(WASHBURN, ILLINOIS) — From years of driving the Peoria to Starved Rock State Park route, to multiple followers highly recommending it, I finally made my way to Stringtown BBQ.
The peaceful 45-minute drive to Washburn, Illinois is one of my favorite drives. It’s the scenic route, driving alongside the Illinois River paired with seeing herds of cows and corn or soybean fields (depending on the year).
But that’s not what we’re here to talk about today! We’re here to discuss barbecue, something so widely beloved and enjoyed.
Right off Illinois Route 89 sits Stringtown BBQ, a fairly large building with an outdoor patio. The building really opens up once you get inside.
You’ve got the bar to the right, and the music stage to the left. Perfect for bands to play on a Friday night, I’m sure.
If you’ve read any of my barbecue blogs, you know how important BBQ sauce is to me. While quality is of the utmost importance to me when it comes to the sauces, the quantity is usually what I desire more of. Here, there is no shortage of sauces.
House Spicy, Carolina Gold, Blueberry Shiner, Whiskey Kiss, Memphis Sweet and the original sauces. We tried them all.
Our favorites? It’s hard to choose. But I can give you our top 3.
1: Blueberry Shiner
2: Memphis Sweet
3: Carolina Gold
But we need some food to put these sauces on, right? Let’s dive in.
To start the meal, we ordered the bacon mac n cheese bites. It’s hard to go wrong with bacon and cheese. This is no different. A delicious appetizer and an amazing choice.
For me, you know what it is… ribs! I had my choice between St. Louis style and baby back ribs. 9/10 times I’d choose St. Louis, but it was recommended I try the baby back. So that’s what I did! The ribs are meaty, tender, full of flavor and topped with the original BBQ sauce. For sides, I went with the steak fries and Cowboy Beans. The fries were really good, but the Cowboy Beans stole the show. There was a sweetness to them, along with ground beef spread throughout.
Rachel ordered the Prairie Fire handheld, a brisket sandwich topped with cheese sauce and jalapenos. She then spread some of the Memphis Sweet on top, which was a good mix. She loved it! “It was fire,” to quote Rachel Sheehan.
Bennett went with the chicken tenders and fries kids’ meal, but his favorite part of the meal was my cornbread. Which I don’t think I ever got to try! Haha.
Co-owners and spouses Lisa and Dave Scott were phenomenal hosts, and we really enjoyed speaking with them and getting to know them. They should be proud of the fantastic restaurant they’ve put together, featuring many longtime family recipes.
Stringtown BBQ is gearing up for its “Gatorfest” on Sunday, May 4th. After a HUGE turnout for their inaugural Gatorfest, it’s coming back to Washburn! Dave tells me they sold out of the one gator they had, with cars lined up down IL-89 and everyone packed into the restaurant as well.
This year? He’s ordered four gators to make sure there’s plenty to go around. I’ve had gator before. I really like it! And yes, to say the most cliche line about eating different meats, “it tastes like chicken.” But really, it’s delicious.
What Illinois BBQ restaurant should we visit next? Drop a comment below or comment on my Facebook page, Matt Sheehan TV and let me know.
Matt Sheehan Official 