Hayden’s Crossing –

A Rustic Restaurant That’s Worth the Trip
by Stacey Ganster

Although my friends and I have had a standing monthly appointment to do lunch for almost two years now, and even though over the course of that time we have passed nearby Hayden’s Crossing many times before, we never actually turned the corner and went into this terrific, small town restaurant.  After just one visit, we all agreed that we will never make that mistake again!   If you are looking for a restaurant that offers tasty food and great service in an unusual setting, then Hayden's Crossing is the place for you. 

 

Ambiance  As soon as we sat down, everyone commented on how interesting and unique the entire restaurant was.  After a quick inquiry, we found out the interior of the restaurant had been built from reclaimed barn wood.  But this wasn’t just barn wood slapped up in place of wainscoting; this was the actual barn itself!  Side walls from old horse stalls now serve the dual purpose of backs to the booth seats and dividers between the booths.  The old barn floor has become a wonderfully worn restaurant floor.  The bottom of the old hay loft now is a partial overhang above the booths.  In between the sections of barn wood there is old brick, which was part of the original shop that the restaurant now occupies.  In fact, the restaurant dining area and adjoining bar area occupy two original shop locations, now with a unique pass through at both the front and back of the old store fronts.  Minimal decorations are placed here and there throughout the establishment, and that minimalist approach to decorating is all that is needed.  The rustic and cozy feeling of the place makes you feel at home the minute you walk through the door.

Options  The menu offers a broad array of options, and the full service bar compliments the restaurant without giving you that awkward “is this a bar or a restaurant” feeling.  The separation wall between the two sides of the establishment makes it a comfortable location for hanging out with friends or for spending time with the whole family.  If you want to get your drink on, just wonder over to the bar side and you can spend a great evening relaxing.  If you want to take the family somewhere to have a great meal, then you will feel completely comfortable on the restaurant side.  The menu includes everything from appetizers, salads, soups, and burgers to steaks, chops, seafood, and pasta.  The soups are homemade and delicious with a capital D!  Their specials are in addition to the regular menu, and if you would like to check them out in advance just take a look at Hayden's Crossing Facebook page. 

Taste & Value  There were three of us that went to check out what Hayden’s Crossing had to offer, and every meal we tried came off as if it was the specialty of the chef.  The ribeye steak sandwich was perfectly grilled, and the flavor of the black & bleu burger was pure perfection.  The blackened chicken salad had a bit of a Louisiana twang to it, which suited us just fine.  We tried both the fries and the onion rings and enjoyed both.  As for portions, all three meals we ordered were above average size, which meant there was enough for leftovers for everybody.  There were so many fries in a single order that the portion could easily have served two people.  As far as taste and flavor, this food really delivers.  Each of the three meals ordered was absolutely delicious.  All were served hot straight to the table and were nicely garnished.  Depending on what you order, your meal will cost anywhere from about $10 up to about $30 for some of the dinner entrees, which is on par with most restaurants.  Each member of our party was extremely pleased with both the taste and the value, and everyone decided we will be making Hayden’s Crossing a regular stop.

Service  The wait staff is as friendly as can be in this quaint, small town restaurant.  The hostess greeted us with a welcoming smile and provided us with menus to peruse until our waitress arrived.  After a shorter wait than expected, what with the busy lunch crowd all around, the waitress popped by and gave us the low down on all the day’s specials.  Once she returned with our drink order in hand, any questions we had were answered with a cheerful attitude that let us know customer service was a priority.  During the entire visit, we did not want for anything – drink refills, bread basket, extra napkins – all was provided with barely a nod and she had it for us immediately.  This was truly the best service any of us has experienced in quite some time.

Location  This gem of a restaurant is tucked away in a little town called Wilmington, Illinois, which is located just south of Joliet.  Hayden’s Crossing is right in the heart of the down town area at 107 N. Water Street.  It’s the perfect place for anyone looking to hang out with friends and family when you want to experience a unique and interesting place to have a delicious meal.  If you choose to make a day of it, there are several options to keep you entertained in the area.  Go for an evening meal and then catch a movie at The Mar Theater, or maybe check out the bowling over at the Riverfront Lanes.  If you like shopping, you should definitely check out the antique stores in town.  Take a look through Paraphernalia Antiques, The Trinity Knot, or spend hours in the Milltown Mall antique store.  Maybe you’re the type who prefers a road trip, either by car or by motorcycle.  If so, you’re in the right place for that, too, because old Route 66 passes right by Hayden’s Crossing.  Take a look at the websites for Historic Route 66 and the Route 66 Association of Illinois for tons of information on things to see and do along this famous route.  As locations go, being situated right in the middle of all this, plus having the friendly small town atmosphere that abounds in the area, this location is just perfect for Hayden’s Crossing.

Scorecard  Everyone in our little group really just could not get over the great service, tasty food, cozy atmosphere, and satisfied feeling we all experienced during our lunch at Hayden’s Crossing.  If you want to know what other people think, take a look at some of the comments on Yelp.  Some agree this is a great place, and some seem to have had a bit of a different experience; but as for myself and my friends, we had a great time.  We'll definitely turn the corner and go in the next time we are in town, and I hope you will, too.

 

                     5/5   Ambiance –  this place rated a perfect score in our group’s opinion
                     4/5   Options –   we loved what they had to offer, but no desserts notched it down
                     5/5   Taste & Value –  the dishes we tried were excellent and had great portions
                     5/5   Service – there wasn’t one thing we would change for service
                     4/5   Location – nice location for the town it’s in, but the town is too far away!

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