Going to Pontiac, Il

Any recommendations in or around Pontiac? I'm headed there today.

There's Bernardi's, which the locals love. They have an ok pork tenderloin sandwich.

DeLong's has a nice outdoor sitting area on the square. The lunches are good, sweet potato fries are good. There's a relatively new restaurant called Lydia's Cup. I went once, and haven't gone back.

If the Apple Tree is open, they have homemade pies and homey food. Along the square, I like Apple Tree & DeLong's the best.

There's also a Monical's pizza on the outskirts of town, as well as La Mex and Cafe Fontana.

If you feel like a little bit of a drive on from Pontiac, Lost in Time in Fairbury is good, with all desserts made in-house at their bakery.

Enjoy the murals, stop in at the "made in Illinois" store, the art gallery, and the cute antique store, all on the square.

Thanks! I'll check them out.

Oh, Pfaff's Bakery is a good, old-fashioned German style bakery.

I saw this too late. Pfaff's is the family favorite for chocolate long johns. The Old Log Cabin out on old Rt. 66 on the north edge of town is a nice diner. La Mex has great Margarita's. We tend to go to Bernardi's, but it's not my favorite. The VFW has great fried chicken on Saturday nights.

I saw this too late. Pfaff's is the family favorite for chocolate long johns. The Old Log Cabin out on old Rt. 66 on the north edge of town is a nice diner. La Mex has great Margaritas. We tend to go to Bernardi's, but it's not my favorite. The VFW has great fried chicken on Saturday nights.

Bernardi's isn't my favorite, either. We've been going to Emington lately to the RoadRunner for good fried chicken and pot roast, soup/salad bar that includes dessert -- usually bread pudding. Turtle's in Dwight has closed, and a BBQ restaurant has opened about a block off Main Street, but I haven't tried it.

tcdup wrote: Turtle's in Dwight has closed, and a BBQ restaurant has opened about a block off Main Street, but I haven't tried it.

guessing that would be Cherry Red Roasters?



kind of a cool spot - saw they had just opened the beer garden on the right about a week ago - Shay having a soccer game in nearby Coal City late Saturday made for a great excuse to roll over.

Pretty ligit BBQ - liked everything I had here -

1/2 slab ribs - pretty solid - Id be happy if these came off my smoker:



Pulled pork sandwich - brisket beans(really good) -



All in all a pretty good spot - $12 for a half slab - $6 for a sandwich add $2 for 2 sides and a drink with that.

Cherry Red Roasters
207 E. Delaware St.
Dwight, IL.

http://www.cherryredroasters.com/#about

Soccer games have been getting me around the rural area south east of my usual stomping grounds lately -

after Saturdays game we rolled the 30 or so minutes from the Morris area down to Essex, IL. a few miles off I-55, smack dab in the middle of Kankakee, Wilmingtons, and Dwight. Cool downtown with what looked to be 3 active bars -



we popped across the street to Ray's Ranch House reading up on their menu beforehand I saw they did bluegill and fried chicken - got me there thats for sure - also steaks, etc. typical roadhouse food.

fried chicken was top notch - a definite contender - crisp crunchy batter - juicy, flavorfull flesh -



(not sure how those those overs-sauced bake-b-q ribs got on my plate - - )

Bluegill was also battered - nice portion of fish for $11. Bush Lites & jim beam were cheap, and dinner for 4 was about $60, Solid place -

Ray's Ranch House
208 West Main
Essex, IL.

http://www.raysranchhouse.com/