A reader named Frank left me a voice-mail recently, and I confess that I was initially a little skeptical about the story he shared.

“I just found the best restaurant to eat,” his message began, and he went on to rave about the Friday night fish special he had tried twice, the hamburgers and the salad bar. Frank was also impressed by the white linen tablecloths, cloth napkins and complimentary shrimp cocktail that came with his meals. “It’s a great place, moderately priced, very well worth the trip to go there,” he said in conclusion.

The restaurant Frank described is called Sgt. Pepper’s Bar & Grill in Kempton. I was skeptical because I had never heard of it before, and also because Kempton is a tiny town that even some Kankakee County natives might have trouble finding without a map.

Could such a place really exist? Feeling slightly giddy at the possibility, I Googled the name and found a directory listing and a phone number. A lengthy chat with one of the owners confirmed everything Frank had said and painted a tantalizing picture of what I can only conclude is a well-guarded local secret.

So here’s the story: Owners Carol Bolatto and Lori Brandner took over the restaurant on May 23, 2008. They wanted to bring good, homemade food to the area, and they wanted to provide something unique. When Carol told me they have escargot on the menu, I knew she was serious about the unique part.

Also on the menu is a surf-and-turf meal that features a 10-oz. lobster tail and 8-oz. filet. Carol’s favorite dishes are the homemade ravioli and lasagna, and she says the seafood is “incredible.” They use all Angus beef that is cut by hand at the restaurant, homemade rolls and bread are served with your meal, and desserts are made from scratch. They even pickle their own beets for the salad bar, which also features homemade soup, plus salads that have been prepared by the same woman for 25 years. There’s also a children’s menu for the little kids and a fully stocked bar for the big kids.

The restaurant has been owned by different people over the years, but the name has stayed the same. That’s because it’s etched in a mural on the side of the building, along with the artist’s rendering of The Beatles’ infamous  “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album cover. And technically, the bar is Sgt. Pepper’s Bar & Grill and the restaurant is Pepper Mill Grill, but most people just know the place as Sgt. Pepper’s.

Sgt. Pepper’s is open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch, and Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner. Breakfast hours are 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.; lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday; and dinner hours are 5 to 9 p.m.

As you can imagine, they get busy, so reservations are helpful to ensure you get served promptly. Call (815) 253-6407.

Kempton is 15 miles straight west of Clifton. To get there from the Kankakee area, you could take State Route 115 South to E. 3700N. Rd., and then go west for 1.5 miles. Sgt. Pepper’s is at 221 Main., which is at the northeast corner of First and Main streets.

Many thanks to Frank for sharing this with me and allowing me to share it with all of you.