Diner's Guide: Busy Corner (Goodfield, Ill.)

Establishment: Busy Corner
On the Web: They’re not
Date: 1.22.09

What's in my belly: Cinnamon and sugar topped dinner rolls, fish and chips (fries), cottage cheese and a piece of chocolate peanut butter bliss pie. Brooksie ordered the fried chicken (two legs) with mashed potatoes and green beans, and had a slice of coconut cream pie.

The damage: Twenty-seven dollars, tip included.

The scoop: The Busy Corner, located approximately halfway between Bloomington and Peoria in Goodfield, Ill., is a place for a solid meal. Dinner at the busy corner is nothing out of the ordinary. It’s pretty standard American fair, good quality, nice atmosphere and a friendly small town vibe. Where the Busy Corner really hooks the customer is the pie case.

We’ve been several times and every time we order from an extensive menu of homemade pies. My favorite is the chocolate peanut butter bliss pie. Brooksie loves the coconut cream and the homemade whipped topping. We were actually surprised when a couple nearby didn’t order pie after their meal – in our minds that’s why people stop at the Busy Corner.

My fish and chips were pretty good, less flavor than Long John Silver’s, but not any more classic or exotic. What should I really expect from a country kitchen in the middle of America? I did get more than I needed however, always a plus. Brooksie enjoyed the fried chicken, but not so much the mushrooms in her green beans. I’ve never seen them prepared that way, but I’ve only recently begun to pay attention to the green bean world.

This was our first trip to the Busy Corner that we received their cinnamon and sugar dinner rolls. We made those disappear pretty quickly, but only got one each. I guess that’s one perk to going at night, rather than during the day. I’ve also had their country fried steak and pork tenderloin sandwich.

Most of the time we’re going to Peoria, or through it, we plan to eat at Joe’s Crab Shack, Texas Roadhouse, or make a Sonic run, but the Busy Corner presents a nice alternative. I’d like to make a pie only stop someday – perhaps that’ll be the ultimate Busy Corner experience.

Will we go again: Most definitely. Decent prices, good food, and great pie always warrant another stop. For the Central Kansas readers out there, think Carriage Crossing.