Beer mussels? PB&J burger? East Coast brewery opens Boise pub with food to ‘smash’

Michael Deeds
·4 min read

Boise has roughly a gazillion burger-and-beer restaurant options.

But an East Coast brewery will try to work some fresh magic when it launches a pub this weekend under Boise ownership.

Voodoo Brewing Co. will celebrate its grand opening from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday in Southwest Boise. Locally owned and operated — with nods to the City of Trees on the menu — the franchise bar and restaurant is in the former Growlers Pizza Grill spot at 9931 W. Cable Car St. It’s about a quarter-mile east of Overland and Five Mile roads.

Never heard of Voodoo? Headquartered in Pennsylvania, its first taproom debuted in 2012. But Voodoo is relatively new as a national chain stretching into the West.

Local chef

So what will this brewery bring to the table that Boise doesn’t already have? Besides a ton of tap handles pouring Voodoo beers shipped from across the country?

Fun-looking food with local inspiration. And a tall pour of calculated coolness.

The Voo-Dill Pickle pizza is one of five pizzas on the menu: “Good to smash alone or tag team with your closest homie.”
The Voo-Dill Pickle pizza is one of five pizzas on the menu: “Good to smash alone or tag team with your closest homie.”

Voodoo describes its Good Vibes beer as a “totally righteous” West Coast IPA — with “gnarly amounts” of hops to “produce bodacious dank tropical fruit notes.” Its 10-inch signature pizzas are “good to smash alone or tag team with your closest homie,” according to the menu.

The jumbo chicken wings come “sawced up.” (What does that spelling mean?) Sandwiches are called “handies” in Voodoo Brewing speak.

Spicoli jargon aside? The rad menu is worth scoping ... home skillet.

Voodoo describes it as “elevated pub food with a local flair”— in other words, a combination of corporate and Idaho-made recipes. You can check it out on Voodoo’s Facebook page.

Tony Knipe, formerly of Edge Brewing Co. in Boise, is head chef and kitchen manager. Look out, 10 Barrel Brewing! Voodoo is doing a peanut butter bacon burger, just like you! But this one has jelly, too! Burgers cost $14.99 with a side of fresh-fried pub chips or fresh-cut french fries. Voodoo has a solid selection of creative burgers, salads and wraps — even mac-and-cheeses made with beer.

Finger steaks, pickle pizza

“Boise-inspired” options include prime rib finger steaks ($16.99). Aside from that PB&J burger, some of Knipe’s creations include the Boise Shaved Prime Rib sandwich, Korean BBQ Pork sandwich and Cuban Burger. Boise franchise owners Garrett and Megan Rose each got a salad named after them, too. (I’m going with The Garrett. It’s got turkey, ham and bacon in it.)

Not local — but tempting? You can order a pound ($16) or three pounds ($30) of mussels cooked in Voodoo beer: black pepper and garlic (cooked in Oh Mama lager), chorizo and lime (Good Vibes IPA) or blue cheese and bacon (Where Our Secrets Go, an imperial stout).

Voodoo also offers six of 10-inch pizzas, including a Voo-Dill Pickle, which has “thick-cut pickles” on top. By the way, you can substitute cauliflower crust on any pizza.

The Voo-Dill Pickle pizza is one of five pizzas on the menu: “Good to smash alone or tag team with your closest homie.”
The Voo-Dill Pickle pizza is one of five pizzas on the menu: “Good to smash alone or tag team with your closest homie.”

24 taps

Behind the bar, Voodoo has 24 taps flowing. And tons of brews, naturally, with canned styles available to go. Options range from a Styx-branded lager, Oh Mama, to a fruited, Belgian-style tripel called Voodoo Love Child. Not a beer drinker? Voodoo also will mix “cocktails” made with the brewery’s hard seltzer. (The pub doesn’t have a liquor license.)

Families with children have a nice selection of $8 “micro brewer” kids meals to peruse, too.

As a franchise with local ownership, Voodoo definitely wants to integrate itself into Idaho. And every state it invades.

“From collaborating with other local small businesses to doing work that benefits a local charity, our efforts in strengthening a community are at the forefront,” Voodoo wrote on Facebook. “Want to visit an art show that features a local artist? We’ve got you. Want to enjoy a beer-pairing dinner with your favorite nearby restaurant? Sounds fun! How about hosting your own event at our spot? We’ll make it happen. After all, our success is only possible because of the support that we’ve seen from our local communities throughout the years. Allow us to repay the favor.”

Voodoo’s initial hours in Boise will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

The restaurant is fully staffed, co-owner Garrett Rose says. It’s time to work some Voodoo on the City of Trees.

“It’s looking real good,” he said.