Coney McKane's
Photo by Michael Tedesco

Enjoying a meal at Coney McKane’s American Eatery in downtown Decatur feels as American as apple pie. And pie definitely serves as a favorite here, homemade every day by “Grandma Flo.”

“She still makes pies from scratch and people come from all over Illinois specifically for the pie,” says Lea Stukins, restaurant owner and daughter of pie maker Flo Coombes. “They’ll order their pie first to make sure that they reserve their special flavor and then have their dinner. The pie is a big attraction.”

Located at the corner of Prairie and North Main, Coney McKane’s began as a small, walk-in bakery in 1997. Two location changes later, the restaurant now seats 100 people and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most of the recipes came from Grandma Flo, who began the business after retiring from another job. Old-fashioned biscuits and gravy, meatloaf, chicken and noodles, and soups from scratch are among favorites of the diners there. But Stukins says for most, it’s all about that homemade pie.

“Anything is possible when it comes to what she can do with pies,” Stukins says. “Her crust is amazing. People will say their mother used to make the best pie and ‘nobody can make it like my mom.’ And then they’ll have a piece and say this pie is as good or better.”

Truly a family business, the restaurant has an old-fashioned feel with weekly specials and a lunch counter. It has found popularity with both out-of-town groups and business people working in downtown Decatur.

Coney McKane's
Photo by Michael Tedesco

“It’s kind of a community thing that you don’t see a lot of places anymore,” Stukins says. “I think we’re one of the rare places that people will not only eat once a week, but sometimes we’ll see people multiple times a day. They might be in for breakfast or lunch and then they’ll come back in the evening with their family to eat. It’s just a real comfortable hometown setting.”

If You Go...


104 E. Prairie St. Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 475-1111
coneymckane.com
Open Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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