Remember reading a few threads/discussions on places in Illinois Valley but search function only brings up posts from megathreads.

Heading out to Matthiessen to trounce around and looking for a few recommendations to consider for a postgame meal. My dad used to go deer hunting around there and recommended Cajun Connection and Lodi Tap. Any other intriguing recommendations?

I know how to use Yelp but figured CFMBs stable of Valley and Central vets might have better insights.

Rips Tavern is north of there, but has real good fried chicken.

Uptown Grill is in one of the little towns there, but they had a good burger as of two years ago.


Dr. Ken's MFM Tickle Palace supposedly has good snacks while you wait. Also north of there.

Peru has an Applebee's

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there's a bar in Peru that has Hamms on tap
that's the best thing about that town

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I understand Garzanelli's reopened.

Seconded on Uptown Grill.

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Uptown Grill for me also. Very good

Great rub and tug in Peru



























If Kirkwood is looking for employment

Do they still have the wood-panel walls in the trailer waiting room at The Spa, Bob?

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Ron's Cajun Connection on Route 6 outside Utica is surprisingly good for that area considering the type of cuisine. I think they get their seafood daily out of Chicago.

Rip's in Ladd - best fried chicken anywhere.

Double-breaded cheeseburgers at Ziggie's in Mendota off I-39. Don't go for the ambience. Poke some holes in the burger to release the molten cheese steam before you bite into it.

Uptown Grill is very good.

I've heard good things about Stone Jug BBQ in Peru. I've never been there but it's owned by some friends I grew up with.

Haven't been to any of these in a while so I can't say their COVID-status right now.

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Tangled Root brewery in Ottawa had good food, but the beer was nothing to write home about.

Oh yeah--The Root Beer Stand has great root beer and their ice cream kicks ass, but the burgers are not much better than McDonald's. I also need four of them to fill me up.

The Silver Slipper ?

Aren't there a bunch of Italian places in the Valley?

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There are definitely some south of I-80 along I-39/IL-251. Can't remember a name off hand though.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Verucchi’s is the go to place for Italian in the Illinois Valley.

Also recommend Koncz’s tap in La Salle.

Godfella lives out that way.

There are but not any (other than Verucchi's) that you'd probably hold in any regard.

Until I was about 25, I thought that ravioli was tortellini. The ravioli (tortellini) always comes with the chicken family-style.

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I think I remember him recommending Verucchi’s once.

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You tell me!?

Hanks Farm is a pretty good place outside of Ottawa with a Wisconsin supper club vibe. Decent salad bar, large drinks, reasonable prices. Good for kids too with some animals running around the grounds.

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Lone Buffalo brewpub in Ottawa wasn’t bad a few years ago but it’s been a while since I’ve been over there as it’s a bit further away than other places. Uptown grill is good.

The spa.. good lord, the billboard of Rub downs and relaxation off 80 when I moved here cracked me up. I’m sure covid restrictions have hit them hardWe than the std outbreaks.

Correct. I think they are using the old recipes. Haven't heard any reports about it yet.

I think that's in Ottawa? Exit for 71 off of 80.

Been years since I have been to any of these...Don't get back often and when I do, it's usually for a short time.

Yeah. Ottawa has a large number of those places.

Gunsmoke Grill in the little hamlet Cedar Point is good. I believe it is on Cedar Creek Ranch. Loved the brisket there.

What?

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C_Howitt_Confuses

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