Roadfood in the Illinois River Valley

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- Local Spots in LaSalle County Illinois  

We're heading down to the Illinois River Valley this week for a little rest and relaxation plus some food and drink. Michigan and Wisconsin are where most Chicagoans go to get away but I'm noticing a small uptick in people spending time and even purchasing weekend homes in the Illinois River Valley region. The IRV is two hours west of Chicago so around the same time it takes to get to those other states. This area is one of the most important geographic and cultural corridors in Illinois, stretching along the Illinois River from the Chicago area down toward the Mississippi River near Grafton. It cuts diagonally through the state and has shaped agriculture, transportation, and industry for centuries. At its core is the Illinois River and the valley surrounding it which is a broad, fertile lowland formed by ancient glacial activity which left behind rich soils and a landscape of bluffs, floodplains, and wetlands. The area is especially known for its dramatic mix of terrain. In northern and central sections, steep limestone bluffs rise above the river, while wide agricultural plains spread out beyond them. This is one reason the region became an early transportation and settlement corridor as it it naturally connects the Great Lakes region to the Mississippi River. One of the most scenic stretches is around Starved Rock State Park, where sandstone canyons, waterfalls, and forested cliffs overlook the river. Nearby towns like Ottawa serve as gateways to outdoor recreation and river tourism. Both Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks in LaSalle County are among the best in the state and can make for great daytrips or even a weekend getaway for the outdoors type. I've always been fascinated with river towns so this area has always fascinated me. Today we're headed to five LaSalle County eating spots I've stopped in at when I've been out and about this way - 

__________________________________________________

Wedron Office (Wedron)

As mentioned in many previous posts of mine, there’s lots of spots for fried chicken in the Illinois River Valley region. I’ve been to many of them but never got a chance to check out the Wedron Office until last year. It’s in the middle of nowhere (Pop. 140) but it's far from hidden. Found on the outskirts of Ottawa, Illinois the Wedron Office has rustic supper club vibes. It stays packed pretty much all day, every day. Two of it’s big draws are fried chicken with a thinly coated cracker crisp crust as well as a freshly pounded breaded pork tenderloin sandwich which is pictured with a side of locally made “ravs” which is what they call tortellini in these parts. All of that plus a 1/2 order of onion rings and trip to the salad bar (I guess those survived covid after all) made for a blowout meal. Each dish was as perfectly fried as the next. I hope to make it back on a Friday for the fried bluegill special. The BPT is one of the better ones in this area. As far as that fried chicken it’s some of best in LaSalle County making it some of the best in the Midwest or anywhere for that matter. You know that old saying “you pick one thing and you do it well?” Well LaSalle County picked fried chicken and they do it really well. 

Lunch at Wedron Office (click pics to enhance)
__________________________________________________

Maddie's Place (Leland)

Next stop takes us to Leland, Illinois (Pop. 951). This tiny farming village in northern LaSalle County, is located about halfway between Ottawa and DeKalb in the flat prairie country of north-central Illinois. It’s the kind of place where grain elevators dominate the skyline, the high school sports teams are a major identity point, and everybody seems to know each other’s name. That’s especially true of Maddie’s Place - an all-purpose small-town tavern where you get burgers, beer, trivia nights, live music, and community events all rolled into one. In towns like Leland, taverns like Maddie’s Place are often the civic center as much as the local village hall is. I had read somewhere that Maddie’s Place makes a great breaded pork tenderloin and I can now pass that knowledge onto my readers. As you might expect in these parts the fry job was fantastic and it wasn’t too thin so there was some real pork flavor to go with a fresh set of toppings and a soft bun to boot. I’m not the biggest tenderloin fan in the same way I don’t love fried chicken sandwiches but this was a BPT I would get again. 

Breaded Pork Tenderloin at Maddie's Place
__________________________________________________

Grant Street Grocery (Streator)

Grant Street Grocery is one of those old-school small-town spots that’s half grocery, half deli counter, and a fully local institution. It’s tucked into a modest building on the west side of Streator (Pop. 12300) at 402 W. Grant Street. From the outside it looks frozen in time. People around Streator don't flock here for the grocery side so much as the homemade food coming out of the deli and kitchen. They have a local cult following for the stuffed sandwiches served on Thursdays. It comes up regularly in online reviews and I just so happened to be passing thru on a Thursday so lucky me. It’s basically warm and fresh baked buttery bread slit down the middle and stuffed with salami, ham, mozzarella and other savory fillings. I could taste why it’s a local comfort-food. I also left with some really good freshly baked Hungarian strudels which are a favorite of mine in the wide world of pastries. 

Stuffed Sandwich at Grant Street Grocery
__________________________________________________

Smitty's Bar and Grill (Leonore)

Smitty's Bar & Grill in Leonore (Pop. 100) is a classic rural Illinois tavern that people from outside the area would never randomly discover. That said it’s become a legendary stop among road-trippers, bikers, Starved Rock visitors, and breaded pork tenderloin enthusiasts alike. Smitty’s is located deep in farmlands in the crossroads of LaSalle County. You’ll be chugging along and suddenly there’s Smitty’s, packed with people on wing nights and there's often a wait for Friday fish fry. The bar is famous for a few very Midwestern specialties including gigantic breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, broasted chicken, and some of the best wings in the area which are in my opinion the best item on the menu. The wings are fried to order and sauced up with made on site sauces like the signature “Sweet Heat” which is sweet and spicy. These are very satisfying wings best paired with ice cold beer.  

Chicken Wings at Smitty's Bar and Grill
__________________________________________________

The Old Mill Tavern (Sheridan)

Last stop takes us to the town of Sheridan (Pop. 2500) which is home to a handful of bars including The Old Mill Tavern - a small, long-running country bar and grill that’s been a local staple for decades, sitting out in rural LaSalle County near the Fox River. Walking into this bar can feel a bit intimidating due to it's location in the middle of nowhere with the feel of an old-school Midwestern tavern. It feels like old-country style spot with a time capsule vibe including an old wooden bar, plastic tablecloths and memorabilia from previous eras hanging on the walls. The draw here for most regulars seemed to be the slot machines but for us it was the fried chicken which some say is the best in the area - high praise for a place in these parts. Online reviews also mention the catfish but on this day me and the company I kept were craving fried chicken so we got a plate of that which was on special for a price that matched the old school atmosphere. We also got a half basket of onion rings which are the thinly sliced and lightly battered kind. They were good if not a tad too overcooked. The chicken was good but a bit over salted. But as to be expected in these parts it was perfectly fried with a crisp exterior. 

Onion Rings and Fried Chicken at The Old Mill Tavern 
__________________________________________________

Previous Posts You Might Like:

The Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois (2015)
The Illinois Fried Chicken Trail (2021)
Eating BIG in Central Illinois (2024)
Back On The Illinois Burger Trail (2025)

See ya next time @chibbqking

Back on the Illinois Burger Trail

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Illinois

Summer is here and so is the sudden urge for a road trip. Jumping in the car and exploring the Midwest this time of the year is one of my favorite pastimes and I’ve turned many of those excursions into blog posts over the years. No matter where you are in these parts the one thing you can usually find is a good bar burger. A bar burger is simply a burger served in a bar - it can be small or big or grilled or griddled but they’re usually made with fresh locally butchered beef and offered at a fair price. Today’s post will keep us relatively close to Chicago as we visit five spots 50-60 miles west of the city.

__________________________________________________

Bristol Tap (Bristol, Illinois)

Bristol is an unincorporated community in Kendall County located 8.5 miles west of Aurora. Even though it's off the beaten path, the Bristol Tap's close proximity to the second biggest city in the state makes it a popular place for both burgers and beers. This place feels like a backroads Wisconsin bar with the exception of all the Cubs stuff - the previous owner was a big fan. But they have a popcorn machine, they don't accept credit cards and kids aren't allowed. The famous 'Bristol Burger' is a no frills burger that starts out with 9 ounces of fresh and never frozen ground beef cooked on a large flattop behind the bar. It's a classic pub burger that could use a bit more seasoning which is why I suggest getting it with bacon. It's likely not going to compete for the honor of being the best burger you've ever had but it's still going to be a very satisfying stop for those that like a burger and a beer.

Bristol Burger at Bristol Tap
__________________________________________________



The Friendly Tap (Plano, Illinois)

Plano is about seven miles west of Bristol and also in Kendall County. It's a small town of just over 10,000 people with a classic Main street setup. It's considered part of the Chicagoland area but it feels more like a farm town than it does a suburb. Last summer I took a ride west to grab some locally grown sweet corn and ended up at The Friendly Tap for a basic but bomb cheeseburger. The beef is delivered three times a week from a nearby farm making it a real deal farm to table burger but with fast food pricing ($8). If you go on a Tuesday it's just $4.50 and beer prices are equally cheap. My only complaint with it is it could've been dressed better. It was bit messy but it was a delicious mess. 

Cheeseburger at The Friendly Tap
__________________________________________________



Old Thyme Inn (Sandwich, Illinois)

Olde Thyme Inn is just down the road from our last stop. It's in Sandwich Illinois which sits in both Kendall and Dekalb counties. Sandwich is home to the oldest county fair in the state which goes back to 1888. I cant find the dates for Olde Thyme Inn but it's an old time bar located in the middle of Main street. There's a long and narrow bar with old wooden vibes inside. I'd visited here before on taco night but I never had the burger until last Fall when we took a ride out west in search of a good bar burger. There was a nice crowd here on an NFL Sunday and they were all eating and drinking - beers and burgers to be exact. Half pound balls of fresh ground beef are given a light smash on the flattop behind the grill and the end result is a textbook backyard burger except this one is served in a bar. 

Cheeseburger at Olde Thyme Inn
__________________________________________________

Mott's Lounge (Burlington, Illinois)

Even though it's only 53 miles away Burlington Illinois feels like it's much further from Chicago. I don't even think you can call it a small town as less than 1000 people live there. It's most famous resident isn't a person but rather a bar. Mott's Lounge is Burlington's oldest bar. It just turned 100 last summer having served it's first drink in 1924. This spot shows off all the characteristics of an old school tavern including an excellent neon sign on the outside and a bunch of old school beer memorabilia at the Brunswick bar inside. There's also a jukebox and a classic pin bowling machine. Mott's is located in residential area and it's been run by the Mott family since it's inception. The kitchen is the size of a walk in closet and it's known for churning out one of the better burgers in Kendall County so I rode out there to see for myself. I got the famous Mott's Burger which comes with American and Swiss cheese plus grilled ham and bacon. It's a bit on the expensive side at $16.50 but it does come with fresh cut fries. I enjoyed my burger and a High Life outside on the patio on what was a perfect summer day.

The Famous Mott's Burger at Mott's Lounge
__________________________________________________



Sullivan's Tavern (Dekalb, Illinois)

Sullivan's Tavern is an old watering hole in the corn growing town of Dekalb - the town of 40,000 people is home to Northern Illinois University and was also the childhood home of Cindy Crawford. Sullivan's celebrated it's 80th anniversary this past May and it's still in all in the family as it's owned by four brothers who are the third generation of Sullivan's to run the place. It doubles as a liquor store but most people seem to be there to eat as it's busiest during the day. Old school burgers cooked on a flattop behind the bar. They're a bit on the smaller side which is reflected in the price. I asked for everything but this is the type of burger that's best with just mustard, onion, and pickles. Since 1945.

Cheeseburger at Sullivan's Tavern
__________________________________________________

More from 'The Illinois Burger Trail'

- The Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois (2015)

- Ridott Corners Tavern (2018)

- More Burgers in Illinois (2023)
_________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking

Eating BIG in Central Illinois

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- More Roadfood from the Land of Lincoln  

I have another post from the vault to launch as summer comes to end. This week we're going to head down to Central Illinois and check out some spots I've checked out down there from over the years. If you've ever wondered what constitutes Central Illinois it's the entire central third of the state, divided from north to south. The biggest cities include Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Quincy, Champaign–Urbana, Bloomington–Normal, Galesburg, and Danville. It's not the most scenic part of the state nor is it the most entertaining but it does have it's charms including some cute little towns including a few along Route 66, there's the state capital and a few universities including the states largest institution - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's also the home to the state fair and an area I find myself in now and then. Here's a roundup of some of the spots I've stopped at over the last few years 

Pics from Central Illinois (click all pics to enhance)
_______________________________________

Wally's Gas Station (Pontiac)

First stop is a place Illinois politicians love to swoon over - Wally’s Gas Station in Pontiac, Illinois is located just off I-55. Wally’s is known as the states “premier gas station” boasting a 30,000 square foot campus comprised of more than 75 pumps, four EV charging stations and a massive store where you can buy everything from beef jerky, popcorn, pastries, and bbq sandwiches and camouflage hunting gear too. If Wally’s sounds like Texas based Bucee’s that’s because it’s basically a knockoff. I’ve stopped here a few times over the years as it’s a great place to use the always clean bathrooms and grab gas but I really don’t see the appeal in their food and the snacks. Popcorn is popcorn…it’s fine. The brisket sandwich is akin to what you might get if Culver’s added one to their menu and they don’t stock lots of regional snacks like you usually find at these type of massive gas stations.

Brisket Sandwich at Wally's
_______________________________________

Cazadores Tacos (Onarga)

I’ve probably visited as many towns in Illinois as anybody save for a select few and more times than not it’s bc I stopped in at a bar and or eating establishment in one of them. That’s how I ended up in the small town of Onarga, 95 miles south on I-57 in Iroquois County. I had heard there was some good tacos to be found here and although my visit was more than five years ago it doesn’t look like much has changed when I look and read updated pictures and reviews. It’s a no frills family run taqueria located in the middle of the corn fields. Both the steak and “al pastor” were above average and the salsas are made with produce from their garden when weather allows. It’s a great place to stop if you need a quick bite in the area as there aren’t a ton of other options outside typical fast food.

Taco at Cazadores Tacos
_______________________________________

Lucca Grill (Bloomington)

There’s a handful of legitimately good tavern style pizzerias in Central Illinois and Lucca Grill in Bloomington is my favorite of the bunch. Opened in 1936 it’s been in the same building for more than 80 years. The inside of Lucca Grill is super old school with an ornate tin ceiling, an antique mahogany bar, and walls lined with pics and memorabilia from another era. Lucca Grill has a full menu but you’re here for the pizza which is also old school in the best of ways. JFK visited in 1960 while on the campaign trail. Pizza is said to have first appeared in Central Illinois when it went on the menu at Lucca Grill in 1953. According to the always informative Road Tips blog it was the son of one of the owners who introduced it after a trip to St. Louis (Lucca Grill doesn't use Provel). At first they weren’t sure if the pizza would stick around but that it did and more than 70 years later it’s the most iconic pizzeria in the region. The pizza at Lucca Grill is everything you want in a tavern pizza - it’s thin, it’s crisp, and the sausage has hints of fennel. This place would hold its own 135 miles away in Chicago.

Sausage Pizza at Lucca Grill 
_______________________________________

Stango Cuisine (Champaign)

We passed on Chinese food to check out a Zambian spot in Champaign. University of Illinois has a huge Chinese student body and some good Chinese restaurants to boot but Stango Cuisine is the only restaurant in the state serving the food of Zambia and one of just a handful in the country. First up was a platter with a little bit of just about everything. This included beef stew, chicken curry, and a Hungarian sausage link that I learned is popular in Zambia. All that came with rice, roasted sweet potatoes, greens. We also tried the oxtail and it all it the hit the spot like I was hoping it would. Zambian cuisine is mostly based on nshima, which is a food prepared from pounded white maize that came with our tasting platter and also the oxtail. It reminded me of grit cakes and took on the taste of the oxtail gravy which was pretty great. Also of note was the Kabulangeti Beans served with each order, you could tell those were slow cooked. This was some of the best African food I've had in Illinois. 

Zambian Platter at Stango Cuisine 
_______________________________________

Wienerschnitzel (Champaign) 

Regular readers should know my stance on fast food by now. I’m not big on the easily accessible spots like McDonalds, Taco Bell etc. but I do like to try the regional fast food chains at least once. For whatever reason Wienerschnitzel is one of the few QSR’s (quick service restaurants) specializing in hot dogs. They were founded in 1961 by a former Taco Bell employee in Los Angeles. I’d never been to a Wienerschnitzel until I drove by their only location in Illinois and decided to stop bc why not as it’s quick and cheap and I very much like hot dogs as well as all forms of regional food. Chili dogs are Wienerschnitzel’s most popular menu item so I tried one of those and I actually liked it more than I thought I would. These are one of those things that seems to be better than the sum of its parts as the wiener is skinless and the tomato forward chili comes from a can, which they sell there at the store.

Chili Dog from Wienerschnitzel 
_______________________________________

Krekel's Custard (Decatur)

It's coming up on 10 years since my semi deep dive into the smashed burger and it's original hub of Central Illinois. Since then the humble burger has gone international and no I'm not taking claim of that I'm just stating a fact. But since my post went live back in 2015 two of the better smashed burger spots have closed however they both reopened with great joy from their fans. It's tough to pick a single spot when it comes to the best smashed burger in Central Illinois but it's not as hard to pick the most iconic and successful of the bunch and that would be Krekel's. William Krekel, current owner Suzie Wichmann's grandfather, started the Krekel brand in 1949 in Decatur, Illinois. Today they have seven locations and I always like to check in at Krekel's Custard which is at 800 E. Wood St. in Decatur. They make the platonic smashed burger which is a McDonald's sized patty (get a double) smashed until the edges are crisp served up on nothing more than a cheap white bun with whatever toppings you want - mustard, onion, pickles are the way to go. Skip the frozen fries and pair your burger with a cone of custard - half lemon and half strawberry. As far as bang for your buck goes this is one of the best burgers not just here but anywhere. So until the Chicago Bears win another Super Bowl Krekel's is the best thing that Decatur has ever produced. A 1st Ballot Roadfood Hall of Famer.  

Burger and Custard at Krekel's Custard
_______________________________________

Maid-Rite (Springfield)

The story behind Springfield's Maid-Rite is a bit murky as there’s all sorts of years and numbers depending on who you ask or what you read. According to some it’s one of just a few early Maid-Rite's still standing. The Maid Rite chain is credited with creating the loose meat sandwich which is essentially a sloppy Joe without any sauce. It’s a hamburger made with loose meat. The first ever Maid Rite appeared in Muscatine Iowa circa 1926 but the Springfield Maid Rite is not a part of the Des Moines based franchise and claims to have risen in 1924 marking this year as their 100th anniversary. Not just that but they also claim their building, located along the historic Route 66, is the country’s first drive thru window as it was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1984. I stopped for a loose meat and a mug of made on site root beer and it was a fun stop despite the food being average at best. I didn’t like how the sandwiches are pre made but it’s a cool building to check out and the owner is a nice guy who saved one of Springfield's most iconic eateries.

Loose Meat Sandwich at Maid-Rite
_______________________________________

Illinois State Fair (Springfield)

The Illinois State Fair is going on right now so we’ll finish with a few of the spots I think are worth trying should you find yourself there. But if I’m being completely honest the Illinois Fair is lacking compared to some of its peers. For ex. the Minnesota State Fair puts Illinois to shame but in fairness it pretty much tops all the other 48 states too. I think one of the biggest problems the Illinois State Fair has is its location - again I'm only being honest. Being in Springfield means it’s three hours away from Chicago which in turn means it’s tough for some of the states best restaurants and festival related stands to make the trek down there for two weeks (the Minnesota State Fair is in Minneapolis). Nonetheless there’s still a few things I rec seeking out incl. the previously featured Vose Korn Dogs.

Korn Dog at Vose Korn Dogs

Vose Korn Dogs has been a staple of the Illinois State Fair since 1966. Founder Bob Vose worked the state fair as a young man and he liked it so much he decided to start up his own stand specializing in corn dogs. Cornmeal coated hot dogs on a stick are one of the great state fair foods and they’re said to have been created right here in Springfield at the Cozy Dog Diner along Route 66 though Vose’s are considered the standard. Owner Bob passed away in 2023 but his family continues running the stand which is open all summer and not just during the State Fair. I’m not the biggest corn dog booster but I always enjoy getting one from Vose Korn Dogs - the state fairs most iconic stand.

If you want some fries alongside your corn dog check out Cullers French Fries. Anyone that’s been to a county and or state fair in Illinois over the past 75+ years likely came in contact with this historic stand. Forest Culler started the business 72 years ago working the Champaign County and Illinois State fairs and the original trailer is now in a carnival museum in Florida. These days the family owns three trailers which make appearances at more than 30 seasonal events. They sell just one size of fries and no drinks. The only condiments on offer are salt and cider vinegar. Spuds are cut from fresh Russet Burbank (Idaho) baking potatoes by a machine that the family invented. The fries are then blanched in oil at one temp and moved to another basket of oil at a higher temperature for crisping. 

French Fries at Cullers French Fries 

Then there's the Pork Patio. It’s been a part of the Illinois State Fair for more than 30 years. They have a handful of items made with Illinois farm raised pork including the popular pork on a stick. Last time I was down there they were sold out of the pork on a stick so I went with a pork chop sandwich which is nothing more than a pork chop in a bun but it’s pretty damn good with some mustard added on. I would definitely eat a few of these every year if I was a regular attendee of the Illinois State Fair. 

Pork Chop Sandwich at The Pork Patio 
_______________________________________

Tastee Treat (Taylorville)

A couple summers ago when I went down to the Illinois State Fair for the night with a friend who had to be there for Democrats day we took a ride the next morning to the small town of Taylorville to try an old school burger spot that I documented HERE. After that we hopped over to the Tastee Treat which was established back in 1964. This is your typical Midwest ice cream stand and I mean that in the best way possible. They don't make them this anymore. Seeing as how Tastee Treat is in Central Illinois I made sure to get the lemon soft serve which is a signature summer snack in these parts.

Lemon Soft Serve at Tastee Treat 
_______________________________________

If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois

The Illinois Fried Chicken Trail

Eating BIG in Peoria

Illinois Fish Sandwiches

More Burgers in Illinois
_______________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking