Pony “Horseshoe” Plate
Dating from 1922, Jubelts is arguably the oldest surviving restaurant on the original US Route 66 segment in Illinois. It’s about halfway between Chicago and St. Louis.
Functionally a full bakery with attached restaurant, the eatery is open to serve delights from all three meal dayparts.
It was late when I rolled in, and I was really looking for a motel to crash in, but when the lightbulb went off that this place was what I remembered it to be, I had to try it.
Although faced with a very lengthy menu, as well as a full page of specials, when I’m in central Illinois, there’s really no choice for me but to get a “Horseshoe” – a plate unique to the area that many say originated in the Springfield area.
A “shoe” is two pieces of toast, with your choice of protein on top (burger, ham, pork, bacon, chicken) topped with fries, and then cheese sauce or sausage gravy. Throw in a couple of fried eggs in the middle there, if you’re inclined.
The “pony shoe” is a downsized version, and that was just fine for me; i chose another regional speciality, the fried pork tenderloin as my protein. A tenderloin in these parts (and Indiana, and Iowa) is a lean piece of pork hammered very think, battered, deep fried, usually served between a terribly inadequately-sized bun.
In this case, it was in the middle of my pony. Opted for cheese sauce, probably gravy would have been better.
Nevertheless, if you’re getting your kicks on Route 66, plan your day’s drive to hit Jubelt’s. Good grub. Jubelts Restaurant Review Route 66
Jubelts Restaurant Review
Jubelts Restaurant Review