Sooooo....a Diner’s work is never done. These are the things we learn on a hot lazy Saturday morning when I should be at work but have a new place to try. Caseyville. Caseyville is not even really a ville. As near as I can tell it is lower Collinsville to the extent that is possible. It sits directly in Illinois 157 and straddles the optimistically named Canteen Creek. I had no idea it was there. My trip to the Happy Cow also turned up the Caseyville Diner which will now ALSO have to be reviewed. I am, if nothing else, long suffering.The Happy Cow is very good on the first try. It is a little hard to get to at 601 Main (really Caseyville has a Main Street (also known as Ill. 157). It is right next to some nameless Irish Bar/Restaurant and this reviewers antipathy for the Irish is well noted and documented. The placxe stands alone with a partially paved parking lot, lots of available parking and shade and newspaper machines for both the Post and the Belleville News Democrat. I like the bi-coastal feel of having both dailies for all of their weaknesses. There is not much to the decoration of the place. it looks like someone wanted to open up a restaurant a long time ago and did. They have since decorated it with whatever they could find.
Seating was ample. They had a good crowd (always comforting) and no one eye balled me coming in like I didn’t belong so we will call it welcoming as well. i am currently off of the iced tea for medical reasons and as such cannot opine on this most important aspect of a diner experience but i can say unequivocally that if the place had instant iced tea I would shit myself. The waitress brought me a simple blue menu already turned to the back which had their breakfasts. I ordered and was brought a water and looking around the place I could only describe it as homey. Not charming, but homey, lived in and comfortable. Not dirty either. Very clean. The place is decorated in all shapes and sizes of cows and while not charming it is at worst...amusing. There is no counter, booth or stools and they do have a kitchen rather than a grill but it is pretty clear that this was a house that was gutted to make a restaurant.
My food came, 1 biscuit and gravy, two sausage patties and potatoes. They did not ask what kind of potatoes i wanted other than to ask if I wanted onions in them (yes please). It was all... outstanding. the gravy was hot and thick but not too thick. Whitish in color with a little bit of pepper (I added more) and otherwise great flavor. The sausage patties were not of your standard variety and had a lot of flavor and perhaps even a hint of sage. they were worth coming back for on their own. My potato fetish left something to be desired. The good news is that these were fresh, cut up (sliced not cubed) potatoes and they were cooked a nice brown with some onions added. there was nothing wrong with them, other than they were not hash browns. Still... they were good and a nice accompaniment to the meal. All of this food cost $5.00. That by itself merits a return trip.
I will come back to this place at another date with my wife. She will try the eggs and coffee and I can give a further review. But I would have to say that should one have the misfortune to have to go to Illinois and not just be passing through on their way to somewhere else that The Happy Cow would be an excellent stopping off point for your breakfast meal. I need to make a plan to stop over there for lunch as they are said to have an excellent hamburger. After all... it is where the cows die happy. The concept might challenge “The Omnivore's Dilemma” but... I am OK with it.8 Slingers on the 10 Scale
