Boise’s culinary landscape has just been enriched with a new, exciting addition: Tavolàta. Nestled on the ground floor of the Lucy Building at 524 W Grove Street, this modern Italian eatery, part of the prestigious Ethan Stowell Restaurant Group, extends a warm welcome to all food lovers.

I had the unique opportunity to experience Tavolàta firsthand. I attended both a preview event and was so impressed with the rich and delicious menu that I returned the next night for the public soft opening. The ambiance of Tavolàta struck me immediately: an elegant blend of contemporary and rustic design, complete with an abundance of seating, a private room, and a standout large communal table meant for special events and social dining.

The name “Tavolàta,” meaning “people sitting at a table” in Italian, perfectly encapsulates the restaurant’s ethos. It’s not just about dining; it’s about creating a shared experience, a communal celebration of food and friendship.

Tavolàta is the creation of Ethan Stowell Restaurants, a name synonymous with innovative and high-quality dining. The restaurant aims to bring a slice of Italian cuisine to Boise, focusing on communal dining experiences as suggested by its name. The menu showcases traditional Italian dishes, particularly emphasizing handmade pastas, and is complemented by a selection of antipasti, meat, and seafood options, often incorporating seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. The dining space, designed to encourage social interaction, features a variety of seating options, including a notable large communal table.

The menu at Tavolàta focuses on traditional Italian cuisine with an emphasis on a family-style menu, with pastas handmade in-house, meat and seafood dishes, and antipasti, accompied by seasonal and locally-sources ingredients. The location also features a full bar with a generous selection of Italian wines and craft cocktails.

During my visits, several items stood out:

Meatballs: Light and flavorful, these were complemented superbly by the marinara sauce.

Gnocchi alla Romana: Served hot, these large gnocchi dumplings combined the flavors of tomato, mozzarella, chili, and Parmesan seamlessly.

Bucatini Carbonara: The thick handmade pasta, enriched with pancetta, garlic, Parmesan, and an egg yolk, created a rich and satisfying dish.

Cocktails: The bar’s highlight was the Screen Test cocktail, a delightful blend of vodka, grapefruit, elderflower, lemon, and passionfruit.

Tavolàta is now welcoming diners for dinner service starting at 4 PM. With its unique combination of traditional Italian cuisine and a contemporary dining environment, it promises to be a popular addition to Boise’s dining scene. The restaurant’s commitment to quality, ,menu, and inviting setting positions it as a promising location for Italian cuisine aficionados and casual diners alike.

For more information and to experience Tavolàta firsthand, visit Tavolàta’s website.