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Hours
Mon
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tue
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thu
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri
4:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Sat
4:00 PM - 10:30 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, American, Steakhouse, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Special occasions, Romantic, Large groups, Bar scene, Business meetings
Is this restaurant good for local cuisine?
Details
About
The first inkling of an idea for the Sandpiper Restaurants came to original founder Bob Angell as he lounged on the beaches of California. While attending college he enjoyed watching the sandpipers darting in and out of the surf, and after graduation Bob moved back home to Boise, Idaho, where he opened the first of many Sandpiper Restaurants in 1971. From its humble beginnings in Boise, the Sandpiper grew until there were locations in Oregon, Arizona, and a total of four in Idaho. After several owner and management changes, there are currently two locations still open in Idaho. The Idaho Falls location was opened in 1974 by Ron Obendorf, who is still the manager. The Pocatello location opened in 1975 and has been managed by Rod Russell since 1985. Rose Anne Voigt came on as a member of the management team in 1995. Always intended to be casual fine dining restaurants specializing in steaks, seafood and pastas, the Sandpiper Restaurants continue to enjoy great popularity. Our guests have consistently bestowed us with Best Restaurant, Best Steak and Seafood, Best Fine Dining, and Best Date Place awards. Both locations offer outside dining during the beautiful Idaho summer and fall, as well as facilities for larger gatherings.
CUISINES
American, Steakhouse
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, Late Night, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
448 reviews
Excellent
253
Very good
122
Average
50
Poor
17
Terrible
6
JCzapski
Mesa284 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
We read the reviews and it sounded like somewhere we’d like to try. We were NOT disappointed. It was early so our House Chardonnays were only $4.49/glass and were good. One of us ordered Baked Stuffed Halibut and the other ordered Baked Stuffed Salmon. Both were deliciously tender & tasty with plenty of seafood stuffing. We both agreed the Baked Halibut ranked a bit higher than the salmon. Veggies were plentiful and cooked al dente. No room for dessert. Great dinner choice for our one night stopover!
Written June 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mountain Hen
Idaho4 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
Sandpiper is a staple in Pocatello.
The restaurant is always predictable, the food is good, the steak is perfect every time, and the drinks are consistent. The service is not amazing, but it is always friendly and good considering how busy it can be in the restaurant.
The restaurant lost an amazing leader and things have been tweeked a bit since his death. We all know the only thing predictable is change, having Ron could not have kept the beautiful thick scallops and luscious shrimp in the Piper penne, or the size of the tuna appetizer as glorious as it once was but his influence is still in the ambience of the building and we all enjoy our time at the Piper.
The restaurant is situated on the east side of town near hotels, it boasts a warm welcoming patio in the summer, inside there is a bar and a large area for private groups. It is open for dinner; call in a reservation or get there early if you want to sit in the bar area it is full from 5 until close almost every night.
It is worth a visit if you are traveling through the area, it is full of life.
The only negative is that it is really loud, the acoustics are terrible, do not plan to have any sort of conversation, this restaurant is for short visits (unless you have a loud voice) and people watching.
Written January 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jimichongaJC
New Bern674 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
No complaints here - the wait service, the atmosphere, the food and the convenience were quite commendable. Staying at the nearby LaQuinta (which offered 10% discount coupon for this eatery) meant a short walk for a very good meal. My prime rib was cooked to perfection and the wife's lamb chops & risotto were ample and deliciously prepared. Sandpiper is just off the Interstate exit for added convenience for travelers. And our waiter looked after us nicely. What's not to like? Ill be back when travelling again thru Pocatello.
Written May 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will L
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • none
We went there last night 12/13/22 for my wife's birthday. We have eaten there numerous times with mixed results. Last night proved one theory we had. don't go there during the holidays or anytime when they are busy! The baked potatoes are ALWAYS cold, wouldn't even melt the butter! I ordered my steak "medium" and it came out with the horns still on it! Blood red! service wasn't very good either. The bread they serve dripping in olive oil, take a moisty towelette!
Written December 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitri L
Phoenix111 contributions
Aug 2021 • couples
Stopped for a late dinner at the Sand Piper and from the entrance I realized it's going to be a good experience. They even have reading glasses ready for us, the ones who forget our reading glasses at home. Nice touch!
And now, the goods...
Whatever you order do NOT skip the Clam Chowder. Outside of Union Oyster House in Boston, where the NE Clam Chowder was first served many years ago, this dish here is sooo freaking good that I was ready to order a big bowl of it with bread and call it good. My wife had the scallops served on a bed of pancetta clad risotto, the scallops were a bit overcooked, albeit tasty and they were also a wee on the smaller side. I had the half rack of lamb with lemony risotto, lamb was done to perfection,
no gamey taste and very tender. The lemony risotto was also good and satisfying. We complemented our dinner with a glass of Holuse Cab, good drinking wine that tasted like it came from an expensive bottle of wine. Josh was our waiter and he was just perfect. A place to not be missed in Pocatello!
Written August 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael P
12 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
We were staying the night in a hotel nearby and looking for a place to get a good steak. This place came highly recommended and it didn’t take long to see why. The steaks were terrific and the server could not have been more helpful and attentive. The menu had many other interesting choices, mostly seafood dishes, that also looked wonderful and I wished I could have ordered them too. The dressing on the house salad was unique and tasty and even the bread served before the meal was a cut above, served on a bed of grated Parmesan and olive oil. Also very reasonably priced. Easy to recommend this restaurant.
Written August 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peakslayer
8 contributions
Jul 2022 • couples
My husband and I had a hotel room a block away from the Sandpiper with our two dogs, and needed a place where we wouldn’t have to leave them while em we dined. Fortunately, the Sandpiper allows dogs on their patio during their short summer season.
After spending over 20 years working in the service industry, and having worked all varieties of jobs in different establishments, I can legitimately say this was one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. We ordered the Steak Sandpiper and the salmon. Not only were the steak and salmon cooked to perfection, our server Alden was an absolute rockstar. He continually checked in on us, had our drinks refilled at the perfect time, and made sure our meals were up to snuff.
I cannot say enough positive things about our experience tonight. What an unexpected please and surprise during our short stay in Pocatello!
10/10 recommend.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sjentzsch1
Rupert183 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
Fantastic choices on the menu, it was so hard for my husband and I to choose! His steak was perfectly cooked, so tender! My Alaskan halibut with crab and shrimp was so delicious, I couldn't talk for a while. I was busy eating. My husband wanted a few bites and I was sad but shared. Cheesecake was good but dinner was a perfect 10! Waitress was very nice also.
Written April 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lulupearl
Palm Springs416 contributions
May 2020 • none
I hate to be picky during this horrible health crisis, but you've been doing takeout for a while now. A $7.99 Caesar Salad should have more than a few chintzy pieces of lettuce! I wish I had taken a photo of the container! The styrofoam boxes were loaded into the bag on their edges so everything inside was a mess! The burgers were over salted and the buns were soggy. At a minimum, please don't be on the cheap side with the salads. Even you'd be embarrassed to see what someone put into those containers. The final coup was the young woman who brought someone else's order outside. She wanted to ask us if the bag was for us so she removed her mask to talk! Seriously???
Written May 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Idaho Native
Idaho318 contributions
Sep 2021 • couples
Excellent dinner! I would certainly say it is the best place in Pocatello and I eat there a lot at many different places. There has been a huge turn over in help and it shows. Without Rod the main manager there much, the atmosphere has dramatically declined. The new managers never interact with the customers so the personal caring touch is all but gone. They do a good job managing the food but it's more like a diner than a dining experience now. All In all still the best place in Pocatello. Just ranks pretty far down in experience from what they are when Rod is there.
Written September 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michaelkQ5525HV
Yellowstone National Park99 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Took the wife and kids. Food was exceptional-great flavors and large portions. Service was a little sketchy at times-our server worked hard but wasn't very organized, but the meal made up for it. The halibut was perfectly cooked, my steak we well prepared, and the desserts were huge. Will definitely be back!
Written October 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ew1639
Boise54 contributions
Mar 2021 • business
Please take a look at my reviews from all over the world. I was amazed by Poor service I received. Please take a look at the employee.
When I expressed a concern about my meal, he could really care less. Worst customer service in Pocatello ever.
If you go to Jakers you’ll see there are several individuals who have been there for a long time. The level of professionalism shows. This place appeared to have a bunch of people who were very new with probably less than two years experience.
Then when some local came in they offered him a bowl of “Lisa’s chili“ and how it won some award.
As a customer, it may have been nice to of been offered specials or some sort of experience like that. I came to the restaurant for dining experience. It was horrible.
If you look at my reviews you’ll find no other like this.
Thank you Joseph.
Not medium rare. Thanks for checking.
Written March 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Queen Voo Doo
2 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
My server, Bailey was such a great server! She was confident in her menu knowledge and could answer all my questions about the wine list. I had the Alaskan King Crab legs, which was prepared perfectly. My scotch and soda was STRONG. Great desert selection(I had the creme brulee) and the house salad isn't just a regular salad. It's romaine lettuce with bay shrimps and cashews tossed with garlic dressing. Delicious! Also, it was right next door to my hotel, which was also a huge plus!
Written April 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
35572DantheMan
Pocatello10 contributions
Feb 2020 • family
The Sandpiper is the best fine dining restaurant in Pocatello. We had a party of 6 to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. The service was excellent, the food cooked to order and their distinctive house salad is the best. Very good wine list and full bar.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manuel V
13 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Great service and amazing food. Being in Pokey I have obviously chosen the Idaho trout accompanied by a bottle of a German Riesling. Could not ask for something better. Not to mention that this nice restaurant was just steps away from my hotel. I will be back!
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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