I got to spend a few hours in Clinton recently. We didn't make any culinary discoveries but I found the town to be surprisingly interesting. In the mid-to-late 19th century Clinton was Lumber Capitol of the World. It still has an impressive collection of residential and commercial architecture, especially the Van Allen Building (Louis Sullivan, 1914). Originally designed as a department store, it sat vacant for years but has recently reopened as a drug store. The current owners should be commended for a sensitive conversion and for maintaining a small museum devoted to the building's history.


In Clinton I got to try my first Maid-Rite. It was okay but not something I'll crave.

Van Allen Building
200 5th Av S
Clinton IA
Maid-Rite
2328 Valley West Ct
Clinton IA
Blown Z wrote:Check out Candlelight Inn, They have locations in Sterling and Rock Falls, IL. They're famous for their Chicken George which I must say is quite delicious. Make sure you order it with the Jan's Sauce!
On the way back from Clinton we passed through Sterling IL so of course we stopped by Candlelight to meet Chicken George.


I'm a sucker for dishes with names like that so I was really looking forward to it. There's a lot to like about Candlelight—a family-run, friendly restaurant that takes some care with their food—but I didn't particularly care for Chicken George, basically well-prepared chicken tenders.

Fans of breaded breast strips would probably go wild over Candlelight's version, almost certainly prepared in house. I hate to say it but I really disliked Jan's sauce, which tasted like mayonnaise, thinned and heavily sweetened. Big splashes of Tabasco helped. Chicken livers are offered as appetizer or entrée. I bet those are really good.
If you're not in the mood for Chicken George, you can always eat his cousin. Charlie swims!

Candlelight Inn
"Home of the Original Chicken George"
2905 Locust St
Sterling IL
815-625-2600