A lot of people have suggested that I try the tenderloin at Bemer’s Village Inn, which is a place I’ve never been to, so on this eighth week of the MBIP Tenderloin Tour, we’ll head over to the Village Inn and try a tenderloin and maybe have a beer or three. Off we go to uncharted MBIP territory in Spring Bay, Illinois!
I need to consult with my old friend Mr. GPS as I have no idea how to get to Spring Bay. He's telling me to go to University Street, so that's where we'll go.
University Street led me to Route 150 which has now led me to this dreaded bridge. Aaahhh!
Okay, we made it off the bridge with only a minor anxiety attack and now we're on the road to Spring Bay. This is the same road that led us to the Midway Duck Inn eight weeks ago when we started this tenderloin tour. Memories!
And here we are at Bemer's Village Inn. Last spring when the flood hit this area, this place got flooded out and people were wondering if it would reopen. Happily it did open back up in June and you can read and watch a video about that right here.
They have Budweiser and they are open, those are two very good things!
Let's go in and check out Bemer's Village Inn.
There's some people dining at the tables back there, but the bar is wide open, let's go grab a stool and settle in.
And just as we settle in an ice-cold bottle of Budweiser is served up by the pretty bartender on duty today, Jenae.
Here's a shot from my perspective at the bar including an unintentional obligatory mirror shot.
You know this is a top-notch place if they sell both Butch's Pizza and...
Art's Tamales too. If it wasn't a tenderloin day, I think I'd order a sampling of both of those items.
There's tables behind the bar and as you can see, Jenae is multi-tasking by waiting on them and taking orders as well as tending the bar.
Just a little reminder that it's Halloween week and we do have some special Halloween treats coming up this week starting tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Here's the specials of the day, listed on this board by the fireplace.
There's a dining room here in the back, let's go take a look.
It's very nice back here. The paneled walls kind of give it a retro '70's rec-room feel. Very cool!
Suddenly...crackers!
Here's the owner of Bemer's Village Inn, Mick Rohman on the left with one of the restaurant's regulars, Gary. Mick told me that the Village Inn has been in this location since 1964 and that the original owner was a fellow called, Sy Swabey. Mick and his family have owned the place for the last five years and he told me they've done quite a bit of remodeling in here.
Jenae's busy behind the bar and she told me the tenderloin is just about ready.
And here it is, wow this is one giant tenderloin, it really dwarfs the bun!
I ordered it with onions and I've dressed it up with mustard and pepper, my only problem now is how the hell am I going to pick up this giganzo tenderloin and eat it?
I decided to move the bun over here so I could pick up this end and start eating this gargantuan sandwich.
It's a great tasting tenderloin. The bun is really fresh and I like the fact that the outside is lightly breaded, yet very crunchy. Delicious!
Okay, that's all I can eat, I made it halfway through and I'm stuffed. I just asked Jenae for a to-go box.
As Mick stepped behind the bar, I asked him what his favorite entree was on the menu. He said he loves the tenderloins and the Italian Beef sandwich, but his favorite thing is the ribs in here.
A couple of minutes later, Jenae was serving up food to this table and something caught my eye...
A plate of ribs! It looks like Mick knows what he's talking about, those look great!
And as I head out the door, there's another reminder that it's Halloween week this week.
Okay, it's a day later and time for the warming up portion of our tenderloin tour.
Under the broiler it goes...
And we apply some of Kathy's Cleveland Bertman's Ballpark Mustard to the warmed up sandwich...
And there was enough of it left over that I think I can skip dinner! We'll see you all tomorrow!
Tenderloin Rating
Two and a half Porky Pigs, a tasty and wacky-ass big tenderloin awaits you at Bemer's Village Inn.
Bemer's Village Inn
612 N. Lake Street
Spring Bay, Illinois
309-822-8188
Related Posts: Related Posts: Tenderloins @ Sky Harbor, Kenny’s Westside Pub, Hello It’s Me (Tenderloin at Sam Wong’s), The Boar’s Nest, Donnelly’s Pub, Perdue’s Grill and Midway Duck Inn.
Bonus Cardboard Box Man Sighting!
MBIP pal and commenter Ragin' RR, who's gone missing again these days sent in this Cardboard Box Man sighting. Could he finally be meeting his doom? Stay tuned for further developments and maybe we'll see some quotes and comments from Ragin' RR soon.
