Eatin’ and Drinkin’ in the Land of Lincoln: Part 4–Takeout Revisited

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 - Scott Leave a comment

In my last post, I listed many local restaurants with which I am acquainted that are a part of the Capital City Takeout Challenge.

Since then, the list of participating restaurants has expanded somewhat, so naturally, I figured it would behoove me to mention a few more.

Some of the establishments on this list have tried to come up with creative methods of combating the approaching wintry weather. The Fire Marshal, however, has had some things to say about open flames in tents, so this is a developing story as of 6:20 AM on December 10.

In any case, here are seven more local restaurants that I can recommend. Remember, the Capital City Takeout Challenge ends December 18, so if you haven’t started yet, better get on it!

Mekong Cafe

1308 S. 2nd St. Springfield, IL

Takeout Only

217-391-2511

http://restaurantportals.com/MekongCafe/

Mekong Cafe Springfield IL fried rice — Mekong Cafe has six different fried rice dishes under $9.00.

These folks have had a heck of a time this year. First, the COVID lockdown in March that affected everyone. Then, just four weeks later, some buttmunch was flying down 2nd Street and ran into a car, knocking it into the Mekong Cafe building. Then, after they repaired THAT hole, the restaurant was vandalized at the end of May during the BLM protests. A family emergency in September closed them down once again, however briefly. But they’re still standing. Let’s help them keep it that way!

Sweet Basil Cafe

4241 Conestoga Dr. Springfield, IL

Takeout, Heated tent (?)

217-679-2967

http://www.SweetBasilCafes.com/

Breakfast Burger Fries Sweet Basil Cafe Springfield IL — It Might Be A Breakfast Burger $14.95. Good luck finishing this one! A good sized burger topped with a ham steak (not slice, STEAK), bacon and a fried egg.

This megadiner had only been open a week when the second lockdown went into effect. They are known for HUMONGOUS portions and one of the most encyclopedic menus I have ever seen. We ate there three times the first week. Pretty much whatever food you’re craving, they’ve got it. Unless they can resolve the heated tent issue, however, they may have to go back to takeout only. Sangamon County isn’t messing around this time and has pulled the licenses of several restaurants that violate the COVID order, shutting one down completely.

La Fiesta

Two locations in Springfield. Pic below from 106 N. 5th St. Auburn, IL

Takeout. Outdoor seating, weather permitting

217-925-2200

Southwest pork burrito rice and beans La Fiesta Auburn Illinois — I’ve been up and down this menu several times, but I keep coming back to the Southwest Burrito, stuffed with crispy pork and covered in tomatillo sauce. $11.99.

LRF featured La Fiesta in Part 2 of this series. The Auburn location has been our go-to for takeout. They provide several new picnic tables for outdoor seating as well, though after today’s 60-degree forecast, I fear our run of good weather will be coming to an end.

Still, when Spring comes, and we’re HOPEFULLY done with all this COVID stuff, I hope places keep the outdoor dining thing. It does something for the sense of community when you see all these people outside enjoying themselves. The Auburn square hasn’t been this lively in the 23 years that I’ve lived here, and La Fiesta is a big part of that.

Chatham Cafe

414 N. Main Plaza Chatham, IL

Takeout only

217-697-1101

http://www.chatham-cafe.com/

Santa Fe Chicken yellow rice Chatham Cafe Illinois — Santa Fe Chicken–smothered in onions, red and green peppers and swiss cheese. $9.99

Chatham Cafe has had outdoor dining for a while; however, they have the misfortune of being a west-facing business. This means sun in your face at dinner time. They do a robust takeout business though, and being the only diner in Chatham, they do have a solid local following.

Finley’s Tap House

3236 Ginger Creek Drive Springfield, IL

Heated deck, plus inside dining with open windows

217-572-1996

http://www.FinleysTapHouse.com/

Beer Flight local brews Finley's Tap House Springfield Illinois — The food is great at Finley’s, but being a Tap House, they do have a rotation of local brews to sample as well. For a special treat, try an Assalted Caramel from Main Street Brewing in Belleville with cinnamon sugar on the rim of your pint glass.

Another repeater from Part 2, I wanted to mention Finley’s again for their outside-the-box thinking on seating. We ate there just last night, and were able to sit inside, because the bar side of their dining area has windows that open out to the patio. Apparently, the level of ventilation appeased the public health department to where they allowed limited indoor seating (although Finley’s is strict with contact tracing, just to be on the safe side).

They have put up canvas on the outside to block the wind, but left the top open so that they can have a couple of their patio heaters running inside the canvas, but outside the building (no carbon monoxide issues). Also, they have portable space heaters by each of the tables next to an open window. It isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty darn good. So is the food.

Hunan

1333 W. Wabash Jerome, IL

Takeout Only

217-726-5670

https://www.hunanwabash.com/

Fried rice Hunan Jerome Illinois — Do I like fried rice? Yes, why do you ask?

Since Hunan relocated down the street, they have rebranded themselves a bit. (OK, more than a bit.) It sounds like it ought to be a basic Chinese restaurant, and they certainly do have that cuisine. But they are also known for sushi, and now they have even gotten into the Cajun seafood boil craze. Springfield currently has three places featuring crab, etc. boils with a fourth on the way. I haven’t jumped on this bandwagon yet, but plan to soon. Stay tuned!

Krekel’s Custard

Various locations in Macon and Sangamon County. Pic Below from 310 Carroll St. Pawnee, IL

Takeout with walk-up window

217-625-4952

https://www.krekelscustard.com/

Krekel's Custard Pawnee Illinois — Glad we got here early. It got busy in a hurry!

Krekel’s started in Decatur, IL way back in 1949. They now have seven locations where they serve up burgers, shakes, and fries that have remained basically unchanged since then. If you’re in Central Illinois, chances are you have encountered their unique marketing tool, the car with the chicken on top.

The fight to save Illinois restaurants is a long way from over, and it certainly won’t end on December 18 when the takeout challenge does.

So, go out and getcha some! Oh, and don’t forget to wear your mask!

Eatin’ and Drinkin’ in the Land of Lincoln: Phase 3–Takeout Edition

November 22, 2020December 11, 2020 - Scott Leave a comment

You’ll remember in my last post I was mourning area restaurants that have closed, but that I also mentioned for each one we have lost, another has risen in its place. I was all excited about writing Land of Lincoln Part 3 to highlight some of these. Then COVID became the new Ebola, and our governor kicked us back to Phase 3, which brought the dine-in experience to an end. Technically, we can still eat outside, and several establishments are making do with heated patios and tents that are in compliance with the restrictions. We have been blessed with a lot of nice weather for November here in the 217, but…

…so this won’t last, and we will be back to exclusively takeout.

However, some forward-thinking folks in downtown Springfield have come up with a plan to not only show support for independent, locally-owned restaurants, but also to potentially reward those who patronize them—the Capital City Takeout Challenge!

The list of participating restaurants is updated daily. To get entered in the prize drawing, you need to get takeout from five of these restaurants by December 18. One of these restaurants must be minority-owned. Send in a picture of your receipts, and you will be entered to win up to $1,000! (See the Facebook page in the link above for details.)

Any of the restaurants on this list is worth your time, I’m sure, but below are some that I can personally vouch for. Please note that some establishments may have a limited menu for takeout (so you may or may not be able to order what’s in the accompanying pictures).

Mario’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

2841 Mansion Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 483-6888

http://Eatatmarios.com/

Mario's Italian Restaurant Pizzeria Springfield Illinois — Caprese Mezzaluna Ravioli with Alfredo Sauce. $13.49

Scoop du Jour

95 W. Plummer Blvd. Chatham, IL

(217) 697-8327

https://www.scoopdujour.net/

Scoop du Jour Chatham Illinois — One scoop for $3.95. You can add another scoop for another dollar, but be advised that the scoops are generous!

Lake Pointe Grill

1386 Toronto Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 679-3900

http://www.lakepointegrill.com/

Lake Pointe Grill Springfield Illinois — Pulled Pork Enchiladas are unfortunately NOT on the takeout menu, but you’ll definitely want to try them when they open back up.

Joseph’s Fine Cuisine

3153 Hedley Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 679-1464

http://www.chefjojocorp.com/

Joseph's Fine Cuisine Springfield Illinois — In sight, it must be right!

Great House BBQ

4233 Wabash Ave. Springfield, IL

(217) 572-1744

http://greathousebbq.com/

Great House BBQ Springfield Illinois — Top: Pulled Pork Dinner ($12.99) Bottom: Beef Brisket Dinner ($21.99) Extra cornbread for $1.99 each. That Mac & Cheese is some of the best I’ve ever had!

Taqueria El Dorado

1374 Toronto Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 679-5271

Taqueria El Dorado Springfield Illinois — Enchiladas Suizas ($10.99). Seven different protein choices!

Roots Latin Grill

4127 W. Wabash Ave. Springfield, IL

(217) 679-7357

https://rootslatingrill.com/menu/

Roots Latin Grill Springfield Illinois — (Clockwise from bottom) Picanha (Brazilian steak), Yucca fries, Plantain salad, Cheesy rice. $20.00

The Barn

1501 Wabash Ave., Suite B Springfield, IL

(217) 679-0610

http://www.TheBarnSpringfield.com/

The Barn Jerome Illinois — House Frittata with green beans, zucchini, mushroom and Farmer Cheese. ($11.00)

Nickey’s Southern Style Kitchen

330 South Grand Ave. East Springfield, IL

(217) 546-0954

Nickey's Southern Style Kitchen Springfield Illinois — Soul food doesn’t get much more soulful than this. Get there early–she sells out fast!

Az-T-Ca Mexican Grill

2753 Chatham Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 546-6906

https://orders.cake.net/11111887

AZTCA Springfield Illinois — Chili Verde ($10.99)

Taqueria Moroleon

1101 S. 9th St. Springfield, IL

(217) 210-2600

https://m.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-moroleon-springfield

Taqueria Moroleon Springfield Illinois — Supreme Tacos. Three choices for tortilla and seven for meat.

Biscuits & Brunch

2661 Chatham Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 670-1501

http://www.brunchbythreetwigs.com/

Biscuits & Brunch by Three Twigs Springfield Illinois — Breakfast Horseshoe + 3 eggs + fried chicken, because why not? $16.97 as pictured, but feeds two.

Wm. Van’s Coffee House

503 S. 7th St. Springfield, IL

(217) 679-4726

http://www.wmvanscoffee.com/

Wm. Van's Coffee House Springfield Illinois — Great downtown place to hang out (back when we could still do that).

Springfield Beer Co.

3788 Wabash Ave. Springfield, IL

(217) 441-2780

http://www.spfldbeercompany.com/

Springfield Beer Company Illinois — Coffee Blonde Ale (one of the best brews that has ever passed my lips) with a side of Nancy’s Pizza.

Home Plate Bar & Grill

2571 Koke Mill Rd. Springfield, IL

(217) 679-3313

http://www.homeplatespringfield.com/

Home Plate Bar & Grill Springfield Illinois — Chili Cheese Dogs (yes, that is the horseshoe cheese sauce).

Pie’s the Limit

1710 S. MacArthur Blvd. Springfield, IL

(217) 379-3846

http://piesthelimit.com/

Pie's the Limit Springfield Illinois — Chicken and Spinach with Cheddar Jack Cheese and Spicy Sriracha Marinara.

Casa Real

3100 West White Oaks Dr. Springfield, IL

(217) 303-5323

Casa Real Springfield Illinois — Chicken Chipotle Burrito ($12.99)

D’Arcy’s Pint

661 W. Stanford Ave. Springfield, IL

(217) 492-8800

http://www.darcyspintonline.com/

D'Arcy's Pint Springfield Illinois — Enchilada Ponyshoe paired with a Smithwick’s.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up that phone and GETCHA SOME!

Can’t Get This Stuff No More

November 8, 2020April 17, 2021 - Scott Leave a comment

A slice at a time, like a pizza pie

You serve up the truth, don’t want it anymore

Keep that in mind, when we say goodbye

‘Cuz you can’t get this stuff no more—David Lee Roth

These lyrics resonate with me as we mourn the recent passing of Eddie Van Halen. We all have our glory days, our tough times, and eventually our end.

The same is true for restaurants. Some are still going strong after generations, and some. . .aren’t. This is my eulogy for a few of those.

No. 10 Tavern on the Square—Pawnee, IL

This eatery has changed hands several times. Most recently, it was known as the Harness Room Eatery. The Harness Room was known for their BBQ.

Harness Room Eatery pulled pork pancake — Remember this?

It was one of the only places around that had pork steak on the menu.

Pork Steak Pawnee Illinois — Pork steak was my grilling go-to during my brief period as a single dad. This really took me back.

No. 10 was known for their excellent horseshoes, like the Philly Steak horseshoe at the top of this post. I also appreciated their soup and salad bar, featuring red-eye chili and THREE different kinds of macaroni salad.

No. 10 abruptly closed on January 31, 2020. However, it was quickly resurrected under new ownership as Copperheads.

The Copperheads bar planned its grand opening for March 21. This ended up being the day Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order went into effect. They soldiered through selling t-shirts and merchandise until the bar finally opened on June 26. Restaurant is coming “soon.” (UPDATE 4/15/2021) Or not. See below.

fire on east side of square Pawnee Illinois — Now you REALLY can’t get this stuff no more!

Ruby’s/Reva’s—Auburn, IL

Derrick Porter never really wanted to run a restaurant. Nevertheless, in 2017, the opportunity to reopen Ruby’s Cafe presented itself, and he took a chance. His homestyle recipes started bringing in the crowds right away.

Soon, running the restaurant on top of his lawn and landscaping business proved to be more than he wanted to handle, so he rented out the building to Reva Lowry. She reopened the cafe in May 2018 as Reva’s. Unfortunately, due to illness and the stress of the long hours, Reva had to close the doors after just a few months.

Ruby’s and Reva’s were both known for horseshoes as well.

Burger horseshoe Auburn Illinois — The Spanish paprika was Derrick’s special touch on this burger horseshoe.

Buffalo Chicken horseshoe Auburn Illinois — This buffalo chicken horseshoe wasn’t even on the menu. Notice the hand-cut fries.

Breakfast Horseshoe Auburn Illinois — Breakfast shoe with American fries and homemade sausage gravy.

Patty Melt Auburn Illinois — Reva made a fine patty melt as well.

In early 2019, Konner Dudley inquired about the building as a potential place to set up a brick and mortar shop for Redbud Coffee, but that did not materialize.

Instead, Billy Brand remodeled the interior and opened the Roasted Bean Coffee and Wine Bar, which has since opened up a second location down the street at Jackpot Gaming.

Nico’s Homestyle—Springfield, IL

Nico’s was a cafe on the west side of Springfield that was conveniently located on the way home from the kennel where we take our dog.

Junie B. Jones Kinner Kennels — I’m Junie! I am a dog. I like to go to camp and make new friends!

Nico Scaduto opened Nico’s Homestyle in March 2017 in the building which used to house Palermo’s Sicilian Cucina. They served meat from the nearby Farmstand by Willow City Farm. (These are the folks that made goat yoga famous around here. Seriously, it’s a thing!)

2019-10-20 Mcvey, IL Daily News | News Break — Photo courtesy of McVey, IL Daily News

Nico’s also served a breakfast item that I really enjoyed on mornings when I was feeling strong—the Phoenix Skillet.

Phoenix Skillet Springfield Illinois — With some sourdough toast, of course! This was only $6.99.

The Phoenix combined marinated chicken, onions, black beans, corn, and habanero chiles. And yes, it would light you up like a Christmas tree. Chocolate milk definitely made a better pairing with this dish than orange juice or coffee!

Like so many other small businesses in 2020, Nico’s Homestyle was a COVID casualty. Chef Howard Seidel has since opened Brunchfield Cafe in this location.

Patsy’s on the Square—Divernon, IL

Amanda and Nick Hackwith’s restaurant on the Divernon square was one of our favorite local spots to go for homemade comfort food. After opening in a historic building on the east side of the square, they soon realized they would need more space. So, they moved around the corner to the building formerly occupied by Bearden’s Cafe.

It seemed like everybody who worked at Patsy’s was family. I think this helped their customers feel like family.

Unfortunately, they had a run of bad luck in 2018. This culminated in June, when the air conditioning system had a catastrophic failure during one of the hottest summers in recent memory. They just weren’t able to stay open in the heat, and the business never recovered.

At least I got to have one of these before they closed.

Chicken Bacon Calzone Divernon Illinois — The Chicken Bacon Calzone.

The Snack Shack has now opened in the former Patsy’s location.

Groovy Duck—Springfield, IL

Restaurants close for many reasons, especially in THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES. Sometimes, they just shoot themselves in the foot though.

Groovy Duck was a Japanese place that was located in the Old Maverick building on Springfield’s southeast side for about five minutes. I had one REALLY good meal there in December 2016.

Duck Ramen Springfield Illinois — Lunch Special clockwise from left: Duck Ramen with hard boiled egg and fish cake, salad with ginger dressing, sushi roll with ginger and wasabi

However, they didn’t seem to be able to maintain that level of consistency. They weren’t able to keep ingredients in stock (I never was able to have the duck again). Also, the heavily cratered parking lot wasn’t all that inviting for the hotel guests across Dirksen Parkway, so nobody came.

In January 2018, the Groovy Duck took its last flight. They went out in that cliche way that all Asian restaurants do, with a “Closed for Remodeling” sign on the door. Nobody really buys that when you just remodeled the place a year ago before you opened.

The building sat vacant for a year and a half before Lee Zhang and Yuki Liu reopened as Yummy Crab.

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Our area has also lost several chain restaurants. Golden Corral and TGIFriday’s are gone for good. Pizza Ranch, just across the parking lot from Golden Corral, has been closed since the March lockdown; however, they are currently hiring a new staff and preparing to reopen under new management, as previous owner Vicki Orman is moving to Nebraska even as I type this.

It’s the small businesses I am more concerned about though. The ones that make you feel like family. The ones that know your drink order, your favorite soup, and what you don’t like on your salad without having to ask. These are the businesses that need our help the most now, as this COVID nightmare is not showing signs of ending anytime soon.

On the bright side though, did you notice that for every one of these places that has closed, a new one has opened in its place? We’re not done yet!

So, go getcha some!

(I’ll be highlighting a few more of these local eateries soon in Eatin’ and Drinkin’ in the Land of Lincoln Part 3. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!)

More Eatin’ and Drinkin’ in the Land of Lincoln (Phase 4 Edition)

June 27, 2020December 11, 2020 - Scott 1 Comment

Something significant happened in Illinois this weekend.

This means one thing for the Low-Rent Foodies in the Springfield area. Time to take off your masks and EAT!

So, with that, here are five local establishments that are open and ready for your hungries!

Finley’s Tap House

I first heard about Finley’s from a friend of mine at church, who is a fellow craft beer enthusiast. One day, whilst we were discussing the merits of particular brands of stout, he mentioned that the fish and chips at Finley’s were legendary.

My 49th birthday was coming up, so I chose Finley’s as my celebration destination. I was not surprised by the drink selection and the elevated bar food.

Finley's Tap House — Beer Battered Wisconsin Cheese Curds with Sriracha Aioli

What did surprise me was what else the chef had up his sleeve. Living in the 217, I don’t have much experience with gastropubs, as that’s more of a big city thing. The easiest way to describe the experience is, instead of a bar that also has food, this is a restaurant that also has a bar.

Because it was my birthday, I decided to splurge on the braised pork shank.

Finley's Tap House Springfield Illinois — Sadly, this is no longer on the menu.

Oh. My. Dog. I have never had piggy melt in my mouth like this. At $21.99, I don’t know if it quite qualified as Low-Rent, but this Foodie regrets nothing!

Finley’s is also a nice place to stop in for lunch. My daughter (Low-Rent Foodie, Jr.) recommends the Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad.

Of course, this is Springfield, so you gotta have horseshoes on the menu.

Lake Pointe Grill

I have mentioned this place before. It’s still one of my favorites, conveniently located near my wife’s office (or at least what used to be her office before the Branch Covidians took over Lincoln Land with their hysteria).

I have always appreciated the diversity of the menu at Lake Pointe, with its Midwestern take on southern classics such as BBQ, shrimp and grits and gumbo.

I have a feeling, though, that I’m going to be eating a lot more of their wood-fired pizzas, since owners Chris Hanken and Vic Lanzotti were forced to close the branch of Pie’s the Limit nearest to where I live due to COVID fallout. (The location on South Macarthur remains open.)

You can build your own pizza, but some of the combos they have come up with make it not worth the stress of making your own decision. My favorites are the pulled pork pizza with gouda cheese, jalapenos, and sautéed onions; the Creole pizza with shrimp and andouille sausage, and the Michigan Avenue pizza (shown below).

This pie bears much more of a resemblance to New York Pizza than Chicago, but that’s another post for another day.

La Fiesta

La Fiesta currently has three locations. It began its life as Omar’s Latin Fusion Cuisine in the former location of Xochimilco Grande at Piper Glen. Owner Omar Hernandez kept the highlights of the Xochimilco menu, made some improvements to the recipes, then added a few concoctions of his own. The “Latin Fusion” label might have thrown some people off though, so they eventually reverted to a primarily Mexican menu.

In 2017, Omar bought the La Fiesta restaurant on Stevenson Drive, rechristening it La Fiesta Grande. About that time, the Piper Glen location changed its name to La Fiesta Chatham (even though it’s technically in Springfield).

Not long after that came a very happy day when Omar opened the third location within walking distance from Low-Rent Foodie headquarters! There’s something about being able to sit on your front porch and smell fresh burritos! Speaking of which…

I love all Mexican food, but I CRAVE burritos! La Fiesta currently has seven different burritos on their menu. My favorite is the chipotle burrito (pictured above). I prefer this one with steak. It comes stuffed (and I do mean STUFFED) with black beans, rice, onions, and green peppers, and topped with that magnificent chipotle cheese dip and Pico de mango.

Two more that I order regularly are the Southwest Burrito…

La Fiesta Chatham Springfield Illinois — Loads of shredded pork inside, tomatillo sauce outside. I like it with a drizzle of Yucateca green habanero sauce. $11.99

…and the Tricolor Burrito, which is topped with ranchera sauce, cheese dip and tomatillo sauce to represent the colors on the Mexican Flag.

Lulu’s Diner

Lulu’s originally opened as an international buffet with an emphasis on Middle Eastern cuisine.

In 2017, however, it reopened under the management of Landi and Klorida Skenderi with a focus on made-from scratch American diner food.

Lulu’s in known for their friendly service, inexpensive breakfast and lunch specials and HUGE portions. I have been known to throw down some hearty breakfasts in my time, but I couldn’t even finish this corned beef skillet.

Lulu's Diner Springfield Illinois — $8.29. It’s OK to ask for a box. Don’t be a hero.

Lulu’s is one of those places where the staff knows the regulars and has their orders started before they even sit down. I can’t help but feel comfortable in a place like that, even as a first timer.

Scoop du Jour

After all that legal chowing down, you’re going to need dessert, right? So let your food settle, then head on down to Chatham and cool off at Scoop du Jour.

Shannon McCauley and Fran Abbott have been serving up coffee, fresh-made pastries, sandwiches, wraps and soups since 2015. Oh yeah, and ice cream.

Lots of ice cream.

About 30 flavors of ice cream, some of which vary from time to time.

And not just any ice cream, but Cedar Crest ice cream, from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, which is the greatest ice cream on earth. (I stand by that statement. If there is any that is better, I haven’t tried it.)

I usually get a waffle cone (made fresh daily), but sometimes, you just need a sundae.

These are just a few of the establishments that opened up this weekend. Many more are opening soon. This lockdown has been absolutely brutal for mom and pop places like this, so please do what you can to help them keep their doors open. One way you can do that is to share this post on social media with the hashtag #supportsmallbusiness.

Now go GETCHA SOME!