Dinner at a Supper Club!

On our return trip to our home in East Tennessee, we stayed overnight in Danville Illinois… Danville was a good intermediate stop on our route with inexpensive lodging so once I’d decided to stop there my next mission was to find somewhere to have dinner.

My research turned up a true dive…a popular local joint named Moon Glo Bar and Grill.  Note the sliver of the illuminated moon on top of the restaurant.  I was thankful that we had a GPS system in our car as getting to Moon Glo from our hotel involved several local 2-lane country roads. 

The atmosphere inside Moon-Glo is just like one of those old time supper clubs that you could find on the outskirts of many Midwestern towns in the 1950's and 1960's.  You can still find places like this here and there in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.   The ceilings are low…the windows are few and the wood bar and trim plus signs and miscellaneous “stuff” everywhere provide the atmosphere. 

Yes… Much like other joints of the same genre, Moon Glo even has these coin operated games for its patrons

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Phil Adams owns Moon Glo Bar and Grill.  Phil’s dad bought the place in 1962 and he took over for him about 20 years later. At the time of our visit, Moon Glo had been in the family for 53 years!

 

The story goes that the first owner of this establishment was a guy named Willet.  He was Dick Van Dyke's father-in-law.  (Dick Van Dyke grew up in Danville and married Marjorie Willett in 1948.  The couple raised 4 children, but they were divorced in the 1980s) Marjorie’s dad was also a bit notorious as he’d supposedly spent time in prison for killing a guy.  When he got out, he couldn't own a bar because he couldn't get a liquor license because he was a convicted felon.  So, he put everything into the name of the gal he was living with.  Technically Phil bought Moon Glo from her. 

The menu at Moon Glo is pretty straight-forward…short and to the point!  You can grill your own steaks or they’ll grill them for you.

Old signs on the walls give customers a good idea just how long this place has been in business.  Examples include: Hot Chili 35 Cents; Fish Fry every Friday 50 Cents with slaw and French Fries, and; Price of Premium Beer will increase on February 1 from 35 Cents to 40 Cents.

Laurie went with the Pan Fried boneless Chicken Breasts with Texas toast and a baked potato.  There was plenty of food and it was a cut above average.

 

I had a Catfish Dinner…and that catfish filet was huge!  It was very good! 

The steaks at Moon Glo Bar and Grill get a lot of positive comments on line.  The “Moonburger” with or without cheese actually gets a lot of rave reviews.  We both love a good burger so maybe that’s what we’ll have the next time we come through the area. 

Service was friendly with lots of casual banter.  The restaurant could use a little sprucing up but we did enjoy our meal and our visit.  Moon Glo Bar and Grill is located at 3124 Perrysville Road in Danville, Illinois.  Phone: 217-442-9519.  I couldn’t find a website for this restaurant but there are many reviews and comments on Trip Advisor, Zomato, Yelp and Yahoo.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by and experiencing an old time dinner club!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave