Caffè Luciano's - Garden City, Idaho

Steve N.

I can’t wait to go back! Specially to see the rollup garage windows open to the spring air soon. The patio looks great. It was just too cold to use it. The bruschetta was great, they actually used enough garlic! The meatballs had great flavor. And the lasagna soup was fantastic! I was pleasantly surprised and can’t wait to go back and try the Caesar salad with chicken and of course my new favorite lasagna soup and a meatball.

Sam G.

Caffe Luciano’s on the Boise Greenbelt is a charming spot with a prime riverside location, perfect for a casual stop during a walk or bike ride. On an average visit, the atmosphere is inviting—modern and open with a lovely patio that makes you want to linger. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, and they were a highlight: tender, flavorful, and topped with a wonderful white sauce that added a creamy, garlicky kick. It’s clear the kitchen knows how to elevate simple ingredients. The menu offers a solid mix of Italian-inspired dishes, and the wine and beer selection complements the vibe well. However, the experience was slightly dampened by the service. The staff wasn’t the friendliest—our server seemed distracted and a bit curt, which made the visit feel less welcoming than it could have been. It wasn’t terrible, just not the warm hospitality you’d hope for at a place like this. Still, the food and setting make it worth a stop if you’re on the Greenbelt. I’d come back for those mushrooms and the view, hoping for a friendlier face next time. Overall, a decent spot with room to shine.

Joanie B.

Update 2/4/2025
As we pulled up to the cafe, my friend said, "How'd you ever find this place." We meet fir dinners about once a month. Before we left, she said, "Thank you, this is my favorite place so far." We will be going back, and she'll be taking her husband for a visit as well. 2 got the clam chowder and said it was amazing. I had lasagna soup again with the café flatbread. Our table also had the Philly Cheesesteak and another flatbread, chocolate cake, and tirimasu. Great food and excited to visit again.

We stumbled across this place by accident. What an amazing find. The food was incredibly good. I had 1/2 the Italian salad and the lasagna soup, my friend had flat bread and the lasagna soup. Now folks, that is a serious bowl of soup. For those that don't like soup, you've never had anything like this. I can't describe the location well enough, but it's so cool that you have to go see it. Now parking is interesting. They don't actually have a parking lot, but we figured it out so it's doable. Will definitely be going back in the near future.

Sean D.

Great spot to people watch off on the greenbelt. We had a table outside with a great view. We shared everything below:

Meatballs House made meatballs with your choice of house marinara or alfredo topped with mozzarella and finished in the oven. 2-$7 or 4-$14

8/10 - the table really liked these. We got four meatballs with both sauces. Two marinara and two alfredo. I really wished we got all marinara. They were so good.

Italian Grinder Spicy ground Italian sausage with mixed grilled bell peppers and onions, mozzarella and house marinara on a baguette.$15

8/10 - we liked this and would order again. I think I liked the meatballs a bit better. Maybe it was the crispiness of the meatballs.

Chicken Basil & Mascarpone Cannelloni Pasta sheets rolled with shredded chicken, mascarpone, and fresh basil. Topped with a bechamel sauce and oven baked. $18

8.5 - favorite of the table. Rich bechamel really makes this dish a winner. I kinda wish I didn't share this dish. Would definitely come back.

Troy V. H.

We had lunch on the patio today and it was stunning! We had a view of the river and the passersby traffic on the greenbelt. Well done on the friendly, prompt service! Our food was well prepared and flavorful. The lasagna we ordered was excellent, but could have been a little hotter. Thank you!

Jim P.

Fantastic trattoria on the Boise River. On street parking nearby. Great place to go for an early dinner. A very modern vibe with authentic Italian dishes with some unique touches. Good selection of wines at reasonable prices. This is now on my must visit list whenever I am in Boise.

Amy

Great location
Staff teamwork was nice to see only complaint about service is that our server had so many tables that she never came to check back to see how we liked the food.
Food was not good. It tasted like it was cooked on a hot plate. Stuffed mushrooms were warm but sauce had a film on it. The shrimp dish might have made me sick. 2 of the shrimp seemed undercooked. My husband had some sort of chicken cannoli. I took one bite and it was so bad. The meat was mealy and the pasta was tough.
I had high expectations but I was disappointed.

Lea B.

Kind staff, tasty food, nice atmosphere.
Nestled right next to the river with open windows and indoor/outdoor seating make the atmosphere of this quaint Cafe quite pleasant. There isn't a ton of seating, so if it's busy, there may be a wait.
The staff was kind, though we did have to wait a bit to get the bill and we were only checked on once.
The food was excellent. The chicken basil mascarpone cannelloni was a great blend of creamy, cheesy, and salty. The hot Italian sando was actually not hot at all, but it was very tasty. The bread was crispy and the meat was flavorful. The kid's chicken bacon macaroni and cheese was creamy, though it was penne pasta, not macaroni (sorry, we'd already taken a bite before I remembered to get a picture). The Caesar side salad was a typical Caesar salad (anchovies optional).
Overall, we recommend it and definitely will be coming back!