I remember the year when Ed was whatever he is, cooking where you could watch him through the big window of Arts Kitchen, a genuine artsy place with paintings covering most of the walls. Usually the crew of two “chefs” had to elbow by each other in the tiny “kitchen” to produce very tasty All American food. Ed had hair then but later made the big decision to go bald. We were fearful that chemotherapy was the culprit, and then realized the clear and present danger of hair in the food had been eliminated. And we loved the friendly serving staff, always cheerful even at breakfast. Andy Damiani and I did a TV show there to crank up business. Word of mouth had the eatery too busy and you waited for a table. Then one day he was cooking at the newly named COTTON BLOSSOM and his “girls” were there too. New owners knew Ed and team would draw. Then a stint cheffing at the Pisces.
Now a new era for Ed, I’d call it a meteoric rise in downtown Suffolk to owning and operating the Pisces. Mr.and Mrs. Gellas, previous owners, had dared to open a higher end classier place to take a friend to dinner and recently decided to concentrate on their Primo 116. Ed sees an opportunity and has taken the next step.
I haven’t seen him for some time but this picture in the SNH indicates hair is back.
30 comments:
Good Luck Ed, I often wondered what happened to him after he worked at the restaurant that was later called the Cotton Blossum Cafe. Well I hope he has time to attend the next DBA meeting.
My daughter had a very bad experience with the service and was treated badly during her prom. That was several years ago and no one from our family has returned to Pisces or Primo.
You're one of many former customers and even employees who don't go back to Pisces or Mosaic because of rude management at Pisces and horrible food at Mosaic.
Ed, I hope you add Sunday brunch. You'd put the other brunches (Amici, Mosaic) out of Sunday business within a month even though Mosaic pays no overhead.
What's a "Plaid Turnip?"
Are you going to keep the infamous dress code that has offended so many?
I hope that couple featured in the Pisces television commercial no longer frequents the place. The sight of that man makes me lose my appetite. Mr. Gellas needs a new Maitre D if he's going to hold on to the few customers that wander into his restaurant. What ever happened to Vintage Tavern and the Chop House up in beautiful and safe Northern Suffolk?
I have had the very great opportunity to eat your fair for lunc on several occasions, and hope that you have a good run at this location. I too was roughly treated at both Pisces and Primo and just stopped going to either.
If I could offer one constructive comment here: Please focus on friendly service for all. You do not need to be a 50 year Suffolk resident, like some expect to render friendly treatment of your patrons. Please do not get sucked into the "Suffolk Way" of doing things just to please some vocal old foggies. That is why we have a divide in Suffolk. The old Suffolk foggies want recognition of all they want, and nuts to the rest of us.
Good luck ED. I know you can do it while all the other eateries fail and dry-up for lack of patrons.
The Lunch Diner
Ed I have always enjoyed your meals and the personal attention to your customer. Much luck to you and I'll be stopping in for breakfast and lunch. I agree with an earlier comment that your new staff be customer friendly and accomodating.
A long time ago I gave up dining at Mosaic when I discovered by coincidence that much of what's in their menu is the same as what's on sale at the Walmart deli section the night before. I also don't like paying for a meal already subsidized with my tax dollars.
Foodie:
Amen. Apparently Mosaic is only for catering private affairs of the Cultural Center private staff, donor, board member parties. The catering is wonderful, but the restaurant is pretty much an afterthought and hasn't been well received standing alone without Hollands catering for the more elite citizens.
Ed proves you don't have to be a snob or rude or serve cheap food to have a good following.
Why should rednecks who don't give donations for cultural pursuits ger invied to private SCCA parties for those who give money and know what's best for our local culturally deprived?
Let them eat "cake" or at least grits and go to NASCAR.
Here is my chance to chime in and do what I always wanted to do, to critique local eateries. I must admit, I once was a taster for Port Folio Magazine, but only restaurants in our larger Hampton Roads cities were reviewed.
I must say I think it is wonderful that people will take a chance to operate a restaurant in any downtown area. It is hard work and they know that there are people out there that prefer a restaurant that is not a chain that serves food that is prepared in another state and is nuked on premises.
Pices was so well received when it opened and for another couple of years. Something happened, the quality of food diminished. Don't know why, somebody had a good thing going. Staff was always friendly and service was good. Somebody made a comment of their dress code, well going to a nice restaurant and seeing a baseball cap on backwards and pants hanging down to their knees is disgusting. Oh, I forgot, this is Suffolk's mentality.
Primo has a wonderful atmosphere and wait staff is tops. My problem is the food. I want something that tastes absolutely wonderful for the price you pay. A change of menu would not hurt and portions could be larger. Excellent wine selection.
Amici's is a fun place to dine. The food is excellent. You do not leave hungry as their portions are more than ample. Prices are moderate and staff could be better trained. You can where your ball cap backwards here.
Sushi Aka is certainly a plus for downtown. Food delicious, atmoshere nice, wait staff adequate, and prices on par with other sushi restaurants.
Mosaic's, what can I say that has not been said? The first couple of times we dined there we were so impressed. Everything was so nice. Then cold food served, stale desserts, and untrained service staff. Jeanette works so hard, but something went awry. Her daughter could smile sometime and welcome her diners. I'm not worried about the guy worried about the restaurant being subsidized, hey buddy what about the jails and prison you are paying for? The Holland's do know the meaning of work.
Baron's Pub, the original downtown restaurant that took a chance is still serving good food and beer.
Good luck ED, we will come and see you.
I didn't know prisoners and people in jail paid for their food out of their own pocket? Did something happen while I was tending the flock at Gitmo?
Someone just called my office and asked that I comment and add to the note above about the Portfolio food “taster” comment.
My wife and I were also asked to be the only two Suffolk members of the anonymous 30 member Tidewater Portfolio “golden forks” review board until it closed a few years ago primarily because the main restaurants in Tidewater had been covered and it was thought that the readership of the magazine would prefer hearing more about informal restaurant than the same major restaurants over and over. The “tester” above was probably before us on the Portfolio group.
During the course of these reviews, I know for a fact that Primo, Mosaic and Pisces all received and had published several favorable reviews, a few of which were written by me.
I will not add anything to the above discussions about food since everyone would obviously have a personal opinion about these restaurants, and I probably enjoy all of them more than most people in our community. (It is somewhat cute, however, to note the comment about “prison food” that someone made above.)
At any rate, without burdening your readers with any additional food comments about these restaurants, it is ironic that just last night my wife and I ate at Primo and another member of my family ate at Mosaic.
I think we all as a community owe a debt of gratitude not only to the Gellas family but also to the Holland family for the work they have done. Each of these families has made a significant contribution to our local community. Steve and Margaret have participated in many events that have probably not made a profit for them but which served the local community well, and they have treated this as almost as a civic duty. Also, Steve has to be one of the smartest chefs in the world, and you simply cannot ask him any question about anything involving food that he cannot answer immediately. If you don’t believe me, test him as I have, and I will be confirmed.
Also, the Holland family has actually for many years served our community well and have become icons here for year, and I know from many events I have attended at Mosaic (many with my granddaughter) that they have gone out of their way to accommodate the public and go the “extra mile” when necessary or when they thought it was helpful in helping with the events at the SCCA and as well as other charitable donation drives throughout the City. I am not even sure that they are 100% locally owned, but the family certainly is 100% genuine and home grown.
Although the restaurants obviously change a lot in Suffolk (remember the Crystal, Front Street, Mehalchos, and dozens of others), we sometimes forget to give appreciation to those like the Gellas and Holland families that have done so much to make our City a more interesting place in which to live and eat.
- A hungry local lawyer who would give them all up for a good “Nathan’s” chili dog.
I for one am sorry to see Pisces go. I and my family have had more memorable meals there than I can count and never were we disapponted by the quality of the food or the friendliness of the staff and owners. We actually welcomed the fact that we could expect a certain caliber of clientele there which helped to make for a very enjoyable experience. We did miss seeing Steve in the kitchen when they opened Primo 116 but that just gave us another reason to keep our dining dollars in Suffolk.
I didn't think it could get much better than Pisces here in Suffolk but Primo proved me wrong. The food there is exceptional and as for the portions, well we have never left without a doggie bag as we can never finish whatever we order.
I think we owe a debt of gratitude to the Gellases for bringing these two restaurants to what was an otherwise barren downtown. They have invested both time and a considerable amount of money here and deserve our thanks for helping to revitalize our downtown.
Similarly I wish the best of luck to Mr. Beardsley. As someone else said here, anyone who chooses to operate a restaurant in a downtown area deserves credit. Though I only had the opportunity to sample Ed's cooking when he served Brunch at Pisces, my family and I did enjoy it and we look forward to trying it again in the future.
A real Old Suffolkian would prefer and would remember a real hot dog served up at the originaL Melito's on Main Street. Now I will travel to Richmond and dine at Melitos there when I want a real dog. Harrells on West Washington was also known to serve up a good dog as well
Why are you Southeners not praising your bar-b-que and ham biscuits? Southeners are willing to travel miles for the supposed epicurian delite of heavily vingered pork scooped on to a hamberger bun with cole slaw wedged in between and a dash of Texas Pete. What's puzzeling is our locals are willing to travel 60 miles into North Carolina for BBQ or ham biscuit than support our eateries. I've caught downtown's biggest supporters candidly say that in meetings. I guess that explains what happened to the BBQ joint on the Southside of town. The lesson to learn is being one generation off the farm doesn't qualify a person to be a gourmet. Just stick to your cracklins, chitlins, salted pork and fried chicken. Rather than go with what ya'lls like from Paula Dean, I'll wait for the gastonomic marvels of Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin. Bon Appetite!
Alas without the fine dining establishments in downtown, sales at the Rite Aid of Rolaids and Tums would never recover. Fortunately with Obamacare you won't have to pay for them.
Mangire, why are you carpet baggers complaining about or using a family owned business of over 50 years to make your snide remarks about. It is clear that you are not a Suffolkian but a person who is search of finding his/her roots they left behind somewhere in the wasteland you came from.
11:32 don't recall mentioning anything about a 50 year old business, but if you enjoy living in your imaginary world, be my guest.
Experience is acquired trait it is not born into a person because of, or inspite of being from Suffolk. Some people have it because of what they've done in their lives. I believe managing two Berlitz Five Star Plus rated hotels and restaurants would suffice. However, I would love to hear you describe what YOU think constitutes a Suffolkian? I've seen many examples but your's would be the most interesting. Please remember not to think while you're eating all you end up doing is soiling the keyboard.
The daily manners lesson for you is; Forks on the left knives on the right, napkin on the lap. A knife is not a fork and for God's sake please chew your meat before ingesting. Bon Appetite!
All well siad for the heathens of Suffolk. The Suffolk inbread especially need to take time before writing here about food. It really does not all come from just a can!
I would leave Suffolk and all these Suffolkians, if only I could sell my house. But, I can still pay huge taxes for the inbreed to use.
Some of the comments I have read here personify exactly what is wrong with Suffolk and why it will remain in the stone age forever(excluding the northern part). References to "real" Suffolkians vs "Carpetbaggers" exemplifies the thinking of stuborn, backward people who will fight change with their last breath and attack anyone who is trying to affect change as being unwelcomed interlopers. It makes no difference how much money they are bringing to the community or how hard they are working to improve the things...they are outsiders and their every move is resented. Only when this last generation is dead and buried will their be a chance for Suffolk to catch up to the rest of Hampton Roads and yes, even northern Suffolk. That is if they don't pass their ignorant ways on too their offspring.
May 12 7:47 said "Mr. Gellas needs a new Maitre D if he's going to hold on to the few customers that wander into his restaurant." First of all what kind of person would publicly make such a homophobic remark? And second of all, the last few times I tried to get in to Primo without a reservation I couldn't. So I don't know what "few customers" you are referring to but you couldn't be more wrong.
Well folks, we have received a few comments pro and some con that has resulted in verbal fisticuffs, not good for Inside Suffolk or anyone else. So what say we agree to disagree, declare a truce and move on to greener pastures.This Post is about Ed's success, not Pisces infractions, if there really were any.
Mr. Pockinglton you must allow the historical fact be known that Herbs BBQ was open and offered great BBQ for over 50 years.
I will admit your barbecue fact if you will admit you spelled my name incorrectly. You make a good point that Herb's persistent touch was probably the main ingredient as it can be in the eatery business. Often the personality of the purveyor is the reason for continuing success.
Herb's closed because the "main ingredient" died. Plain and simple. What does BBQ have to do with seafood anyway? or Italian food for that matter? or any food? Pisces had awesome BBQ but that didn't matter to the old guard because they weren't "real Suffolkians". You people will bite off your nose to spite your face every time. You deserve to wallow in your smallness.
I will agree with one thing that Mr. Pocklington has said here, and that is that there are too many that read this stuff, that just think to highly of their own opinions! The last time I looked, almost all of you have only been here for less than 400 years, so you all are ignorant immigrants!
Living in Suffolk for a few generations is not what makes this city great. Putting up with the last eight years of the ever higher tax bills should prove your worth, alone. Folks, we have serious problems in town and they are not about how long one family or another has been here, or not. Most of our problems are found on Market Street, where highly paid City Administrators have come to expect that digging into our pockets deeper and deeper, is OK. We have a crisis of truth, where we have heard about how lean budgets are, only to now find out that cuts were out there if only they were honest with us. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that our present Mayor told everyone that would listen, that there was no fat in the budget? After cutting the budget for the last two straight years, does anyone believe that whopper anymore? The cuts we are now seeing should have been done the first year that Ms. Glen was Assistant City Manager five years ago, but she choose not to recommend such, and for what reason? Politics, self-preservation, honesty?
So let’s focus again on what is really wrong with Suffolk and all just wish Ed good luck in a hard market. I plan to vote by going down and letting Ed make me dinner, before I talk trash about his food or service. Good luck Ed, you are braver than I to take a chance starting a new eatery in Downtown in this hard economy and I wish you the best, you will need it!
Roger A. Leonard
Suffolk...
Franly speaking, I blame Bush for this mess.
Of course, prisoners and people in jail (the same thing) don't pay for their food out of their own pocket. Who ever you are that said this, you are one smart fellow. Do you know who pays, the tax payer? These prisoners do nothing positive in society. We pay for their food, housing, health care, heat and a/c, etc. The people who are getting a tax benefit by opening a business downtown are working to make a buck. They employ people that earn wages and pay taxes. They buy consumer goods that benefit the economy. They pay taxes on their profits. They provide a service that obvious some people enjoy.
I respect people that work. Oh yes, didn't know they had sheep at Gitmo?
Cannot wait for Ed to open his
restaurant. His veggie omelet has no comparison anywhere. Suffolk needs a great breakfast place. Keep watching for his opening date.
Sandy and Joe
I had breakfast at The Plaid Turnip this morning. The food, the music, and the service was top notch. Some of my friends are so pleased that Ed, et.al. are back. I look forward to my next visit.
We have visited the Plaid Turnip twice. Both experiences were wonderful and refreshing. We have only lived in Suffolk 2 year, but have often wished for a place to go for good food, good service, good atmosphere, and hours (especially on the weekend) that allow us to enjoy a great meal anytime. We are so glad the Plaid Turnip is here. We will do our best to help Mr. Beardsley's business grow and stay around.
The Boze Family
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