One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 (US Highway 66), was established on November 11, 1926.
A few years later, the Palms Grill Cafe opened on the “Mother Road” in Atlanta, IL, about equidistant between St. Louis and Chicago (now just off I-55).
Not much has changed since then, in Atlanta, or at the Palms. The restaurant still whips up most everything from scratch on a daily basis (closed Tuesday, tho), serves breakfast all day, and offers an ever changing menu of daily specials. This is the epitome of American home cooking.
Taking advantage of that “breakfast all day thing” meant a fried pork chop and eggs for my navigator, and for me? A central Illinois specialty, served nowhere else that I know of. It’s called the “Horseshoe” and was created in/around Springfield, IL.
This beauty starts with two pieces of toast on the plate, your choice of protein (burger, ham, bacon, pork chop, sausage, chicken), then topped with fries, and your choice of sausage gravy or cheese sauce….or both! And sure, they’ll throw a fried egg or two on top if you want. That makes it a “breakfast shoe.”
I went with country ham. Delish. As were the fresh cut, twice fried fries. Not many places do that anymore.
Didn’t have room for dessert, wish I did, each day they have a selection of house made pies and cakes. This lemon cake pictured was right in front of me during lunch. Torture.
There’s a big room for events or tour buses, and the walls are chock-a-block with old time area photos. Some vintage machines (pinball, cash register, payphone, refrigerator) dot the main room and are all in excellent working condition.
Here’s the menu. And the daily specials.
Palms Grill Cafe Review