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309 Restaurant
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
5832 N. Knoxville Ave.Peoria, IL 61614
(309) 692-0309
- Hours:
Mon 11:30 am - 9 pm
Tue-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for 309 Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...it but I think she loved the au gratin potatoes even more."
(in 3 reviews)
"We ordered the artisan cheeses and fried olives."
(in 4 reviews)
"I had the beef tenderloin that was cold smoked and in a..."
(in 3 reviews)
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew R.
Saint Louis, MO
11/16/2011
I went here very a client dinner and found the food to be very good. The restaurant had a cool decor but was completely dead on a Tuesday night. That makes you a little worried but I really liked our order. The waitress didn't seem to know the menu very well but tried her best.
We split the beef short rib bites to start. They were falling a part right on top of the small pile of mashed potatoes. Perfectly tender and the right amount to start with, truly bite size. Everyone at the table got the wedge, which was smother in blue cheese dressing and crumbles. The lamb pasta that we tried as a pasta course may have been better than the entree. The sauce was perfectly seasoned, rich and the lamb was awesome. The only thing I didn't love was the cold smoked tenderloin. The meal itself was prepared to the right temperature and presented beautifully. You could taste the smoke and wine sauce was rich. I think for me though the preparation was just not my favorite. It was the reason I ordered the dish and might be right up someone else's alley but probably not for me.
They were known for the desserts apparently but they lost their pastry chef at some point and our guest from the area was disappointed. He did let me have the last lemon sorbet and it was to die for. I really think they need to bring this back. Overall, good meal, great time and I hope they make it. -
Review from David B.
Peoria, IL
10/20/2011
I want 309 to be great, but it disappoints. Have been there three times; all three times it was either average or below average.
The bar has a great layout with couches and a fireplace. Unfortunately, the food has been bad. Example- ordered the meatball appetizer and they came out raw in the center. We politely returned them. When they brought it back the meatballs they were just charred balls. You should be able to fry meatballs one out of two times.
We also tried to stop by one day for brunch and it was closed. No notice on the door, no message on their phone or website. -
Review from jessica g.
Springfield, IL
5/14/2011
One buffet brunch is about the same as the next. I'm going to excuse the limited selection and pre-packaged, frozen desserts, but I will not excuse the rude, inattentive service. The waitress obviously was not overwhelmed with tables since I watched her stock glasses near the bar, but the only thing she did in a timely manner was clear plates. I understand that waiting tables on a busy Mother's day isn't always easy or fun, but you're getting tipped for filling drinks and clearing plates, let's drop the attitude and get through it.
I may give this place another chance simply because we ate there for brunch and not dinner, but I wasn't impressed with my first experience. -
Review from Stephanie R.
Washington, IL
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've eaten here a handful of times and the food has always been great.
We most recently ate in the lounge while listening to a live band they had, and had a nice time. Our waitress and the bus staff were on the spot all night, and a guy who may have been the manager was quite helpful and friendly as well.
Love the artisan cheeses paired with honey! -
Review from Rebecca K.
Peoria, IL
6/22/2011
We've been to 309 twice, and I'll be honest: the only reason we went back after the first visit was that we came into $50 of 309 gift cards. The two dining experiences were very, very different. I have a lot to say about 309, so feel free to skip to the end!
Visit the first: We weren't super hungry, so we mostly ordered tapas style, just a few small plates to split among the table, and some wine. The restaurant was out of the wine my husband was interested in, and the server immediately came back with a recommendation for a second choice. Very appreciated. As for the food... fried olives: disgusting, and I'm skeptical they're made in house. They tasted like eating an olive stuffed with potpourri and then fried. The flavor was more olive brine than olive. Crab cake: tasty, but not very crisp. Definition "small plate." Fried calamari: would've been good, had they come to the table ten minutes earlier, but they arrived lukewarm and no longer crisp. We also shared the popcorn shrimp wrap, which was good, and the only item I'd recommend from this visit. This trip earned two stars.
Visit the second: It took a while before our waiter got to us, and it seemed like something went wrong with the seating, because he was running the whole time we were there, while the other servers sort of sauntered their way around the restaurant. We ordered the mussels to share, which weren't a mindblowingly original or creative dish; they were just quality ingredients prepared perfectly. We each ordered the cavatelli with mushrooms as well. The high quality pasta was cooked perfectly, and this could've been a really great dish, but it just didn't quite get there. Between the mascarpone, truffle oil, and truffle butter, this was a RICH dish, and it really suffered from the lack of greenery. More herbs and a green veggie like spinach (hm) or asparagus (yes!) would've made it perfect. The serving size was totally reasonable, but neither of us were able to finish. (On the plus side, I got to take it home and add my own herbs and veg.) We finished with a comped off-the-menu dessert that was very good (more on that later).
The kitchen seemed VERY backed up; it was about 25 minutes from the time our app was cleared 'til we got our entrees. Our pasta entrees. Fortunately, we were having a good time, and our server checked in with us frequently and apologized more than once, and offered us the comped dessert. It wasn't a big deal for us, but it could be a dealbreaker for other people. The drink menu looks really interesting, with a variety of innovative cocktails. My husband had the Blossom Rickey, which was delicious, but with two complaints: the menu claims fresh lime juice, and it didn't taste or look like this was true, and the drinks were very inconsistent. The first had a pronounced floral flavor from the liqueur (and was REALLY good), but the second basically tasted like a plain ol' gin rickey with just a hint of floral. The owner/manager (?) came out and said hi and checked up on us twice during our meal as well, which was nice, but what really impressed us was that he didn't just accept complaints, he explicitly asked what would've made the dinner better. We recommended they ditch the lame pepper shakers, because you can't get a damn bit of pepper out of them without taking the lid off.
Visit two: four stars.
In summary (sorry! I'm longwinded, I know!), 309 has been very hit or miss for us, and even the hit was missing some major key elements. Some of the food is really good, and some of the food is truly mediocre (and overpriced): I definitely recommend you avoid the 'bites' and eat a more traditional app + entree meal here. I'm glad we were lured back with the gift cards, because they definitely earned a repeat trip with our last dinner. 309 could turn out to be an excellent restaurant, and while it's not there yet, it's worth stopping by.
Footnote: I don't know who these people are who are marking the noise level as "average," but it's loud as hell in there. -
Review from Crystal R.
Peoria, IL
1/31/2011
I had a work dinner here over the weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised! Granted, I did not have a sit-down dinner (we had a private room just for staff), so my experience was a little different than it would have been had I walked off the street and came into the restaurant for a date-night.
The food was great - everything I ate was so tasty and presented beautifully. We had hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail hour which was delicious...I'm drooling thinking about it now: cocktail meatballs, spring rolls, olive crostini, gourmet cheeses and coconut breaded chicken to name a few. (I know you're getting hungry reading this.) Though their cuisine is "American," I was surprised and happy to see the fusion of other ethnic foods in the mix.
For dinner, we had quite the spread, and I liked that they served the food "family style," meaning they brought several dishes to our table and we could pass around the serving dish and place a little portion of food on our plate. We had prime rib, a white fish in butter sauce, mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, a oh-my-goodness-so-yummy mac & cheese, and delightful salad with arugula, candied walnuts and pears. Then there was the smorgasbord of desserts filled with small pieces of cheesecake, chocolate yummies, fruit and other sweets.
I don't know - I've heard such mixed reviews about this place that I didn't know what to expect. What I found was excellent food, great service, and an overall cozy and warm atmosphere. I can't wait to visit again, next time with the hubby in tow for a proper date night! -
Review from Gigi S.
Peoria, IL
1/2/2011
As others have stated the service and atmosphere are excellent. It is very hard to get a table on a weekend (typical of all the nice places in Peoria), so plan ahead. We were lucky and were able to score a table in the bar.
We ordered the artisan cheeses and fried olives. They were very tasty and unique, albeit a little pricey for what you got ($6 for a little sliver of cheese or $5 for 2).
I ordered the 6 oz filet and it was not comparable to Seven or Toast....it was overcooked and a little thin for my taste. A friend ordered the tenderloin and it looked fantastic. Hubby ordered the pork chop and side of au gratin potatoes (you pay for sides ala carte). I think next time I'd like to come back for lunch and try the Knuckle Sandwich - it looked heavenly!
So, this would have been 5-stars if my steak was cooked properly and also the cost of the sides. I ordered a side of asparagus for $4 and got 6 spears. Umm, why not just have that included in the dinner price? Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone wanting a special dinner. -
Review from Erin and Ryan T.
Chicago, IL
2/23/2011
I have to make the drive from Chicago to Peoria every January for a work conference, and my company pays for a nice dinner on one of the nights I'm there. Typically, the options in P-town pale in comparison to the dozens of restaurants I can walk to from my house-- but this year, my colleagues and I discovered 309.
Ambiance was great, my trout was delicious, and the sorbet for dessert came in cute coconut shells! My colleagues and I left very pleasantly surprised, and now we know where we will eat next January! 309 also has gluten-free options, which was awesome for one of my colleagues who has celiac. The restaurant is a drive away from the Civic Center and the downtown area, but the experience was worth the trek! -
Review from Nam D.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/14/2011
Ok the the best food item they have at 309 is the potatoes Au Gratin ...and everything else really isn't worth the value ....once again I'd only go for the a drink at the bar.....
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/13/2011
I suggest going to get a drink or two there but the food is not that great honestly. 309 is a place… Read more »
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Review from Alec H.
Chicago, IL
8/19/2010
I see that there are a wide range of reviews for this restaurant, either people love it or hate it.
I recently dined here and can understand why people would give 5, 4, or even 3 stars based on their experience, but I don't really understand lower than that. They have a nice menu with options I am assuming you may not be able to find anywhere else in Peoria, although if you have an appetite you may not be full ordering just an entree- so accept the salad or an appetizer. -
Review from Sarah M.
Chicago, IL
8/14/2011
I went here last week for a lunch with my best friend and our moms. Had heard good reviews about the place and were excited to catch up over a quick delicious lunch. This place is decorated very beautifully and I love the outdoor seating.
Food was good but the service was painfully slow for no reason I could see, we ordered the flatbreads, mussels and the pork sandwich. Took us over 1 hour from sitting down to ordering to getting our food!
The waiter was MIA, like very few customers in the restaurant or eating outside like us so I think he could have been much more attentive. Good food, but not great. Overall- food was good but service was sooo slow even just ordering from the appetizer menu, wont come here again. -
Review from Chris J.
Peoria, IL
9/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
I think this place was decent. There were many pros but just as many cons.
Pros: food was good, ie; cooked correctly, seasoned well. The drinks were good. Server was friendly.
Cons: Food took.a long time to make it to the table. Food was warmish. Drinks took so long I almost forgot I ordered any. Server was lacking professionalism, knowledge of food and wine, or even the simple standards of bringing silverware before leaving the apps at the table to grow even colder than what they cane out. A few times she was running food out she carried a tray over my head. Another server saw it and apologized.
So more cons than pros. I guess there's a lot more room for improvement.
The worse thing by far, was the so bad it was distracting music! Yikes awful! -
Review from Michael Carl B.
Brooklyn, NY
6/17/2010
Usually when I go out to eat in Peoria, I find all sorts of things to complain about. Here, though, I was pleasantly surprised to find great food, reasonable prices for the excellent quality, and solid service (even if our server wasn't particularly knowledge about the options on offer).
The atmosphere was a lot more tasteful than, say, Connected or other "nice" Peoria restaurants. Whoever's in charge here actually knows what she or he is doing. The only things detracting from the ambiance were the awful dropped ceilings (like those you'd find in an office) and the occasional laughably pretentious customer. Most of the clientele, however, comported themselves sensibly and were well and tastefully dressed, lending an air of sophistication to the experience.
We started with a couple small plates (a crab cake and pistou soup). The crab was excellent and the soup was light but still substantial and enough to split. I had the rainbow trout which was served with a couscous and tomato salad. The fish was prepared well and had just the right flavor, though the accompaniment was so-so. For dessert, we had a delightful vanilla yogurt panna cotta with berries. I'd never tried that particular variation on panna cotta, but found it agreeably light without compromising too much on the texture.
I'll be back without a doubt. Finally, a restaurant in Peoria that's simply good. -
Review from Bill S.
Morton, IL
10/10/2010 5 Check-ins Here
The food was great... the waitress we had wasn't so great but overall we had a very enjoyable experience.
I had the beef tenderloin that was cold smoked and in a bourbon sauce with root vegetables underneath the meat. It was cooked right, was hot, and was very tasty. My wife and a friend had the filet and both were very happy with their steak. Although I think my wife was most happy with the garlic fries that came with it. The fourth in our party had the half chicken and she really enjoyed it but I think she loved the au gratin potatoes even more.
The one thing that prevents a 5 rating was our waitress. She didn't seem to listen and wasn't real personable. Some examples... she walked away before everyone was finished ordering drinks. Speaking of drinks... Drinks at the table were empty for a long time and she cleared them without asking if we wanted more. When I asked about the dessert of "Cheesecake in a jar" she basically looked at me like I was stupid and said, "It's cheesecake in a jar".
The waitstaff at the tables around us seemed to be good and we had friends at another table who said their service was good so I suspect we just got one of the bad ones. -
Review from Dally W.
Peoria, IL
Updated - 7/24/2011
Epic fail! Arrived at noon today to try the popular brunch. Doors closed and locked. Hours on door say "Sunday brunch10:30am-2pm". Then check the website. Website down. Call and no info about brunch being extinct.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/13/2010
Only had small plates, so I am waiting for a full dinner to decide if 309 warrants 5 stars.
We sat… Read more »
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Review from Aaron C.
Rochester, MN
7/20/2010
I really wanted to give this place a better rating but I just cant.
I give it one star for looking great on the inside, one star for the amazing Cheesecake in a jar, but really nothing else was good about the place.
Its so busy that the service is slow, the prices are not bad but once you see the portions you'll gag. The only thing Ive seen that was a decent size was the burger. The food was okay, nothing really that special. Once again the portions killed it for me. I can handle okay food in good portions but okay food in little taster samples is bad...very bad. I will add that although the service was slow the staff was really nice.
Overall a bunch of excitment and hype for nothing. Pass -
Review from Mandi A.
South Bend, IN
2/5/2011
We had a reservation, show up and there is a sign on the door saying they were closed because of the weather. No one had called us to let us know... so we decided to go in and just ask. We never told anyone about our reservation but the server reassured us that they were still open. The atmosphere was uptight, maybe because of the snow storm. Loved the decor though, Feels like you're in someones home, beautiful fireplace with tvs on both sides and lots of sofas and board games. I heard the bartender saying "we just need to lock the door!". We would have gladly gone somewhere else for dinner. Another large group of people hadn't even ordered yet so we decided to stay. The place just has a little bit of an identity crisis... perhaps it was just that night, but the quality and price of their food along with the decor did not match up to the service that we received. He was very casual and was seeming to rush us...
The small plates we started with were great. Crab cake was amazing, delicate, great crab taste. And the ahi tuna was a nice cut. They served both with a brown mayo type dressing that i loved. But they are like they say, SMALL plates. Three small pieces of tuna and one crab cake.
I had two martinis, they were so so. One called the #9 Flamingo and the other the Azure. They both were very sweet and i didn't taste much alcohol. People often say that coconut or pineapple drinks taste like tanning lotion. I never understood that until i had the Azure, it really did taste like tanning lotion.
My date had the Filet Mignon and i had the Beef Tenderloin salad with a side of Au Graut Potatoes. My salad greens were incredibly fresh! Loved them! They were flavorful and crisp. The tenderloin on top was perfectly cooked and had a great flavor. His filet was tender and prepared correctly. I think he likes a little more seasoning though.
Their portions are quite small. You can tell their ingredients are fresh and quality which i can appreciate. But us fat kids left thinking about what dive bar we were gonna hit up for a burger next... -
Review from Sara D.
Phoenix, AZ
9/19/2010
Wonderful restaurant. Great wine and cheese selection. The food was well prepared. My only complaint is that the server did not know much about how the meal was prepared or which wines would compliment the selections.
Definitely go back again!
8/20/11: After eating there a few dozen times after the first visit, I'm revising my star rating. Their Sunday brunch is incredible! great quality and still love the ambiance. Must try - their bread pudding! -
Review from Angel P.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2010
Decor - it was ok they seemed to do a lot with the space and it was appealing. The ambiance was more roudy then we would have liked based on the reviews we had read so far. When you have the xgames on in one of the rooms it doesn't say expensive like your menu.
Food - we were unimpressed with almost everything we ordered. We started with two different cheeses and for $10 they weren't worth it. We ordered stuffed fried olives that were so salty they were inedible. For entrees 2 knuckle sandwiches, 1 hamburger, 1 salmon and 1 Cesar salad with a side of roasted broccoli for our group. The knuckle sandwiches were comped because they were so spicy we couldn't eat them, not to mention besides spice they lacked flavor. The hamburger was raw the salad soggy with stale croutons. The salmon was miniature but great and the roasted broccoli was very good. We had the orange creme brûlée, pineapple sorbet, yogurt with berries for desert and all of them were good.
Staff- the front staff was friendly. Our waitress was, however, not. Not only could she not smile she wasn't knowledgable about the menu and couldn't pronounce a lot of what was on the menu.
We did get two free deserts as well but will not be going back. -
Review from George S.
Peoria, IL
2/12/2011
My wife and I decided to try 309 on a weeknight. The entrance was impressive, as well as the bar area. We took one look into the dining area and decided it was not for us.
The dining area reminds me of an upscale cafeteria. It was bright, loud and the tables were crammed together. Not my idea of a quiet enjoyable evening.
We had a couple of drinks in the bar. If we were to return for dinner, we would eat in the bar area. It is warm and inviting, opposed to the dining room.
I have since had several of my friends comment on the overpriced mediocre food. My thoughts are; if I were to spend above average for a meal, we would rather go to Jim's, Seven, French Toast, Johnny's or Jonah's, where we know they have good food and ambiance. -
Review from Michele H.
Alameda, CA
9/19/2010
What a wonderful treat! I live in the SF Bay area and have been disappointed by the lack of really good, local restaurants back home in Peoria. Or my relatives insist when we visit they really only want to go to one of the many chains all over the Peoria area.
Our very positive experience at 309 on September 11 will, I hope, change their minds. My disappointment in restaurants offerings in the area has abated.
Our party of five had different dishes which were tasty, generous in size, beautifully plated, quickly served. The wine list selection was very good, as well. Ambiance was tops. We'll definitely be back and, I hope my Peoria relatives also will return and soon! -
Review from Sara S.
Peoria, IL
2/26/2011
My friends and I recently attended 309 for a girls birthday. First of all I have been to many restaurants of many different kinds and never have seen a restaurant where everything is a'la carte-I had a simple chopped salad with chicken breast, it was okay but for $14 I could have made it at home, second the portions are ridiculously small, the appetizer meatballs were however very tasty. Our server Polly was wonderful as well. It was noisy and rushed, not a pleasant atmosphere.
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Review from Judy S.
Denver, CO
7/22/2010
Our high hopes were dashed with poor food! So disappointing! My husband and I had been here twice before for drinks. On one of those visits we sampled 2 appetizers including a flat bread. They were so small and un-special I don't even remember what the second item was. On our second visit I had the brownie with ice cream. The brownie was stale and dry tasting. Absolutely nothing special and I doubt the brownie was made in house. Last night we sat in the main dining room for dinner.
They give you bread and butter but you can order an appetizer of roasted garlic in oil. The oil is good, but the garlic was NOT roasted. Sauteed, maybe, but not roasted. The bread, again, not tasty, not special in any way.
I ordered macaroni and cheese, my husband ordered the carbonara. His arrived dry at the table. The egg was already coagulated in the dish. It had chunks of garlic in it and that was the main flavor you could taste. Not a very good dish. My macaroni had no cheese as far as I could tell in the dish. Completely bland and flavorless. It should have been called macaroni and white sauce - and I can make a more flavorful white sauce. We ordered a side of asparagus that was so tough a knife wouldn't cut it! I'm serious!
Does no one taste these dishes in the kitchen before they are served? Do they think just because they have a stylish place they can get by with lousy food?
We are going back one more time to try their meat dishes. But really, if they can't get pasta right or asparagus.....?
And one more thing....the service....my husband had to ask....twice...for water. We were drinking wine, but also water. There was one instance where a red headed bus boy was serving water to the table next to ours and as he started to leave he glanced at our glasses (nearly empty) and started to walk away anyhow. My husband called him back and he filled my husband's glass, not mine. They are pretty unattentive to the tables once they take your order. -
Review from Leah P.
Chicago, IL
6/12/2010
309 exceeded my expectations! We went to 309 tonight (their 3rd night open) and had an amazing dinner. We did not have a reservation, so we seated ourselves at a table in the bar. We had excellent service, and one of the owners checked our table for feedback. We had the veggie and goat cheese flat-bread for an appetizer, which was delicious. For our entrees, my mom had the fillet, which was as good as one from David Burke or the Chicago Chophouse. The steak was cooked to perfection. I had a small order of the lamb cavatelli, and honestly I almost licked my plate. 309 is a perfect place for dinner with friends, a date, or business. Peoria needs a great restaurant and I think we have found it.
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Review from Pam J.
East Peoria, IL
9/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
After 4 visits, I keep expecting to be wow-ed by this restaurant, but walk away just meh. I had the roast chicken tonight. It is served with olive oil mashed potatoes which were very good. The chicken, however, had very little flavor. On past visits, I've had the Tuna Nicoise salad which is very good. We had desserts and, again, they're just OK. They have a small, but well-chosen wine list including several by the glass, but they serve it in "O" knock-offs, which is very disappointing to those of us who appreciate the appropriate glassware.
They've added personalized wine-lockers, but I wouldn't want to pay to store our fine wines to drink with mediocre food. It's popular due to the atmosphere and clientele. We always see many friends and that makes it a fun place to be. I just wish the food would compliment the company. -
Review from Mary B.
Portland, OR
1/15/2011
I came here the day after Christmas to meet some friends, and had I written this review the day after, I would have given it 2 stars. The food was great. Like someone else said, the price of the appetizers is a little steep for what you get, but I also had the mac and cheese for dinner, and it was excellent. The atmosphere is also enjoyable. We sat on the couches near the bar.
The service, however, was awful. The management didn't prepare for the number of people that showed up, and the poor bartender was also the only waitress for the bar area. She was obviously stressed out, and it took 50 minutes for us to get our first drink. Then it was another hour or so before we even ordered our dinner.
After sending the owners an email explaining what happened to us, each person in our party was sent a substantial gift card and an apology note. I would definitely go back for the food and atmosphere, and I'm assuming the management has figured out their staffing problems. All in all a great addition in Peoria. -
Review from Mark P.
Peoria, IL
7/15/2010
If your looking to be wowed with a culinary experience, get out of 309. The menu consists of basic dining items. Think steak, fish and other standards. We did enjoy the seared tuna appetizer but that was about it. The fillet had an interesting seasoning and the potatoes au gratin potatoes lacked any kind of seasoning at all. The bread came to the table a minute before dinner was served and it was not even warm. With all the staff they had working we were very surprised by the lack of attention they conveyed.
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Review from Stephanie S.
Peoria, IL
10/13/2010
We had dinner at 309 and ordered linguine with clams($18). It was delicious! The portion was small, just enough for one person and you almost have to order appetizer/dessert to fill you up. We also ordered wines and cheese but not a big fan of the cheese. The service was friendly and fast. The decor was modern and romantic. We ended up spending $75 for dinner for two. We really enjoyed 309 and would come back soon.
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Review from Janet M.
Elmwood, IL
6/22/2011
Just returned from dinner with friends, our first time at 309. Nice ambience; carpeted areas helped control noise in the dining room. Welcoming bar area. Absolutely yummy sirloin tips with roasted potatoes. Good wine, good dessert, attentive service. A little slow on serving the entree, but we were having such a good time we didn't care.
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Review from Cathy G.
El Paso, IL
5/26/2011
We've eaten at 309 several times now and each time we've had excellent food, great service, and a stop at our table by the manager. I am a little confused by some of the reviews. 309 is an upscale restaurant with an unusual menu. If you are not willing to pay a little extra for a better grade of food, 309 isn't the place for you.However, if you like the idea of a perfectly cooked smoked beef tenderloin or an unusual cavatelli with wild mushrooms and truffles this could be a good choice.
We love their Chipotle shrimp which has a nice smokey heat and comes with chips and salsa. I've ordered the beef tenderloin three times because it melts in your mouth and the flavor has just a hint of smoke, not overpowering like some smoked meats. My husband has ordered the fish once or twice and never been disappointed because the sauce is always interesting and the fish cooked perfectly. Many of the items on their menu are not the typical fare, so go to 309 if you want to try something new. The portions are not large, which we love. It allows us to actually have an appetizer and a meal without feeling like we are going to roll out of the restaurant instead of walk out. The wine selection is good and the last time we were there, the manager actually suggested a pairing for our meal choices. Nice touch. We have only eaten in the bar area as the other side of the restaurant has always looked a little business or formal in appearance to us, and we've been there for a more casual evening. We will definitely go back and bring friends. -
Review from De N.
Chillicothe, IL
3/14/2011
wow! weird to see such mixed reviews. we've only eaten here once but really liked the food. the atmosphere was kinda neat with the bar on one side and restaurant on the other so you could kind of pick what atmosphere you wanted. we went on a Fri night with no reservations & had no problem getting in. food was really good and very well priced - unlike some so-called 5 stars in Peoria. i'd certainly go again.
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Review from Eric T.
Peoria, IL
6/27/2010
This was our first "nice" restaurant we've been to since moving to Peoria 1 1/2 years ago. We weren't sure what to expect so we looked at the menu online and they really didn't offer a great selection of entrees. So, we just took that as, since they don't offer a lot, they must do really well with what they have, if that makes sense. Any way, we went around 5:00p on a Sunday and it was relatively easy to get a table. I think if we had arrived any later, we would have needed a reservation, but we got lucky. The hostess was very nice and we were seated right away. The place is nice and cozy; there is a bar/lounge area, the dining room, and a private room for parties/meetings, etc. I can see how a reservation would be needed because the dining room isn't that spacious, so I'd call ahead next time. Our waitress greeted us and served us drinks and bread/butter right away. My wife nibbled on some $3 fried olives (4 fried green olives stuffed with goat cheese) That is one of the "bites" they offer, which is smaller than an appetizer, but nice nonetheless if you want something more than bread. Next, I ordered the Kansas City Strip (18oz, medium), with a Wedge salad, and she had the Mediterranean Chop salad and the Roasted Salmon. We opted to have our salads and meals together, but it only took about 15-20 minutes to prepare, nice! Now, I don't think this has ever been the case, but we'd go back for the salads alone! My wife's was excellent and she absolutely loved all the feta cheese they included. My Wedge salad was the best as well, so many bleu cheese chunks and bacon, it was better than Morton's Steakhouse version! The meals were good as well. My steak was cooked great and was more than I could handle. The bourbon and red onion marmalade was a nice compliment as well. My wife's salmon was good, but a bit dry and a little lackluster. She couldn't really taste the lemon vinaigrette, and expected a little more spice, but I guess you can't do too much with salmon. Thus, we finished up our meal with the Rockslide Brownie, which was good, but came with vanilla ice cream, when it was supposed to have chocolate, but it was really good though, perfect size to share after a big meal. All in all, our total was a little under $100 with tax and tip included. I think we'll try a lunch there some time, or just go back for a salad, but I would recommend this place to any one looking for a nice meal in the north end of Peoria.
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Review from Cecilia V.
Chicago, IL
1/25/2011
I live in Chicago and commute to Peoria for work weekly. Have had many of meals all over town, and this is by far my FAVORITE restaurant!!! Great food, good wine selection and yummy desserts. I reward myself with 309 dinners at least once a month. This is definitely one of Peoria's finest restaurants. The quality of the food is consistently amazing. My favorite: Mahi Mahi lightly blackened........YUM!
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Review from Jeremy T.
Des Plaines, IL
9/13/2010
This restaurant is simply mediocre. The Food was OK, the decor looked like something out of a Martha Stewart Magazine, the deserts were not amazing, - I also noticed that my food was Salty. I'm not quite sure I'll go back.
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Review from Troy L.
East Peoria, IL
7/22/2010
I was excited to try 309, but unfortunately I don't feel that it lived up to the hype. The drinks, though expensive, were great. I don't have any major complaints about the food. Everything we tried was good, but not great. I feel, however, that the prices charged are for something of higher quality than was presented. I think they need to decide if they are upscale or if they aren't. If they decide to be upscale, then create a more imaginative menu. If you decide you are not upscale, then discard the a la carte side dishes and realign your prices to reflect the casual atmosphere. I won't go out of my way to return.
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Review from Krunal P.
Peoria, IL
8/26/2010
The food was decent. Nothing special enough that I would write home about. It tasted good, portion sizes were good and presentation was excellent. The decor and ambience was mostly delightful. I wish I could say anything positive about the service we received. Okay, that's a lie. Our server brought out lemon slices for my water before I asked for any. But things went downhill from there. She brought out the cheeses and unceremoniously put them on the table. When asked to identify them, she was unable to. Let's forgive that, shall we? We are done eating and she brings the desert menu but the au gratin we ordered never came. So when I brought it up. Her response, "No you didn't order that." Say I wasn't 100% sure, which I was, the polite thing to do would have been to offer to check for us. Then she brings us the check. I place my Discover card in the pocket. She walks over and very rudely says, "That's the one we don't accept" and just walks away. Each time she had to come to our table, she didn't even try to hide the phoniness behind her smile. Granted, she could have had a bad day and we were just the unintended recipients of her displacement. But we were there to celebrate something. Despite the rude entertainment, I think I would return. Hopefully, we will have a different server next time.
