Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night, starring this week’s host, 2Chez with specail guest stars, Ian, Isaac, Kostandinos, Dustin and The Joe Runkle Party! And now, please welcome this week’s host, 2Chez!
2Chez is a restaurant I’ve been meaning to try out for a couple of years and tonight is finally the night. And look, we’re here! So let’s go in and see what’s happening on this Saturday evening.
Check out the bicycle flower pot! I like it in here already and we’re just in the outer foyer! Let’s head on inside!
I wanted to sit at the bar since I’m dining alone this evening, but right now it’s all filled up. It’s really a great looking bar and Ian an Isaac at the host station said I was welcome to hang out till a spot opened up. So let’s take a look around in here until that eventuality at the bar happens!
I love the back of the bar, very impressive! Over to the side of the bar is a nice and rustic wooden table that Ian told me you can reserve for a larger party in here. Ian also told me that the owner of 2Chez, Todd Hohulin made the table himself! Above the table is a collection of musical instruments and over in the corner is a wine shelf and another shelving unit displaying the large selection of craft and imported beers available here. All of these shelves and cases were also constructed by Todd. At the end of the bar is this fellow looming large from above!
Okay, a spot has opened up here at the end of the bar, so let’s snag a seat and get settled in for the evening!
Kostandinos is the manager/mixologist here at the bar and he told me that if you eat at the bar you have a choice of ordering from the small plates menu or the full dining menu. You can find out what I chose by scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. Dustin was also doing duty this evening behind the bar and I went ahead and placed my dinner order.
Here’s the view from my seat at the bar and I love the vintage typewriter tucked away in the corner down here. And oh deer, check out the fellow at this end of the bar, I think he’s staring at me, but I’m just going to let it go. There’s all kinds of fun knick-knacks and items all over in here including this antique time clock and look at the rotary phone! Nice to see that as opposed to everyone staring at a smart phone in here!
Hey, check it out, Dustin’s setting the table and it looks like it’s time for our weekly Saturday Night Dinner! I started off with the soup of the evening, Tomato Basil. It was so good, it had a nice smoky tomato flavor and was topped off with shavings of fresh cheese that melted in the soup and gave it a nice creamy texture. Dustin told me the soup and every dish is made fresh in the kitchen and prepared to order.
Here’s Dustin with tonight’s main course and it looks so good! I got the Filet in Blue, which is a ten ounce filet covered in a blue cheese cream sauce with spinach, tomato and bacon. And yes it tasted as good as it sounds! I’ve read where they pride themselves on their homemade sauces here at 2Chez and I can see why! The filet was so unique and tasty and it came with garlic mashed potatoes that accompanied the filet perfectly. This was such a rich and satisfying meal! I definitely need to come back and try out more of the selections from the menu. Now I’m wondering what took me so long to stop in here!
When I first came in the dining room was really crowded, so I thought I’d wait till the end of the night to get some shots of it after it had cleared out somewhat. As I entered the dining room, I saw a familiar face and it was Joe Runkle, an old friend of mine from high school I haven’t seen in years! That’s Joe, second from left with his friends. I left my notepad at the bar, so I didn’t write their names down, so we’ll just refer to them as The Joe Runkle Party! Great to see Joe and meet his friends and catch up on things!
This is the dining room and I really like the atmosphere in here. It’s nicely lit, but not too bright which is just the way i like it. I also love all the pictures on the walls. Ian told me it’s a mix of family photos and other pictures they’ve accumulated through the years. Very nice!
Here’s a shot from the back of the dining room.
Meanwhile, back at the bar, Kostandinos showed me his version of the Moscow Mule he just whipped up. In addition to freshly cooked, made to order meals, Kostandinos and 2Chez have a large selection of specialty cocktails he makes up behind the bar from scratch. This was really a wonderful night at 2Chez and I’m definitely looking forward to a return visit! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
I started my meal off with a bowl of the soup of the evening, the Tomato Basil and it was such a nice way to start the dinner off! The soup had a nice tomato flavor, but not too overpowering. I tasted a little bit of smokiness in it and there was fresh shavings of cheese on top and as it melted it really made the soup creamy and rich. Dustin told me that the soups change nightly and they’re always made from scratch in the kitchen.
For the main course I ordered the Filet in Blue and it was so good! When it arrived the steak was completely covered in a decadent and rich blue cheese cream sauce that also incorporated spinach, tomato and bacon! Once I cut into the filet it was cooked perfectly and so tender and delicious! The blue cheese cream sauce really gave the filet a unique and rich flavor. The filet came with garlic mashed potatoes and they were freshly mashed with some of the skin in the mash and it gave the spuds a nice rustic and bold flavor. This was a wonderful and delicious dinner!
SN Rating
Three and a half Galloping Gourmets—If you want to try a filet that’s unlike any other here in Peoria, stop out at 2Chez and try out the Filet in Blue! There’s a lot of other tasty entrees and appetizers on the menu and they’re also open for lunch, so maybe I’ll stop back here for an afternoon treat soon!
2Chez
7815 N Knoxville Avenue
Peoria
309-691-2224
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