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?

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 want to apologize to the root beer stand for my poor review early last year. I've had this place a few times now and even came with a friend. I want to give it a 5 star rating. The food is good, the restaurant has attentive staff and it's popular enough that even the food is cheap and there is so many delicious options. I tried the chili bowl and it blew me away. Best drink is the root beer of course!