Quad Cities, IL and Nearby

Traveling from St. Louis to Dixon, IL; then to Moline/Rock Island, IL; then back to St. Louis.  Any suggestions for en route or at destinations?

If you would like to try something you are probably not familiar with in pizza toppings, go to Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream, a Quad Cities based midwest chain, and get their Happy Joe's Special.  It is Canadian bacon and sauerkraut.  Yes, it sounds weird, but I (and a lot of other people) love it.  Of their Quad City locations that I have been to, I like the one in Bettendorf, IA, (on Spruce Hills Drive just off I 74) best, but any of them will be good.  They have a very large pizza menu and a wide variety mof ice cream concoctions.  (They do have a location in St. Louis on Watson Road, so maybe you have already had it.)
http://www.happyjoes.com/
 
While in the Quad Cities, be sure to check out the John Deere Pavilion, if you haven't already seen it. 
http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/corporate/our_company/fans_visitors/tours_attractions/pavilion.page?
 
 

I really like the Amana Colonies. Out of the way but, worth it

Riefe's http://www.menupix.com/menudirectory/menu_link.php?mxresto_id=1505616&url=http://www.riefes.com/ and Ross's http://www.rossrestaurant.com/ for breakfast in Davenport, The Blue Cat Brew Pub http://www.bluecatbrewpub.com/ for lunch or dinner in Rock Island and Exotic Thai for some of the most imaginative Thai food I've ever eaten anywhere http://www.exoticthaiquadcities.com/ I can no longer recommend Jim's Rib Haven in Rock Island. Very nice communities.

The best breaded pork tenderloin I've ever had was at
TC's Point After- about 25 miles north of the Quad Cities- it's worth the trip.
http://tcspointafter.com/
 
For a good classic heartland meal. Check out
Riefe's Resaurant in Davenport.
They've been around for over 60 years (for a good reason)
I recommend the smoked pork chop, If they have banana cream pie - get it!
http://riefes.com/
 
Whiteys' - a local chain of ice cream shops has good ice cream
http://www.whiteysicecream.com/locations.asp

You're right; it does sound weird, and I haven't tried the STL location.  Maybe this will be the time for a trial  Went to the Deere Pavilion many years ago.  Thanks for the tips.

Went there last year.  You're right; worth the trip.

Lagomarcino's in Moline is a wonderful old soda fountain and candy store.  They also make nice sandwiches on their homemade bread.

Checked out the Blue Cat web site; looks promising.  I even signed up for their email specials.  Don't know if we'll get across to Davenport for breakfast.  Thanks for the tips.

Banana cream pie: my favorite.  Must try!  Thanks.

Checked the web site for Lagomarcino's; looks just like a place in St. Louis I love (Crown Candy Kitchen).  Will be sure to drop by for some I.C.  Thanks.

We were there over the 4th and found gas to be up to 30 cents cheaper in Iowa. A really good bet (and a very nice supermarket) was the Hy-Vee on Locust. I completely agree with WJ; the smoked pork chop breakfast at Riefe's was special. Every breakfast starts out with a small plate of fresh fried doughnuts. Arsenal Island alone can be a good day. You should have a very nice time. Here's a breakfast "casino" mountain at Ross.

 
and the Confederate Cemetary on Arsenal Island. They have some good museums too.

 
Riefe's smoked pork chop breakfast
 

The Blue Cat used to have a salad with duck cracklin's that I had been looking forward to. They just took it off the menu but the manager said they had added duck drumsticks as an app. We were wolfing them down when I remembered to take a pic; sorry.