Review of Edwardsville’s 222 Artisan Bakery

by Jesse Gernigin

I waited to write this review. Edwardsville’s 222 Artisan Bakery had expanded their hours and I wanted to give myself enough time to experience the shop in the expanded hours.

The 222 Artisan Bakery in Edwardsville has expanded hours and great food and coffee.

This is not the first time they have expanded their hours though. Way back when 222 first opened they had toyed with staying open later, they were not happy with the results then and scaled their hours back. Thankfully I can say this is not the case now. 222, which used to be open till 3 p.m. on weekdays is now open till eight and serves as a wonderful refuge from winter nights.

With the expansion 222 has decided to offer a wonderful and reasonable lunch special which includes a sandwich of your choice (I’m always torn between the Matt and the Caroline, deciding between moist tuna salad or a hearty roast beef is always difficult) a drink of your choosing (as in any drink whether it be a cup of coffee, soda, tea, or a pristine iced caramel latte) a bag of Billy Goat potato chips and a cookie. All of this for a reasonable $8.75.

222 still has the classic half sandwich and soup deal (and the soups change daily although White Chili is a welcome reoccurrence about twice a week) so fret not there. And on Fridays 222 still serves the best pizzas in town, and when I say best pizza I am not joking. Their pizzas are baked in their ovens, allowing them to come out with the perfect texture mix of crunchy and chewy to match the simple yet precise toppings they have. There are two meat options and one vegetarian, I suggest coming with friends as to try them all. Word to the wise, come early Friday if you want a pizza, I have yet to show up for a pizza Friday where they have not sold out before three.

But perhaps a meal isn’t what you want, and that’s fine. 222 bakes their bread and pastries fresh every day. So whether you need a hearty flaky loaf to take home to the family or a sweet tooth fix, 222 has your back. And for those late in the day folk 222 has a happy hour deal. If you come in after 6 p.m. all pastries are two dollars. If you think you’d like a loaf of bread my advice is come before noon if you can. The bakery usually sells out their bread three days a week, and although I have yet to see a pattern to the days that loaves sell out or a reason why all I can tell you is that the days they do sell out they do so before noon.

Then there’s the coffee. 222 has the best coffee in town, with a selection that stretches both sides of the flavor continuum to appeal to all palates, disinterested to discerning. What is really cool (in my opinion) is that Matt roasts all of his beans right here in Edwardsville. Matt’s hard work is well rewarded as both Companion Bakery in the Central West End and the well known St. Louis pizzeria Pi use his roasts exclusively in their establishments.

But honestly, in my eyes, that is to be expected. Simply said, the hard and honest work put into 222 should serve as the guidebook and measuring stick on which all businesses in Edwardsville should be judged. So come get a cup of coffee, a pastry, a sandwich, a pizza, whatever, just come, come and meet your expectations, and find them well met.

Related posts:

1. Changes at 222 Bakery in Edwardsville
2. Review of Edwardsville’s Grace Manor
3. Review of Erato in Edwardsville
4. Review of Peel Pizzeria in Edwardsville
5. Imo’s Pizza