So your mascot is a wild looking, water skiing crow and your a restaurant. Oh! and even with all the growth you are still a LONG way from town. If you have still become a Boise institution you must be doing something very well. Ben's Crow Inn is well past where Warm Spring Avenue has turned back into into highway 20 and rolled past Harris Ranch on the way to Lucky Peak. Ben's has a long tradition of gourmet food in this most unlikely location.
The coffee mugs at Ben's Crow Inn read "We Specialize in Seafood." If you need a bucket of steamed clams the Crow Inn is your place. For some it is the deep fried finger steaks (insider tip: order them with a "half & half" and you will get a small salad as well as crisp hand cut fries) The day we were out one friend had fresh shrimp that were perfectly cooked and southern spiced. Ben's menu is long and varied. However when a friend asked "do you have any Balsamic Vinegar?" the waitress grinned at said "we don't serve anything that Ben can't spell!"
Although the food is fancy the atmosphere is not. At heart the Crow is a bar. The juke box plays sad songs and beer signs provide most of the limited illumination. For a nicer more family friendly setting turn right at the door way and head to the "dinning room." I believe it is no smoking, has checkerboard tables-even a hardy plant or two. With a wide open view of the Boise river the patio can be nice this time of year. Just beware of the crows, inside and out!