State & Lemp

My favorite place to splurge and worth every penny! My husband brought me here for valentines and everything was superb!
I love that they have a price fix menu and that it changes every month or so. The set menu just emphasis the time and heart that’s put into preparation.
Thank you State & Lemp for being my guilty pleasure here in Boise!

I wanted to love this place, I really did, but alas. I was even hesitant to write this review because you cannot deny the effort that is put in to each evening. The ambiance is warm and classy. Yes the tables are close to one another, but there still is enough separation for it not to be awkward. The lighting, the artwork, and the glass of bubbles they offer upon arrival are lovely. The chocolates they offer at the end of the night are delicious. The service is excellent and well thought out.
My main issue is with the food. Not a single dish blew me away. It doesn’t take much to know whether something tastes incredible or not; the plates they were bringing out were pretty in sight, bland in might. The only part of the meal I found memorable was the delicious bread basket and the nightcap coffee; not exactly what should stand out from a fine dinner. Would I go back? No. Am I glad I went? Yes. It’s a wonderful dining experience, especially for a romantic evening. I just suggest that you don’t go in there expecting your taste buds to be set ablaze. The previous reviews set high expectations, but the food was just disappointing.

I’m really at about 2.5 stars on this but I’m giving it three rather than two.
I came here with my Valentine on Valentine’s Day and had very high expectations. I’ve eaten at many very high end restaurants and purchased many chefs tasting menus. This one fell flat for both of us.
The food is beautifully plated and visually stunning however… it is very average when it comes to the flavor. I was expecting an exceptional combination of flavors and what I got was an abundance of citrus (and I understand that was the theme) that overpowered the rest of the meal. There were some stand out pieces, the dessert being one of them and the entrée was very good as well.
I have no problem with the proximity of other guests or the size of the dishes but for $ 75 a plate plus wine pairing, I expect to be blown away by not only the food but the experience and I simply wasn’t.
I’m open to the idea that I need to try this a few times to get the full experience and to see if I like a different menu better but it is a tough decision to try again at this price. I think I’ll wait until summer and see what they do with really fresh ingredients. I feel like this restaurant has a lot of potential and I hope that they evolve some and do really well because Boise needs a place like this for sure.
The design of the restaurant is modern and very enjoyable. Do be aware because of the proximity of your neighbors that you will not be having a romantic conversation without people on each side of you hanging onto your every word. That said, there really isn’t much else they can do with the space so the best thing to do is get to know your neighbors and make it a family style meal!
I think they could do a better job choosing and pairing wines, again, it was about 50/​50, some wines matched exceptionally well and were good wines and other left me scratching my head in terms of quality and pairing.
Definitely try this restaurant, you may find the style and menu perfect for your palate but for me it wasn’t there this visit. But, I’ll be back and give it another chance and I’ll update my review at that point.

State and Lemp is one of a kind. If you traveled and eaten in many big cites fancy restaurants, you understand what a joy and honor really it is that state and Lemp decided to stay in lil Boise and grace us with their ingenious cooking. We make a point to go and try their menu every couple of months. At least twice a year. Every time it’s a delight. Sharing it with many foodie fiends as we can, spreading the word to everyone we can. We want them to stay in business and thrive. We are very selfish. So thankful of all their skills. Ps, I forgot to mention how modern looking and marvelous this little place is. Bursting with creative and brave new dishes, eclectic table settings and rotating artwork to enjoy before the meal starts. Every bite is sheer pleasure. Thank you State and Lemp.

Overall a really delightful experience. The food was beautiful to behold (it was brutal resisting the urge to take photos like a tourist). Every dish had many elements that came together in surprising and delicious ways. It’s always a joy to say «I’ve never tasted that combination of flavors before!» (in a good way) and we got to say it many times over that evening.
We were particularly impressed with the wine pairings. Some restaurants, you’d think they just throw darts at a board for the flight, but the wine always complemented the course.
Service was attentive (one of the staff even sang a couple holiday songs which was incredibly charming). The design and décor of the place was lovely (I’m still mulling over buying one of the paintings).
We’ve eaten in fancy pants restaurants all over the world and now we’re looking forward to visiting family in Boise again so we can ditch the kid with them and have another great evening at state & lemp.

Perfect.
We have dined at State and Lemp several times, and each time was exquisite. The ambiance, décor, art, staff and of course the food are second to none in Boise. Having traveled, I would say State and Lemp is on par with many of the gourmet restaurants in places like New York, Tokyo and Paris.
We have decided that one comes to State and Lemp to enjoy food and goes to other restaurants to consume calories.
Truly a pleasure. I will particularly recommend the soup which was spectacular (please don’t expect me to know what is was, since it’s probably out of this world), and the dessert but it’s really like saying which one of the kids one likes more.
Thank you!

Wow! Terrific dining experience; a great combination of attentive service, carefully curated interior, and delicious and varied food.
We were with a group of six. Upon arrival we felt right at home, greeted by a sparkling pleaser and had a chance to meet Jay, the proprietor. We ate five or more courses and each was delicious and interesting. Highly recommend the wine pairing.
Last note: The server quickly accommodated a food sensitivity and brought out a replacement dish with a smile. Really happy with that.

The only way this meal could have been better would be if Jesus Christ himself had prepared it. Each course was delicious and built upon the last course with such perfection that it just left me thinking. «how could they follow that up?» yet somehow the chef found a way to build an opus of a meal that leaves you wondering if you should ever eat again? Should I ever subject myself to a normal meal, has this ruined me for all other food?

Amazing culinary experience and impeccable service! The lamb tartar was scrumptious and everything was excellent. The wine pairing was also well done. The fresh made bread was addicting too. People are very friendly and the seating arrangement was really fun. Best restaurant in Idaho!

One of the best dining experiences I have had in a while. Was in town for a work trip and never would have imagined I would find such a gem in Boise. Having been to Boise a year ago I didn’t get a chance to explore the up and coming food scene as much as I would have liked. I went with a group of co workers whom greatly enjoyed the experience and I say experience because food is all about that! State and Lemp created a dining experience that helped to expand my palate and explore new foods I would have never in a thousand years paired together. The staff was friendly attentive and their knowledge and descriptions of each course was much appreciated. I would recommend this to any and all foodies those looking to expand their palates and those willing to enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience! The icing on the cake was that it was an affordable experience that didn’t break the bank!

I am so torn right now! I want to write: «It was amazing… I loved everything about it!» But sadly I cannot. I should have LOVED my experience this evening. As a real «foody» this should have been one of my top three meals ever. I’m a little disappointed.
The food was fresh, tasty, inspired, beautiful, healthy, exciting, different and shocking. If you take everything else out of the equation, the food was good! It wasn’t great though. Nothing had me stopping the entire dinner demanding more. I enjoyed every part of the five course meal, but it was all just… good. I almost felt afraid to like something more than a little bit for fear that there was such a small portion or I could never recreate it and be craving this masterpiece for days, and weeks, and months, only to have the menu change and I could never eat it again.
To me, meal-​time is a very personal, private encounter with something that I greatly appreciate. If I have a loved one, family member or friend around, that’s great, but I’m not interested in a crowd. This was like walking into a dinner party where my guest was the only person I knew and then uncomfortably trying to make conversation while also trying to enjoy the splendor and excitement of this new food experience at the same time. I felt naked or exposed, like I couldn’t express my REAL emotion for how the food was making me feel, or to just relax and be impressed in this food experience.
Yeah, I know it sounds delusional. This is one of the truly GREAT food establishments… but not for me. If you are with a big group of people and are in the mood for a YELLING social match (yes, the acoustics in the room were horrible) this will suit you just fine. If you are trying to have an intimate, private dinner with a loved one, this isn’t the place.
I WILL go there again! Hopefully with a different experience in the future.

I went with my wife for dinner; bottom line, it is an excellent dining experience, with superb and imaginative food at a very reasonable price, considering quality. It is a great place to enjoy a great meal… it’s all about the food. I would not recommend it for a romantic dinner out, because of the cozy quasi-​community seating. No romance… it’s all about the food. I’d say it’s more like a dinner party (with really good food) than a restaurant.
Yes, it’s a little pretentious (don’t take it too seriously… roll with it), and yes, it’s a little «Soup Nazi”-ish (eat what we give you; there are 2 seatings, period; courses come out at the kitchen’s pace, not yours…) BUT I still highly recommend it and will definitely be back. I also have to admire the owner’s business acumen; the fixed menu and fixed schedule definitely lets him control labor costs. Good for him!
My wife said she got a call back to confirm reservations, and was queried on if we had food allergies or aversions. we had none.
Other reviews have covered the food in better detail than I did, and you can visit their web site– the menus are laid out pretty well there. The food was superb, and met my expectations (which were extremely high).
The wine pairings were good. I would’ve preferred more imaginative wines (we had a Gamay, a Gruner Veltliner, and a Pinot Gris, I believe… nothing really «out there» like a Pinotage) but the wines worked very well with the food. I guess they were just a little less «daring» than I would’ve hoped. Certainly I recommend getting the wine pairings… they complement the meal well.
The atmosphere was good. Music in the background was a bit loud, and inhibited conversation. Not the end of the world; as other reviewers have pointed out, you are right next to your dining neighbors, so unlikely to talk about anything of substance. Mainly I think you’ll be talking about the food. (Did I mention it was all about the food?)
Price was fair for what you get; I am not complaining. By way of comparison here in Boise, I think Chandler’s is insanely expensive for what you get, and Ruth’s Chris is fair, if maybe a bit steep. I don’t mind paying a lot, but I need to get a lot of quality for my money. S&L delivers the quality.
I’m sure we’ll be back. I need to check the menus on line; I think ours was Japanese-​influence, and I suspect they do other types (French, Southern, etc). I am convinced whatever they serve will be excellent.
I highly recommend it to anyone in the Boise area looking for a great food (and wine) experience.

I have to disagree with some of the reviews i have read as i thoroughly enjoyed everything about the restaurant. it is a nice change from your typical establishment that can, at time, be as interested in table «turn over» as they are about what your preferences are…
I guess if you are not much interested in meeting new people and actually adding to the dinner conversation and overall enjoyment of others, than this might not be your spot. Our visit consisted of a Thursday night, spontaneous decision that found us sitting next to… YES, right next to… another 2 couples that were out celebrating their wedding anniversary. The close proximity of the other guests was actually a positive more than it was a negative.
The location is not large and i think they max at 25 seats but is an up-​close and personal experience, not only with the other guests, but with featured artists that are exhibited in several locations as well as the chef popping in and out to explain dishes (or in our case to explain what and why there were 2 extra dishes and pairings.
I could go on and on but i will sat that State and Lemp is a bright and exciting dining experience full of life and savory memories!

Pretentious is, I think the best description if only given one word to describe the place. If I had a second word, it would be, bland.
Maybe I’m a bit unsophisticated but once your forks and spoons are placed, I believe it is the eaters choice of what happens to them. Bump them slightly and the waiters buzz right over, smug look in eye, to reposition them; same with plates.
The food really was bland, I believe we had menu #11. All I can say is that it was a series of very unusual concoctions, that while unique were were tasteless with the exception of the sliver of roast pork halfway through the meal which was not much larger than a silver half dollar. Several other reviews claim the food is delicious but myself and several others in my company found the textures to be slimy and unpleasant. Flavorless, flavorless, flavorless. The portion sizes were small and and the combined with the lack of taste, made the experience rather unsatisfactory.
The meal was by no means worth $ 100.00 per person.
Save your money, go to Ruth’s Chris, it is cheaper and much better tasting.
Overall, not impressed. Sorry but you can keep your pretense, I will keep my self respect and my money. It was however a fun night primarily due to the company I keep who engaged with me in mocking this place and every item they served.

Sorry, Boise. I hate to burst your so-​called foodie bubble, but this is not a place that I can see lasting in my down-​to-​earth hometown. Call me cynical from living in Portland the last few years. Unless you love going to pretentious restaurants in bigger metropolitan cities, this may not be an enjoyable evening for you.
My mom was excited to treat me to a seating to celebrate my birthday and recent engagement. We knew we would be seated near others, but we didn’t quite know HOW near. This made talking to each other absolutely impossible unless you want to intentionally ignore the person next you (or yell even louder than them, since the mid-​century modern décor doesn’t include 21^st-​century acoustic paneling).
The food was, admittedly, very artfully plated (first star). It was also extremely esoteric. Do you like basil? Then why not try basil ash aioli? No, sorry, I’ll take my basil straight from the plant, thanks. The portions were minuscule, which normally wouldn’t bother me if the food was out-​of-​this-​world tasty, but the flavors didn’t make up for the size. They were good, but not fork-​dropping delicious.
I didn’t get the wine pairing, but my wine-​snob mom did, and she wasn’t happy. A few times she wasn’t able to finish a glass before the server took it without asking… but she wasn’t attached to the wine enough to wholeheartedly care. I personally liked the French press coffee (second star) with dessert, but didn’t really get enough time to enjoy it.
But you know what? What’s a shame is that I didn’t know who the coffee roaster was, or where any of my food came from, for that matter. Or why the chef chose those ingredients in the first place. In fact, I actually expected to meet the chef for the price we were paying, but I’m not sure if I did. (Was he the guy in the glasses who asked how our meal was at the end? He didn’t introduce himself.) I didn’t get to linger over my meal and savor conversation with my mother because we were «already a bit behind» in schedule before the next seating according to one of the servers and because well, that would just be rude to our table neighbors.
As a long-​time proponent of Slow Food, this is exactly the type of experience I want to avoid: a place where the upper class minority have exactly two hours to brag loudly about how often they can afford to go there while drooling over deconstructed shrimp brain frozen by liquid nitrogen. Give me a quiet corner table and a pleasant server to explain why the fresh food was locally sourced and worth enjoying at my own pace… then I’ll be a happy girl.

Great food, but you have to go with people you know, unless you are really gregarious, or enjoy spending time with strangers having awkward conversation. My husband and I went for what we thought would be a romantic evening, but were seated DIRECTLY next to a loud, drunken group. I’d only go back if I brought enough friends to fill the whole restaurant.
I mean, these tables are seriously close together. I could have grabbed food off my neighbors plate without unbending my elbow.

Just finished an amazing dinner at State & Lemp. It was a masterful, delicious work of art.
Each of the 5 courses presented was a piece of beauty that also translated into a mouth-​watering experience. Tonight’s courses revolved around scallop, squash blossom, sturgeon, lamb and strawberry.
Paired with the unique meal was the impeccable service. The staff was attentive and friendly.
Any one living in or visiting Boise has to try this place at least once.

The food was as delicious as it was beautifully artistic. The chef is truly an artist, the plates portraits and landscapes and sculpture. This was 4D art at its best.
Food highlights included the pea soup that liked like a bonsai garden and tasted like heaven. The oyster provided good contrast. The sous vide salmon was also a hit, melted in our mouths and left warm flavor memories. For two mostly vegetarians, we even enjoyed the pork.
Portions were perfect for our taste. Having paid what for us is top dollar, we didn’t hesitate to enjoy the bread and butter (pretty awesome butter to boot) and were pleasantly surprised that the bread was refilled. We enjoyed the ceremony of the parade of dishes but perhaps missed out on the additional ritual of five pours of wine, for me because I have no taste for the stuff and my other half because we’d flown all night to get there. As all the other patrons imbibed glass after glass they became flushed rosier and rosier and I couldn’t help but think of the ethics of all those DUIs because unlike in a restaurant in which you can linger in your booth, here the second seating patrons were already knocking on the door while our neighbors were still struggling with the muscato. But let me step down from my soapbox about upper middle class drinking and driving now.
We went in knowing what to expect about the seating arrangements but had more of a problem than we expected. It’s not just that you’re within inches from your neighbors, which would be ok – that would be like a Parisian café. For us the problem was that the tables were too long across so we couldn’t hear each other. This strongly detracted from our experience. We think they’d be better off pushing the tables together and just going communal, then you can sit next to your sweetie if you prefer.
And yes the service was a graceful dance, how a ballerina would march in a parade. But what struck us and what we never would have guessed we would have missed, was how impersonal it was. When we were greeted within the glass of champagne we expected a little more personal of a greeting (like the two advance phone calls). Throughout the evening we actually missed the back and forth interactions one typically has with a dedicated waiter. In other restaurants where the staff worship the food, you can connect with your waiter over that shared passion. Here, the food was arranged and described en masse. We left having connected with no one and having barely conversed with one another. This is why we took off a star, because the overall experience, while elegant and artful, did not leave us a fulfilled as the outstanding dishes.

State & Lemp is where it’s at, my people.
They are
Where.
It’s.
At.
Five stars is defined by Unilocal as «Woohoo! As good as it gets!» State & Lemp brings it five-​star-​style in every single category.
Atmosphere: 5 stars. As you enter, you are immediately met with silky softly lit sexiness. Local art adorns the walls.
Sleek. Modern. Perfect.
Food: 5 stars. Best meal to be enjoyed in Boise. Period. Meals like this remind one of the reason it’s called the culinary «arts.» Pure culinary artistry is being performed in the kitchen of State & Lemp. They also keep the ingredients as local as possible (Idaho & the Pacific Northwest).
Farm fresh. Creative. Transcendent.
Service: 5 stars. Lovely service from the glass of sparkling wine they greet you with at the door, to the last sip of after dinner coffee. A few days before our scheduled reservation, they phoned to confirm and inquire as to any dietary restrictions they may need to accommodate. They are affable, gracious, warm, and welcoming in every way. Being at the high end of the Boise spectrum on price, one might worry about a certain level of snobbishness. Don’t. They’ll treat you with the utmost care.
Thoughtful. Sincere. Impeccable.
Other notes: As it’s been stated, the seating is set up in such a way that it is closer to a communal dining experience than not. Don’t fret. Even if you’re a bit of a bungling geek like me, it’ll be fine. Seriously, where do they get these patrons? We were completely surrounded by awesome.
Another quick note: They give you a little gift bag to take with you as you leave. Ours contained red velvet muffins. Having «liked» them on facebook, I was privy to the tale of the Madelines. Highlights: One of their diners received Madelines in his gift bag and sent a note of thanks as he adores Madelines. State & Lemp responded by delivering a dozen or so to his home. Are you serious? If I could choose a restaurant to be my best friend, State & Lemp would be it (I TOLD you I was a geek!).
Is it spendy? Yes.
Are they worth it? Yes!
Get to it!

WOW!!! (I’m half tempted to leave the review at that).
The purveyors of State & Lemp have raised the bar in the Boise dining scene to an absurd level. I was thoroughly impressed with the entire experience, from the entrance champagne to the final drop of dessert coffee and everything in between. Everything from the service and atmosphere to the food and wine pairings was above my expectations. Of course with five star (I tried to give them six stars, but Unilocal wouldn’t let me) food and service, you can expect to pay five star pricing… but State & Lemp is well worth the cost.
When you dine here, keep in mind the seating. The tables are very close to each other, which does take away from the romanticism a bit, but if you know this before hand it’s not an issue. We went here for Valentine’s Day and spent more time (as did everyone else in the place) making new friends with our neighbors than admiring my Valentine… Sorry Sweetheart. The restaurant got louder with each glass of wine, as everyone got to know their new dining companions.
This was a fabulous dining experience that is more than deserving of the five star rating. Well done State & Lemp!