Mt. Vernon Illinois eats?

We find ourselves again in Mt. Vernon overnight and need a dinner rec for a family dinner. We have eaten at Triple E bbq and it was the worst bbq we have ever had. ANY nonchain rec is most appreciated as we eat everything and we are willing to travel a bit to eat. We will be heading toward Chicago so if there is a place enroute on 55 that we should stop at before arrival in Mt. Sterling will be a tremendous help. Thank you.

HI,

Since you are driving on I-55 passing through Bloomington-Normal and Springfield, there are threads devoted to places to eat there. Plus there are a number of Route 66 restaurant relics along the way, too.

North of Bloomington at the Dwight, Illinois exit, there is a truckstop restaurant just east of I-55. We have never eaten there, because it is too close to my sister. We have stopped to use the facilities. I didn't go in, but the family member I was waiting for took a tour of the place. Whoever owns the restaurant is a collector with lots of stuff on display. Someday we might eat there and amuse ourselves with the collection. Sometimes small town restaurants offer personality you don't see everywhere.

If you want to do an update, there is/was a restaurant 15 miles south of Springfield along I-55 call(ed) Trucker's Homestead. Baked goods from rolls to pies were made on the premises. A lot of blue plate style comfort food on the menu. The owners sold the place, though they continue to sponsor the Blue Ribbon Pie Contest at the Illinois State Fair. That's how I learned about them.



Subject: Capponi's/Mona's - Toluca, IL.

Katie wrote:Just googling around, it does appear that the Trucker's Homestead restaurant is still in business in Divernon. I didn't have time to drive south of Springfield yesterday, but I will check it out as soon as I can.

If you happen to go, I'd be interested to learn if the food is as good as I remembered.

I drive into Mt. Vernon from time to time to check out the replica of George Washington's Mt. Vernon. It once was an antique store, then a backdrop to an auto dealer. I believe the auto dealer went out of business, so last time you could appreciate the vista across a large, vacant parking lot.

It is a large enough town, there has to be diners and family restaurants. I've never lingered much beyond checking if Mt. Vernon replica is still there.

Regards,

Do you mean Route 57 or Route 55? Mt. Vernon is on Route 57.

Anyway - I've heard good things about this place in Mt. Vernon:

http://www.9thstreetgrill.com/index.php

And if you are willing to drive an hour farther north on Route 57 to Effingham, you might enjoy:

http://www.ffgrill.com/

A couple options along I-57.

***edited because I fat-fingered "submit" before adding the two restaurant options***

HI,

I went through this in my mind and went off in the wrong direction, yep I-57. The post above will get moved to a more appropriate thread later.

Firefly Grill was at Chicago Gourmet festival. While I wasn't enchanted by a (cream) puff standing in for a roll, I'd give it a shot at the home base.

I'd jump off at Arcola and Arthur to find food, which are about 25 miles south of Champaign.

Regards,

Oh yeah - Cathy - Country Meats and Cheeses in Chesterfield is a must stop for me whenever I am over that way. A little out of the way, but so worth it. Sausages on par with Ream's, just not as much of a selection.

Davooda

Yes, I am geographically challenged!!!If you hear of a family wandering aimlessly on I-55-not I-57 it is us! LTH is like family-you know what I mean and not what I said. Thank you for the great recs. I will post our road trip when we return. We had done a drive by through Mt. Vernon and nothing stuck out-but it was late, dark, and raining.

Cathy2 wrote:I'd jump off at Arcola and Arthur to find food, which are about 25 miles south of Champaign.
Regards,

I am drawing blanks on Arthur and Arcola. There are a couple of Amish-style restaurants in downtown Arthur but that is about a 10 mile drive off of I-57. There are a couple of butcher shops on the main drag. The cheese factory in the middle of town has been closed for 10+ years.

I haven't dined anywhere in the main business district (downtown) Arthur, but I've had lunch often at Yoder's Country kitchen on Route 133 in Arthur. It's about 10 miles east of Route 57 and features solid home-cooking of the type I associate with my Grandmother, e.g. fried chicken, livers and gizzards, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, etc. There is a buffet (I advise against it - it's your ordinary steam table and I think they stock too much food at one time so it sits a long time) or one may order from the menu. I had a very good pork tenderloin sandwhich the last time I was there.
The pies are killer. When I've been there, it has been bustling and service is good.

As one heads east on Route 133, at the curve in the little town of Chesterville (not Chesterfield as I stated above) is Country Meats and Cheeses. This place - with full butcher service - has excellent meats, house-made sausages (on a par with Ream's IMO but not as much of a selection) and a full array of Amish-made food products like apple butter, noodles, etc. Their hours are nearly banker's hours so if you plan to go I hope they are open! Chesterville also has a small cafe for breakfast and lunch that closes at 2pm daily. The locals tell me it beats the heck out of Yoder's but I have not been able to eat there yet.

Hope this helps.

Davooda

Davooda wrote:... I've had lunch often at Yoder's Country kitchen on Route 133 in Arthur. It's about 10 miles east of Route 57 and features solid home-cooking ...

Shoo-fly pie and apple pan dowdy
Make your eyes light up and your neighbors say "howdy!"
Shoo-fly pie and apple pan dowdy,
I never get enough of that wonderful stuff.

My dad used to sing that all the time.

It's been a long time, but when we wanted a good meal we'd drive up to Centralia and eat at the Centralia House. Good bbq shrimp and steaks at that time. Approx 30 minutes from Mt. Vernon.

If you have a little time and an adventurous spirit take a ride south to Marion, IL and try 17 St. Bar & Grill for some very good BBQ. While it's not the same as our favorite Q places here in Chicago, it's close. Our kids were at SIU in Carbondale and we ate at their Murphysboro and Marion locations often. We never had a bad meal at either. Check out the website. If you go to the Marion location, I'd call for directions. It's located behind a big shopping mall and can be kind of hard to find.

17th. St. Bar & Grill
Marion
Conveniently located off Highway 57, exit 54B
2700 17th Street • Marion, IL 62959 • MAP
Restaurant & Catering 618-998-1114
Monday . Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

http://www.17thstreetbarbecue.com/index.htm