New American Restaurants near Meridian, ID

“Brian is the best!!! We dine at the Yard House often and are always happy but today took the cake. Brian kept our drinks full with a smile on his face. Not an easy feat since I drink water like it's going out of style. He even noticed my husband's order and offered a suggestion for next time that we will absolutely be back for. We really couldn't ask for a better person to help us enjoy a night without the kids!“

“Just went to Kona again today 7/27/22, this place is awesome- they have best gluten free items. my favorite salads- so YUM Ian ( our server) was superb everytime i am in Meridian i come to Kona“

“Service and food were fantastic. Jessica and Kyle were amazing. The checked often to see if we needed anything and if everything was as we wanted it. The chef is amazing. The salmon and cod were perfectly cooked.“

“Houston TX Hot Chicken ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Houston TX Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant that claims to offer “the freshest, healthiest and hottest Texas Hot Chicken sandwiches in the world.” Founded in 2020 by Houston Crosta and Edmond Barseghian, the original location is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Co-founder Barseghian states, “Our brand is Texas hot chicken – the sauce is sweeter and more savory than Nashville.” Despite the branding, this business has no connection to Texas; it is named after co-founder, Houston Crosta. KM and I visited Houston TX Hot Chicken in Meridian on 10/4/23, as part of a Yelp Elite event. We both got a complimentary Original Hot Chicken sandwich meal combo, plus a chicken tender and beverage of choice. The restaurant has high ceilings with exposed duct work, which gives it an industrial vibe. There are cool counter tops lit from beneath, which change color. There is a good amount of what appears to be light wood paneling along the walls, with some large, bold red images on part of a wall and the bathroom doors. The décor has a modern, youthful vibe. The combination of the most comfortable seating I’ve encountered in a fast/casual restaurant of it’s kind, indoor AND outdoor/patio dining, and great music played at a reasonable volume, gives the sense Houston TX Hot Chicken is trying to appear to a broader customer base than some of the other hot chicken joints I’ve visited locally, which is much appreciated. The service from start to end was EXCELLENT! The employees seemed genuinely happy to see us, and very sincere in their offer to answer questions etc. We also got to meet the GM Jason, who was very personable and a wealth of information. KM ordered the Strawberry Hibiscus House Lemonade, which you can upgrade to a Slushy for $1. I tried a taste. We both thought it was pretty good. I got Diet Pepsi. It had good carbonation. The Spice Levels from mildest to hottest are: No Spice, Honey Butter, Mild, Medium, Spicy, Liftoff, and Houston We Have a Problem. Ordering the latter requires you to sign a waiver. KM ordered a Mild Original Hot Chicken sandwich, and a Honey Butter chicken tender. I ordered a Medium Original Hot Chicken sandwich, and a Spicy chicken tender. There are 8 sauces to choose from, 4 of which are made in house daily. We got one of each of the ones made in house daily: House, Cheese, Cilantro, and Caesar. KM and I both LOVED our Original Hot Chicken sandwiches! KM doesn’t like spicy food as much as I do. She enjoyed both Mild and Honey Butter, though she didn’t feel she could really taste the Honey Butter flavoring in her tender. I loved both the Medium and Spicy, but next time I would get a Spicy sandwich and maybe try a Liftoff tender. The Halal chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I don’t normally care for sweet sauces such as the House, but it paired perfectly with the Spicy flavor of my sandwich. The cole slaw was good. I really liked the Brioche bun; KM would have preferred an old-school Sesame Seed Hamburger Bun. The pickles were good. Each order included a container of House sauce. Houston TX Hot Chicken serves high quality Lamb Weston Concertina cut French fries. Concertina cut is “a modern take on classic crinkle cuts with deeper, crispier grooves and ridges. Crispy grooves have more edges that provide satisfying extra crunch. Thick cuts are sturdier and are less prone to breaking than thinner fries.” In my opinion, Lamb Weston French fries are the best premade fries you can buy, but they are hard to find. I appreciate that Houston TX Hot Chicken’s attention to detail regarding the use of high quality ingredients includes the type of chicken they use, as well as the quality of French fries they serve. The only thing I didn’t like about the fries is I think they are lightly seasoned with Honey Butter flavored spice. I like sweet flavors as part of a dessert, but I don’t care for them in an entrée. KM didn’t feel the fries were sweet. The average person may not. I’m just extra sensitive to sweet flavors in entrees. Next time, I would ask for the seasoning“

“amazing burgers! the trailer trash is an absolute must have along with incredible service“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and an extra ⭐️ for Lucy!)
We were seated immediately, and the food was delicious. Best part was our server, Lucy! She was on top of everything from start to finish and clearly had our entire experience in mind. Her helpful suggestions made the meal even better. Lucy deserves 6 out of 5 stars!“

“Cannot say enough about this awesome place! Food was excellent and our server, Cory, was exceptional. Our first time here and we will definitely be back and recommend to everyone.“

“The food is amazing!!! Best burgers in town. The customer service top notch. 🤌🏽

Shout out to the young man who took our payment and handed us our food. It's not too often you get such great service.

The staff all deserve a round of applause 👏🏽

P.S. it's okay to tell jokes that aren't that funny. The fact that you brought a smile to a customer means more than you know. 💅“

“The Local ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Local in Boise is “a neighborhood Eatery and Wine Pub, offering live music and rotating artists.” They also have a dog, friendly patio and a Dog menu. MW and I visited during Happy Hour, which is Monday through Friday from 3 PM to 5 PM. We ordered a mix of items off of the happy hour menu and the regular menu. We started with Hurricane Popcorn - A Hawaiian favorite - with Nori Furikaki and Japanese rice crackers. It was very flavorful and unlike any popcorn I’ve ever had before. This is a unique menu items The Local is known for. We ordered two side Caesar salads. I like that it had homemade croutons, but it needed a little more more dressing.  We shared an order of Carnitas Street Tacos, to which we added 1 extra taco. The pork was tender, but the tacos were pretty bland. We shared an order of Smash Sliders - 3 smash burgers using our own custom burger blend from Porterhouse in Eagle, with classic American cheese. They were tasty. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a photo! We shared two desserts: Berry Crisp - Blackberry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream. The berry crisp was excellent! Crème Brûlée - Simple and delicious vanilla crème brulee. The crème brûlée was good, but not great. The texture wasn’t as creamy as it should’ve been. We visited early on a weekday, so we didn’t get to hear any live music, but we pretty much had the place to ourselves until towards the end of our visit. Overall, the food was good, but not great. However, they do have a bigger menu than most wine bars and they allow dogs on the patio. The Dog Menu looks excellent! The Local has a nice Wine Menu, as well as several local beers on tap. If you’re looking for a nice wine bar with a neighborhood pub vibe, The Local is worth considering. I would like to return and try their Pepe’s Famous Fish Tacos. The pictures of their flatbread look excellent too. * The Local is wheelchair accessible. Recommended!“

“I have to give Dylan credit amazing server in a lot of fun. We had some strange cheese appetizer that I would’ve literally thousand pieces of if I could get away with it. My main course was fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. I find myself eating a lot of the bread too. Lol please please please very great option for lunch. Affordable how are you my company? Enjoy the side salad with soup and I really had to tell you, you should order the nitro cold brew with cream if you need to wake yourself up. Again, compliments to the service, and the amazing layout of this restaurant I’ve been away from Boise for 15 years, in a very pleased to see some of the new additions as well as an eagle Cheers! Thanks again !“

“Live nearby so decided to come here instead of Black Bear Diner because that place was a wreck last time we went in. Surprisingly the food was better here. At least the servers were smiling and it seemed like an overall positive vibe. Me and the boys will be back.“

“Great bands! Great food and drinks! Plenty of dance floor and tables.“

“The Sapphire Room, enveloped in a dark, intimate ambiance, offered a mesmerizing evening, particularly accentuated by the live performance of the Apollo Trio, whose jazzy melodies permeated the space, creating a vibrant yet cozy environment. The soft, sapphire-hued lighting gently illuminated the room, crafting a serene and somewhat enchanting backdrop to our night. While our initial visit only allowed us to explore the drinks and dessert, owing to a pre-show dinner elsewhere, the menu hinted at a world of culinary delights that piqued our interest. Our shared Crème Brûlée cheesecake was a delightful endnote, harmonizing creamy and caramelized flavors in a decadent dance on our palates. As we observed the hearty, seemingly sumptuous portions being served to neighboring tables, we mentally bookmarked a future dinner at this venue. The small, inviting dance floor, nestled amidst the tables, offered a spirited space for patrons to immerse themselves in the rhythmic beats, becoming one with the music. The Sapphire Room, with its blend of live, soulful music, and a promising menu, not only provided a feast for our ears but also teased a future culinary adventure that we eagerly anticipate exploring during subsequent visits. A truly charming venue for an immersive, melodious evening.“

“It is a great place to relax and catch up with friends.“

“Hands down one of my favorite spots in Boise Idaho! The atmosphere is always inviting, with friendly staff and delicious food to match. I can't get enough of their daily soups, made daily from scratch and full of flavor. And if you're looking for a Sunday hangout, their brunch with mimosas is the perfect way to kick off the day, especially before catching some Sunday football on their big screens. Highly recommend for a great time any day of the week!“

“I had been waiting over 5 minutes to place an order. Another person stepped up b next to me and was served immediately. Terrible service!“