Pocatello’s Sandpiper: Over 50 years of great food and memories

Published at 6:30 pm, August 28, 2026

Lisa Lete, EastIdahoNews.com

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Such a pleasure to visit with Miguel Gutierrez at Pocatello’s Sandpiper. I’ve tried crème brûlée at restaurants here, in other cities and countries, and I still contend the Sandpiper’s is the best I’ve ever had. Cracking through that caramelized sugar crust into the creamy custard beneath, served with fresh blackberries and whipped cream, is simply to die for. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

POCATELLO — Since 1975, Sandpiper has been a fine dining favorite in the Gate City for everything from birthday and anniversary dinners to family gatherings and business meetings.

As a longtime East Idaho resident, I’ve been enjoying the Sandpiper in Pocatello for decades. Through the years, I’ve celebrated special events, enjoyed fun dates and made plenty of other memories along the way.

I was thrilled when the Sandpiper’s new owner, Marcel Gutierrez, agreed to join me for an East Idaho Eats feature to share his vision and let me try some of the Sandpiper’s best dishes.

Gutierrez took over the Sandpiper restaurants in Pocatello and Idaho Falls in 2025 with a commitment to preserving the restaurant’s longtime legacy as a place where East Idahoans gather, celebrate and make memories.

At the same time, he is looking to the future, working to elevate the food, service and overall dining experience while holding onto the traditions longtime customers have come to love.

That vision centers around five core values: heritage, hospitality, excellence, innovation and celebration.

“We want Sandpiper to be Idaho’s table for the moments that matter,” Gutierrez said.

For my visit, Gutierrez treated me to the full Sandpiper experience on the deck, bringing out some appetizers, salad, signature entrees and desserts that have helped anchor the Sandpiper menu for years.

Fortunately, my cameraman, Jordan Wood, was more than willing to pitch in and help. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it!

Sandpiper mushrooms — This popular Sandpiper appetizer features mushroom caps stuffed with andouille sausage and herb cream cheese, topped with melted Fontina and fried sage. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

Sandpiper brie appetizer — The Sandpiper’s unique Brie and Roasted Garlic appetizer features warm baked Brie with herbs, roasted garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, served with toasted baguette slices. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

Sandpiper house salad — A longtime Sandpiper favorite that isn’t going anywhere, the Piper House Salad features baby shrimp, cashews and scallions over chopped romaine tossed in the restaurant’s signature creamy garlic dressing. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

Sandpiper halibut crunch — A Sandpiper house favorite, the Hawaiian Crunch Halibut features Alaskan halibut breaded with coconut flakes and macadamia nuts, grilled and finished with lime chive butter, then served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

Sandpiper steak — The Sandpiper hand-cuts its steaks in-house, including this aged beef tenderloin, thick-cut and carefully trimmed, served with a loaded baked potato and asparagus. The restaurant uses fresh, farm-to-table produce whenever possible. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

Sandpiper cheesecake — The perfect finish to a Sandpiper meal, this generous slice of homemade cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries is every bit as decadent as it looks. | Jordan Wood, EastIdahoNews.com

Although I can’t drink on the job, the Sandpiper experience extends beyond the dining room, with a full-service bar that has long been a favorite spot to unwind with a beer or cocktail, or to enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.

Something new at the Sandpiper this year is live music on the patio on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Looking ahead, Gutierrez is also considering opening on Sundays for brunch.

Pocatello’s Sandpiper is at 1400 Bench Road and is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The Idaho Falls Sandpiper is at 750 Lindsay Boulevard and is open Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m to 9 p.m.

For more information, menus, or reservations, visit the Sandpiper’s website at sandpiperidaho.com.

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