restaurant listings /meridian Blue Sky BagelS—Hot Asiago bagels, plus a variety of other flavors ranging from plain to garlic to sunflower seed, plus soups, morning egg combos and lunchtime sandwiches—the real steal is the veggie sandwich stacked high with all the roughage you want (including avocado). 3161 E. Fairview Ave., Ste. 130, 208-855-9113. blueskybagels.com. Bogie’S Bar and grill—This eatery is part of Lakeview Golf Course and sports and array of appetizers and sandwiches to get you to the next green. 4200 W. Talamore Blvd., 208-288-3286. lakeviewgc.com. Brew 30—This speedway-adjacent pub features a menu that includes intriguing specialties like the Get ‘Shroomed burger and Taco Wagon, in addition to sandwiches, wraps and the fried-cheese-and-nacho-type pub fare. 501 S. Main St., 208-898-9470. BuSted Shovel—It’s a biker bar that’s not just for bikers. This downtown Meridian staple offers a full bar and serves an array of pub-style food. Check out the slew of choppers and hogs lined up out front any evening throughout the summer. The bacon cheddar ranch burger is purportedly the best burger in town, but if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, the menu is four pages of tempting pub food from fingersteaks and chicken strips to fish and chips and deli sandwiches. 704 Main St., 208-288-2217. bustedshovel.com. CheerleaderS SportS Bar and grill—The family friendly sports pub is locally owned and although patrons aren’t required to wear sports-related jerseys, it helps them blend in better with the regulars and the servers who all seem to resemble members of a team loaded with spirit. The slick wraparound marble bar is a cool place to drink, but the real draw is taking a look under the hood of a 1968 Shelby. Sit at a four top or in one of the straightbacked wooden booths that help with proper posture while watching the game on your own personal TV. If stumped as to whether to down one of more than 24 beers on tap or sip on the hard stuff, go for a pint of the High Life for $1. The chicken club wrap is popular, so is the handmade fish and chips. If the mood strikes for pasta, try the chicken shrimp alfredo. Burgers, tantalizing finger foods and the baby back ribs, available with house raspberry or plain barbecue sauce are all highlights of the menu. The fingersteaks go well with the crispy fries. 3541 N. Eagle Road, 208-939-9209. cheerleaderssbg.com. China wok—This Chinese restaurant boasts an array of favorite foods and a drive-thru, so you can pick up your fried rice without anyone knowing you’re in sweatpants. 993 S. Progress Ave., 208-8551555. chinawokid.com. CorkSCrewS wine Shop and puB— Nothing like a subterranean wine bar in the heart of downtown Meridian to warm up your cold winter nights. This little low-ceiling joint is a low-key hangout for the crowd who likes it wine fine and its music smooth. Plan ahead to be a regular with a punch card: buy 10 bottles or glasses, get one free. 729 N. Main St., 208-888-4049. corkscrews1.com. CurB Bar and grill—This spacious bar features Southwest-style pub food, live music and a big ol’ garage door that opens up to patio seating. 1760 S. Meridian Road, 208-855-0202. curbbarandgrill.com. don diego’S—Festively decorated space serving Jaliscan style enchiladas and sauces from traditional family recipes. 2951 E. Overland Road, 208-855-0645. dondiegosrestaurant.com. el tenampa—Offering authentic and fresh Mexican food. 729 E. First St., 208-8884089.
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epi’S BaSque reStaurant—For topnotch Basque cuisine served in a cozy, homey atmosphere, this is the place. Meals are served family style, so sides can be a surprise, but always a pleasant one. Dessert is just decadent. 1115 N. Main St., 208-884-0142. expreSS Cafe—This is best known for being a breakfast diner. The cafe is also open for lunch. 400 E. Fairview Ave., 208888-3745. fieSta guadalaJara—Traditional Mexican restaurant specializing in tacos, burritos and enchiladas. A full menu tempts you to choose a not-so-common dish. 704 E. Fairview Ave., 208-884-0161. fiestasguadalajara.com. firehouSe puB and grill—Beer. Meat. ESPN. 20 beers on tap and cocktails. What else can you ask for? 1767 W. Franklin Road, 208-846-9535. firehousepubmeridian.com. flatBread Community oven—Flatbread Meridian opened with a slightly different feel than its Bown Crossing cousin. This location has ringside seats in downtown Meridian with garage doors that roll open in the summer, countertops made from recycled glass and live music every Wednesday all year. Wine and flatbread are definitely the menu items of choice here, with 22 boutique wines by the glass and a 25-cent donation from the sale of every flatbread going to the Idaho Foodbank. Stone-fired pizza, pasta and sandwiches served up from the community oven. The Neapolitan pizzeria prepares the food with fresh ingredients daily. 830 N. Main St., Ste. A (Generations Plaza), 208-288-0969. flatbreadpizza.com. fuSion aSian grill—Serving Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean in Meridian. 3161 E. Fairview Ave., 208-855-5930. gelato Cafe—Gelato, coffee, sushi, pizza, sandwiches, gyros, martinis ... pick your poison. The hole-in-the-wall cafe—sleek and mint green on the inside, strip mall on the outside—is deceptive from the parking lot. Sip on unusual martini combinations, all of which include a scoop of gelato. We recommend the Wet Dream, a chocolate, Baileys and vodka-enriched rapture. 2053 E. Fairview Ave., 208-846-8410. gelatocafeofidaho.net. gino’S italian reStaurant—If you’re going to name a restaurant after yourself, you want the food to be good. Gino, as owner and chef, has made sure it’s superb. This little bistro offers fine Italian dining and wonderful, friendly, bend-over-backward service. 3015 W. McMillan Road, Ste. 108, 208-887-7710. goodwood BarBeCue Company—If it can be barbecued, chances are, Goodwood has it. If barbecue sauce isn’t your thing, it has steak, fish and chicken, too, as well as a healthy wine and cocktail selection. 1140 N. Eagle Road, 208-884-1021. goodwoodbbq.com. groove Coffee, eSpreSSo & wine Cafe—Enjoy coffee and espresso drinks, snacks, including confections from Zeppole bakery and a slew of sandwiches, or unwind with a glass of wine while you get in the groove. 1800 N. Locust Grove, 208-8906128. groovecoffee.com. harry’S Bar and grill—Harleys, burgers, beer and pool; send us to heaven, but don’t call us a fool. Whether you’re in for the grub or the beer, they know how to serve it up right. The original Harry’s has re-opened in new digs. The walls are full of Harry paraphenilia from Dirty Harry posters to larger-than-life size smiles on Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally). The menu is a collection of burgers, a huge list of apps and just enough salads to make you feel guilty. 2032 E. Overland Road, 208888-9868.
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