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| About: | The Centralia House was a landmark and a tradition on the original Illinois Central Railroad. Constructed about 1854, it was the social center of Centralia until it burned in 1918, and was famous for its restaurant in the days before the dining car. Each train was met by a waiter who announced the meals with a large brass gong. Some of the great men of American history dined at Centralia House, including Stephen Douglas, Generals Grant, McClellan, Sherman and many more. The restaurant achieved such a fine reputation for good food that traveling drummers schedulled their trips to spend the weekends here,and it was also popular as stopping-off place for the local smart set. The building which house this restaurnat as a saloon and a sporting house, and still retains its pre-1900 bar and back bar. Among other things, the saloon became well-known for a hair-raising drink call the Knickerbein (Broken Leg) which was a layered concoction with a raw egg yolk in the middle, covered with cummel. Except for the addition of the kitchen and the conversion of the stable to a store room, the restaurnat is exactly as it was a century ago, even to the spirits ware house and a stone cellar below the bar. |
| Hours: | 11:00am - 10:00pm |
| Categories: | Restaurants, American Restaurants, Cajun Restaurants, Burgers, Seafood Restaurants, Banquet Rooms |
| Price: | $5.95 - $33.95 |
| Parking: | Lot, Street |
| Payment: | American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa |
| Specialties: | Dim Lights |
| Amenities: | Cigar Dinners, Business Lunches, Piano Bar, Wine Tastings, Celebrities, Award Winning, Smoking |
| Cuisine: | Seafood, Steak House, Hamburgers, American, Cajun, Creole |
| Ambiance: | Elegant, Romantic, Quiet |
| Features: | Bar, Private Rooms |
| Reservations Policy: | Accepted |
| Reservations Size: | Up to 150 |
| Smoking: | Smoking Allowed |
| Dress Code: | None |
| Other Contact Info: | Email: chrisramey@charter.net |