The 122 Club
122 N Park St, Streator, IL
The 122 Club, located in a former Masonic Lodge, transports you back to the Prohibition era with vintage decor and classic cocktails. Catch live jazz, blues, stand-up comedy, magic shows, metal acts, and more. The club’s spacious stage and two levels of seating make it one of the region’s largest venues for live entertainment.
August Hill Winery & Illinois Sparkling Co.
106 Mill St, North Utica, IL 61373
Located in the heart of downtown Utica, August Hill’s sophisticated tasting room offers a selection of award winning, locally produced, wines. Best of all, their line of sparkling wines is produced with grapes grown on a sprawling vineyard located in Starved Rock Country. Enjoy a glass of August Hill’s award-winning Berlyn Red, share a wine flight on their beautiful patio or even purchase a case of wine to share with friends and family.
CatsEye Wine Bar
724 La Salle St, Ottawa, IL
For wine enthusiasts, CatsEye Wine Bar in downtown Ottawa is a must-visit. Explore an extensive selection of local and international wines. Craft cocktail lovers will appreciate the evolving drink menu. This intimate setting hosts art openings, drag shows, wine tastings, and live acoustic performances. Expect a diverse lineup of folk, blues and tribute acts.
The Cheese Shop and Deli
1219 Fulton St, Ottawa, IL 61350
For more than 30 years, The Cheese Shop and Deli has been providing Starved Rock Country (and visitors in the know) with delicious, fresh foods in an unusual setting: a former cheese factory. Tucked away off the banks of the I&M Canal, The Cheese Shop and Deli offers a wide variety of paninis, subs and carver sandwiches, in addition to some great soup and sandwich combos and daily specials. Locals love their revolving selection of soups, like vegetable, ravs ‘n’ broth, french onion, white bean-and-tomato and jalapeño cheese.
Clarks Run Creek Gifts & Wine
143 Mill St, North Utica, IL 61373
The Clarks Run Creek wine store stocks an impressive, and eclectic, selection of wines from around the world. You can enjoy a glass while listening to some live acoustic music in their cozy upstairs lounge, or take your favorite bottle to-go for a picnic. The store stocks a variety of Illinois-grown favorites, like Prairie State, Spirit Knob, Blue Sky, Kickapoo Creek, and Pheasant Hollow. You’ll also find a selection of quirky seasonal gifts and a craft beer menu.
Nearby sister store Clarks Run Antiques (215 N Division St, North Utica, IL 61373) also features a beautiful wine bar inside an eclectic antique store. Enjoy a glass while listening to live music on their brand-new patio.
I&M Canal Bier Garten By Obscurity
111 W Canal St, North Utica, IL
Obscurity’s I&M Canal Bier Garten in downtown Ottawa offers a unique outdoor drinking experience. Explore a wide selection of Obscurity’s fan-favorite, freshly brewed, craft beers, meads, and ciders. Local and touring acoustic and rock performances complement the laid-back atmosphere and delicious drinks. Enjoy your favorite IPA or sweet mead while soaking in the charming small town ambiance.
The Igloo Diner
2819 4th St, Peru, IL 61354
Ranked the number one diner in Illinois by Food Network, The Igloo has long been an iconic dining spot in LaSalle County. A menu staple since 1937 has been Igloo’s hand-trimmed, hand-cut, hand-pounded and hand-breaded pork tenderloin. They are made fresh daily, never frozen. Anyone that knows the Igloo also knows the classic taste of our hand-cut fries and homemade chili, which are also made fresh daily, never frozen. These are just a few of the top picks on their vast menu including sandwiches, salads, side orders, desserts, a kid’s meal, and a wide variety of beverages.
Jorge’s Margaritas & Grill
101 1st St, La Salle, IL 61301
Jorge’s is a family owned and operated Bar & Grill located in downtown La Salle. Known for their Monday cheap chicken nights and Friday happy hours, Jorge’s is LaSalle county classic – conveniently located near the historic and I&M Canal trail.
Joy & Ed’s Bar & Grill
113 Mill St, North Utica, IL 61373
Joy and Ed’s has been part of the Starved Rock Country community since 1958, serving up tasty burgers, cold drinks and convenient carry out. From their hand-breaded chicken to their famed Build Your Own Burgers, everything is made fresh and never frozen. All of Joy and Ed’s BYO Burgers and signature handhelds come with your choice of french fries, bar chips, tater tots, coleslaw or cottage cheese.
The Lakes Country Club
2550 N 32nd Rd, Marseilles, IL 61341
The Lakes Country Club restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, serving a variety of exquisite dishes that will please any palate. You can also share a few drinks between rounds at the open bar, featuring your favorite cocktails and offering regular drink specials.
Nina’s Mexican Restaurant
845 1st St, La Salle, IL 61301
Nina’s Market, located in downtown La Salle, is one of the area’s leading grocery stores – offering fresh meat, homemade Mexican tamales and sausage, fresh salsa, guacamole, fruits, vegetables and more. Serving lunch and dinner with a full menu!
The Rootbeer Stand
225 N Columbia Ave, Oglesby, IL 61348
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Oglesby’s famed The Rootbeer Stand offers all your drive-in favorites, from hamburgers to malts, they have it all. You can dine in the restaurant, or take advantage of their nostalgic carhop service.
Skroogs Pub & Grill
155 Mill St, North Utica, IL 61373
Located in Utica, just minutes from Starved Rock State Park, Skoog’s Pub & Grill is famous for serving up great homemade food, in generous sized portions. This comfortable drinking and dining destination is located right in the heart of cozy downtown Utica, the perfect place to grab some post-hike burgers. Be sure to try the melt-in-your-mouth, 3/4lb, Hearty Skoog Burger. This specially seasoned, never frozen burger is stacked high with your choices of cheese, bacon, grilled onion or fresh sauteed mushrooms. Looking for something to share with your group, order a round of Skoog’s Famous Wings, offered breaded or unbreaded in a variety of delicious sauces.
Star Union Spirits
300 5th St Suite 135, Peru, IL 61354
Star Union Spirits, located in Peru’s historic Westclox building, crafts a line of exceptional award-winning spirits and regularly plays host to intimate shows with top-tier musical talent. Enjoy inventive cocktails featuring their small-batch spirits with a modern twist on classic drinks. This lounge-style room offers views of the distillery and hosts well-curated live talent from an eclectic range of musical genres. Savor a night of great drinks and live music.
Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant
One Lodge Ln, Oglesby, IL 61348
Experience an unforgettable evening with panoramic views at the Starved Rock Lodge’s veranda or beautiful indoor dining hall. The Veranda overlooks the Illinois River, while the dining hall is a stunning throwback venue. Enjoy a night of drinks, live music, and delicious food. The lodge’s rustic cabin-like atmosphere creates the perfect post-adventure retreat.
Steak n’ Shake – Peru
4240 Venture Dr, Peru, IL 61354
Steak ‘n Shake was founded in February, 1934 in Normal, Illinois. Gus Belt, Steak ‘n Shake’s founder, pioneered the concept of premium burgers and milkshakes. For over 85 years, the company’s name has been symbolic of its heritage. The word “steak” stood for STEAKBURGER. The term “shake” stood for hand-dipped MILKSHAKES. Gus was determined to serve his customers the finest burgers and shakes in the business. After 85 years, Steak n Shake is continuing this tradition of serving fresh, tasty burgers and shakes.
Stone Jug Barbeque
1920 4th St, Peru, IL 61354
Stone Jug uses the best raw ingredients and a unique blend of spices, sauces, and applewood smoke for a unique and delicious barbeque experience. You can smell the applewood smoked meats before you even walk inside this fan-favorite Peru barbecue restaurant. The environment is rustic, warm and cozy for lunch or dinner with friends, a large holiday party or family get together.Their dry rub and applewood smoked meats closely resemble Memphis style barbeque with a sweet, yet tangy spice.
Tangled Roots Brewing Co.
110 W Jefferson St, Ottawa, IL 61350
Spread across several locations in Northern Illinois, Tangled Roots is quickly becoming one of the Midwest’s favorite brewers of innovative craft beers. Their flagship location, located in beautiful downtown Ottawa, is housed inside an immaculately restored former turn of the century department store. While the relaxed but modern atmosphere is enough to draw a crowd, it’s Tangled Roots’ limited-run experimental beers that keep fans coming back. Incorporating locally grown ingredients, including hops from a field located just outside of Ottawa, this “farm to foam” method has resulted in delicious, and award-winning, craft beverages.
Uptown Grill
601 1st St, La Salle, IL 61301
La Salle’s Uptown Grill is renowned for its polished take on classics, often lauded as being one of the best places to grab prime ribs in the Chicagoland area on Friday and Saturday nights. These char-broiled steaks are cut and aged in-house; the seafood, shellfish and oysters are prepared fresh every day. In addition to offering great food, Uptown has a full service bar and lounge complete with a list of over 100 wines and 12 craft beers on tap.