A stylish, affordable new Boise restaurant is open downtown. Its happy hour? ‘Insane’

A night out for dinner can feel brutal on the bank account nowadays. Even an after-work rendezvous for apps and a glass of wine.

But a new downtown Boise restaurant is striving to offer a stylish middle ground.

Acero — in the former Lucky Fins spot at 801 W. Main St. — opens to the general public Monday, Nov. 13. Based on the execution and service at a weekend preview event, the reinvented space feels poised to win over customers.

“Our basic premise is we want to create a really nice, beautiful restaurant but (with) really affordable, approachable, good food,” spokesperson Ali Hardaway explained earlier in a phone interview. “People can come here for happy hour multiple times a week or come here to celebrate an anniversary.”

Shareable menu

Acero’s name, which means “maple” in Italian, is a tribute to its location. Longtime Boiseans know the spot well — on the edge of the Grove Plaza. A faux maple tree carries the theme near the rear of the restaurant, which has been gutted and transformed. The former indoor/outdoor bar has been moved to the middle of the room, creating an inviting, bustling environment.

Acero isn’t a conventional Italian eatery. Its menu is centered on small, shareable plates, bruschetta and charcuterie boards. There also are several flatbreads, four pasta entrees, and a few salads and soups. Must-trys include Heirloom Burrata ($15), a hearty, yummy Chicken Bacon Flatbread ($18) and delicious Spicy Rigatoni ($22).

Acero’s concept comes from the same restaurant group that operated Lucky Fins in the building for a decade, and still runs Lucky Fins in Meridian and Zen Baja in Boise.

$6 happy hour

The vast majority of Acero’s menu is under $20.

And if you want to keep your alcohol tab under extra control?

Acero’s happy hour is “like, insane,” Hardaway said.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, all pitchers of beer and glasses of wine (excluding reserve wines) are $6.

Considering that pints of beer normally are priced at $5 and $6 (already reasonable for downtown), and glasses of wine normally sell for $9, six bucks is a sweet deal. Acero’s pitchers, which cost $10 and $12 outside happy hour, can hold roughly 2 1/2 beers. Either way, it’s just fun to pour beer with a friend.

Acero has 26 happy-hour eligible wines. As bottles, they’re regularly priced at $30. Want to spend more? Reserve bottles range from Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc ($55) to Dom Perignon ($450).

Acero offers a lunch special Monday through Friday: “Pick two for $12” from a half flatbread, half salad and cup of soup.

Another eye-catching price point is found on Mondays and Tuesdays. You can do a “Board & Bottle” deal from 8 p.m. to close: your choice of bruschetta board (pick four types from a dozen choices) and a bottle of wine for $30. That’s an aggressive promotion. A bruschetta board at Acero normally is $16.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except on Sundays, when Acero closes at 9 p.m. It may stay open later on any day, depending on business.

Patio: Coming

Besides overhauling the interior, Acero also is remodeling the outdoor patio and adding a large pergola to cover it. With heaters and a fire feature left over from the Lucky Fins era, the hope is that guests will be able to enjoy the patio beginning in early 2024.

Another way to warm up? Acero offers a sizable selection of signature and classic cocktails. They range from $11 to $14.

Or — save a few bucks. Show up during happy hour. Do beer and wine.

Six bucks? For a pitcher of Stella Artois or Modelo Especial? Or Stone Neverending Haze IPA?

Expect word to travel fast.

“The idea,” Hardaway said, “is we’re blowing all the competition out of the water ... .”

“We’re trying to maintain the balance between affordable dining but not sacrificing quality,” she continued. “I think that’s kind of the approach we’ve taken on everything we’ve done.”