FINE DINING ON ROUTE 66 - THE ARISTON CAFE
The Ariston Café
Arito = “best or finest” (Greek)
Opened in 1924 by Pete Adam, the Ariston is one of the oldest operating restaurants on Route 66. But it wasn’t always located in Litchfield. The restaurant moved with the highway as it was rerouted through Illinois. Three generations later, the Adam’s family continues to offer fine dining for highway travelers.
Famous diners include Vice Presidents Henry Wallace (shown above in the middle) and Hubert Humphrey, and the legendary Big Band leader, Tommy Dorsey.
“First Booth on the Left”
In 1938, delivery man Jesse Anderson always timed his lunch break to stop at the Ariston and sit at the same booth. He was smitten with his waitress.
"There in the first booth on the left, a very nervous Jesse Anderson took my hand across the table and asked me if I would do him the honor of marrying him... and of course I said yes!” - Waitress, Mattie Stogsdill Anderson.
The Shifting Highway
In 1924, Pete Adam opened the first Ariston in Carlinville next to the original alignment of Route 66. When the highway was rerouted in 1929, Pete moved his cafe next to the new 66 in Litchfield (across the street from here). This building was opened in 1935.
