The Village at Meridian has a new pair of neighbors on Longwing Lane, and they could not be more different. One is a pastry palace where you pick your treats with tongs. The other is a lemon-yellow health spot where the kale salad is a main character.
Both are brand new to Idaho. Both opened this fall within a few weeks of each other. And they sit practically next door: Suite 100 and Suite 150. [1] So naturally, the Man of Meridian started plotting a "salad first, croissant second" afternoon.
I haven't made it to either one yet. Before I go, I read the menus, the opening coverage and the early reviews. Here's the cheat sheet.
Paris Baguette: Idaho's First
Where: 3395 E. Longwing Ln., Suite 150, at The Village at Meridian
Hours: 6 a.m.–9 p.m., seven days a week
Opened: Grand opening Friday, Oct. 30, after a ribbon cutting the day before [2]
Despite the name, Paris Baguette isn't French. It's a South Korean bakery café chain with more than 4,000 locations worldwide and 300-plus in North America. The company says it wants to hit 1,000 in the U.S. and Canada by 2030. Somehow it took until now to reach Idaho. The Meridian café belongs to franchise owner Jay Kim, a military and law enforcement veteran. He told Idaho News 6 he looked at other sites but felt The Village was "the right introduction to the people here." [2]
How it works
If you've never been to one, here's the move. Grab a tray and a pair of tongs at the door, then pick out your own breads and pastries from the cases. That self-serve setup is a signature of Korean bakeries. Cakes, sandwiches and drinks are usually ordered at the counter.
What to try
Croissants and filled pastries. Sweet and savory pastries are the heart of the menu. [2]
Milk bread. The soft, pre-sliced Japanese-style loaves are a cult favorite.
A cake slice or a whole cake. The display cases are famous for "fancy cakes." The brand's Silky Roll Cake is in the Guinness World Records as the world's best-selling roll cake.
Coffee and handcrafted drinks, plus sandwiches and salads if you want an actual meal.
And yes, true to the name, actual baguettes.
Pro tip: Early reviewers say the place was packed in the first days. One Google reviewer warned to "expect a wait and limited availability, especially for seasonal stuff." If you want the best selection, the 6 a.m. opening is your friend.
Flower Child: The Healthy Counterweight
Where: 3395 E. Longwing Ln., Suite 100, at The Village at Meridian [1]
Hours: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving Day. [1]
Opened: Oct. 13 [3]
Flower Child is a fast-casual chain with a cheerful, flower-power vibe. This is its 46th restaurant and its first in the Pacific Northwest. You order at the counter. There's a patio with umbrellas and string lights, and the menu covers bowls, salads, wraps and "pick a protein + 2 sides" plates. [3][1] Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are all clearly marked. Just know the kitchen itself isn't gluten-free. [1]
What to order
Prices are from Flower Child's posted Meridian menu: [1]
Mother Earth bowl ($12.45): ancient grains, sweet potato, portobello, avocado, broccoli pesto and hemp seed. It's vegan.
Miso Glazed Salmon ($17.95): trumpet mushroom, steamed vegetables, cucumber sunomono and brown rice. Local creators who previewed the restaurant tried this one. [3]
The 1924 wrap ($13.75): grilled chicken with avocado Caesar dressing.
Starters: Green Chile Queso with chickpea chorizo ($8.95) or Avocado Hummus ($8.25).
Dessert: The Lemon Olive Oil Cake ($3.75) or the Double Chocolate Almond Brownie ($4.75). The Boise Socialite says both are gluten-free and "so good." [3]
Drink: Boise Socialite's top pick was the Rose Petal Lemonade. There's also kombucha on tap, beer, wine and seasonal sangria. [3][1]
Bowls and salads mostly fall between $11 and $19, and protein add-ons run $4.75 to $7.75. [1] The kids' menu is $8.95 for 12 and under. [1] Early buzz is strong. One Boise radio host called it "so so SO good" and said you'll have to go back just to work through the menu.
Which One Is for You?
Early riser or coffee person: Paris Baguette. It opens at 6 a.m.
Lunch with a friend who's vegan, gluten-free or "just doing salads this month": Flower Child.
Bringing dessert to a holiday party: a Paris Baguette cake.
Shopping day at The Village: Do both. Have lunch at Flower Child, then pick up something with the tongs on your way out. You walked around the mall, so you earned it.
The Verdict (So Far)
The Village keeps landing Idaho firsts, and these two cover both ends of the "treat yourself" spectrum. I'm going in with a plan: Mother Earth bowl first, then a croissant for the drive home. Balance.
Been to either one yet? Tell me what I have to order. I'll report back once I've done my own taste test.
— Man of Meridian
