Door County’s in. So’s New Buffalo, Michigan. A long time ago I had a friend, sort of an insignificant other, who insisted on going places that weren’t. When we got there, we always found out why. We went to Starved Rock once; there was no mirror or TV in the room, no room service, no snack shop, and meals were served only at certain hours–terrible food in a dining room full of screaming kids who kept us awake by running up and down the halls all night. We checked out the following morning.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Sandy was looking forward to a free meal. After tasting the food, she remembered there was no such thing. Of course, being from Chicago, we were dressed all wrong–black jeans instead of blue. The decor was tacky Twin Peaks (maybe it was no coincidence that the theme music played continuously in the background), featuring a large glass case full of stuffed road kill complete with identifying placards like “Badger Hit By Car–Nov. 1982.” What an appetite teaser.
We knew dinner was doomed from the moment we bit into our rolls, rolls so dry we had to put each bite between two butter pats to swallow it. Our appetizer of potato skins ($4.95) was supposed to come with bacon, cheese, and green onion, but appeared with a simple grease-pool garnish instead (actually pretty good). Sandy chose a Caesar salad ($4.95), and I had the angel hair pasta with pine nuts and pesto ($10.95 with soup or salad, potato, and dinner roll). I know what you’re thinking: what kind of idiot would order gourmet in a white-bread place like Starved Rock Lodge? But then, what kind of idiot would put it on the menu? Caesar salad shouldn’t have mustard in it, pesto should have flavor, and pasta dishes should come with grated parmesan or romano cheese, not a choice of potato. My salad dressing tasted like Wishbone Italian.
The Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center Restaurant is located at Starved Rock State Park, about an hour and 45 minutes from Chicago, and is open all year round. Breakfast is served from 8 to 11 Monday through Friday, 8 to 10 weekends; brunch 11 to 2 Sunday; lunch 11 to 4 Monday through Friday, 11 to 5 Saturday; dinner 5 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 Friday and Saturday, 4:30 to 8 Sunday. The Starved Rock Cafe is open daily 7 AM to 3 PM. For further information write P.O. Box 471, Utica, Illinois 61373, or call 815-667-4211. To make restaurant reservations, call 815-667-4227.
