Kenny’s Westside Pub had a good run on Farmington Road, but they’ve moved downtown and are having continued success at the new location and a brand new bar has popped up in the space it used to occupy. This new bar is called Shelton’s and so far it’s gotten really good reviews from patrons on facecrack and MBIP pal Phil Luciano just gave them a rave review in his PJ Star Dining Out feature this week. One thing Phil didn’t try though is their chili and according to their menu they feature it beanless! Beanless chili? Just like The Eagles, I’m already gone!
Here we are at the newest bar on Farmington Road, Shelton’s. The bar is named after Bernie Shelton who was famously gunned down and killed outside of this tavern when it was called The Parkway Tavern decades ago. Let’s go in and start our Thursday evening. Actually to be true, it’s late afternoon, there’s an event happening here later this evening and I heard it might get crowded, so I came early to get in my MBIP photos before the crowd arrives.
It looks nice in here and I grabbed a seat there at the end of the bar. Trish is the pretty and friendly bartender on duty and she’s quick with an ice cold bottle of beer! I like it in here already!
As you can see, they have an extensive menu in here and this is just one side of it! Lots of selections but I want to try the Cincinnati Chili. I’ve heard about this style of chili but I’ve never tried it. I don’t think it’s available anywhere else in town and I love that you can get it without beans, the way chili should be served! Of course if you do want beans in it, you can order it that way, but you’re an asshole if you do! True chili should be served beanless, but I’m not going to obsess over that now...whoops, looks like I already have, sorry about that!
There’s Trish heading back to the kitchen with my order and I met Julie and Jeremy who were sitting next to me at the bar. Julie is a bartender at Bellevue Tap where we had sandwich number 29 back in December. Jeremy works at Walters Brothers, where I did a post back in 2014. Great to meet and chat with both of them!
The bar is the same one that was here when it was Kenny’s Westside Pub, but it’s decorated differently and they have an impressive ten beers on tap.
There’s a dining area opposite the bar with wooden tables and chairs. The wall is also wooden and decorated with signs and two nods to Bernie Shelton, his name in giant letters and a huge portrait of him as well. There’s also a newspaper article about the infamous history of this location and I love the headline: “Peoria’s past: A guzzling, gambling, girly-girly whirl.”
On the other side of the bar are more tables and booths line the wooden wall in here. I love the corrugated tin ceiling and I think we should head back to the bar because I think...
It’s time to eat! That’s the co-owner and manager, Matt Weaver with Trish. Matt brought me out a sample portion of one of their signature items on the menu, Chicken Fingers. And these aren’t your average, everyday chicken fingers, they’re made from a Baton Rouge recipe and served with a housemade “Tyler’s Sauce.” They are so good! The breading is light and crispy and the chicken is really juicy and succulent. Matt told me that people have gone crazy for this Tyler’s Sauce and it adds a nice spicy zing to the chicken. Really delicious! And of course I love the black and white Cheap Trick presentation!
And now the moment I’ve been waiting for, the Cincinnati Chili! I love the little skillet it’s served in! I got the supreme version with cheese and onions (they should name it The Rutles version!) This is some of the best chili I’ve ever had! It’s got a really nice savory flavor but there’s just a hint of sweetness that comes through, almost as an after taste. The ground beef is plentiful and ground fine in the chili and it’s seasoned nicely. I love it and if you like chili, you definitely need to try this out! And of course, order it beanless! I mean you can order it with beans, but then you’re just going to make an asshole out of yourself, so order it beanless and enjoy this taste treat!
After the chili, Matt brought me out a half an order of their Bananas Foster dessert. Yeah, this is a half order! It’s bananas served with vanilla ice cream and covered in a brown sugar, butter rum sauce. This was so delicious and decadently sweet...and there was no beans in it either! Delicious!
Okay, remember that event I mentioned at the start of this post, well it’s about to happen! Tonight Shelton’s is host for the 93.3 Drive Holler Ana Swaller Tour! 93.3 radio personality, Mike “Stech” Stechman is the host for this event and that's him on the left with Jackie in the middle and Alpha Media Sales Associate, Tom Cunningham on the end. John and Jaime are behind the prize table and it’s just about time to give out one of their many prizes for the evening.
There’s Stech in action and Carol was the lucky winner for this spin on the prize wheel!
As you can see, they had a great turnout for this event and there’s a big crowd at the bar. But I managed to squeeze in and get one of their specialty Bill’s lemonade vodka shake-ups from Trish! Thanks to Matt and Trish and everyone at Shelton’s for the tasty food and fun evening! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
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2016 W. Farmington Road
Peoria
309-981-5635
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Related Posts: Thursday Night @ Pour Bros. Taproom, Cobber’s Corner and Roxy’s Lanes and Day-Drinking @ Eastport Deck Bar & Grill.