The Rootbeer Stand

Had a family business trip to Central Illinois last week, and whenever I travel, I always try to carve out a little “me time” to hunt down a unique, off-the-beaten-path spot with some retro character. Most of my family knows I’ll gladly drive an hour (or more) for a great local root beer, so that’s exactly how I ended up in the small town of Oglesby, IL population 3,791 at The Root Beer Stand, established in 1955! This place checks all of my boxes for classic Americana nostalgia. It has that true old-school roadside diner feel, complete with pull-up ordering outside (not a drive-thru) and a small indoor dining room straight out of Happy Days, filled with booths. It was about 45 degrees when I visited, so dining inside was the perfect choice. I of course started with an ice-cold frosted mug of their house-made root beer, and it was spot on perfect. If you’ve never had this style before, it’s different from typical fountain soda, meaning less carbonation, for a smooth, rich flavor taste, and full of character. It foams when first poured and then appears to be flat, but drinks more like the traditional root beer you’d imagine from decades past. For my food, I went with the Bacon Double Cheeseburger basket which includes two patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and 1000 Island dressing, and made it a basket with fries and a small salad. Everything came out hot, fresh, and quickly. Service was genuinely small-town friendly, the kind that makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit. The atmosphere really takes you back, a total retro vibe that feels straight out of a classic American diner era. Great food, great service, and a root beer that easily makes my “worth the hour-plus drive” list. The Root Beer Stand is now officially on my permanent must-stop list anytime I’m in Central Illinois. If you’re looking for a little nostalgia, classic drive-in food, and one of the best root beers around, definitely check this place out. Also know that it's CASH ONLY!!

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately we won’t be returning. The sides of the tables were dirty, that probably should have been our first clue. We were warmly welcomed by our waitress, and the inside has a fun oldies vibe, which we liked. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The burger was extremely thin and lacked any flavor. The fries were barely warm and tasted very basic. The side salad came in a small Styrofoam cup (which didn’t bother me), but it wasn’t crisp and the dressing tasted off. We ordered mac & cheese bites as an appetizer, they were good at first bite, but then they were cold in the middle. Super bummed because we really wanted to enjoy it.

What a find! If you are traveling on Highway 39 past Olgesby, IL, and you are hungry, this is the place to stop. It is just a short way off the expressway and SO MUCH BETTER than your typical fast food place. Food is homemade, very reasonable, and nostalgic. The staff is super friendly and the place is filled with locals, since they all know how good it is. Who doesn’t want a tasty cheeseburger and a root bear float?

Old style drive-in, something from pre-interstate days, even has a "big boy" out front. Pull in, order your food and out it comes to your car. I had a shake, wife had grilled cheese. She reported, "Yummy!" I recommend.

The food is good for a small time operation and the service is honestly among the better for a mom and pop stop. The root beer has a strange but intriguing taste. The prices are honestly really good for the amount of food.