Hallie’s Lunch Box

Being newer to the area and wanting to support the local businesses we decided to try this place out. There was no one else in there when we arrived saw a sign to seat yourself. So we looked around and found a seat. The server had no other customers and appeared to be not at all busy. Doesn’t say hi or anything. The menus are already on the table so we start looking them over. After several minutes she comes over and asks if we know what we want. We order drinks at this time. Then she comes back with our drinks, ask again if we know what we want, told her we needed a couple more minutes. When we finally ordered they were out of cheese balls. I ordered an itilian beef, asked if they had mozzarella cheese and she said she didn’t think so and thought they had swiss. I said that’s fine if they didn’t have mozzarella. When she brings us our food she says to me, they didn’t tell me they were out of swiss and put american cheese on it instead. Having been in the service industry for several years, I understand running out of items but she simply could have come out and told me they were out and asked if I still wanted it, with or without american cheese or if I’d like something else.
I am highly disappointed in this place from the poor service to the food. From the unfriendly server to the food I didn’t order. This was the first time trying this place and it was also the last.

I love their schnitzel slider and my friend loves their horseshoes. This is a quality lunch spot (haven’t been for dinner). The surroundings are movie themed (right up my alley) and the staff are friendly and efficient. My biggest complaint is they don’t accept credit cards. I don’t always carry cash.

I ordered carry-​out from here. First time I have eaten at Hallie’s.
So I tried the Schnitzel Sandwich (which is really a deep-​fried pork tenderloin). The sandwich was huge and it was fairly tasty but the breading and the pork really lacked much flavor. Mixing some spices into the breading would make this a great sandwich!
The meat was thick (not pounded thin like most places) and the portion was plentiful.
The sandwich came with chips but I opted to add cheese to the sandwich and to add coleslaw for my side. The meal was $ 5.95 (super cheap) but adding a slice of cheese and a tiny side of coleslaw brought my total to $ 9.59. I thought that was a bit high for the substitution/​add-​on. So with tip I spent $ 11.00 for a sandwich and a tiny side of slaw. Next time I will forego the slaw and cheese and stick with the chips.
The value was there until I tweaked my order just a little bit so I have to stay with the menu.
I would eat there again as I love me a good fried pork-​T sandwich! Just spice it up a little bit!

Thought the place looked dirty, the bun on my schnitzel sandwich was moldy. Won’t go back

Great food and great prices for the portion sizes. They are famous for the schnitzel, and is amazing as a horseshoe! I find it impossible to eat more than half in one sitting and take home another meal. The staff is really friendly. The décor is strange but intriguing and slightly comical. They were busy tonight (5÷18÷12), but they were still quick at getting orders out. They do not accept debit/​credit. They also have BYOB service where you can bring your own beer and wine and they will provide cooler/​ice/​glasses at no charge.

I visited with a family member on our way to St. Louis, and along with Main Street BBQ in Wyanette, this is going on the list of worthy roadside stops. My companion got the «schintzel sliders» and I got the ponyshoe (not the horseshoe).
Portions here are enormous. Those «sliders» were each the size of a regular sandwich. And my ponyshoe (the small version) was an enormous tenderloin, pile of fries, and slice of toast, all covered in cheese sauce. If I’d gotten and attempted to eat the horseshoe, you’d be reading my obit in the local paper. («It appears his arteries are clogged with… pork and nacho cheese??») It was very tasty, although, to be honest, I wouldn’t get it again. The cheese is good (I’m not afraid of the nuclear orange nacho cheese stuff) but I’d probably rather have the schnitzel sandwich or something a bit more traditional. What Hallie’s does have going for it is the excellent pork — not pounded wafer thin, decent breading, not tough. Very good. Service is quick and friendly, and while there was an… interesting character in the place when we were there… it’s a small town. One thing to note, no credit cards, so bring your cash. Prices are so reasonable here (especially to me, used to paying Chicago prices) that you could tack on that service fee and I’d never notice. I’m not asking you to give it up, pass it along! I’ll pay for convenience.
And before I close… yes…I know that you know this isn’t schnitzel. So let’s just agree to disagree. It’s a pork tenderloin, or a tenderloin sandwich or breaded hog or whatever. No matter what you’d like to call it, this is a pretty good one.

Ms T and I decided to take a day trip to Funk’s Grove during maple «sirup» season. Lunch time found us at Lincoln, IL and we decided to look for a local place to eat. We drove into the center of town and found Hallie’s on the courthouse square. I read 2 – 3 Unilocal and we decided to try it.
First, the place is pleasantly decorated and clean. It did not smell greasy. There are cloth table coverings and comfortable chairs. It really is a nice local restaurant. Their specialty is schnitzel, which I determined is the same as a breaded pork tenderloin where I grew up in central Iowa. So that is what we ordered, as sandwiches. It is available as strips or as the meat choice on a horse shoe or pony shoe. Remember this is in the heart of horse shoe country.
Service was super good and the food was delivered quickly. I also ordered onion rings and slaw on the side. These schnitzel sandwiches are remarkable to say the least. They are huge. We are not big eaters, and to be honest, half of one would have been nearly enough for the two of us. It is a cliché that people talk about breaded tenderloins that extend beyond the bun. Normally the meat in those is so thin it is measured in nanometers. Not so here. These are at least three-​eighths of an inch thick and were fried perfectly. Ms T trimmed off over half of the meat on hers and took it home. I also took home half. A nice touch was the unique sauce they serve with the schnitzel. We loved it. It tasted like Texas Pete blended with catsup. I like catsup with the breaded tenderloin but this added a little heat and vinegar to the sweetness.
Always being the stickler, I would give this five stars except for a few details. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great tenderloin and well worth a stop. I would like to see a little more flavor in the breading, a little black pepper, perhaps. I found the pork to be tender and juicy but lacking in sweet, porky flavor. I don’t think they can help that. Today’s pork has had the flavor bred out of it in favor of leanness (wanting to be the other white meat).
The slaw was not to my liking, very heavy-​handed with a sweet yet bland creamy dressing, making it cloying. Ms T liked it, I did not. I also did not care for the onion rings. They are cut very thickly, probably three-​fourths of an inch, which is OK, but the coating was very heavy and bready and a little under done.
I want to leave the right impression. This must be experienced if you are driving along I-​55 and like breaded tenderloins. Go here for the schnitzel.

«Hello»
“How’s it going?”
«Not bad, you?»
«Not too bad myself…»
«Perhaps you could help me. I’m not from around here.»
«I could tell. That’s why I said ‘Hello’. I wanted to be friendly.»
«Do you know of any places to get lunch around here that are open? Seems that after 2, everything is closed.»
«Oh, yeah! Of course! You gotta go to Hallie’s. It’s right down Pulaski and around the corner. It’s in the middle of the block. You can’t miss it. And you gotta get the Schnitzel. It’s famous. People come from all over to get it there. Where are you from anyways?»
«Pennsylvania.»
“What are you doing here? Trying to hop a train?”
«Ha! No, just meandering around shooting some photos. I’ll be photographing farmers in up near Bloomington the rest of the week.»
«Well that sounds lovely. Nice meeting you.»
«You too. Thanks for the help! Have a good one.»
«And you as well!»
–
«What’dya like?»
«Well, I’ve been told I need to get the Schnitzel. So I’ll have that. That’s a sandwich, right?»
«Well, ya got two options, that and the horseshoe. That’s what most people get; the horseshoe.»
«What’s that?»
«It’s the Schnitzel on top of Texas Toast with fries and cheese.»
«Sounds great. I’ll have it.»
–
The culture of the Midwest is so fascinating to me. The people and interesting little spots that are here kind of set me in a different world. Things are slower paced, and in a weird way, stuck in time, but an era in which one really cannot place and there’s something rather fantastic and welcoming about that. Like you’re always home — even when you’re not.
The people of this town kinda remind of of those from Quarryville — Hard-​working farm-​folk. They work hard and dress hard. They probably drink hard too. I love it. There’s an element of Romanticism to that lifestyle for me. In many ways, I envy it – the simplicity of it all.
–
«How’dya like it?»
«Oh, it was really good. What actually is Schnitzel?»
«It’s a glorified, deep-​fried porkchop.»
«Probably not the best thing I could’ve eaten, but, yeah, I liked it a lot.»
«Thank you.»
–
And thank you, Brian Huffman, for one more fantastic Midwestern experience.
The list continues to grow.

You have to take Hallie’s with a little humor. The décor is bizarre to say the least. Albums and movie posters from the late 1970s and early 80s cover the walls. A terrible Native American Indian mannequin sits in the restaurant– most recently at the counter. Their TVs are fuzzy and barely get cable. They have funny little electronic picture frames with pictures of their food near the tables.
The servers treat everyone who walks in like regulars. My Grandpa is a regular and they are beyond cute with him– tease him like old friends and know exactly what he wants to eat. The menu is your basic greasy diner food. Everyone should go straight for the schnitzel if you eat pork, or the horseshoe. I usually get the buffalo chicken horseshoe. The cheese sauce is a curious orange color, but tastes just great. Large portions, cheap prices, and friendly staff.