Huddle House 994 Ann Rutledge Rd, Williamsville, 566-2067
Started in Georgia in 1964, the 24-hour Huddle House now has over 430 locations. The one that causes our locals to pull over within minutes of starting a road trip is in Williamsville. Known for its breakfast delights like pecan waffles and the intimidating “Smothered Southern” (biscuits, hashbrowns, bacon or sausage, topped with gravy, retopped with cheese), they also have a huge lunch and dinner menu with down home favorites like ribeye and country-fried steak. You can get everything to go, too, that is if you can handle waiting to eat it all.

Blucat Café 112 W Main St, Williamsville, 566-2800
The Blucat Café in Williamsville may be aesthetically lovely and interesting, but it’s more than just a pretty face. The breads are all made in-house, the menu offers delicious homemade takes on classics like corned beef and the ubiquitous horseshoe, and the pies are outstanding. Plus who doesn’t like dinner and a show? Live music makes an already winning restaurant experience even more so. A reader writes: “The Blucat Café is phenomenal! Great food, music and Jill Manning, the owner, is friendly and makes sure her customers are happy. She’ll even make something special. The homemade bread is fab!”

The Creek Pub & Grill 1081 Jason Pl, Chatham, 483-8282
Get ready for new things, Creek-lovers. The Creek is, as we speak, readying to roll out their new menu, with more dinner options and a few healthier items, available right around Halloween, perhaps as you read this. With its numerous flat screen TVs and game room, The Creek is a great place for families, particularly on half-priced pizza night every Monday. Says manager Kevin Daugherty, “It gives Chatham another option without having to drive to Springfield. We get regulars from Auburn and Divernon who want a good place to eat, but don’t want to bother with the hustle and bustle of traffic in Springfield.”