Owners of new Edwardsville bar, burger place share what to expect. Here’s what they said
Thinking back to my meat-eating days – many, many moons ago – I do remember that there really is nothing like a great burger.
Finding a really good burger used to be a challenge. My mom and I would drive from New Baden to Belleville to get Big Bufords at Rally’s, which were pretty darn good.
Fries too, because those were awesome.
These days, there are a lot more places with burgers on the menu.
I’m sure many of them are great — I wouldn’t know myself.
But there’s a new burger place opening in Edwardsville, and based on what I learned this week, it’s gonna be a good one.
Sneaky’s Bar and Burger Joint opens Tuesday, May 2, at 307 N. Main St. in Edwardsville.
I sat down with co-owners Tyler Ottwein and Casey Hinman to talk a little bit about what folks can expect from their new place.
Working up to … not a restaurant
The first thing to know is that Sneaky’s isn’t really a restaurant.
And according to Ottwein, they never even expected to own a food truck.
Hinman said they are certified cicerones, which is like a wine sommelier, but for beer.
They wanted to own a bar … that just happened to serve burgers.
The food truck came about partly because they grew tired of working for other people.
They also like being employed.
Fair enough.
And while the past year’s been great, opening a restaurant was never their ultimate goal, said Ottwein.
But he acknowledged that the food truck was a valuable stepping stone for them.
“This was where we were heading the whole time,” Ottwein said.
The bar
Like any really good bar, Sneaky’s will have plenty to offer in the way of beverages.
There will be 12 rotating drafts with a few mainstays.
Hinman said they’ll have 70-75 different beers, cans and bottles, that will include as many traditional beer styles as possible and include both imports and domestics.
There will be something for everyone.
With their training and knowledge of the history of beer, these guys want to show everyone that their place will be a notch above the others.
Sneaky’s will carry wines and spirits, including scotch. (Yes, of course I asked.)
With all of their bartending experience, they will also be able to serve up some tasty cocktails.
They won’t really have a rail or well whiskey but will have spirits “a notch above” that, according to Ottwein.
While the guys aren’t as experienced with wines and never worked a wine bar (sorry, oenophiles), they do intend to have some quality wines available, but beer is first and foremost.
The burgers
The burgers Sneaky’s Burger Truck offered over the last year will remain on the menu, according to Ottwein.
These are “not a cheap diner smash burger,” he said.
Everything is cooked to order every time, according to Ottwein.
There are “certain things we’ll never do,” said Hinman, such as leaving food under heat lamps or not preparing foods properly or consistently.
They will toast the buns for every burger. Every patty will be seasoned on both sides. They will make burgers the same way every single time.
Quality is important, and they want to do it right. No compromises, even when it’s really busy, Ottwein said.
All of the burgers are made with 100% Wagyu beef and include:
The G.O.A.T., topped with caramelized onion, goat cheese, homemade cherry compote, bacon and arugula;
Aunt Babette, with pimento cheese, fried green tomato, fresh jalapeño, and Sneaky Sauce;
The Dingus, burger with cream cheese, peanut butter, bacon and jam;
Sneaky’s Classic, two patties with two slices of American cheese, caramelized onion, pickles and Sneaky Sauce
Josey Wales, with BBQ sauce, bacon, fried onion straws and American cheese;
DJ Goomba, topped with sautéed miso mushrooms, bacon, Swiss cheese and wasabi sesame sauce;
Lester Moore, a cheeseburger. No Les. No Moore;
and a plain hamburger.
One new burger will be added to the menu.
The Donut Burger is bacon, egg and cheese served on a donut.
This will only be available on Saturdays and Sundays until they’re sold out, said Hinman.
An Impossible patty is also available for my fellow non-meat eaters.
Vegetarians, you’re in pretty good hands. Hold the bacon and enjoy.
Vegans, we’re not as lucky.
I’m told a lot of butter is involved with most of the burger elements. We can get a plain, seasoned patty, no bun. (Just do what I plan to do and focus on the beer.)
Non-burger offerings include tots, sweet potato tots, Borracho tots (queso, fresh jalapeños, fried egg, bacon, caramelized onions) and a Bavarian pretzel.
They will also have fried candy bars.
Hinman said they will take fun-size versions of Snickers and 3 Musketeers bars dipped in pancake batter, deep fried and topped with powdered sugar.
The joint
At the time of the interview, the location was still officially Recess Brewing.
So Ottwein and Hinman hadn’t fully made the place their own yet.
The place isn’t huge but is intimate and cozy. I felt like I was in a great little pub.
The space will remain pretty much the same.
Looking in from the entrance, there’s the bar at the back right. TVs will be mounted on the back wall above the bar.
On the left side, the former brewing room at the back will be converted to a kitchen.
Seating is all along the front of the space.
On the left side, a table or two will be added where a couch currently sits in front of the fireplace with a big screen TV mounted above it.
Once Recess closes, the guys have one day to decorate the place with their own wall art, commissioned graffiti and a giant, pink disco ball.
They want it to look and feel like a bar.
The Sneaky’s crew currently consists of four people, including Ottwein and Hinman, who hope to take on at least one more person.
If interested in applying, email sneakysburgerjoint@gmail.com.
Both Ottwein and Hinman know what it is to be in all positions and have seen the food service industry from every angle.
“We have really done nothing else … but food and beverage” and are “really confident about our skills,” said Ottwein.
“We’re both very good at what we’re doing,” he said.
Hinman said beer and food are their two favorite things, so they’re going to do it right.
Hours will mostly remain the same as before, when it was Recess Brewing.
They will be open for lunch on Fridays, however, and use that as a way to determine if hours should be extended during the week for lunch.
Sneaky’s will start with baby steps: build the kitchen, expand the hours and work to “have the Sneaky’s we imagined,” said Ottwein.
About Sneaky’s Bar and Burger Joint
Sneaky’s Bar and Burger Joint opens Tuesday, May 2, at 307 N. Main St. in Edwardsville.
Hours are 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
For the latest updates and info, visit facebook.com/SneakysBurgers or sneakysburgertruck.com.
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