"Haynes on Main in Mackinaw was such a fun surprise for our first visit! Small town Illinois really does have some hidden gems and this place absolutely felt like one of them. Mackinaw is tiny enough that they don’t even have a Casey’s 😂 but this pub definitely seems to be a favorite local hangout and now I can see why.
Right away I fell in love with the building itself. It has this old historic charm to it, almost like an old barber shop from years ago. The color of the building was beautiful and I especially loved the large front windows with the deep inset seating areas. There were round tables tucked inside the window spaces and that’s actually where we sat, which made the whole experience feel extra cozy and unique. Inside there’s a gorgeous long bar and beautiful wood floors that really tied the whole atmosphere together.
One thing that surprised me was how much seating they actually have inside. At first glance it looks like a smaller space, but then you walk farther back and suddenly there are even more rooms and tables tucked away throughout the building. It just keeps opening up! They also had this really fun sticker wall with what looked like hundreds of stickers covering it, which gave the place even more personality and charm.
And I know this sounds funny to mention in a review… but this may have been one of the prettiest pub bathrooms I’ve ever seen. 😄 The paint colors, flooring, countertops, everything was just so nicely done and surprisingly upscale for a small-town pub.
Now onto the food because WOW. We started with the pork belly skewers dipped in a bourbon glaze and they were incredible. Sweet, savory, crispy around the edges… absolutely packed with flavor. Then we both ordered the western burger with barbecue sauce, pickles, crispy onions, and a smash-style patty which honestly made the burger even better. So delicious! I paired mine with sweet potato fries and they were exactly how I like them, slightly crispy and perfectly cooked.
Our waitress was super sweet and really helpful throughout the whole visit. I think her name was Jen, but I’m not completely sure. She took the time to explain things to us and even showed us their night menu since they run a more limited lunch menu. She was a pleasure to be around and to get to know while we were visiting and I also enjoyed seeing her welcome many familiar people in while we were there.
Overall we had a fantastic experience from the atmosphere to the food to the service. I also heard that for those who love local entertainment, they host Music in the Garden every Sunday from 2–5 PM. We’ll absolutely be making the trip back again soon!"
