Eddie’s Restaurant
When the sky high pies start calling your name and a gigantic hot ham sandwich lands on the table at Eddie’s, you know summer has officially arrived in Sylvan Beach. Nestled at 901 Main Street in Sylvan Beach, Eddie’s Restaurant has been a shoreline tradition for generations and is open daily from 11am to 8:30pm with online ordering available through their website at https://www.eddies1934.com/ or by calling 315-762-5430. For me, Eddie’s has always been synonymous with warm summer days, sandy flip flops, lake breeze sunsets, and family memories. I still remember staring wide eyed as a kid at the towering pies dazzling in the dessert case, wondering how something could possibly look that good. Decades later, they somehow taste even better than I remembered. And honestly, there may not be a more perfect summer meal than one of Eddie’s gigantic hot ham sandwiches enjoyed after a long day in the sun. Now I get to bring my own kids here and watch their faces light up at the sight of the colossal ice cream sundaes that seem almost too big to believe.
There is something wonderfully comforting about Eddie’s. The menu is massive, the specials are so beloved and consistent that they are proudly displayed right on the walls across from the daily soups and famous pies, and every visit somehow feels both nostalgic and exciting at the same time. You walk in craving your longtime favorites, but then you spot a new special, fresh seafood or Italian creation that immediately tempts you into changing your mind because you just know it is going to be incredible. Eddie’s has built its reputation over generations by serving hearty portions of comforting classics (liver and onions are still on the menu!) with genuine hospitality, and that legacy is still alive in every corner of the restaurant today. The Italian specialties are absolutely outstanding, the seafood is always remarkably fresh and flavorful, and the all-day breakfast menu somehow makes vacation mode feel even more official.
We were lucky enough to have Emily as our server, and she truly made the entire experience special. She was warm, attentive, and genuinely delightful from start to finish. Anyone dining with children knows how much the little things matter, and Emily went above and beyond to make the kids feel welcomed and cared for. She made sure their meals came out on our schedule, brought over placemats to color, and even delivered crayons in a tiny fryer basket that immediately became the highlight of the table. It is those thoughtful touches that turn a great meal into a memorable family outing.
We started with the Meatballs with Ricotta Cheese, and this dish completely won me over. Three enormous meatballs arrived bubbling hot, smothered in rich homemade tomato sauce and nestled onto a velvety bed of creamy ricotta cheese before being finished with fresh basil. It is simple food elevated to perfection. Every bite had that deeply comforting old school Italian flavor while the ricotta added this luxurious creamy texture that made the entire dish irresistible. It scratches that perfect nostalgic itch while still feeling fresh and exciting. The Italian Greens were another standout and an absolute must order. Eddie’s takes everything you love about classic Italian greens and gives them a uniquely Eddie’s twist by incorporating their world-famous hot ham. The result is smoky, savory, slightly spicy perfection with layers of flavor that keep building with every bite. The greens were tender and garlicky with just enough heat to keep things interesting, and the hot ham brought a richness that transformed the dish into something truly unforgettable.
The kids menu at Eddie’s deserves serious praise because it is exactly what a family restaurant should be. Johnny predictably went with his all-time favorite, spaghetti and meatballs, and the portion was enormous with perfectly cooked pasta coated in that same rich homemade sauce. Maggie spent several minutes debating the cheeseburger before ultimately making the right decision and ordering the homemade macaroni and cheese. This dish was outrageously cheesy in the best possible way with creamy sauce clinging to every noodle like pure comfort food perfection. Both meals were generously portioned and exactly the kind of hearty summer dinner kids need after a full day running around Sylvan Beach.
Kyle absolutely could not resist ordering the Half Eggplant Parm and Half Chicken Parm dinner, and honestly this plate felt like it had been designed specifically for him. Both entrees were beautifully crisp beneath bubbling blankets of melted cheese and homemade sauce, delivering that perfect combination of cheesy, saucy goodness that Italian comfort food lovers dream about. Instead of the usual salad, he wisely upgraded to the garlic fries, which turned out to be one of the smartest decisions of the night. Crispy, buttery, loaded with garlic flavor, and completely addictive, these fries are impossible to stop eating once they hit the table. Feeling mildly adventurous, I ordered the Honey Garlic Pork Ribeye, a newer menu addition from last season that I am thrilled has stayed around. This dish was phenomenal. The pork was tender, juicy, and glazed in a sticky honey garlic sauce that balanced sweet and savory flavors beautifully. Since the entrée comes with three sides, I fully leaned into the indulgence. The Caesar salad could honestly stand alone as a full meal with crisp romaine, rich dressing, and incredible homemade croutons that added the perfect crunch. The buttered broccoli was perfectly cooked and comforting, and yes, I also ordered the garlic fries because once you smell them coming out of the kitchen, resistance becomes completely impossible.
Despite being absolutely stuffed, skipping dessert at Eddie’s simply is not an option. We split the Mint Cookie Crunch Sundae, and it was every bit as outrageous and delicious as it sounds. Mint chip ice cream was drenched in hot fudge and layered with cookie crumbles before being crowned with a mountain of whipped cream, chocolate chips, even more cookie crumbles, and of course the classic cherry on top. The four of us shared it and could barely pull ourselves away from licking the dish! I also grabbed a slice of banana cream pie to go because no trip to Sylvan Beach feels complete without at least one slice of Eddie’s pie coming home with you. The pie selection alone is worth the visit with favorites including apple, banana cream, blueberry, chocolate cream, coconut cream, pineapple cream, raspberry, and strawberry rhubarb stacked proudly behind the glass like edible works of art.
Eddie’s is more than just a restaurant. It is a summer tradition woven into the fabric of Sylvan Beach itself. Since 1934 the Stewart family has bulit the kind of place where generations gather around crowded tables, where kids stare wide eyed at towering sundaes just like their parents once did, and where every meal somehow feels tied to sunshine, lake air, and happy memories. Whether you are craving classic comfort food, hearty Italian specialties, fresh seafood, legendary pie, or simply a warm and welcoming place to enjoy summer with your family, Eddie’s delivers every single time. One visit and you will understand exactly why so many families return year after year, summer after summer.
