Crooked Fence Brewing

Could have heard a pin drop the place is so quiet, the staff didn’t even say hello. The staff whispers to the regulars, makes you feel unwelcome, very obvious snobbish feeling.

While the beer may not be the best I’ve ever had, the food here is AMAZING. We started with the duck tenders (like chicken tenders but the breading reminded me of fried oysters) which were amazing, and had fantastic dipping sauce. But then I got my burger. I got the bbq bacon burger and asked for deep-​fried jalapenos on it. It was so good I almost cried. Now, keep in mind I don’t eat red meat that often, and burgers even less frequently, it’d better be a pretty dang good burger for me to want to eat it. And it was truly mind-​blowing. My mood was uplifted the rest of the day thinking about that burger. Seriously — one of the best I’ve ever had.
I’ll have to try more of their beer — admittedly it was freezing and maybe I wasn’t in the mood for cold beer as much as I was for hot food. I dream about coming back as soon as possible.

Being a Crooked Fence fan from the beginning. This place did not disappoint. Good food and of course always good beers.

Thinking of going here? Don’t waste your time. We sat at the bar for 5 minutes before anyone realized we were there. The bartender was not friendly. The beer was nothing special. The burger was the most disappointing though. I actually thought the meat was bad. My husband tried it and said it was just a frozen patty, and not a good one. A terrible waste of 40 dollars.

live close to Crooked Flats, so it is a nice little escape. The food is o.k./good, the different brews can be good or they can suck (some cider they had tasted more like vinegar). Overall service can be a hit or miss. Sometimes you get a person (one time was a gal) that thought she was a primadonna, when she was average at best; other times you get someone like Wyatt, who just flipping rocks a a server and conversationalist!!!
it is definitely worth a trip to the flats!!!

Amazing beer, great selection of food, the menu has a good variety of things and the duck finger steaks are a MUST try. This will be a regular spot for our family. Live music is a good night to go. Staff is always friendly with great service and knowledge of the beers and ciders.

Went to «a curious evening» event at crooked flats last night. Wanted to get drinks and dinner before show. Arrived at 6pm for 730 show time. It took 15 mins for waitress to come to our table and then another 20 to get a drink. We ordered and told waitress just bring another round right away. This took another 15 mins. The show was starting and we had never received dinner! I went to bar to inquire and bartender was very snotty. Meanwhile «regulars» who arrived 45 mins after us were eating dinner already at the bar. Table that came in 30 mins after us was already eating, waitress said sorry I’m new. We got a refund on show and left, will never go back!

Great food and excellent beer! Staff was friendly and the service was great. Went on a Thursday and they had live music and the atmosphere was great! Had the prime rib dip and porter beer. Can’t wait to come back to try different beers and food off their menu.

So I’ve been here a few times because it is close to my house… Went in today and asked for their Sunday Special. (Cheeseburger and Pint $ 10) the waitress/​Bartender had zero idea what I was talking about. I explained their Facebook webiste notes this special on Wednesday and Sundays… She went into the back, came back and said «We can do that» … Cheeseburger was gross… The patty was at least ¹⁄₃ smaller than the bun, which was tough and stale… I’ve had better burgers at «fast food» places… Then when I paid for my dinner in cash … The waitress gave me my change but didn’t return my coin change… It was only .30 but a waitress should NEVER just assume a patrons money is hers! She did not even open the till and gave me my dollar change form another tickets book??? Doesn’t seem as if that is the proper way and I would think Crooked Fence Management would be interested in that. ANYWAY… I want to like this place BUT am usually underwhelmed except for their beer (But I can find good beer ANYWHERE) When I went in I was considering buying a ticket for their blues festival… NOW won’t waste that much $$ on them. … I WAS COMPLETELY turned off today! Sorry BUT TRUE!

Went to crooked flats for Mother’s Day event. They were extremely understaffed and had terrible service. I will never go there for a big event again.

Aside from having a great local beer selection, the food is top notch! This is the best kept secret in Eagle/​Meridian/​West Ada! Service is stellar (props to Shelby)! If you want a great meal and a relaxed atmosphere, this is your place.

We went to Crooked Flats for their Mother’s Day event and we were completely disappointed. We arrived at 2:00 expecting to eat lunch and enjoy some adult beverages. Sadly we were told they ran out of food? Really only after 2 hours of being open? The rest of the visit consisted of more of the same. Out of certain beers and wines. I really want to like this place but after today I will never be back. Don’t risk a special day on this place. Their complete lack of planning was evident everywhere.

3 of us went to crooked flats last night. And I really wanted to like it… it was our first time there. It’s close to where we live and looks like it is a great place to sit outside and enjoy the warmer weather.
So, we walk in. I don’t know if any staff actually knew we walked in because no one said anything. Since this was our first time, I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to wait or seat ourselves. There were a few open tables, so we just sat at one. Live music playing, it was a nice relaxing atmosphere. After awhile, a waitress comes over with 3 menus, and says she will be back to get our drink order.
I scan the menu for a list of the beers on tap (again, never been here before) but I had read about a new cider that was coming out, which I was interested in. No drinks on the menu. Looked around and the only list of beer I could barely see was on a chalkboard to the right of the bar, which I couldn’t really read from out table anyway.
Waitress comes back and asked if we were going to order drinks. Just seemed like a strange phrase to use, but whatever. Having no real idea what was on the menu, I said I would like to try the new cider. She said, it’s not on tap yet. I waited to see if she was going to add that it was only available in a can or bottle, but she didn’t. And I finally responded, oh, you mean it’s not available at all yet? She responded, yeah, maybe sometime next week, I guess. Being stumped, I told me husband to go ahead. He asked what they had, she quickly rattled off a few beers, he picked one, our friend ordered water and she turned back to me. I had seen tables that had glasses of wine so I asked, Chardonnay? OK, and she left. At which point my husband leaned over and said, I think she might have left her personality at home today. And seriously, that’s what it seemed like the entire time we were there. Minimal contact from the staff, which is fine, once I get my order I don’t need to be checked on constantly. But the contact we did have was just not what I expected. Not rude, but not friendly. But we noticed that all the waitstaff who we saw walking around delivering orders looked very stoic. No warm smiles, no welcoming feeling. Just here to deliver the food.
And, I will say, the food was good, husband and I shared a Blt and our friend ordered the flatbread. Food was delivered in a timely manner, and was exactly what we ordered.
We originally decided to come here this evening because we read that they were doing an Easter Brunch, and we wanted to check the place out before hand. And if I it was based on the food and location, we’d be all for it. But the service… as we left, my husband asked, Are you sure you want to come back for Easter Sunday, after that staff has been working all weekend? I can’t imagine them being pleasant.
And he’s got a point. So… Good food, great location, ehhh service. I’d like to try this place again, maybe we were just there on an off night (although it was Friday, how more on can you be). We’ll see.

Pretty bomb selection of beverages, gourmet eats and hip atmosphere. It appears to be a lovely venue for a party with great landscaping and waterfall. Overall great service and dining experience.

Nice chill relaxing atmosphere with friendly staff. Great food with beautiful scenery. Waterfall with a little stream running thru.

So special one wants this to be their secret. But in the spirit of Unilocal-​share here goes. DINE 16 Gastropub is located at Crooked Flats. Crooked Flats is a 5 acre multi purpose site owned by the folks who also own Crooked Fence Brewing in Garden City and who also opened the Barrelhouse brewpub there about a year ago. The Crooked Flats site, purchased from the now defunct Woodriver Cellars owners, has an event tent and a big grassy gathering area where concerts are held, we are told. But the important piece of this lead in is that Dine 16 Gastropub is in the mix at Crooked Flats.
Lots of places call themselves Gastropubs and aren’t. This one is. The kitchen, as headed by chef A.J. DeChambeau (she is also in charge of the kitchen at Barrelhouse) focuses on hand crafted food in creative combinations and leverages local sources.
We’re not a fit for the concert scene here and we understand the place can be hoppin’ during events and on Friday and Saturday nights. So our timing on a late Sunday afternoon was perfect to find maybe nine other people present (two singles at the bar, a couple at a window table, a family of five) in «all people are welcome» vibe (with great music in the mix), fantastic service, good food, Crooked Fence Beer, local Idaho wines and fair prices. We are eager to return for more.
HOURS
Which may be a good segue to hours of operation to know whether going the first time or returning. Sources list various times. Here is the best we can determine to be correct: Mon & Tue — Closed. Wed — Thu 4p — 10p. Fri 12p — 11p. Sat 11a — 11p. Sun 10a — 8p. Best to call ahead to confirm hours.
VIBE & SEATING
More polished than a pub, less sophisticated than an urban kitchen, this strikes the right balance of casual, warm and cool. Bright green, maybe hops-​leaf green, is the theme of lighted sign along the bar and the cloth napkins that are set atop the wood tables. Big yahoo here too for the many standard height tables and chairs. Aside from the maybe dozen stools (with backs) at the high bar, this is seating that everyone can use. (As example, during our visit, 9 of 11 diners selected the standard height seating.) More thumbs for spacing tables to provide comfortable getting around and not sardine can tightness as is too common in many venues.
Fireplace against one wall with buck head taxidermy, big windows at the back looking out onto an expansive lawn with water feature and event tent beyond. More standard height table seating outside to enjoy the setting.
This will segue to the fantabulous host /​server, Justin, who we understand manages the sound system play list. It was the perfect music mix to fit the space (Queen as example) and set at just the right level to be part of gastrokitchen ambiance but not to overwhelm conversation.
SERVICE
A fantastic service experience can make all the difference and that was the case here. Justin greeted us immediately and warmly, provided menus, answered our questions and clearly a guy who likes food, could make recommendations too. (His recommendation for us, as it turns out, was perfect.) As high praise my hubby and I say he works like he owns the business and is personally vested in a happy guest experience. For all you single ladies out there who are just starting the path to the twenties, I’ll offer he is also pretty darned cute and in your demographic!
This is the kind of service that other casual restaurants would do well to emulate. They might have their staff follow Justin around for a service or two to see how it is done.
MENU & FOOD
One menu straight through from opening to close with the exception of Sundays when a brunch menu of about eight options (@ $ 4 — $ 12) is offered from 10a — 1p with the main menu then in play from 1p to close.
See photos of menus for detail of creatively crafted dishes in options ranging from flatbreads (@$ 7 — $ 9.75) to small plates designed for sharing… or not (@$ 8 — $ 15) to salads (@$ 8.50 — $ 12) to sandwiches and burgers (@$ 8.50 to $ 13) to desserts (@$ 7). Options for omnivores, vegetarians and vegans.
We shared a plate of caprese tartlets ($ 7.95) that exceeded our expectations. Five mini tarts in «two bites each» size with housemade, short savory pastry shells lined with basil pesto and just melted fresh mozzarella topped with fine diced cherry tomatoes and beautifully plated with a drizzle of balsamic reduction. The warm tarts were counterpoint for the fresh tomatoes. Delicious.
LIBATIONS
Crooked Fence beers. By glass wine list was Idaho local vintners. Local roaster Dawson Taylor coffee.
THIS N THAT:
1) PARKING: In paved lot.
2) ACCESSIBILITY: Two accessible (aka ADA) parking spaces but neither meet the federal standards or Idaho state code for van access. Otherwise, level in and throughout with ample standard height seating. No accessible route to the event tent, the only path is deep grass.
3) CHILDREN: Welcome all hours inside and out and welcome to play on the grass