Some of the best meals in Illinois hide inside buildings that were never meant to be restaurants at all. You pull up expecting an ordinary supper, then look up and spot colored glass glowing over your table, or hear a train rumble past the window.
Old churches, rail depots and a grand mansion now serve steaks, schnitzel and warm desserts to hungry families. Here are six spots where the room is as memorable as the plate, and every one is worth the drive.
1. Obed & Isaac’s Microbrewery and Eatery
Tall stained windows throw jewel-toned light across the tables at this renovated church in downtown Peoria. The building carries a cozy, historic feel, yet the mood stays casual enough for jeans and a quick weeknight bite.
Comfort food leads the menu. Scotch eggs, the Stinger Burger, fish and chips and a rich cheese soup are typical picks, and the Jagerschnitzel with spaetzle may be the heartiest plate in the house.
House-made root beer and bread pudding make a sweet finish kids tend to love.
Outside, a patio and bocce add some friendly play before or after the meal. Prices usually run about $20 to $30 per person, and high chairs plus a kids’ menu make family nights easy.
Free parking is generally plentiful, and Friday and Saturday evenings fill up fastest, so reservations are a smart move.
2. The Foxtail On The Lake
Picture vaulted ceilings, stained glass and then, just outside, a quiet lake. That pairing makes this converted church in Des Plaines feel like a weekend escape only minutes from Chicago.
The menu wanders the globe. Foxtail paella, brick chicken, grilled lobster tail, grilled octopus and a beef shawarma plate all share the spotlight, while pork belly bruschetta and burrata with fig mostarda work well for sharing.
Full vegan and vegetarian menus mean nobody at the table gets left out.
On warm days, the open-air patio overlooking the water is the seat to grab. When it turns chilly, a fireplace keeps things snug inside.
Expect a dressier price feel, roughly $30 to $80 per person, so this one suits birthdays and anniversaries. Sunday afternoons and weekend evenings usually bring a wait, and reservations are recommended.
Note that it’s closed Mondays.
3. Ivy Restaurant
Quiet elegance is the specialty in Wheaton. Ivy sits inside a former chapel, and the beautiful stained glass at the back of the room, under a soaring cathedral ceiling, sets a romantic tone the moment you walk in.
Steaks, seafood and pasta anchor this modern American chophouse. The petite filet with shrimp, whitefish and the lobster roll are frequent favorites, and the butternut squash ravioli brings fall flavor any time of year.
Vegan and vegetarian diners get full menus of their own.
Live music sometimes fills the old chapel, adding to the special-occasion glow. A fireplace, attentive service and a family-friendly attitude keep it welcoming rather than stuffy.
Plates generally range from $20 to $70 per person. Saturday evening is the busiest stretch, so book ahead, and look for free garage and street parking nearby.
4. August The Mansion
Climb the staircase of a mid-1800s mansion and you’ll find dinner waiting in one of several historic dining rooms. That’s the charm of this O’Fallon landmark in southern Illinois, a short drive from the St. Louis metro.
Steaks headline the evening. The 8oz filet and steak frites are classic choices, while shrimp and grits and Peruvian chicken add some variety.
Save room, because chocolate cake and Basque cheesecake are tough to pass up.
Fireplaces and period rooms give it a cozy, upscale air, but kids are welcome with high chairs and a kids’ menu. Prices typically fall between $20 and $70 per person.
Hours are limited, so plan ahead: lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, dinner only on Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. There’s no takeout, which suits a place meant for lingering.
5. Chessie’s Restaurant
All aboard for supper! Chessie’s lives in a former train station in Barrington, and part of the fun is eating inside a vintage dining car while real trains roll past on the tracks out back.
Kids usually press their faces to the window when the rumble starts. Grown-ups tend to enjoy it just as much.
The menu is classic American with some global twists. Coconut shrimp and sweet potato crusted salmon are standouts, and a coconut chicken salad keeps things lighter.
With a wide range of choices and a full vegetarian menu, picky eaters have options.
Here’s the budget-friendly part: most meals run about $20 to $30 per person. The warm, festive setting works for date night or a family meal, and free parking is usually easy.
It’s closed Sundays, so aim for a weeknight.
6. Two Brothers Roundhouse
Back in 1856, locomotives rested inside these stone walls. Today the historic railroad roundhouse in Aurora sits beside active rail lines and serves rustic, modern pub food to big crowds and small families alike.
Snackers will be happy. Fried pickles, garlic cheese curds and roasted Brussels sprouts are popular openers, and the house salad keeps things fresh.
The real kid magnet is the Two Brothers cinnamon root beer.
Doors typically open at 7 AM Tuesday through Sunday, so breakfast on a weekend drive is an option too. Live music, a fireplace and outdoor seating give the place lots of personality, and dogs are allowed.
Prices usually stay around $20 to $30 per person, a fair deal for such a storied setting. Parking is free and generally plentiful, and the restaurant is closed Mondays.
