‘Thank you!’ Beloved California chain returns, opens Meridian restaurant. Idaho is stoked
It’s pie time, Meridian.
Returning to Idaho after a five-year absence, Marie Callender’s opened a new restaurant and bakery Sept. 15 at 2145 E. Fairview Ave. at The Shops at Pine 43. The California-based chain exited the Gem State in 2018 when its Boise store closed after 36 years.
Smaller than traditional Marie Callender’s locations, this store is a prototype for the brand, franchise co-owner Kristin Baker told the Idaho Statesman. It’s “fast-casual style with a limited menu,” she explained earlier this year. “We like to use the slogan, ‘A fresh take on a classic restaurant.’ We’re just downsizing, basically.”
Limited or not, don’t be shocked by borderline ecstasy about the restaurant — at least from comfort food fans. The Boise shutdown was “heartbreaking,” as a longtime shift manager put it at the time. Thus far, the Meridian location has a perfect 5.0 rating on Google reviews. A typical comment on its newly created Facebook page? “Our peach pie was wonderful. Thank you for bringing Marie Callender’s back to all of us!”
Inside the Meridian store, a display case is filled with those famous pies. Full sizers range from $22 (for standard options such as pumpkin or apple) to $26 (for specialty treats including key lime and Kahlua cream cheese). Slices range from $5 to $7.
The lunch and dinner menu includes burgers and sandwiches ($14) that come with fries, salad or soup. (The Grilled Ham Stack sammy is “sooooo good,” a Google reviewer says.) Pot pies are $15, and you can either feast on a full one or choose the trio option: a “petite” pot pie, Caesar salad and a slice of pie.
There also are salads ($13.50), chili and soups ($5 cup, $9 bowl, served with Marie Callender’s “famous golden cornbread”), a whole bacon quiche ($17) and a couple of kid choices (grilled cheese or chicken strips, each $6).
Marie Callender’s plans to offer beer and wine in the future. For those hoping to catch the end of outdoor dining season in Boise, there’s a patio, too.
A household name for many decades, the Marie Callender’s chain has decreased in reach since its heyday. Today, 25 locations remain. All are in California with the exception of three in Nevada and one in Utah, along with the new spot in Idaho, according to the Marie Callender’s website.
In Meridian, Marie Callender’s is operating under temporary soft-opening hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturday — with pie sales until 7 p.m. It’s closed Sundays.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Nov. 2, Baker said.
