You’d think that since the movie Goodfellas is one of my favorite movies and I’ve met Henry Hill, the man that the movie is centered around that going to Goodfellas pizza in Pekin is a no-brainer. Well it is and so off we go!
The MBIP mobile is Pekin bound with a grey, ominous sky looming overhead. I love a grey and ominous sky, so far, so good!
We have arrived at Goodfellas, the 34th stop of this saucy pizza tour.
Pub & Pizza, check and checkmate...
Let's go in and begin this week's cheesy entry.
Wow, it's really spacious in here and this is just the front bar area, there's a whole dining room behind it.
I think I'll sit over there near the corner of the bar.
And it takes friendly bartender, Keith exactly 37 seconds to get me an ice-cold bottle of Budweiser. Service with a smile, I like it in here!
This is Steve who owns the place along with his business partner. Steve moved from Chicago to Pekin and bought Goodfellas just about five weeks ago and said he's really enjoying living here and checking out all the nightlife spots in the area. I told him to feel free to use MBIP as a guide for checking out fun places to go and see around town. Steve said there's going to be a bit of a makeover in here and some menu changes in the next couple of months, so I'll have to come back later and see what they've done to the place.
But for now, time to order the 34th pie of the tour. Okay, the order is in so let's take a little look around in here while the pie is being prepared.
Here's the half dozen drafts available at the bar.
Ross is seated at the end of the bar and it turns out he's not only the kitchen manager, but he's the son of the original owner. He told me he grew up in this place. Steve said he's kept most of the original staff on board after he bought it. Nice!
A shot of the back of the bar and check out the machine on the left, free popcorn!
Which is what Meghan was enjoying here at the end of the bar along with a bottle of Bud Light.
Steve told me that they just uncovered this wall up front which was covered up before. The remodeling has already begun!
Of course you've got to have a framed Goodfellas poster in here. Steve told me that the original owner decided to call the place, Goodfellas after he found out that Ray Liotta, who played Henry Hill in the film, married a woman from Peoria. I told Steve he should invite Ray to stop by when he and his wife are in town and he said he'd work on that.
Here's the dining room which is situated directly behind the bar.
Goodfellas is known for having live bands that appear on this stage right here and Steve said he's going to keep that tradition alive. This Saturday the Michael Layne Band is playing here with the show starting around 8PM.
Framed vintage newspapers cover this back wall, let's take a look at some of them...
Here's a special edition of the Pekin Daily Times celebrating the local basketball team, The Pekin Chinks. This is from an era before the words, "politically correct" were born.
"Champaign Fever Mounts In Chinkland." Somebody alert Hop Sing, another Asian stereotype from that era.
Here's a shot from the back of the dining room.
Meanwhile, back at the bar...
A free beer chip has been placed at my spot at the bar. Very nice!
And the table has been set for the arrival of this week's pizza pie! And the two usual hot sauce suspects are on board: Frank's Red Hot Sauce and Sriracha. I gotta start remembering to bring the Ragin RR giant Tabasco bottles with me!
And right on queue, here's Keith with this week's pizza!
I got the Hot Sicilian, which is one of their specialty pizzas made with salami, ham and Provolone cheese. It usually comes with tomato and lettuce too, but I had them hold that because I don't like whole tomatoes on pizza or lettuce either. It's one of the reasons I never order a taco pizza.
The pizza enters the ever-important cooling process while I order another beer.
Wow, this is one tasty pizza! The sauce, ham, salami and Provolone blend together nicely and the crust is thin, but it has a nice consistency to it. There was also a unique flavor I couldn't put my finger on and Steve told me that for the Hot Sicilian pies, they mix Italian dressing in with the sauce. It really gives the pie an extra zing and takes it over the top!
I polished off about a third of the pie, which is pretty good considering it's about the size of a small tire.
And for dessert, I put my free beer chip into play. Cheers!
And now for the next day cold pizza challenge. I finished off the Baba six pack and haven't replaced it yet, which is good because this week's pizza box filled up the entire bottom of the MBIP fridge.
It's delicious! We'll see you all tomorrow!
Pizza Rating
Three and half Chef Boyardees, loved the Hot Sicilian pizza and I suggest you order it sans tomato and lettuce. The Italian dressing mixed into the sauce really gives it a unique taste!
Goodfellas Pub & Pizza
1414 N. 8th Street
Pekin, Illinois
309-478-1090
Related posts: YOP @ Two25 In The Mark Twain Hotel, McCritter’s Bar & Grill, Firehouse Pizza Pub, Grady’s Pizza, Castle’s Patio Inn, Aurelio’s Pizza, The Pour House, No Wake Zone, Farmington Pizza Company/Acme Saloon, Tobin’s Pizza, Joe’s Sports Grille, Broken Tree, Hoops Pub & Pizza, Oliver's Pizza & Pub North, Rizzi’s on State, Bacci Pizza, Veterans Pub and Pizza, Larry’s Driftwood Pizza, Norwood Pub ‘N’ Grub, Barrister’s Pizza and Pub, Mickie’s Pizzeria, Double A’s, Lucca Grill, Avanti’s, Leonardo’s, Lou’s La Grotto, Knuckles Pizza, Davis Bros. Pizza, Kenny’s Westside Pub, Dave’s Pizza, Peoria Pizza Works, Sugar and Agatucci’s.
Tonight is the night that MBIP pal, Danny Sinacori receives his Mayoral Proclamation at the Peoria Council meeting at Von Steuben school on Forrest Hill in Peoria at 6:15PM. They’re going to be playing Danny’s song, “Peoria,” there. If you can’t make it, you can buy the song by sending ten dollars to: Peoria CD C/O Danny Sinacori, P.O. Box 51, Peoria, Illinois, 61650. Part of the proceeds are being donated to The Peoria Teen Challenge.
------------------
Bonus Shock Top Art From Jaws the Cabbie
Jaws the Cabbie always mentions that the Shock Top tap makes him think of Vin Diesel. And so to prove his point he sent in this piece of art. Ha! I see what you mean, Jaws! Thanks!
------------------
Today’s post was brought to you by Emack & Bolio's. Check them and all the other fine businesses helping to support this blog over at the MBIP Bucket List Page. Your Daily Random Linkage awaits you at the bottom of the that page as well!
------------------