I’ve tried to find unusual places for steak on this tour, like last week’s meaty journey to Novu Sushi, but I also want to hit all of the classic Peoria steakhouses in town as well. And today we’re visiting not only a classic P-town steakhouse, it’s also the oldest steakhouse in Peoria and those of you in the know realize I’m talking about the Lariat Steakhouse! This place has been in the same location since the 1940’s and in 1970 the Kouri family bought the business and they’ve been running it ever since! It’s now managed and operated by Dan Kouri and his brother Kenny and they serve up some of the best steaks in Peoria! So let’s go and try one...oh and we have a special guest star this week...
My dad, Jerry! He’s driving on this winter evening and we’ll be there in about two seconds. One...
Two! See I told you so, here we are at the legendary Lariat Steakhouse! And check it out, they put our names on the sign in honor of our 17th week of steak. Wouldn’t you have thought that they would’ve put my name first? It is my blog after all, but hey, who cares? But I am the one giving them the free publicity, but I’m just going to let it go...but it’s not my dad who has to work this whole post up! Okay, enough of obsessing over this, it’s freezing out here, let’s get inside! I let my dad go in first, after all he got top billing, not me! Okay, I’m letting it go!
There’s Kenny Kouri at the host station greeting us! He led us into the darkest dining room in Peoria! I love it in here and there’s the booth we chose to sit at. There’s my dad, smiling and happy with his top billing on the sign. Okay, that’s all about that, I’m officially letting it go!
Our pretty waitress is Susie and she’s been featured on the blog in the past. She took our orders and while dinner is being prepared, I’m going to take a little look around in here.
There’s the place I sit at when I dine alone in here, the bar! It’s certainly colorful and there’s the half dozen beers on tap. The last shot is Matt the bartender in action! He pours a mean drink!
Here’s a shot of the dark and wooden dining room and in the back is a stoned fireplace. It gets fed a box of Twinkies on the hour.
This is the dining room in the back and I love the waiter painting on the back wall!
Meanwhile back at our booth the salads have arrived along with a loaf of freshly baked bread! A nice start to our meal!
The main courses have arrived and Susie took a couple pictures of the two of us digging in!
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! My dad got the baked chicken dinner and it looks delicious!
Here’s the star of this week’s steak dinner, a T-bone steak! I haven’t had a T-bone steak yet on the tour and I thought this would be the perfect place to sample one and it looks like I made the right decision! I also got a side order of wild rice and their sauteed mushrooms which are simmered in a light wine and butter sauce. What a feast!
The steak is huge and it’s prepared perfectly! It’s seared on the outside and juicy and tender inside. The best is to add a mushroom to the mix! This is a fabulous steak dinner!
Sheesh!
Steak Rating
Four Elsie the Cows—The Lariat is a classic Peoria steakhouse that’s been in business for decades because they know how to cook up a tasty and delicious steak!
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2232 West Glen Avenue
Peoria
309-691-4731
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Related Posts: Seven Months of Steak @ Novu Sushi, Donnelly’s Irish Pub, Noir Tapas And Rendezvous Lounge, Big Art’s Yokel, The MBIP World Headquarters, Jim’s Bistro, Publik House, Thanh Linh, Willie’s Tamale Cart, Hearth Restaurant, Los Jimadores, Jim’s Steakhouse, Mona’s Italian Restaurant, The Packinghouse Dining Company, Fresco and The Fish House.