NORTH ITALIA CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF ITS FIRST IDAHO LOCATION AT THE VILLAGE

A new era of Italian dining arrives in Meridian

May 28, 2025 – Today, modern Italian concept North Italia opens its first restaurant in the Gem State within the bustling The Village at Meridian. Nationally recognized for its scratch-made cuisine, hand-tossed pizzas, and craft cocktails, North Italia is excited to introduce its chef-driven Italian favorites with local flare to Idaho’s prospering culinary scene. As the concept’s 46th location nationwide, North Italia is a welcome addition to the Meridian neighborhood, providing a prime gathering space for weekend brunches, everyday lunches, after work happy hours, and dinner with the family.

Situated at 3690 E Monarch Sky Ln, Suite 100, North Italia Meridian is centrally located in The Village, Meridian’s highly desirable lifestyle destination and mixed-used development. Walking distance to premier shopping with some of the most sought-after retail brands and community happenings, as well as family-friendly entertainment and outdoor spaces that draw vibrant energy to the area, North Italia will quickly enhance the property’s work, dine, stay, and play lifestyle concept.

The 8,000 sq. ft. space features a vast dining space comfortably seating 285 guests, a full bar, and an expansive 1,400+ sq. ft. wraparound patio, ideal for enjoying fresh air and sunshine. Paying homage to Meridian and nearby communities while also celebrating North Italia’s Italian heritage, walls are accented with locally commissioned pieces by Boise art collective Sector Seventeen, including a mural showcasing a woman riding on a vespa along the iconic Boise Red Bridge.

Spearheading the culinary and operations teams are four North Italia veterans – Regional Manager Antonia Wagner, Regional Chef Jordan Herigstad, Executive Chef Edo Budijanto, and General Manager Brett Hummel – who are eager to introduce Idahoans to their new neighborhood favorite. Starting today, guests can enjoy the signature dishes that have quickly cemented North Italia as a go-to for modern Italian dining across the country, including the White Truffle Garlic Bread with house made ricotta, mozzarella, grana padano, and

herbs; Wild Shrimp Scampi with blistered tomato, grana padano, garlic confit, herb butter, charred lemon, and grilled bread; and Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto Pizza with scamorza, speck, Calabrian honey, arugula, and pecorino toscano. Brunch goers can relish in the decadent Strawberries & Cream French Toast as well as the Poached Eggs & Polenta, while those dining during happy hour or lunch can nosh on two variations of Garlic Knot Sliders – Sicilian Meatball and Chicken Pesto – in addition to sandwiches, salads, pizzas and more. Entrée highlights include the house specialty Bolognese and Spicy Rigatoni Vodka pastas, as well as the Grilled Branzino, Pork Milanese, and Chicken Scarpariello, a nostalgic Italian dish made with sweet Italian sausage, piquillo pepper, fingerling potato, and chicken jus.

Be sure to leave room for dessert, as “can’t miss” sweets include the signature Brookie Sundae, classic Tiramisu, and the highly requested Hazelnut Torta made with house-made nutella, candied hazelnut, and salted caramel gelato. Complete the meal with craft cocktails like the Cacio de Pepe Dirty Martini, inventive zero-proof options like the Just Peachy, or a selection from the extensive wine list featuring familiar favorites and wines brought in from Italy and around the world.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are available at northitalia.com powered by OpenTable. Guests can enjoy takeout, online ordering, and delivery via DoorDash.

Lunch | Mondays – Fridays from 11:30am – 4:00pm
Dinner | Sundays – Thursdays from 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Dinner | Fridays – Saturdays from 4:00pm – 11:00pm
Brunch | Saturdays – Sundays from 10:30am – 4:00pm
Happy Hour | 3:00pm – 6:00pm, exclusively at bar + high top tables

ABOUT NORTH ITALIA

North Italia was conceived by Fox Restaurant Concepts founder Sam Fox in Arizona in 2002. Since then, the neighborhood Italian restaurant has expanded to 45+ locations across the U.S. Using only the season’s best ingredients, North Italia’s chefs create a variety of modern Italian dishes, including pastas made from scratch daily, hand-tossed pizzas like the classic Margherita or fan-favorite The Pig, and savory lunch and dinner entrees like the Chicken Parmesan and Seared Sea Scallops that deliver flavors that go above and beyond the expected. Complementing North Italia’s food menu is a full-bodied wine and beer list accompanied by an array of handcrafted cocktails, such as the Sicilian Margarita and Pomegranate Mule. For more information, visit northitalia.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

bread & Butter northitaliameridian@welovebreadandbutter.com