Park View Inn

This is a very small-​town sort of joint. It was clean and the staff was constantly checking on us. I had the Friday catfish, which was excellent (for catfish; I’m not the world’s biggest fan, but it was quite serviceable). Wife said the fish sandwich was good too. Price was good, only $ 27 including tip for plenty of food, a lemonade, and a Bud.

This neighborhood bar and grill serves all three meals. So far I have just been there for supper. It is right next to Miller Park and has friendly staff and customers. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable. I had a fish sandwich, my husband had chicken wings, both meals were good, not five stars but good. It was a Friday night and I saw several other customers ordering the fried whole catfish special so it must’ve been good because the locals seemed to be coming in for it.

We didn’t plan on eating here, as we were wanting to try the nearby Eric’s Restaurant but Eric’s was closed on Mondays. We saw the Park View Inn had quite few cars in the lot so we decided to try it out.
Wish we had just driven somewhere else. Turns out all the cars were for the bar, not the restaurant. The food is subpar, even for bar food. The cheeseball appetizer failed to excite any of my group of three’s tastebuds. Salads were just iceberg lettuce from a bag no doubt. I had high hopes for my main entrée, broasted chicken, but even that was dry and not so great. I tasted my friend’s ponyshoe and it was poorly seasoned and cheeses was gross.
On positive note, beers were cold and cheap. Maybe if I downed 5 or 6 cold ones, the meal would have tasted bettter.
Bottom line, get your drinks at Park View, and your dinner somewhere else.

I’ve been enjoying the Park View breakfast for years. It is competently prepared diner breakfast offerings, nothing fancy and nothing expensive. The clientele range from farmers to retirees to regular hard working people. You even see the occasional techie in there. Don’t worry about the elitist reviewers that have a problem with people — everyone is very nice!

If you’re like me and love a good local, hole in the wall kind of joint, then go here! They’ll know you’re not a regular, but its not big deal. Have cash on hand, wear jeans and you’ll be fine. Just walk through the bar like you know where you’re going and the restaurant side is around the corner.
Breakfast: (3 stars)
Bartender Brian from Flingers claims they have the best biscuits and gravy so we had to try. Here’s what we’ve learned:
— coffee is pretty standard and you never know what kind of mug you’re gonna get. Today is was the Melvin State Bank for me and Kissing Ducks for the hubby. Cream on the table and old style sugar too :-)
— Sausage Patties are awesome, definitely pick them instead of the bacon which was overcooked.
— Pancakes were basic pancakes. Served with my favorite Mrs. Butterworths
— Eggs over medium were perfect! Scrambled eggs were good.
— Hashbrowns were done right.
— Biscuits and Gravy were good, definitely homemade. GOP still holds that first place trophy though.
— Prices are great, we ate a Hungry Man’s Breakfast and Daily Double with two coffees for $ 12.84.
Lunch: (4 stars)
The philly cheese steak is awesome. Loved it and looks like they have great greasy spoon specials too.
I recommend going during the day. Its not shady or scary as of my last visit, but if you’re nervious go first during the day and you’ll know its good. Since smoking is banned in IL now that’s no longer an issue and there is a smokers hut outside.
Go to the ATM before you get here though, there is nothing on site.

You get exactly what you would expect here. Right by Miller Park, shady clientele and hygiene. The prices are dirt cheap, but the food also tastes cheap. Appeared to me to be more of a smoking and drinking bar for the unemployed, although the smoking ban may have changed some of that. If you’re lost on the west side for hours and hours, this would still be your very last choice.