Dublin Pub

Dublin Pub

Many people think of Dublin Pub as a knockoff of a well-known Springfield restaurant because of their great horseshoes. To the uninitiated, a horseshoe is a slice or two of Texas toast, a layer of one or more meats, a huge layer of French fries, and then a final smothering of cheese sauce.  Fries are the vegetables in this central Illinois favorite. True they do have excellent ‘shoes, ponyshoes being a slightly smaller version, with a choice yellow, white or pepperjack cheese sauce.

Though the shoes are enough to make me return time and again there is a lot more to like.  I’ve only tried a sandwich once; it was one of their burgers and was very good. Generally, I am a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but their specialty salads and large and excellent.  My go-to item is their chili.  Not a strong tomato base like most chilis, but it is my all time favorite chili. My wife and I recently discovered the all you can eat soup and salad menu option.  Salad choices are the house salad, garden salad or Caesar salad.  My wife is partial to the chicken noodle soup but I stick with the chili. Just $8.95 for the combo.

Very good service, lunch and evening specials, and all of the food is great.  Don’t let the crowded parking lot fool you, there’s always room inside.

Josephine's Tea Room - Godfrey, Illinois

6109 Godfrey Road Godfrey IL 62035
Phone:  618-466-7796

 Monday – Friday 11 AM – 2 PM and Saturdays 11 AM – 3 PM

I know Josephine's Tea Room doesn't sound like a manly restaurant and it isn't, but the food is great. No burgers, fries or steaks.  Not even pork chops.

No, I haven't turned in my man card, but I thoroughly enjoy Josephine's lunch. Josie's Stacked Club Sandwich (fresh baked ham, turkey breast, bacon, mayo, lettuce and tomato, served with slaw, pasta or chips) and a small soup barely leaves room for the main course - dessert. I haven't broken down and ordered a salad (In place of a large sandwich with MEAT, not yet!) but my wife has found the Crystal Bowl Salad and the Cobb Salad to be excellent.

Now if you're not a dessert person you just miss out on some of the best of Josephine's.  Each day a selection of 16 cakes,cheesecakes, and pies are on the menu.  Desserts are selected daily from a list of over fifty items.  While I haven't worked very far through their dessert menu those I have tried were wonderful.

Josie's Stacked Club Sandwich  and the small Crystal Bowl Salad

The servings sizes of the sandwiches and salads are not designed from a weight watchers perspective, but are very hearty portions.  The desserts aren't skimpy little slices but large enough to be a challenge to finish if they follow a meal.

The service is excellent but it can be a bit of a wait to receive your food sometimes simply because of the  volume of customers.  But this isn't a fast food restaurant, this is social dining where conversation with friends is at least as important as the meal.

A warning for men - there will probably be some other men there, but you may be able to count them on one hand.  This is where you go as a special treat for your wife or girlfriend, not where you hang out with the guys.

Josephine's has seating in their dining rooms for many, but warm weather offers the opportunity to enjoy outdoor seating as well.  This is place for an occasional outing with an excellent meal that most will find to be a great experience.

Chicks on the Square

103 South Side Square
Macomb, IL 61455
309-837-5477

Monday – Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM

Cute name and you immediately think of Hooters and yes they do have cute waitresses but think CHICKEN LIPS.  That’s their specialty but it’s really just some of the best chicken breast tenders you will ever eat.

I targeted this restaurant on a day trip just so I could tease my granddaughter throughout the morning about the chicken lips we were going to eat for lunch. Of course I looked over the menu before the trip so I knew the true identity of the ”lips”,  but didn’t know what to expect from the restaurant itself.

We were very pleased to find a roomy (at least when it’s not very busy) and very clean setting.  The servers were pleasant and efficient. And the menu was extremely chicken.  Any item with meat was chicken, even the Big Hawaiian Burger was chicken.  Not a problem, just my first white meat restaurant.

My granddaughter and my wife ordered the LIP SMACKER - 2 lips served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and your choice of dressing on the side.  I went with less standard LIP SPUD - 1 lip on top of a big (make that really big) baked potato covered with cheddar jack cheese, bacon, bleu cheese and green onion and the Chicken Tortilla soup.  At just $6 for each entrée and $3 for the soup it would have been a bargain for average food.  But these “lips” look down on average from a higher perch and were not only delicious but sized for your average giant.  

All three of us agreed this is a must stop restaurant whenever we are in Macomb.

Los Charros

700 W Clinton St, Rushville, IL 62681

(217) 322-3111

Growing up in Rushville when it was as white bread as can be, its great to find that a little ethnicity has brought a really nice Mexican restaurant to town.  Los Charros offers a great menu with all of the Mexican standards and a few items new to me.

Five of us enjoyed a late afternoon meal and tried several different entrees and all were very good. The highlight though, was dessert.  My granddaughter and I ordered a sopapilla with ice cream on top.  It is not something to order after a large meal - it is huge and wonderful.

The food, service, and pricing were excellent and Los Charros is a great gathering spot.  Definitely a recommended meal stop in Rushville.

Evandy's Boatel in Naples, Illinois - Preview

View of the Illinois River from the Boatel's patio.

With a currently projected opening date of November 1, 2012, Evandy's Boatel in Naples, Illinois has been offering some patio party previews.  This weekend my family drove to Naples more out of curiosity to see the new Boatel than to sample their food.

Only the patio was open but it was very impressive.  There are lots of tables on the open patio overlooking the river and an extension of that patio is covered (for those rainy days) with the main restaurant which is essentially the second floor.

Italian beef sandwiches and cheese and salsa covered nachos were the only food items offered this weekend and they were both good and I expect only improved "eats" once the dining room opens.

Evandy's Boatel still needs polish on some general restaurant amenities but I am sure those issues will be resolved before the official opening.  Just the sample of food and general ambiance of new Boatel left us eagerly awaiting our next short trip from Jacksonville to Naples.

Rudi's Grill

1913 W Morton Ave
Jacksonville, Illinois
(217) 291-0905

Grandma Rud's, a local favorite diner, changed location and name at the same time.  Now located in Pathway Plaza, just east of their previous site, the new Rudi's Grill has lots to offer.

A new attractive menu has the old favorites and few new additions.  There is a separate breakfast menu that is available on request any time they are open.  Comfort food is the heart of Rudi's with local favorites such as humongous breaded tenderloins and horseshoes/ponyshoes surrounded by many sandwiches and entrees that just seem right.

Joining the Saturday and Sunday morning breakfast buffets are the weekday lunch buffets which offer a variety of meats and vegetables that change daily and include a salad bar.

The most visible change to Rudi's is bright and clean decor, greatly expanded seating, plenty of room between seating areas, and much larger parking lot.. The wait staff carries on in the tradition of their previous location which means they are experienced, friendly, and efficient. 

Grandma Rudi's remains a great local diner with the same homey feel in a new improved setting.

Casey's for Pizza and Subs?

Gas station food isn't necessarily an oxymoron. "Yah, who says so!", you might be thinking. Sure, gas station food and gourmet will never quite pair up in considered thought. But for those whose dining requirements don't require multiple courses and cloth napkins or those whose dining etiquette includes a meal in a moving vehicle, Casey's General Store offers some surprisingly good choices.

Homemade To Go is their slogan that includes a variety of breakfast items, donuts, sandwiches, pizzas and appetizers. Their subs are comparable is quality and price to the sub chains and their pizzas, whole or by the slice, are very good. An indication of their commitment to serving only fresh food is the fact that their by the slice pizza is keep in the rotating rack no longer than one hour. That's not the same as "just made" fresh like their sub sandwiches and whole pizzas, but pretty impressive for your local gas station.

Jacksonville saw a jump from to two to four Casey's General Stores in 2011 and the West Walnut Street, East Morton Avenue, and South Main Street locations are equipped with kitchens and provide good alternatives for that meal on the road or that quick "homemade" meal.

Norma's North Star Cafe

211 East Court Street, Jacksonville, IL
217-245-6037

After being without a facility for several month's Norma's North Star Cafe has found a new home at 211 East Court Street near the Illinois Theater. In a newly remodeled building Norma's adds another full-time restaurant to downtown Jacksonville.

I recently tried out the North Star for a Sunday breakfast and found the food and service both good and in keeping with a local cafe/diner.  The menu held no surprises but had the expected home cooked regulars - burgers and sandwiches, several home-style entrees, and, of course, breakfast anytime.

Norma's North Star Cafe adds something new to the mix downtown and that is 24 hour availability on Friday and Saturday.  Within two blocks of several bars, Norma's will surely benefit from the "after closing hours" business.  There is also a banquet room available for groups or just overflow from the dining room.

Overall, Norma's North Star Cafe is a great addition to Jacksonville's lineup of family diners.  Good food, extended weekend hours, and a banquet room for family gatherings or business meetings all add up to a plus rating.

Barney's Pub for Breakfast in Jacksonville, Illinois

228 W. Morton Ave., Jacksonville, IL, 62650

Perkins, of course, is the place for pancakes and muffins and a general all around good breakfast.  Grandma Rudi's (with a Sunday breakfast buffet), the Three Star Diner (South Jacksonville), and Weatherby's are all popular good choices.

But don't forget to try Barney's Pub for a weekend breakfast.  Yes, it's a bar.  But it's a bar with solid comfort food breakfasts.  Large servings, reasonable prices.  They kinda specialize in piles of food - the Haystack, the Stuff Hash Browns.  Yummy!

Barney's offers good and fast service.  It's not fancy, but it's very comfortable with lots of tables and TVs (just about a 1 to 1 ratio) and a breakfast you'll enjoy with a friend.