828 Jerk Grill opens on Eldorado
For those who aren’t ready to give up the heat, the Caribbean style restaurant, 828 Jerk Grill, located at 1011 E. Eldorado St., Decatur, is now welcoming customers into its westside restaurant.
The hours are 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday.
Jonnie Phresh gave his restaurant the name after the Bible verse Romans 8:28. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
“It’s more about the person who is called to do God’s will,” Phresh said.
The westside of the building currently advertises another name the owner attempted to use, De Island Curve. Phresh previously owned a restaurant by the same name in Florida, before he moved to Central Illinois. He changed the name of the local restaurant to reflect his relationship with God. “He is foremost up front of anything I do,” he said.
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No alcohol is served, but the menu has plenty of spice to offer diners.
The owner has created a selection of American and Caribbean foods. Jerk chicken with rice, peas and cabbage tops the menu. Reggae bones are ribs fried with Caribbean seasons. Curry chicken and wings, as well as fish boats and shrimp boats, have also been popular with the community so far. Other menu items are concoctions made up by Phresh, such as Bam Bam Wingz, a hot jerk-style wing.
“Jerk is always going to have a spice,” he said. “If Jerk doesn’t have a spice, it’s not Jerk.”
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Jimmy John’s set to open South Shores shop
Jimmy John’s newest restaurant in Decatur, located at 398 W. 1st St. in South Shores, is set to open on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
It will replace the shop at 1130 W. Wood St. near Millikin University, which will close the next day.
The phone number and other contacts will remain the same.
A small dining area will have limited seating. “But we will have a drive-thru,” said owner Suzi Rotz.
The added drive-thru helped the owner decide to close the westside restaurant and move it to a more conducive location. Since the Millikin location was based in a rental space, Rotz is unaware of its future.
“Drive-throughs make a huge difference,” she said. “We had a goal to keep both open, but it wasn’t going to work out at this time.”
The pandemic didn’t help sales in the college campus area. “Especially with more online classes,” Rotz said.
23 Decatur restaurants from our past
Blue Mill
1928: Pictured in front of the Blue Mill are, from left, Howard Atkins (back to camera), Alma Brown, Mrs. Kohlbecker, Thurman W. McDavid, Mac, Brock and Bruce Perkins; and Frank Chamberlain. George A. Zeller and Anthony T. Gralike started out in a small place at 129 S. Oakland Ave. next to the Oakland Theatre in 1915. In 1923, they moved to the present site, known then as Zeller’s Confectionery. The business closed in 1924 and was later taken over by Bill Hamel and became the Blue Mill Pharmacy. (H&R file photo)
Brown Jug
Cheese soup was a favorite at the Brown Jug.
Carlos O’Kelley’s
Chili Parlor
Country Cupboard
Dante’s Restaurant
Elam’s Root Beer Stand
Stopping at Elam’s Root Beer Stand for a tenderloin and root beer was a must when cruising Eldo.
Jimmy Ryan’s
Lone Star
Mr. G’s
Mr. G’s had phenomenal tenderloins and a great taco salad as well!
Ponderosa Steak House
Favorites submitted by our readers included the steak tips, country fried steak, ribeye dinner and the rolls.
Rax Restaurant
Our Facebook followers agree: The best things at Rax Restaurant were the BBC – Beef Bacon and Cheddar sandwich, Uncle Alligator meals and the salad bar.
Red Wheel Restaurant
Redwood
The Redwood Restaurant, open in 1958, may have been Decatur’s first smorgasbord restaurant.
Sandy’s
Shaw’s Restaurant
Shaw’s Restaurant is fondly remembered for their fish, catering and memories of going there on Friday nights with friends.
Shenannigans
Favorites from our Facebook followers include brunch on Sunday sand the taco salad.
Stoney’s Restaurant
Swartz Restaurant
Swartz Restaurant had an old diner feel with wooden booths and long counter for bar seating.
A favorite memory: At Christmas, they would put up a toy train that would run the perimeter of the restaurant.
Tater’s
The best thing you could order: Smothered taters.
Tokyo Garden
Tom’s Grill
Tom’s Grill was known for their relish appetizer caddy and dark, intimate setting.
Tops Big Boy
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR
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