Top 3 Burger Joints in Pontiac, Illinois

Pontiac, Illinois has strived to maintain their downtown area by providing tax incentives, and co-op advertising to new merchants establishing businesses. An organization known as PROUD (acronym for Pontiac Redevelopment of Our Downtown) plays a big part in this redevelopment. Besides PROUD, Diaz Sign Art, a long time business in Pontiac, helped tremendously in decorating Pontiac with murals and sign art. Diaz was instrumental in bringing the Wall Dogs to Pontiac. (For information on the Wall Dogs and their connection to Pontiac, Illinois, go to http://pontiacwalldogs.wordpress.com/the-murals/.)

That is probably one of the main reasons that Pontiac, unlike some small towns which allowed historic buildings to deteriorate or be torn down, features four fine restaurants right on their historic square. Three favorites that offer hamburgers on their menu include Apple Tree, DeLongs, and Bernardi's. All three of these restaurants offer generous sized hamburgers with the customer's choice of toppings.

Apple Tree, just ¼ block off the square, in addition to hamburgers, serves special menu items for each day of the week. Apple Tree is famous for their homemade pies.

DeLong's full service dining serves great hamburgers and also includes specials for each day of the week. Customers can choose either a regular bun or variety of bread for their hamburger. And for a great follow-up to that hamburger, try DeLong's creamery ice cream served from an ice cream bar right inside the restaurant. Choices include cones, sundaes, and blizzard-style concoctions in too many flavors to mention. The downstairs is bright and cheerful with bay windows overlooking the street. The tin-ceiling in the upstairs attic type of room seems cozy and cheerful.

Weather permitting, go sit outside in the patio area and enjoy DeLong's hamburgers and ice cream. This spot provides a great view of the historic Empire-style brick courthouse built in 1874-75.

Bernardi's, an Italian restaurant with upscale dining, is the second restaurant opened with this name. The first Bernardi's is among three Italian restaurants located in Toluca, Illinois. Bernardi's waiters, dressed in black pants, white shirts, and black bow ties, create a more upscale ambience than the casual atmosphere at Apple Tree and DeLongs. The hamburgers, pasta, steaks, chicken, fish, and salads are a little pricier than the other two restaurants, but very good. The décor at Bernardi's, also very impressive, looks how one might imagine an authentic Italian restaurant should look. Outside a green canopy overhangs a wide sidewalk with Bernardi's written in artistic style script on the glass window. Inside, in tune with the nightclub ambiance, dimmer lighting prevails. Bernardi's booths and chairs offer plush, comfortable seating. For a glimpse of Bernardi's menu, check out their website at http://www.bernardirestaurants.com/ index.cfm/id:9.

You may have heard it said that you can tell how clean a restaurant's kitchen is by their bathrooms. A check of the dining areas and bathrooms at all three of these restaurants revealed clean dining areas and bathrooms. Additionally, service was prompt.

If no time for leisurely dining can be found, any one of these three chain restaurants-- Burger King, McDonalds, and Wendy's-- would be a good choice.

Burger King and Wendy's are located in the same vicinity-near I-55 and WalMart. Wendy's is just ½ mile from the exits-just drive east on SR-116 after exiting I-55; it is easily seen from I-55 and SR-116. Wendy's hamburgers feature mayonnaise topping, but will change this to suit the customer. Just remember to ask for other toppings when ordering your hamburger. Otherwise, be prepared to wait in line to request different toppings, and then wait for another hamburger to be fixed. The workers there are very pleasant and accommodating.

Burger King, also located along SR-116, is within walking distance to WalMart. A standard hamburger ordered at Burger King gets topped with mustard, ketchup, and pickle. Burger King will alter or add toppings if mustard, ketchup, and pickle don't suit you.

To get to McDonalds, exit off I-55 and go east on SR-116. Drive about 1 1/8 mile to a stoplight at the intersection of SR-116 and historic State Route 66, then cross State Route 66. McDonalds, located at the intersection of SR-116 and Route 66, sits on the south side of SR-116. Tourists driving down historic Route 66 can also enter off of Route 66.

Wendy's, Burger King, and McDonalds all maintain good standards of cleanliness and service. McDonalds, the largest in square footage of the three, seems to be the busiest.

Tourists will find Pontiac, Illinois a friendly, clean, and safe town. Time Magazine in fact named Pontiac, Illinois as one of the best small towns in America. (http://www.pontiac.org/)