Fighting through downtown ‘mess,’ Boise fine-dining restaurant makes ‘major’ summer pivot
If you’ve been downtown lately, you know that construction is brutal.
Stardust, a stylish restaurant and bar at 1002 W. Main St., has been forced to make the best of a trying situation.
“It’s just a difficult time,” owner Jamie Burns said in an email, “and we are going to fight our way out of this mess that ACHD has created.”
The streets aren’t “pretty” outside, as the restaurant recently observed on social media. But, hey, at least the sidewalks are open.
So the restaurant is unveiling a temporary concept reinvention — starting Friday, July 5, and lasting through August.
“We have had to do a major pivot due to the construction and roadwork downtown,” Burns said. “We are going to really dial in on what we do best and where we continue to be busy … brunch and happy hour.”
Reducing hours overall, Stardust will be open four days a week — Friday through Monday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch, 3 to 6 p.m. for happy hour and 3 to 8 p.m. with an accessible “After 3” menu. The kitchen closes at 8, but the bar will stay open as long as business dictates — likely 10 p.m., Burns said.
Stardust’s “After 3” cuisine replaces the upscale dinner menu for now. “We are backing away from the fine dining that we have been known for,” she said, “and focusing on a more approachable menu to attract more walk-in traffic.”
Steak Frites ($33) and a Lobster Roll ($35) are still there for eager spenders. But the vast majority of entrees will be more affordable options such as Chicken Fingers ($15), a Salmon Club ($19) and Chicken Pot Pie ($19). Truffle fries are included with any sandwich, burger and the chicken tenders. The “After 3” menu also offers plenty of enticing smaller bites in the $5 to $9 range. Get your vitamins with a Mixed Green Salad ($7) or scarf down sinful Bacon Wrapped Dates (blue cheese, almond, hot honey, $9).
Roadwork or not, brunch aficionados likely will keep braving the trek. But don’t sleep on happy hour, either. “We have one of the best in Boise,” Burns said. That means $5 well drinks and beer, $6 cocktails, $7 wine — and discounted food that includes a $9 Stardust Burger and fresh daily oysters on the half shell for $2.50. You can peruse the restaurant’s menus at stardustboise.com — but maybe wait until they’re updated for the summer reinvention next week.
In the fall, Burns said, she hopes to “reopen with a full schedule.”
But for now? When you’re downtown, sometimes the best hope is just to cope.
“... We know we have a great restaurant here,” Burns said, “and the best staff. I truly can’t say enough about my staff and how hard they work for me. “
