Merichka's More Than Poorboys: Ferak Food Column

CREST HILL, IL — There's no denying that Merichka's Restaurant makes some of the best garlic butterine poorboy sandwiches in the universe. The only question, when it comes to Merichka's poorboy, is whether to indulge in the steak poorboy with cheese or simply stick with garlic butterine. Merichka's has been a part of the Joliet area (it's actually in Crest Hill) since 1933; that's eight years before America entered World War II, to put its history in perspective.

Growing up in Joliet, my family has patronized Merichka's since I was a child and practically every time I visit Merichka's, I know what I am getting without having to read the menu.

But today's Joliet Patch food column is not about Merichka's famous poorboys. We've all eaten them and loved them. Rather, I wanted to expand my horizons and find something else on the Merichka's menu that is worthy of acclaim. And I found it Wednesday for my takeout lunch.

I'm talking about the Yodel Burger, which you can see at the bottom of this article.

For my carryout order, I went with the Yodel Burger, it's 6 ounces of meat, comes with Swiss cheese and garlic butterine. Everything at Merichka's seems to come with garlic butterine and that's not a bad thing.

The Yodel burger is $9.75. I also went with a $3.75 box of Merichka's fries as my ala carte item. My burger came with a side of small but delicious pickles.

Wednesday's lunch cost me about $14, which is more than I typically spend on a lunch, but every so often, you have to splurge, you have to treat yourself well, so that's what I did Wednesday.

It was a beautiful day, and it was a beautiful day for a Yodel Burger at Merichka's.

If you have not had a Yodel Burger before, you're missing out. It's terrific and tastes great. This was one lunch that I won't forget for a while.

Merichka's website proclaims it's "Will County's landmark for good eating."

Chicago Cubs fans and Chicago White Sox fans, Will County Democrats and Republicans, cat lovers and dog owners can all agree: Merichka's, 604 Theodore St., is one of the Joliet area's best restaurants for a reason. Its longevity says a lot.

One last thing: if you're not in the mood for a garlic butterine poorboy and maybe the Yodel Burger is not your thing that's OK because Merichka's offers daily specials from 11 to 2 p.m. This week's specials were: chopped steak Monday, breaded veal cutlet Tuesday, corned beef sandwich Wednesday, 9-10 oz. strip steak Thursday and Icelandic cod basket Friday.

Looking to save money? The Merichka's menu offers two classic lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday: a 1/2 poorboy and fries for $7.75 and a 1/3 lb hamburger and fries for $4.95.

Back in 2012, Ted Brunson from the hit show, "Chicago's Best TV" visited Merichka's for a segment on the Crest Hill "institution,"as he called it. To check out Brunson's four-minute segment on Merichka's Restaurant, scroll to the bottom of this Joliet Patch food column.

Merichka's is open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the restaurant phone is 815-723-9371.

And if you're interested in learning more about the Yodel Burger and Merichka's other fine offerings, visit its website here.