If the varying modes of transportation in Shotgun Eddys’ parking lot are any indication, the Pope County bar and grill is popular with a wide range of people.
A quick look around on any given day will find cars with out-of-state license plates, local pickups, Jeeps, motorcycles and maybe even a few horses. The diversity and number of vehicles (and animals) is impressive, especially considering that the community of Eddyville has a population of less than 100 and is 20 miles from the nearest interstate highway.
“We’re kind of off the beaten path,” admits Shotgun Eddys co-owner Tami Schillinger. “Yet, people drive here just to eat and for the experience. We do have five horse camps within 10 miles, and we’re a regular spot for Jeep runs, motorcycle runs and for hunters.”
The proximity to popular hunting spots gives Shotgun Eddys its name. “This area is known for shotgun season — for deer hunting, turkey season, even squirrel,” Schillinger says. “That’s where the ‘Shotgun’ comes from, and ‘Eddys,’ of course, is from Eddyville.”
Once inside the restaurant, which is on SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative lines, diners find a wide-ranging menu, including breakfast served Friday through Sunday as well as lunch and dinner options seven days a week. However, many patrons don’t stay inside long, opting to enjoy food and company in the pavilion overlooking the countryside and Shawnee National Forest.
Many Shotgun Eddys customers (like those who arrive on horseback) are on vacation, but Schillinger says the restaurant is a place to get away, even for the locals — a place to relax. It’s a popular destination for regular customers from Harrisburg, Vienna and other southern Illinois communities. “It’s like a mini-vacation,” she adds. Many hikers making their way through the national forest often camp overnight on the restaurant property, too.
The food might be described as quintessential comfort food offered with a twist.
“We do a wide variety of things, from tacos to catfish, salads, and then we offer steak night on Saturday nights and family-style dinners on Sunday,” she explains. “We try to change things up every week.”
What doesn’t change are some of their staples: ham, beans and cornbread on Mondays (a big draw for regulars from the area), chicken wings on Wednesdays, catfish on Friday evenings and prime rib sandwiches on Sundays. Other daily choices include pizza, Reuben and fried bologna sandwiches, a wide selection of burgers and more.
Popular favorites include “The Crying Pig,” a marinated pork tenderloin served on a bun with pepperjack cheese, bacon and caramelized onions; a horseshoe sandwich (Texas toast, a beef patty and fries, covered with cheddar cheese sauce or queso); and cheesesteak and po’ boy sandwiches.
“The food is the big thing,” she says, “but the location and atmosphere are a draw, too.” Live music is a feature in the pavilion, but Schillinger says the goal is to be family-friendly with entertainment. “We have an early band every Saturday night in the pavilion. It might be rock or country, but they are family-style.”
Shotgun Eddys
