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Atlanta, Illinois: Palm's Grille Cafe - Route 66 (Gone)

The Palm Grille Cafe opened in 1934, closed in the late 1960s, and was revived in the Route 66 boom to expose new generations to the virtues of bologna and SPAM road food. Became a bakery in 2022.

Directions:
Rt. 66 downtown Atlanta, between Race and Vine Sts.
Hours:
Became a bakery in 2022.
Status:
Gone

Visitor Tips and News About Palm's Grille Cafe - Route 66

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Young Lincoln.

Palms Grill Cafe

On Route 66, Atlanta has a local museum and great food at the Palms Grill Cafe.

[Russ Turnbow, 08/11/2019]

The free Atlanta Museum shares the building with the Palms Grill Cafe and is open M-Sa 9-4:30. It displays a beardless Young Lincoln dummy -- still instantly recognizable thanks to the stovepipe hat on his desk.

Palm's Grille Cafe - Route 66

This quaint, one block area of Atlanta is a step back in time. Every storefront is a museum, antique shop, or cafe. The Palms' still serves up its famous fried bologna sandwiches. Save some room for pie! Across the street on a brick wall there are about a dozen highway-shield-shaped panels, painted with other roadside attractions along Route 66 in Illinois.

[Mike Gassmann, 10/24/2018]
Palm's Grille Cafe - Route 66

Had a fried bologna sandwich, chili and pie! All homemade and yummy! There's a museum upstairs that's worth a visit too! The people at Palm's were very nice!

[Dawn, 09/27/2017]

Palms Grill Cafe.

Palm's Grille Cafe - Route 66

Great food, cute vintage atmosphere and the waitress was so friendly!

[Laura, 01/25/2014]
Palm's Grille Cafe - Route 66

The Palm Grille Cafe is a Rt. 66 original. What sets it apart is their sensational food that includes not only Fried Baloney sandwiches, but even better a fried SPAM sandwich that definitely doesn't skimp on the SPAM. And save room for the homemade pie -- they've won numerous state fair awards and are as good as any I've ever eaten. Don't miss a trip to the bathroom either. The back room leads into an Atlanta/Rt.66 museum.

The Palm Grille Cafe is directly across from the Muffler Man, so you can't miss it.

[Pete Krampert, 06/13/2011]

The Palm Grille Cafe opened in 1934, closed in the late 1960s when Route 66 fell out of use, then was reopened in 2009 as part of the Route 66 revival. Its decor and menu -- such as the fried bologna and grilled Spam sandwiches -- are part of a deliberate effort to recreate road-eating circa 1940.


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