Dining / Restaurants

Theo’s has more than coffee on the menu

By Stephanie De Pasquale | Friday, October 10, 2008 | () comments

VIDEO: Theo's Java Club
Theo's offers a laid-back atmosphere and all types of java.…
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A painful visit to the dentist didn’t stop Brooke Guy of Davenport from making her weekly visit to Theo’s Java Club in Rock Island for a toddy and a bowl of cheesy potato soup.

“Usually I eat the sandwiches, but I can’t because I just got all four of my wisdom teeth pulled,” said Guy, who normally gets a turkey sandwich with everything on it.

Guy has been coming to Theo’s about once a week for the past four years because of the prices and the food. Her order of soup and a coffee was less than $5.

“It’s really cheap and it’s a really good atmosphere,” she said. “I could sit here all day and nobody would say anything.”

Theo’s recently celebrated 15 years in business in the Quad-Cities, but owner Theo Grevas said customers still come in and don’t realize the business serves more than just coffee.

To draw more attention to its lunch and breakfast menu, Theo’s recently added a breakfast burrito, which can be made with ham or bacon, and is showcasing its specialty sandwiches such as the reuben, club, veggie, BLT and tuna melt. All specialty sandwiches are toasted and cost $4.35. Regular sandwiches are $3.69.

“When you get that, a cup of soup at $2.30 and a beverage, you’re well under $10,” Grevas said. “We’re trying to keep prices as low as we can, so that hopefully will get people in here to try it, see how good it is.”

Theo’s also offers half-sandwich and soup deals of $4.85 for a bowl and $4.35 for a cup. All breakfast menu items are less than $2.50.

Coffees range from $1.50 to $3.80 for specialty items, with most orders less than $3.

“I think some big coffee chains have understood it finally, after many years of $4 coffees, that you can’t do that,” Grevas said. “You have to have a decent cup of coffee and a decent latte, cappuccino, for a price that people feel comfortable paying.”

Grevas makes sure business customers on their lunch break can get in and out quickly by offering an order-by-telephone option and getting all orders made within five to 10 minutes. But he also began offering free WiFi access recently and doesn’t mind at all if customers such as Guy spend their whole afternoon in the coffee shop.

“I think besides having something good to eat and snack on, you can have a place for people to come in and relax and enjoy,” he said.

Theo’s also has an open stage night at 7 p.m. Thursdays and offers live music at least once a week on Friday or Saturday evenings.

Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

$10 ore less

What: Theo’s Java Club

Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday

Where: 213 17th St., Rock Island, and at Trinity Medical Center-West Campus, 2701 17th St., Rock Island

Specialties: Tomato bisque, green chili corn chowder, chicken and wild rice, cream of broccoli and cheesy potato soups, reuben and BLT sandwiches, breakfast burritos, coffees, mochas, lattes, cappuccinos, toddies and Greek frappe coffee.

Where’s your favorite spot?: Do you know of a Quad-City area restaurant, bar or entertainment venue where a meal or a night out costs $10 or less per person? Give your ideas to entertainment reporter Stephanie De Pasquale.