This Month’s food review brought us to Percy. Nestled in the heart of downtown Boise, this restaurant promises an experience so refined it might just require a monocle and a top hat.
As we approached the clean modern exterior of Percy and slid into the camel leather booths in this mid-century modern décor, one starts to ponder what reason we should give to come to a dinner at such an opulent place? Could our reason be that we survived the week? Are we celebrating quality friendships? Or was Mercury finally in retrograde and should all right itself in the world? Whatever our reasons, we all agreed we very much enjoyed our time there.
The Dazzling Drinks
First and foremost, let’s start with the all-important alcohol! We ordered a ‘Say When,’ old forester bourbon, lemon, mint, and huckleberry. A classic ‘Pisco Sour,’ capel pisco, lemon, lime, simple, vegan cocktail foam, bitters. And finally, a ‘Paper Plane,’ old forester bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Aperol, lemon
Although pretty, they were nothing magical to write home about. They were beautiful to look at. Drinking enough of them may have changed my mind altogether, and I told you they were God’s gift to booze.
The All Important Apps
Three words… spinach artichoke dip! The star of the show, however, was the fermented hot sauce. I could have gotten a buzz for the deliciousness of that sauce. It elevated the dish and added an acidity that cut through the fat.
We also ordered Percy potatoes. Crispy coal-roasted potatoes with pickled shallot aioli, black garlic, and fresh herbs. Tiny bites that seemed to whisper secrets of the forest. Each one was so delicately plated that I was half-expecting a Michelin inspector to leap out of the shadows, clipboard in hand. They tasted like a woodland fairy had sprinkled them with magic, and I wondered if I was actually eating or merely participating in a performance art piece. It was sour, savory, acidic, and herbaceous. Absolutely a home run.
So many apps looked appealing that it took a lot of work to narrow it down to two. We could have easily ordered a complete meal full of apps. I mean house-made sourdough focaccia, shaved Brussels sprouts, and grilled artichoke… need I say more.
The Dynamite Dinner
First, the Porchetta French Dip with caramelized onion, arugula, horseradish cream, and au jus, served on a house-made sesame-semolina roll with seasoned french fries. A slight step up from our typical steak sandwich, I would call this the least impressive dish ordered. On the plus size, it came with fries; no gathering in Idaho is complete without fries. It’s in the state motto.
Next, we have the Forbidden Rice Bowl, which consists of the emperor’s black rice, seasonal vegetables, and sweet chili vinaigrette. This arrived looking like a masterpiece from the Louvre. I contemplated whether I should savor each bite or send it to an art gallery. Probably the best entree ordered. Which is genuinely considered an accomplishment for my vegetarian colleagues.
Lastly, we ordered Risotto with a local mushroom blend, asparagus, consommé, parmesan, and parsley. One of my esteemed colleges (a college with benefits, if you will) with an imposing resume in the food critic world ordered this. Considering he does not have a fondness for mushrooms but absolutely loved this, it should speak volumes about how delicious and hearty this meal was. The mushrooms almost had a meaty quality that would make even the most meat and potatoes-fed boy decide to flirt with the idea of a meatless Monday.
The Decadent Dessert
We ended our tantalizing meal with a Seasonal fruit cobbler with plums and blueberries, sourdough biscuit top, and vanilla ice cream. This fruit combo happens to now be my new favorite. The ice cream melted like my willpower in a bakery, revealing layers of crispy, buttery biscuit and a fruit combo handpicked by cherubs. Each bite felt like a scene from a romantic movie—if the protagonists were made of plums.
Conclusion
I think my love letter to this restaurant clearly states my endorsement. Needless to say, we will be back.
Total Review Score: 7.42
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