Restaurants in East Peoria

“Everything about this place was phenomenal. I am not from this area and came here because of the good reviews. They were not kidding!
Fresh squeezed orange juice: check. Fluffy (not gluey) biscuits and gravy: check. I'm going to run out of room here, so just believe me when I say everything was amazing. And if you are a coffee drinker, don't skip it! Thank you to Leah who was attentive and sweet! *And no, this is not a paid ad, I just really liked it here! *”

“A party of 13 of us met at Smokin’ Notes BBQ this evening. It was clean, the server was EXCELLENT and the food was top notch! I had the pulled pork and rib tips with macaroni and cheese The flavor was amazing and the pulled pork was so tender. We got onion rings as an appetizer and they were the best large sliced onion rings ever and the crispy batter was YUM! I would highly recommend and we will be back. Thanks for a delicious meal!”

“We ordered online last night. Our order was ready for pick up on time, the food was hot and delicious! This is a great option for those concerned about wait times to be seated, etc. Thanks so much, Dac's!! We will definitely be ordering again!!”

“Their offerings redefines taco expectations. Most places offer nondescript and predictable simple tacos. These are unique blends of flavors and generous portions. It’s a 15 mile trip for our family but one we happily make. It’s a destination until itself. I highly recommend it!”

“Our first time in and it was great!! I was in a breakfast mood so I got the lumberjack breakfast : cinnamon roll French toast, 2 eggs over medium, hash browns, sausage and bacon! we also tried the biscuits and gravy which were great and the biscuits were really fluffy! He got the bacon cheeseburger with fries and we also had a chicken quesadilla for an appetizer! Generous portions, food came out promptly and everyone was really nice! We can't wait to go back!”

“Have you been looking for a great burger and fries? Look no further. Best I’ve ever had!”

“Absolutely some of the best fried chicken in the area. Either side of the river. The wait staff is great as is the salad bar.”

“Came in tonight after a concert. Great time with Ro our Bartender who made us a late night pizza after the kitchen closed. Great service and will be back! Great pizza and cold beer!”

“Food was yummy! Didn't leave a morsel! Service gal was very caring and prompt. What a pleasant experience on a chilly blustery day!”

“Hot food cold salad bar and great service and may seats have TVs”

“Friendliness of staff. Also very helpful to a lady with a cane because of a hip replacement. But….your doors are very heavy and awkward for someone in my condition!!!”

“One of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. I've been there many times.”

“The best tacos in East Peoria.”

“Was recently at the Oyster Bar to celebrate my moving OUT of Illinois to the gulf coast of Mississippi. Service was great. Food was great. It was rather warm inside the bar. We were fanning ourselves and it wasn’t hot that day. Temp was only 84 outside. Oysters and drinks were fantastic. Felt the ceviche could have used a little less jalapeño peppers. They overpowered the other ingredients and that was all we tasted. Still had a great time!! My bill was money well spent!!”

“This is now one of our favorite places to visit. We have tried several things on the menu & everything was fresh & delicious. The staff is always friendly.”

“From seeing all of the negative reviews it took me a long time to purchase a cookie. And my review is the ones that I have tried have been delicious and the size is well worth the money. I will be coming back again.”

“Best place around the area for food and ice cream everyone is so kind and nice”

“Typical authentic Mexican restaurant. Very good food and great service. Lived here for 10 years and never knew about this place. Been looking for a New Mexican restaurant to try and nobody told me about this one til 2 weeks ago. Will go back again for sure.”

“A Shout-Out to Courtney at Childers Eatery My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at Childers Eatery, 3312 N. University St., Peoria. We shared omelets with hashbrowns—fluffy omelets with flavorful fillings and crispy hashbrowns. Courtney’s warm, attentive service was the standout. She made excellent menu recommendations, and her Tea Steeper for my wife’s tea was both charming and functional. We loved it so much we bought two. The atmosphere felt welcoming and cozy, reflecting genuine hospitality. We left full, happy, and already eager to return. Thank you, Courtney!”

“We love coming here. Great service, really good food, and friendly staff. Their burgers and fries are way better than McDonald's and Burger King. So are the chili cheese fries.”

“Not only is their food amazing and fast. The staff is amazing. We went today (me my husband and youngest son) after my son had a procedure to get tubes in. They where super genuine about how he was doing. The gentleman who works there (I didn’t catch his name) was such a sweetheart. He came up to talk to us and ask about my son. He also gave him a stuffie. Which made my son smile for the first time after his procedure. THANK YOU FOR THAT! The little gesture was greatly appreciated!”

“I no longer even live in Illinois. But I always make it a point to go to a Michael's and get some subs, garlic bread, and some of their amazing cinnamon bread. You just don't find the bread density and sweetness anywhere else. That combined with pretty decent ingredients. Makes for something that I always seek every single time I make my way into Illinois again. Good deals and decent prices also definitely help. Everybody also loves their bucket of spaghetti which always comes out great and is always a good staple whenever we order the family feasts”

“some of the nicest ppl go here”

“This was my first time here but it will not be my last. The crab legs, shrimp are all cooked in a bag filled with herbs and spices leaving you with a delightful meal full of flavor. We had very attentive service, the restaurant was clean, observed COVID safety precautions, and the food was delicious.”

“Sarah was an absolute sweetheart! I'll definitely be back to see her 💚”

“friendly bar and fun people”

“It’s been years since I’ve been here and it’s still a cute place to dine for lunch. I love the atmosphere! Monica gives great service and has wonderful lunch options.”

“Gentleman (perhaps owner) is super friendly.
Fun to talk Football while he prepped the food.
Will be back, had the Chicken Pita and liked it a lot.”

“I don't really ever come to Taco John's but we stopped by for the first time in a long time tonight. I think the last time I was here was before it even got remodeled which was quite a while ago. The remodel is nice, there's a lot more seating now and the decor has definitely gotten an upgrade. The kitchen is pretty small but it seems like it gets the job done.
My least favorite thing was whatever those little donuts were with icing. They kinda tasted like a mixture of chemicals and wax. My favorite thing about today's visit was the strawberry lemonade, make sure you going to get a glass because it was great!”

“Nice local joint. The server was excellent, sadly I can't recall her name. I had the specialty, a deluxe gondola sandwich. It was good, but I don't see what all the fuss is about. I got mine toasted which in my opinion made it better. The toasted raviolis were very good as was the marinara sauce that came with.”

“Best Chinese food around. Family run business that works hard to put out a great product. Always hot and always good! Garlic chicken is awesome...but I get garlic breath for days! Lol. Worth it!”

“Great service and food always friendly staff”

“Need better Management that doesn't drink or do drugs. I wouldn't recommend going in there with family or children or ordering anything off the menu.The day shift kitchen staff isn't good as they claim.The service is very slow and the food isn't all that great neither.There management isn't very friendly and unpleasant and racist as well.”

“Great food, delivered by great people. Always an enjoyable experience.”

“I was very impressed!!! I really enjoyed the privacy curtains. The food was very good cooked perfectly! the service was perfect as well very polite and checked in frequently to be sure everything was good and we had everything we needed. I will be back and recommend to all my friends! If I had 1 complaint I guess I'd say the prices but in reality you get what you pay for all around here. It's worth it to me! I do not recommend this as a restaurant for kids. ☆☆☆☆☆”

“Very good boba drinks and fast service”

“My husband and I stopped in before a Richrath Project 3:13 concert in June. We knew it had been Gary Richrath's local stop. Lots of memorabilia. Enjoyed our chats with Kim and the local patrons. We will be sure to stop in again the next time we come through East Peoria. P. S. Jaymi loved the hot sauce.”

“no, no, no. N. O. NO no, no, please God no just look at all of the fake reviews that are all talking about whatever forex is! obviously don't eat here, if they have to pay for tons of fake reviews to flood their reviews page then they are probably trying to hide the real reviews... and I would have to say a hard no to whatever forex is that the fake reviews are plugging... the owner was a sloppy drunk at the barge and she treated her employees horribly, very unprofessional, it's been a long time since I went there but it use to flood and she would stay open, no power but the gas still worked so even with inches of water throughout the place she kept on cracking that whip at her staff to keep the burgers coming”

“ordered a 32 piece and were not disappointed! got Nashville hot and santa fe. Nashville wasn't very hot but still tasty. wings were great size and cooked perfectly. so juicy. fries also good. just needed a tad more seasoning. 8 out of 10 will order again!”

“My 8 year old son wanted pizza and ice-cream so we visited Hucks establishment. The service with the lady in the kitchen was one of a kind. She was patient and willing. She didn't have an attitude and she helped us get what we wanted. As the pizza was approaching to be ready, the lady in the kitchen found me over the counter to ask which pizza I wanted and how I wanted it presented. With an awesome smile, she handed us our pizza and we went on our way to get ice-cream and leave. The attendant at the counter was also helpful with checking us out. We had a great experience. Thank you.”

“Went to a local tavern for some drinks and slots. I found brotherhood in camaraderie that beats all. It really struck me when one of the regulars it had a little too much so they had one of the other regulars give him a ride home. They really look out for each other there. It was extremely uplifting to know that people still care about each other. I arrive a little too late for food but the drinks were great and 3 machines hit heavy. As far as my holiday weekend a celebration occurred.

thank you to the owners for such Open arms to a new patron in a special thanks to the bartender for making sure people got home safely!!”

“I had tried the Italian beef sandwich it's was amazing.

Parking: Parking lot is very big

Kid-friendliness: It is a bar if it is also family-oriented.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes there is wheelchair access”

“Literally just left there & When I Tell Y’all Hailey In The Drive Through Did So Well That I’m Typing This And Haven’t Even Made It Home Yet ! I was a bit difficult I know because I do not eat here at all so I had so many questions and was changing my order etc ( not purposely being annoying ) but I just wasn’t sure , even tho they were busy not once did she get frustrated with me she was so nice and sweet about it and answered all my questions , even getting to the window she greeted me with the most beautiful smile and welcoming vibe I felt so valued as a customer because of her and my food is hot fresh and amazing for ! This was an excellent 1st experience for me and I don’t even live this way but I will drive 20 minuets just to come eat here again because of her service !! She’s so amazing I’m young myself & it’s hard finding people who genuinely care and it’s makes the company look so nice 🫶🏿”

“Service with a smile. I love a good hot sandwich. Mama's Meatball sandwich is great. They are halved so they don't roll off the bun. Try Potbelly. You might end up with a potbelly but you will eat well in the process.”

“They always have a great variety of items, plus reasonably prices. Great line of clothing also offered. Love the baked bread!! Thank you for keeping egg prices down!!”

“I love the fresh food at Lou's, and also I love how quickly they got my meal to me. They make their own root beer, and it's delicious!”

“No seating. Attempted to give my order to the wait staff, (who I will note wore impeccable whitetail deer outfits, had me fooled at first), but they ran off and we never saw them again.Naming is a little off, no coconuts in central IL. Like to support the local business so I’ll give them a 5 this time.”

“All I want & love is the fish & chicken. Good clean place - your standard long John silvers. The staff were friendly & helpful. Will definitely visit again when in the area.”

“Another great carryout meal. Thanks guys!!!”

“The service was excellent and server was great and very friendly! area for sitting was well kept up, 5 stars”

“Good variety of prepared dishes and trays. Cakes and doughnuts always fresh. If you don't see something you like they will make to order whatever you desire given enough lead time. Small and large quantities available.”

“They have an awesome staff and support local charities”

“Was very disappointed this time we waited a half an hour to get waited on then it took over an hour for a hamburger and fries and two orders of bacon wrapped poppers and another sandwich. I ordered my second drink and an hour later I finally got it. The couple that we were with come here all the time and they were very upset said they would never come back on a weekend. We have been here before and the food was great in the service was great this time not so much. Also our food all came out cold didn't say anything to the waitress because we are afraid to be another hour before we got our lunch.”

“One of the best pizzas I've had. try the fresh fried mushrooms too.”

“We ordered chicken for a family gathering and it was excellent! Order was ready when we arrived and the service was prompt and efficient. We’ll definitely order again. Thank you!”

“Food is always good and items are built with your choices of ingredients. Guac and queso are extra so item price can increase quickly. Make sure you ask for more chips if needed as I never have 1/2 enough in first bag. Staff were friendly and you get a welcome when entering.”

“Food was good and staff were friendly. The dining area was a mess and needed a vacuum or sweep, messy drunk area especially underneath the counter. Always seem to be out of the right sandwich bread even though there were loaves in the case? Maybe that's just display...”

“Incredible pizza. Never had anything like it. Ordered it to go.”

“Good service and great food!”

“It's been awhile since I've been in this subway it looks like they had gotten a nice remodel. I noticed that it was very clean and the veggies were neatly stocked and fresh. The young man working provided great customer service. Sandwichs were good and tasted very fresh.”

“Shout out to Mike for helping us find my daughters AirPods. We called to report them being left behind or possibly falling out in the parking lot. When we arrived back at the restaurant this man was walking around the parking lot with a flashlight looking under cars & advised he checked with staff & at our table. Thankfully the AirPods were found (in my purse 🤦🏼‍♀️) but this man went above & beyond to ensure they were appropriately searched for when he could have just said “we’ll let you know if they come up” and left it at that. We are so grateful for this service! Also our food was great & our waitress was awesome!”

“Best boneless wings in Central Illinois!!”

“Fajitas Meal Deals 10/10!”

“Our waitress was exceptional... friendly, attentive, helpful with menu suggestions. She added utensils and paper products to take with our leftovers so we could enjoy later in our hotel room. The food was very good, nice presentation. Pretzel rolls with maple butter were a nice addition .”

“So much better than Steak 'n Shake well now that Steak 'n Shake has no staff. Till Steak 'n Shake brings back a wait staff this is pretty much the same food but hot , fresh and cheaper, will just go to Freddy's!”