Acres Inn

Stopped by Acres Inn in Pontiac, IL and was not disappointed. I ordered the Chicken Bleu Buffalo sandwich, the Cuban, and a salad—everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Before heading out, I grabbed a macchiato, and honestly… one of the most enjoyable I’ve had. Great atmosphere, great service, and solid food all around. I’ll definitely be back.

Acres Inn in Pontiac is a radiant example of Central Illinois’s vibrant food scene, perfectly blending small-town warmth, local sourcing, and culinary ambition. Culinary Chronicles of Central Illinois had the honor of visiting after connecting with Nick Rynerson of WGLT/NPR, who brought us in as part of their upcoming feature spotlighting our region’s restaurant excellence—huge thanks to Nick for championing local eats and giving us a platform to share why Central Illinois food is so special! Acres Inn: The Back story Owner Jake Haag and front-of-house manager Darian have energized the corner of downtown Pontiac with a cool, unpretentious vibe that traces its roots to a coffee shop—but this place has gone full-throttle rogue into dinner territory. Known for inspirational hospitality and

What a great place to get a burger. Loved the crispy potatoes, too. The shake was excellent. Will be back on my way home to Chicago!

You know when you travel and you stop at that local restaurant that makes you wonder if you should move to the town just to eat there once a week? We'll this is one of those restaurants. The food is fresh and you can tell it was made there. Along with the small town America feel, you can't find a better stop on route 66. Portion size was just right for those not wanting a heavy meal on your travels. This place needs to be added to the lists of stops on route 66. They also have a coffee shop and service breakfast if passing through early in the day.

First visit, very impressed. I had the Korean BBQ and fresh mozzarella cheese curds! And homade vanilla ice cream peach tea float. A hidden gem for me until today!