Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket
“The road runs a little quieter these days, but the spirit of Route 66 is alive at Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket. Born from a filling station along US Route 66 at mile marker 274, the Chicken Basket has been serving the hungry, road weary traveler since 1938. The Rhea family became proprietors of the Chicken Basked in 1963 and has carried on the tradition of family home cooking at a great value evee since.”
This “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featured restaurant specializes in fried chicken, but the menu is extensive for any taste. On Tuesdays through Fridays there is an all-you-can eat buffett and make sure you grab a bottle of Route 66 Specialty Brew Sodas. In 2006 the Chicken Basket was inducted into the “National Register of Historic Places.”
Address: 645 Joliet Road, I-55 & Route 83, Willowbrook, Illinois 60527
Phone: (630) 325-0780
Website: www.ChickenBasket.com
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Closed Monday
Giordano’s
When in Chicago, you must try the pizza. With 55 locations in the region (including one in Joliet) Giordano’s has amazing stuffed pizza (Chicago-style) at restaurants or for delivery. Joseph and Efren Boglio were born in the Italian community of Torino with an extraordinary cook as a mother.
In 1967 the family moved to America and the boys dabbled in the restaurant business before opening the first Giordano’s in 1974. The restaurants offer stuffed pizza, thin-crust pizza, pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads and appatizers.
Address (Joliet): 3058 W. Caton Farm Rd., Joliet
Phone: (815) 254-2700
Ooga Booga Bar-Ba-Q
This barbeque joint just north of Joliet has rave reviews across the board. Their motto is “Home of the world’ Worst Samich!” Pete (Ooga) Vanda and Bill (Bugga) Mangarelli started at a pig roast in 2004 and requests came in. In 2005 with about $300 cash and a couple of small loans from friends Ooga Booga was born.
Traditional meats are available: pulled pork, rigs, chicken, brisket; as well as great sides like slaw, beens and corn. When available the cabbage and kraut is popular and it’s buttermilk pie or pound cake for desert.
This is a bit tough to find (located in Sage Plaza), but worth the effort.
Address: 110 MacGregor, Lockport, IL 60441
Phone: (815) 838-PORK (7675)
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 6:00 p.m.
Baci Italian Ristorante
This is fine Italian dining, in a former church. Located just northwest of Joliet in Plainfield this restaurant has won every local award for “best Italian” restaurant in the region.
This restaurant has large portions of all the traditional Italian meals – veal marsala, eggplant parmegiana, fettucini alfredo -- and a large variety of other. Pizzas, appetizers and an extensive wine list make Baci a wonderful dining experience.
Address: 407 W. Lockport St., Plainfield, Ill. 60544
Phone: (815) 436-3588