Cobbler Corner — Restaurant in Pekin

I hate giving low ratings to local restaurants, but would definitely not come back. I've driven by this place for years and wanted to stop in, mainly to try cobbler. My mom and I stopped in today for lunch. I ordered the chicken strips meal with mashed potatoes, green beans and a roll. The chicken strips were decent, but the mashed potatoes and gravy were extremely bland, as were the green beans. I'm not one who normally adds salt to foods, but I had to douse the beans with salt and pepper. Granted, they were likely canned beans, but it'd be nice if they were doctored up a little. The roll on the side....how on earth does a packaged roll taste so terrible? Not stale or anything, just the worst taste ever. My mom had been debating whether or not to try the meatloaf. She wished she hadn't. Their "special recipe" was just awful....extremely soft, weird seasoning, doused with bland gravy. She didn't get a roll for some reason, but I told her be glad she didn't. Anyway, we were so turned off by lunch that we'd opted out of dessert (not that we were offered any). Bring your cash if you do try this place...cash only (although there is an ATM right by the crowded entry/exit. Also, just like every other place, prices seemed to be fairly high for what you get. And.....not that it was a concern for us, but the entry is not wheelchair accessible. I'm sensitive to that due to a late parent who used a wheelchair. I lm not sure if there was an alternate entry, but it was disappointing to see a diner type restaurant without obvious...

We waited one hour for a catfish dinner. The restaurant was not busy. We were told by the waitress it would be 20 to 25 minutes for the catfish which was fine. One hour later we got our food. The food was just OK. My husband's fries tasted freezer burnt. The service by the waitress was fair to good. However, after such a long period she began to stay away from our table (we felt she might be embarrassed and worried we were going to get upset with her). When our food finally came, it came out individually. First catfish only, then a few minutes later, my husband's fish and my baked potato, then several minutes later, my husband's fries. I called the owner Sophia, she apologized, but made excuses and told me a catfish had to cook 30 to 35 minutes minimum. Not in any other restaurant does a catfish cook that long. I told her we got no apology or compensation for the wait. She ask me "what you want" I said a refund. She said "no, you ask too much. I go to restaurant and have to wait two, three hours to get in, I no get a refund". I said those are the types of restaurants you are going to and you know you have to wait. I told her the wait was so long, that other customers noticed and asked us if we had ordered food and why we were waiting so long. I told her, Your restaurant was not busy and I waited an hour for a catfish! She said she would give me $10.00. I told her she could shove it. I will not ever go back. Some of you may have had great service and food there. This was...

If you happen to be in Pekin, IL and stumble upon Cobbler Corner you either live here, used to live here or are passing through on your way to somewhere else..lol. While not the touristy destination, this little diner has been the staple for breakfast and some amazing homemade pie for at least as long as I've been on the earth...probably longer. Typical small country town diner feel. Fancy? What's that? Typical breakfast menu. Biggest surprise: the Gyro omelette. I said.."let me give this a whirl.. Living in Chicago now and being a gyro eater on the regular.. let me see where they go with this..." Amazing...and I don't just give away "amazing-s" there's a lot of hella good food in Chicago.. I've never had a gyro omelette...someone needs to put it on a menu tho. Thin, fluffy almost French crepe like omelette with tender gyro meat and this creamy tzatziki-ish sauce center. Probably the best omelette I've ever had. Took pie to go..he had me at "Mom made (insert long list of pie flavors) today.." Ok then. Pie...