They left California and became a Boise restaurant force. Their newest one? ‘Incredible’

Restaurateurs David and Lizzy Rex have been on a roll since relocating to Boise six years ago.

A sourdough roll.

The couple, who moved to Idaho from California (but originally hail from Arizona), opened The Wylder in 2017. It was an instant smash. The downtown pizzeria serves top-quality pies created with sourdough starter more than half a century old.

Next, their Wylder Hospitality Group launched Certified Kitchen + Bakery in Hyde Park.

After that, the Rexes took over the Roosevelt Market in Boise’s East End.

Last year, they unveiled Wyld Child, a hit burger and sandwich hangout on the Boise Bench.

Now their fifth eatery in six years has opened: Percy.

And, naturally? Boise is drooling over it.

‘Best’ in Boise?

Short for “perserverance,” Percy, 400 S. 4th St., dishes up “polished American cuisine.” It’s “upscale but exceedingly approachable,” the Rexes say. During three weeks, the formula has racked up 4.9 out of 5.0 stars on Google and 5 out of 5 on Yelp.

“The food was simply incredible!” reads one review.

“Best overall dining experience in Boise!” says another.

At 5,300 square feet, Percy is Wylder Hospitality Group’s largest restaurant by far. Priciest, too.

Like their other ventures, it’s intended to be a place that they would enjoy frequenting themselves, David says, including with their young children. Percy is the sort of inviting destination that takes reservations but also offers a kids menu.

“Like you can come here after you go skiing or mountain biking,” David Rex explains by phone. “You can go there for your anniversary or your birthday.”

With an indoor seating capacity of 150 and another 35 outdoors, Percy is twice as big as The Wylder. Leather booths, 17-foot ceilings and a huge marble bar give the restaurant a “great feel,” Rex says. “There’s some intimate seating in a large, crowded room, if that makes sense. Do you like to be alone in a crowd, you know? This restaurant does that.”

Despite its culinary ambitions, Percy does not demand a drawn-out dining experience. It’s “really approachable, delicious food that we’re trying to execute really well,” Rex says, “but it’s also designed so that it’s pretty fast. If you need to get in and out before, like, a basketball game, you can get in and out in an hour.”

Steak, chicken, pasta

Percy’s seven entrees include temptations such as Skirt Steak ($32), coffee-chili-rubbed Braised Short Rib ($36) and Organic Rotisserie Chicken ($29) made with an apricot glaze.

But the most popular item? Pappardelle pasta ($26) with short rib ragu. After all, the handmade pasta is created with that same sourdough starter used for Wylder pizzas.

Speaking of starters? Percy has nine appetizers — including Sourdough Focaccia ($11).

There are four sandwiches, too, ranging in price from the local wagyu beef Percy Burger ($18) to the Porchetta French Dip ($21).

Got room for dessert? Do not pass up the Warm Cobbler ($12), which also features that mouthwatering sourdough. “It was the best dessert I’ve ever had in Idaho,” gushes one Yelp reviewer. “The cobbler was out of this world.”

Percy is open only for dinner — 4 to 9:30 p.m. — six days a week. (It’s closed Mondays.) Lunch will be added in the future. Eventually, It will offer takeout rotisserie chicken dinners, too, available for pickup at a special kitchen entrance.

With a full liquor license, Percy also offers a selection of craft cocktails, along with wine and beer.

Wrap it all up into one big package? You have Wylder Hospitality Group’s newest, fanciest gift to the Boise restaurant scene.

‘A fun spot’

“It’s my favorite place in town now and such a fun spot,” one Yelp reviewer says. “Great for special occasions or just a night on the town.”

In other words? Just an exceptional place to eat. Period.

Seeing that type of feedback online is gratifying, David Rex says.

“Ah, that feels so good. That’s what we intended. And that’s how people are perceiving it,” he says. “That was a really big win for us.”