Having been in Idaho a few days now, everyone's skirted the issue of IDAHO POTATOES, and I'm too polite to bring it up. Â (ie. Hey, you guys are known for potatoes, but I haven't seen a damn potato, except at WinCo! Â Where are all the potatoes!?) Â So when we went to Bittercreek after a disappointing dinner at Shige's I had to order the Idaho potato fries...
...which were meh... Very average - a little soggy, a little soft - a little country and a little rock 'n roll(??) Â This is NOT the potato's fault, however.
Also ordered the Snake River Chardonnay, wanting to do a local wine, and my boyfriend a red. Â The chardonnay wasn't chilled enough and was OK. Â The red was OK as well. Â Nothing to write home about.
Had to change locations about 3 times since the setting sun was following my boyfriend around like a bad disease. Â The place was packed inside and out for a Thursday. Â Service was friendly and attentive - and this is my favorite part about visiting Idaho so far. Â Every person encountered in a restaurant, on a trail, out shopping, and possibly even stealing my money - absolutely friendly and sincere. Â After changing our table we were under another server's "jurisdiction", so we decided to close out with our previous server, who provided us with great service. Â The manner in which our previous server talked with our new one was so friendly, completely devoid of snark. Â Must be the potatoes - or lack, thereof.
Cute place right downtown. Good beer, great food. Super friendly staff but sloooow service & they were pretty unorganized though it was a busy Saturday at lunch time, during the farmer's market no less. Loud- would not recommend for older folks. The rhubarb chutney was amazing. A tad spendy for the portion size. I paid $6 for an ipa & it was not even a pint... Overall nice place though...if you have time to relax and linger.
Review Source:Happy they are under renovation. Hope they make alot of changes when the reopen. service is always below average - the food however is usually great, I love the locavore concept - just wish the service was better so I could actually enjoy myself. Â The art is pretty odd too, its a local brew pub but with alot of random decor. Â I will give it another chance when they re-open.
Review Source:The 3 times I've eaten here I've been repulsed to the smell of the restaurant. Is it stale beer or is it the overwhelming odor of bathroom disinfectant? Not sure but the food isn't good enough to overcome the mediocre service when I can go next door to The Red Feather and get the same/better food with better service & atmosphere.
Review Source:Beer, wonderful beer, I love beer and if you do too then Bittercreek might be the place to be. They have a huge selection almost to the point that it's over whelming and I feel bad when I'm asked what I would like to order because I have no idea. So I end up ordering the same old thing or some variation of it, oh ho-hum.
I have not sampled the menu extensively but the few items that I have tried I have enjoyed, for the most part the food is bar or pub fare and done pretty well. One of the items I can speak to is the grilled halloumi sandwich, they may have changed the menu up since the last time I visited, but generally anything halloumi is okay with me (its a salty Greek cheese, in case you were wondering). The pulled pork sandwich was pretty good and they do nice burger as well. They also offer poutine, with turkey gravy & cheese curds over french fries, oh my.
They have a great little patio out front, it's small but if you get there early enough it's a nice place to sit and people watch on 8th street. What's really great about Bittercreek is they are local, locally owned and locally sourced meat & veggies, plus on occasion they get a nice keg of my hometown beer from the Boulevard Brewery, which helps to alleviate a little bit of homesickness for me.
The beer selection was great! And the first time we saw "chubs" - that is mini-growlers. The vibe is very energetic here. My friends and I came on a Friday night and it was pretty packed. The service is a little unattentive (b/c it is so packed) but friendly.
Unfortunately, was very unimpressed with the food. The chicken wings had no pizazz to them...very run of the mill. And the roast beef with au jus - super disappointing. The sandwich itself was pretty good, but the actual au jus was ridiculously salty. I had other people try it and they said it tasted like pure salt. But the server didnt' come back around to ask the food was - not until much later after I had finished the sandwich. I kindly let her know about the au jus - and while she was sorry for that - she offered nothing for me. (Perhaps a couple dollars off, a complimentary dessert). I just told you that something I ordered and am paying for was inedible!!!
With SOOOO many other bars and restaurants in the area - if I ever go back to Boise - I'll try those out instead.
Done, done & done. Â This place used to be my "Winchester" (see Shaun of the Dead). Â Great food, great beer & great atmosphere. Â No longer. Â They run out of local beers continually and one night they ran out of fries...in Idaho? Â Really? Â
The menu changed to incorporate locally grown and sourced foods. Â They discontinued the Tuna and Cheddar sandwich but still offer Fish & Chips. Â Last time I looked, there were no cod in the Boise River.
The food prices have gone up and the amount of food has gone down. Â Case in point; the Huntsman Burger. Â
Last weekend I noticed that my local favorite, Dagger Falls IPA, was priced at a staggering $6.00 per pint. Â This IPA is $4.50-$5.00 everywhere else in town. Â When I asked them about this a day later they said it was "probably a typo" even though I was charged $6.00 per pint.
And then we have the winter months. Â The place freezing cold. Â As a previous reviewer mentioned, an arctic blast floods the place every time someone opens the door. Â There used to be a portable entrance that enclosed both Bittercreek & Red Feather that reduced the wind chill but they haven't used it this year. Â
Thankfully Boise now has The Taphouse & coming soon, 10 Barrel.
Lunch service today was frigid. Everyone in the restaurant was clad in their jackets, buttoned up to their necks for the entire hour. Every time someone opened the door it was like an arctic blast shooting across the restaurant. We could feel it and we were sitting near the back of the dining room, near the kitchen. Â
First it was the lights out happy hour, and now it's "cold lunch." Are times really that tough that you guys have to make your customers sit in the cold and dark to enjoy your food?
On the plus side, the sandwich was delicious.
Had the Lamb burger and cream of corn soup, burger came with fried onions and was delicious. Â Soup was loaded with a nice amount of potatoes and corn, first time I've ever tried it and it was excellent.
Nice rustic bar, looks like its 100 years old but was clean. Â Great mix of music too!
I've been to Bittercreek once before, but I didn't eat meat or dairy at that point. So, needless to say, I don't remember what I had.
This time, though -- Goodness. I had the Poutine (local organic fries, local turkey gravy, cheese) and the Huntsman burger (grass-fed beef, cheddar and bleu cheese, and bacon) with a side salad. I didn't care for the side salad much (I don't think it's meant to be cared for though, really) because there wasn't much of anything there and the balsamic was crazy-thick. BUT -- the poutine and Huntsman burger, awwyeah.
The Poutine: Idaho Potato Appreciation. It's a super generous portion, definitely meant to be shared by two (if you eat like I do), or even for up to six or more, I would imagine. It's warm, the gravy is thick and flavorful and smooth, the cheese is perfectly thick and melty, and the fries are cooked to perfection for a poutine purpose.
The Huntsman: mine was medium rare, juicy, thick, and it was, very evidently, a fine quality beef. The bacon was thick cut and not too crispy, and the cheeses were in good portions. Perhaps a slice of tomato would have been nice, but I can understand why they might not offer that in the dead of winter while trying to stay reasonable and local.
Also, I think the ketchup is homemade, and that's an absolute plus for care/attention. I didn't make it to trying a dessert, but dinner was already by all means satisfying enough.
5 stars for the extreme local effort (and grass-fed beef burgers!)! Also, service was very attentive with filling orders and waters, and getting the bill taken care of quickly.
This place has such good reviews with so many reviews for a reason. I'll be back very, very soon. !!!
On a trip to Boise over thanksgiving weekend I was able to swing by the Bittercreek Alehouse/Red Feather Lounge based on some twitter recommendations. I believe it was the Friday after thanksgiving when we went for lunch, and both sides of the restaurant were pretty packed. Any hostess or waitress we approached for a table of 6 was less than helpful; we were basically told to fend for ourselves and find something if it was open. After angrily walking around both sides for several minutes, a manager saw us standing dumbfounded and pissed near the kitchen and offered to help. Due to a lack of room and possibly the fact that we had two small children with us, we were brought to an upstairs area that no one else was sitting in yet. Eventually some other people were brought up there, including another group of people with a few smaller kids. The Bittercreek side seems more like a family-friendly, open restaurant, while the Red Feather Lounge side sticks more true to its name as it is a bit darker and bar feeling.
Both sides seem to share the same menu which features all sorts of great sounding salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts. I was extremely tempted to get the poutine because I'm a huge fan after visiting Montreal my entire life and wanted to see how a local organic potato version would be, but decided against it and went with the Bittercreek burger: 100% grass-fed & finished local beef, lettuce, onion & horseradish mayo on Gaston's burger bun. My burger was cooked perfectly to the medium-rare ordered, it had good char flavor and great beefy flavor overall. The lettuce was used sparingly and was much appreciated, the tomato was fresh, my cheese nicely melted, and the mayo was strong and delicious. Overall a very good burger. My fries were equally delicious; some cooked just right, some a little undercooked, but all had the skins present.
Although the service was a bit iffy coming into the restaurant, in the end our waiter was fairly prompt and attentive. Everyone's meals were really good and I didn't have anything really negative to say about the burger. And at $9.50 the burger is a good deal for both the quality of ingredients and flavors. While I don't have much to compare it to, if you're ever in downtown Boise this is certainly not a bad place to visit.
husband comes here once a month when he comes into boise for work. Â they had happy hour going so we got the poutine from that menu. i also got the soup of the day which was chicken cilantro. Â husband got the pastrami burger.
the poutine was awesome! Â the cheese curds werent quite melted but the gravy had a bit of a kick/spice and it was delicious! Â the fries were thick cut with skin on. Â the soup was also good! Â i wish there was more than just a small cup!
this place also has a ton of selection for drinks. Â they have a small catalog of cocktails as well as beers and wines!
service was also awesome. Â he was super friendly and fast
Love this place but the music sucks. A place like this deserves some Mumford & Sons or a little Edward Sharpe but rap at a cool brewery like this is just blah. Â
The thing that would bring me back to Bittercreek Ale House is the beer. It's great. I tried the local stuff and wasn't disappointed.
We got an appetizer to go with our brewskis and though the chips were awesome, the homemade salsa tasted a little rancid.
Overall this place is pretty cool, but it would take a few upgrades for me to give it the fifth star. That said, if you're just stopping through and you like microbrews, this is the place to stop in downtown Boise.
I loved this place! They had a killer tap list with beers from Utah, Idaho, Oregon & Germany (and a few places in between). Â I was a huge fan of the saison with sage from EPIC in Utah and the oatmeal Saison from The Commons-in Portland. Â And, I had a vertical flight with a sour beer form '10. '11 and '12 and that was fun distinguishing the different years and its idiosyncrasies of the same beer from the same brewery. Â I enjoyed the overall vibe and was a happening place, next time I go back I want to try their sweet potato & black bean quesadillas-I've heard they are amazing.
Review Source:I travel. Â A lot. Â And when I travel, I typically try to find good local spots to wet my whistle or fill my belly, or both.
This is the sort of beer bar I'm looking for in my travels! Â Great tap list with a local focus is a must for a good beer bar, and bitter creek delivers. Â They even go as far as to tell you how far away the brewery is of all the beers they have on tap. Â And the final touches to put it over the top are subtle but appreciated things like vintage beer (2011 Stone Double Bastard at time of review) and a brewery (Commons) I was pretty sure didn't distribute outside of Portland, both on tap.
Knowledgable servers who provide goo service is the next important thing, and the few times I've been to Bittercreek, they've delivered their too. Â The bartenders tend to be a little more knowledgeable than the wait staff, but the waitstaff will get the answer to questions if you aren't at the bar.
Good food is not one of my beer bar requirements. Â But Bittercreek deliver on that as well for bonus points.
Combine that with growler fills, a decent wine list, and a liquor bar to boot, and you have A beacon of good beer that would stand up in any city. Â Congrats Boise, this is a great find.
Bittercreek is the best beer joint in Boise. I like this place a helluva lot and I'm not a beer connoisseur. The focus is on craft beers from all parts of the Rocky Mountain region and the Pacific Northwest.
The extensive beer menu is descriptive and there are 30+ draft selections which change constantly. The drafts can be had as tastes ($2) if you don't want to commit to a whole glass, yeah right! In addition to a detailed description of each beer, the menu lists the alcohol percentage, and the distance in miles from Boise. This is very helpful and cool for the novice as well as the expert. Each of the beers that I've tried has been fresh, with distinctive bright flavors that match the menu descriptions perfectly. Tasty.
The inside feeling conjures a rustic northern tavern, with plenty of wood everywhere - from the bar, the tables and chairs, to the polished hardwood floors. The scene is always lively since every chair and stool is perpetually occupied. There is a patio which overlooks bustling 8th St. and is my favorite place to hang.
In addition to the great beers, Bittercreek offers an appropriate food menu which will complement and in many cases enhance your beer choice. The menu consists of apps, sandwiches, and small plates and proudly lists the farms, dairies, bakeries, and other locally sourced food providers. I've had the grilled Halloumi app and the Bittercreek and Spicy Lamb burgers - excellent in all cases. There are some more trendy options on the menu like Poutine and Spicy Street Tacos which I have yet to try. There is enough variety without being overwhelmed by too many options.
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The service has been remarkably good considering how busy this place gets. Â Kudos to the entire service team for being enthusiastic advocates of the local beers and their extensive beer knowledge.
Bittercreek is definitely one of the best options in Boise when seeking a good meal and a great beer.
People kept telling me Boise was rad, and so I was very excited to stop through while picking our way west to Oregon. After about an hour of walking and seeing not very much, I was basically done with Boise, and grumpy as hell. I was about to give up on the whole thing, and then we caught a glimpse of Bittercreek.
Nearly everything else was closed that Sunday afternoon, and I perked up a bit at the promise of a veggie burger and a local microbrew. My sweetheart and I shared the Highlands Hollow Full Moon Stout, which was seriously tasty. Local food and drink offerings are highlighted in red, which is awesome, and the draft list even included the mileage to the brewing location for each of the beers available.
The staff knew right away what I was asking when I inquired whether the veggie burger was vegan, and I enjoyed the sweet potato black bean burger pretty well. It was a little bland without the local cheddar and mayo it's served with for non-vegans, but it comes with the territory, I guess. (It also had that tell-tale crumbly texture that let me know it truly was vegan. Throw a non egg-binder in that bitch, y'all. Vital wheat gluten would be perfect, or even a little bit of mashed potato.) The hand cut Idaho fries were rad, though the housemade ketchup was a little too sweet for my liking. At least they make it in house, though. Props.
This place is doing right. Even if it were in Portland or New York City or my beloved ATL, I'd still stop in. For Boise? Unbelievable. Don't give up hope on Boise, y'all. (PS - There's an Anthropologie a block down.)
Bittercreek has always been close to the top of my list for places to take visitors. Â Between the outdoor seating, the tasting boards of beers where each 4 oz sample costs between $1 and $4 on average, and the seasonal menu choices with local ingredients, I find that it's a great representation of the 8th Street-Downtown Boise attitude towards food. Â Sometimes when I'm going for the tasting board I like to ask the server to just put whatever they feel like putting on it and they've always made really great selections because they really know the menu - impressive, since it has at least 35 different options at any one time!
The only reason why I can't give this place five stars is because the service can be pretty slow. Â I would assume this is because the place is always packed, but I've been there during kind of off times for lunch and dinner and it takes forever to get your ticket at the end of the meal. Â Still, that's really nice when you're out to relax and you never feel like you should eat up and leave because others are waiting. Â It's just not the best place to go if you're in a hurry.
A roadtrip gone awry led us to Boise. It's a town I never considered visiting but I'm glad I did because I had some of the best food and beer ever here at Bittercreek.
Our helpul server brought me some samplers and I settled on their IPA. Delicious and hoppy.
I had to try Idaho french fries and they were excellent, among the best I've had. The grilled haloumi with fig reduction and homemade crusty sourdough was the best thing we'd eaten in years but I've sinced checked the menu online and it doesn't look like they do it anymore. I get a sense that the menu changes with the times/seasons.
My friends started ordering cocktails. One was a Milk & Honey which, I am assured, was the best damn thing to ever pass her lips.
Good buzz on a Tuesday night. If I ever find myself in Boise I will go back.
I came here for a date on a Friday night. It was a great atmosphere, and very energetic inside with a great crowd.
I ordered a jalapeño lamb burger. It was tender, juicy, and just the right amount of spice. It came with a side caesar salad. The caesar dressing with the salad was alright. Nothing special. The waiter actually forgot to bring out one of our salads which was a tad bit annoying. He also wasn't very attentive in refilling out waters.
The food was great however, so I loved it overall and wouldn't mind heading back.
Locally sourced ingredients and beers from down the street - this is not your typical gastropub.
We accidentally sat down at Red Feather, the adjacent restaurant that shares an outdoor patio - do not make that same mistake!
We started with the poutine which has, shockingly, turkey gravy. Which was great for our friend that doesn't eat meat. The idaho potato fries were good, tasted quite fresh and the gravy did lack a certain meaty component - it was still delicious and the green onions were a nice gourmet touch.
My buddy and I split the Huntsman and the Lamb burgers. We were also recommended their special salad dressing, a basil shallot vinaigrette - which was fine but not life changing.
The lamb burger was terrific. Very spicy but very good. Cooked to perfection and had a great crisp with some fried onions on top.
The Huntsman was just okay. A little overcooked but what really bugged me was the blue cheese that was just SUPER overpowering. The bacon was great but that cheese just overwhelmed the taste for me.
Wish I JUST had the lamb burger :-(
Burger + beer + (shared) poutine was only $21!
Went last night and had no wait for a table. Kate gave us EXCEPTIONALLY good service, and I liked that you can get a beer sampler (~2 oz?) since they have such a long list of beers on draft.
The menu also looked great, with a nice emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. We got the polenta fries appetizer, which I loved bc it was different AND delicious. Then I had the turkey burger which was nice and juicy, not dry as turkey burgers can often be. The Brussels sprout slaw on the burger was the differentiator tho. So good!
Hubby had fish & chips, which he liked ok but was neither the best nor worst rendition he's ever had.
Overall, we really enjoyed it here and I definitely recommend it!
I was a little underwhelmed by the food the last time I ate at Bittercreek Ale House.
Technically it was the Red Feather side we sat on today, but it was a Bittercreek burger that I ordered. Medium rare with white cheddar, horseradish mayo and no onions. Very tender and juicy. Best "grown up" burger I've ever had. I also had fries with a side of honey mustard. The honey mustard was sweet and tangy without being cloying, and I used it on my burger as well.
I already liked the service and ambiance, as well as the emphasis on local sustainable ingredients, but now I've found a stand-out menu item I'm sure to crave again in the future. My husband enjoyed his burger, too.
Bittercreek is reasonably family friendly and they have high chairs but I would stick to less busy times in between the lunch and dinner rush as we did today.
Loved this place!!! Â Went there yesterday for some tasty hop soda. Â ;) Â The beer menu is extensive! Â Unfortunately some of the ones listed weren't available. Â :( Â Love their tasting tray with a mini chalkboard with the name of the beer listed on it. Â I had a great IPA & a wonderful Coffee Porter called Buzz Buzz.
I had a half BLT with avocado & sundried tomato mayonnaise. Â Served with Delicious fries. Â I could eat it everyday of my life! Â One friend had the salmon cakes with brussel sprout slaw. Â That stuff is good! Â Don't be afraid of it try it! Â The other friend had the sinfully delicious mac & cheese. Â
Great service. Â This place has some seriously good looking clients. Â If I was single & lived in Boise I'd be coming here everyday! Â ;)
The best place in Boise to grab a beer. They have a large tap list, and let you know just how far your beer has traveled to get there. That makes it great to easily spot out the local beers, and you should definitely give those a try.
They have taster sets, and have a great happy hour. The food is great as well, and they have poutine! They need to figure out the gravy a bit better for it, but the fries and cheese curds are out of this world.
Judging by the other reviews, I think coming on a slower evening (Sunday night) was a good call. Â I had a solid five-star experience at Bittercreek and it's certainly on my list of places to re-visit when I get back to Boise.
Focus here is on local foods and local libations. Â I love that they put the "miles traveled" next to the beer and wine choices. Â I have the choice to drink a beer from across the country or just across town. Â Great idea.
I had the black bean and potato burger. I'm not a vegetarian but the burger was delicious, flavorful, and completely unlike anything I'd had before. Â I will be getting it again.
I thought it was a great value for what we were getting.  Locally sourced food  + local brews + deliciousness + reasonable prices = giant win.
A happening and popular stop in Downtown Boise. Â
Meeting a few friends for dinner, they suggested we meet up here. Â It was pretty busy here for a Tuesday before 6pm. Â The beer selection was good as was the food. Â I decided on the spicy lamb burger (add bacon) with a side of black bean and quinoa salad (I was obviously on a protein kick for this meal).
The lamb pattie was a mix of seasoned lamb and beef. Â It was substancial and quite tasty. Topped with crispy onions, roasted jalapenos, feta cheese and 2 thick slices of smokey bacon, I ate most of it with a fork, it was BIG. Â The black bean and quinoa salad was simple and tasty, with a light vinnegarette dressing and some diced bell pepper and would be a great vegan protein option in and of itself.
I can't recall what my friends at but they cleaned their plates and had no complaints. Â
Service was professional, efficent and friendly. Â The prices here are also very reasonable and the portions are generous.
During a recent cross country move, I made a decision to make an over night stop in Boise, Idaho. Â Several friends and acquaintances recommended Boise as a pleasant and interesting small city. Â I was initially skeptical, but I was quite pleased with the outcome. Â The people, city grid, and night life was exceptional. Â Upon concluding my Yelp search, my cousin and I agreed on testing Bittercreek Ale House for our nightly dinner outing. Â It was a choice well made.
The atmosphere is all mountain town. Â High ceilings, beautiful wood tables and flooring, and fun nick knacks adorn the walls. Â We began with the smoked trout appetizer. Â The trout was fresh and perfectly smoked, and when paired with the horseradish fromage blanc borderline heavenly. Â We both began the beverage consumption with three samples of dry hopped regional ales. Â As you will see by the attached picture, presentation was quite creative. Â
For the entree I selected the Huntsman burger. Â The bacon adorning the sandwich was thick cut and crisp. Â I substituted the bison for the treasury valley beef. Â It was cooked to order(medium) and served right from the grill. Â The hand cut fries (you have to eat potatoes when in Idaho, right?) were well executed. Â I was sufficiently satiated and pleased. Â We stayed another hour or so, continuing to drink from the extensive and diverse beer listing. Â It was a night well spent.
The staff was exceptional. Â Our waitress was very engaging, her knowledge of the beer list was impressive. Â Despite a packed house, she was great with serving our needs throughout the evening. Â
As eluded to earlier, the beverage list is impressive. Â They offered 30 or so on tap selections which kept us busy. Â Although I did not venture in to the wine list, I was stunned by the quality of it. Â Old and new world selections abound. Â If I recall correctly, the list even included Bordeaux Premier Crus from the Lafite and Margaux houses. Â Apparently they employee the services of a sommelier, and judging by his/her selection of vintage and vintners a well educated sommelier. Â I could have easily depleted my bank accounts at Bittercreek would I of had the time and desire to do so. Â
If you find yourself in Boise, Idaho someday, do yourself a favor and check out Bittercreek Ale House. Â You will not be disappointed.
Though it's kind of a loud meat market and was filled with University of Idaho fans the night before the Humanitarian Bowl (I was one of the two Bowling Green State fans you may have seen around town), we loved the Bittercreek Ale House. Â A great selection of beers, a very friendly bartender and one of the best burgers I've eaten in a long time. Â The Huntsman Burger with Huntsman cheese and applewood bacon was unbelievable and is not to be missed. Â
Thanks Bittercreek for kicking off our drunken bowl game Boise trip right and being exactly what we needed after our long drive from Olympia.
Nice to see a focus on local brews. Â Yum salads and sandwiches. Â Nice comfort-y food.
Plus, on the service front, me and my growing bump are a bit extra picky these days, but the server was extra patient with my Meg Ryan-in-WHMS request for the grilled sourdough sandwich only without the turkey or ham or lettuce ("so, then, a grilled cheese?) and speedily whisked out a new salad when they oopsed on the "no blue cheese please". Â i swear, i'm not usually this picky, but this place is chill enough to take my current quirks in stride.
I came here for the first time with a co-worker and former KTVB anchor/reporter Ryan Panitz. It was in the middle of the week during lunch and I absolutely loved the atmosphere as it wasn't very crowded. Â Well, this place does a complete 180 on the weekends and it's often hard to find a table or a spot at the bar.
It's a great place to grab some drinks with friends before hitting the clubs/party scene. Â Plus they serve an awesome menu selection. Â Their albacore tuna sandwich was always good as are their burgers.
It's also a chosen spot to people watch during the summer. Â Just sit out on the patio and watch all the people watch up and down 8th and Main. Â It gets pretty loud, so I wouldn't recommend it for dates, but it's a good place to check out.