Yo, meatball! This Italian restaurant’s ‘kickass younger brother’ just opened in Meridian
If you live in Meridian, you may have savored pasta at il Sugo Italian Kitchen.
Now prepare to scarf down food at il Sugo’s fast-casual sibling.
Tommy’s Italian opened Oct. 8 at 2976 E. Overland, near the intersection of Eagle and Overland roads.
Basically, Tommy’s is “il Sugo’s kickass younger brother,” owner Grant Rosendahl told the Idaho Statesman this summer.
The premise is similar to il Sugo’s: choose your sauce, choose your pasta. But rather than a traditional restaurant setting, Tommy’s is a counter-order, “scoop-and-serve” concept. Working your way down the counter at Tommy’s is sort of like ordering at Chipotle or, in a local comparison, Paddles Up Poke.
Food isn’t cooked on site. Instead, il Sugo, 1407 W. McMillan Road, serves as Tommy’s commissary. That’s good news for customers who love the delicious, housemade sauces created at il Sugo.
At this “stretch Italian” concept, Rosendahl said, customers are able to customize and upgrade with extra goodies that cost two or three bucks — whether its fried or roasted chicken tenders on top of pasta, or a side Caesar salad.
And everything is packaged in takeout-friendly containers.
The menu — available for online orders at tommysitaliantogo.com — is anchored by four signature pasta dishes costing $12.95.
The Tommy’s Original is linguine, bolognese, two meatballs and grated parmesan — and a slice of garlic toast, which comes with all entrees. Another option? Chicken Fettucine Alfredo: fettucine, roasted chicken, creamy alfredo sauce and parmesan.
The Half & Half is divided between fettucine alfredo and bolognese, with two fried chicken tenders and parmesan. And the Chicken Parm is penne pasta, creamy pesto sauce, two fried chicken tenders, marinara and parmesan.
Tommy’s also offers salads and a kids menu.
“This Tommy’s Italian is kind of the future of where we’re going to go with our business,” said Rosendahl, who opened the first il Sugo in downtown Boise before closing it to focus on the Meridian expansion.
As for Tommy’s name? It’s named after Rosendahl’s infant son. If the concept is a success, Rosendahl said, he hopes to develop it into a local chain.
▪ Instagram: @tommysitalian.
