Evening Out: Mason City

Category: Destinations

Find world-class comedy and fine dining options in Mason City, Illinois. This unlikely destination is worth the drive—for the pizza, the steaks, and the laughs.

Mason City, Revitalized
Mason City’s blink-and-you’ll-miss it downtown had seen better days when John Means returned to his hometown in 1991. The renown standup comedian—known as Dr. Gonzo on stage—bought a house in Mason City that year to spend time with his ailing parents and escape the madness of California life, even as he continued to tour the country as Dr. Gonzo.

Despite the dilapidated buildings—many of which had been standing empty for years—John fell back in love with his hometown and decided to stick around. “When I moved back here, I thought I was on the George Burns plan—I was going to be a lifer. But I think sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder,” he recalls. “I got involved in the community and in 1995 it dawned on me I was tired of being on the road.”

In 1998, the great Dr. Gonzo called his comedy career quits, after rubbing elbows with the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Joe Walsh, and Robin Williams and opening for acts including Huey Lewis and the News. He finished his English degree at the University of Illinois at Springfield, started teaching English classes at Lincoln College, and got involved with his hometown city council. From the start, Means worked hard to revitalize Mason City.

And then, in 2002, an opportunity presented itself: a little mom and pop pizza place downtown came up for sale. John and his new wife, Peggy (another Mason City native who is as passionate about revitalizing her hometown as her husband is), promptly purchased the restaurant, now called PJ’s Pizza & Pasta. “I was teaching at Lincoln College and she was doing activities at the nursing home here in town and she wanted to do something else. So we said, ‘Let’s do something together,’” Means says. “We knew there was a tin ceiling under the drop ceiling in the restaurant, so we wanted to make a nice sit-down place.”

Shortly thereafter, the space next to PJ’s went on the market and the couple snagged it too. After about a year of remodeling, Jack and Jo’s (named for John’s parents) opened. John and Peggy, along with their business partners at the time, did most of the remodeling work and all of the painting and decorating themselves.

Now, the spaces are distinguished by their soaring tin ceilings, decorative painting, and the artwork that adorns the walls. The many dog paintings were done by local artist EJ Miley, a Lincoln College art professor who, with John’s help, is in the process of opening his own art gallery across the street. The restaurants, which flow into one another, boast an intimate atmosphere and plenty of personality—just like the couple that owns them.

Fabulous Food
For the first three years they owned the restaurant, John handled all the cooking at PJ’s himself. “I worked in a pizza place in 1978 and 1979,” John says, “Pizza is the thing I did before I did comedy full-time.”

For Jack and Jo’s, the couple hired a chef to create a serious steakhouse menu. “He was a certified culinarian and almost bumped us up a level beyond our crowd,” John says. Yet the current chef, Jeff Hawkins, is just what Dr. Gonzo ordered: “He fits the bill. He’s fit and flexible,” John says.
 
Now, the restaurants are open for lunch from 11 to 1 Tuesday through Friday and for dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

PJ’s Pizza & Pasta offers classic pizza and pasta options (although you can order from both menus regardless of where you sit). “The thin crust pizzas are a favorite—a lot of people like that for an appetizer before a meal,” John says.

Jack and Jo’s features the usual steakhouse fare, plus a few unique menu items and special features on the weekends. “The New Orleans pasta is a specialty dish that’s a big hit because it’s a little different from the usual steakhouse food,” Means says. “The pan-seared tuna is another favorite—it has a little wasabi sauce and some sweet salsa. Plus the steaks are great.”

“People tell us we’re the best steakhouse for a 40-mile radius,” he adds. “It’s the atmosphere, the ambience, the wacky owners. We’re a destination restaurant. It’s just a fun place to drive for a good meal. You can digest on the way home.”

A Comedic Second Course
Or, better yet, head a few doors down for a cocktail and some laughs while your food settles.

John’s friend Chris Speyrer, aka “Clammy,” opened Mason City Limits, a 100-seat comedy club, just down the street from the Means’ restaurants three years ago. “He saw what we were doing here and thought it would be cool to put a comedy club in a small town instead of competing with bigger clubs,” John says. “It’s a really intimate atmosphere for seeing a comic—here you’re with a small crowd, but when it’s packed, it rocks. The comedy is sort of the dessert.”

Because of Chris and John’s connections in the comedy the world, they personally know most of the comics that perform at Mason City Limits. “We don’t have any problems getting comics to come. They love it. It was built by comics for comics. That’s why it works,” John says.

The comedians stay above the restaurants in a guest suite built next to John and Peggy’s own apartment. Diners often spot them downstairs in one of the restaurants before the performance. And afterward, John, Peggy, Chris, and their guest comedians often head back upstairs to relive old times. “It’s like a vacation for them. They can really spread their wings and play. If they come into town early and walk around a bit, Mason City usually gets incorporated in their act,” John says.

All About the Entertainment
Although John and Peggy devote most of their lives to their restaurants and to revitalizing Mason City, they wouldn’t have it any other way. “We love this. We’re social people,” John says. “This is where we see all our friends. It’s like a big extended family, with all of the people from Mason City and surrounding towns who come to see us.”

If you’re lucky enough to snag a table (reservations are recommended on the weekends), you’ll see Peggy rushing around making sure everything runs smoothly. Don’t worry if you don’t spot John right away—undoubtedly, he’ll be by shortly with a wisecrack or a comment to get your meal off to a great start. “I have not entertained for 10 years, but I’ve entertained for 10 years,” John says. “I’m not putting on an act for people, but I love to B.S. with people and have fun while they’re dining.”

Don’t take John’s word for it. See for yourself by stopping by Mason City soon.

GET THERE
PJ’s Pizza & Pasta
124 E Chestnut St
Mason City, IL
217.482.3616

Jack & Jo’s Steakhouse
120 E Chesnut St
Mason City, IL
217.482.3616

Mason City Limits
114 E. Chestnut
Mason City, IL
217.482.5233

Photos: PJ's, Jack and Jo's, Mason City Limits (Mason City), Julie Collins

Tags: Destinations | Mason City | Jack and Jo's | PJ's Pizza and Pasta | John Means | Mason City Limits |

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