Unearth The Voyage
There is a backroad in southern Illinois where the trees close in around you, the pavement narrows, and the outside world quietly disappears. Follow it far enough and you will find a bar and grill that does not look like much from the outside but delivers the kind of meal that makes you plan your next visit before you have even finished your current one.
The ribs here have earned serious local admiration, the barbecue sauce is made from scratch, and the patio fills up fast on weekends with bikers, hikers, wine trail explorers, and anyone else lucky enough to know this place exists. Trust me, this is one backroad worth every mile.
Finding the Place: Address, Location, and How to Get There
Tucked deep into the hills of southern Illinois, Mase’s Place Bar and Grill sits at 5162 Hickory Ridge Road in Pomona, IL 62975, right along the edge of the Shawnee Wine Trail. Getting there is half the adventure, because the road winds through thick woodland that makes it feel like you are heading somewhere genuinely off the map.
The drive itself is scenic enough to justify the trip even before you eat a single bite. Tall trees line the route, the air smells like pine and earth, and the whole experience has a slow, unhurried quality that most restaurants simply cannot offer.
A GPS is helpful but not always perfectly reliable out here, so it is smart to download directions ahead of time or save the address before you lose signal. The restaurant can be reached by phone at 618-684-8000, and their website at masesplace.com has current hours and seasonal updates.
Plan your arrival carefully, because Mase’s Place is open Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons through night, and Sunday afternoons only.
The Story Behind the Name: A Small-Town Bar With Big Personality
Not every great restaurant comes with a long backstory printed on the menu, and Mase’s Place is perfectly comfortable letting the food do the talking. The name itself carries the kind of casual, personal energy you get from a place that was clearly built by someone who wanted a neighborhood hangout, not a corporate franchise.
The vibe inside is warm and unpretentious, with a country bar atmosphere that feels genuinely lived-in rather than designed by committee. It is the sort of spot where the staff knows regular customers by name and where first-timers are treated like they have been coming for years.
Customers consistently mention the cleanliness of the whole establishment, which stands out in a setting that could easily lean into a rougher aesthetic. There is real pride of ownership here, visible in the details from the tidy dining area to the well-maintained outdoor patio.
Mase’s Place has earned a 4.6-star rating across more than 250 reviews, and that number reflects a community of people who genuinely care about this little corner of Pomona.
The Ribs: Blue-Ribbon Worthy and Cooked Low and Slow
The ribs at Mase’s Place are the dish that gets people talking, and once you try them, you understand why. They arrive with that deep mahogany color that only comes from patient, low-and-slow cooking, and the meat pulls back from the bone with the kind of tenderness that takes hours to achieve.
The scratch-made barbecue sauce is the detail that separates these ribs from anything you would find at a chain restaurant. It has a layered flavor with just enough sweetness to balance the smoke, and it clings to the meat rather than pooling at the bottom of the plate.
Nothing about it tastes bottled or generic.
Portion sizes at Mase’s Place run generous across the whole menu, and the ribs are no exception. You will not leave the table wondering if you ordered enough.
The kitchen clearly takes pride in sending out food that feels worth the drive, and the ribs deliver on that promise with every single order. A meal like this is the main reason people make the long backroad trip to Pomona more than once.
The Smoked Brisket: A Serious Contender on the Menu
Ribs may be the headliner, but the smoked brisket deserves its own spotlight. Multiple visitors have singled it out as one of the best things they ordered, praising the rich bark on the outside and the juicy, tender interior that holds its moisture all the way through the meal.
Good brisket is notoriously difficult to get right. The cut requires long cook times and careful temperature management, and when it goes wrong it goes very wrong.
The kitchen at Mase’s Place clearly knows what they are doing, because the brisket that comes out of that kitchen is described as terrific by the people who have eaten it.
The brisket also shows up in burger form, and the brisket burger has attracted its own loyal following among regulars. Whether you prefer it sliced on a plate or stacked between a bun, the smoked beef is a menu item that rewards adventurous ordering.
If the ribs happen to sell out on a busy Saturday, the brisket is the kind of backup plan that makes you forget you had a first choice at all.
The Pork Steak: A Midwestern Classic Done Right
The pork steak at Mase’s Place has its own devoted fan base, and the nickname customers have given it says everything you need to know about the portion size. This is not a polite, restaurant-sized cut.
It is a slab of pork that commands the plate and earns every bit of the attention it receives.
One visitor described it as tender and juicy with big flavor, which is exactly what a great pork steak should deliver. The cut is a Midwestern staple with deep roots in Illinois and Missouri cooking culture, and Mase’s Place treats it with the respect it deserves by not overcooking it or drowning it in sauce.
The texture is the thing that sets a good pork steak apart from a mediocre one, and the version served here holds up on both counts. It has a satisfying chew without being tough, and the natural flavor of the pork comes through clearly.
Ordering it after a long hike through the nearby Little Grand Canyon trails turns what would be a good meal into a genuinely memorable one.
The Outdoor Patio: A Gathering Spot That Earns Its Reputation
The outdoor patio at Mase’s Place is not just a seating option. It has become a destination in its own right, drawing motorcycle riders, car enthusiasts, and weekend explorers who want to eat outside in a setting that actually matches the natural beauty around them.
On warm weekends, the patio fills up with groups who have arrived after a scenic ride through the Shawnee Hills or a stop at one of the nearby wineries. The energy is social and relaxed, with the kind of easy conversation that happens when a crowd of people all share the same good mood.
The patio is spacious enough to accommodate large groups comfortably, and Mase’s Place has proven it can handle serious numbers. A group of 35 people showed up for Mother’s Day, and the staff had their table ready on arrival and had everyone fed and finished within two hours.
That kind of logistical performance on a busy holiday weekend takes real coordination, and the patio setup makes large gatherings feel natural rather than chaotic.
The Shawnee Wine Trail Connection: A Perfect Pairing for the Area
Mase’s Place sits close enough to the Shawnee Wine Trail that combining a winery visit with lunch or dinner here has become a popular Saturday routine for visitors to southern Illinois. The trail winds through some of the most scenic countryside in the state, and a hearty meal at Mase’s fits naturally at the end of it.
The sampler platter has been called out specifically by visitors who made the winery circuit before stopping in, which suggests the kitchen knows how to put together a spread that satisfies after a long afternoon of sightseeing. The platter gives you a taste of several menu highlights without forcing you to commit to just one thing.
Southern Illinois as a region tends to fly under the radar compared to more famous food destinations, but the combination of scenic trails, local wineries, and spots like Mase’s Place makes a compelling case for a weekend trip. The area rewards people who are willing to explore backroads and take their time, and Mase’s Place is exactly the kind of reward that makes that patience feel worthwhile.
Fried Favorites: The Sides and Starters Worth Ordering
The appetizer and side dish situation at Mase’s Place is not something to skip over on the way to the main event. The fried green beans have developed a reputation as a table favorite, arriving crispy, flavorful, and hot enough to disappear before anyone has a chance to reconsider their order.
Fried mushrooms are another item that has earned consistent praise from visitors, and the fish tacos have surprised more than a few people who did not expect a backroads bar and grill in rural Illinois to nail a dish usually associated with coastal menus. The kitchen here has a broader range than the rustic setting might suggest.
The sampler platter is the smart move if you are visiting with a group and want to cover as much ground as possible in one order. It brings together several of the kitchen’s strong points and gives everyone at the table something to talk about.
Good fried food in a relaxed outdoor setting with good company is one of those combinations that does not need any improvement, and Mase’s Place knows better than to mess with it.
The Atmosphere Inside: Clean, Casual, and Genuinely Welcoming
A lot of backroads bars lean into a deliberately rough aesthetic, but Mase’s Place takes a different approach. The interior is impressively clean throughout, which is something multiple visitors have specifically called out as a detail that sets this place apart from similar spots in the region.
The decor is casual and country without feeling like a theme park version of rural Illinois. There are no forced quirks or manufactured charm here.
The atmosphere is the natural result of a well-run, well-loved local business that has found its rhythm and stuck to it.
The staff plays a big role in shaping the experience. Servers here are described consistently as friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm, the kind of service that makes a group of 35 people feel taken care of on a busy Mother’s Day afternoon.
One cook even drove home to bring gas to a customer who had run out and asked for directions to the nearest station. That kind of hospitality is not in any employee handbook.
It is just who these people are, and it makes Mase’s Place feel like more than a restaurant.
Events and Special Occasions: More Than Just a Meal Stop
Mase’s Place has built a reputation as a venue for events that go beyond a regular dinner out. The Rat Rod Revival brought a crowd of vintage car enthusiasts who turned the parking lot into an impromptu car show and the patio into a party, and the restaurant handled the volume without missing a beat.
The Blessing of the Bikes at nearby Bald Knob Cross draws motorcycle riders from across the region each year, and many of them make Mase’s Place their post-event stop. The combination of a biker-friendly patio, generous food, and a welcoming staff makes it a natural fit for groups arriving with an appetite and a story to tell.
Large family gatherings have also found a home here. The staff has demonstrated a real ability to accommodate big parties without sacrificing the quality of the food or the attentiveness of the service.
Whether it is a holiday weekend, a local car meet, or a spontaneous group ride through the Shawnee Hills, Mase’s Place has the kind of flexible, good-humored energy that makes every occasion feel like it was planned exactly right.
Practical Tips for Your Visit: Hours, Seasons, and What to Know
Mase’s Place keeps a tightly focused weekly schedule, so planning ahead is essential before you make the drive. The restaurant is open Friday from 5 to 11 PM, Saturday from noon to 11 PM, and Sunday from noon to 6 PM.
Monday through Thursday it is closed, and the place also closes for the season during certain months of the year.
At least one visitor arrived after a 40-minute drive only to find the restaurant closed for the season, with no notice on the website or voicemail at the time. That kind of surprise is worth avoiding, so a quick call to 618-684-8000 or a check of the current schedule at masesplace.com before you leave home is genuinely worth the two minutes it takes.
The location is remote enough that the nearest gas station is about 15 miles away, which is useful information if your tank is running low when you arrive. Cell service in the area can be spotty, so downloading directions and saving the phone number offline before you head out will save you a stressful moment on a narrow backroad.
Come prepared and the whole experience runs smoothly.
Why Mase’s Place Keeps Drawing People Back
A 4.6-star rating from more than 250 reviewers is not an accident. It is the result of consistent food quality, a staff that genuinely cares about the customer experience, and a setting that is hard to replicate anywhere closer to a city.
Mase’s Place has found a formula that works and executes it with quiet confidence every weekend it opens its doors.
The menu has enough range to bring back repeat visitors without feeling scattered or unfocused. From the blue-ribbon ribs and smoked brisket to the fried green beans and fish tacos, the kitchen covers a lot of ground without losing its identity as a place rooted in comfort food and honest cooking.
More than anything, Mase’s Place earns its loyal following by making people feel genuinely welcome. The staff remembers faces, goes out of their way for strangers, and maintains a warmth that big-city restaurants rarely manage to replicate.
The scenic drive, the outdoor patio, the scratch-made barbecue sauce, and the community spirit all add up to something that is very difficult to find and very easy to love. Once you make the trip, you will already be thinking about the next one.
