One of the most anticipated restaurant openings at Disney Springs in Orlando was The Edison, which happens to be a lot more than just a place to grab a burger and beer!
The Edison held its grand opening on December 31, 2017, with an over-the-top New Year’s Eve party. Special props to any restaurant that has the testicular fortitude to pull off opening on the biggest night of the year. From what I was told, there were a few glitches, as can be expected, but the event was a success.
The Edison is designed to look like a 1920’s electric company converted into an entertainment complex. Gothic meets industrial, industrial meets steampunk in this sprawling venue that has several different themed areas spread across two levels:
- The Ember Parlour
- Telegraph Lounge
- The Patent Office
- The Tesla Lounge
- The Radio Room
- Waterfront Patio
- The Lab
Each area has its own personality and feel as well as many picture worthy props to light up your Instagram feed. If you want to get pictures of what this place is like inside, get there when it opens because when it’s crowded it’s hard to photograph.
In addition to food and drink, The Edison offers up entertainment that you won’t find anywhere else at Disney Springs. After 10pm the restaurant switches to an adults-only venue that offers up acts ranging from live musicians and flapper-style dancers to aerialists and a DJ. Of course, there’s a dancefloor.
Let’s talk about food. First, The Edison offers up lunch and dinner and for the most part, those two menus are pretty much the same.
Starters include calamari, deviled eggs, lamb meatballs, corn dogs (yeah), and something that I had to get, DB ‘Clothesline Candied Bacon. Four thick cuts of sweet bacon came out presented as the name implies, on a clothesline! It was accompanied by a jelly-like fruit mustarda and sour pickle slices. If you’re getting this one, put some of the fruit mustarda on it and top it with a sour pickle. You’ll thank me later. Well, you’re gonna thank me anyway for recommending this $15 bacon feast that is simply incredible.
Three boring salads (Greek, house and gem lettuce wedge) are the only offerings in this category. Chicken or shrimp can be added to all three.
For mains, there’s a pretty limited selection. Crabcake, fried chicken, salmon, prime rib, New York Strip, tomato soup and grilled cheese, meatloaf and gravy, Morimoto ribs (The Edison is owned by the Patina Restaurant Group which also owns Morimoto Asia), and The Edison Burger.
On the night of my visit, the prime rib was sold out. The bartender told me it goes quick! He recommended I either try the strip or the burger and also suggested the featured “Burger of the Month” – The Diablo in honor of Cinco de Mayo.
As I sipped on a beer (they have plenty to choose from) the bartender and I chatted, talked about some of my favorite restaurants in Orlando, what I like to drink and what I should have for dinner. He explained that while he hasn’t had the opportunity to try The Diablo, he heard it’s really good but really “hot.”
“If you like hot, you’ll like it,” he said.
Sold! One Diablo well done, please.
As you can see from the table tent advertising the burger, this $24 menu item is a 10oz burger topped with a fried egg, jalapenos, salsa and cotija cheese with a batter fried jalapeno skewered on the side, served with fries.
The only modification to it that I made was to leave off the fried egg. Here’s how it came out:
Expectation -vs- reality, I guess. It was a very boring, blah and unappetizing presentation. The skewered jalapeno was noticeably absent, as well the “hot” I was promised. This devil of a burger must have had its fire extinguished between the time it was put on the plate to when it was put in front of me as there wasn’t even a hint of anything hot or spicy.
The burger was cooked to the temperature I ordered it. The fries were a little overdone to the point where some of them crumbled when you bit into them.
This was not worth $24. After having it, I’m not even sure The Edison Burger (signature beef blend of sirloin, shortrib + brisket, sharp cheddar, onion rings, smoked bacon, house-made pickles, lettuce, tomato, special sauce, with fries) that goes for $22 would be worth it.
There are way better burgers out there for a lot less.
Service was great, the bartender was very friendly, the live band that was playing was really, really good and the complex is stunning.
One last thing. While this is one of several restaurants in the “complex” that share common ownership, it should be treated as such. During my visit, the bar was using coasters that were from Enzo’s Hideaway. A small thing that the normal person wouldn’t really care about or notice, but I did.
Will it be a place I’m going to want to go back to? That’s a maybe. If I get a hankering for some of that bacon, maybe. But there’s not much else that’s going to draw me in. Well, maybe a late Friday or Saturday night for drinks and some of that live entertainment.
Have you been to The Edison at Disney Springs? Let me know what your experience was like in the comments below. Be sure to follow my food journey in photo format on Instagram at @scottsfoodfinds.