New Edwardsville martini bar offers higher end drinks, a limited-but-tasty menu and big fun
A new bar and dance club recently opened at the former site of Peel Wood Fired Pizza in Edwardsville.
Reine, located at 921 Arbor Vitae, is LGBTQ+ owned and touts itself on Facebook as a “gay friendly martini & bourbon bar & dance club.”
However, “there’s no political agenda here, no political position,” said owner John Deppen. “It’s just matter-of-fact.”
The important thing is that all are welcome at Reine.
Well, as long as you’re part of the 21-and-over crowd.
Deppen aims to attract a mature crowd and provide them with a destination where they can enjoy great drinks, dance and cut loose.
And maybe enjoy a bit of food in the process.
Fuel up for fun
Food options currently consist of quick-serve, easy-to-plate items, according to Deppen.
Menu items include charcuterie boards, bagel boards and fruit boards, with Greek yogurt, habanero bacon jam and crème fraîche.
There’s also shrimp cocktails, stuffed tomatoes (tuna or chicken), meatballs – which Deppen said are amazing – and egg rolls.
He said they’ll also bring in sushi, which is easy to plate and serve.
Deppen said the charcuterie boards are doing really well, admitting they’d do better if he could get the staff to quit eating all of the crackers.
For now, the menu is limited until more kitchen staff are hired.
And while the food will help guests fuel up for the fun, it isn’t the main attraction at Reine.
Drinks, dancing and drag
So what is the main attraction at Reine?
I guess it depends on what you’re looking for.
If you’re there for the quality drinks – whether it’s after work or during a night out with friends – you can enjoy any number of wines, martinis, whiskeys and cocktails.
The venue has two bars. One is the martini and cocktail bar located at the main entrance.
Deppen said they offer higher end martinis that include a chocolate espresso martini, pineapple upside down martini and an apple martini, which Deppen said they make really well.
On the shelves are bottles of champagne and nice wines and other liquors and mixers for quick drink orders.
The main bar on the other side of the room has much of the same and a lot more – bourbons, scotches and other whiskeys, cordials, wines and a variety of spirits.
And my fellow Whiskey Tribe members in the area might be glad to know that according to Deppen, the bourbon pours are a bit larger than average.
Deppen said they carry Woodbridge wines, four reds and three whites, all higher end wines available by the glass or bottle.
They also have Campo Viejo Cava, Conundrum and Mionetto Rosé.
Available by the bottle are a Martini & Rossi magnum, Louis Roederer, Post & Beam Chardonnay, Flowers Pinot Noir and Nickel & Nickel Cabernet.
The bar also has Korbel, Piper Heidsieck, Roku, Line 39 and other high-end champagnes and wines.
But if champagne and cocktails aren’t your thing, some bottled beers are also available.
As far as activities and entertainment, dancing is always an option.
Deppen said that they had a party of 10 on Saturday during Memorial Day weekend. They were eating, drinking and dancing, having a good time.
He added that the people liked the flow and enjoyed the lower lights at night.
Deppen did say that the music won’t be so loud that you can’t hear each other talk.
He also said that it’s basically not going to be a steady stream of Cardi B or other music with objectionable language.
Not that he’s opposed to swearing in general, but there’s a time and a place. Reine is not that place.
And he wants everyone to be comfortable at his place.
Karaoke nights take place 7-10 p.m. on Wednesdays and include drink specials for house wine and domestic beers.
Reine’s first drag show is set for Saturday, June 24. A $5 donation will get you in the door. The show starts at 10 p.m.
There was also talk of possible chicken or meat bingo in Reine’s future. (Vegans be warned) He didn’t go into detail, but Deppen said it’s a comedy show.
The venue
The site’s footprint is the same as when Peel was located there. Deppen said all he did was paint the walls black.
The space includes various tables and chairs.
Deppen said he picked up eight tables at an auction and sanded, stained and lacquered all of them.
When I asked Deppen about the artwork displayed throughout Reine, I expected some elaborate answer about how he knows this artist and that.
But it turns out he bought most of it online. Two pieces came from HomeGoods.
Serves me right for making assumptions. He chose well though; I really liked the pieces he selected.
Deppen said he thought each piece was unique. He liked the colors and thought they would work well against the black walls.
And they really do.
He also mentioned that some of the pieces have little innuendos, which I also appreciated. (You’ll have to go see for yourselves.)
The space has a half wall across the room between the two bars.
Deppen plans to take out the middle section of this wall to open up the space and make it feel less crowded around the main bar when it’s busy.
There’s a small deck area for private seating, as well as a spacious patio shaded with umbrellas and plenty of trees.
Did I mention there’s a disco ball?
Because how can you not have fun in a place with a disco ball?
I found the entire venue inviting and hope to go there again soon – when I’m off the clock – for some fun of my own.
About Reine
Reine is located at 921 Arbor Vitae in Edwardsville.
Hours are 4:30-11 p.m. Monday, noon to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday-Saturday and 2:30-10 p.m. Sunday.
The average spend for a customer can range from $24 to $38 per person.
For more information about Reine, call 618-692-5033. Check out the Facebook page for updates and events.
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