Known for its location, longevity and desserts, the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield is one of the oldest continuously operated restaurants on Route 66. Since 1935, people from around the globe have crossed its threshold to enjoy a meal with a side of Mother Road magic.
Founded by Greek immigrant Pete Adam in 1924, the restaurant was originally situated on Route 4 in Carlinville. It was five years later that the business moved to Litchfield, followed by its current spot (also in Litchfield) on Route 66 in 1935. Decades later, in 1992, the cafe and the Adam family were inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame. In May 2006, the Ariston was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the state of Illinois and the National Park Service.
Adam’s son Nick and his wife Demi took the reins in 1966, carrying on the family-owned-and-operated business. It wasn’t until 2018 that they retired, and the well- known establishment’s ownership changed hands — this time to Will and Michele Law and Marty and Kara Steffens, who together also own Maverick Steaks & Spirits in Litchfield.
“Other than the Ariston, [it’s] probably the second longest run establishment in town. So, we knew Nick and Demi really well,” says Will.
According to him, in the old days the Ariston was more of a place for special occasions like anniversaries, while he and his partners have transitioned it to a more family-friendly atmosphere. One thing that remains the same, however, is the sheer number of international travelers they see each year.
“We, at a minimum, entertain 15 to 20,000 European travelers every summer,” Will says, before describing an unexpected visit one day when the restaurant was closed. “I hear a rumble in the parking lot. It was like, 50, 55 Harley Davidsons. … They’re all Germans, all from Berlin. They had a list … and [Ariston] was on it. It still baffles me that somebody halfway across the world had 15 things they wanted to do, and you’re number six.”
He admits the language barrier can be challenging but says proudly that his staff is up to the task. “They’re impeccable, a good, young group, [along with] a handful of old timers — they help train the younger ones,” says Will. “They have fun. They enjoy the tourists and entertain them.”
During the winter, it’s the locals who keep the restaurant afloat. “When I say local, I’m talking surrounding Illinois, Missouri, Iowa,” Will laughs. “You hear those stories, [like] this is where we got engaged. This is where the wedding proposal took place. … It’s all the time. Fiftieth wedding anniversaries, I thought were very rare, right? I see that two, three times a week.”
There’s perhaps another draw for locals and travelers alike: The bill of fare remains much the same. Will says he and his partners haven’t really touched the menu they inherited. “Most all of the recipes they started with, we still use today,” he explains. “Spaghetti sauce, the chili, all the salad dressings, all the salads, all the soups — everything is homemade. Those are the original recipes from the previous owners.”
It’s a lengthy menu — there’s Italian, Southern, seafood, Mexican and American. “[What] they put together kind of encompasses everyone,” Will adds, laughing that managing that amount of variety is sometimes difficult. “That’s the way it’s been forever, so you just kind of figure it out.”
Popular orders include prime rib, fried chicken and fried cod, and the restaurant serves up 30 pounds of chicken livers a week. And then there’s the dessert tray — the Ariston is known for it.
“Desserts are probably what really bring most people in,” says Will. “I would say about 98% of people who walk through that door, they’re getting dessert. … Some patrons will come in, order lunch [and] automatically shove it off to the side. [We] box it to go, and they eat their dessert. I don’t think I’ve ever worked in a restaurant where dessert was so revered.”
The decision the partners made to purchase the Ariston was driven by their desire to preserve its legacy. “We just wanted to keep it the same,” he says. That turned out to be a good idea, which both couples learned early on when tackling their first major project after assuming ownership.
They had decided to refurbish the building’s well-known — and apparently much loved — exterior neon. “Day one, the neon’s down, and the signs are down … and people are [like], ‘What are you guys doing? You can’t destroy history,’” says Will. “We had to actually take out an article in the paper to tell people [we weren’t].”
The neon isn’t the only important piece of the restaurant’s physical history. There are also the Anheuser Busch sign, the counter, the booths and tables in the original section of the building — all contribute to the overall experience.
So, the next time wanderlust — or your appetite — calls, hop on Old Route 66 and travel back in time to the Ariston Cafe. Just make sure to save room for dessert.
Ariston Cafe
