Byline: Bill Wundram
Source: On The River
Publication Date: June 11, 2005
Page: 12
 

Along the Mississippi River lingers the tiny town of Andalusia, Ill. Andalusia, also a southern region in Spain, It is a romantic place, renowned for its fine restaurants.

Now, this Mississippi River town of the same name is staking its own claim for fine dining. The attraction is Moon River Supper Club, an 18-month-old restaurant located along the Mississippi River. It is named for the ballad, "Moon River," from the Audrey Hepburn film, "Breakfast at Tiffany's." The restaurant's pianist even plays "Moon River" a few times each night. Moon River is similar to the supper clubs of old in the Quad-Cities. It is a first-class restaurant in an unlikely little town, with a population of 1,050 residents.

"A supper club, that's our intention," says Doug Perkins, co-owner. It is large, with an unusual menu, and it is one of the few restaurants where patrons are greeted by a maitre'd, Edna McCreight. McCreight, who guides diners to tables and never seems to quit smiling, is the mother of J.V. McCreight, the supper club's co-owner. Perkins knows his business. He received a hotel/restaurant management degree from Iowa State University in Ames, and grew up in the food business. He also operated a restaurant in Farmington, Iowa, near the Missouri border before coming to the Quad-City area. "I was driving near Andalusia, admiring the fall foliage, and spotted this empty restaurant building in Andalusia. My reaction was that this region was ready for a full-service restaurant," he says. "You can't believe the remodeling that we went through." Everything at the former restaurant has been turned inside out. The bar, once the longest in Rock Island County, currently is a sleek drinking spa. A planned piano bar will surround the grand piano where Darlene Bruewit plays from Wednesday through Saturday nights.

"It's such a pleasure to play at a classy place like this," she says, noting that she plays old ballads such as "I Wish You Love," and "My Funny Valentine." "Those tunes are real music," Bruewit says.        While the menu proves that it's not the every-day chips and burger joint, Perkins does serve bargain burgers at the bar on Tuesday nights.

This is a restaurant with entrées such as tilapia, salmon, shrimp scampi and Asian marinated sirloin - as well as fillets, Ribeye and ribs.  The mushroom martini is not a martini but a special recipe of chopped mushrooms, served hot in a martini glass, with a dollop of goat cheese on top and surrounded by wedges of hot bread.  The bok choy salad - one of Perkins' personal creations - also is quite impressive. 

  There is a long salad bar that is included with all entrées. "Everything in this place is from scratch," Perkins says. Perkins, who also is head chef, is at the supper club from 7 a.m. until closing time every day. "Operating a restaurant is an iffy business," he says. "After our first year-and-a-half, our auditor says we've turned the corner. We're making a profit. That's a good sign."