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Alcohol:
Wine / Beer |
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Smoking:
Unknown |
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Reservations:
Not Accepted |
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Accepts:
Cash
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| Big Ed's Pizza |
865-482-4885 |
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Big Ed's is an Oak Ridge tradition. The restaurant is housed in an old, dark, high-ceilinged storefront in Oak Ridge's original townsite district. Under founder "Big Ed" Neusel, the restaurant served up pizza, beer, and soft drinks; jobs for generations of local high school students (many of whom considered Big Ed a second father); support for local high school sports; and local color for myriad U.S. and foreign visitors to the city.
Nothing much has changed since Big Ed's death. The restaurant is still operated by members of the Neusel family, still serves the same food and drink, and still is decorated with an eclectic mixture of sports artifacts, memorabilia from past visitors to the restaurant, and photos and caricatures of the oversized figure of Big Ed himself.
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday |
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Found 24 reviews.
Showing: 19 to 24
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Aug 3rd, 2003 |
Of all the pizza places I have eaten in my life, Big Ed's is the most delicious and unique I have ever had.
I would recommend that everyone and their family go to Big Ed's. The food is wonderful because it isn't the typical Papa Johns or Pizza Hut dish and it is fresh out of the oven.
The atmosphere is awesome too. The decor is massive...covering all of the walls and the juke box is always jammin'. This is a wonderful place to hang out and enjoy time with friends or family. Some may say the service is slow...but what can you expect from a place that is so popular for its wonderful food? I love this place and would hope everyone else does, too.
Advice: bring your own bigger plates. |
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May 8th, 2003 |
Nothing to say about the menu : basic crust and cheese and whatever you want!
If you do not enjoy pizza (and big ones) please KEEP OUT.
I was there yesterday evening, and it was a really amazing diner. I will never go again for a pizza without thinking about this Oak Ridge Institution and its friendly flavour. We could suggest to the Michelin guide to add a special chapter for such a place. |
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Apr 19th, 2003 |
I've never completely understood the attraction of this place. I guess it's the ambiance -- the combination of the old building with high ceilings, the decor, the crowds, the thin pizza, the floppy paper plates, the teenage help, etc.
The pizza is OK, but it's hardly wonderful, and almost every time I've been there the service has been glacially slow. However, many people love it. |
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Dec 7th, 2002 |
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"Nothing significant about this place or its food." I love that quote by the restaurant reviewer. Unfortunately, what is needed in Big Ed's case is not a snooty reviewer checking the labels on the wine under the counter, but a team of sociologists. I would have to say that "nothing significant about this place or its food" would capture the essence of what makes Big Ed's great. Big Ed's captures what is at the heart of East Tennessee. Blue collar, loud, smoky, rough around the edges, hot out of the oven, cold from the tap and sometimes down right rude, in the "unsatisfied customers" case. Big Ed's is not Mellow Mushroom. It isn't Dominos or Pizza Hut or Papa John's or even local favorites Tomato Head or Stefano's. Big Ed's is Oak Ridge. It is East TN. And by God, it is good!! |
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Sep 13th, 2002 |
On September 13th, 2002 my husband and I went in to have pizza at Big Ed's. We got waited on by a young lady who asked us what we wanted. We proceeded to say we wanted soft drinks and an Ed's special pizza without ham. We saw the young lady write down our order. After waiting 45 minutes and the waitress never coming back to our table, we flagged her down. You also need to know that the establishment wasn't very busy either, there was only four tables with people sitting at them. Not a huge crowd in this place. We asked her where are pizza was and she came back saying she lost the order. She said she was sorry, but a waitress only having four tables to wait on should have noticed that we never got any food. You would think after waiting that long she would of asked us for refills on our drinks. None of that happened. After we were told that, my husband and I left because he had no time left on his lunch break. He had to get back to work.
After dropping my husband off, I called Big Ed's Pizza and asked to speak to a manager. I was told I was speaking to a gentleman named, "Dave".
I got the impression from Dave that he didn't really care what happened. He basically scolded me that we didn't say something before we left the establishment. I already told him in the first sentence that we had to leave because my husband had to get back to work. Basically, I told him that I was unhappy with the service. He also made the mistake of saying he knew where we were sitting. I said if you knew, why didn't you do something about it. He said that it wasn't his job. I am sorry, but when your a manager of an establishment you should make it your responsibility to make sure your customer's are happy. He then asked me arrogantly what I wanted from him and that everyone makes mistakes. I told him that most good establishments would have offered the meal free the next time they came in. You would think he would have offered that himself and say that normally our establishment has good service and to give us another try. Instead he said, I guess we could do that for you. To me, he made me feel like I was the criminal for complaining.
I am sure when Mr. Neusel was alive, I am sure I won't have been treated like this.
Sincerely,
A very unsatisfied customer
P.S. - Please note that my husband has used this establishment for parties at work (ORNL) and will never use them again since this is the second time they have screwed up an order with him. |
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Apr 23rd, 2002 |
Last summer my wife, mother, 6-year old daughter and I visited Oak Ridge, my first visit in 49 years, since I spent five years growing up there in the late 40's and early 50's. When we were hungry for supper the first night of our visit, we happened to stop in at Big Ed's Pizza. My wife, daughter and I are natives of New York City these days, and I'll admit to being a little snooty about pizza. I just think very few places outside of New York can fix one that compares to what we can find in the City. I don't know why, but New Yorkers just know how to put one together.
But then I tasted a pizza at Big Ed's. And I've got to admit I've never tasted better. Everything was extremely fresh, especially the tomato sauce, the crust was just right, and the overall flavor was just exactly the way a pizza out to taste.
Add to that that the staff was extremely friendly and, when I told them it was the first time I'd been back to Oak Ridge in 49 years, they wouldn't let me pay for anything.
I really can't say enough about how much we all enjoyed the place and appreciate the hospitality of the people who run it. Oak Ridge is very, very lucky to have Big Ed's. |
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Found 24 reviews.
Showing: 19 to 24
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