Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night Filet Mignon starring this week’s host, Sky Harbor Steakhouse and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. And now, please welcome, all the way from West Peoria near Farmington Road, Sky Harbor Steakhouse!
We are off and roaring up Main Street at a howling pace of 27 MPH. Vroom and vroom and all of that jazz!
Here we are at tonight's Saturday dinner destination, Sky Harbor Steakhouse.
Let's go in and see what's happening on this wonderful Saturday evening.
I love the front room in here complete with the stone wall in the background.
Staying true to the name of Sky Harbor, there's photos and artwork of planes flying high in the sky in here.
This is a signed photo to Sky Harbor owner Daryl Klusendorf from Peoria native, Spanky McFarlane, who was the singer for the popular 60's band, Spanky And Our Gang.
Here's a picture of legendary Peoria Piano Man, Jimmy Binkley. Jimmy plays here every Wednesday and Saturday and it's always a treat to listen to him play.
As I step inside I see the classic dark bar and I think I spy a familiar face seated there...
It's none other than the aforementioned owner and gracious host of Sky Harbor, Daryl Klusendorf. Daryl told me to grab a seat and he'd have a drink with me at the bar, and so that's just what I did! Daryl told me that this Wednesday, Setpember 3rd is the 18th anniversary of Sky Harbor in this location on Park Road near Farmington Road in West Peoria. Happy early anniversary!
Here's my view from where I sit. Just like those pretzels on Seinfeld, this well-stocked bar is making me thirsty...
Luckily, bartender Russ is quick with a beer behind the bar. The thirst is quenched!
Let's go check out the action at the piano bar over there in the corner.
There he is, legendary Peoria Piano Man, Jimmy Binkley. Jimmy regularly performs here and at senior citizen homes in the area. He's a musical veteran who's performed with The Flamingos and Della Reese.
This is Don, who's a regular and is adding some vocals to Jimmy's piano playing.
There's comfortable banquettes lining the wall opposite the piano bar.
Colorful wall art and decorations hang above the banquettes like this cowboy hat and guitar spangled jacket that looks like it came out of Gram Parsons closet.
Pictured here is Daryl's aunt MIllie Kittleson with her band, Millie and the Saddle Pals. The band was inducted in the West Rock Country Hall of Fame and they've toured with Roy Acuff and appeared on the Grand Old Opry. She still performs occasionally and stops by Sky Harbor when she's in the area.
Here's Daryl's grandmother, Gerda Larson. Daryl told me she had a radio show on KSUM which broadcasts from Fairmont, Minnesota from 1946 until the late Eighties.
There's more blue leather banquettes along the wall here in the main dining room behind the bar.
A shot of the main dining room from the back of the building.
I love the back stone wall here, very retro and cool.
Meanwhile back at the bar, the Budweiser trolley is spinning and...
Dinner is served!
I started off with a house salad and it was crispy and tasty, wonderful rabbit food. Now on to the main course!
I got the petite filet mignon with grilled onions and mushrooms. It comes on a sizzling plate and it looks and smells fantastic.
For a side dish, I got the au gratin potatoes which are a signature side dish here at Sky Harbor.
You can read about this delicious dinner below in the review, but it was another knock your socks off meal at Sky Harbor!
Burp.
After dinner I thought we'd stroll out to the beer garden...
This is the only shot that turned out okay back here and minutes after I stepped back here, Sara, a waitress here at Sky Harbor came out an d said there were people inside who knew me. For a second I felt like jumping the fence fearing it was people I owed money or something, but in the end I decided to go in and face the music...
As I stepped inside I saw two familiar faces sitting on the right side of this banquette, Margie and Jim Jumer. Margie and I worked at Fleming Potter for years and it was great to see her and Jim and catch up after all of these years. To the left is Sara, the waitress who brought us all together and Margie and Jim's friend, Jerry Daughters.
I joined the group at the table and shortly after Jimmy and Daryl came over and joined the party. It was a wonderful night out at Sky Harbor and always great to see old friends in Peoria! We'll see you all tomorrow!
My Meal
I asked Sky Harbor host and owner Daryl Klusendorf for his choice of what kind of steak to order and he suggested the petite filet mignon. So that’s what I got and it was an excellent suggestion. The file comes out on a sizzling platter, wrapped in bacon and I got it topped with mushrooms and grilled onions. The steak was tender and the combination of the bacon, beef, mushrooms and grilled onions was a delicious smorgasbord of tastes. I also got a Sky Harbor signature side dish of the au gratin potatoes and they were a boat of creamy deliciousness. Another wonderful meal at Sky Harbor, I shall return!
SNF Rating
Four Galloping Gourmets—This is one of the best filet mignons in town. Stop by and try it for yourself!
Sky Harbor Steakhouse
1321 North Park Road
West Peoria
309-674-5532
Related Posts: SNC @ Rizzi’s On State, The Fish House and Kenny’s Westside Pub.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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Bonus Poem From Jerry Daughters
As I noted above, I ran into some old friends at this dinner, Margie and Jim Jumer. I also was introduced to a new friend, Jerry Daughters. It turns out that Jerry writes poetry and he gave me a copy of a poem I’d like to share with all of you. It’s called, “Moment In Time,” and it was inspired by the tragic events that happened on September 11, 2001. I was living in New York City at that time, so this poem really hits home. Thanks to Jerry for sharing it with all of us. Here it is.
A Moment In Time
Oh yes I can see by the dawn’s early light,
The death and destruction that was caused by the flights.
And yes I can hear the deadly roar,
As the unbelievable collapses floor by floor.
And yes I can smell the deadly mist,
That once was a landmark that no one could miss.
But what of this moment, this moment of time,
That will forever change all of mankind.
What can we do, where will it end,
With the loss of so many gone with the wind.
Oh, there will be speeches,
The tapping of the bell,
And yes the echo of the Taps
That we all know too well.
But at the dawn of every day,
I will forever be able to say,
“Oh yes I can see by the dawn’s early light,
The death and destruction that was caused by the flights.”
©Jerry Daughters
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