Mr. B's Cafe

Mr. B's in Hoopeston Illinois is the latest conception of L & M's old lunch counter. We decided to assay it to see how the new proprietors are managing.


On this blustery morning, we blew in for a breakfast binge. The interior has changed only a little. They now have a shiny fluted sheet metal wall with handy coat hooks behind each stool. The long lunch counter and stools remain intact.

The menu is up on the wall with the grooved slots and individual letters that was probably painstaking to piece together.
Fox News...what else?


I ordered an egg sandwich with ham and a side of hash browns. I don't know why I ordered a sandwich, considering I can't eat bread, but it seemed more substantial than just requesting an egg.

Richie wanted to order a Haystack, which rivals Ross' Magic Mountain as a giant mound of breakfast foods erupting with cheese and gravy. Apparently, we arrived after the gravy robbers and the sausage gravy pot was depleted. So 2 eggs and bacon would suffice.

Our meals came out as they were finished. I dissected my sandwich and was pleased to find that the ham wasn't some limp slice of Buddig. It was a thick seasoned cut from a ham steak. A true Iowan favorite.

The hash browns were also pleasing, a nice golden crust enveloped the mid-layer of potatoes. They were crispy and light rather than greasy.

Richie devoured his scrambled eggs and bacon, but apparently a couple corners of his stomach were still empty.

How can anyone resist homemade pie? They had 5 or 6 flavors to choose. Richie ordered a slice of apple and was easily talked into making it a la mode. It was very sweet and they warmed the pie before plopping the scoop of ice cream on top, so the ice cream and apples coalesced into a sinful cinnamon soup.

I am a cake stan, but the Crunch bar pie was calling me, so I got a slice to go. And go it did, right into my mouth on the car ride home. It was creamy with a light cocoa flavor and chunks of Crunch bar. Scrumptious.


We were all impressed with the food and service, and I would opine that it has improved since the new owners took over. Bravo Mr. B


Goodbye long shiny checkered diner!

Pizza King

And another Hoopeston joint, Pizza King (111 E Main), an Indiana pizza chain.











After the 3.5 hr drive to Hoopeston, we stopped to satisfy our craving for a RIB CHEEZY. Which is basically one of those pork patties shaped like ribs (i remember those from school lunch) smothered in bbq sauce, onions, and mozzarella cheese, cooked open face in a pizza oven. Tastes a lot better than it sounds.










nom nom nom

You can't find these delicious sandwiches and thin crust pizzas much further west than Hoopeston.



The three of us split this delicious beast.







We were happy and full....

Hennings Root Beer Stand

One burger was not enough...

One day after hitting up L&Ms for lunch, we visited Henning's Root Beer Stand in Hoopeston. (411 S Dixie Hwy)




Henning's has everything you would expect from a root beer stand

Homemade root beer...












Hamburgers and fries....







And a telephone to "phone in" in your order.
Sufficiently awkward and nerve racking when the whole restaurant can hear you be indecisive.

However, I did settle for a grilled chicken sandwich. Nothing too fancy.

Richie devoured his Ranch burger and fries
and a root beer or two.

It's what A&W tries to, but ultimately fails to be. Hometown deliciousosity. that's not a word. it's a state of being.

L & M Lunch Counter

The first greasy joint we visited is L & M Lunch Counter in Hoopeston, IL. We stopped there for an early lunch in April. L & M's is in the almost deserted downtown area of Hoopeston. This place could be straight out of The Sandlot.










Richie ordered his typical burger and fries










I ordered a hot ham sandwich with a pickle and mustard. Even though I ate breakfast about an hour earlier, I devoured this sucker.













We split a vanilla milkshake. It was very vanilla-y


L & M's was originally started across the street from it's current location. It was called the Darb and featured a pool hall and bowling alley. When the owner died in the 1950s, Larry and Mick Farrell took over the business. In the early 60s, L &M's moved to its current location at 307 East Main st. In 2008, it was sold to new owners but retains the same menu and location. Besides the cash register from 1992, it's like visiting a 50s time warp