off. Try their '33 Plymouth - blended and chilled for ten minutes = Smooth. Diverse and judiciously-chosen wines come by the glass, split or bottle. Desserts include lemongrass cardamom creme brulee - a refreshing change; chocolate-infused bread pudding; devil's food cake; seasonal fruit cobbler and lemon curd tartlet. Mondays and Tuesdays feature light jazz and classics - even some Villa-Lobos. It's no wonder Milky Way has a loyal following.

• Pros: Attention to detail, service
• Cons: Sometimes too popular!

Interesting menu, great entertainment

by lizcross

We went for my birthday this year, they do have a great fixed price menu for three menu items that is a good value. Nice casual place with wonderful service. Food was well prepared and very tasty, Good wine selections too for the wine snob, but my hubby was not impressed with getting a small glass for his beer, at a hefty price. Yes, the wines were not cheap either, but when it is something you sip, it doesn't make that much difference to me. The Frim Fram Four play there early in the week and they are great to go see and have a drink and appetizers though. I didn't really find it a romantic place I must say. But we did have a good time anyway. Menu selections are great!

• Pros: Great food, selection and music
• Cons: drinks a little pricy

One of my favorite restaurants in Boise!

by slanzet

This is my current favorite restaurant in Boise. I have been here many times. The food is great. The staff is friendly. The location is good and the ambiance is great. The prices are fair. I love the flat iron steak and I don't even like steak that much. Their salads are also very good.

It can be a bit noisy. If that's a problem, sit upstairs and ask for a quieter table.

• Pros: Food, location, ambiance, late weekend hours
• Cons: noisy

Upscale attempt falls short ...

by zinfandel601

I am visiting from out-of-town while attending a family reunion. Highly recommended. Great ambience! Cool art-deco and black-and-silver motif. Nice small, initmate place. Great view from either floor thru two-story window. Wine "cellar" on 2nd floor displays the wines nicely behind glass wall (how do they get the wines?).

But, the waitress seemed rather stiff in reciting the specials and seemed like she didn't want to be there. The wine list is sizeable .. but I was surprised they didn't have but one Idaho wine. "They aren't that good," said the waitress. I had just visited one winery and was delighted with the quality of a couple items. Settled for a Walla-Walla, Washington Chardonnay that was discounted.

The pot-sticker appetizer was fine. The jalapeno shrimp bites were exciting! But, a couple members of my party found them too hot and the bacon wrap on a couple were way overdone - black.

The red-and-yellow beet salad was inviting .. but the fennel slices didn't blend well .. the liqorice tang of the fennel contrasted jarringly with the pungent beet flavors.

My crab enchilada sounded interesting - but showed no imagination in presentation!! It just layed there, so limp and listless in it's tray. Tasted good, but nothing special - no contrasts here.

One special was Coho Salmon .. but, I'm from the Great Lake State of Michigan and we get Coho all the time and I never saw it with that weird orangish color before? .. and on a bed of rather plain looking long-grain rice. I can do that at home. At least it was edible.

But, the breaded chicken breast? The breading was was over-cooked - almost burned. The meat was dry. And what was that "corn" sauce? WEIRD! And on top of a potato .. what? pancake? hashbrowns? Seemed like a bloated rock of .. mush! Yeuch! They comped us half ($9) of it ... but, didn't offer a replacement. So we ended up stopping at an ice-cream shop on the way home.

Altogether, interesting attempts .. just fell short in a few spots.

• Pros: Great decor and atmosphere! Nice wine list ... sharp cellar
• Cons: food is hit-and-miss ... service is spotty ..