I'm renting a car this year so will be able to do a little more exploration during the Grand. Does anyone know of any good resturants in or near SPARTA? Jump in here grntitan.

blade819

South Side Ribs in Sparta, Grecian in Pinkneyville, Eagles Lodge and Reids in Chester, Pistol City in Coulterville just to name my favorites

Zia's on the Hill, St Louis. Great Italian food, about 1 hour or so.

Bubba's Ribs and Chits, East St. Louis ... Easy on and off the freeway ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

Several good places in O'Fallon and Fairvies Heights. (Again, almost and hour.) There is also a great BBQ place in Lebanon, right up Highway 4. Martinpicker

Dynasty in downtown Sparta-great chinese eats. Lau Nae Winery in Red Bud-try their white pizza with a bottle of their Riesling.

The only one I might add, is the Pioneer's Cabin in Willisville, IL. It will remind you of Sunday dinner at Grandma's house.

So Matt, where are we going first?

I got a special eatery just for you.

McDonalds. :)

If you like Mexican food you HAVE to go to Mi Pueblo over in Percy Ill. These folks have the best food(Mexican) you'll ever eat north of the border.They are very friendly,and have great service.Very inexpensive,and great portions.I highly recommend them.

D.P.Reynolds

Have'nt you learned yet there's nothing neeeeear sparta. Dennis P

Crazy Joe's Fish House; 693 Suchman Road; Ava, IL; 618-763-4417.

Deep fried Yum-Yum. Ice cold beer. Live pickin-an-a-grinnin too!

Guy Babin

Blade:

Located on the south edge of Sparta, I consider Southside Ribs a mandatory stop. I wouldn't normally give a snap for a pork chop but they have a one pound, smoked, and boneless version I get every year. You can't go wrong with the ribs or much of anything else on the menu.

Reid's Harvest House is a smorgasbord located in Chester - about 30 miles and 30 minutes south of Sparta. I always hit their sea food buffet Friday nite.

The Pioneer Cabin is in Willisville (not Percy) about 20 minutes southeast of Sparta. Its interesting and worth the trip at least once.

Everything is served home style. Fresh bread is baked in clay (4 inch maybe?) flower pots. There is an all you can eat special with fish, chicken, or both and various sides. They'll keep bringing more of whatever you want until you can't eat another bite. All the deserts are fat man approved.

You won't walk out of any of these places hungry or broke.

sissy

PS: I wouldn't recommend East Saint Louis. Crime rates in general and the murder rate in particular is too similar to that of Phoenix for me to be comfortable.

Sure sounds like theres a gonna be a whole lota eatin' goin' on. YUK YUK

See y'all there(where ever that may be)

D.P.Reynolds

For those of us that do Mex or Tex/Mex would somebody familiar with Mi Pueblo please tell us more about it?

sissy

Recoil sissy,

But we can carry guns to protect ourselves, in East St.Louis only the bad guys have guns ... The murder rate in Phoenix is all of the Blacks, Illegal Mexicans, and Gang bangers shooting each other otherwise known as Poetic Justice ... The rate here is still half of what it is in Chicago and it never snows ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

Sissy,

Thanks for the correction on the Pioneers Cabin. I don't know what I was thinking or not thinking. You would think me living this close I would do better. Sorry folks.

The Mexican place in Percy, IL "Mi Pueblo" gets rave reviews from the locals. It is a very small place downtown Percy and is owned and run by Mexicans. It is NOT your Americanized Mexican food. This is the real deal. My mother loves the place and eats there with friends often.

If you're going all the way to the Hill in St Louis...Cunettos is the absolute best. Visit Urzi's Market across the street for genuine Italian meats, cheeses and olives to take with you (tell Joe Milt says Hi!). Superb food, but expensive, is Andrias in O'Fallon, IL. Surpasses Ruth's Chris' by a mile.

milt

PS: Sissy, thanks for the correction.

I have heard of Southsides Ribs and will visit. Will pass on Eat St. Louis. grntitan....... you treat me to dinner at Pioneer and I will invite you over to the motorhome for a homemade northern indiana kielbasa and sauerkraut dinner. In Indiana now for the state and will be in my hometown on sunday night. I'm picking up 7 3lb. packages and bringing it back to Georgia with me. You'll be able to smell it through out the campground!

blade819

Milt:

Check your PMs.

sissy

blade819, by golly if Matt doesn't you up on that deal Devi n I sure will.

For me nothing beats Pioneer Cabin for an overall eating experienc. Good food, exceptionally friendly staff and the owner is one of a kind (believe everything he tells/says).

Pman,

The Pioneer is wonderful... ya gotta try the deserts!

Where was that place you and Leo invited me to several years ago?

Guy

Martin,

No reason why we can't all go. They always have plenty of good home cooking. Pioneer Cabin is one of those places you can't really describe other than to say its like eating at Grandmas house. True home cooking style food served in dishes at the table just like I remember at Sunday dinner.

Hey Grntitan, The rumor at the Open was Southside was having Ownership problems might be closing after August.. Being the Great and All Knowing any info.

Perryville MO. is about 35 miles and has a place called Tractors...????

Susie's in RedBud, right on the main drag, is a very nice family restaurant. They are closed Sundays and Mondays. The family that runs it are all very nice folks, like shooters, have the best fried chicken I have ever had (and I'm from the South and can still say that). Prices are normal and fair.

Bob

Matt what happended to Carmichels in Sparta???

Don

Don,

That restaurant changed hands and changed names. My understanding is they still have the same menu, recipes and food although I have not personally been there since the change. I guess they are still open.

As to if South Side is having owner issues, I have no idea. I had not heard that.

Another restaurant my Mom raves about but I haven't tried is called " The Firehouse" in Steeleville, IL which is just one town over from Sparta.

I will cast another vote for Andria's. Wife insists we go there twice during the week. Best Prime Rib and Steaks in town.

Not known for great food, but please don't omit stopping over at the VFW just south of the WSRC on the way to Sparta on the right. Shooters are very welcome, the prices are right and the AC will be on. It's our favorite watering hole after a day of competition.

They have a bring somethin’ in night, and standard bar eats. Several of us really like bar eats--we especially like the cold refreshing cheap adult beverages.

We REALLY like the friendly indigenous. Membership is NOT required. First round (at least) on us.

Guy & Aline Boom-Boom Babin

VFW Life Members at Large

Just had a new place in Sparta open up today. Tammys grape and grill. It is where carmicheals was. It opened for the first time at 11 today and at 11:30 I was ordering the 1/2 lb bacon cheese burger. I cannot speak for every thing on the menu ( not yet any way ) but the burger was great.

Being a life memeber of the VFW, I went into the Sparta VFW last year and found it to be very homey. I think I spent 4 bucks for a beer and a cheesburger w/fries. Just drove in the driveway from Indiana with 15 lbs of homemade kielbasa.

blade819

Sounds good blade.

Blade:

In the original Godfather movie Clemenza had a classic line, "leave the gun, take the cannoli". If Clemenza were a ts.c poster he'd tell you to, "leave the kraut, bring the kielbasa".

sissy : )

sissy..... good line. The kielbasa that I brought back is made from an 85 year old receipe. People from 100 mi radius from Michigan City have been going to this butcher shop for years to buy it. At the grand I plan to put 1 1/2 lbs in the crock pot with sauerkraut, then the remaining I cut into 8 inch links and then split them and grill them. I did this at the Georgia State for some of my redneck buddies and they went crazy. Throw in a six pack of Miller's Bottled Draft and it's heaven!

blade819

Pioneer Cabin. Take Leo and Pheasantmaster with you. AJ

Bump to the top in case some missed it...

Any additions?

Guy B.

Go to the Caseys in Sparta, and take the blacktop south (18 miles) to Breman. At the junction with 150 is a beer joint with pretty darn good fried chicken (as well as steaks etc). We make it at least once......merlyn, Alfermann bros, G.Young, M.Buemer and R.Buhr

Matt, looks like Pioneer Cabin is on the list for dinner.....Hell let's pack the place with Grand Trap shooters. Name the night I'll be there.

Bryan

Pioneer Cabin looks good to me. Name the night but would be better next Mon-thur.

blade819 (leaving tomorrow)

Same here...Will not be there until Grand week.

Spending the night in Sam's Club parking lot in Marion IL. Discovered one of my slides will not slide out. Oh Oh RV repairman gets a call tomorrow.

blade819

You have plenty of time to get it fixed. Probably got a beer can stuck in the mechanism from the last shoot. Your close though. I'll be out their Monday and Tuesday for the AIM Shoot with our High School Team. It's my oldest sons last shoot with the team as he graduated.

We will have to plan a gathering of us ts.comers to the Pioneer Cabin on Grand week. Only problem is shoot offs. Not that I personally have to worry about that but Martin and the Bartholows usually do.

You might want to try Valentine's in Freeburg. Marinated steaks, but when they are sold out, they are out. Riechsnieders is a new one in Freeburg too.

Todd Dietrich Marissa, IL

Matt.. I'll give you a call tomorrow in between repaimen.

blade819 (auto stairs stuck close now)

There's a good Mexican Restaurant in one of the strip malls just north of Sparta - across the street from the WalMart. Can't recall the name, but food is very good, reasonably priced and if you like Margueritas, I'm told they are very good also.

Gene Batchelar Wheaton, IL

It was recommended to me by a local today to buy my meat from The Butcher's Block in SPARTA. Bought a huge ribeye for tonight on the grill with a few brewskies.

blade819

There Ribeye sandwiches are always good. They are set up on the line.

Be prepared to stand in a line.

Shawn

Butchers Block has great cuts of meat. I had a Cheeseburger from their place at the WSRC today. Good burger. They were setting up the Peach Ice Cream next door.

I understand that the other flavors of ice cream are good in the Butcher Block tent but I've never been able to get past their Peach Ice Cream to try the others. Phil Kiner - the ice cream specialist - turned me on to them early in the Sparta years. So fresh it still has the peach fuzz in it!

See you guys there. Greg

blade819:

For you and other Sparta Grand newbies...

The Butcher's Block proprietor and his pretty daughters have a stand on the far east end of the tent vendors. Its a good place to get lunch or quick bite between events. He grills a variety of goodies with chips and bottled drinks - simple but tasty. I'm VERY partial to the brats which he stuffs himself.

Immediately next to him is the Randolph County Farm Bureau stand. They do homemade ice cream cranked on site with a one cylinder (pop... pop... pop...) John Deere stationary engine. Each flavor gets the "fat man seal of approval".

sissy

Don't forget the peach cobbler.

Good post sissy and spot on. Mike Smith the owner of the Butchers Block is a super hard worker as is his wife and beautiful daughters who all work their booth and store. They work long hours in the hot weather with multiple grills cranking away. They have a store in Sparta on the North edge of town where they sell packaged meats and specialty cuts. This is a life long Sparta family and they care about the product they put out.

I'm partial to the Jalepeno Brats and they have a nice bite to 'em.

Grntitan.... nice seeing and talking today. Hope the Son shot well? I'm ready to meet at Pioneer if you name the date and we can post it. by the way, I understand that Peach Ice Cream will make an artificial shoulder rust?

blade819

ttt

Subject: EAT AT TRACTOR’S BAR & GRILL IN PERRYVILLE From: yukon_870 Email: Date: Tue, Aug 07, 2012 - 07:32 AM ET Website Address:

If you are staying at any of the hotels in Perryville or Chester during the grand be sure to check out Tractor's Bar and Grill on St. Joseph Street across from the courthouse. They have great food, fast service and a great staff. The decor is unique with old tractor parts and pictures on the walls and not to mention the pretty girls serving you!! So if you get a chance check it out.

Used to be a guy selling buffalo burgers on the east end but he didn't show last year, heard he gave it up. They were really good burgers!

Who's for meeting at the Pioneer on Thursday evening??????

blade819

Grntitan. The was a place in Steeleville called The Firehouse. A bar and resturant. I heard a rummor that it is closed and for sale. I rent a house just around the corner and would be in there every night for a quick one. Do you have any info on this place. Right on Sparta st. across from the fire house.

Gene the Mexican place in the strip mall also makes margarita's by the pitcher. Some one told me. Not that I would have ever engaged in such activities.

Blade...,

which Thursday?

9th or 16th....

16th I hope

milt

Thursady the 9th. Waitin for Grntitan to answer.

blade819

blade,

I have friends coming in Grand week only. I would rather wait so we could include them too. Let's try and make something happen next week instead. Milt above is one I would like to include.

........................................

Donm,

I apologize about the Firehouse recommendation. It did indeed close. My mom had not told me that. Well actually she said she did tell me that but I must have not been paying attention. She goes to eat with her friends quite often and I assumed it was still on their list. That's what happens when I assume things. Again, I apologize to anyone who may have went there looking for a meal and instead found a closed restaurant.

Matt

Grntitan.. No problem. I was just looking forward to going back there again. I got most of the leads on houses to rent for a week there talking to people. And they had a really hot bartender there last year. I hope Granny's country kitchen is still there. We have breakfast there every morning.

Report from Southside Ribs - I walked in the door, sat at the bar and ordered a beer. Was told out a ribs! Huh? At 6:45pm? Anyway, had the pork steak and gave it a 11 out of 10! Baked beans were the best I ever had. Place was packed and I was assured they'll have enough ribs starting tomorrow. Grntitan...... No problem, next week it is. I'll drag Dadioooo who is pulling in Sat am.

blade819

ttt

I guess you can drive to St. Louis if you want to or in the case of WPT's favorite, he can look for his Bubba’s that doesn’t and has never existed in East St. Louis. We have enjoyed some good restaurants and meals in and around Sparta for the past 5 years. Dynasty in Sparta has some of the best Chinese Food I have ever had, we tried Tammy’s the other night, it is good, South Side Ribs is great and unique, The Butcher’s Block has great deli and is a meat market combo, they have some deli meats I have never seen before and everything I tasted was GOOD! In Mascoutah, Roemer Toph German Food is excellent; El Sombrero is excellent Mexican, Tony’s is good steak, seafood and salad bar and has prime rib on weekends. A little further away, but there are good restaurants in Belleville, Fairview Heights and O’Fallon. Dicksie

Last night, Southside Ribs, great as usual.
Tonight, Hook, Line & Sinker in Steelville. Wife and I walked in expecting a great dinner. Hostess seated us, place was a little over 1/2 filled. 4 waitresses buzzing around all the tables but ours. Got up to leave after waiting 10 minutes, waved at the bartender on the way out. She said, thanks for coming in. I said , your welcome but we never got waited on.
Our first bad dining experience in 4 trips to the Sparta Grand. Lots of other places on the list to try. Harv Shell

We ate at the Dynasty last night. Not bad except a buddy found a hir in his Chicken Poo Yong Fy.

blade819

Sad news, Tractors in Perryville closed a month and a half ago. It's now Club 15, still have a few big entrees, but more of a sandwich and wings kind of place. Not worth the drive. Harv

I ate at the Southside Ribs last evening, August 15th, and the ribs were great and the service excellent. I would definitely go back there again. Oh, I had the ribs but I noticed they have other entree choices as well that looked like they might be good also.

Allen

My crew tends to be meat and potatoes kind of guys with a limited sense of culinary adventure. That's a long way of saying I'd never been to Dynasty prior to this year. One visit put it on my list of "go to" places. As an added bonus they don't use MSG which my blood pressure appreciates.

Dicksie:

1. I'm big on the Butcher Block's jalapeno brats. Unfortunately, space was limited so I only brought a dozen home with me.

2. Sparta is in Randolph County. Monroe and St. Clair counties are just above Randolph. Look at a phone book and you'll see that they are VERY ethnic German. The point? Anybody into authentic German food needs to check with locals about restaurants and meat markets that carry various wursts.

sissy

The wife and I went to Garys Resturant in Freeburg last Saturday.

Pheonominal food.

Fried Bluegill.. The Chicken Livers were worth driving from Ann Arbor,MI to Sparta for.