This ‘kickass’ Meridian restaurant just opened a Boise location. The plan? Up to 5 more
Forget Little Italy. Tommy’s Italian is thinking big.
After debuting in Meridian last fall, the locally owned concept has expanded to West Boise — with an eye on future growth. Tommy’s Italian opened its second location May 28 at 13601 W. McMillan Road, suite 104. It took over the former home of Koco Bell, a Korean restaurant that recently closed.
Tommy’s is a fast-casual spinoff of il Sugo, a traditional seated restaurant in Meridian. Essentially, it’s “il Sugo’s kickass younger brother,” owner Grant Rosendahl told the Idaho Statesman last summer.
Little bro’s plans aren’t small. Rosendahl hopes to open several Tommy’s Italian locations in Idaho, he said.
“I’ve always had the thought that if one does OK, then maybe the second will do better,” he explained in a recent interview. “Then the third.”
The Tommy’s premise is similar to il Sugo’s: choose your sauce, choose your pasta. But Tommy’s is a counter-order, scoop-and-serve concept. Working your way down the line at Tommy’s is sort of like ordering at Chipotle or Subway.
The menu — available for online orders at tommysitaliantogo.com — is anchored by four signature pasta dishes costing $12.95. That includes the classic-style Tommy’s Original: linguine pasta, bolognese, two meatballs and grated parmesan.
Extra-hungry diners are able to upgrade with add-ons that cost three or four bucks — whether its fried or roasted chicken tenders on top of pasta, or extra meatballs. There also are a couple of salads, desserts and a children’s menu. Prioritizing convenience, everything is packaged in takeout-friendly containers.
The food isn’t cooked on site. Instead, il Sugo, 1407 W. McMillan Road, serves as a commissary for both Tommy’s locations. That’s good news for customers who love the delicious house-made sauces concocted at il Sugo’s kitchen.
The Meridian location of Tommy’s is dominated by on-the-go customers. “Probably 80% of our business is takeout,” Rosendahl said. But he’s anticipating a slightly different vibe at the newest store. “It’s just such a more walkable area,” he said. “We’re right down the street from Centennial High School. I think we’re going to see a lot more dine-in, see a lot more families.”
While the two Tommy’s restaurants settle into a rhythm, Rosendahl plans to pause expansion for six months to a year. But after that? Nampa, Eagle or another Boise store are possibilities, he said.
“Like I said, I want to do five to seven of these things. ... I want to give it an honest shot. And one location isn’t an honest shot, especially with a small chain like that,” Rosendahl said.