There are so many great places to eat in our region of the state. While we don't have the space to mention them all, we do have a few fan-favorites broken up into categories.
We'll start in Waterloo, home of Shorty's Smokehouse. While they have your typical menu options like pulled pork and ribs, their new brisket gyro and brisket Philly have folks raving! We'll move to our Central Region, where Kahuna's Burgers in Greenville offers up an interesting take on the traditional hamburger. The Sunset Burger comes complete with sweet chili cream cheese and grilled pineapple — whoever thought that burger up needs an award! In Carmi, there's a long-time staple in the community complete with carhop service. Yesterday's Drive-In is perfect for a trip back in time to enjoy an old-fashioned cheeseburger and onion rings, and for those short on cash, five bucks will get you five cheeseburgers!
There is an up-and-coming food trunk that will serve a 25-patty smashburger if you ask for it. Two Farmers Burgers and Beignets is out of Mt. Carmel, but they vend everywhere from Fairfield and Olney to Albion and more, attracting folks from miles around!
If dining in is more your speed, here are a few places where the food is definitely worth waiting for. If you're travelling along I-70 through our region, definitely exit around Pocahontas and experience Nuby's Steakhouse. If you have never had a horseshoe, it comes highly recommended, and you can choose hamburger or a pork tenderloin to be covered with fries and cheese sauce! For a place where teh cocktails are perhaps even more important than the food, visit Jovalou in downtown Fairfield. Jovalou has well over thirty cocktails available, as well as beer — and with things like maple pecan sweet potato fries on the menu, their food is nothing to scoff at either! If you're around Lawrenceville, there's no question Coco's Cafe & Wine Bar is a must-stop. The ambiance and atmosphere are second to none, and the food... Wow. They have eight specialty salads, chicken pot pie that is out of this world, and a giant plate of delish called "Bombarded Fries."
In Red Bud, the Opera House Bistro is an amazing facility with phenomenal steaks, crab cakes, and shrimp scampi.
Urban Farmhouse in Highland is a great place for a meal, but their dessert takes the cake... pun intended! Really, it's the pie at Urban Farmhouse that really sets it over the top. The Snickers Pie is their largest, most decadent offering — you'll definitley need a glass of milk just by looking at it. Ice cream is a fantastic dessert option, and one of the best ice cream places in Downstate Illinois is Ice Cream Korner in Iuka. Point of advice, if you get the banana split (and you should!), prepare to be full for the rest of the day! Another place that serves great food with even better dessert is Covered in Chocolate in Breese. Their case full of goodies changes seasonally, so you'll never know what you might find. But their cake pops and cupcakes are always a huge hit, no matter the flavor!
If you're wandering around Casey Looking at all the big things, definitely visit Wildflour Bakery and Candy Company. Stepping in here is every child's dream, because there are sweet treats everywhere! Aside from everyday items like cookies and chocolate croissants, Wildflour also concocts some awesome themed cakes!
There is nothing like a really good cup of coffee to start your day, right? In Mascoutah, there's a joint called St. Louis Coffee World that believes that saying is true, and they offer over two dozen specialty coffee drinks! A copule notable flavors are honey lavender and the Nutty Irishman. In our Central Region, Shimoji Coffee has exploded in popularity since opening in 2016; they now have locations in both Vandalia and Greenville, too. Ophelia's Cup in Olney has been a mainstay in the community since 1992 and features everything from traditional coffee to frappes and cold brews. Ophelia's also has a slew of seasonal drinks depending on the time of year. Last but not least, we have Colyer Coffee House in Albion. Located downtown on the square, Colyer treats your taste buds wiht great food and beverages; a new fan-favorite is the frozen hot chocolate.
You'll find even more delicious eats and tasty treats here!
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