Got the sampler for a late lunch and shared it among the three of us (we expected to eat light)…read more Was $37. Our sides were sweet potato tots and cole slaw. Given it's double the price of a single meat platter, I expected it to comfortably feed two. On the platter were two solid ribs, a quarter dark chicken, and one hot link which were all solid sharing portions. Brisket which I understand would be one of the more expensive items - was one slice plus a sliver of a dry end attached to it. I'm not sure if that's one slice or a one slice plus what one was counting as a second slice. This was a disappointing mark - I thought about asking the server about whether we should have at least a full second slice. Pulled pork - to me is a much less expensive item compared to brisket - yet a relatively small amount. Not as egregious as the easily measured brisket. Cole slaw - even if it was made in house as opposed a commercial bulk supplier, this is a low cost item no? Small dish. Quality is very good - just a question of the quantity. Tap water here seems filtered for neutral taste. It was a nice day on a quiet Sunday afternoon so we opted to get seated outside on the patio with umbrella shade. Traffic going by was light and quiet. Two servers available during the lull while we were there and the worked as a team to check on us outside.

Never expected to find such great BBQ in a small town. Stopped in for dinner and had a great…read moreexperience. I ordered the trio of bbq sliders, one pork, one brisket and one spicy sausage. All very good and great smoke flavor Ang quality of meat. They serve them with just dry rub but had a great selection of sauces on the tables. I added a side of chipotle Mac & cheese with ham and it too did not disappoint, very flavorful and a healthy portion. The wait staff was friendly and very quick to serve us even though there were 6 at our table. It was a nice night and we all sat out on the patio. They also had a good selection of craft beer which pairs so well with the BBQ.

Oh my gosh, what an absolutely adorable place! Really threw me back to my childhood. It is a…read morecombo drive-in/dine-in spot that takes cash only, but has an ATM on sight. We had burgers and milkshakes that were solidly good and really hit the spot as we were stopping here along the way home from a long road trip. What really sets this place apart is the service! Everyone here was so friendly - and even though this is very much a "local" spot we felt completely welcomed. When they found out that we were from out of town they immediately asked us if we wanted a picture outside with Papa Burger and one of the waitresses enthusiastically led us outside for photos. This is exactly what you want from a small town root beer stand - a homey vibe, great food and friendly service!!

We stopped by The Root Beer Stand in Oglesby, which gives off a nostalgic blend of an old-school…read moreA&W crossed with the drive-in order bays you would expect at a Sonic, along with some super cute diner-style booth seating inside. Just a heads up that it is a cash-only spot, though they do have an ATM on-site if you need it. The service was quick and incredibly polite from start to finish. Food-wise, the burger was fairly plain but was cooked well, and the fries had a great texture and crunch even if they were a bit bland on seasoning. The side salad was essentially just chopped lettuce, but it was noticeably crisp and fresh. Overall, it is a fun, nostalgic pit stop with friendly service if you are looking for a quick bite.

Great brunch for the money! Lots of variety! Full sized desserts on the buffet. Great atmosphere…read moreand service!

Very good comfort food. Great after a hike. The service was good food was severed timely.read more

This place... oh my goodness, this place. The GEM of the Illinois Valley. I could sing praises to…read moreMongolian Grill from the rooftops, and I would if I had access to a roof. Let me state that I have been eating here since they opened, around 2013-2014 perhaps. Everything has stayed consistent, including the pricing, and that's been impressive. When you walk in, you have the option of ordering from the menu or doing the buffet and let me tell you- get the buffet. If you can cook at all, you will enjoy yourself here. You'll get your soft drink, then it's off you go to build your masterpiece. Five separate buffets with two side stations, there's a lot to process. There's two small stations, one for fried rice and one for ice cream. There's a cold bar in the back which features some salad items and desserts, and one buffet table full of ready to eat apps and foods with some soups offered. I did giggle that the one says "eggg dorp soup". It's what you'd expect at any Chinese buffet. Then we get to the good stuff- the hibachi stuff. You have three bars for hibachi: your noodles and veggies, your meats, and your sauce ingredients. You get a bowl and load it up with your choice of noodles and veggies, there are so many options. Tofu, egg, zucchini, baby corns, broccoli, water chestnuts, sprouts... I can't get enough color! Then you move over to the meat buffet, where you select your raw cuts and place the pieces in your bowl. I typically do the beef and shrimp, always good quality. You'll bring your bowl to the hibachi grill and set it on the counter so they can start cooking it. You'll go make your sauce at this point, which is where it could get overwhelming if you don't know flavors well. There are probably 20 sauces to mix and about 25 seasonings and the likes to add flavor, so there's a lot of room for creation with your sauce! You'll bring it up to the hibachi again when you're done, and they'll plate your order and bring it to you if needed. For $10.99 a person, what a stellar deal. So much fresh produce and variety from a family owned business, it's a staple in the Illinois Valley. Although I've moved to another state at this point, this is the one restaurant I haven't seen done this well and one I miss whole heartedly. I visited the IV from Florida recently and ensured I ate there several times because I just can't get enough of the great service and incredible food. If you haven't eaten here yet, you're missing out. Stop by today and build yourself the meal you deserve.

Was there late afternoon, so not all food tray were stocked. But still had a good variety to select…read morefrom.. The hibachi/Mongolian BBQ, very good!

We ate at Skoog's for lunch today. Great atmosphere, clean, nice people but We waited an hour just…read moreto get our order taken and the another 40 mins for our order to arrive at the table. And that was after asking the server twice what was happening and letting him know we would be leaving in 15 mins if our meal was not on the table. The restaurant was busy but not that bad and there were pleasant of servers. The food was very good and I would try them once again because sometimes it's just a bad day. But the jury is out. I wouldn't stay if we had the same service next time.

Fun place, good solid big portions, great huge chicken wings. The only thing is the music is so so…read moreso loud I had a headache, my chest was thumping, and I couldn't hear the conversation with my buddies. The wait staff are very attentive and sweet. They are always running around. Prime rib offered 1st and 3rd Saturdays for $48. They had specials today for V day. Lovely down to earth place. But please lower the volume on the music so I don't get hearing loss for my grandkids.

We were traveling through town on a Sunday at lunch time and selected Uptown Grill after reading…read morereviews. This is a lovely restaurant with amazing food. The service was great as well. I am trying to eat a clean diet without gluten and there were several good choices here. I had the Broiled Whitefish Parmesan with steamed veggies and it was delicious! My husband had the Spicy Thai Peanut Chicken which he also enjoyed. He said the bread was good too. We were impressed with the dining experience we had for a reasonable price.

Uptown Grill is a fantastic place with a welcoming atmosphere and excellent food. Every dish I've…read moretried has been fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The staff are friendly, attentive, and makes you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. Service is quick without feeling rushed, and the restaurant is clean and comfortable. Whether you're stopping by for a casual meal or celebrating a special occasion, Uptown Grill is a great choice. I highly recommend it and will definitely be coming back!

Thyme Craft Kitchen is worth the trip to to get there! Located in downtown Peru, Illinois, the…read morerestaurant serves freshly made food with ingredients from local farms. They even list the farms where the ingrediants came from on the menu. When I arrived I had to use the washroom. Not only was it clean but it was stocked with cotton towels. I knew that this was a good omen of things to come. My husband and I had the grilled cheese and tomato soup and the grass fed hamburger. This may have been the biggest and most pack grilled cheese I've ever had. The hamburger was good but the potatoes that came with it stole the show. Since the entrees were so good we were excited to try the desert. We ordered the homemade chocolate peanut bourbon pie. This had the consistency of a pecan pie and was very rich. Everything was great at Thyme Craft Kitchen. It comes highly recommended!

Delicious place! Yummy caipirinha, watermelon marg- sour but balanced, & lavender vodka! Great…read moreprice. Birria tacos! McRib w tomato soup! Wow! What a feel for this range of food! Amazing service! I'll come back! Please support!

Came here while driving through the area…read more I thought the salsa provided with the chips was pretty tasty. I ordered the carne asada. I was pleasantly surprised when it came out on a sizzling platter like a fajita. The steak was nice sized and grilled although it looked like a slightly different cut and not as pounded as some carne asadas. There was a nice selection of grilled veg, some rice and beans, some guacamole and lettuce and tortillas. The place was nice, service was efficient and food was good.

We ate here for lunch today. After seeing this place's rating, I thought eating here would be a…read moreslam dunk. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. The waitress had to ask for my order 3 times. When the food came, I found my lunch combo of a taco and enchilada disappointing. It was rather plain and I think the beef used was subpar. For me, my rice and the free chips and salsa. My wife's nachos looked rather sad, with just some queso and ground beef slathered over a plate of chips. I saw what looked like a rather impressive looking burrito delivered to another table, so maybe we ordered wrong, but on both items we ordered, they needed to try harder. I'd give them a chance again, but I wasn't impressed.