Week 6: 🍽️ Top 6 Fancy Restaurants in Peoria You NEED to Try! ✨

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🌟 Rating Fancy Restaurants in Peoria! 🍽️✨

For this week's blog, I wanted to rate some of the best fancy restaurants around Peoria! If you're from here, you probably know most of these spots, but if not, here are my Top 6 restaurants you should definitely try sometime.

Let’s get started! 🎉

🏆 Top 6 Fancy Restaurants in Peoria

1️⃣ Saffron Social
2️⃣ Blue Duck Tavern
3️⃣ 21 Bar Lounge
4️⃣ Connected
5️⃣ Alexander’s Steakhouse
6️⃣ Jim’s Steakhouse

🥩 Jim’s Steakhouse (#6)

📍 Location: Downtown Peoria

I love the aesthetic of this restaurant! I usually come here for my birthday or other special occasions. The ambiance is warm and elegant, and when I visited during winter, they had live music, which gave off cozy Christmas vibes. 🎶✨

The food? Phenomenal.
The price? Expensive (well, duh, it’s fancy!).

But honestly, all the restaurants on this list are on the pricier side—it’s about the experience!

🔥 Alexander’s Steakhouse (#5)

📍 Location: Peoria

As a steak lover, I had to include this spot! What makes Alexander’s unique is that you can customize and cook your own steak 🥩🔥. Not many restaurants offer this, and I love that it creates an interactive experience for families and friends. It’s perfect for a fun night out with good food and great company.

✨ Connected (#4)

📍 Location: Peoria

I first visited Connected on my 18th birthday, and wow, what an experience! A friend recommended this place and even gave me a gift card—best decision ever. The restaurant feels magical ✨, with a romantic, elegant atmosphere.

The service? Impeccable! They even place the napkin on your lap for you. The view? Stunning. The bathroom? Yes, even that was picture-perfect! 📸

I’d highly recommend Connected for special occasions, especially date nights. 💕

🍸 21 Bar Lounge (#3)

📍 Location: Peoria Heights

My first time visiting 21 Bar Lounge was actually to study (lol, not the best idea). But I quickly realized it’s more of a chill, upscale lounge with a great rooftop view overlooking Peoria Heights. 🌆🔥

One of the highlights? The fireplace on the rooftop—such a cozy and aesthetic spot. I later returned to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and the overall vibe made it a memorable experience!

If you love rooftop lounges with a nice atmosphere, this is a must-visit.

🍖 Blue Duck Tavern (#2)

📍 Location: Downtown Peoria (by the Riverfront Museum)

This place is SPECTACULAR! 🤩 If you love BBQ, ribs, brisket, turkey, or pulled pork, you HAVE to check out Blue Duck Tavern. I’ve been here 10+ times, and it never disappoints.

🌮 Must-try items:
✅ Pulled pork sandwiches
✅ Fried pickles
✅ Asian tacos

The best part? The view! You can watch the train pass by while dining, and right in front of the restaurant is the Riverfront Museum, with Martinis next door—making it a perfect spot for a date night. 💖

🍷 Saffron Social (#1)

📍 Location: Downtown Peoria

This restaurant is BREATHTAKING. 😍 The ambiance, the food, the service—it’s top-tier. What I love most is that they offer a variety of cultural dishes, giving you plenty of options to satisfy your cravings.

✨ Must-try item: The French Onion Gratinee 🧅🍟
I know, I know—it’s just a side dish, but trust me, the special sauce they use is addicting. I almost asked the staff for their secret ingredient, but I knew they wouldn’t tell me. 😂

The atmosphere makes you feel like a CEO of a big corporation the moment you walk in. 💼💰 It’s a great spot for date nights, fancy dinners, or even business meetings (which I plan to do soon!).

Oh, and fun fact—I got lucky because my manager took us here for a work dinner for free! 😆

💬 What about you?

What’s a fancy restaurant in Peoria that you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️💖





Comments

  1. Tia B.March 5, 2025 at 10:49 AM

    This is such a great roundup of Peoria’s fancy dining spots! I’ve been to Connected and 12 Bar Lounge before, and I totally agree—they both have such a great atmosphere. Connected really does feel magical, and the attention to detail is next level. 12 Bar Lounge’s rooftop is such a vibe, especially with the fireplace! Now I’m curious to try Saffron Social—your description makes it sound like a must-visit.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chris LeCroneMarch 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM

    Since Saffron has opened, I have spent way too much money there. It is my favorite dinner spot for dates and business meetings. Also, you need to try Black Band Distillery. I have done some work with them and host meetings there as well. It is a super nice spot with a changing menu I consider it "fancy".

    ReplyDelete

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