Restaurant Reivew
Arthur's Garden Deli
One of my go-to restaurants when visiting Dixon, hometown of Ronald Reagan, is local gem Arthur's Garden Deli. Mike and I are always excited to return to one of our favorites in town, where we can count on a steady menu that never seems to change!
This casual hotspot provides a great laid-back dining ambiance for enjoying all of your favorite comfort foods.
Food
Arthur's is most famous for their specialty deli sandwiches. Dozens of different sandwiches are available. Baked potato bowl combinations and homemade soups round out the menu. Don't forget about dessert! Arthur's carries the popular Eli's Cheesecake (a specialty company in Chicago known for their amazing freshly baked cheesecake) with several varieties to choose amongst.
I always order the veggie baked potato bowl (broccoli, cauliflower, onion, mushroom, and cheddar cheese). Can you say delicious?! This bowl represents comfort food at its best! I make it a point to order at least one during every Dixon visit.
I also order the salad bar, which is small, yet adequate based on the inexpensive price tag. Mike always orders #4 (a delicious Turkey and cheese sandwich) along with a big bowl of homemade soup. This time he tried out a creamy potato, which was one of the best yet, in his opinion. I didn't order any cheesecake, however, everyone else in our party seemed to enjoy their different flavors.
On one negative note, it does seem like they microwave a lot of their food. On the bright side, pricing is affordable and the food is served fairly quickly. Don't go in expecting 4 star food quality, rather a budget friendly meal in a cozy space.
Service
There is no waiter service at Arthurs. Instead, you order at the counter and wait until your meal is called out. Service is usually pretty quick with the wait never more than about 5-10 minutes.
Atmosphere
The inside of Arthur's is pretty small, yet always very busy. The seating area is your basic casual deli style setup. Nothing fancy, just a place to enjoy some good tasting comfort foods.
The best time to visit is during the holidays when they bring in the big Christmas tree (complete with old fashioned C7 light bulbs) and festive holiday decor. Plus, soup and baked potatoes always taste that much better during Illinois' freezing cold winter months!
Final Remarks
We will continue to visit Arthur's on each future visit to Dixon, of this I'm sure. We enjoy meeting up with family for a casual lunch or dinner in this friendly, small-town deli.
