Lucky Fins Seafood Grill serves up soul and spirit
By Nicole Sharp, Photography by Pete Grady
Flip the menu over at Lucky Fins in downtown Boise, and you’ll read the following statement: “The kitchen is our soul and the bar is our spirit.” This description is more than appropriate for a restaurant that was started by three good friends who collectively have more than 40 years of restaurant experience and who “take food seriously, but not ourselves.”
Four years ago, the three friends saw an opportunity to open a restaurant that would serve seafood, sushi and street tacos (to name few) with Asian, Northwest, and Mexican flavor profiles. Lucky Fins on Eagle Road opened to resoundingly positive reviews. Two years after their success, a second restaurant opened in Greeley, Colorado, and last year, the Boise location opened on The Grove. I spoke with co-owner Derek Hood to learn more about the restaurant’s success.
The first thing the folks at Lucky Fins want you to know is that they are not a chain. In fact, each menu is different for each location. With cooking shows and celebrity chefs, people tend to be more educated about food, so they demand a quality experience. This food culture has been very positive for the restaurant business, Lucky Fins included. “We offer quality and good food, and we want our customers to expect this from us,” said Hood. In fact, 90 percent of the food on the menu is made from scratch.
The Boise location is classy but comfortable. Inside is a wall of a water fountain, and the bar serves customers outside as well as inside. The simple décor is inviting. Lucky Fins is perfect for date night, or as a place to enjoy a cocktail with friends, but it’s also family-friendly. “We want people to come in and feel like they are home,” said Hood.
The patio is the star attraction at Lucky Fins. There are two fire pits, and plenty of patio seating. It creates the feeling that you are part of The Grove, and still taking a break from the rest of the world. its central location makes Lucky Fins a restaurant of choice for hockey fans, concert goers, and Alive After Five attendees who enjoy the city’s free summer outdoor concert series.
Lucky Fins is one of the best locations in Boise to engage in the sport of people watching. People go there to see and be seen. That location made their first Alive after Five season engaging. “So many people were coming in and out,” Hood said. “A lot of folks wanted something to eat after the concerts were over, and some wanted to continue to relax and watch the sunset.”
You may not realize that there is a parking garage underneath the restaurant with an entrance off of 9th street; if you park there, Lucky Fins can validate. For those with special dietary needs such as allergies or gluten intolerance, Lucky Fins can accommodate their diets. The restaurant caters and has an in house private room for up to 50 people. WinCo carries fresh Lucky Fins sushi seven days a week.
As the new season of Alive on the Grove begins, Lucky Fins will match the mood with new menu items like the Mango Tango Sushi Roll and a Shredded Kale Salad. When you stop by, do yourself a favor and order the Stuffed Avocado. You won’t regret it.
