Local Flavor: Rams Riverhouse in Port Byron, Illinois

For Port Byron, Illinois, locals and visitors alike, Rams Riverhouse has become a destination for watching the big game and taking in views of the Mississippi River while enjoying some of the best burgers around.

Todd DeClercq and his wife, Sharl, have been co-owners of Rams Riverhouse since the beginning. Todd’s son, Wes, continues their family’s agricultural tradition by supplying locally raised beef for the burgers through his business, LW Cattle Company.

“The DeClercqs take pride in everything they do,” says Steve Baxter, managing partner of Rams Riverhouse.

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Fan Favorites

As a casual sports bar with an emphasis on burgers and wings, Rams Riverhouse is a destination for both Fighting Illini and Iowa Hawkeyes fans.

“The sports really bring a lot of people in – as well as the food,” Baxter says.

Adventurous diners can bond over specialty menu items like the Nutty Buddy Burger, topped with peanut butter, strawberry preserves and jack cheese, or the Ram Jam, a pork tenderloin burger with an egg, bacon, American cheese and tater tots.

Baxter’s personal favorites are the French Dip and Rams Famous Wings with locally made mild and slightly sweet Monster dry rub.

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The Home Team

Both Baxter and the DeClercq family are highly involved in local sports. The restaurant takes its name from the Riverdale High School mascot, the Rams. The walls are adorned with photos showcasing Port Byron athletes dating back 50 years. And the DeClercqs sponsor the annual basketball game at Riverdale High School in memory of Geno DeClercq, the family patriarch who also farmed in Port Byron.

As an extension of their agricultural roots, the DeClercqs recently opened Geno’s Country Corner, a farm store at DeClercq Farms selling LW Cattle Company beef along with locally made artisan goods.

Whether welcoming in river traffic from the Mississippi River or regulars who stop in several times a week, Rams Riverhouse continues to be a staple of the Port Byron community thanks to its dedicated service and deep roots in family and farming.

“People are very supportive in this community if you put out a good product and you treat people right,” Baxter says.

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