Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger with this week’s host, Jim’s Bistro and featuring the Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. And now, please welcome from deep in the heart of Restaurant Row in Peoria Heights, Jim’s Bistro!
Hang on to your socks (and I hope they're argyle) because we're approaching Restaurant Row on Prospect Avenue at a cruising speed of 35 MPH.
Drive-by shot of Emo's!
Here we are, Jim's Bistro. Hard to believe a year has gone by since we were last here. As I always say: "Fun flies when you're having time."
Look at the little doggy over there...
Sit, Ubu, sit...good dog. (Hat tip to Chip Joyce.)
Okay, enough fooling around out here, let's go in and let this edition of SNC begin!
There's plenty of seats at the bar and hold on...I think I see a familiar face down there...
It's Karina who works next door at The Publik House and we just saw her about a month ago there. She was having dinner at the bar and said I was welcome to join her. So join her I did, I'm not about to turn down a dinner invitation from a pretty woman at the bar!
And since I had phoned my order in before I took off, the table is already set at the bar. I moved it down next to Karina and it looks like dinner is just about to be served.
Deja view! It's Elyse serving up a beer and the salad, flashing the same beautiful smile we saw last year when she was the bartender on duty. Great to see her again!
Elyse wanted to know if I wanted ground pepper on the salad and of course I said, "yes, please..."
There it is, all peppered up and ready to be eaten. It was a delicious salad!
Karina got an order of the Calamari and it looked great. I'll have to try that next time.
And in a Bee Gee-like moment, the main course has arrived at my spot at the bar!
I got the ten ounce ribeye steak and I've topped it off with some A-1 sauce and pepper and it looks great!
Wow, this is so good! I haven't had steak in a while and it really hit the spot! Good cow!
As good as the steak was, this twice baked potato was even better! It's loaded with cheese and chives and it stole the show! You can read more about it in the review below, but I devoured the whole thing, skin and all!
Here's Geoff, who's one of the chefs here and he told me he was partially responsible for the wonderful meal I just ate, so I thanked him for a job well done. Actually it was a job done medium-rare, but thanks to Geoff for tantalizing the tastebuds!
Elise wandered by my seat at the bar and she happily posed for the MBIP camera. She said she was disappointed last year that she didn't have her picture in the blog, so hopefully this makes up for that. And what are the odds of meeting two pretty women named Elise in one night? Whatever they are, we just broke them. Time to get a Lotto ticket!
Here's a fuzzy photo of Elise with her friend Ignacio at the bar. Either they moved or the camera did, but what are you going to do?
I remember this painting from last year. Elyse told me it was done by Sara who's a bartender here and she had already left for the night last year. She had left this evening as well, and I'm starting to wonder if she really exists. Either way, it's a great painting!
I love the tin ceiling in here and it's nicely offset by this fancy chandelier hanging below it.
There's tables opposite the bar and as you can see the crowd has thinned out since closing time is near.
Booths line the far walls with artwork hanging over them.
You have to squint to see it, but there's an obligatory bistro mirror shot happening here.
Check out the cow with the dinner napkin on, it's a cannibal cow! I'm guessing he's ordered the fava beans along with a nice chianti.
Meanwhile back at the bar, I see a couple of familiar faces at the end of the bar...
It's none other than the onwers of Jim's Bistro, J.D. and Julie Comfort! Julie and I went to Bergan High School together and she's good friends with my cousin Mary. She said to say hi to Mary, so if you're out there reading this cuz, Julie says hi! It was great to visit with them and a nice way to end a wonderful night out on the town. We'll see you all tomorrow!
My Meal
I got one of Jim’s Bistro’s signature steak dishes, the ten ounce ribeye and it did not disappoint. It was perfectly done, tender and tasty. However, the side dish upstaged the main course. I got the twice baked potato and it was one of the best things I’ve ever put into this big mouth of mine. The potato was creamy and it had a generous portion of melted cheddar cheese and chives added to it and it was so good. I might just get three of them next time and call it a night. I’m making a list of some of the best things to eat in Peoria and Jim’s Bistro’s twice baked potato definitely makes the list.
SNC Rating
Four Galloping Gourmets—the ribeye steak was excellent and the twice baked potato was other-worldly!
Jim’s Bistro
4612 N Prospect
Peoria Heights
309-682-9219
Related Posts: SNC @ Sky Harbor, The Silver Bullet in East Peoria and One World Cafe.
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Go Jim Dandy, go Jim Dandy!
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
Bonus Fava Bean Art From Jaws the Cabbie!
Jaws the Cabbie sent in this artwork to go with my Cannibal Cow comment. Ha! Nice work, Jaws, thanks!
