Gammy and I live in rural Illinois. On Sundays after church if we have nothing to do we sometimes jump and the truck and go for a drive.
We usually drive down to Chester, IL, and park along the Mississippi and watch the river traffic. Sometimes we go up to Fort Kaskaskia on the bluff overlooking the river.
Yesterday we decided to cross the Chester Bridge to see what we could find in Missouri. The bridge was commissioned by the city of Chester and built in 1942. It started as a toll bridge but no longer charges for crossing.
There is a small ferry that runs between Modoc, IL and Ste. Genevieve, MO. We had been to the Illinois side several times but had never been to Ste. Gen. That became our destination.
Ste. Genevieve is a small town located on the west bank of the Mississippi about 50 miles south of Saint Louis. The town is prone to flooding when the Mississippi rises. There was a post between the town and the river which had high water marks from various floods indicated on it.
The latest flood is not included on this marker. If it were, it would only be a few inches under the top line. Here is a video I made showing flooding from the Illinois side.
I do not think the lower part of the town was flooded due to levees and sand bagging. These marks just show the potential for destruction. Actual flooding would have destroyed buildings for maybe two blocks as you go into town.
We proceeded down to the river and watched the small 9-vehicle ferry moving people from one side to the other. The river is probably a mile wide at this point and it takes the ferry about 15 minutes to load, cross and unload vehicles. Prices at the crossing are $5 for bicycles and motorcycles and $15 for cars and pickups one way. That sounds a little pricey but considering the next crossings are an hour north or south it's not that bad.
It was late afternoon when we left the river and headed back into town. There's not much cellular service in the area so we had a little difficulty finding a place to eat. We drove around the main square and I remembered that I had previously seen a good review of the Old Brick House.
It is a quaint place with a nice, long antique bar. The dining area is large and spacious.
Being a late Sunday afternoon, there were not many customers and we had our choice of where to sit.
Gammy had a toasted ravioli appetizer with fried shrimp as the entree. I had hand-battered onion rings and a medium rare rib eye.
I'm not much on ravioli so I can't attest to how good they were -- but the onion rings! I don't know when I've ever had better.
The breading was not thick like tempura or what you'd find at some fast food joint. They were fried to a light golden brown and the breading was flaking off. They were seasoned just right for me with just a touch of heat. I would go back to this place just for them!
As far as the entrees go, other than over cooking or under cooking, how can you mess up fried shrimp or rib eye? Tasty!
If you ever have an occasion to visit in Ste. Genevieve, I highly recommend the Old Brick House for the dining experience.
