My reviews are typically of restaurants relatively close to where we live, but today I am adding one that is a distant drive to Brussels, Illinois to a very different kind of restaurant, the Wittmond Hotel Restaurant. First we had to get there, which was a long but scenic drive along the Mississippi River and then across the Illinois River (via the Brussels Ferry) to make it to the restaurant located in an old Hotel. The menu is fixed so you receive what everybody else receives, which is a large quantity of a whole lot of different types of home made country style food.
When we first arrived we were seated up front near the front porch at a table for two. The table was covered with an old fashioned lace tablecloth and the antique wall paintings and furniture made you feel like you were sitting in a dining room from ages past. They definitely set the proper atmosphere for the meal.
Our table already had a small bowl of apple sauce and cole slaw on it (as did all the other unoccupied tables), and the attendant who seated us brought out a large relish platter for our table which included carrots, celery, beets, cinnamon apples, corn relish and some sweet syrupy peach relish. A minute later she brought out a cinnamon roll and some giant homemade pork sausages. That already looked like a complete meal.
As we sampled the many items she also took drink orders and asked if we wanted roast beef with our entrees. We declined since we thought the chicken would be enough. I tried most of the relish items, and I liked the cinnamon apples, but the peach stuff really stood out as being unique and flavorful. The cinnamon roll was also pretty good, but the sausage was even better. It was juicy and had a very meaty flavor without very much extra spices added. The flavor of the pork was good enough to stand on its own,
Our waitress returned and asked if we were ready for our entree, and although we were almost full we agreed and she came back with rolls, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy and a chicken noodle dish, The chicken was very well cooked although there was a bit of pepper in the crisp coating which may be too much for some people. The best side was probably the thick chicken noodle dish which was very hearty and flavorful.
I was originally going to try one of their homemade desserts, but since I was so stuffed, I decided instead to eat the last sausage and the rest of my roll as my dessert. Throughout the whole meal the staff at the restaurant was very attentive, asking us if we needed anything. When we asked for our bill they reminded us they only take cash or check, so we made sure to pay with cash before leaving.
There is nothing fancy, creative or new with any of their food, but what they made was very well prepared from scratch and served in quantity. If you are looking for some good old fashioned down home cooking you have found the place. Plus with the ambience of an old country hotel, and with polite, attentive service, it feels like stepping back into time to 1950 in the rural midwestern United States. You almost expect the Ingalls or the Waltons to show up and sit down at the next table and start eating.
High Quality and Quantity Country cooking
Stepping back in time to 1950's USA
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