Since I can remember, my family has always ventured to Rip’s Tavern in Ladd, Ill., for the best catfish and fried chicken around.
My father and mother took us as children along with all of their friends. I was just a toddler the first time I ate there. Now, my sisters and I take our families to this small town tavern. And believe me it is not a nearby restaurant. It’s not fancy, and there’s really nothing too special about the building.
But the cheap prices, the fantastic food and the friendly waitresses and bartenders keep people coming back in droves. If you ever go there, just ask people who are standing in line how long they have been going to Rip’s and how many miles they drive to get there. You would be amazed.
We have to travel 90 minutes from my home in Iowa to get there for the best fish around. We don’t make the journey very often. But I always look forward to the drive, the conversation and the anticipation of eating the perfectly fried catfish.
I know people who live in Chicago and its suburbs who travel the 60 or 70 miles to get to Rip’s, too. It becomes a tradition for many families. And the funny thing is you usually have to wait in line – especially during the summer – to get a table in the small tavern.
I remember waiting in line more than an hour with my father, and he isn’t a patient man. But this was the one place he would wait for hours. Some of the same waitresses that served us as kids are still there, and I’m in my late 40s.
The original tavern, which opened in 1936, burnt down awhile back. But they rebuilt, remodeled a little, and opened it up again to great fanfare. They didn’t change a thing in the recipes. The great taste of the fish and chicken remain the same.
Don’t expect fancy. On Friday night, you order either fillets of fish or the whole catfish. You order it while you stand in line so it’s ready once you finally get a table. The fish is laid on top of a piece of French bread to soak up any grease – although I’ve never found their food to be greasy — with a big helping of homemade French Fries. It’s served on paper plates. That’s it, but it’s enough. Sometimes, you just want to order a second helping of catfish because it is so darn good. And believe me, we have ordered that second round.
But for nostalgia, I always order a plate of crumbs – yes, crumbs. My family couldn’t get enough of these crispy, little batter drippings from the fish and chicken. I know. It sounds like a heart attack on a paper plate. But once in awhile, you have to go for it.
They also offer cole slaw and a plate of dill pickles as other appetizers. My mother always insisted on the dill pickles. I’m not quite sure what that has to do with fish or chicken. But I don’t question it. It’s just part of my soul now.
Fish is served on Friday nights, and chicken is sold on Saturday and Sunday nights. The doors open at about 4:30 or so on Wednesday through Saturday, while the Sunday crowd begins about 2:30. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
During the other nights, the menu is filled with sandwiches and appetizers such as pork tenderloins. I’ve never come on any night but Friday or Saturday. So, I can’t vouch for that but I’m pretty sure whatever they cook in their deep fryers will come out great.
For our family, we grew up on the catfish. As children, I remember my father could afford to take all of us and my mom and pay the bill with a $20. The prices haven’t gone up that much in 2007. For instance, you can get a big quarter of a chicken dinner for $3.50. The fish is about the same price.
Rip’s Tavern is located off of the Spring Valley/Ladd exit on Interstate 80 about 60 miles west of Chicago. The building sits right on the main drag of the small town. There are no reservations, so prepare to wait for the best fried fish and chicken around.
