Published: April 03, 2009 08:43 am      

Writer wants fresh dining experience with a side of cheer

Most people that know me know I’m not entirely satisfied with the dining options in Clinton. While there are some really good restaurants in town, we could add a few.

One of the biggest additions, in my opinion, that we need is a Chick-Fil-A. I love Chick-Fil-A’s chicken nuggets. And their sandwiches are very good as well.

I also think Clinton could add at least one nice, sit-down restaurant for those of us who want to go out for a nice evening. There are so many times I’m not in the mood for a grease-laden fast-food meal that I will later regret eating.

I would love if Clinton got another of my favorite restaurants, Olive Garden. It has a nice dining atmosphere and their food is delicious. And of course, I love their breadsticks; it’s impossible to eat just one.

So while I’m obviously not completely content with my options, there are a few restaurants in Clinton that I truly enjoy eating at.

I love going to eat at China Garden, and breakfasts at Krumpets are always delicious. Two restaurants in Fulton, Ill., I enjoy eating at are Golden Wok and Manny’s Too.

Nearly every Friday afternoon, I meet my mom for lunch. We’ve sampled a few different restaurants on our weekly outings, but for the past month or more, we’ve consistently ended up at the same place, Jimmy John’s.

When I first learned that they were putting a Jimmy John’s in Clinton, I was very excited. I had already sampled their delicious sub sandwiches while living in Chicago, thanks to my co-workers who absolutely loved them.

My mom had never had Jimmy John’s before, so I was glad when she tried her first sub and really liked it.

Since then, it’s become a Friday afternoon tradition. I take my lunch break around noon and drive over to meet her.

I always bring along a copy of Friday’s Herald so she can read my column. I occasionally show it off to my friend, Tom, who now works at Jimmy John’s, but was my co-worker one summer at Pizza Ranch. No Jimmy John’s trip is complete without catching up with Tom.

When it comes to my order, I’m sadly predictable. I always get the number four, the Turkey Tom. No sprouts, no tomato, extra mayo, with cheese. And I always get a bag of barbecue chips and a Dr. Pepper.

One thing Jimmy John’s excels at is being fast. They’re not kidding when they claim they’re “so fast you’ll freak.” I never have to wait long for my order, which is nice when I have a limited amount of time in which to eat and get back to work.

Jimmy John’s also has a very friendly environment. Any time someone walks in the door, nearly all the employees yell, “Welcome to Jimmy John’s!” It definitely stands in stark contrast to the restaurants where the employees seem mad that you came in.

Now I’m working on organizing a “Jimmy John’s Day” in the newsroom. My co-workers and I are hoping to make lunch trips to Jimmy John’s a monthly occurrence.

If you haven’t visited Jimmy John’s yet, I definitely recommend stopping by. They have lots of delicious sandwich choices that are sure to please. And if you come on Friday at noon, I’ll see you there.



Elise Loyola is a staff writer for the Clinton Herald. She has been here since November 2008 and she can be reached at eliseloyola@clintonherald.com.