Located near Lake Bloomington about 10 miles north of Bloomington/Normal, IL is the Green Gables (see map). I was turned onto this place by my friend, Jim Kellogg, who lives in Hudson, IL, near the lake. It's a combination bar/grill/general store.
Actually, the first few times I went there, I thought the burgers were some of the best - if not THE best - I'd ever had. They cook 'em on this old flat grille and they pour a concoction of something like watered down ketchup on the grille when they're cooking. They were thick, juicy and flavorful. It was excellent with a cold beer (which they served in cans).
Something happened a little over two years ago, however. I understand the owner's daughter and her husband took over the place and almost immediately they began to skimp on the size of the burger patties. They weren't as thick as they used to be.
I went there on my way back from Indianapolis about 2 years ago (going about 15 miles out of my way to do so) and I was highly disappointed. The burger was so thin that they literally cooked the juiciness out of it. About six months later, I stopped again for lunch after coming back from Champaign and it was the same thing.
After telling Kellogg and some other friends from the "Blum/Num" area how the burgers weren't that good any longer, they couldn't believe it. Then again, Jim admitted they hadn't been out for awhile. Jim had to go try a burger for himself. He reported back that he found the same thing - the burgers weren't the same as before.
I think the Green Gables got the message, however. About 8 months ago, I stopped in to have a burger. This was going to be my "Make or Break" visit - if the burger was the same as the last two times, Green Gables was going to the "Why I Won't Go In There" column.
To my pleasant surprise, it was much better. The burger was much thicker and more juicy than the last couple of times I'd been there. Still not as good as it was when I first went there about 7 years ago, but it was still pretty good.
If you're in the Bloomington/Normal area, I'd say give Green Gables a try. It's good, but not as good as it used to be.
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