Edo Squid

This little unassuming Italian restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a Stuffy's sub shop near VCU.  Walking up the narrow stairway reveals casual but chic atmosphere. Seating arrangement is very intimate which reminds me of very good hole in the wall Japanese restaurants.

There are very few Italian restaurants that actually have balsamic vinegar and good olive oil sitting on every table.

Good bread is served after you order your food.  It would be a lot better if they were warmed up a bit.

Dipping them in olive oil and vinegar is just fantastic.

Started with couple of appetizer salads.  Squid, white beans, and arugula. The squid is cooked to perfection, not slimy not chewy just right.  Fresh arugula tossed in this very delicious sauce, tasted like garlic, olive oil and maybe some lemon juice.

Look at those tasty tentacles.

Duck Salad, no not duck breast but an even better cut, the leg, dark meat always tastes better.  The duck is poached in it's own fat, yeah it's exciting stuff.  It's slightly salty but when eating with the arugula greens, raisins, and cheese (looked and tasted like Gorgonzola) it was perfect.

I pulled this leg apart using just a spoon, this is how tender it was.

The main course, broccoli rabe, garlic, olive oil with ricotta and Parmigiano. With pasta dishes you get a choice of penne or spaghetti.  The ricotta cheese coated al dente pasta balanced out nicely with the slightly bitter broccoli rabe.  Toasted pine nuts and olive oil brings everything together nicely.

A shot of it on my plate!

Dessert, tiramisu, you have to save room for this.  It's the best tiramisu I've ever had.  It's not too sweet with a slight hint of bitterness from the cocoa all soaked in lots of rum.  If you didn't drink alcohol with your dinner this will give you a buzz.

There pastas are so good even the Elite Runners running the Monument Ave. 10K are carb loading there before the big race.

Overall, fantastic, fresh, reasonably priced Italian food.  There is a list of specials on the wall daily.  The specials on the wall can be pricey but trust me, they are all very very good and you will not leave hungry.  I will do another review of Edo Squid with entrée.  They have fantastic seafood and interesting dishes like veal tongue, sweetbreads, shad roe, etc

Some Tips on eating at Edo Squid:

• Parallel park on North Harrison or West Franklin. It's free to park on weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays, paid meter before 6. Meters are 30 minutes per 25 cents up to 2 hours. 

• You can walk in for dinner without reservation if you get there before 6:30 p.m. After 6:30 you probably want to call and make a reservation. 

• If you are going to split the check, bring cash.  They don't split check very well.

• They serve family style when you have a party of 5 or more.  Don't worry with family style, there is plenty of food to go around.  The reason they want you to order family style is because, their kitchen is very small with limited amount of burners.

411 North Harrison Street
Richmond, VA 23220-3614

Rating: ●●●●●