Had a delightful weekday lunch here on a recent road trip. I went with the pork tenderloin "shoe."…read more If you aren't familiar with the "shoe" it's a mid Illinois thing with Texas toast, topped with your choice of protein, fries, and your choice of sausage gravy or cheese sauce. Each element of the plate was great, good tenderloin, lightly battered, crispy fries, and outstanding cheese sauce. They were very busy with the local crowd, including a couple of tables of card players. Just one employee and a cook holding down the fort, but they managed well. Wish I knew what was in that cheese sauce.

Enjoyed lunch here today. I had read local reviews so we gave it a shot, only 30 minutes or so…read morefrom our house. The service was efficient, polite, a single woman running the front and one cook. Our food came out pretty fast. It wasn't that busy when we first got there right at noon, but the numbers grew as we wrapped up. I got a pork tenderloin sandwich w/ fries and my wife got a shrimp basket. The meals were good, and a pleasant lunch. We will certainly come back and try some other things. The fries and my BPT were a bit overcooked for my personal taste but certainly not burned or inedible. The place itself is quite nice, a big old building with lots of old wood and brick. The decoration style is simple, a few knick knacks, some model ships.

There are times when you want to walk into a space that has been carefully put together by someone…read morewith all the right training, so the colors are just so. The furniture blends seemlessly into the theme of the menu or some such. There are other times when you are content to walk into a clean, simple space where the decor has been put together over the years by many different people, with different quirks and fancies. The furniture is functional, might not even all match...all good. Route 138 Cafe is that second kind of place. The name alone, is so plain sense Midwest, practical. It not some whimsical thought excercise like Nutmeg Hutch or some such. There are no fancy uniforms, the staff might have on T-shirts from the restaurant. We have had no issues with any of the staff, they have been nothing but pleasant, effective and welcoming. We have been here a few times now since moving to the area, this was the first time for lunch. I had a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich with seasoned fries, my wife got a BLT with same. Do splurge for the "special" fries vs. the standard crinkle cut. Somehow crinkle cut fries take me back to elementary school, and no matter how hot and great they may be in this present time, they take me back to luke warm unsalted punishment on a plastic tray. There is nothing fancy about anything I have eaten here. It's not perfect, what is- it is also obviously put together with care. That goes a long way. I have had beautiful, expensive meals and left hungry and full of regret. We left Saturday afternoon feeling full, comfortable and starting to fit in to our "fly-over" retirement.

Went for dinner with my grandfather. The waitresses were nice, but completely clueless. When a…read morenearby table asked for a manager, they were informed there was no manager. We waited 50 minutes for a chicken wrap and roast beef. They didn't have silverware clean, so we had to wait another 5 or 10 minutes for that after the food came out. There was one cook in the kitchen audibly yelling in the kitchen in time. Though the staff seemed overwhelmed were overwhelmed, although there were less than 10 tables. As someone with experience managing bars and restaurants all over St. Louis, the fault here lies with the owners or management. The staff were not set up for success. There should absolutely be a manager on duty. In fact, it's the law - in illinois you must have certified food protection manager on sight at all times. Not having a second cook on duty sounds like ownership trying to cheap out on overhead. The food was ok. Not bad, and not good. I'm not sure how this place passed a health inspection.

Absolutely love this place ! It's always impressive and improving! There is sooo much to do and see!read more

Color me surprised, I really didn't think Twistee Treat Diner would be as good as it was. With it…read morebeing such a tourist trap, I really was expecting the food to be mediocre at best. Instead, it was a very enjoyable breakfast. I ordered, The Livy which was, one egg, choice of protein, hash browns and toast. I choose bacon as my protein. Their menu proudly promotes that the bacon and sausage is from local farmers. Trust me when I tell you, the bacon was very delectable. It could have been crisper, but the flavor made up for the lack of crispiness. I choose not to take the toast with my breakfast entree, because I also ordered a half size of Biscuits and Gravy. The biscuit was not made it house, its shape was too perfect. However, the gravy with chunks of locally sourced sausage made it a true comfort dish. The gravy was a semi-thick milk gravy and it wasn't overly seasoned with salt and had the right amount of pepper. Trying to watch my sodium intake, I like it when chefs are light handed when shaking the salt into a recipe. The atmosphere is like stepping back into the 50's. You truly will feel as if you left the sock hop and stopped by the local soda shop for a bite. I'll give you a heads up, the outside is junky with a lot of weird stuff. Ignore the decor on the outside and head straight into the diner for a good home cooked meal. The service was impressive. One waitress was taking care of the entire small dining room. I over heard her tell another table, that she was relatively new. Being new, she did a great job. She was attentive and very personable. Her service alone would get me to come back.

Biggest collection of kitsch I have ever seen in my entire life! If you are looking for traditional…read more"antiques" - fine furniture etc. keep driving, but if you want to ride down memory lane into the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, this is IT. All the toys, memorabilia, 8-tracks, vinyl records, and nick-nacks your heart desire. It is really a hoot! Very tongue in cheek and all in fun!

You know those places that make you smile before you even get out of the car? The Pink Elephant…read moreAntique Mall is one of those places. My brother and I stopped during a Route 66 road trip expecting to grab lunch, browse a few antique booths, and continue on to St. Louis. Four hours later, we were still there. The giant pink elephant and fiberglass figures outside immediately grab your attention, but that's only the beginning. Inside the former Livingston High School, you'll find 30,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, vintage treasures, Route 66 memorabilia, toys, advertising signs, home décor, and enough nostalgia to keep you wandering for hours. One of my favorite things about Pink Elephant is that it appeals to far more than antique shoppers. Even if you don't buy a thing, there are countless photo opportunities, fun roadside attractions, a retro diner, and a fantastic candy and fudge shop. We had lunch at the Twistee Treat Diner, where I enjoyed a burger, onion rings, and a salted caramel milkshake that was worth every calorie. The diner has a fun retro vibe and was packed during our visit. Before leaving, we stopped by the Mother Road Fudge Factory and Candy Shop. The homemade fudge was fresh, creamy, and some of the best I've ever tasted. What truly makes this place special, though, is the Pickerill family. Owners Tonia and Wayne clearly love what they do. Their enthusiasm, friendliness, and passion for creating a memorable experience are evident throughout the property. You can tell they genuinely enjoy meeting travelers and sharing this unique Route 66 destination with others. As a photographer, I left with over 100 photos. As a traveler, I left with great memories. As a Route 66 enthusiast, I left knowing this is a stop I'll recommend to everyone. Whether you're traveling Route 66, looking for a fun family outing, searching for antiques, craving homemade fudge, or simply want a memorable roadside adventure, Pink Elephant Antique Mall is absolutely worth the stop. My advice? Allow much more time than you think you'll need.

I wish I could give negative starts because this place should not be open. The staff and owner are…read morehorrible people that treat customers like trash. I have been to Hard Dog cafe a few times for breakfast. They have a buffet on the weekends. I think its some kind of bar/ restaurant. They never have serving utensils at the buffet. You have to try and use the fork they give you but its not very easy. The staff will get you drinks when you sit down but after that you are on your own. If they mess up your drink order then thats on you and they will not fix it. I left a review on a Facebook post they had in a group and apparently the owner and staff did not like it. I was called all kinds of names and even threatened. I made it clear I will never go back yet the owner made it clear I was kicked out. LOL. Sure no problem. But then he told me it was not over and it felt like a threat. The waitresses called me names and other stuff. Take my advice and avoid this establishment at all cost. There are plenty of other places to go with not only great food but lovely staff. One place is just down the frontage road they are located on. I am sorry I can't remember the name but you can't miss it. It is next to the gas station off 55