We went the other night for the first time with friends who'd been many times and highly recommended the place. The food was okay, not great. Huge portions, they've got that going for them. But the service was the rudest I have ever seen anywhere in my life, and I've been to Dick's Last Resort. I was absolutely astounded that this place is able to stay in business, treating customers with such disrespect. And it wasn't just one server, it was *three* of them, plus the manager. Our friends ordered an appetizer they've often had before and loved (the braised fennel). It took 40 minutes to come out (not a typo -- that's four-zero, forty), and when it finally did, it was inedible. They politely told our original server that it wasn't prepared properly, and she flat-out told them they were wrong! She didn't taste it, just said they obviously didn't know what it was *supposed* to taste like. They tried to explain that they'd had it -- *there,* at Edo's Squid -- numerous times before, and *knew* what it was supposed to taste like, but she wouldn't listen. She called over another server, who was equally rude, and then a third, and then the manager. All were rude. The rest of the meal, as you can imagine, was a disaster. And when we left, the manager came after us and shouted that we were no longer *ever* welcome back -- as if coming back was the remotest possibility. (By the way, despite all the rudeness, my wife and I tipped 20% anyway, and our friends -- who took the brunt of the bad behavior -- still tipped 10%.) A truly AWFUL experience. Afterward, I private messaged the owner, not wanting to call them out publicly, but didn't even get the courtesy of a response. So, okay, time to warn others of the possibility of this kind of treatment. Enter at your own risk. read more

very quick service, friendly staff, and large portion sizes. arrived at 5:30ish and got sat immediately. read more

Edo's Squid - entrance - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Came here on a Friday night and man was it packed! We had reservations and I highly recommend doing that because the space is small and seating fills up quickly! We came on a day where the high was 96 and you could definitely feel the heat in this restaurant, from the body heat from so many people in a small restaurant to the hot food coming from the kitchen, but overall it was a wonderful experience. We got the squid for the appetizer which was lovely but would have loved a dipping sauce! I got the veal with pasta while the other two people I was with got the pork chops which came with their beans, and soft shell crab with pasta. Overall, the food was so flavorful and thought it plated. My favorites were the beans (surprisingly) and the squid. The pork chops were a little tough in my opinion. Lovely restaurant and staff! Would come again when I get the chance. read more

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Edo's squid is If you know you know. located in the heart of Richmond around VCU so you know parking is a pain here! but no worries they have a parking spot that you can park and thankfully it is not a lot. Whenever I got visit Richmond this is a must stop for me to eat. but!! before you go here make sure you have reservations and don't give up because they are always busy so it is a constant ring and you just need to keep dialing lol. Ambiance: this is located in a 2 story almost like house alike, underneath is a lower end hibachi place and you enter on the side door and go up on this super old stairs lol and you will probably think "what did I get myself into?" once you get on top you will be entering in this very small and dark place, they have small bar, counter and the rest is the dining area. Food: We never had bad food here, last time we were here we ordered family style since we have more than 5 on our party. We got the Calamari, fried oysters, garlic oil olive pasta, tuna steak (which is my favorite), rockfish. ohhh my goodness! everything was on point! The Tuna steak you have to order it raw and the cooks there knows how to prepare it. If you have not been here, do yourself a favor and go make reservation for your dinner and I do believe that they are also open for lunch. read more

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We had the most fabulous meal at Edo's Squid - this place is such a gem. I mean this in truly the best way possible, but this place is EXACTLY what you want when you think "man, I just want some really rock solid, delicious, family style italian food". A couple of notes about our experience: - We went super super early (I'm talking 5pm) and I thought that time was actually really great to accommodate kids. In general, the staff was really kind to us as we had our 2 young boys with us! - If you don't like garlic... well, first off, why?... but you may have a harder time with the food here. They love garlic and are not shy about using it in their food. I personally love this, but I could see it being off-putting to some. - The carbonara pasta is a must. Just get it. - Seafood dishes come with a SIDE OF PASTA (and it's huge) -- garlic lovers, get the garlic pasta. read more

We always bring out of town guests to Edo's since we love their food so much! The restaurant is small and as other reviews said, go up the stairs next to the Hibachi place. For parties of 5 or more, you have to order family style (only 4 different entree orders allowed but you are allowed to order double of any of those). We love the broccoli rabe penne, butter & Parmesan penne and the eggplant pasta. We also always get the calamari. The special appetizer of baked cabbage was spicy and flavorful, would definitely get again! Make sure to make a reservation in advance and plan on spending a few minutes looking for street parking. read more

Edo's Squid - Pork chops - large enough to feed four people! - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The pasta was fantastic and the inside is very cute. There's lots of vegetarian options as well! I just wish they had a sauce instead of just oil. read more

Edo's Squid - Mushroom pasta and broccolini pasta - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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One of the best restaurants in Richmond. Unfortunately the price hike recently is a joke. $55 dollars for a hangar steak is a joke

Excellent food and lively atmosphere. Never have had anything I didn't absolutely love. I highly recommend!

Edo's has ruined us for being able to enjoy other restaurants due to Edo's superior dishes. Much has been said about the noise, the speed, and amenities. We go there because there is no finer duck dish, brocholetti , white beans and squid, Carbonaro, rock fish, or even tiramisu to be found in the many states where we have dined. Prices have increased which has impacted our frequency, but it is still our favorite restaurant ever. When my daughter visits from Europe, this is her first choice on arrival. After spending 2 weeks in Italy, nothing there could compare. read more

Food was absolutely delish! It felt like we stepped into Italy - the flavors and smells delighted my small group.

We were a group of 11 and had an excellent family style meal. The shrimp fra diavolo and the mussels were delicious.

Wonderful delicious food. The atmosphere is so nice and warm as well as welcoming. The staff is very friendly and they know the specials as well. I love this place so much. read more

Wonderful. Amazing food and staff. Love all of the dishes . Have an abundance of specials and I highly recommend this place.

Interesting experience for sure. We were able to snag a reservation for five week of but the place was packed. Tables are pretty on top of each other so be prepared to potentially share conversation with the table next to you. Service was good but food took awhile to come out despite us being there for the first seating. Our whole meal start to finish was over two hours. We got the fennel and broccolini to start and they were our favorites of the night. For entrees, regardless of party size you cannot order more than four dishes. We got the eggplant parm, carbonara, pork and fish special. The carbonara was pretty one note, you definitely missed the peas and the eggplant was cold inside and very soggy. We had to season both of these. The pork was the best entree hands down and the fish a close second. All in all it was good food and despite the four entree rule we had plenty of food with ample left overs, just were bummed by some of the food being cold and lacking seasoning. read more

Up a narrow flight of stairs and through a door flanked by brooms , you'll feel like Harry Potter ‍emerging from his bedroom when entering the warm, brick walled room upstairs that is Edo's Squid . The room where you dine is much more upscale in decor than the humble entryway suggests (think white linen tablecloths and candles ), and it's the perfect place for a nice lunch date or evening out. We started with the fried squid , and shared the mixed seafood and penne with marinara as a table of five. The fried squid was a wonderful, non-greasy, crispy texture and came ǵáŕńíśhéd with fresh herbs and thick wedges of lemon . The mixed seafood pasta had large bucatini-esque spaghetti noodles in a delicious briny, lemony broth and heaped with clams, mussels, squid rings, and shrimp . The red pepper flakes were a great touch. The penne dish was everything you could want from simple, comfort food. The red sauce tasted rich and creḁmy, almost like a vodka cream sauce mixed with marinara, and was heavily dusted with s grated aged parmesan. 10/10 from me! Tip: The portions are definitely large enough for sharing! read more

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Honestly, a hidden gem! It's not the most accessible as it is discreetly located above a hibachi place, & you'll club the stairs to reach a shut door & wonder if you're in the wrong place, but when you open the door you'll be greeted with a bustling Italian restaurant! We came late on a weekday without a reservation, there was a minimal late but our was still packed when we got in. The tables are uncomfortably close together & you'll hear everything the people next to you are saying, the service is subpar but it's worth it for the food. I got the broccoli rabe, garlic olive oil- w/ricotta + sausage. It was a huge serving! I was able to make multiple meals out of it. It was so creamy & delicious. I was unpleasantly surprised how much it was to add the sausage & honestly the pasta is good without meat too. The cannoli was not bad but nothing to write home about either; but the price was very reasonable for it. read more

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Love this restaurant but I one thing would have made it better this time. I had the spaghetti with clam sauce, which was very good. My friend wanted just pasta with olive oil and parm cheese. The waitress failed to let her know there were hot peppers in this dish. When she came by, we told her. She just said, yes, she should've said something. It would've been nice to offer her another dish made sans peppers! she could not eat it. read more

Best Italian in town. Now, for more characters, I'll mention it's crowded (make a reservation) and noisy with the crowd enjoying their meals. And you have to climb a steep flight of stairs. Best Italian in town. read more

My favorite food is pasta so my favorite restaurant in Richmond is... Edo's Squid. Do I like to dine in? Not particularly, I will choose take out over dining in but either is a win. People complain that it's crowded and it's a small space but the food is incredible so I say they should just get over it. The fried squid, Karl with spaghetti and sausage ricotta broccoli rabe with penne are our go to orders but you can't go wrong with anything here. Definitely make a reservation or you'll be waiting, and waiting in this small space is just awkward. Take our portions are still big and everything is always nicely packaged. read more

Arriving at this restaurant for the first time, one has the feeling of discovery of a special hidden place. But it soon becomes apparent that many, many others have also discovered Ido's Squid. A reservation is necessary do to the great popularity of this Italian restaurant. The 4 of us had a wonderful dinner here. We started with the Fried Squid appetizer (of course!) and it was delicious. We also shared the Crostini with Beans & Arugula appetizer and it was also very good. For dinner I had the Mixed Seafood with Spaghetti and my wife had the Shrimp fra Diavolo. Both were outstanding. My Mixed Seafood had shrimp, clams, fish, mussels, & calamari. The others had the Penne with Meat Sauce and the Broccoli Rabe Pasta with Cheese and loved their meals. The portions here, by the way, are stupendously huge. The ambiance was warm and welcoming and the service was pleasant, friendly, & attentive. This is a wonderful restaurant. Food: 5 stars Location: 4 stars Value: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars read more

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Underrated rager. We always try and stop here when visiting Richmond. Located in an unassuming spot on the second floor of a building, but the food does not match in unassuming nature. Everything we've had has been great here, I like the mixed seafood pasta, enormous and a tad bit spicy. The salads and antipasti has been consistently great on all attempts. Wait staff is always super attentive and friendly, answering all our our probably obnoxious questions. Don't forget to look at the specials posted on the wall! read more

This place was so good! I would definitely go back. I loved the ambiance, and the taste of the food. The portions for the pasta are HUGEEE so it's definitely for a few people to share. I also got the rockfish and the flavoring was amazing. The portion was definitely for two people MAX, however. The server was so nice and she helped me find something I would enjoy. She diligently checked on us and made sure everything was great. read more

Edo's Squid - Rock fish. Broccoli Rabe, Garlic, Olive Oil pasta - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

What is all the hype about with this place? It's been around forever and that's likely because of the very large portions of pasta and we all know how inexpensive pasta is. We took out 5 different pasta dishes, four out of five of which were bone dry and were made up of about 90% pasta and 10% other ingredients. Those that had some type of sauce were barely moist and just ok. Those without a "sauce" were so dry that we put together some sauces at home to add moisture and flavor. When you can buy a pound of pasta for $2-5, why are we paying so much for a bowl of noodles with maybe 2-3 T. of sauce or other ingredients when we can make it better at home and for a lot less money. We stopped going there years ago because of this but we had a guest from out of town who wanted to try it. Also, we called around 5PM to place our order and were told they were out of their caprese salad, a standard on their menu. No point in going to a pasta restaurant when you can make it better at home and for a lot less. read more

Edo's Squid is a true hidden gem. To access the restaurant, you must navigate a narrow and unassuming set of stairs; at the top, the door will open to the dining space. The space is small, but the staff is able to utilize every square inch effectively. Reservations are a must, since there is limited seating. The food came out quickly after we ordered, and was delicious. The portion sizes are very large, so be prepared to bring home leftovers. read more

Edo's Squid - Carbonara Pasta - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of the few places I like to bring friends and family that are visiting. I enjoyed a couple pre-dinner drinks just across the street at The Village Cafe waiting for Edo's to open at 5pm. About 10 minutes before, there was a line waiting outside on a Tuesday. As the door opened, we all went in a single line up the stairs - where an outsider would never guess that a fantastic restaurant lies ahead. When you first enter into the dining room, I was blown away by a huge whiff of fresh garlic. I'm watching several employees prep mountains of garlic as I am waiting to be seated which does not take long at all. I found the atmosphere quite cozy and intimate. I've eaten here when it is quite busy and when it is, it's very loud and does feel congested. An early Tuesday dinner was perfect. Our waitress was great and answered all questions we had. They also give you a basket of bread - olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper conveniently on the table. I always look forward to seeing what the specials are that is written on the wall. As appetizing as everything sounded, I went with the puttanesca with anchovies and spaghetti. My partner decided on sausage, ricotta, broccoli rabe with penne which was delicious. The flavors of the puttanesca is out of this world - salty, savory and sweet. I was worried that the olives would overpower everything in the dish, but it did not (unless you took a bite with the olive!). I enjoyed a small glass of limoncello after dinner which was the perfect end. We loved the bread so much that we took a whole baguette home as well as calamari to go. Definitely get the calamari - it is so perfectly seasoned and cooked, you don't need any sauce for it. It also traveled well all the way to Chesterfield, it was devoured right when we got home! Dingy staircase, menu with little to no descriptions, no waiting area - do not let any of these steer you away because the food is phenomenal! read more

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High-quality, fresh food, simply prepared. What could be better? My son and I joined the 5:00 PM line on a chilly Friday and were thrilled to get a table right away. Our server was friendly and didn't rush us even though the place was hopping. We started with their crusty fresh bread and fruity olive oil and a bottle of Montepulciano wine while we perused the menu. For appetizers we had the fried squid and the crostini with arugula and beans. Oh my! The squid was very fresh, and lightly fried. All it needed was a squeeze of lemon. The crostini was served with wilted arugula and white beans in a garlicky olive oil sauce. So simple, yet so good! For dinner we had spaghetti amatriciana, and veal piccata with fried polenta (as a sub for a pasta side). The pasta was perfectly al dente and the flavorful amatriciana sauce had nice kick. The star of the meal was the veal. So tender, with a piquant lemon caper sauce. The best we've ever eaten. The fluffy polenta cakes were a perfect accompaniment to the veal to soak up the sauce. The portions were so large that my son and I each ate a bite or two of the pasta, and then focused on finishing the veal. The pasta went home with him for a midnight snack/meal. The restaurant is small and the reservation system is quirky (almost nonexistent). Don't let that deter you! Also, the online menu doesn't do justice to the full board full of meat and seafood specials. We can't wait to go back. read more

super delicious! i loved the cozy atmosphere in there, makes great for a nice date night. my girlfriend and i always visit for a nice night out, and we leave stuffed every time. if it's just two of you, i recommend splitting the pasta as they give you large servings. the pasta is Argentinian approved, per my girlfriend. we also tried their Squid, Arugula, Garlic, Lemon dish and we were taken away by the presentation and flavors. this place is a great Richmond find- don't be deterred by their entrance! read more

Edo's Squid - Borro E Parmigiano - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Looked promising with neat ambiance. Disappointing on nearly all accounts...flavor and service missed pretty big. Portions and al dente noodles were the only positives. Service is really slow. All the dishes were bland. Veal scallopini was tough and grizzly. Sad when one spends at this level for a poor meal. read more

Very delicious! Service is attentive. Ambiance is dim and a lil cramped, but feels fitting for downtown. Do check it out! read more

Edo's Squid - Borro E Parmigiano - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

really. zero. we had an absolutely horrific experience, possibly homophobic, at Edos Squid last week. Our friends met us there and waiting for about five minutes before they were even acknowledged. We arrived shortly after they were seated and joined them in the corner table which has no view of the daily 'specials.' Most tables can see the menu, we could not - no biggie. When the waitress finally came to our table to get our drink orders we got our drinks and waited. and waited, we may have even ordered our second drink when the waitress finally asked us what we want to eat. I asked that I couldn't see the menu and if she could tell me what the meats were. She immediately hated that she had to do some more work and said "you can take a picture of it or pull up instagram." I said you can also just tell them to us. VERY reluctantly she had to tell us what the restaurant had to offer. Keep in mind we have been there many times - even friends with the hostess, who I think may have quit. We ordered our appetizers (two salads, fried oysters, and the famous braised fennel - my absolute favorite dish ever. EVER. One of the salads and the fried oysters came out, and then my husband's obscenely portioned arugula salad. No fennel. we waited, more drinks. still no fennel. I asked for the fennel and was told its coming. Waited some more, and I realized that everyone had finished their appetizers, and the kitchen would be waiting to fire the entrees for me to finish my appetizer which I didn't have. I motioned for the waitress and just told her to tell the kitchen to send my fennel with my really dry porkchop in a few minutes. She said that was not possible because the kitchen sends out food as it was ready. Ok. the fennel arrived. I could tell it was rushed because something probably happened or she didn't place the order. normally the dish is delicious. this time, I could tell it was all the end pieces of the fennel because it was tough and woody/fibrous. the cheese was bubbled and burnt (an indicator that it was thrown under a broiler last minute) It was not good. I motioned to the waitress and said it wasn't good and if she could take it. Instead, she said "well, it's not good to YOU" and continued to argue with me that the dish was ok. I just said it wasn't and i had had it before and this wasn't good. She took it away - but then she and another waitress stood one foot behind me and started talking about me as if I were dumb..."This has been our best dish for 23 years, what do YOU know?' (well, I know if a dish has been popular for 23 years, it may be time for some change?) The other dishes came, three of the four were correct. They brought the wrong dish for our friend and then made her feel like it was her mistake. At this point, as we tried to eat the mediocre food (dry porkchop) the waitress that questioned my knowledge kept walking by and glaring at me. Glaring HARD. Seriously, it's only fennel... Finally the check came and I asked them to split the check which also just pissed them off even further. Again, the short haired waitress walked by me again, glaring and huffed at me. What the heck was that about??! I debated if i should not give a tip. I had planned not to - WHO QUESTIONS WHAT A CUSTOMER KNOWS?!?! But instead, settled on 10 percent, and wrote "this is generous" and on the side I wrote something about the fennel being bad, and on the bottom just wrote 'do better' As we were outside and down the dingy smelly stairs, the waitress actually ran out after us and said 'you can never come back' and I just reiterated that they all needed to do better, and she kept raving at us and screamed at me to F*CK Off. She was very very agressive to the point of this being a verbal assault. that's Edo's Squid everyone. there are other restaurants in town. This place is gross. read more

Food was great. Portions were too big for one/two people. I'm super particular about food with a concerning palette. My job took me around the world and dining at Michelin rated joints was frequent. Additionally, my family is from Sicily and having lived in Italy, I'm very weary of Italian restaurants outside of Italy. We were in town for my bodybuilding competition and I wanted my first meal after to be special. I saw Penne all amatriciana on the menu and thought this place might be worth it's salt. Disappointed they did not have bucatini-- but the penne was fine and sauce was lovely. There was just enough pasta for about 5 -6 people. (We were 3) The Veal scallopini came out first way ahead of anybody else's dish which is a pet peeve. However, it was flavorful. So good! I doled it out to everyone and we enjoyed the protein first. I don't like any foods drowned in sauces, and this dish border line was drowning. The pork chops were ridiculously large-- two thick chops that I could last me 5 meals. Boyfriend did a good job devouring one. Good flavor, but a bit dry for me personally. My daughter enjoyed the side of spaghetti marinara that came with my veal. Huge portion for a side (more of a large regular size) She loved it, and that's all I cared about. Bless her. The place was busy (always a good sign!) and even with a res, we had to wait 15-20 minutes. Very pleased with the food. Waitress was nice and polite. Restaurant was a bit dark and very loud. Hard to talk. Hostess could work on politeness. Happy with my choice. Back on the strict diet now and no more eating out for another 4 weeks. read more

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Love the respect for your meal and the experience of a dining room that respects what the kitchen is creating. Respect and enjoyed the visits here read more

Best restaurant in rva. Pictured is branzino, halibut, and pine nut, garlic pasta. tip: ALWAYS GET OYSTER STEW Other recs include (but not limited to): tuna, hanger steak, braised fennel, squid + arugula, broccoli rabe, the karl read more

Edo's Squid - Branzino, halibut, and pine nut + garlic pasta - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This great little gem is like going to an old speakeasy. Some lonely stairs lead up a narrow corridor to the restaurant. Once inside the lovely smell of fresh garlic being peeled filled the air. Fresh French bread oil and balsamic was served immediately. Great service. Good simple Italian food. Only star loss was for my veal Marsala. It was a bit too sweet for my liking. My son was pleased with a beautiful mixed seafood pasta. Calamari appetizer was good. Only thing was no sauce or aoli. Just lemon. Great cozy atmosphere. read more

Edo's Squid - Mixed seafood pasta, calamari and veal Marsala. - Italian Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Ooo my!! As soon as we went we saw a table with lots of fresh unpeeled garlic cloves ,, smaller tray had freshly peeled garlic..the dishes we had were flavorful, aromatic of fresh garlic. It's a cool spot in downtown Richmond around VCU campus. Some exposed old brick. Simple Italian style table setup. Casual dining with timely friendly service,, feels pleasant, but didn't notice any music playing . My husband's Veal was two large piece delicately prepared easy to cut. Pasta was cooked. Just right,, not over cooked. We finished with cannoli which was light, creamy with good crunchy shell... must be freshly prepared. No overload on chocolate chips either. This is the right touch place. Only two desserts though, tiramisu being second choice. Wonderful experience, gonna need a gym day tomorrow read more

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We had a 5 pm birthday celebration at Edo's Squid and it was an outstanding meal! There were six of us and everyone enjoyed their meal immensely. Beginning with the luscious tomatoes and creamy mozzarella cheese, the entire meal was perfect. We had the pork chops which were so delicious, the veal was cooked perfectly, the eggplant parmesan was perfect. The entire meal was excellent. The wine was perfect with our meal. Our server was very attentive and helpful in explaining the "family style concept". He checked on us but was not hovering. The meal ended with the most delicious dessert of tiramisu and Cannoli's which were perfect. Highly recommend Edo's Squid! read more

The food was very good and we really enjoyed the NYC restaurant type of vibe here. They seem to run behind which is totally understandable for a popular authentic restaurant. Waitress was helpful in making recommendations read more

Me and one of my friends was in Richmond for a few days and wanted to have Italian. Some random bartender recommended Edo. So we walked a mile over to the restaurant. Went up some creepy stairs lol and into heaven. The food was outstanding and made exactly how I tasted it in my head. Our waitress was awesome and made good food recs and the ambiance was out of a New York Italian restaurant. Oxtails 10/10 duck 10/10 paired with wine. Will always go back when in Richmond. read more

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Mama Mia! I love Edo's. I was invited to dinner here before a recent concert event and was delighted by my experience. The door to enter the establishment is just under its sign facing the street. I say this because it is a little confusing to find the entrance as the restaurant is on the second floor. Walking into the restaurant wait staff were peeling fresh garlic in a large bowl so that the smell of Italy smacks you in the face. The wait staff were very diligent and attentive. The wine list was fabulous, to include lemonchello and Grapa! There is obviously a heavy seafood aspect to the menu, think Sicilian fare. There is a great antipasto selection. The entrees are large enough to serve two hungry people, but we order separate entrees. The atmosphere is not upscale but the food and experience make it so. For two people not holding back on wine or food selection we left with a bill of only 135$! Don't miss Edo's and feel confident in making a long drive from Hampton roads for the experience. read more