Northern Lights Cafe

Nice little café. Warm welcoming from all the waiters. Definitely has a «Mom and Pop stop» feel to it. The meal was well portioned and great tasting as well!
They waitress was always eager to top me off with warm coffee. This was my first visit to Northern Lights Café and it won’t be my last but my all-​around experience was good.

This is our family’s favorite breakfast spot in Boise. The food is great, portions are big, the staff is friendly, and it is never so crowded you can’t be seated quickly. Don’t expect gourmet flourishes; its breakfast. We like the salmon scrambler, the Morning Catch fried trout, and the caribou sausage scrambler.

Service was excellent but the food fell short
how do you screw up potatoes in Boise
also 375 for an OJ
please check the prices before you order that explained why it’s always empty

Food was ok, I ordered the elk scramble, not sure how they made my breakfast so fast, and portion size for the money is very disappointing, other than the hot waitress I probably will never come back here, too many other good places to eat, now off to mc Donald’s, I’m still hungry

I really wanted to love this place but it fell short. The decorations are minimal. Looks like a run down diner. The place was almost empty on a Saturday morning which was my first sign. The staff wasn’t very attentive but instead just talking to one another. Food was just okay but our bill was more than IHOP would have costed. Overall it was mediocre and nothing to brag about.

This place was awful!!! Not sure how it stays in business. Maybe a shady side business? I agree with the other reviewer that it smelled of mold. I am almost certain the food was microwaved. I would have rather gone to McDonalds than this place and I hate McDonalds.
The manager actually told me «don’t come back» after bringing my issues to their attention.

Gave this local place a try and wasn’t disappointed. If your looking for a great atmosphere with modern aesthetics, this isn’t it. If your looking for reasonably priced breakfast that is freshly made this is your spot. The server was very nice, but did not inform me of my up charge item.
Will be back!

Great food and excellent service. Some say that it is pricy, but with the somewhat exoctic menu options, it is well worth the cost. You won’t waddle away hungry, so again priced right.
The owner is extremely helpful and courreous to both regular customers and new comers.

Location and ambience have you questioning your decision upon entrance. You’ll be reassured when food is good for a breakfast/​brunch spot. Family-​friendly.

After 10+ years the menu and décor… and carpet (NASTY) haven’t changed.
The Northwestern Omelette is very good and tasty.
After specifically asking for crisp hash browns, they were delivered barely cooked. Waitperson said she told the cook… no offer to make it right.
Cold toast.
Last visit.

I’ve been coming here for years just for the Salmon Scrambler! I’ve tried other menu items too and never have been disappointed. It’s one of those little hidden neighborhood gems that’s more about good food than fancy décor.

One of our favorite places in town for breakfast.
It’s definitely a no-​frills type of diner. But what they lack in décor or atmosphere, they make up for in service and value.
Service is consistently very friendly and prompt.
Food is consistently good and served in bigger than average portions. Breakfast at Northern Lights is definitely one of the best values in town.
Can’t say enough about their egg scrambles. They’re huge, delicious and a great value. I highly recommend the caribou scramble.

As another review noted, the interior décor is nothing fancy. But we found the food to be first rate for a basic café/​diner. The French dip sandwich (with the optional onions and cheese) as good as any I’ve had, and the battered cod fish and chips were light and non-​greasy. My side salad was tasty and simple and featured nice garnishes. The service was prompt and friendly. I would recommend this place.

I was completely surprised by this place. We were looking for a new, closer place to grab breakfast on the weekends and decided to give Northern Lights a try. The menu is sprinkled with elk, buffalo, and caribou selections. The seasoning on breakfast was perfect and nothing was over/​under done (I’ve had a lot of burnt toast and slimy eggs lately at other places in town so I notice when it comes out right). Don’t expect too much from the interior, but there is plenty of room. Go for the food and enjoy that you didn’t wait over an hour just to get in the door. Great pricing as well.

Decent little breakfast/​lunch place (they close at 2:30 — 3:00 every day) with a unique menu, including smoked salmon and caribou.
(Disclaimer — my biggest gripe is going to be about the service.)
The establishment itself is pretty big — but the first thing you notice when you walk in is the musty, ‘old’ smell — yuck.
The waitress happened to be wandering by with coffee pots in her hand when we sat down, so we had a full cup quickly. This was not the case, however, to receive menus. We placed our order, and I finished my coffee. Then I waited… and waited… and finally flagged down the waitress for another cup. Maybe she was busy… she did have two other tables to take care of…(yes, that WAS sarcasm). My water finally was refilled as I was finishing my meal.
Anyway, on to the food. It was pretty good — I had a salmon omelet, and the hubby had a caribou sausage omelet. Both did not scrimp on the fillings — they were tasty. The hash browns were a little underdone, but since we had gotten there after 1pm, I’m sure any kind of rush they experienced was long over.
Last impressions mean a lot, too — hubby had to go to the server station to pay the bill… again, our server seemed super busy gabbing with her co-​workers. Needless to say, her tip reflected our appreciation.
Not sure if we’ll be back — but it’s nice to have an option so close to home.