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Poochie's
Categories: Restaurants Hot Dogs Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Fast Food Hot Dogs, Burgers, Fast Food [Edit]
3602 Dempster St(between Central Park Ave & Monticello Ave)
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 673-0100
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
77 reviews for Poochie's
Review Highlights
"The grilled onions were done just right."
(in 11 reviews)
"...not a huge fan of fresh cut fries, smothered in the cheddar..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Paradise Pup gets a lot of press for theirs, and this is..."
(in 4 reviews)
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77 reviews in English
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Review from Adam K.
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been coming here since I was a pup, their new location is roomier and more modern. Glad they kept the same quality for years. There is a reason multiple publications have named this place as a top hot dog destination.
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Review from Boletus E.
Skokie, IL
1/26/2012
The Chicago hot dog..born and raised on it, but it is not perfect. Perfection would be a natural-casing Vienna beef dog char grilled, on a poppy-seeded bun (so you can fail "random" urine testing) , with a dark whole grain mustard, caramelized onions, a spear of Vienna pickle, celery salt, and....tomato ketchup. Never mind tomato slices (91% of the time they're under-ripe and tasteless) ....worthless bulk. The whole debate about ketchup on a dog is stupid. Do what you like! Poochies comes as close as it gets to dog perfection, but just a few minor adjustments can truly make it dog dominence...stop burning your grilled onions and take the time to properly brown/caramelize your onions!! Use nicely ripe tomatoes!
As for their burgers...if they actually do use never-frozen decent quality beef...then they have an obligation to not over-cook it to maintain the suculance of that beef...medium-rare is nothing to be afraid of.
I don't like their fries..."fresh-cut" potato fries are never a good thing if they're fried only once from fresh cut. My first cooking job was at Wiener's Circle when I was 15 and they had fresh cut fries, and I hated them!...Skinny, double/tripple fried fries, even if they were frozen before, are much more tasty.
This whole think about Merks cheddar...oily grainy crap. Had to use it in the afore mentioned place of employment.
So, as far as Chicago dogs...top places to go...poochies, wieners circle, herm's palace. To hell with Hot Doug's and those new idiots that try (and fail) to upscale a dog with upscale ingredients to fool you to spend more of your money for something that will never deliver the quality of flavor for the dollar amount that you spend...enough said. -
Review from Mike W.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Clean restaurant. Friendly staff. Can sit and eat (inside). Take's credit card. Restroom(s). Good food. Fair prices.
Did I miss anything? -
Review from Frank C.
Bloomingdale, IL
10/24/2011
Not to bad of a little place here. Not big on their dogs but they have a good char cheddar burger. Worth the try.
Frank Campeglia (The Food Club) -
Review from Grace M.
McHenry, IL
1/31/2012
Great Food! Hot Dogs were great, definitely get them grilled and pass on the cheese on anything. Milk Shake was delicious and the restaurant was roomy and very comfortable.
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Review from T B.
Aurora, IL
9/21/2011
Yum Yum Yum
So my boss and I are hungry and he said "How about this place?"
You know that saying "Never judge a book by its cover"? well... that cover was a strip mall that didn't have anything real great in it. Except this place.
So like any classy lady would I said "F*&K it let's try it out" And we did.
It was nicer than I thought and clean. Everyone was nice and my food was delicious!
So get your (starts with c and ends with oochie) down to Poochies! (I know i'm an idiot :) -
Review from Mary H.
7/19/2011
It just doesn't get any better then Poochie's. I have been coming here since I could adequately ingest a hot dog. From the amazing cheese fries to the char cheddar dogs to the greasy (and sadly, not so grimy anymore) ambiance, this place is everything you could ever want in a fast food restaurant.
Anyone who has given this place a bad review needs to go back and order a char cheddar dog with everything. Then we'll talk. -
Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
4/4/2011
After a recent doctor's appointment, I was driving west on Dempster, fully intending to stop at Pita Inn, but as soon as I saw Poochie's, I swerved and made a beeline here instead. Goodbye healthy lunch of hummus and tabbouleh; hello calorie- bomb, fat-laden lunch of a char cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake.
Poochie's has been here forever (located in Poochie's Plaza), but it's been years since I've eaten here. When I crave a fast-food burger, I usually head to Paradise Pup, but I wanted to see if Poochie's was as good as I remembered.
Comparatively, Poochie's fries are head and shoulders above the ones at the Pup. They're hand-cut, made to order, and oh-so-salty and greasy. Exactly what fries should be. Paradise Pup's fries are of the crinkle-cut variety or you can get seasoned fries. I'm not a huge fan of either, but I'll make do with their crinkle cut if they're liberally slathered with Merkt's cheddar.
The milkshakes are probably equally good at both places, but I should reserve my opinion as I've only had berry milkshakes at Paradise Pup and only a chocolate one at Poochie's.
I'm sad to say that there is no comparison in the burger; Paradise Pup's is tops in my book. Poochie's burger was well-prepared, but even at 1/3 lb, it seemed thin and unsatisfying. Their toppings were fresh, but the burger itself was kind of lacking in flavor. I felt like all I could taste were the toppings themselves; a good burger should be able to stand on its own, sans all the accoutrements.
I will say that it's infinitely easier to get your burger/hot dog at Poochie's. The lines are more reasonable, as are the hours of operation.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's room in my life for both Poochie's and the Pup.Listed in: I'll Gladly Pay You Tuesday…, I Dream of Wienie
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Review from Leo I.
Oak Park, IL
5/2/2011
Maybe Sunday is not the best day to visit this place. Or maybe I should have asked that my grilled onions were medium to well done, not charred to pure carbon. Whatever the reason, Poochie's failed to impress me. This place aspires to be something like Five Guys but it has a long way to go in my opinion.
I had the bacon cheddar dog, with fries. The fries were extremely dry and chewy which makes me thing that they were reheated not freshly fried. The "cheddar" was some cheesy spread on the bun; on top of the spread there were bits of bacon in such infinitesimal quantities that an inexperienced rabi might have blessed the sandwich as kosher. The dog was well reheated. And the grilled onions... ah! the taste of pure carbon!
The ordering system is curious, to say the least. You give your order, you pay, you sit, you wait and then someone behind the counter yells your name and asks you what you want on your burger/dog/etc. Pandemonium erupts especially if multiple orders are under the same name. -
Review from Joshua G.
Chicago, IL
3/9/2011
Poochie's how do I love thee let me count the ways:
1. IMO the best hot dog place in the burbs for sure maybe even the city
2. Fresh hand cut french fries
3. Double char cheddar dogs!
I've been coming here since I was old enough to drive. I'm glad I don't live near here anymore or else I'd weigh over 300 pounds by now. -
Review from Joe K.
Chicago, IL
7/1/2011
Poochie's used to have a location not too far from where I work. My friends and I would go there to enjoy the turkey burgers or cheeseburgers, depending on how vile we were treating outselves at the time.
The original store on Dempter has seen more of my dollars lately as they have some of the best fries, hot dogs, hamburgers and a few fairly different treats.
The nice thing about the place is the cheddar burger uses good cheddar. While I enjoy some other fast food places depending on where I'm at, some like Charcoal Delights, use this cheddar that's like rotten cheese weeze and every time I forget that I wind up throwing out whatever I ordered.
The portions of the fries are huge and being fresh cut, delicious. The wait staff is fast and friendly and because they prepare the food as you order it, ask you what you want on it as they prepare it, not ahead of time where chances are better that they would screw it up. Prices are competitive, especially as the fast food chains have continued to try and add 'premium' foodstuffs like angus burgers to their menus.
If you're looking for burgers or dogs, you can do far worse than Poochie's. -
Review from Jeff H.
Vernon Hills, IL
6/20/2011
Grew up on this menu, and the quality remains. Visited their new location yesterday,a few blocks east of the original location - bright, clean, 3 tv's going, soda fountain for refills, all nice. But what I really came for was the Char Cheddar Burger with grilled onions (best grilled onions around). Still my favorite fast food burger in Chicago. Even the pickle spears are uniquely good. Paradise Pup gets a lot of press for theirs, and this is every bit as good if not better, with way less wait time.
The fries are freshly cut, awesome. Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Robert P.
Santa Monica, CA
1/28/2011
Another review for non-Chicagoans written by a Chi-town ex-pat
This place is a shrine to the coveted and renowned Chicago Hot Dog.
Everything Poochies does is first-rate. From their Chicago Dog (a steamed or char-grilled Vienna natural casing hot dog on a steamed Rosen's poppy seed bun covered with mustard, neon green pickle relish, chopped onion, a kosher pickle spear, sliced tomato, Louisiana sport peppers and all dusted with celery salt) to their char-grilled Vienna Polish sausage to their famous cheddar burger and wonderful fries, Poochies is a shrine.
If you're ever in Chicago, a trek to this little Skokie storefront will make an unforgettable experience. That's a promise ...Listed in: At The Top Of Their Game
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Review from Howard L.
1/22/2011 6 photos
Yes, you can find good, freshly made hot dog stand food here. We got a char cheddar burger (1/3 lb), and a char cheddar polish. I liked the polish a bit better with the grilled onions and cheddar, as it was a bit more substantive than the soft and somewhat overwhelmed burger patty. Bread was very fresh on both products. Not bad on this char burger, but Paradise Pup is still the gold standard by far on char burgers. The folks are friendly. We just wanted water and no fries, but the counter guy gave us a free sampling of fries while we waited a few minutes for the order.
I also liked that though it's a popular, renowned foodie place, there's at least plenty of seating, albeit mostly stool seats (unlike Paradise Pup or Smoque, where seating is fairly limited). They are moving soon to a similar sized location a couple of blocks to the east (3602 W. Dempster), so come by soon if you want to see this original Skokie institution. -
Review from David T.
Mt Prospect, IL
12/10/2011
I have been a Poochie's customer my whole life. Their hot dogs are similar to most other hot dog stands. What brings me here are the char cheddar burgers; they are easily the best hamburgers out there. Their fries are really good too.
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Review from Monique C.
Skokie, IL
1/18/2011
I've probably passed Poochie's a countless number of times and never though anything of it. It isn't exactly at the best location and it seems kinda small.
I finally went here about a year ago with my brother and I loved it! Great service, great hot dogs, good burgers, and good fries! -
Review from Diana P.
12/15/2010
I'm rating the cheese fries because as a vegetarian, this is the only thing I could have here and OMG they are amazing! Best cheese fries I've ever had and I was convinced that Michaels up in Highland Park had the best ones. Not anymore. I can now see why this place has received such hype and people keep coming back.
Reasonable prices too.
Check it out! -
Review from Sly S.
Grayslake, IL
6/28/2011
This review is based on the SERVICE even though the last time I was in there the hotdogs were cold which is UNACCEPTABLE !
The "lady" with the curly frizzy hair and glasses needs an ATTITUDE adjustment bigtime! I've been a recepient of her attitude and have seen her bestow it upon others as well. When shes in there(which is often) I stay clear and go to Herms or Hubs. -
Review from Pam D.
Updated - 6/28/2011
Stopped in with Mom today while we were out shopping. I had the char cheddar burger and mom had a Chicago style hot dog. Both were perfectly fine, but I can't say I am a fan. I think I shall stop at Herm's next time I am in the area and do a comparison. I haven't been there in a long time. After that I'll decide the winner.
Listed in: Hot Diggity Dog Diggity
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2011
Tried the Italian Beef. It was quite good and certainly a decent portion. I need to come back and… Read more »
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Review from Lina J.
Skokie, IL
9/6/2011
I grew up eating Poochies and it hasn't changed much, which is a great thing. I really love Char Dog with grilled onions. Yum!!
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Review from Geoff S.
Wilmette, IL
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
What they do here they do well. Really well.
Every time I've ordered fries here, they cook them fresh -- they're never sitting around under a lamp. I don't know if it's standard procedure or if I've just gotten lucky...but their fries are top-notch.
I have yet to try a burger here (probably because their dogs are so good), but they do an excellent Chicago dog.
The interior is clean and there's plenty of counter space. The owner(s)/worker(s) are very polite and helpful.
No complaints whatsoever. One of the better places to get a Chicago dog in the north suburbs. -
Review from james c.
Skokie, IL
8/28/2011
MMMMMMM Cheddar Fries and Char Cheddar Burgers=Happiness.
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Review from MTML D.
Skokie, IL
12/30/2010
I live about 5 minutes from Poochie's which is dangerous. My wife and I have had the char-burgers, char-dogs and the kids love all of the fries. This is the only place where we go and the kids cant finish all the fries.
The Italian beef is also pretty good. The guy with the sideburns who is usually on the grill is a really cool cat too. Look forward to going to Poochie's for many years to come. -
Review from Hernan T.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2011
Friendly staff, quick service, great food! I loved the chardog and the grilled onions! Fries are some of the tastiest homestyle I've ever had!
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Review from Marissa G.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2011
Classic Chicago hot dog stand. The only thing I couldn't quite get over-- the cheese fries, which everyone is crazy about-- but I guess I'm just used to the fake stuff on my fries! I'm lame, but I like it better. Sorry.
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Review from Evan E.
Chicago, IL
4/7/2010
Chicagoland is one of those unique places on earth where junk food is king. I have traveled the country and have never been to a place where Hotdogs, Beef, and burgers are taken as seriously.
Poochie's is one of the best. It is an establishment that has been around for a very long time. Ironically, Poochie's Plaza is next to a Burger King. This of course does not matter. I will agree with the fact that some people just want a whopper. After a char cheddar burger, you quickly realize how inferior the whopper really is. I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams that Burger King has a huge impact on their business.
In closing, Skokie is actually a great area for dinning. A decent burger or dog is easy to find all over Chicagoland. If you want one of the best, try Poochies Char Cheddar Burger with Sweet potato fries. If you are not feeling a burger and are near Poochie's, Pita Inn will treat you right! -
Review from Jonathan C.
1/28/2010
Char Cheddar everything!!!!! Walking into the door of this place will take a few years off of your life, but it will be those years near the end that suck anyways.
Your order will take longer than Burger King next door. But its made fresh here and really flame grilled (its charred unlike BK's 'char' marks that are more like skid marks).
Get it with sweet potato fries and go home fat and happy. -
Review from Scott D.
Katy, TX
10/29/2006
Local hotdog and hamburger joint that has been around since the 60's. Little bitty hole in the wall that makes some tasty food. It's the kind of place that you could drive by for years and never recognize it. Look for them next to Red Wings Shoe store
Friendly place and good food. Parking is good because of the strip mall local. -
Review from dave s.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2007
This place is the BEST hot dog joint. I have been going here since I was 7 years old. After moving to the Northwest Suburbs when I was 9 and now living in the city, I still find my way back to this place. I usually fill up on a cheddar burger and cheese fries, the food is outstanding. Pass on the BK next door and EAT HERE you will not be disappointed or healthy.
They only take cash so be prepared. -
Review from Roslyn P.
Evanston, IL
10/21/2011
Poochies is my GO TO place for lunch and sometimes dinner. It is like "CHEERS!" The owner CHRIS and his employees make everyone feel at home. The food is excellent. I love the Polish with all the trimmings as well as the burgers and chicken sandwiches. My new favorite is the bar-b-q brisket sandwich on french bread. Fresh and Fabulous. When my brother comes here from New Hamphire for a visit we immediately head to Poochies for the burgers or Polish. This Skokie restaurant is not to be missed!!!!
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Review from Lois A.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2011
Great Chicago dogs here. So wonderful. I was here today for the last day before they relocate down the street and I had an excellent time. You can not go wrong with a dog from here. I also had some loaded fries.... whoa. I could only eat a small portion. They come with cheese, sour cream, bacon...everything you could ever dream of or need to induce a heart attack. Wonderful staff. I love Poochies! I wish them tons of luck at the new location, not that they need it.
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Review from Rob W.
3/25/2011
Decent hot dogs, good fries, reasonable prices. Prompt service. Nothing really stood out so much to warrant a 5 star rating, but doing well in each of the critical areas is certainly worthy of 4 stars.
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Review from Allan M.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2007
I haven't been to this location yet, but I've been to their (now closed) location that was formerly located in a strip mall on Touhy, just east of Crawford/Pulaski. I forget what took the place of the Touhy Poochie's, but oh well.
Anyway, when I went to the former Touhy location, I found the food to be really decent. In addition to hot dogs and burger fare, they also serve deli sandwiches, which are excellent. I hope they never close this location(as I believe this is their only location still open), and remain in business for many years to come. Hope I'm able to make it out to the Dempster location at some point, obviously.
===============
Edit 11/23/07: I'm happy to now say I finally made it up here about a week back. And I finally remember the difference between this location and their now-closed Touhy location: the Touhy Ave. one focused on deli-style sandwiches(and didn't serve fast food fare), while this location focuses on burgers, hot dogs, shakes, etc.-type fast food fare, and does NOT sell any deli sandwiches.
Got a cheeseburger, shake, and fries here. I strangely didn't care for the type of cheese they put on their cheeseburger, but I liked the flavor of the burger(which strangely reminded me of a BK Whopper, but much better than a Whopper ever could taste like), and I would've just gotten a regular burger, had I known I wouldn't care for their cheese(their cheese also strangely reminded me of BK, don't ask why). The chocolate shake I had was really good. And as for their fries, I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting salt packets, when the staff behind the counter asks you if you want any salt packets with your fries. I highly regretted not asking for any, since the fries, albeit that I really enjoyed the fact they were hand-cut, lacked some sorta flavor I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Oh yeah, and you can get 20 oz. bottles of Green River and Dog 'n Suds Root Beer here, which I thought was really cool, since you hardly ever run into places selling those drinks! (with the exception of a few indie fast food places I've been to, such as Susie's on Montrose) So altogether, despite my minor problems I had with their food, I'd definately come back here, especially since the staff is extremely friendly to customers. And keeping the number of stars I'm giving here the same as I initially reviewed this place as, four. -
Review from Kent B.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2007
It's been a long while since I've eaten at Poochie's. While running errands, my wife and I stopped in last night at about 6 PM. It was surprisingly quiet. At lunch time, this place is packed.
There isn't much seating unless you're up for a counter stay. There are six booths (two are small 4-tops and three are small 2-tops). I ordered a cheddar burger with fries and my wife ordered a hamburger and onion rings. The cheddar burger was excellent. The grille man (Jimmy) asked how I would like it cooked--a positive sign. The fries are fresh cut. The onion rings were pretty good. My drink--a diet Dog 'n Suds root beer. Woo hoo!
You need a personable staff to have a memorable hot dog stand. The two fellows working last night were that and more. It's nice to walk into a place and be greated by polite and smiling people. Kudos!
The bathroom was spotless and nicely decorated. Parking is adequate.
I'll be back again--soon. -
Review from Andrew C.
Chicago, IL
11/28/2007
Poochie's Cheddar Burgers are amazing! I'd go to this place more if it weren't so unhealthy.
They also give you a large serving of top notch fries. -
Review from George V.
Skokie, IL
4/21/2006
Let's face it, sometimes we all crave good food. You know the kind of food, the stuff that your doctor warns you sternly about. The kind of food where if you eat it more than once a week you'll fall over dead. You know, *greasy*, *salty*, but dang if it isn't GOOD food!
If you're in the mood for some oh-so-good but oh-so-bad-for-you food, swing by Poochies! Everything is made/cooked out front in clear view (*always* a plus in my book!). Their burgers are great, their fries (especially with cheese!) are spectacular.
Their hot dogs are good, but if you want a real hot dog treat, you're better off visitng Herm's Palace down the street. But if you want a burger and good cheese fries, stay put!
Wait staff is usually high school kids trying to earn a buck. Usually very friendly if you take the time to chat them up. Hard to find true fault with high schoolers holding down a decent (if forgettable...) job! -
Review from p k.
Glenview, IL
5/6/2011
Fantastic food, Char burgers, char dogs, and char chicken sandwiches are my staples there, all with cheddar. And the FRIES! Oh lord, the fries are good.
P.S. whoever called their cheddar cheese wizz is nuts! I've seen what they use and it is top of the line! -
Review from Anna J.
1/13/2010
The five star rating is specifically for the cheddar burger.
If you live in Chicago take a trip to Skokie. If you crave the best hot dog stand burger (i have made the trip once or twice on a bad hangover) head to the burbs. The cheddar burger here is the best I have ever had..hands down. It's not a fancy burger, this is the kind that the grease can run down your hand and the cheese can burn your lip.
It's a little place. A few booths and some stools for seating. They have sport stuff all over the walls as well as all the frames or articles of all the times this place has been written up in a magazine or newspapers.
The french fries are pretty good and they come in a paper bag. Grab a seat and get a large cherry coke and cheddar burger and take a trip to heaven. I can't speak for anything else here. Why bother trying a hot dog when the hamburgers are this good. -
Review from Jeff C.
Columbia, MD
3/6/2010
Anyone who eats Chicago-style fast food knows that there are cheese fries and there are cheese fries. At most places, you get a molten goo that has much in common with the nacho cheese you get at a movie theater or baseball game. But there are the rare places where you can actually recognize that what is on your fries was once a fine Wisconsin cheddar. Poochie's is such a place.
I went to Poochie's for Chicago-style hot dogs but, as it was my first time, I decided that my hot dogs would be lonely without an order of cheese fries to go with them. Excuse me, I mean cheddar fries, because that's what they are. The hot dogs were your typical Chicago-style hot dog. They were solid, but certainly nothing special or exciting. The cheddar fries, though. Wow. I'm hard-pressed to think of cheddar fries I've enjoyed more. The fresh cut fries were not the best fries I've had but the cheddar that was coated them like a rich, orange icing was simply fantastic. No skimpy portions, either. I doubt there were more than two fries that weren't almost completely coated. Yum. Go get them. Your heart may complain but your mouth and stomach will thank you repeatedly.
n.b., $5 minimum on credit cards. They have their own ATM in back, though. -
Review from Tom Z.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2008
I had the Cheddar Burger. The burger was cooked just right. It had good flavor and was juicy. I decided to get grilled onions, I'm glad I did. The grilled onions were done just right.
The fries were good. I personally am not a fan of fresh cut fries, but these were good.
The people were friendly and the place was clean. There is a large parking lot just west of the building.
It is kind of out of the way for me, but if I'm in the area I would return again.
