Today I’m really excited to share my first ever restaurant review with you! It happened on a whim really. I was visiting the quaint little town of Paxton, IL for the day and looking for something different for lunch. A quick scroll through Yelp offered a handful of restaurants, but of course I was instantly drawn to The Humble Hog, a local BBQ joint located in downtown Paxton on the square.
It is a gorgeous red brick building with a tin awning and Blue Moon sign lit up in the window welcoming you in. They’ve got an old car parked out front with HMBL HG on the plates which I thought was a unique touch. I would best describe the interior design as modern rustic. The Edison style string lights hanging from the ceiling create a cozy atmosphere and there’s a small bar in the back half of the restaurant that is perfect for a quiet date night or grabbing some drinks with a few friends.
Our server, Sami, greeted us as soon as we walked in and had us seat ourselves. She was such a
sweet girl and she went above and beyond during our entire meal. She appeared to be the only server working at the time and while the restaurant wasn’t packed (it was late afternoon), she handled every table effortlessly and made sure everyone was well taken care of.
We definitely came in on the right day – they were celebrating their 3 year anniversary with $3 Paxton Punch! This top-secret cocktail made with moonshine tastes like pink lemonade and comes in a cute little mason jar garnished with a lime. So good, but pace yourself as they are sure to sneak up on you after a few!
The menu comes on a clipboard (which I thought was a neat concept) and while it isn’t overly extensive, it’s still hard to choose because literally everything sounds phenomenal. They’ve got a variety of appetizers to choose from including BBQ nachos, hush puppies and fresh cracklin’s. I didn’t order one because I had to save room for dessert, but I don’t think I would have been disappointed with any of them for sure! As for entrees, the menu boasts an array of smoked sandwiches and other good eats. I settled on the pulled pork sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries (I know… I’m really basic, but I was just really craving some pulled pork!) My friend opted for the Burnt Ends sandwich with a side of chips. Check out the menu below to see what all they have to offer!
Our food came out within just minutes of ordering (maybe 5-10 at most? – I was impressed) and
everything was cooked to perfection. I opted for the medium BBQ sauce on the side and drizzled it over
the pulled pork. Uh-mazing. So much flavor packed in this sandwich. The sweet potato fries were also delicious – perfectly cooked and seasoned. I didn’t get a chance to try it, but my friend raved about the Burnt Ends Sandwich too!
Like I said, dessert was a necessity so I went with Rebekah’s Brownie and a side of ice cream. It was to die for – super moist and chocolate-y, but not too rich. Definitely recommend if you have a sweet tooth like me!
Overall, I was very pleased with my experience at The Humble Hog. From the service down to the food
itself, I really enjoyed my time here. The restaurant was very clean, the prices were very reasonable (my
total was right at $15 for everything) and the portion sizes were great. I even had enough left over to
take home with me to share with my boyfriend so he could enjoy it too 🙂
If you are unfamiliar with Paxton, it is about an hour and 45 min northeast of Springfield and only about
30 minutes north of Champaign. If you’re heading that way for a game at U of I or just passing through, I
highly recommend checking this place out! Also, they recently opened their sister restaurant, Harvest
Ale House, right across the street. They were closed when we went by (they only have evening hours),
but I checked them out online and it looks like a great place to try as well.
The Humble Hog
125 S. Market St.
Paxton, IL 60957
(217) 579-1082
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11AM -2PM, 4:30PM – 8:30PM
Closed Sunday – Monday
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