We try to get together once every few weeks for dinner, frequently trying places we haven't all eaten at, before. Sure, we break our own rule from time to time (some places are just way too good to ignore), but last night's meal at Pearson's Edina Restaurant was a first for all of us. And by the time we left we were all vowing to be back soon.
Unfortunately, the reason we chose Pearson's was an article in the newspaper Sunday a week ago saying that the restaurant might be closing later this year (to be replaced--in that case--by a Walgreen's, of all things). Since we drive past it all the time in Edina, it seemed like we really needed to go and check it out.
The place has been around for years (full history is on their website), and the interior reflects that. There's a "cafeteria"-style section when you first come in that's got a counter with stools and a bunch of booths. After you pass through that section you come into one of two dining rooms, with tables set throughout. We were seated in the farthest dining room--where we were one of three seated tables in a room with at least a dozen tables.
The menu is fairly extensive, and as we searched past the burgers and salads and Swedish Meatballs and--I kid you not--Casseroles, we found that they even do most of their breakfast menu all day. Christopher took the breakfast-for-dinner route of ham and eggs with pancakes and hash browns. Kris had a simple cheddar cheeseburger and fries. Katie had the "exotic" bruschetta burger (tomatoes and onion and garlic all under melted cheese on a burger). I dove straight in with the Wild Rice Chicken Casserole, with a starter of a house salad (green salad with a mayo-based dressing with peas and bacon and cheese), and sides of pureed squash and a cranberry relish.
Everyone liked what they had, but I have to say that I think I had the best meal of the night. The salad was--if you know what this means--basically a deconstructed 7-Layer salad. The squash had a wonderful depth of flavor--maybe maple, maybe butter. And the Wild Rice Chicken Casserole--dense and filled with mushroom, chicken, bacon and onion, then topped with almonds--was amazing. I wanted to just keep eating, but decided to stop part-way through so that I could bring home a few leftovers.
Believe it or not, we left before dessert. But the dinner itself was so wonderful we didn't need to have that to cap off the evening.
Overall rating: A. The staff was friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. The food was amazing. The ambiance... well... it's perfect for what it is. If you have the chance, I highly recommend the place. But go soon, just in case it does close--missing it would be very very sad.
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