Lunch in Rockford? Help!

We'll be on our way to Galena to celebrate our anniversary and Rockford will be in the vicinity when lunchtime hits. Nothing fancy, not too far out of the way. Anything that's a cut (or two) above average and actually worth stopping for? As a matter of fact, if it's a bit this side (or the other side) of Rockford, that's okay too. We're complete novices in this area.

The Lovely Dining Companion and I thank you.

Back when I had to go to Rockford on business, we often went to this really cool place: Der Rathskeller. German, in the basement, very old/historic, lots of character ...
It's on the west side of town - a bit out of the way if you're on the expressway heading for Madison, but not too far if you're heading further west to Galena.

I have not been, but I have heard good things about the Irish Rose in the downtown area on State Street. On East State Street from I-90 going west, there is about 1 of every franchise known, a few noteables are Maid-Rite and Thunder Bay Grille. Thunder Bay is operated by the same people who run the Machine Shed restaurants (one is across the street from TBG) but features a good variety of seafood in a northwoods atmosphere.


http://www.rockfordlink.com/index2.htm

Here's my take on the Irish Rose.

If i were you i'd just get an earlier start- it's only a three hour drive! There is, just before entering Galena a pretty cool gas station/wine shop you should check out.Whatever, have a great time!

bumpity.

I had no choice but to eat @ the local DQ last Tuesday. heading up there AGAIN next tuesday and i'm already fearing another conversation w/ the Dairy Queen staff...

should i just give into the temptation of "Maid-Rite"? or the burger joint of "Beef-A-roo"? http://www.beefaroo.com/

TonyC wrote:bumpity.

I had no choice but to eat @ the local DQ last Tuesday. heading up there AGAIN next tuesday and i'm already fearing another conversation w/ the Dairy Queen staff...

should i just give into the temptation of "Maid-Rite"? or the burger joint of "Beef-A-roo"? http://www.beefaroo.com/

I have friends who grew up in Rockford and have to stop at a Beef-A-Roo whenever they pass through. I was on a trip with them to Wisconsin a couple of years ago, so we stopped there. I have no real memories of it, to be honest, but I'd certainly take it over DQ.

Beef-A-Roo:





bleu cheese burger + cheddar fries... meh... it's ok... had a slight mickey dees flavor built in. if you enjoy that taste... then yah, it's a decent burger... i almost went to Figli's, but they weren't open for lunch except for Fridays...

TonyC wrote:
should i just give into the temptation of "Maid-Rite"? or the burger joint of "Beef-A-roo"? http://www.beefaroo.com/

there's a maid-rite in rockford?

there's a maid-rite in rockford?

There's two. But let me back up.



Looking for something to do with the boys, I found that the Discovery Center children's museum in Rockford had an ideal way to get rid of your pumpkins after Halloween: it was going to launch them with a trebuchet! (Think catapult plus slingshot.) The boys were ecstatic about the idea and so we drove, pumpkins in back of car, 80 miles to smash our pumpkins.



Anyway, it's a really good kids' museum, not lavishly funded but an unusually high proportion of exhibits are actually fun, interesting, educational-- and aimed high enough that the 9-year-old as well as the 6-year-old was captivated, which doesn't really happen at the Navy Pier or Kohl/Glenview ones any more.



And next door there's a small, but quite nice, natural history museum starring a teenage T-Rex named Jane. And we saw the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile:



On the way back, the boys discussed, in all seriousness, the total awesomeness of that being our next car. (Is there an Oscar Mayer plant in Rockford? What's the connection?)

But you were asking (18 months ago) about Maid-Rite. Sure enough, there are two located in Rockford, not to mention a Machine Shed; a reminder that that part of Illinois actually looks to Iowa more than Chicago, the way you start seeing the Rocky Mountain News for sale at a certain point in the vast flatness of western Kansas.

Now, being from Wichita, I actually have a frame of reference for Maid-Rite, Wichita's own crumbly-meat hamburger, the Nu-Way. And I have to say, and I don't think this is just hometown prejudice (since I don't like Nu-Way's nearly as much as many Wichitans), that I like a Nu-Way sandwich a lot more than a Maid-Rite one. They both have a livery tang that comes from the use of organ meats in the cooking, which is one of the things that either puts you off or makes you dig the style, but the Maid-Rite seemed kind of dried out (and fell apart in its bun; I was constantly picking meat up and stuffing it back in) where the Nu-Way has a more cohesive texture (possibly due to the use of chicken gumbo or something like it; a lot of home recipes for these sorts of burgers, such as the ones I dished up while volunteering at the Red Cross canteen in the 70s, use a can of Campbell's chicken gumbo as a flavor base/lubricant/adhesive). Though there were a few other signs of carelessness at this place that suggest that maybe Maid-Rite deserves another shot, closer to home, before I write it off.

Maid-Rite
5880 E State St, Rockford
(815) 227-0270
also: 1726 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park
(815) 282-0404

Discovery Center Museum
711 N. Main St.
Rockford, IL 61103
915-963-6769
www.discoverycentermuseum.org

Burpee Museum of Natural History
737 N. Main St.
Rockford, IL 61103
815-965-3433
www.burpee.org

I feel sure you've been there before, but if not, you and the kids should head down to Aurora to check out Sci-Tech.

We never have, both of our visits to Aurora are chronicled here and here, but thanks for the recommendation, I'll bump it up the list.

nr706 wrote:Back when I had to go to Rockford on business, we often went to this really cool place: Der Rathskeller. German, in the basement, very old/historic, lots of character ...
It's on the west side of town - a bit out of the way if you're on the expressway heading for Madison, but not too far if you're heading further west to Galena.

too funny, this place used to be an account of mine in Rockford, good place to check out.

there is an Italian on State Street (1/2 mile EAST of Alpine) across from Nick's Gyros (the newer location), I believe it is called Panino's, the hot sandwiches are good.

There is also a Vietnamese place I think called Nhu Yi. Serve a good Banh Xeo and Goi Ga, pho is not too shabby.
Vietnamese Restaurant
324 7th Street
Rockford, IL 61104
815.964.5353

Used to be an outpost of Goose Island Shrimp that was run by the original owner's son, but it has closed. There was also a promising looking BBQ spot just up the street from the old Goose Island Rockford location but apparently it had some zoning/permit/funding issues.

On Rt 20 east of Rockford (about 4 miles) there is a BBQ place on the north side of 20. Not too shabby if jonesen for BBQ and out that way. They cook in very small batches as they have been frequently out of items when I've stopped by but I am usually there in mid afternoon or before they close, fyi.


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Trying to deal with an immense backlog of posts, I came across this old one that will be of extremely limited interest. I wonder if TonyC remembers Beefaroo…

TonyC wrote:Beef-A-Roo: [broken photo links]

bleu cheese burger + cheddar fries... meh... it's ok... had a slight mickey dees flavor built in. if you enjoy that taste... then yah, it's a decent burger... i almost went to Figli's, but they weren't open for lunch except for Fridays...

In Rockford a while back, needing a quick bite but without obvious nearby options, we decided to check Beefaroo off the list.







The beefloaf sandwich looks similar to Arby's but if memory serves it's significantly better (I haven't been to Arby's in many years). Onion rings were considerably better than expected.

Beefaroo, a small local chain, seems like a well-run business: helpful employees, extremely clean, somewhat more interesting menu than standard fast food including many salad options. It's certainly not a destination but would be a good alternative to the usual fast food chains.

Beefaroo
Seven locations including:
3401 S Alpine
Rockford IL

815-874-8550
http://www.beefaroo.com/

Sweet Willie wrote:

nr706 wrote:Back when I had to go to Rockford on business, we often went to this really cool place: Der Rathskeller. German, in the basement, very old/historic, lots of character ...
It's on the west side of town - a bit out of the way if you're on the expressway heading for Madison, but not too far if you're heading further west to Galena.

too funny, this place used to be an account of mine in Rockford, good place to check out.

I think Der Rathskeller is still around (since 1931), but has been rebuilt after a fire in 2000. Some of the sausage plates coming out of the kitchen looked pretty good but I only picked up a few things in the deli. I recall one of their whole grain breads was unusually sweet but quite good. Based only on a limited glimpse of the place, I'd happily return. Nice sign for sure.



Der Rathskeller (Since 1931)
1132 Auburn St
Rockford IL
815-963-2922
http://www.derrathskeller.net/

Rene G wrote:Trying to deal with an immense backlog of posts, I came across this old one that will be of extremely limited interest. I wonder if TonyC remembers Beefaroo…

In Rockford a while back, needing a quick bite but without obvious nearby options, we decided to check Beefaroo off the list.

The beefloaf sandwich looks similar to Arby's but if memory serves it's significantly better (I haven't been to Arby's in many years). Onion rings were considerably better than expected.

Beefaroo, a small local chain, seems like a well-run business: helpful employees, extremely clean, somewhat more interesting menu than standard fast food including many salad options. It's certainly not a destination but would be a good alternative to the usual fast food chains.

Beefaroo
Seven locations including:
3401 S Alpine
Rockford IL

815-874-8550
http://www.beefaroo.com/

I was at the Rockton Beefaroo and yes, I went to try the beef. While it was probably not the best ever sandwich, it was at least as good as the Sign of the Beefcarver or Lion's Choice.

And what other fast food place has homemade soups and steamed broccoli?

Hi,

On the way to the mustard tasting, stopped at Beef A Roo for something to eat.

My initial impression of Beef A Roo some years ago was not very high. The location visited seemed run down and the food seemed about the same.

Remembering some sage advice made to someone else, I went about practicing what I preached: "I am quite happy people are willing to check on a place the community thinks is not functioning well. Either they advise some things have changed for the better or it reaffirms once more it is still wobbly." In this case, I am really checking on my own first impressions.

Darn glad I did not oppose going to Beef A Roo related to my prior experience, because this experience was far better. Right off the bat, I ordered something I never dream of ordering at Breakfast: a wedge salad with real bacon bits, blue cheese crumbles, Balsamic vinegar and a nice Blue Cheese Dressing. It was just over $6 for a restaurant quality wedge salad served in a fast food environment. This salad was on their Greatest Hits Menu, so it may be an occasional special rather than always on the menu.

I ordered their Mushroom and Swiss Cheese beef sandwich. The mushrooms were cooked on the premises, not canned. There was a little surprise of a number of small onion rings under the bun's top. This was not a burger, it was sliced beef. The real kind, not the glued together stuff.

With your order, you received a complimentary Andes-type chocolate mint. (I actually ate four, because I took a few more when they walked away to get my food.)

The interior looked the inside of a posh barn. At 10:30 AM, the after church crowd had not yet arrived. We were the only customers.

Beef A Roo
6593 Lexus Dr, Rockford, IL 61108-3015
815-229-6600
https://beefaroo.com/