Well, it’s been about two months since our last chicken post and that was a part of the mini chicken and waffles tour that I had started and it took place at Obed & Isaac’s Microbrewery and Eatery in downtown Peoria. Click here to refresh your memory. So we have a three way chicken and waffles tie between Obed and Issac’s, Childers and EatandEvolve.
Several people have told me that The 50’s Diner in the Metro Centre has a delicious chicken and waffles entree and it’s been a while since we’ve stopped in there, so I think it’s time for a return visit for round four of our mini chicken and waffles tour within the 13 Months of Chicken tour. Let’s get the cluck over there!
Here we are at The 50’s Diner, as you can see from the cars out front, it looks like they’re pretty crowded this afternoon. As I started in through the door I ran smack-dab into Bob Gordon and his son Paul! Bob is a frequent guest on MBIP and the owner of ACME Comics. I asked Paul if he was going to take the store over and he said that he might, so stay tuned to see if Paul wrestles the store away from his dad in the future! Great to see both of them!
I spied a familiar face behind the hostess station and it’s the owner of The 50’s Diner, Tammy Senti! Wonderful to see her and catch up and she said business has been great! As the bottom picture shows, the place is jammed and she said it would just be a few minutes wait for a booth. That’s fine, because we can roam a little bit with the MBIP Camera and take some photos in here.
In addition to being one of the few official diners in the area, they also have a fun gift shop opposite the dining area. Let’s take a little walk through this gifted area!
They have cards, souvenirs, knick-knacks, sweatshirts, Peoria t-shirts and a whole section devoted to vintage candy like Turkish Taffy and Black Cow bars. Uh, oh...Steely Dan induced flashback!
After I took that last shot, Tammy led me to a booth that had opened up, but there was a mystery man already there studying the menu...hey, it’s Terry Grawey, the first guest star of this afternoon! Terry is Peoria’s only Hypnohumorist and you can check out his website for upcoming shows and events.
Terry shared some exciting news with me, but for right now it’s a secret that will be revealed in July! All I can say is that Terry is going to join a club in Peoria of people that have appeared on national TV shows. And that club includes Yours Fooly... of course I’ve been on international TV too, but who’s counting, this is about Terry, not me! Well, it’s my blog so of course it’s a little about me, but stay tuned for Terry Grawey national TV news coming soon!
Our pretty waitress Terri took our lunch order and that was my cue to abandon Terry at the booth and get some more photos of The 50’s Diner while our orders are being prepared.
In addition to booths and tables, there’s a large, marble-topped counter to sit and dine at and I saw two familiar faces at the end of the counter. It’s Melissa and Kelly, who I’ve taken photos of in past MBIP posts and they posed with the King doing a little Jailhouse Rock move on the wall!
Marilyn Monroe is sandwiched in between two classic cars on the far wall that’s lined with booths. There’s more booths opposite the dining counter for your dining pleasure.
There’s lots of pop art in here with posters and Elvis art along with another Marilyn poster, Audrey Hepburn, John Wayne and The Blues Brothers. I love the vintage jukebox over in this corner of the diner!
Meanwhile, back at the booth, we’re joined by another guest star, the one and only Jim Borho! This was a surprise and it was great to see Jim again! Terry, Jim and I all went to Bergan High School together, so this afternoon was a fun reunion!
As soon as I sat down, lunch was served! Terry got a cup of their homemade chicken soup and said it was very delicious and pointed out one of the many chunks of chicken in the soup. We also got a basket of their chicken wings which were lightly breaded and had just the right amount of spice and zing to them. A fantastic start so far!
Terry stayed true to the chicken theme of the afternoon and got a grilled chicken sandwich. Of course he ate it with his knife and fork because Terry tends to eat like a little girl...not that there’s anything wrong with that...well, except he’s a grown man, so it’s a little embarrassing to witness, but what are you going to do? Jim got the classic 50’s Diner Loosey sandwich and fries.
Now, it’s time to focus on the star of this afternoon’s lunch, The 50’s Diner version of Chicken and Waffles! This dish looks amazing! Let’s dig in and try it out!
The fried chicken tenders are hand-breaded and they’re crispy and savory on the outside and juicy, tender and delicious on the inside, we’re off to a fantastic start here!
The waffles are homemade and I love the tear-drop design and pockets to pour syrup in. You can tear off a section and eat it with your hands, like a real man (Terry Grawey, please take notes here.) The waffle was fluffy, sweet and delicious! Now time to combine the two!
The chicken and waffle is such a nice combination of sweet and savory, crunchy and fluffy and truly a decadent delight! The only thing I would add is a little bacon, but you could just get a side order and add it yourself. They really serve up a fantastic chicken and waffle entree here at The 50’s Diner.
I’m going to have to declare a four way tie between The 50’s Diner, Obed and Isaacs, Childers and EatandEvolve. They all have their special twist on this unique dish and I suggest you try all four of them!
Chicken Rating
Four Dixie Chickens: This was a top-notch chicken and waffles entree and it’s one of Peoria’s more unique and fun dining destinations, so I suggest you get the cluck over to The 50’s Diner right clucking now!
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(In The Metro Centre)
4700 N University Street
Peoria
309-692-6300
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Related Posts: 13 Months of Chicken @ Obed & Isaacs, Childers Eatery, Gil’s Supper Club, Highlands Fine Food & Whiskey House, EatandEvolve, Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern, Slim Chickens, Destihl Brewery, Chili’s, Shelton’s, Sky Harbor Steak House, McDonald’s/Chik-fil-A, Bernardi’s Pub, Harold’s Chicken Shack, Lariat Steakhouse, Donnelly’s Irish Pub, Thanh Linh, Grandpa John’s Rib Shack, Birdie’s Bar & Grill, Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill, Midway Duck Inn, Ludy’s Kickapoo Creek Saloon, Jubilee Cafe, Rizzi’s and Agatucci’s.