The only thing I've ever eaten there is the Slim Jim basket with the coleslaw fries and a root beer why? because that's my favorite thing I can't not stop eating that. I haven't tried anything else. Maybe someday I will. The Slim Jim is a ham and cheese sandwich on a hoagie roll lettuce tomato, and 1000 island dressing. I have to get this at least once a year because I don't live that close. read more

Cranwill's Rootbeer Stand/ Drive In - It's a ham and cheese called a Slim Jim - Burgers Near Me - Pekin, Illinois

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The best root beer around Hot dogs delicious Root bear so good want seconds Service is so pleasant giving out thanks you's for coming. read more

I remember Cranwills since I was a little kid. Driving from Peoria to Petersburg I too my partner there. Still have car-hop service and the chilli dogs and root beer is excellent. Great nostalgia! read more

Review Visit: Cranwill's? More like Cranwon't. On the eve of my epic two week trip through Canada/USA, my dad and I stopped in to Cranwill's for some food and snacks. This place was hyped up by a ton of people I know from Pekin. Not just Pekinites but people from the area. So, I had to assume the hype was worth the drive out there. Much to my disappointment, it was not. My father and I rolled up during a busy afternoon. The place, for it's seemingly random location (I am not 100% familiar with Pekin), had a good number of people placing their orders and eating their food. Cranwill's is similar to Sonic in that it offers the ability to drive up, park, order your food all from the comfort of your car. My dad and I eschewed that and decided to place an order inside. Now, that is something I don't think Sonic offers. Indoor seating. We popped a seat on a stool at the counter and looked over the menu. I wasn't the hungriest in the world, so I ordered a simple chili dog and a vanilla ice cream sundae with a strawberry syrup drizzle. My dad ordered just a vanilla sundae as he was craving something sweet. The teen behind the bar was hustling to keep up with our orders and everyone else. The guy earned his pay that day with how he was busting butt. When my chili dog came out, I was excited. At the time, I just learned about the wonders of the Coney dog. My order may have come with onions, but I don't 100% remember so I don't want to say for sure. I unwrapped the dog and sank my fangs in and I realized instantly that looks are deceiving. Admittedly, chili dogs can be messy. Chili dogs will spill out and get on your plate. But the one I had was too runny yet also thick. My mouth and mind were confused. The bun was soaked through fairly quick and choking down the rest of the dog was more a chore than a pleasure. Taking a deep breath, I pulled my sundae close to me and hoped that it wouldn't betray me either. It looked good. I love strawberry-flavored things. How can you mess up ice cream? Well, you can. Strawberries are a fruit that has a short window of when they are perfect. A little before or a little after that time and the balance between sweet and still edible is thrown off. On this day, I must've gotten strawberries that fell on the 'too late' side of that spectrum. They just tasted off. It's been 5 years (as of the writing of this post) and I never figured out in that time what was off about them. Maybe they were frozen and then thawed out? I don't know. Surely the strawberry drizzle might save the day. Again, no. It was a very runny syrup and while it had the flavor down, the excessive wateriness of it did not mix well with the ice cream or strawberry chunks. I can say that the vanilla ice cream and cone itself were pretty decent. Not a home run but it was the one nice thing that I was able to enjoy at Cranwill's, aside from hanging with my dad that is. It was a very miserable experience overall. I know my dad was feeling 'meh' about his sundae as well. Not to say that we have high tastes or anything like that because we don't. It just wasn't great. But, you run in to that if you do go out and travel. Some places are great. Some are awful. Some fall in-between. That's what makes exploring so exciting. You just never know what you will experience. I am a firm believer in second chances and would love to revisit Cranwill's to see if things have changed or if we had just an off day. I would love to try out the park-n-order option they offer the next time I come here. Should I get to retry this place, I will make up a new blog or update this one accordingly. Cranwill's has been a staple in Pekin for a long time, so there has to be something positive about that place. read more

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If could leave 0 stars I would! They have poor customer service and when you call to let them know they hang up on you. The minute I said we were just there and told her what I ordered, she jumped in and hatefully said well what did you order and how was it wrong!! Not I am sorry for that what was wrong with the order. Which upset me and when I started to talk she hung up. This business needs to stop hiring either family members or kids who think they can talk down to people and think it is ok to treat people like that. We used to love going there but these past few years it along with customer service has went downhill and we will never go back. read more

The food doesn't taste as good. The hotdogs I think have gotten even smaller. The chili tastes different. The baked potato was as small as my 11yr olds fist. The french fries were garbage. The price was OUTRAGOUES. 3 chili dogs 2 plain dogs 1 butter baked potato 1 large frie 1 half gallon of Root Beer $34.84 = RIDICULOUS I will not be back "change the name so Cranwills name isn't dragged through the dirt read more

We used to LOVE coming here. We always made sure to get our usual spot. Enjoyed the weather, being able to talk to each other while waiting on our order. We did notice prices climbing and burgers etc getting smaller, quality was just not there. We went from large rootbeers to small. But, the most dissatisfing thing of all was the Guy who owned it. Sometimes before, during or even after, he approaches the car asking how your food is, then asks you to be sure and tell others. read more

I came here to pick up my friend, who had ordered food with her family. While she was waiting for her food, she came and waited in my car in the parking lot. We weren't there for more than 5 minutes before the owner (I believe) came over to my car and condescendingly asked "what a nice place to park?" I was shocked and confused as to why he was so rude. We didn't do anything wrong and we were there for less than minutes. My friend, who was in my car was waiting for her food. He didn't even give me a chance to explain myself. Never will come here due to that interaction. read more

I stopped with my adult kids and grandkids while taking a ride in my latest toy. The temperature was in the 90's. We were thirsty! We had what was called 'rootbeer' and hotdogs. I'd been coming to Cranwells since when I rode in the backseat of my parents car so expected good food and good service. The rootbeer tasted like watered down rusty water with a hint of Kool-Aid. I knew Cranwills was no longer A&W but the original owners kept things pretty much like I remembered from the good ole days. This time the rootbeer, food, and service was far from what I remembered. Rumors are the original owners are not the same either. Let's just say I won't be back soon! read more

Cranwill's Rootbeer Stand/ Drive In - Stopped at Cranwells in our new old Model A for rootbeer and memories. - Burgers Near Me - Pekin, Illinois

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Had chilli dogs and a Rootbeer float for supper. Great atmosphere , quick service, fair price and good food. A great old style Rootbeer stand. read more

Place changed hands . Last time we went food was expensive and sucked . We got 4 hot dogs 5 fries and 4 burgers it was close to 60.00. read more

when do you open? can't wait for a coney dog, and rootbeer. do you have anything new this year? looking forward to a tenderloin. i hear you haave a new place... i look forward to seeing you this summer. we had snow this morning.. the blow dryer came out for the dogs. my computer keys are stuck... read more

Burger patty on single was very thin and poor quality of meat. I didn't like the chili on the Coney dog. The taste was strange. Also the hotdogs are not beef hotdogs. They say "all meat", the kind of meat is anyone's guess. The root beer only had a slight root bear flavor. The onion rings and French fries were good. Service was fast and the car hop was very friendly. read more

My mom and I stopped in for root beer floats tonight and it's just like we remember from when each of us were kids. Dependably consistent for over over 50 years, and the best root beer ever! read more

Great food and great service!!! Definitely try a double dons burger and their chili cheese dogs they are amazing!! It's pricey but I do believe it's worth it!! read more

We went there on 4/3/21. I had the slim Jim basket and my husband had coney dogs and fries. It was very good. Service was good, we got our order fairly quick. The new owner came along and introduced himself, asked how we were. I'll go back for sure read more

I love coming here for their burgers and the chicken strips are pretty good. also the only onion rings ill ever eat haha. Root beer is amazing if you love a good sweet root beer. Also try the brat if you stop by. read more

Good food, slowest service in town. Lots of kids inside talking and I saw my food sit on the counter for almost 10 minutes

First off i sat in the drive through for over 20 minutes...and thought since its taking so long hopefully the food is good....I have no idea how this place gets a 4 star rating... it's all a bunch of cheap frozen garbage. Processed everything and extremely cheap quality. Once i got home was very disappointed. They didn't even get my order right and charged me for extra food I didn't even order! My drink didn't even have ice in it... the place is run down and dirty. I'll never go there again that's for sure! read more

Great food, served fast! I had the walleye basket, very good stuff. I'm so glad they are open again.

I was excited to come here because of the raves I'd heard from many friends, but it was a very disappointing experience. The food was mediocre at best, and it was quite overpriced for what we got. I ordered 2 chili relish dogs, small French fries, and a mug of the "signature" root beer. All of it was bland. The meat sauce on the chili dogs (which were smaller than the hot dogs I've had elsewhere) was greasy and had very little flavor. The fries were nothing special, just the generic straight, unseasoned frozen kind. They might have benefited from more salt or even some of the cheap French fry seasoning I've bought at Big Lots, but they had no more flavor than the chili relish dogs. Even the root beer, which some locals rave about, was bland. It wasn't especially creamy, nor did it have a spicy kick. It just wasn't flavorful. My husband wasn't impressed with his meal (corn dogs, fries, and root beer), either. The two best things about our Cranwill's visit were the beautiful sunny weather -- perfect for a trip to a drive-in restaurant -- and the prompt, friendly service from the carhops. If not for that friendly service, I would be giving this place no stars. I'm not sure how this place has lasted 50 years; perhaps the nostalgia of the "classic drive-in" is enough to make other customers disregard the mediocrity of the food itself. read more

If you are in Pekin you MUST go! This drive-in rootbeer stand is a classic piece of Americana you have to see! The rootbeer is brewed on sight with the same secret recipe the family owned business has used for decades! read more

Drive in style diner. I had their signature burger and fries and home made root beer. It was all good.

Cheap food and good rootbeer what more can you ask for. I am not a big fan of the coney dogs. The chili has a lot of allspice in it which i am not fond of. The onion rings are my favorite. The hotdogs are small and the food is average but it is a neat way to have a relaxing meal outdoors. I recommend buying the rootbeer by the gallon before you pull away. read more

Heard great things about this place, but was bummed out by the experience. We had our order repeated to us twice, and they still messed it up. Expensive for what you get, and fries aren't the best. Root beer was good. read more

I have always loved cranwills and have been going there for 30 plus years! Nothing is better than a family owned restaurant

To be honest, we just stopped by for a snack, but wish we would have had dinner there. Great service and the Chili and Tamales were the second best I have ever had in m life. (There is a place in Texas that is unbeatable) Huge surprise. Plan on getting a few orders to go the next time I am in town. read more