A new theme restaurant offers to transport St. Clair County residents back to the glory days of rail travel.

The Dining Car, which opened in late March at 283 Highway 11 in Argo Village, is owned by Summer Stewart and Moe Thiele, who have developed the décor and menu to reflect the local railroad landscape. 

“Trains come by across the street here 15 or 20 times a day,” said Ms. Stewart, a 30-year veteran of the restaurant business.  “So we thought, why not develop the entire restaurant around trains.”

Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, The Dining Car serves a full breakfast and a lunch menu featuring sandwiches and salads.  Dinner service is “upscale, white-tablecloth dining,” and the dinner menu reflects a different destination each night.

“You might come in, for example, on a night we’re going to Albuquerque.  In addition to our regular dinner fare, the chef’s special would be something Southwestern.”

Customers are greeted and issued a ticket by a conductor upon entering the restaurant, and Dining Car servers, dressed as train porters, are prepared to provide customers with information about each night’s destination, “things a tourist would be interested in.”

“Some people will think we’re crazy, others will play along,” Ms. Stewart said, “but the idea is that we’re going on a train trip, and you’re all coming with us.”

While dining, customers have opportunity to watch video footage of passing scenery such as they might see while actually traveling on a train and examine the antique train memorabilia that serves as decoration.

“It’s a whole different atmosphere now,” Ms. Stewart said, adding that the location has housed greasy-spoon-type establishments in the past.  The building has been completely renovated to offer something that’s “not just your everyday, run-of-the-mill dining experience.  Things you won’t see anywhere else you’ll see here.”