She checked with a server who explained that they only had one Ice Cream Drink at the time called a Grasshopper. I decided to just have water to drink, but Shae’s eyes fell on their cocktail menu and the mysteriously named Ice cream Drinks. Here’s what the The Ariston Cafe menu looks like: Appetizers Specialty salads & sides Steak & seafood Southern & Italian dishes Mexican options Sandwiches Specials & cocktails Beer & soft drinks Wine I’d taken a look at their menu online before arriving, but still hadn’t decided what to eat by the time we sat down. I was happy for us to sit on this side though, as that’s where the soup and salad bar is located which meant not having to walk far to fill up my plate. There appeared to be a second section of the restaurant with additional seating behind the counter, but we didn’t head back there. There were a few seats at the counter, along with several other tables in that section. We arrived at 5:30pm and it was already getting pretty busy. Island_B.C.A Litchfield local we’d gotten chatting to had recommended that we get there before 6:30pm as otherwise the line might be out the door.
The pond catfish is two big catfish served on the bone for $15, while the fillet is one catfish filleted for $14… as two would have been too much food me, I got the fillet… but if I lived nearby I’d have ordered the pond for $15 and taken home leftovers. I asked the waitress what the difference was between the pond and fillet catfish dishes.
That said, they also have an all you can eat soup and salad bar which had some tasty stuff on it… even if it is kind of seriously old-fashioned. In most other locations would be a bad thing, but on Route 66, it’s a selling point.Īs restaurants go it has a highly confused menu they have: Mexican, Greek, Deli, classic American, Southern, Italian, Steak, and Seafood … with 7 different kinds of fish - where most places would do one or twoīut I guess if you’re a restaurant in a small town you sort of have to be all things to all people. So I planned my trip so as to include a meal here.Īccording to Wikipedia, with the exception of having added a banquet room and a few other minor tweaks, the interior of the Cafe has not been altered substantially since it first opened. Built in 1935 (and on the National Register of Historic Places), the Ariston Cafe located on Route 66 in Litchfield, Illinois is the longest continuously running cafe along the route’s whole stretch.