Mentions of Merichka's on this forum are scattered in several locations but until now "Will County's Landmark for Good Eating" hasn't had its own thread.
Merichka's has never been anything more than a novelty act for me.
I found the food pretty bad, even the signature garlicky po' boy.
This was another disappointing experience.
I might be in the minority but I like Merichka's. It's not all about the food but by choosing carefully, one can eat pretty well. Okay, I'll admit it. I wouldn't like Merichka's nearly as much if they got rid of the sign, a Route 66 classic. It's shaped like a boomerang because they want their customers to keep coming back. How corny is that? I love it.
Immediately upon entering, you are confronted with a display of the famous garlic butterine.
Just past the butterine is a small shrine honoring Merichka and Joe.
It would be a shame to visit Merichka's without having a cocktail or two. Manhattans (now up to $4.25) are well prepared and generously portioned. A textbook old-school cocktail.
You'd expect a place like Merichka's to have a great relish tray.
Unfortunately you'd be mistaken. There's nothing glaringly wrong either the tri-bean salad or cottage cheese but the sweet, mushy pasta salad is terrible. The side salad is mostly iceberg with a handful of croutons but I enjoy the (very) sweet and spicy house dressing. Homemade soups sound worth trying.
Many opt for Merichka's signature Poorboy Steak Sandwich with lots of garlic butterine but I find the Yodel Burger with light (or no) butterine plus grilled onions to be preferable. Skip the fries and definitely skip the twice-baked potato in favor of the American fries—really excellent potatoes.
Fried chicken is another respectable option.
I don't know that I'd make a special trip from Chicago specifically for Merichka's but I find it an enjoyable retro-dining experience every now and then. I'm another customer who'll be coming back.
Merichka's
604 Theodore St
Crest Hill (Joliet) IL
815-723-9371
http://www.merichkas.com/