A new restaurant may soon open at The Village at Meridian.
A zoning review application filed with the City of Meridian shows that a new Italian concept plans to renovate and take over the space of the former Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar.
North Italia’s menu includes pizza, handmade pasta and mains like chicken parmesan and branzino. Pasta dishes include braised short rib lumache with parmesan fonduta, horseradish and arugula.
The restaurant offers an extensive menu of cocktails, many with Mediterranean-inspired flavors. North Italia also offers seasonal menus and serves wine and beer.
“It’s a restaurant we’ve wanted to bring to The Village at Meridian for some time. It’s one of my personal favorite restaurants. It just has such a great atmosphere and great food and it’s really going to bring a lot of energy to The Village,” said Hugh Crawford, vice president of property management at CenterCal.
The chain currently operates in 14 states and is owned by The Cheesecake Factory.
“North Italia is a modern take on Italian cuisine in the upscale casual dining segment,” states Cheesecake Factory Incorporated’s website. “North Italia strives to be a modern Italian restaurant with a neighborhood atmosphere, offering classic Italian favorites with variations prepared fresh daily. Contemporary design and decor elements, including large dining rooms, high ceilings and open kitchen layouts…”
Previous filings with the City of Meridian showed plans to divide the Twigs space into two different retail units, splitting an existing 6,197 square foot tenant space into two suites. The filings indicated one space would be 6,077 square feet and the other 1,120 square feet. North Italia appears to be planning to occupy the 6,077 square foot space.
“North Italia is excited to join the Village of Meridian community in 2025 – our first location in Idaho! We look forward to sharing more news about our restaurant as we get closer to opening,” a representative for the restaurant said in an email.
As previously reported by BoiseDev, the Village developer, CenterCal declined to renew Twigs’ lease this summer, leading to the restaurant’s closure. Twigs was one of the original businesses that opened with The Village in 2013.
At the time, Crawford told BoiseDev that an “exciting” restaurant concept was planned for the space.
