Live from West Peoria, it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger starring this week’s host, Sky Harbor Steak House and featuring The Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. And now, from deep in the heart of FRED, please welcome this week’s host, Sky Harbor Steak House!
And we’re off headed towards FRED, where people come to eat, drink and play in West Peoria!
We’ve landed at Sky Harbor, safe and sound.
It’s still too cold for the back patio too be open, but the bar is open and that’s great news...
Let’s go inside and let this edition of Saturday Night Cheeseburger begin!
In addition to serving up fantastic food, Sky Harbor has live music at their piano bar with legendary Jimmy Binkley ticking the ivories on Wednesday and Saturday nights and the last Thursday of every month features their, “Pickin’ On” concert series with local musicians “Pickin’ On” a certain musical group or performer. This month features Al and Diane Peacock “Pickin’ On” the music of Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles, Thursday, March 27th starting at 7PM.
Okay, let’s head on in and see what’s shaking tonight at Sky Harbor.
There’s bar, bathed in a nice shade of darkness, I love it in here!
And here’s the host and owner of Sky Harbor, Daryl Klusendorf. Daryl said things were a little tight over the winter with the horrible weather we had, but things are picking up now. Stop on by and show this place some love, people!
Bartender Russ is quick on the draw with a cold bottle of Budweiser! Things are definitely on a roll now!
Mike was seated nearby at the bar and he came all the way from Chicago to volunteer for a couple days in Washington to help out with the tornado damage there. Nice! He gave me his business card and I lost it in my travels, if you’re out there Mike, email me your information and I’ll put up a link here.
Here’s Will, who’s the chef here at Sky Harbor, I placed my order and Will went back to prepare it. In the meantime we’ll take a look around in here.
They have a Budweiser trolley that hovers over the end of the bar.
Blue leather Banquettes line the far wall over here giving the place a retro and modern kitschy feel all at the same time.
I love the stone wall amd the vintage player-piano in the back of Sky Harbor.
Let’s go check out the piano bar in the corner over here...
Here’s Don, who’s a regular belting out a tune...
While legendary Peoria piano man Jimmy Binkley tickles the ivories.
Always a treat to see Jimmy and if you stop in at Sky Harbor on a Wednesday or Saturday night, the odds are you’ll not only see him, but get to hear his entertaining piano playing.
Meanwhile, back at the bar it looks like dinner is just about to start happening!
I started off the dinner with an appetizer of Jack Cheese Mushrooms. The mushrooms have been marinated in a wine sauce, then cooked in butter and covered in melted Jack Cheese...
Here Daryl captured a shot of me shoveling them down. They are so good!
Next I had a palette cleansing salad before the main course...
Ribs! And not just any ribs, these are award-winning slabs covered in a mind-blowing sauce that Daryl’s Dad concocted back in the day.
The meat falls off the bone, it’s so tender and juicy, great ribs!
And I had to get the au gratin potatoes, yet another signature dish at Sky Harbor.
Burp! Time for dessert...
I’d been watching bartender Russ mix up ice cream drinks all night and decided I’d try one myself for dessert.
I ordered up a Brandy Alexander and it’s made with fresh ice cream and some shots of brandy...
Then Russ blends the concoction together...
And here it is in all its chilly and frothy glory!
Just a few finishing touches...
And Russ serves the drink up.
Very impressive looking!
Cheers and we’ll see you all tomorrow!
My Meal
Sky Harbor is a steak house, but in my last two visits to this iconic Peoria restaurant I’ve had a cheeseburger and a tenderloin. So it only makes sense that on this journey I tried yet another non-steak item on the menu, Sky Harbor’s ribs. I got a half rack of the ribs and the tender and succulent meat literally falls off the bone. They’re served Kansas City style with a healthy dollop of their homemade sauce slathered on top. The sauce is a family secret and it’s a delicious blend of just a little heat and a little sweet baked into these savory and tasty ribs. It’s no wonder these ribs won two years in a row at Peoria’s Rib Fest.
I got a side order of their au gratin potatoes which are a signature dish at the restaurant and they’re really creamy and cheesy. The potatoes are sliced thinly and this gives the dish a great texture. In addition to great dinners, Sky Harbor is also known for their signature ice cream after dinner drinks so I tried the Brandy Alexander and it did not disappoint. I will be back and next time I’m getting a steak!
SNC Rating
Three and a half Galloping Gourmets—if you want to try some of the best ribs in Peoria and beyond, go get a rack at Sky Harbor and if you have room, top it off with one of their Brandy Alexanders.
Sky Harbor Steakhouse
1321 North Park Road
West Peoria
309-674-5532
Related Posts: SNC @ Agatucci’s, Ulrich’s Rebellion Room and Castle’s Patio Inn.