In every little town in America there's the little "Mom and Pop" type restaurant. Unassuming with a meal very much like your Mom would cook (well would if Mom was the Czeck equivalent of Pioneer Woman). If you drove past too quickly you might miss it, and advertising is word of mouth from the locals.
The Little Bohemia Restaurant in Riverside, IL It's just a train ride away from friends (the train stopping just a stone's throw away from the restaurant) or an easy drive from the city.
THAT, my friends, is their pork tenderloin. The breading was light and crispy without a drop of grease, the pork, tender, all served on top of freshly made dumplings with a boatload of delicious gravy to pour over the top. On the side was homemade rye bread, beef noodle soup, seasoned green beans and sauerkraut. It was hard to decide on what to order, so many different roasted meats to pick from (Barkley was sending subliminal messages from home,
order the duck! order the duck!) as well as various noodle based marvels. We heard that if the roast beef with dill gravy was on the menu, to get it. It wasn't today, another reason to come back.
Indiana is known for it's tenderloin but I've not had one as good as this, even half the size. That baby was as big as the deficit.
Soup, coffee or tea and a little slice of dessert is included with every meal. I went for the cream puff (light, flaky pastry that's never seen a freezer, filled with homemade whipped cream, not the canned stuff) and my friend had apple strudel.
The service was outstanding and the place was as clean as a whistle and casually but carefully decorated so you can come in in your church best or just jeans and a sweater.
The big surprise, all of this, for two people totalled $21 with taxes. And yes, there was a big "to go" box" as we headed out towards the train station, tornado sirens going off (life in the Midwest - well fed, never dull).
Thank you folks for a delightful dinner. I will definitely be back.
That sounds good. We dropped seven times that much on dinner for three (Sam's birthday dinner) last night. Looks like you got the better deal. Who got the better meal is open to debate. :^)
ReplyDeleteLooks great. A lot of those little family owned restaurants have the best fare. That tenderloin looks big enough for a couple meals. Barkley will be eating good tonight. Take care.
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHmmm right down the street from from 2 of my favorite places, Irish Times and Off Broadway. I'll have to try this place next time i'm over that way.
ReplyDeleteRev. Paul - knowing your love for your family and your combined appreciation for really good food, I'm sure it was a wonderful meal. Tell Sam Happy Birthday, and if she wants any more funky spices amd infused sugars from Artesano's, to just let me know.
ReplyDeleteRichD - I've got enough for a couple of meals. Partner finished his plate but he has that metabolism that can do that.
Mine moved to Aruba in 1998 and hasn't even sent a postcard.
Whiel meat is impressive, the price is unbelievable. $21 for a meal INCLUDING desert? I'm VERY jealous of that pork tenderloin...not something that shows up on menus in the Northwest.
ReplyDeleteJennifer - thanks for the commment! Yes it was a fun trek to try it out. I have a number of friends from work and shooting that live up in Northern Indiana and Illinois and we all try and get together when we can.
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks delicious. I understand what you mean about Barkley channeling his order while you are in the restaurant. I can "hear" Erik and Penny when we are out eating, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, I know the place.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was in Illinois I had friends in Riverside, and we used to go there.
It's one of those "You will NOT leave here hungry" palces!
Reminds me of home. I grew up in Iowa, and we had a large Czech population. A lot of me firends has last names that started with Z. Kolaches....Mmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteIf any of you fine folks are ever driving down US 421 between Siler City and Sanford in North Carolina around breakfast or lunch time you owe it to yourselves to try the Elois Restaurant in Bear Creek, NC. The wife and I stumbled onto it Saturday morning on the way to Goldston's Old Fashioned Day (note: one Farmall tractor and a couple of hit or miss engines seems to qualify as "old fashioned". If you want to see real "old fashioned" you'll need to go to the Old Thresher's Reunion in Denton or Old Fashioned Farmer's Days in Silk Hope) and had a fine breakfast. My wife spotted the "brains and eggs" on the menu but ended up getting pancakes instead. I got the hamburger steak and eggs. We both remarked that all the waitresses were both attentive and cheerful, a rare commodity in today's world...
ReplyDeleteHaving a wife who is half-Polish I found out that eastern Europeans do love their pork. I've even learned how to make Polish sausage. Maybe I can talk my wife into a road trip to Riverside. It's not all that far away.
ReplyDeleteAh. According to Mapquest that's 20 minutes from my house. I can talk my wife into that.
ReplyDeleteThat looks soooo very good! And me being Bohemian, well, just have to make my way there sometime. Thanks for the share!
ReplyDeleteYou're very lucky, most of any Czech-owned places in Texas are likely either bakeries or BBQs. The Germans are the ones running the little diners, including one about 15 miles from my house, where dinner (usually some type of Schnitzel ) for two runs about $30, but it's prepared by two *very* German sisters who own the place.
ReplyDeleteHere in the Chicago area the diners are generally run by Greeks. "American Standard" food, usually about 50 items on the menu. Great for breakfast. You'll notice a lot of such places named "Omega" or something such.
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