This place is overpriced for what it is. The food quality is decent but I had a few complaints. First the salad bar didn't have the standard items you would expect such as tomatoes or ham. The pieces of meat that look like ham bits actually taste like hot dog. Hmm. The soup was decent. The steak was a decent cut but they didn't cook it the way I asked (medium well) and I thought the price was high. The kids meals were ok, but they brought the wrong thing. They did fix it however when we complained. The dessert menu was extensive and the family liked all of their choices. So this is a place to stop off if you want a little bit of Americana, but judging by the age of the clientele and the quality of the food, I bet this place will be gone in 5 years. We will not be going back. read more

The best food I have had on I-55 between Stl and Springfield! Excellent cuisine, terrific service and a quaint, small town atmosphere. The term "cafe" is oddly placed in the name. This is not a true "cafe" in my eyes. It is a full service restaurant where you can get anything from steak to blt's. They serve alcohol, appetizers, entrees, sandwiches, salads and deserts so you have much to choose from. I'll be back for sure!! read more

Service was a little on slow side, however the delightful staff more than made up for it. The head staff was attentive to our needs with 3 kids one who was being disruptive. Boys said the corn dogs were awesome. I had the fried chicken that was very good. read more

The Ariston Cafe - Entrance - American Near Me - Litchfield, Illinois

Great food and service. First time there. Logan was our server and took great care of us. Food I'd give a 4. Service a 5. Rounding up to a 5. read more

The Ariston Cafe - Very quaint exterior and interior. - American Near Me - Litchfield, Illinois

Fantastic service and food. Felt like we went back in time with all the great food and servers that love their jobs. Had the fried chicken, was crispy and moist on the inside. The cheese cake with strawberries are to die for. Will return the next time we head out to Alton. read more

Cool place on Route 66. All the staff wears ties and super polite and accommodating. I only had the soup and salad bar but I'd come back when in the area. Really cool atmosphere. They bring out a tray with all the deserts on it and the staff is very attentive!! read more

The Ariston Cafe - American Near Me - Litchfield, Illinois

Great family friendly restaurant right on Old Route 66. The food was great and the service was exceptional! Check it out!

Best you can get on the road that's not cookie cutter chain food. Good home cookin fare right off the highway, quick Easy delicious. read more

Service 5 Stars. Food 3.5 Stars. Desserts 5 Stars. History. 10 Stars. This place has a ton of character. The oldest resturant on Route 66. Reason enough for me. I always look at the negative reviews to see "why" someone didn't like it. I think the reviews here are honest and balanced. Service was incredibly good and refreshing. Lots of old school class here. Servers wearing ties. The booths are old historic wood high back booths. Nothing is forced though like some retro old school joints that are new "old" dives. It's like this place just didn't change anything since the 1940s. It's like a diner you'd see on the movie Cars! The place just hung on until they were cool again. Clean enough. Wide variety on menu. Here's what I enjoyed about it: they make great homemade soups. I'm a soup fan so I loved it. Plus the decor was genuine and honest. Food was decent enough too. Salad bar lacks creativity. Something you'd see at a small buffet. Desserts are awesome. Be sure to ask which ones they make in-house. You gotta try it. It's a good bet and a great and unexpected find in this tiny town! read more

We had a wonderful meal tonight at the Ariston. Our neighbor offered to take us out for dinner. Our first dinner inside in a year. Loved the service and food, both top notch! Prime Rib, Blackened Salmon and ? Chicken dish, all excellent read more

Fabulous as always! Super fresh salad bar, grilled Icelandic Cod, and the desserts!!! GET THE CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!

Linda B. Amazing!! We were traveling between Lebanon & Springfield, IL and were running late!! Arrived at 8:59/9:00pm and they close on Thursdays at 9:00pm. Most places would turn you away, but not here! They were great and the food was fabulous!! Also had a soup & salad bar! Save room for desserts they are out of this world! Wish I lived in Lichtfield! Will stop again on our way to St. Louis! read more

Historic Route 66 the Ariston Cafe sine 1924 has had many years of practice and it shows!! This sweet stop on Route 66 has many desserts and good home cooking. We ended up here in a Sunday and did the brunch Buffett.. Great fried Chicken and green beans... They are famous for the baklava.... But had already run out for the day.... So I am making plans to come back again to try this famous dessert!!! read more

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This is the best place in Litchfield for dinner and definitely the nicest. Food was solid and the owners are lovely people. Prices are reasonable. read more

Too pricey for what it was! They also need to decide if they want to be a cafe or a restaurant... They have neon signs, and such but also have linens and roses...it makes no sense. I do appreciate greatly that they make their food from scratch but that doesn't always mean it's good. If I would ever go back I would skip the food and eat desert! The desert def saved the day. Amazing! But make sure you ask which ones are made in house bc some are not :) read more

The Ariston Cafe - Desert - American Near Me - Litchfield, Illinois

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I've recently discovered that for me I really great dining experience has to do with the people. The people I meeting with the people who are waiting on me taking my money whatever restaurant staff makes or breaks a meal for me. Ariston's hands down has some of the best staff I wish I could remember my waitresses name I guarantee she's been there a long time doing that job she had that down in spades I just had salad bar we had fried artichoke hearts and mushroom fries well my friend had the IP fried cod I did have a bite of it it was very very nicely done. Salad bar had lots of interesting choices I like that it wasn't just iceberg lettuce and I like any salad bar that has beets I don't know why that makes a great salad bar to me but it does. Did lots of choices of pasta salads and bean salad and potato salad and lots of Add ins Kalamata olives! Do you ever see those on the salad bar??! We're really made this whole meal for me just talking to the owner well my friend went to the bathroom I learned about the big Marlin on the wall how long it took me to land it how much it cost you show me a picture of the original catch when he had caught it in Mexico it was just great that you really felt like you knew these people by the time you left and it made me very sad that my parents went to see my sister in Chicago from Springfield Missouri all the time and would always stop in Litchfield for lunch and never went here would always stop at Wendy's because it was convenient I wish they were still alive because they would've loved it read more

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It's such a shame that it's not better. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to go into an authentic route 66 restaurant and be truly impressed? Unfortunately, not much impressive here. I do like their fried artichoke. That's why I gave it three stars. Other than that, things seem pretty bland... very run of the mill. read more

Stopped for lunch on a long road trip. The place reminded me of the places my family would stop at to eat when we toured around America in the 50s and 60s, which is no surprise because that's what it is. The real deal, still doing what they did way back when, and doing it very well. Had what was easily the best pork tenderloin sandwich of my life, pounded thin, hand breaded, fried, served on a sturdy bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion. So tender you could eat it even if you'd forgotten your dentures. Afterwards, they bring around a tray full of different desserts (just TRY to refuse). Cheesecakes, pie, and I had the Sticky Toffee Pudding, a cake=like construction made with dates and other stuff, and drenched in a delicious toffee sauce that it soaked up and made for a decadent dish that made me wish for a priest to make confession. Good fries, good slaw, very friendly and quick service, you can bet I'll make a point of stopping here again on my next trip this way. read more

I could easily write a long winded review of how amazing this place is. I however prefer to keep it short and sweet here. If you enjoy great food, excellent service and seeing the owner seat and manage one of the best kept secrets in Illinois then feel free to stuff your face with amazing food in a historic setting. You will not be disappointed. The salad: Amazing The staff: Amazing The food: Amazing read more

Friday night prime rib is a must...great people, great atmosphere, great food! The desert menu is outstanding, and we always look forward to the homemade soups. read more

This historic restaurant became what it is by sticking to what made it great. The delicious list of items on the menu never let`s you down, no matter the choice. I hope they never change. Thanks for staying the course. read more

We stopped here with our Car Cruise group for dinner. This is a very clean, efficient and friendly restaurant. The group meal was well executed, and service was professional. We were served fried chicken, roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad...usual fare for a group. You will not go away hungry, all the food is done traditionally, and you will have NO surprises. read more

Stopped at this little joint by happenstance. During our road trip we often randomly exit the freeway and find something local. The look, the feel, the staff; everything about this place was fun and nostalgic. The food was great. (I ordered the shrimp 4 way. My buddy ordered pork chops. Desserts; I ordered bread pudding he ordered Italian cream cake) Our waitress, Heather, surely made up for what would have been an above average experience and made it a great experience. She was extremely knowledgable and helpful throughout the meal. I would highly advise stopping here and asking for Heather. read more

They never disappoint. Fresh salad bar with home made soups and dressings. My husband says best prime rib is made here and he's eaten plenty all over the globe. Great personable staff. Great for tourists if you're into the Route 66 thing. read more

Desserts off the charts especially the chopped date cake with warm homemade carmel sauce. Waitress were midwestern friendly with great sense of humor Don't miss the homemade potato vhops read more

Cute restaurant, great service, amazing food...highly recommended. My Mom and I were traveling from Missouri up to Chicago and she found this place listed on Google while I drove. We were not disappointed! The portabella fries were GREAT!! read more

We have traveled to Litchfield on personal business many times. Why are we just now finding Ariston??. Two different recommendations for our evening dining experience were for The Ariston Cafe. We were not led astray. Our server, Jade, guided us through the tempting menus. Rarely do we order an appetizer or dessert. WE SHATTERED THAT RULE. The asparagus appetizer was to die for!! Our meals were very good. Then came the dessert tray. There should be a sampler dessert offering. We chose traditional cheesecake with cherry topping and the chocolate dessert. Both delicious and rich. We will be making Ariston Cafe part of our travel plans every time we pass through Illinois. Would highly recommend. Friendly and excellent service. Save room for dessert read more

If the historic Ariston Cafe were a movie, the trailer might go something like this: "In a world of increasing incivility, life lived through palm-held screens, and processed, prepackaged restaurant chains, the Ariston Cafe, nestled between two branches of Route 66 in downstate Litchfield, Illinois, provides both a nod to the past and a hopeful, more serene future." My wife and I, both Mother Road enthusiasts, stopped at this utterly charming restaurant on our return from an overnight trip to St. Louis. We got much more than a meal; we got an unforgettable experience. The food was fresh and home-made, from the salad bar to the pork tenderloin sandwich. The desserts were well worth forgetting our Weight Watchers diet for the afternoon; one cannot resist the large tray of cheesecake, pies, and bread pudding brought directly to the table. The coffee flowed. The Ariston is more than the menu, however. The service was impeccable. Our waiter, Logan, was friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable, willing to chat with us about our story and the story of the cafe. We enjoyed and appreciated a chance to place our names in the guest book. The decor is a throwback to another, gentler time--it could have been 1955 or 1924--but there has been a real effort made to provide elegance in the tableware (cloth napkins fancily folded even), and the effort is, again, much appreciated. We had our picture taken in front of the historic neon sign and left with both a mug and a glass from the cafe as souvenirs. Although a two and a half hour drive home to Danville lay ahead of us, we were reluctant to go. We will certainly return to the Ariston. read more

Absolutely excellent both server, food and setting. Friday night's shrimp special was prepared four different ways with four different sauces. Additionally, there was an adequate salad bar plus a huge dessert selection. More than I could eat! Congrats to the new owners, Marty & Kara Steffens! read more

So glad we came upon this little gem! The food was classic and delicious. I had a classic burger and it came with a regular classic bun! It's hard to find a good burger with an old fashioned grilled bun. Aside from the great tasting food, it's the little things that impressed me....chrome on the stools and the mirrors shined...no fingerprints. Everything was clean, no dust, no crumbs...and did I mention..regular buns!! We ordered dessert to go because they were too tempting to pass up. I can't wait to dig in to those! The staff was great fun also and very knowledgeable if their menu. Thank you Ariston! read more

The Ariston Cafe - Baked Manicotti! Delish! - American Near Me - Litchfield, Illinois

We stopped for lunch during a recent road trip. Outstanding service. One of us stayed in the car with our dog and they took the to go order out to them while we were eating inside without us asking. I had the burger which was excellent. My wife liked the pork tenderloin. Great dessert selection. Chocolate cream pie was delicious. read more

The quality of the food did not match the price. We ate there after s local event and was not impressed. My son ordered the chicken scaloppini and it was four pieces of chicken over spaghetti noodles with a low quality white sauce. read more

We stopped here on our way home from Springfield and so happy we did... the food was amazing and their soup and salad bar was great too!! Steaks were amazing as were deserts! read more

The desk clerk at the Holiday Inn Express recommended the Ariston to a co-worker and I. The Ariston Café is a neat little place that is located on the original RT 66. I think the sign on the side of the building said it had been there since the late '20's. We at supper and lunch there while we were in town. The food was good and they had an old fashioned salad bar. The dessert tray that was brought to us after we ate was delicious so save some room. I'll visit again the next time I'm in town. read more

I was completing my Route 66 drive over the weekend, and decide to spend the night in Litchfield. Several guides recommended Ariston for a meal, noting its existence as a one of the oldest (if not the oldest) restaurant on the route. Judging by the parking lot, I thought there would be a wait for a table, but I was seated immediately. This is a white linen tablecloth place, but casual dress is fine. The menu is fairly broad, from steaks to sandwiches. I was going to order a horseshoe sandwich (a local specialty) before learning the special was prime rib. SOLD. Make no mistake - it was the star of the show. This was the best prime rib I have had in at least 2 years - fork tender, melt in the mouth delicious. They have both smooth and raw horseradish for the asking; the raw is sinus-clearing hot (perfect for me, but maybe not for others). The meal included lovely bread, a side dish (I chose perfectly steamed broccoli), and the soup and salad bar (salad bar was surprisingly basic, but the black bean soup was quite flavorful). By this point I was really full, but my server brought by a tray of 9-10 dessert choices. I have never seen Italian Cream Cake on a restaurant menu, and I couldn't pass that up (other choices included peach pie, German Chocolate Cake, Sticky toffee pudding/cake, and two different cheesecakes). The Italian Cream was big enough for two people. Unfortunately, it was still chilled from the cooler, which rendered it a bit flavorless. Since I was full anyway, I took it to go. By the time I got back to it an hour later, it had warmed to room temperature and all fo the flavors were able to shine. I would definitely either ask them to leave it sit out for a bit, or get it to go. If you have a chance to stop, definitely do - the service was great, and the food is worth it! read more

This is the 2nd time we've tried to stop at The Ariston traveling home to St Louis area on a Sunday evening. Yelp says they're open, but they're not. I give up. read more

The food, hospitality, and service are second to none. My wife and I stopped in for a beer on the Route 66 tour. We were met with genuine hospitality. The owner was there and we talked about our trip and where we had been before coming to Ariston Cafe. After talking, we decided to come back for dinner. We had a steak dinner which was cooked perfectly. Great dinner, service, and hospitality again.... Unreal!!! We talked to the owner again and he insisted desert was on him... What a pleasant surprise... We felt like we were part of the family at Ariston. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone... read more

Another great meal. The prime rib sandwich was amazingly tender and flavorful and the roll was fresh and soft. Got dessert to go.

Our waiter Ryan was so professional and friendly. I had the blackened salmon and it was crisp outside and moist inside. Good food and excellent service. I wish all Route 66 were as good as Ariston Cafe. read more

Old school diner feel with a great breaded tenderloin sandwich right on old Route 66.