Review of The Rafters Restaurant and Catering

4 years ago

The Rafters

The Rafters
9426 W Wagner Rd
Lena IL 61048

This was another restaurant on my nostalgia tour, a blast from the past. Years ago this joint was one of my regular spots but it has been years since I have been here. I was happy to see them still going strong after all of these years. What a beautiful building to have a restaurant in. What happened to the Limo that was always there? This is the place that I took my wife to after I proposed to her. Am I rambling?

I also have one of my favorite dining stories from here that I love to tell. One evening sitting in the bar at a table, we had finished our meal and ordered dessert. I had a slice of chocolate cheesecake that had some chocolate chips on it. What makes this all happen is that there was a fly bothering us and some others in the bar area that we were swatting at. I got a chocolate chip stuck to my finger and couldn t get it off. So I flicked it like a booger and it went right past my wife s head and hit the guy in the booth behind her. Right smack dab in the middle of his forehead and he swatted like it was the fly. It sat on his forehead for a while like he was a chocolate Hindu. I called the waitress over so that I could share my joy at what was happening. It was so funny I still laugh every time I think about that. And to finish it off when I signed the credit card receipt I signed The Mad Chipper .

I love pork chops and I order them many times to my dismay. There is a fine line of thickness to a good pork chop. A very thick cut will have a juicy center that has little to no seasoning and can taste like pure pig meat and edges that can be very dry. A thin cut pork chop will inevitably be dried and jerkyfied. The cut here was perfectly in the middle, well-seasoned, juicy and with perfect char marks. That amazing corn bread is killer. What the heck was that potato concoction? One of my favorite sides ever! Great food, atmosphere, drinks and service!

According To The Big Food Jerk.

The place hasn t changed much over the years and consistency is what we want in a restaurant and The Rafters delivers. Heck yeah I recommend them really good joint!