12 Best Italian Restaurants near North Pekin

“Food was really good. Beer selection is decent for drafts. Had pizza, wings, and the bread sticks. All the food tasted great. The menu is all over the place. Has like 3-4 sections of pricing and hard to figure out what is going on. They have specialty pizzas but weren't on menu. Waitress couldn't answer exactly what prices were either. We made it thru though and enjoyed our time and experience. Also offers to take and bake to finish cooking at home. Said order it half baked and uncut!“

“One of the best-kept secrets in Peoria! The atmosphere was wonderful, and the service was the best we've experienced anywhere in the area or for that matter anywhere. And the food? Phenomenal is the only word that comes to mind! This may sound crazy but the scalloped potatoes were simply fabulous. My Delmonico steak... I've eaten at restaurants that charged 5 times the price and I'd take this steak over theirs hands down. My wife had the wild boar and she raved over it. I simply cannot recommend it enough.“

“Great local Italian restaurant. Love their bread! Friendly staff! 5 stars!!Parking: Parking lot is south of the building but within walking distance to the entrance. Free Street parking available in front of the restaurant.Kid-friendliness: Excellent restaurant to bring the kids. Wonderful menu selection for kids.Wheelchair accessibility: Both wheelchair parking & entrance.“

“First time coming into this EP location. No other customers were in the restaurant so it was quiet. The employees were all very nice and the service was fast. Food was great- sorry I forgot to take a pic, we took it home and I forgot. We got the family feast which was Spaghetti, garlic beat, loaf of bread and a gondola. It was plenty of food for the 4 of us and it tasted really good and was the perfect comfort food.“

“Love Jimbos when I come back to town. The sandwiches are awesome, and the pizza is very good. I wish they would go back to a crust they made. Used to be the garlic crust was awesome, but now that its a generic premade crust there is no point.“

“Monical's Florentine is the "perfect" light American pizza. Nothing comes close. I frequently enjoy dining at Monical's for events, and their thin crust pizzas have never disappointed me during each visit. At this location, the wait staff are sometimes hard to get the attention of more than once an hour -- but it's also a pizza restaurant.“

“LaGondola has the best garlic bread with cheese. I have yet to find anything on the menu that isn't good. I love the convenience of the drive up window for to go orders. Friendly and fast staff every time. I've never been disappointed with any of the locations.“

“Our waitress was excellent. She explained the menu questions that we asked, was attentive to our needs, but not so much to be annoying. The food was delicious. The brussel sprouts were amazing. It was on the high end cost wise, but the service and food were also on the high end.“

“Dined in last night, 12/22/2023 with a party of 3, was greeted by a delightful hostess that was charming along with a superb server who catered to our every need which included coming 6 times to give me delicious Peoria water. I commend the chef with the best veal parmigiana I have had in Illinois! Tender lightly breaded veal smothered with a delicious marinara accompanied with a delicious a la carte sauteed fresh zucchini. The ambiance is delightful not like other restaurants in the area where you feel like your crammed in like sardines and can't have a nice conversation like Rizzi's on Sheridan in Peoria. Make sure and call after 12 noon to make your reservations at Paparazzi's for a most delightful and delicious dinner. I can't wait to return and try out their Eggplant parmesan.“

“The pizza is excellent. This is always a gathering place for our family when we visit Peoria. It's a been staple of the community for decades and it's like stepping into a time capsule. Worth a try if you're lucky enough to grab a table.Kid-friendliness: They give the kids a little ball of pizza dough to play with. The kids always enjoy it.“

“Joe's Original Italian and Martini Bar is a unique place located on the main strip in Peoria Heights. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating has a few "street tables" and is boxed in a well-decorated area.OVERALL: The place has a modern Italian theme with newly renovated restrooms. A private booth seating area, three private party areas, and a bar with high-top tables exist.SERVICE: Service is exceptional, and the servers are always friendly and attentive. Food is typically served in a timely and pleasing manner.IS IT CLEAN? Yes, the floors and tables are consistently clean even when busy. The restrooms are clean and always seem to be stocked.COST: Cost is pretty good, and most items are priced well for the amount you get.FOOD: GREAT! Food is freshly made, presented well, and has many unique flavors. There are always specials and a nice variety between pasta, steak, fish, and any mix of the three.DIETARY RESTRICTIONS? They can accommodate almost anything as long as the patron expresses their restrictions.Parking: Main parking is in the back; however, there is some street parking available.“

“This is a restaurant located in a strip mall but very delicious and busy. The server seemed to know many of the patrons so she was a bit distracted from ensuring that our water/drinks were refreshed. We dined outside which was great because this is a small restaurant and crowded.“