By 6 a.m., Ron and Darlene Bridgewater`s restaurant ”R” Place in Peotone, is bustling with activity. The regulars, mostly townspeople, farmers and truckers, gather at the round table near the front door. Owner Darlene likes to call them ”The old boys.”
”Sometimes fifteen men sit at that six-top table. They know the weather and how many bushels of corn will be sold that day,” she said.
These are the regulars that give ”R” Place part of its homey appeal. They congregate for the company, conversation and, of course, the homestyle food that Ron and Darlene serve up.
During a busy lunch hour patrons will sometimes opt to take a seat with friends and drink a cup of coffee while they wait for a table to open up. Since many customers are on a first-name basis, Darlene said, ”I`ve sometimes felt that this is my house and people are coming to visit.”
Darlene bakes from scratch 24 different kinds of pie and serves two choices a day, plus homemade cookies. On this day, the freshly baked cherry pie ($1.35) and coconut cream pie ($1.45) were rich, with flaky crusts.
While desserts are Darlene`s speciality, Ron cooks the main fare. His chicken soup ($1.25 a bowl) is rich with chunks of chicken, carrots, bits of parsley, a rich stock and three different kinds of noodles. And his chili
($1.65 a bowl) is ideal those who love hot and spicy food. Ron concocts his chili batch by taste, saying, ”If you want it hot, I can pump it up `til your eyes water. I keep throwing it in there `til it comes out right.”
For those with a taste for a classic Midwestern dinner/lunch, there`s the special of the day, which range from pork chops and dressing to chicken with potatoes and vegetables ($4.75-$4.95). One of the house specialities is a potato pancake served with your choice of applesauce or sour cream (75 cents). Try it as a side dish or a potato substitute.
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”R” Place, located at 2nd and Main Streets in downtown Peotone, is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, until 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 708-258-3448.
