Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night Chicken Wings and Spaghetti starring this week’s host, Agatucci’s and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. And now please welcome this week’s host, Agatucci’s!
I was thinking about different foods tonight and I realized one thing I've never eaten on this blog is spaghetti. Well, there's only one place I know of to to to correct this Guns 'N' Roses-like incident...
Agatucci's!
I haven't been to Agatucci's since we started the MBIP Year Of Pizza Tour here. We are definitely overdue for a visit!
I love the bar area in here, nice, dark and very old school.
I spy a familiar face down there at the end of the bar...
It's Tony and Dan Agatucci! Third generation owners of Agatucci's, a restaurant that's been serving pizza and Italian food on the same spot here on University since 1926. It's a real slice of Peoria history. Tony is proudly displaying his beloved Cardinals cup, but they're not playing up to snuff tonight. Time will tell on that, stay tuned!
I placed my order and this is the view of the back of the bar from where I sit.
This Hamm's sign has been hanging here since the '50's and Dan told me a secret about it that may be revealed in a post in the future. Once again...stay tuned for that!
There's tables in a dining area behind the bar. Most of them have cleared out because it's getting near closing time, in fact, my order was the last one of the night.
Booths line the walls in the back dining room with wine glass lamps hovering overhead.
Here's the infamous backwards Agatucci's clock. I love this thing!
If you didn't get the clue when Tony's cup was featured up above, this is a St. Louis Cardinals bar and restaurant. If you're a Cubs fan, keep it to yourself.
This even extends to the Budweiser tap...play ball and drink up!
They're starting to stack the chairs here in the back room, I better get back to my seat and eat my dinner before I get thrown out of here!
And as I sit back at the bar the salad and bread have arrived. The salad is served with their own housemade dressing and it's really good and a taste that you won't find anywhere else in town.
And now the main courses are served!
In addition to the spaghetti, the chicken wings were something I've never tried at Aggatucci's. They look good and Tony told me that the sauce they use on them is specially made in-house.
For some reason I thought they'd just be okay, but these are really good wings! The sauce is tasty and has just the right amount of kick to it. You can read more about them in the review below.
And now for the main course of the evening, the spaghetti and meat sauce. It looks fantastic and Tony and Dan told me the meat sauce is the same recipe that's been handed down through the years. Let's dig in!
Now this is spaghetti! The pasta is cooked perfectly and the meat sauce is hearty and flavorful. I've had spaghetti in Little Italy and this is just as good if not better. Deliziosa!
As I finish my meal, the Cards go down in flames. Oh well, they have more chances in the season too pull it off. I think...truth be told I really have no idea.
And just as it was getting close to last call, MBIP pal and former birthday gal, Amber shows up for a beer or two...or maybe even three!
Cheers! Thanks to Tony, Dan, Amber and everybody at Agatucci's for a wonderful meal and fun Saturday evening! We'll see you all tomorrow!
My Meal
When most people hear the name, “Agatucci’s,” their mind immediately thinks of all things pizza, but there’s other tasty selections on the menu. Their fried chicken is some of the best in town and I discovered that the chicken wings there are really good too. The wings are plump, juicy and swimming in a sauce that’s tangy and has just the right amount of kick to it.
One thing I’ve never had at Agatucci’s is their spaghetti. I broke my spaghetti cherry there last Saturday night and it was a beautiful thing. The pasta is perfectly cooked and their meat sauce is really tasty and hearty and is the original family recipe that’s been handed down to three generations of Agatucci’s. This is genuine Italian fare at it’s finest. The next time you’re thinking about going to the Olive Garden, do yourself a favor and go to Agatucci’s instead. It’s local and it’s the real thing. Let’s support these iconic Peoria places instead of helping chains bland down this town.
SN Rating
Three and a half Galloping Gourmets—The food is always a treat at Agatucci’s and the friendly and fun atmosphere can’t be beat. A true Peoria landmark.
Agatucci’s
2607 N. University St.
Peoria
309-688-8200
Related posts: Saturday Night @ The Red Barn With A Special Guest Appearance By Sugar Wood Fired-Bistro, Festival of Shrimp @ The Fish House and Saturday Night Microwave Buffet @ Amber’s Birthday Party!
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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