Amidst the fast-food chains and big-name restaurants rotating throughout Edwardsville, an authentic, home-town gem found its way to the downtown Edwardsville scene.
Ed’s Delicatessen, a locally owned sandwich restaurant and bar, moved into 222 Main Street during the summer, and it finally opened in September.
The restaurant did not generate as much attention as other new restaurants such as Mio Osteria or even 222 Artisan Bakery, the bakery and coffee shop that moved out of Ed’s current location.
But the focus should be on Ed’s and its fresh menu and products.
Decoration & Atmosphere
When I first walked into the restaurant, I quickly noticed the warm atmosphere of the dim lighting, soft music blurring into the background of quiet conversation and the sweet smell of fresh baked bread was a definite contrast to the harsh, cold winds outside.
The interior of the building was clean and neatly furnished, with a sizable bar and a few tables lining the wall. The pictures hung on the walls had modern art with a color palate compatible with the restaurant’s muted blue seats and wooden tables.
The music was at a reasonable volume, adding the right amount of background noise to the clinking of dishes and polite chatter from the surrounding tables and contributing to the modern and polished feel to the restaurant.
The floors have all been re-done since Artisan’s departure, and the walls all painted, smoothing out the previous bumps and replacing the overall atmosphere with a less chaotic but authentic one.
Service
Our waiter was friendly, but didn’t hover over the table, leaving my family and I to enjoy our meal and each other’s company. He informed us of the specials for the night, and he informed us of the daily rotation of specials, elaborating on the sandwich variety.
The wait for our food was not too long, considering there were a few people at the large bar and two tables besides ours filled.
There were about seven or eight workers back in the kitchen and one bartender, making our wait around 10 to 15 minutes before we got out food.
Food
We got a few dishes for the table to try, and each one was a savory success. The wedge salad was a fresh start to the evening, the crisp lettuce drizzled in a peppery blue cheese dressing with crunchy bits of chopped bacon and fresh tomato. The salad was better than I anticipated, and it gave me high expectations (that were soon met) for the rest of the evening.
The chicken salad sandwich was near perfect, and even comparable to Chicken Salad Chick or a classic, homemade salad. The bun was flaky and buttery, mimicking the texture of a croissant, but with a lighter weight to the bread itself. The chicken salad was delicious and creamy (without painfully dry pieces of chicken), with bits of bacon and aged cheddar to complement the salad’s seasoning, creating a colorful blend of savory flavors.
Ed’s grilled cheese was a refreshing edition of a classic sandwich. The bread was toasted to perfection, with an exemplary crunch accompanying its flawless golden-brown shade – no charring in sight. The cheese was a white cheddar, a burst of tangy flavor that worked well with the choice and texture of the bread.
The special sandwich of the night included beef, chopped cheese, sauteed onions and tomatoes on hoagie bread, and our waiter was right for describing it as a “chopped cheeseburger.” The sandwich was loaded with the toppings, and the bread was an interesting choice, but the sandwich was still a success amongst the table.
Our waiter also recommended the Roast Beef sandwich and the Reuben sandwich, some of the most ordered sandwiches at Ed’s
Dessert
We then ordered a few desserts to pass around, including a chocolate chip cookie, flourless chocolate cake, and a cannoli.
Our waiter recommended the chocolate chip cookie, claiming it was one of his favorite things on the menu, and he was right. The cookie was lightly salted, and it wasn’t overly sweet, making it a definite winner of Ed’s desserts.
The cannoli was peanut butter and jelly flavored, and it was outstanding. I am not the biggest fan of cannolis, but the crisp shell paired with the classic PB and J taste knocked it out of the park for me.
The flourless chocolate cake was also a nice addition to the dessert menu, and the heavy richness of the chocolate was lightened slightly by the whipped cream topping. The cake also had a notable presentation, with the cream piped beautifully onto the slice.
Price
For four people, the cost was about $100. For an average cost of about $23 dollars per person, I would say the price is acceptable, but this is no “steal.” Ed’s serves high-quality food and owns a top-notch bar as well.
Ed’s is a perfect restaurant for a meeting, date or even just a casual dinner. The outcome of your experience may be a bit pricy, but it’s worth it for the authentic, fresh food it has to offer.