A century of feeding travelers.
Litchfield learned hospitality the old-fashioned way — by feeding everyone who came down the road. For a hundred years, that road was Route 66.
You can eat at both legends tonight.
The town’s two most famous kitchens have been at it nearly a century: the Ariston Café has served travelers continuously since 1935, and Jubelt’s has been baking since 1922. That’s not a marketing story. Both are open.
But Litchfield’s dining scene runs deeper than its landmarks. For a town its size you can eat remarkably well and remarkably widely — hand-cut steaks, Chicago-style stuffed pizza, Mexican, Chinese and sushi, Japanese hibachi, barbecue, classic diner breakfasts, and hand-dipped milkshakes — most of it locally owned, and much of it within a few blocks of the old route.
Two kitchens that never closed.
The Ariston Café
The oldest continuously operating restaurant on all of Route 66 — serving since 1935, inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. White-tablecloth casual elegance from the days of the Model T, still going strong.
More on Route 66 →Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant
A third-generation family bakery founded in 1922, in Litchfield since 1952 and on Route 66 since 1982. From-scratch donuts, pies and pastries up front; diner classics, all-day breakfast and hand-dipped shakes in the dining room.
See the listing →Breakfast to last call.
Breakfast & coffee
Litchfield takes mornings seriously. Coffee pours from 6 a.m. for farmers, regulars and road-trippers alike, and downtown brings a proper espresso bar — one of them inside a renovated 1920s doctor’s office.
Steaks, taverns & comfort food
Sirloin tips, homemade bread on every table, a cafeteria-style buffet on one side and a full bar on the other. A Litchfield institution since 1983, two blocks off the old route and easy in, easy out from I-55.
Pizza & Italian
Chicago’s original stuffed pizza, 200 miles downstate — with a gluten-free crust travelers actually praise. And a hometown pizzeria that’s been in the same family since 1972, recipes unchanged.
Around the world on Route 16
Mexican, American-Chinese, Japanese hibachi and sushi, and Memphis-style barbecue downtown. You can eat a different cuisine every night of a week-long stay — in a town of 6,800.
A drink downtown
Craft taps under vintage tin ceilings, old wooden bars, and casual bistro plates with every game on the screens. The local’s local — where visitors get welcomed like they’ve been coming for years.
Quick & familiar
Pulling off I-55 late, or feeding a car full of tired kids? The national names cluster near the interstate at Exit 52 — diners, burgers, sandwiches and a 24-hour option or two.
Dinner and a movie
In summer, the correct Litchfield evening is dinner at any of the above, followed by the concession stand at the Sky View Drive-In. Popcorn under the stars at the last original drive-in on Illinois Route 66 counts as dining — and we’ll defend that position.
Find the Sky View →Restaurants in Litchfield.
Every place to eat in our directory — tap a card for hours, directions and contact. Our dining listings are growing week by week.
Ariston Café
The Oldest Dining Legend on the Mother Road To dine at The Ariston Café is to take a seat at the table of history. Widely recognized as the oldest continuously operated restaurant on all of Route 66, this Litchfield landmark has been serving travelers since the days of the Model T. A Century of HospitalityThe story begins in 1924,…
Chinatown
Locally owned Chinese near the hotel corridor — buffet, made-to-order meals, and takeout on West Ferdon Street. Locally Owned Chinese — Buffet, Menu & Takeout Chinatown on West Ferdon Street is Litchfield’s locally owned Chinese restaurant, serving the American-Chinese canon three ways: buffet, made-to-order meals, and takeout — a reliable, filling option near the hotel…
Diamond’s Bistro and Gaming
Hand-patted burgers, in-house smoked pulled pork, and hand-cut fries downtown — with pool, darts, and gaming upstairs. Locally owned, open daily to 1 a.m. Good Eats, Cold Drinks, and Every Game On One of downtown’s newest locally owned spots, Diamond’s Bistro and Gaming opened on State Street in 2025 and quickly earned a food reputation…
Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant
Third-generation family bakery, from-scratch since 1922. All-day breakfast, diner classics, hand-dipped shakes — and a bakery case worth arriving early for. Baking From Scratch Since 1922 If the Ariston is Litchfield’s dining room, Jubelt’s is its kitchen table. This third-generation family bakery has been in business for more than a century — and the smell…
Kismet Coffee Co.
Specialty coffee in a renovated 1920s doctor’s office downtown, with fresh contemporary dishes, bakery items, and back-patio seating. Open daily at 6:30. Specialty Coffee in a 1920s Doctor’s Office Downtown Litchfield’s coffee house comes with a story built in: Kismet Coffee Co. pours its hot and cold specialty drinks inside a beautifully renovated 1920s doctor’s…
Los Rancheros
Family-owned Mexican just off the interstate — fajitas, enchiladas, and generous combination plates on Corvette Drive. Family-Owned Mexican on Corvette Drive Los Rancheros is Litchfield’s family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant — the familiar full menu of fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and combination plates, served in generous portions just off the interstate. Visitor Tips Convenient to the…
Maverick Steaks & Spirits
A Litchfield institution since 1983. Signature sirloin tips, legendary homemade bread, a full buffet on one side and a bar and lounge on the other. Sirloin Tips, Homemade Bread, and Forty Years of Full Plates A Litchfield institution since 1983, Maverick has fed generations of area families — and more than a few grateful travelers…
Nancy’s Chicago Pizza
The pizzeria credited with inventing Chicago stuffed pizza — plus thin crust, pastas, wings, and a well-reviewed gluten-free crust. Open daily. The Original Stuffed Pizza, 200 Miles Downstate You don’t have to drive to Chicago for the real thing. Nancy’s traces straight back to Rocco Palese, who invented Chicago-style stuffed pizza in 1971 — and…
Pizza Man
Litchfield’s hometown pizzeria since 1972, still family-run by the Chandler brothers — same recipes for fifty years. Delivery available. Litchfield’s Pizzeria Since 1972 Some pizza places are businesses. Pizza Man is an heirloom. Litchfield’s hometown pizzeria has been at it since 1972, and it’s still in the family — brothers Jeff and Scott Chandler, raised…
Rise and Grind Coffee Co.
Frappes, smoothies, and B&K Bakery pastries in a cozy shop on West Union — plus a mobile coffee trailer that pops up at events across the region. Coffee Shop — and a Coffee Trailer on the Move Litchfield’s caffeine scene runs two deep. Rise and Grind Coffee Co. on West Union Avenue pours frappes, Americanos,…
Route 66 BBQ & Southern Kitchen
Memphis-style BBQ north of Memphis — smoked meats by the plate or the pound, handmade crab cakes, Chef Tim’s chili, and Southern comfort specials daily. Memphis Smoke Meets the Mother Road Downtown Litchfield’s newest flavor is also one of the route’s oldest traditions: real barbecue. Route 66 BBQ & Southern Kitchen on Union Avenue makes…
Sakura Hibachi Sushi Bar
Family-run sushi and hibachi for over a decade in Litchfield Plaza — fresh rolls, bento boxes, and generous portions that surprise first-timers. Locally Owned Sushi and Hibachi Sakura Hibachi Sushi Bar in Litchfield Plaza has been the town’s family-run Japanese kitchen for more than a decade — fresh-rolled sushi, hibachi plates, bento boxes, udon, and…
Tilley’s Tavern
Craft beer under a vintage tin ceiling at an old wooden bar — the local’s local, where visitors are welcomed like regulars. Craft Beer Under a Tin Ceiling Some bars are built to look old. Tilley’s Tavern just is — an old wooden bar under a vintage tin ceiling, pouring a genuinely good craft beer…
Tosi’s Route 66 Café
Home-style diner on the historic route, pouring coffee at 6 a.m. daily. Meals come with the soup-and-salad bar; save room for the dessert tray. Where the Regulars Eat on the Old Road Every Route 66 town needs a proper diner — the kind where the coffee starts pouring at 6 a.m., the meals come with…
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, on the route.
The AI Weekend Planner arranges your stops with meals at meal times and real drive times between them — so you’re never hungry in the wrong part of town.
Build my weekend →More of Litchfield.
Historic Route 66
The oldest café on the route, the last original drive-in, and a neon sign that never came down.
Drive the road → Work up an appetiteThings to Do
The lake, the trails, the beach and the conservation area.
Find something to do → Stay a whileHotels & Lodging
Hotels off I-55, plus cabins and camping at Lake Lou Yaeger.
Find a room →