Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 20) TASTES of ILLINOIS Stop at these spots for a taste of regional cuisine I-94: Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Lincolnwood Dig into a cheesy deep-dish pizza at this very first location of the popular family-run pizzeria. I-94: Blind Faith Cafe, Evanston For 30 years this vegetarian restaurant has been serving three healthy meals a day, seven days a week, ranging from tofu scramble to seitan fajitas. I-90: Portillo’s, Schaumburg Get a real Chicago-style hot dog or Italian beef sandwich at this 1950s-themed eatery. I-90: Stockholm Inn, Rockford Don’t miss breakfast at this family restaurant famed for its fabulous Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, called Swedes. I-57: Yoder’s Kitchen, Arthur Located in the midst of Amish farm country, Yoder’s is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet that includes chicken with noodles and sweet cinnamon rolls. I-57: Giant City Lodge, Makanda Nestled within Giant City State Park, Giant City Lodge draws diners with its family-style fried chicken dinners. I-57: 17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro Bon Appétit magazine picked 17th Street Bar & Grill’s applewood-smoked barbecue ribs as the best in the U.S. in 2007. I-55: Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket, Willowbrook Located on old Route 66, Dell Rhea’s features tasty fried chicken and live music in its Blue Rooster Lounge. I-55: D’Arcy’s Pint, Springfield This cozy Irish pub is known for its classic Springfield horseshoe: a choice of meat or veggies served on Texas toast piled high with fries and topped with a homemade cheese sauce. I-55: Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield This Route 66 landmark is home to the Cozy Dog, which is similar to a corn dog-on-a-stick but better, using an original family recipe. I-74: Blue Cat Brew Pub, Rock Island Handcrafted beers and hearty pub grub like the brewmaster’s meatloaf are served at this restaurant, located on the Mississippi River waterfront. I-74: The Packinghouse Dining Company, Galesburg Famous for its prime rib and fresh cinnamon rolls, this restaurant is housed in a turn-of-the-century meatpacking plant. I-74: Avanti’s Ristorante, Peoria and Bloomington This family-owned restaurant is known for its Gondola sandwich heaped with ham, salami and cheese on sweet fresh-baked bread. 17th Street Bar & Grill ROBERT GARCIA COURTESY OF JOLIET VISITORS BUREAU Rialto Square Theatre I-55 Joliet This major north-south interstate highway connects Pontiac the Chicago metro area to St. Louis. I-55 largely reNormal placed Route 66 in Illinois, although some stretches overlap the original historic highway and still hold Springfield Mother Road treasures. Visit the Route 66 Welcome Center in the Joliet Area Historical Museum and view displays of rare Collinsville Mother Road memorabilia in The Route 66 Experience exhibit. Catch a play or concert at Joliet’s historic Rialto Square Theatre, the oldest theater on Illinois Route 66. It was originally built as a vaudeville movie palace. Get revved for the excitement of NASCAR and Indy racing at the Chicagoland Speedway or championship drag racing at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet. Take a few laps of your own around the KARTPLEX, a sensational go-karting facility. At the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac see mementos from the Mother Road donated by Route 66 Hall of Fame members. Kids will keep plenty busy at the Children’s Discover y Museum in Normal, where they can play surgeon in a medical center, milk cows in the agriculture exhibit and learn about recycling in a lifelike landfill. In Springfield, don’t miss the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, where the president’s fascinating life is Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum recalled through lifelike vignettes, eye-popping special effects shows and displays of historic artifacts. At Shea’s Gas Station Museum, visitors from around the world come to hear owner Bill Shea’s stories about his collection of gas station memorabilia and the half-century he has spent doing business along historic Route 66. Explore the remains of an ancient Native American city at Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, where nearly 70 earthen mounds have been preserved. Climb the 100-foot-tall Monks Mound for a sweeping view of the grounds. ROBERT GARCIA enjoyillinois.com http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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