There’s A Restaurant In Illinois That Invented A Unique Style Of Fried Chicken You Have To Try
If you love chicken in all its forms, there’s a restaurant in Illinois you need to try. Located in the town of Sterling, this place is known for its unique fried chicken, and you need to try it for yourself.
Check out an Illinois invention that comes with some interesting history. Scroll on for more details.
Candlelight Inn has been in business since 1967. It is situated in a building that used to be a barn and which has two sister locations.
The other locations are in Rock Island as well as Clinton, Iowa.
Its main claim to fame is this unique fried chicken. Known as Chicken George, this dish is simple in that it's basically just boneless chicken that's been battered and fried, but locals go wild for it.
Legend has it that a customer came in asking for something different around the time the cook, George, was experimenting with battering and frying chicken pieces, and the rest is history.
Along with the chicken, guests enjoy a beautiful and spacious dining area that is both cozy and bright. No matter what you order, your meal will come with friendly service and a smile.
Additional menu items include seafood platters, burgers, steaks, ribs, salads, and appetizers like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, crab cakes, potato skins, and much more.
When it comes to Chicken George, you can order the dish many different ways. Classically, the tenders come with a side of special sauce, but you can also choose to have them tossed in buffalo or sweet & sour sauce, served alongside spaghetti or atop mac and cheese, or even enjoy them grilled.
Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Candlelight Inn is located at 2907 North Locust St., Sterling, IL 61081, and you can get more information on its website or Facebook page.
Have you ever had this unique fried chicken? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please share with us your experiences and photos below in the comments.
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An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.