The city of Peoria was incorporated as a village in 1835 and is one of the older European settlements in Illinois. Cultural interests and the performing arts, as well as many registered historical places of interest, make Peoria a wonderful city to visit.
After enjoying the Peoria Riverfront Museum or the Central Illinois Ballet, stop in for a delicious meal at one of the many eateries which are considered the best restaurants in Peoria.
Here is an alphabetical list of the best restaurants in Peoria, with a link to their website. Happy dining!
Alexander’s Steakhouse
$$$$ | 309-688-0404 | WEBSITE
Open for dinner nightly and luncheon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11-3. Guests select their own steak and cook it their way over a live charcoal grill.
Twelve different cuts of steak are offered, in addition to salmon, swordfish, lobster tail, pork chops, and teriyaki chicken breasts. Enjoy a potato, Texas toast, and the best salad bar in the area. Have a glass of wine with your dinner. The kids can choose their own meal from a menu just for them. A steak lover’s delight!
Childers Eatery
$$ | 309-966-2655 | WEBSITE
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Start your day out with the perfect American breakfast at Childers. Choose from an assortment of egg dishes; benedicts, waffles, omelets, and frittatas.
They brew their own gourmet house-blend coffee and offer twelve varieties of tea and freshly squeezed juices. If you are looking for a good lunch spot, this is it. Their inexpensive, yet delicious lunch menu includes juicy burgers and unique sandwiches, along with healthy salads and terrific street tacos.
Seasonal craft beer, domestics, red and white wine, and signature cocktails are the beverage choices. They have a kids’ menu too. Open for breakfast and lunch, you can’t go wrong with Childers Eatery.
Connected
$$$-$$$$ | 309-686-5925 | WEBSITE
If you are someone who enjoys fine dining, Connected is for you. It is located in the heart of Peoria and serves dinner from 5 pm nightly, from Tuesday through Saturday.
It was presented with the Distinguished Restaurant of North America award, which is the first such award in the city of Peoria and one of the few given to a restaurant outside of the Chicago area.
On the dinner menu are a variety of pasta dishes, seafood, veal, chicken, some specialty dishes, soups, and salads. Connected is fine dining at its best, with an ambiance to match.
Fish House
$$$-$$$$$ | 309-691-9358 | WEBSITE
Open for dinner nightly from 4 pm, you will have a wonderful array of fresh fish to choose from, along with steaks, chicken, and pasta dishes. Before your dinner, you can choose from an appetizer sure to please your palette.
Baked oysters Rockefeller, fried alligator, and seared tuna are just a few of the tasty appetizers available. Seafood such as lobster, crab, and prawns are dinner selections, as well as steaks and fish offerings.
Can’t make up your mind? Choose from one of its combo platters to enjoy a variety of dishes. If you are a fish lover, you can’t go wrong with Fish House.
Hickory River Smokehouse
$$-$$$ | 309-683-1227 | WEBSITE
How about some good old Texas BBQ? Their beef brisket, ham, chicken, and ribs come with two sides and homemade sweet cornbread or Texas toast.
Not hungry enough for a full dinner? Try a bowl of their smokehouse chili and cornbread or smoked chicken wings. Their kids’ menu is also available for their senior customers.
The delicious BBQ meats are also available for take-out along with sides such as ranch beans, okra, garden salad, or sweet potato fries. If you love barbeque, this is the place to try!
Jim’s Steak House
$$$-$$$$ | 309-673-5300 | WEBSITE
In addition to a delicious meal, Jim’s Steak House is perfect for a night on the town. They have live music in the piano bar on Friday and Saturday nights. Their third-floor banquet room is perfect for rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings, or any private party.
In addition to steaks, they offer pasta, poultry, salads, seafood, and soups. Its beautiful old-world ambiance is the perfect setting to enjoy a delicious meal. The corn-fed beef of central Illinois is what makes Jim’s Steak House unrivaled at providing the finest steaks and prime rib in the area. Definitely worth trying.
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
$$ | 309-692-3887 | WEBSITE
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Providing old-fashioned service and hospitality along with a gourmet assortment of Italian dishes, you will satisfy your cravings here! They have an expert wine list and offer gluten-free dishes for those that prefer them.
All of the entrees are served with a house salad and freshly baked focaccia bread. Steaks, veal, and chicken along with traditional pasta dishes are some menu selections along with soups and entrée salads. Coffee desserts are available in addition to tiramisu, limoncello cake, crème brulèe, and others.
Khoury’s Cuisine
$-$$ | 309-685-3000 | WEBSITE
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This casual Mediterranean restaurant has a modern spin, serving traditional items such as gyros, falafels, and baklava. But also on the menu are items such as Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, wrap sandwiches, burgers, sub-sandwiches, salads, dessert choices, and selections for the kids.
This restaurant is family owned and has been serving delicious food for 27 years in the Peoria area. They can prepare any order for delivery or pickup. This is a great family restaurant with menu selections to suit everyone.
Logan’s Roadhouse
$$-$$$ | 309-698-3150 | WEBSITE
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Come as you are in your t-shirt and jeans and enjoy a great meal. The atmosphere is lively, the beer is cold, and the steaks are grilled over real mesquite wood.
They have a full menu featuring appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, pasta, seafood, chicken, and many Roadhouse classics. They have a lengthy kids’ menu and seasonal menu items when available.
If you would prefer to eat in the comfort of your own home, they have both delivery and pickup available for your convenience. Don’t forget dessert! Try a Mississippi brownie or a slice of classic New York-style cheesecake.
Longhorn Steakhouse
$$-$$$ | 309-693-5750 | WEBSITE
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Longhorn Steakhouse is dedicated to serving the very best steaks seasoned and prepared by their expert grill masters.
In addition to their delicious steaks, you will enjoy freshly baked bread, salads, seasonal side dishes, signature desserts, and ice-cold beer. Their mouth-watering steaks can be served in a combo meal with shrimp or lobster, or you can enjoy an entrée salad if you desire a little less.
Before your meal, try a bowl of French onion soup, or shrimp and lobster chowder. The kids have their own menu to choose from and a delectable dessert menu is available to tempt you.
Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe
$$ | 309-676-9668 | WEBSITE
This restaurant offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu options. Their food is homemade, New Orleans style, with beer and wine available. Live music is featured by local rotating artists.
They have pizza, salads, entrees, and special “RK” favorites. They have outdoor seating available, and curbside pickup if you prefer to eat in the comfort of your own home. This is the perfect date night restaurant with a youthful vibe and casual atmosphere.
Rizzi’s Italian Restaurant
$$-$$$ | 309-689-0025 | WEBSITE
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Rizzi’s has been an award-winning restaurant in the Peoria area for over two decades. It is a family-owned business, serving appetizers, soups, salads, chicken, veal, seafood, and an extensive selection of pasta dishes to choose from.
In addition, they serve pizza, calzones, and stromboli. You’ll find a casual atmosphere, with outside dining available when weather permits. They have a full-service bar and Rizzi’s Pans to Go for takeout. Another great Italian restaurant that is sure to please the entire family.
The Blue Duck Barbeque Tavern
$$ | 309-981-5801 | WEBSITE
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In addition to barbecue, they have house-smoked meats in a wide variety of appetizers, salads, soups, tacos, sandwiches, and rice bowls.
To accompany your meal, they offer draft beer from local microbreweries, a wide selection of imported and domestic craft bottled beer, quality wines, imported and domestic whiskeys in their full bar.
Located in the exciting RiverFront District, the restaurant has a contemporary interior with a 13-foot exposed metal beam ceiling, with dramatic wood spanning the majority of two interior walls.
A quality sound system, large flat-panel televisions, high-end lighting, and interesting artwork add to the energetic and fun vibe. A great date place!
The Smo-King Pit
$-$$ | 309-688-3606 | WEBSITE
They take pride in serving the highest quality ribs and BBQ to their customers. After the ribs and rib tips are hand rubbed with a special meat rub that they make themselves, they are then smoked for three hours, while the beef brisket and pork butts are cooked for ten hours.
This is another casual restaurant where a family can dine economically while still enjoying a delicious meal. The menu has a wide variety of items to please the entire family – they even have a special menu for the kids. Another great BBQ place!
Thyme Kitchen & Craft Beer
$$ | 309-713-2619 | WEBSITE
Thyme boasts a wide selection of 40 craft beers, hand-crafted cocktails, over 250 bourbons, and an extensive wine list. Their distinctive decor aims to provide the area with a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.
On Saturday and Sunday, they serve brunch from 10 am to 4 pm. They have appetizers, sandwiches, soup, salad, and dinners. The loft can seat up to 50 people and overlooks the entire restaurant. A perfect date place that can also be used for family gatherings, showers, business meetings, luncheons, or any other gathering.
Summary
If you are in the Peoria area, make sure you stop in at one of these great dining establishments. You will be glad you did. Bon Appetit!
Hayden has been a digital director for years. He has five years of experience editing and writing about food, restaurant, and recipe review content. At Birch Restaurant, he’s in charge of scouting, showing up unannounced in different restaurants, and writing a thorough food guide!
