Small Town ‘Gem’ Might Be The Lowkey Best Restaurant in Illinois

Hearing of and discovering a restaurant right under your nose that most people seem to know and love gets me stoked to try.

That's usually the case when you cruise through small towns in Illinois. You'll always find that one restaurant or diner that just everyone thinks is the best.

SMALL HIDDEN GEM RESTAURANTS IN ILLINOIS

All you need to do is go on a road trip to find one of those eateries. For this one, though, you only need to go south of Rockford and stop in Stillman Valley.

That's the home of a restaurant (and general store) called a "gem of a place."

Located at 130 North Walnut Street, the Royal Blue General Store is one of the best-reviewed restaurants I have seen on social media.

THE MENU AT ROYAL BLUE GENERAL STORE

Royal Blue General Store doesn't have a massive online presence. I checked for a website and didn't find much.

Their menu is posted online, but not in the way you would expect. If you're thinking of a sprawling webpage littered with daily specials, apps, and desserts, no, not here.

At Royal Blue General Store, they take a pic of their chalk menu and post it on their Facebook.

I love it, and if you think it will have limited options, think again.

Royal Blue General Store's extensive menu includes everything from Chicken Sandwiches to Italian Beef, Tenders, and Broasted Chicken meals.

When you consider the dessert options with Dole Whip and Custard as their top two, it's a small-town diner offering made in heaven.

REVIEWS OF THE ROYAL BLUE GENERAL STORE

Here's the part that got me the most: the reviews. Overall, Royal Blue General Store sits at a perfect 5.0. Words to describe customers time at the restaurant are as follows:

• top-notch
• fresh
• super nice
• welcoming
• clean
• reasonably priced
• great portions
• excellent service

Is Royal Blue General Store the lowkey best hidden gem restaurant in Illinois? Let us know.