This is a reasonably priced place that's definitely a local favorite. Excellent service! The food…read morewas quite good and the place was clean. I recommend the fried cauliflower! We'll definitely visit again.

OMG! I just happened to visit the Wooden Duck for my first time, during Blackburn Colleges…read moreHomecoming. The restaurant was packed and the staff hustled to provide good service. Lucky for me, I was able to get a seat at the bar. My adult beverage was a draft Flight by Yuengling. For lunch, I went with a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich with a side of Fries. The tenderloin was crisp and had good flavor. However, it had a perfect shape, so I could tell it came from a bag and was not done in house. I enjoyed the thin crisp fries. A roll of Paper Towels served as your napkin. Typically I prefer linen, but for a dive bar, paper towels do the trick. I also liked that the Wooden Duck has hooks under the bar. Hooks provide a safe place for purses and jackets. I got a giggle when I used the mens room and the owner showed his political views by having a caricature of the governor in the urinal. They even had a witty disclaimer, so you shouldn't be offended. I got a second giggle when I looked around the bar and realized, about 60% of the guest were an alternative lifestyle. So everyone is welcome at the Wooden Duck.

How did I get here. We retired to a small town that doesn't have a DMV office. So we drove the 20…read moremiles to the thriving metropolis of Carlinville (not really,charming for sure, but just big enough to have cheap plaza office space for a state govt. office). So of course although my wife had done extensive research on all the documentation we would need to pay a state to drive our car...we had missed one. So we went to the Wood Duck for lunch while we waited for our credit union to send us a lien release form. We had talked to the kind soul at the DMV and she was "all-in" on this place. She was so right. It is an intimate space, with a small bar out front, and then a few more tables in a back area. We took a booth right in front of the kitchen. It is a very "locals" place. There were some police having lunch (likely the entire force, at least by weight)...and one of them stared me down as if he had never seen a veteran, former DoD executive, in a collared shirt, and khakis in a public restaurant before. [Yes I was the only pepper in the salt]. The actual restaurant staff was excellent, and welcoming. Our server was a whirlwind of effecient hospitality. I got a pork tenderloin sandwich (and later the same day was invited to join a pork tenderloin sandwich group on FB)... ordered the fries, not clear if that came with them, didn't keep the reciept. My wife got a cheesburger that she was very happy with. My tenderloin was crispy, juicy and a bit too salty in a good way. This place is a definite keeper on the list of places we will be willing to travel to over time. Perhaps if I come back often enough, Barney will get used to "others" visiting his little fiefdom.

Awesome dive bar. Dark, speakeasy feel, but clean and set up nicely for not just drinks and…read morecomfort food, but appropriate for families. Waitstaff is friendly and welcoming. Great place to stop if you're traveling Route 66 as we were . . . and get a stamp for your Passport!

If you are traveling down Route 66 getting your kicks, you gotta stop by Weezy's. It is located on…read morea section of the Original Route 66 that runs through the heart of Hamel, IL. It is worth the stop just to see all the Route 66 memorabilia. The entire restaurant is decorated with a Route 66 theme. Having lunch or dinner of comfort food at this roadside diner, is a bonus. Looking at the menu, I was thinking about Chicken Wings or a Buffalo Chicken Wrap. Then I started chatting with three blue collar workers at the counter, they recommended the Fried Chicken and a Ham & Cheese Sandwich. They actually said, everything is really good. The restaurant was packed at 12:30 PM, so it must be true. When the waitress came to take my order, I ordered a Pork Fritter Sandwich. It basically was a Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich. The waitress said I make a good decision. It was on the thick side and the crispy coating had good seasoning. I only had them add, pickles and onion. It was served on a hamburger bun Instead of the chips that came as a side, I paid for an upgrade to fries. The fries were super crispy and skinny, reminisce of old-time Steak & Shake fries. The service was hospitable. It was obvious who were regulars and which one of us were first timers. That really didn't matter, we all got the same attentive service. There's a huge Route 66 Sign across the street, that is perfect for pictures. Smile!

It was a Friday night, so I considered myself lucky getting a seat at the bar. It was at the very…read morefar end, which meant I only had to worry about someone to my left. I didn't end them, but I bonus was, a hook and outlet was under the bar right in front of my stool. I didn't want the Friday special, even though some Fried Fish was tempting. All I wanted was some of their incredible hand cut and breaded onion rings. I paired them with a 6 piece bone in chicken wings in mild sauce. When served, I was pleased to see my order had equal flats and drums. The wings and rings were very filling. I ended up taking two rings and one flat and one drum home. They re-heated very well for the next days lunch. The service was a little off, but I will admit they were slammed. The bartender was slow on greeting and doing follow-up. It may have helped if they had an extra person behind the bar. Even a bar-back would have helped. They may have lost a star this visit, but I am sure they'll get it back soon.

Brickhouse has the perfect local dive bar feel but with a really nice setup inside. Huge open…read morespaces, tons of TVs for watching sports, and long tables that make it great for groups and gatherings. The food menu has a lot of solid options, but the wings are easily the best in the area, huge, meaty, and packed with flavor. Great variety of beers on tap too. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you want good food, cold beer, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Food is wonderful. Service is always top notch and the drinks are always great. Can't say enough…read moreabout it.

I am so proud of myself. Today, I went to The Pump House and I did not order chicken wings. It was…read morea struggle, but I forced myself to order something else off the menu and I am glad that I did. Instead of my typical order of wings and fries, I got the Pump Jack Burger. It's made with Angus beef topped with Pepper Jack cheese, Grilled Balsamic Onions, Mild Banana Pepper Rings with a Sweet and Spicy Sauce, all served on a Onion Roll. It was served with a side of Fries. I was impressed by the size of the burger and that it was hand pressed. A hand pressed burger always tastes better to me. I requested that it be prepared medium rare and it was done perfectly. The fries were soft, I'd prefer mine a little crispier, but they were seasoned well. I got a giggle from their ketchup bottle, it said it was "Fancy". They have an impressive variety of beers. They offer draft, bottle and canned. I personally always go with one of the many craft beers they have on the menu. When dining alone, I always sit at the bar. The bartenders are typically female and are friendly. I am fan of hooks under a bar and Pump House takes it even a step further. They also offer, outlets. If your phone needs a charge and you've got a cord, you are set to go. Offering outlets under a bar, is top notch customer service. Now that I know they have great burgers as well as their wings, I'll have to rotate between the two when coming to dine.

Had the ribeye and it was good. Had a live band and it was fun and met new people. Will continue to…read morecome back.

Great little place to stop when going for a drive on 94. The inside is fun to look around and the…read morefood was really good. Grilled shrimp yummmm.

Dud's was a great choice for an early dinner. We had Brussels sprouts, Basket of Tots, White…read morecheddar cheese curds for appetizers. There were 4 of us, each ordered a meal, 1/3 Burger, Double bacon burger, Grilled Chicken sub, Fish and chips. All the meals were delicious. I had the grilled chicken sub it was so good, juicy, and filling. All of the appetizers were tasty even the sauces that went with them. The cheese curds were crunchy and soft. When we walked in we were greeted with smiles when we said we wanted to eat outside they were very helpful. The waitress was quick service and great with suggestions . Sitting outside was comfortable tables had a large umbrella, the area was clean. We will definitely eat there again.

Bakers & Hale is a family favorite and an absolute must whenever I am in IL seeing family. The vibe…read moreis incredibly relaxed and very family friendly, ample space so you never feel crowded. The food is consistently good with generous portions, and the friendly service always makes the experience enjoyable. if your there during the live music, it's a really nice touch. Even though I come here all the time, for some reason I always forget the actual name and just refer to it as "Bangers and Mash." Luckily, my family always knows exactly whatI mean!

Bakers & Hale is probably one of the if not the most popular restaurants in the Riverbend area…read more They are know for their amazing bands on the patio, which is year round and a pretty decent Happy Hour. The other day I meet up with some of my cousins for Happy Hour. I cannot go wrong with one of the HH pizzas. Three of the six cousins, ordered pizza with different toppings. I went with the HH Taco's. I enjoyed Two Shrimp Taco's for only $7. The HH pizzas are $10. Three cousins went with the regular menu and enjoyed salads, chicken wings and chicken strips/tenders. Everyone was pleased with their food. The only thing keeping B&H from getting 5 Stars is the service. It's never consistent. One time it's over the top and the next time it's the bare minimum. It really depends on who you get as a server. The seasoned ones who have been for a long time, know how to work a table. The newer and younger ones, just don't get it. They don't hustle and as their station fills up, they get overwhelmed and everything goes downhill. When: January 7, 2026 Why: Happy Hour with the cousins