Picture this: you’re craving pasta, but takeout feels too lonely and fancy spots break the bank. You might even glare at your houseplants, muttering about carbonara costs. Before you blame the foliage, remember: great Italian food doesn’t require a loan. Here in Meridian, these 14 spots deliver authentic flavors where you can savor every bite without emptying your wallet.
Bodovino Ristorante
$$ | (208) 887-5369 | WEBSITE
Good vibes don’t mean a damn thing without good food, so pull up a chair and soak in the park views at Bodovino. It’s what they’re inviting you to do anyway as you dig into their mushroom poutine and classico flatbread for $16.
Johnny Carino’s
$$ | (208) 888-7801 | WEBSITE
A classic Italian restaurant in Meridian. For $16 you can get yourself the signature Spicy Romano Chicken and be more satisfied than you’ve been all month. Seriously, if you’ve been craving comfort food, Johnny Carino’s will fill you up. Bonus points because no matter when you arrive, it’s easy to get seated with friendly service.
Caffè Luciano’s
$ | (208) 577-6010 | WEBSITE
Caffè Luciano’s not only serves fantastic Italian classics on their own, but they’ve created some truly memorable dishes that keep us coming back. The lasagna soup? Oh, hello. The flatbread veggie with those perfect meatballs in white sauce? Yes, please bring us another round of that house Chianti. Caffè Luciano’s is an easy place to convince your friends who appreciate good food to gather with you, especially on that beautiful patio by the river.
MARGHERITA PIZZA
$ | (208) 506-6304 | WEBSITE
Stop settling for mediocre pizza and treat yourself to something truly special, because you deserve to experience authentic flavors without worrying about whether you’ll get a soggy crust or bland toppings. That’s why you need Margherita Pizza, where you can eat wood-fired pizza and have yourself a fantastic meal. Have an even better meal if you’re craving comfort food because the restaurant is totally welcoming and spotless.
N.Y. Giant Pizza
$ | (208) 322-0014 | WEBSITE
There’s no place like N.Y. Giant Pizza when you’re looking to feed a crowd on a budget. The main reason for that is their giant 28-inch pizza special – a massive New York-style pie loaded with cheese and perfectly cooked crust for $28.99. Twenty-eight dollars and ninety-nine cents! What a steal. Pizza and value is what you want here anyway.
daVinci’s
$$ | (208) 939-2500 | WEBSITE
DaVinci’s serves Italian favorites in a cozy restaurant that caters to the needs of downtown Eagle. That means a real neighborhood type place where local families and business professionals are all welcome to dine together. Hopefully, only the adults are enjoying the wine pours afterwards. Have you ever watched someone savor the chicken parm? They’re basically in food heaven without the need for anything else.
Chicago Connection – El Dorado
$ | (208) 888-0023 | WEBSITE
Most of the good pizza spots in town aren’t really places you linger and dine. They’re better for a quick takeout or delivery order. But not Chicago Connection. At Chicago Connection, you want to settle into a cozy booth, dine in, and savor your deep dish pizza in their comfortable El Dorado space.
Romio’s Greek & Italian Restaurant
$$ | (208) 658-1550 | WEBSITE
Romio’s is like a cozy family hideaway tucked away in Meridian, which is part of the reason it sometimes flies under the radar. But if you’re looking for a relaxed evening, then a warm restaurant full of fresh pasta and pizza isn’t a bad place to be.
Vincenzo Trattoria
$$ | (208) 853-6292 | WEBSITE
Authentic and delicious Italian food is never a bad idea. We usually like to go to Vincenzo’s and order a few things, but that’s only because we’re excessive and like a little bit of it all. You could also go and get yourself an order of carbonara or lobster fettuccini for $18, and we can assure you the extra $12 are worth it compared to the frozen pasta you might be considering instead.
Louie’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
$ | (208) 884-5200 | WEBSITE
More Italian, because you crave it. Settle into a booth or a cozy table and dive into the classic dishes here. You can’t miss with favorites like their cheese ravioli in meat sauce or the excellent blackened chicken fettuccine, or treat yourself to the clam chowder that’s the best around. Don’t skip the garlic bread if you want the full experience.
Luciano’s Italian Restaurant
$$ | (208) 577-6415 | WEBSITE
Spending too much money at Luciano’s is almost impossible, which is kind of amazing when you consider it’s nice, has top-notch service, and serves fantastic Italian-American food. Mix things up a bit with their standout dishes like fresh eggplant, linguine and clams, cannoli, and decadent chocolate cake.
il Sugo Italian Kitchen
$$ | (208) 297-1419 | WEBSITE
If you swapped the word “pasta” for “pasta” in any classic Italian love song, it would capture this place perfectly. What does that mean for your dinner? Everything, actually. Head to il Sugo for a cozy Italian spot that cares as much about the beautiful atmosphere as they do about the rich, creamy sausage mushroom Alfredo that comes in generous portions for $24.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
$ | (208) 322-3327 | WEBSITE
One of the greatest things about America is that you can always get a relatively affordable Italian meal in a welcoming setting, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant is a family-friendly establishment that serves everything from unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks to kid-friendly options like chocolate milk, cheese pizza, and French fries.
Who needs a fancy night out when you have attentive servers like Bryant and Maren making your visit memorable with personal attention and quick responses to needs.
Sbarro
$ | (208) 972-0699 | WEBSITE
All hail the mall meal. Sbarro is the go-to spot for grabbing a decent, kid-friendly bite. Whether you’re team cheese pizza, team pepperoni, or one of those folks just grabbing a quick slice before hitting the toy stores, it’s hands down one of the most convenient options you can get for $10 or less. The staff is generally nice, and the service is good—especially from those two standout employees on a Thursday night.
Sure, the pizza can sometimes sit out and might not always be fresh, leading to possible disappointment, and that iPad tip default for takeaway isn’t ideal. But for a quick, accessible meal in the mall with wide walkways and an elevator, it gets the job done.