54th Street Grill in Edwardsville, Illinois: A Fine Dining Experience

Just when I thought I was familiar with nearly every major bar-and-grill chain in the area, 54th Street Grill opened in Edwardsville, Illinois. If you've never heard of it, that could be because there are just 14 branches as of December 2007. Based on my experience, however, I expect that we'll be seeing many more in the near future.

Positioned near the Edwardsville Dierbergs and Best Buy, 54th Street Grill is conveniently located in the middle of a major shopping area. Unlike many similar restaurants, however, 54th Street Grill had almost no wait on a Saturday evening. I suspect that was due to the fact that the restaurant's name is not yet well-known.

My initial impression of 54th Street Grill was that it looked just like every other casual dining bar and grill restaurant chain. The walls were covered in random memorabilia and prints, the floors were covered in a retro tile pattern, and servers wore simple black uniforms with restaurant t-shirts. From this point on, my expectations were low. Despite my pessimism, we were greeted warmly upon arrival and seated in less than five minutes.

Our orders were taken quickly by a waitress with surprisingly in-depth knowledge of the menu. She was able to recommend a taco salad that my dining companion enjoyed, despite his own reluctance to try it. I opted for their 7 ounce sirloin steak with Gringo Dip as an appetizer. As we waited for our food, the server brought out warm bread that would alone be enough to draw me back through their doors. The bread was a deep brown mini-loaf, served fresh from the oven with a side of honey butter.

The primary difference between 54th Street Grill is that much of the food is made fresh on site. In addition to adding freshness, this also makes it easier for the restaurant to accommodate special requests.

When we received our meals, we realized that we had definitely ordered far too much food. Most people with moderate to normal appetites will probably find that a single entree is better suited to 2. All the same, the food was delicious and worth taking home in a box. The server was happy to provide both boxes and additional containers to hold extras like butter and dip.

The only downside of the evening was the bill, which was $39 for two adults with entrees, an appetizer, and soft drinks. This is understandable, given the fact that most of the food is fresh, but it certainly makes it a little more difficult to enjoy on a regular basis. My dining companion and I will be back, but not as frequently as we might like.