New southwest grill in the metro-east offers specials and rewards for mobile app users
While scouring the internet for some great new restaurant leads, I found one that looked pretty good.
Moe’s Southwest Grill, an Atlanta-based franchise with more than 600 restaurants, opened Friday in Edwardsville.
Moe’s specializes in customizable, fresh, made to order fast-casual Mexican fare, according to the website.
As I checked out the online menu, I came across a great feature under the “Nutrition” heading.
This feature allows the viewer to filter the ingredients for each offering by dietary restriction and allergens. The menu will show ingredients that are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-friendly and those free of eggs, fish, milk, peanuts or soy.
Awesome! Pretty handy for those of us with dietary restrictions. Why don’t all restaurants do this?
I went to the new Moe’s location the day before the official opening on the off chance that someone would be there. My timing couldn’t have been better.
The owner and franchisee, Steve Patel, was there, as were Anthony Walden, director of field training, and Mikailah Buppert, field marketing & grand opening specialist, both with Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the restaurant’s brand new staff.
All hands were on deck for a VIP-only soft opening.
I sat with Patel and Walden to learn a bit more about Moe’s.
“Hey! Welcome to Moe’s!” is what customers will hear upon entering the new restaurant. (It’s true. I was there and heard it myself.)
The ordering process at Moe’s is similar to that at Subway restaurants, according to Walden.
Customers get in line and order the dish they want: burritos, bowls, stacks, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads.
From there, pick a tortilla (when applicable), a protein (they have tofu!), beans, and other fresh ingredients that include rice, quinoa, veggies, cilantro, and sauce.
They have quite a bit to choose from with something for everyone. You can get something as simple as a cheese quesadilla or as complex as … well, something that has all the stuff.
Everything is customizable, said Walden.
Patel said that everything is freshly made and that the veggies are sliced and chopped on site.
Moe’s is famous for its queso, Walden said. It’s referred to as “the liquid white gold you’ve been jonesin’ for” on the website.
There’s also a nice little variety of salsas and sauces that include El Guapo, Kaiser, Tomatillo, Space B’Green Us and Tres Japapeño. Newer sauce options are the Moe’s Sauce and Kickin’ Cayenne.
And I saved the best part for last: Chips and salsa are free with every order, according to Patel, Walden and Buppert.
Moe’s opened Friday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m.
On opening day, the first 25 people to get in line at Moe’s will receive free burritos (or bowls) once a week for a year. Festivities also included a prize wheel for other grand opening giveaways.
Special offers and rewards are available for mobile app users that set the Edwardsville site as their favorite location.
One benefit will be an $8.99 burrito or bowl every Monday for the app users.
The mobile app can be downloaded at moes.com or any app store.
Customers who place orders through the mobile app can also pick up their orders in the Moe’s pick-up window, which can be accessed by driving around the row of buildings, entering at the end behind Chicken Salad Chick.
A growing town
Patel said he decided to open the restaurant in Edwardsville because “there wasn’t [a Moe’s] in this area.” He chose Edwardsville because “it’s a growing town, college town as well” and should do well there.
Moe’s Southwest Grill is one of many new restaurants opening in Edwardsville.
This new eatery is adjacent to the Orchard Town Center site in Glen Carbon where Chick-fil-A is already open.
An Olive Garden restaurant is currently under construction at Orchard Town Center and slated to open in early 2024.
Multiple Edwardsville restaurants are open in the Trace on the Parkway development, including Drunken Fish and Kimchi Guys. A Hi-Pointe Drive-In location will also open soon.
About Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s Southwest Grill is located at 2329 Plum Street, Unit 100, Edwardsville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
For more info, call 618-500-6637 or visit moes.com.
