Jim's is an old fashion steak house. Great food, great atmosphere-I've been to Morton's , Gallagher's and Smith and Wollensky and Jim's is definitely in their league!!
(4)
Jennifer T.
My boyfriend and I went here for valentine's day and they had a great special going on for two steak dinners but I opted for the salmon which was cooked to perfection and came with a great salad that was above your average lettuce and carrots. The atmosphere of this place was also very intimate and dimly lit. Our waitress also brought out an assortment of desserts to choose from and they offered a full bar for those who enjoy a drink with dinner.
(5)
Natasha T.
My husband and I only recently discovered Jim's Steakhouse within the last two years. Amazing steaks and we absolutley HAVE to order the Tomato and Mozzarella salad every time we go. Salads are good but ask for your dressing on the side. The desserts are delicious. I recommend the carrot cake or any of their cheesecakes. Our only criticisms are that it does tend to be quite dark during dinner and the male that usually seats folks is a bit snobby and rude. Oh and they have a lunch buffet for around $12 that is pretty good as well! When it comes to dinner on the weekend, reservations are a must. We had the same waitress (Lisa) the first two times and she was so great that we ask to be seated in her section whenever we go.
(4)
Rich R.
Great experience! No reservation & seated promptly. Staff was friendly & swift. Ordered the orange roughy - cooked perfectly, not over-seasoned. Although very tempted, did not opt for dessert. I like this place.
(4)
Silky O.
It was late October and an unusually warm night brought fog from the river creating a dream-like state. A warm breeze with hints of burning leaves mixed with the smell of grilled steak teased the nostrils as my business partners and I walked the street. Cigars that spoke money and tasted of foreign spices added only a touch of class. We arrived at Jim's steakhouse with reservations for 8:00 and didnt mind our premature appearance as we sipped Johnnie Walker in the dark oaky bar near the dining area. We sat at white clothed tables and all of us ordered the filet mignon on the bone. We were served with top-notch service and drank some of the finest wine - BV Tapestry. This isnt some kind of sick perverted middle aged man's dream, this was my experience at one of the best steakhouses in Illinois. See you soon and I love you, Silky
(5)
David B.
Stopped in after Wicked, the Black Rabbit was closed. Had a couple of Manhattans that were very good.
(4)
Mike R.
One of the best filets in the Midwest. Only if you go to Gibsons or Ruth's Chris in Chicago will you find something better - remember medium rare is all you want to order.. I have hosted visitors from all over the world here and they continually rave about the quality of the Steak. Granted, the service could be more modern, but that is part f what makes this place what it is...BTW, have I mentioned the calamari which is unbelievable.
(4)
Anne W.
My friend took me here to show me that there is actually good steak at a classy place outside of Chicago. This place is in downtown Peoria.. and believe me, it's empty out here in the evenings. The place itself is in the basement (similar to Morton's in Chicago) and it is very very dark in here. Although it might be romantic, I'm not sure if it would suit me as I could barely read the menu. The service is pretty good.... similar to what you would expect at an upscale restaurant. I had the ribeye.. it was very good. My friend also had it but it was so dark (only candlelight) that we're pretty sure that it was overdone and had to send it back. It was no problem though.. they redid a new steak. I think we also tried one of their desserts. It was just mediocre. Overall.. I think it's a nice place to eat but I would definetely come here again and maybe try something else.
(3)
Ed B.
I came here for the first time yesterday for lunch with a few co-workers. The restaurant itself is an old school type of steakhouse and was fairly nice inside. The decor is classic old steakhouse and fairly well kept. The service was really good. We had the lunch buffet so we did not get a chance to try the steaks. Both peple I was with are locals and have been there many times and they really like the place for a good steak. The buffet was not big but there was plenty to eat. They had roast sirloin in au jus which was tasty but not overly tender. There was a lagnasa which I did not try but the others did and liked it. The roast pork with sweet potato mash looked good and had a decent taste but the loin was a bit dry and thus chewy. The roasted chicken breast with sundried tomato and cheese was also that way. There was a meditreanaen mushroom side dish that had cheeses and kalmata olives in it and it was excellent. The fresh green beans were also quite good. Then I tried the she crab soup. It was pretty good but a bit bland that a touch of salt helped. The salad bar part of the buffet had 6 different salads that included some nicely done specialties besides the tossed version, which did have lots of veggies in it as well. And last but not least the desert table had 6 large pies of differnt types. They looked great but I was at the point I could not eat another bite so I had to pass. Many folks were partaking and enjoying as I looked around the room. The buffet is well worth the price even if was not perfect and I would try it again. As well I would like to try the steaks here sometime.
(3)
Patrick L.
Have come here many times over the years for dinner & it's always been great. It's what I consider to be a classic steakhouse. The staff is excellent, including one very nice lady (whose name I've sadly forgotten) who has waited on me multiple times over the years. The food is well prepared with plenty of different options & the drinks are made well. The lighting is low, yet more than sufficient to read the menu. The background music (piano/harp) are both enjoyable at a very satisfactory volume & they really help to enhance the experience rather than detract from it as some places do.
(5)
Yvonne O.
So, I only had the lunch buffet, so I can't really say whether the steak here is worthwhile, but I would skip the buffet if I would ever be back in town. I wandered around the courthouse area looking for something other than a bar or a sandwich shop for a while and found nothing. Maybe I should have headed further in the other direction? Even consulting Yelp on my phone didn't reveal many other choices and a Chinese restaurant that they claimed was right here just didn't exist. So, I figured how bad could a steakhouse be? First, being in a basement gives me pause. In Chicago, that's where the rats and bugs hit first, so you never want to eat in a below-ground restaurant. The lunch was $11.95 and really had limited options. There were two bowls of salad (regular and Caesar), some raw veggies, and some large chunks of pepper jack and cheddar cheese along with some rolls and crackers. Then for entrees they had chicken fajitas, prime rib (VERY well done) and a fish filet with panko (?) crumbs on top. There were over done green beans, some potatoes and a minestrone soup. For dessert there was pecan pie, caramel apple pie and some cookies and brownies. It was just past noon and already a lot of the trays were empty. It's not really the quantity, but the tasteless quality that makes me give this low marks. I've only been to Peoria three times and I have to say I remain unimpressed with the food options.
I have to say I came away extremely impressed with this restaurant. My wife and I dined here on Valentine's Day. We both enjoyed immensely the service, food, and environment. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to budget conscious individual, but I would say it is a must try at least once kind of place. I expected to enjoy a good meal, but came away with an "Experience." We will be back soon, and I plan on trying all their different steaks before moving on to graduate school in California.
(5)
Jeffery P.
Nice atmosphere with a friendly staff. The food was excellent I had the twin steak medallions that were excellent and cooked to protection. We sat in the bar piano area and it was really to dark for eating which I guess that was our mistake.
(4)
Sherah B.
Jim's Steak House is a good restaurant and their steak is excellent. However, their portions are HUGE. I know most would not care about this, but when I have a salad, I don't want a cup of dressing poured on top. When I want a baked potato, I don't want a cup of sour cream poured on top...yes I should have asked for this on the side and next time I will. The food is good, but a little excessive. Honestly-I'm sure I'm the only one to complain about that however!
(3)
Pj L.
The Steak House by its very nature is not a fast food, brightly lit, noisy diner, with loud music and screaming children. It's a quiet, dimly lit space, with soft, low key, or no background music, that features a full ala carte menu, a wine and liquor list, and table service. It is where one has time to enjoy a drink and salad before the main course is served. Waitstaff is attentive. This is Jim's. The difference is the dry.aged..beef.. You won't find it at Ruths's Chris, or any other steak house in Peoria. The dry aging of the beef served at Jim's is not the norm found in most restaurants. Peoria is not tony Manhattan or sporty Chicago. It is a research and STEM city in the Midwest. It's a place where a guest is treated fairly and one can eat well for far less than $300 per plate. Those who complain generally do not understand commercial food preparation or how it is plated in a fine dining setting. Excepting of a very few salads, the dressing can be served on the side. Crab Legs should be served with a tool called a 'claw cracker', or if requested it can be served without the shell. Blue Cheese alone is a strong, creamy, cheese made from cow's milk that is only slightly milder than horseradish. It will enhance a green olive, and overpower fowl, beef, lamb, fish and chicken. The staff should be able to answer 99% of the questions asked about the food or liquor served. The kitchen should be able to meet 99% of "special requests" - although it may delay table service for up to 20 minutes or longer on a busy night. . Jim's Downtown Steak House is the ultimate fine dining in a public setting. The other option for fine dining in Peoria is a private club. Very often private clubs have reciprocal agreements with similar clubs in the United States to meet their member's needs when visiting. Ask your club before traveling There are several restaurants in Peoria that serve a good prime steak. Sky Harbor, Lariat, Three25, and Alexander's come to mind. For those who want the ambiance of a true 'old school' steak house for meetings with small groups of friends, or a business lunch, Jim's is hard to beat. It's convenient to business, the two court houses, the main library, and the medical district. Jim's is convenient to everything downtown. From the theatre district to the Peoria Riverfront one can listen to live Jazz, visit museums, take a cruise on the the Spirit of Peoria, take a trolly tour of historic Peoria, or sleep on a feather bed.
(5)
Greg J.
Oh my, this is a steakhouse, Peoria? Maybe the lowest quality filet I have ever eaten. I could get a better cut of meat at Costco. I started with the tomatoes and mozzarella which sucked as much as the steak. No uniform cut to either the tomatoes or mozzarella AND the tomatoes were swimming in juice. The sad part about the experience is that I didn't pay for it and still didn't enjoy it. Ps - Other reviewers are right about the staff. One poor server was about 50, overweight and sweating just brining drinks to a table. If you choose to go here, good luck to ya.
(2)
Christine T.
old school steak house - dark wood and low lights - super romantic and great for a date with the boyfriend. the waiters wear vests and white dress shirts - however they can get a little sloppy. had a little trouble understanding our drink order, but quickly fixed it and didnt slow down our evening. the piano player was also friendly and you could hear the music in the dining room without it being overly intrusive. steaks were cooked well - although my steak with blue cheese had a little too much sauce (not just au jus) for my taste. dessert was also great - but far too big to eat alone. the only problem was that on the night that we went there was a huge fight between a patron and the host - which didnt seem to go with the classy vibe that the restaurant tries to give off. im not sure what the fight was about - all i know if that the patron left pretty angry, but the restaurant gave him his money back. just not the best way to greet a first time customer.
(4)
Kemp M.
A Peoria institution with an amazing menu. The steaks are exquisite, the lobster is succulent, and everything else is prepared amazingly well. Try their house dressing, The Brittany, and their twice-baked potatoes. Their bar offerings and wine list are great as well.
(5)
Dena F.
On a business trip with no idea of where to have a nice solo dinner in Peoria, and I am so glad Jim's Steakhouse was an option. My dinner at Jim's Downtown Steakhouse was, by far, the best steakhouse experience I've ever had. I sat at the bar and made friends with the staff. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. The chef even brought out my entree for me! The food was delicious. I wanted to go light with the steak salad and it certainly surpassed my expectations. The steak was a perfect medium rare and the salad, itself, was quite tasty. For the first time in my life, I even ate all my peas. I would certainly recommend Jim Steakhouse, not just to Peoria visitors, but to Chicago residents as well. It was better than a lot of the steakhouses in Chicago that I've tried.
(5)
R.J. R.
Great steaks and lamb shanks. We were a party of ten and all the meals arrived cooked perfectly. Good service
(4)
Kay L.
Went to Jim's with extended family. We selected Jim's not just for the memorable food but in the past we all felt there was so much attention to detail. The salads and rolls were fresh, steaks cooked to order and as good as one would expect from a fine steakhouse. Also appreciated all the side options. Hmm, the details: the dessert cart was sitting by the entrance uncovered-didn't seem sanitary, we ordered wine by the glass yet the glasses on the table weren't removed so in order to make room we moved them to the end of our table. When the waitress or busboy didn't take them away we asked if they could be removed and the busboy moved them all onto a vacant chair at our table. And finally, fine dimly lit restaurants should provide penlights upon request of visitors comments that they can't see the menu.
(3)
Justin S.
Best steakhouse (and restaurant) in Peoria. Without a doubt. Get the prime rib and Caesar salad. I have yet to have a steakhouse Caesar salad anywhere, including many of the famed Chicago steakhouses, that tops the Jim's Caesar.
(5)
Michelle B.
A local treasure. The ambiance is old school all the way. Gordon Ramsey would be having a fit if he saw the carts being pushed around to deliver food..but the food is ohhh so worth it. If you are a fan of dry aged steaks, this place and Jim's bistro are now your only options it seems in Peoria now that F.Scott's is closed. The bone in filet and bone in Ribeye are absolutly sinful. Seasoned and cooked to perfection along with delicious sides..we are so happy to have found Jim's again after neglecting them for years. My husband and I tried Jim's years ago and we didn't care to much for our meal and were put off by the service. We favored another local establishment and went there for years and recently we had to branch out due to our old favorite's quality declining. Their loss is Jim's gain. I can honestly say the best Steak I have ever had has been at Jim's. Mind you we have eaten ALOT of steak from different locations thru out the country. Bern's in Tampa, Capital Grille, Strip Steak, Michael Mina, Emeril, Craftsteak, Ruth Chris, Mortons.....they have nothing but atmosphere and a big name on Jim's steak prep, quality and price point. Remember..if you want a excellent, dry aged steak cooked to perfection...you are going to pay a higher price for it ..but it is soooo worth it! If you make it on a Friday....choose the soup instead of the salad. The Best Cheese soup in the world in my honest opinion. We have been there for early dinner's, we have been the last diners and have always been treated with excellent service (besides our first visit). Reservations for early dining are recommended but we have always been able to get a table later in the evenings with hardly if any wait.
(4)
Scott W.
What!!! Four stars? Have you lost your gizzard. No, no, no, no, no. I've eaten here twice and won't be going back. Most recently, my wife and I went in about 5:30 on a weekday. Had to stand there at the host stand for about 3-4 minutes before anyone even said hello. Wait staff is very young which is always a BAD sign. If you go to a nice steakhouse like Joes or Keefers in chicago, you will notice that the waitstaff is late twentys at the youngest. If it's a nice place, people do not leave those jobs since they are making some serious money, therefore an 18 year old or young inexperienced twenty something would never be able to get a wait job there. Waitress didn't know jack about wine, which is fine since I do. She filled the wine glass almost to the top. Clueless. She took my order before my wifes and also served me before my wife. I will say she was very friendly and trying hard. My wife ordered the halibut grilled and I ordered the bone in porterhouse chop. Wife thought the halibut was chewy. They undercooked my chop twice (medium) and so I ordered the beef stroganof (sp?). I don't recall that dish being filled with onions when I had it growing up, well it is at Jims. On a bright note, we had the greg norman cab/merlot. Ole greg does some pretty nice wines. Stay away from Jims and go to June on prospect which is absolutely the best place to eat in Peoria. I also suggest Noir on prospect which is a new tapas place, very enjoyable.
(1)
Sandy G.
Dine by candlelight at Jim's! This is a special place we often frequent for its holiday brunches. Easter brunch offers a seafood spread with raw bar, salad bar, your choice of lamb, ham, roast beef and turkey. Typical side dishes accompany the holiday fare. Desserts galore and the soothing sounds of a harpist makes brunch an experience for everyone to enjoy. Brunch was pricey, but well worth it.
(3)
Job A.
great Steak, truly done wonderfully, much better then I expected. They did okay with their service and provided a great overall experience.
(3)
Jim K.
I would bump this up just a little from 3 stars, but can't quite reach 4. We have been to Jim's several times over the last several years. There seems to be potentially a downward trend, but I sure hope not. However, the filets we had were top notch. Done perfectly to the ordered medium-rare. This visit started a little weird, as we had to stand by the hostess stand for literally several minutes waiting for someone to come check us in. It did give us a chance to do a visual recon of the wine locker, which proved to be important. We (two of us) were seated in the corner which was OK. The table of five next to us were a little rowdy but generally not bad. The menus we were handed were pretty low quality, with one actually torn along the fold with a bunch of stains on the back. Not the high quality one would expect here. We asked for a wine list, and as we scanned it we noticed at least two that were not on the list that we visually spotted while waiting. I asked if there was a secret wine list, and the waitress was open about there being some that were not on the list. So we ordered the one we saw (05 Silverado Merlot). I was very surprised by the temperature of the wine. I know they aren't aging wine, but it really seemed to be too warm, close to room temperature. Not terrible for serving, but a little warm to be sitting in the locker day after day. I would definitely not order a high end wine. Orders went in, food came out. Like I said, the filets were awesome, and really bailed out the evening. Will likely return, as it is in the corridor of our travel to family, but it won't be a priority like it has been in the past.
(3)
Amy M.
Overpriced and not high quality. Stuffed mushrooms were made with imitation crab; not what I would expect from a restaurant that advertises itself as exclusive. My steak Diane was lukewarm, and the filet medallions were chewy. The service was slow, and the bartender gave me sprite when I asked for club soda with lime. The women's bathroom was rundown. The bill was $99.70 for two of us. I don't mind paying that if the food and service are worth it.
(1)
Bob K.
Best place to get a steak in Peoria County. Jim's is where the rich and famous eat when they're in town for the evening. Excellent for business entertainment and the food, staff and atmosphere are rated 5 stars in my book.
(5)
Rebecca W.
I have been going here for years and all good. But last night we had a bad experience. The place was incredibly noisy. We couldn't hear each other talk. My ears rang when I got back outside. The food was not good. My husband had beef stroganoff that tasted like uncooked noodles. I ordered the rib eye medium and he brought a filet well done. He said he wouldn't charge me the extra amount if I would eat it instead. So I did. I had green beans--also tasteless. I love green beans but didn't like these. We were treating friends who came to town. It was very disappointing.
(1)
Jen B.
On my one and only visit here, I mostly felt let down. I guess I had built this place up into a Peoria institution which it probably once was but now it consistently hits just off the mark. The dining room is a wee too dim (hard to read the menu) and the candles on the tables are just melting down onto the tablecloths. The chairs are made for much taller folks so I kind of felt like my chin was too near the table the whole night. Our server was very pleasant but just lacked enthusiasm and sort of treated us like we might be related to her. Hard to explain but she was just really relaxed and familiar which didn't go with the rest of the place. When it was time for the food, I chose king crab and au gratins. The potatoes were so CHEESY! Like there were 6 potato slices covered in a solid cup of cheese. I could spoon up the cheese by itself. Then the crab legs needed me to cut them with my butter knife. I don't think there is anything else to say about that. I would not choose to go here again but I would go and eat something else if I was invited. It's not terrible but it's also not special. I think a new chef/manager might breathe some life back into this fading gem but right now it is just a dinosaur in a basement.
(2)
Jesse P.
heard this place was the bomb but i dont see what the big deal is yo. its too dark in there , food is mediocre, and way overpriced for what i received.. oh yeah delivered some products there before and the cook was sweating over the grill .. watched the sweat drip right onto the food ... if your steak is a lil salty you know why folks... its no better than texas roadhouse or logans and longhorn blows them away.... go to any of these places instead bitches and use the money you saved on a movie afterwards cuz trust me the kitchen is disgusting!!!!
(1)
Glenn W.
One of the best places I've ever eaten! Try the Brittney salad dressing.
(5)
brian r.
What a disappointment. I haven't been to Jim's in about 5 years. It was very good with great service then. It is neither now. I sat at the bar and had the Lamb Chops. They were ok. The twice baked was cold. I was never asked how my meal was and had to ask the bar keep for my bill. It's not like they had too much to do. The staff was too busy talking to each other. 5 years ago it would have been 4 stars. This week just 2.
(2)
Nancy W.
Jim's Steakhouse Tucked into a basement in a very quiet Peoria downtown Jim's is what a steakhouse should be: dark, opulent, accommodating with attentive service, heavy bottomed cocktail glasses, long pours, a decent wine list and long listing of dry, aged cow on the menu. It's not hip or happening - hey, it's Peoria, kids. We didn't have reservations (It was a Monday) but the restaurant was nearly full around 8 p.m. when we arrived. The house salad was iceberg lettuce-based and forgettable but C liked his tomato-basil soup. Between the three of us we had the bone-in rib-eye, New York strip and my own medallions of Steak Diane. All were perfectly cooked to order and tasty. The boys had baked potatoes approximately the size of my head and I had a side of very good mushrooms. We split a couple bottles of Rodney Strong Cabernet. The dessert cart looked lovely - I talked C into sharing a piece of the strawberry cake with M so that I could cadge a bite and it was delicious. Cake is a highly under-appreciated dessert choice.
(4)
Edward M.
Excellent meal again this evening.
(4)
Dimitri Y.
Looking for something romantic? Have a date? Anniversary? Go here! The atmosphere is amazing! Very soft light, candle lit, and soft live music played by piano, and sometimes harp. The vibe is definitely upscale. Service is very friendly and great. The pricing is a bit on the steep side, but it's worth it. From the juicy succulent steak to the salad and bread appetizers -- they were all impeccable.
(5)
Erin P.
Its really a 3.5 I am not a big steak house person but when I was in Peoria for business my colleagues wanted to eat here. It is in the basement of a building and dimly lit. I waited at the bar for my coworkers and had a few martinis while doing so. The bartender was nice, mixed good drinks and made me blue cheese stuff olives (which is ALWAYS a plus!) The drinks were also cheap! Two kettle one martinis for $13.50!? This place was surprisingly busy on a Monday night. Our waiter was a good, paid attention to the table and service was quick. We had the calamari to start, it was nothing special, not good or bad. I had a tomato and onion salad which was great, the dressing was very flavorful. I also tried a friend's tomato and mozzarella salad which was also very good- lots of fresh cheese. I had the fillet mignon with blue cheese and it was cooked (or not cooked since I order "rare") to my request. I think that if you want to eat out in a nice restaurant in Peoria, this would be the best option.
(3)
Mike G.
Food is good. I agree that like many places in Peoria that the service is lackluster. I prefer Jim's Bistro in Peotia Heights to this one. I like the more intimate atmosphere.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate, Upscale Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Santa J.
Jim's is an old fashion steak house. Great food, great atmosphere-I've been to Morton's , Gallagher's and Smith and Wollensky and Jim's is definitely in their league!!
(4)Jennifer T.
My boyfriend and I went here for valentine's day and they had a great special going on for two steak dinners but I opted for the salmon which was cooked to perfection and came with a great salad that was above your average lettuce and carrots. The atmosphere of this place was also very intimate and dimly lit. Our waitress also brought out an assortment of desserts to choose from and they offered a full bar for those who enjoy a drink with dinner.
(5)Natasha T.
My husband and I only recently discovered Jim's Steakhouse within the last two years. Amazing steaks and we absolutley HAVE to order the Tomato and Mozzarella salad every time we go. Salads are good but ask for your dressing on the side. The desserts are delicious. I recommend the carrot cake or any of their cheesecakes. Our only criticisms are that it does tend to be quite dark during dinner and the male that usually seats folks is a bit snobby and rude. Oh and they have a lunch buffet for around $12 that is pretty good as well! When it comes to dinner on the weekend, reservations are a must. We had the same waitress (Lisa) the first two times and she was so great that we ask to be seated in her section whenever we go.
(4)Rich R.
Great experience! No reservation & seated promptly. Staff was friendly & swift. Ordered the orange roughy - cooked perfectly, not over-seasoned. Although very tempted, did not opt for dessert. I like this place.
(4)Silky O.
It was late October and an unusually warm night brought fog from the river creating a dream-like state. A warm breeze with hints of burning leaves mixed with the smell of grilled steak teased the nostrils as my business partners and I walked the street. Cigars that spoke money and tasted of foreign spices added only a touch of class. We arrived at Jim's steakhouse with reservations for 8:00 and didnt mind our premature appearance as we sipped Johnnie Walker in the dark oaky bar near the dining area. We sat at white clothed tables and all of us ordered the filet mignon on the bone. We were served with top-notch service and drank some of the finest wine - BV Tapestry. This isnt some kind of sick perverted middle aged man's dream, this was my experience at one of the best steakhouses in Illinois. See you soon and I love you, Silky
(5)David B.
Stopped in after Wicked, the Black Rabbit was closed. Had a couple of Manhattans that were very good.
(4)Mike R.
One of the best filets in the Midwest. Only if you go to Gibsons or Ruth's Chris in Chicago will you find something better - remember medium rare is all you want to order.. I have hosted visitors from all over the world here and they continually rave about the quality of the Steak. Granted, the service could be more modern, but that is part f what makes this place what it is...BTW, have I mentioned the calamari which is unbelievable.
(4)Anne W.
My friend took me here to show me that there is actually good steak at a classy place outside of Chicago. This place is in downtown Peoria.. and believe me, it's empty out here in the evenings. The place itself is in the basement (similar to Morton's in Chicago) and it is very very dark in here. Although it might be romantic, I'm not sure if it would suit me as I could barely read the menu. The service is pretty good.... similar to what you would expect at an upscale restaurant. I had the ribeye.. it was very good. My friend also had it but it was so dark (only candlelight) that we're pretty sure that it was overdone and had to send it back. It was no problem though.. they redid a new steak. I think we also tried one of their desserts. It was just mediocre. Overall.. I think it's a nice place to eat but I would definetely come here again and maybe try something else.
(3)Ed B.
I came here for the first time yesterday for lunch with a few co-workers. The restaurant itself is an old school type of steakhouse and was fairly nice inside. The decor is classic old steakhouse and fairly well kept. The service was really good. We had the lunch buffet so we did not get a chance to try the steaks. Both peple I was with are locals and have been there many times and they really like the place for a good steak. The buffet was not big but there was plenty to eat. They had roast sirloin in au jus which was tasty but not overly tender. There was a lagnasa which I did not try but the others did and liked it. The roast pork with sweet potato mash looked good and had a decent taste but the loin was a bit dry and thus chewy. The roasted chicken breast with sundried tomato and cheese was also that way. There was a meditreanaen mushroom side dish that had cheeses and kalmata olives in it and it was excellent. The fresh green beans were also quite good. Then I tried the she crab soup. It was pretty good but a bit bland that a touch of salt helped. The salad bar part of the buffet had 6 different salads that included some nicely done specialties besides the tossed version, which did have lots of veggies in it as well. And last but not least the desert table had 6 large pies of differnt types. They looked great but I was at the point I could not eat another bite so I had to pass. Many folks were partaking and enjoying as I looked around the room. The buffet is well worth the price even if was not perfect and I would try it again. As well I would like to try the steaks here sometime.
(3)Patrick L.
Have come here many times over the years for dinner & it's always been great. It's what I consider to be a classic steakhouse. The staff is excellent, including one very nice lady (whose name I've sadly forgotten) who has waited on me multiple times over the years. The food is well prepared with plenty of different options & the drinks are made well. The lighting is low, yet more than sufficient to read the menu. The background music (piano/harp) are both enjoyable at a very satisfactory volume & they really help to enhance the experience rather than detract from it as some places do.
(5)Yvonne O.
So, I only had the lunch buffet, so I can't really say whether the steak here is worthwhile, but I would skip the buffet if I would ever be back in town. I wandered around the courthouse area looking for something other than a bar or a sandwich shop for a while and found nothing. Maybe I should have headed further in the other direction? Even consulting Yelp on my phone didn't reveal many other choices and a Chinese restaurant that they claimed was right here just didn't exist. So, I figured how bad could a steakhouse be? First, being in a basement gives me pause. In Chicago, that's where the rats and bugs hit first, so you never want to eat in a below-ground restaurant. The lunch was $11.95 and really had limited options. There were two bowls of salad (regular and Caesar), some raw veggies, and some large chunks of pepper jack and cheddar cheese along with some rolls and crackers. Then for entrees they had chicken fajitas, prime rib (VERY well done) and a fish filet with panko (?) crumbs on top. There were over done green beans, some potatoes and a minestrone soup. For dessert there was pecan pie, caramel apple pie and some cookies and brownies. It was just past noon and already a lot of the trays were empty. It's not really the quantity, but the tasteless quality that makes me give this low marks. I've only been to Peoria three times and I have to say I remain unimpressed with the food options.
(2)J. D.
I was visiting my parents in Peoria, and they suggested we go to Jim's Steak House for dinner. When my brother & sisters were included, we made up a party of 11, and were seated in the "conference room," which was fine. Our orders were taken; drinks were distributed; the salads came out. They were extremely cafeteria-esque, being chopped lettuce, grated carrots, some sliced red cabbage, one grape tomato and an entire green onion on top. The vinaigrette I'd ordered was exceedingly sweet and the salad was literally swimming in it. When the entrées arrived, the waitress (in removing it from the trolley) dropped my mother's plate on the floor. This is an honest mistake: these things happen. But what happened next mystifies me. The waitress said she'd bring another entrée out so my mother could take it home in about 30 minutes and then proceeded to leave her without anything to eat. Let me repeat that: in a RESTAURANT, a business that serves food, the waitress made an error and then left the patron without anything to eat while everyone else had just been served. In what alternative universe is this considered acceptable?!? So using our bread plates, those of us at the table took pieces of our meals and gave it to my mother (who then had a meal and could eat with us). As I was eating my own meal, a bus boy came by and refilled water glasses as someone else started removing plates -- including my baked potato which I wasn't finished with. I was still eating -- still had filet mignon on my plate -- and they were removing my food while I was eating. The restaurant was not packed -- they didn't need to get rid of us so that they could turn the table and get more people in -- so this urgency to clear the table while we were eating was totally unnecessary. About the time we were ready to leave, the waitress emerged with a styrofoam take-away container wrapped in cellophane and gave it to my mother. The dropped meal -- and the fact the restaurant didn't simply provide a new entrée IMMEDIATELY was never dealt with -- they didn't even take the cost of the meal off the tab. Given there were 11 of us and each entrée averages $35, the bill total had to have been in excess of $450 once drinks were added. $450+ and my mother was handed the meal she'd ordered in styrofoam AS WE WERE LEAVING. I don't even know how to wrap my head around this "service" or why the manager didn't remove the cost of the meal. Yes, mistakes are made -- but this is so far beyond the pale that it defies rational explanation. Other Yelp reviews have said "overpriced" (yes), "unimpressed" (yes). To this list I'd add that the waitstaff is "clueless". This restaurant has no business pretending to be upscale and charging $35 - 55 per entrée and then treat the patrons as if they were an afterthought. Bad, bad, bad.
(1)Rolando G.
I have to say I came away extremely impressed with this restaurant. My wife and I dined here on Valentine's Day. We both enjoyed immensely the service, food, and environment. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to budget conscious individual, but I would say it is a must try at least once kind of place. I expected to enjoy a good meal, but came away with an "Experience." We will be back soon, and I plan on trying all their different steaks before moving on to graduate school in California.
(5)Jeffery P.
Nice atmosphere with a friendly staff. The food was excellent I had the twin steak medallions that were excellent and cooked to protection. We sat in the bar piano area and it was really to dark for eating which I guess that was our mistake.
(4)Sherah B.
Jim's Steak House is a good restaurant and their steak is excellent. However, their portions are HUGE. I know most would not care about this, but when I have a salad, I don't want a cup of dressing poured on top. When I want a baked potato, I don't want a cup of sour cream poured on top...yes I should have asked for this on the side and next time I will. The food is good, but a little excessive. Honestly-I'm sure I'm the only one to complain about that however!
(3)Pj L.
The Steak House by its very nature is not a fast food, brightly lit, noisy diner, with loud music and screaming children. It's a quiet, dimly lit space, with soft, low key, or no background music, that features a full ala carte menu, a wine and liquor list, and table service. It is where one has time to enjoy a drink and salad before the main course is served. Waitstaff is attentive. This is Jim's. The difference is the dry.aged..beef.. You won't find it at Ruths's Chris, or any other steak house in Peoria. The dry aging of the beef served at Jim's is not the norm found in most restaurants. Peoria is not tony Manhattan or sporty Chicago. It is a research and STEM city in the Midwest. It's a place where a guest is treated fairly and one can eat well for far less than $300 per plate. Those who complain generally do not understand commercial food preparation or how it is plated in a fine dining setting. Excepting of a very few salads, the dressing can be served on the side. Crab Legs should be served with a tool called a 'claw cracker', or if requested it can be served without the shell. Blue Cheese alone is a strong, creamy, cheese made from cow's milk that is only slightly milder than horseradish. It will enhance a green olive, and overpower fowl, beef, lamb, fish and chicken. The staff should be able to answer 99% of the questions asked about the food or liquor served. The kitchen should be able to meet 99% of "special requests" - although it may delay table service for up to 20 minutes or longer on a busy night. . Jim's Downtown Steak House is the ultimate fine dining in a public setting. The other option for fine dining in Peoria is a private club. Very often private clubs have reciprocal agreements with similar clubs in the United States to meet their member's needs when visiting. Ask your club before traveling There are several restaurants in Peoria that serve a good prime steak. Sky Harbor, Lariat, Three25, and Alexander's come to mind. For those who want the ambiance of a true 'old school' steak house for meetings with small groups of friends, or a business lunch, Jim's is hard to beat. It's convenient to business, the two court houses, the main library, and the medical district. Jim's is convenient to everything downtown. From the theatre district to the Peoria Riverfront one can listen to live Jazz, visit museums, take a cruise on the the Spirit of Peoria, take a trolly tour of historic Peoria, or sleep on a feather bed.
(5)Greg J.
Oh my, this is a steakhouse, Peoria? Maybe the lowest quality filet I have ever eaten. I could get a better cut of meat at Costco. I started with the tomatoes and mozzarella which sucked as much as the steak. No uniform cut to either the tomatoes or mozzarella AND the tomatoes were swimming in juice. The sad part about the experience is that I didn't pay for it and still didn't enjoy it. Ps - Other reviewers are right about the staff. One poor server was about 50, overweight and sweating just brining drinks to a table. If you choose to go here, good luck to ya.
(2)Christine T.
old school steak house - dark wood and low lights - super romantic and great for a date with the boyfriend. the waiters wear vests and white dress shirts - however they can get a little sloppy. had a little trouble understanding our drink order, but quickly fixed it and didnt slow down our evening. the piano player was also friendly and you could hear the music in the dining room without it being overly intrusive. steaks were cooked well - although my steak with blue cheese had a little too much sauce (not just au jus) for my taste. dessert was also great - but far too big to eat alone. the only problem was that on the night that we went there was a huge fight between a patron and the host - which didnt seem to go with the classy vibe that the restaurant tries to give off. im not sure what the fight was about - all i know if that the patron left pretty angry, but the restaurant gave him his money back. just not the best way to greet a first time customer.
(4)Kemp M.
A Peoria institution with an amazing menu. The steaks are exquisite, the lobster is succulent, and everything else is prepared amazingly well. Try their house dressing, The Brittany, and their twice-baked potatoes. Their bar offerings and wine list are great as well.
(5)Dena F.
On a business trip with no idea of where to have a nice solo dinner in Peoria, and I am so glad Jim's Steakhouse was an option. My dinner at Jim's Downtown Steakhouse was, by far, the best steakhouse experience I've ever had. I sat at the bar and made friends with the staff. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. The chef even brought out my entree for me! The food was delicious. I wanted to go light with the steak salad and it certainly surpassed my expectations. The steak was a perfect medium rare and the salad, itself, was quite tasty. For the first time in my life, I even ate all my peas. I would certainly recommend Jim Steakhouse, not just to Peoria visitors, but to Chicago residents as well. It was better than a lot of the steakhouses in Chicago that I've tried.
(5)R.J. R.
Great steaks and lamb shanks. We were a party of ten and all the meals arrived cooked perfectly. Good service
(4)Kay L.
Went to Jim's with extended family. We selected Jim's not just for the memorable food but in the past we all felt there was so much attention to detail. The salads and rolls were fresh, steaks cooked to order and as good as one would expect from a fine steakhouse. Also appreciated all the side options. Hmm, the details: the dessert cart was sitting by the entrance uncovered-didn't seem sanitary, we ordered wine by the glass yet the glasses on the table weren't removed so in order to make room we moved them to the end of our table. When the waitress or busboy didn't take them away we asked if they could be removed and the busboy moved them all onto a vacant chair at our table. And finally, fine dimly lit restaurants should provide penlights upon request of visitors comments that they can't see the menu.
(3)Justin S.
Best steakhouse (and restaurant) in Peoria. Without a doubt. Get the prime rib and Caesar salad. I have yet to have a steakhouse Caesar salad anywhere, including many of the famed Chicago steakhouses, that tops the Jim's Caesar.
(5)Michelle B.
A local treasure. The ambiance is old school all the way. Gordon Ramsey would be having a fit if he saw the carts being pushed around to deliver food..but the food is ohhh so worth it. If you are a fan of dry aged steaks, this place and Jim's bistro are now your only options it seems in Peoria now that F.Scott's is closed. The bone in filet and bone in Ribeye are absolutly sinful. Seasoned and cooked to perfection along with delicious sides..we are so happy to have found Jim's again after neglecting them for years. My husband and I tried Jim's years ago and we didn't care to much for our meal and were put off by the service. We favored another local establishment and went there for years and recently we had to branch out due to our old favorite's quality declining. Their loss is Jim's gain. I can honestly say the best Steak I have ever had has been at Jim's. Mind you we have eaten ALOT of steak from different locations thru out the country. Bern's in Tampa, Capital Grille, Strip Steak, Michael Mina, Emeril, Craftsteak, Ruth Chris, Mortons.....they have nothing but atmosphere and a big name on Jim's steak prep, quality and price point. Remember..if you want a excellent, dry aged steak cooked to perfection...you are going to pay a higher price for it ..but it is soooo worth it! If you make it on a Friday....choose the soup instead of the salad. The Best Cheese soup in the world in my honest opinion. We have been there for early dinner's, we have been the last diners and have always been treated with excellent service (besides our first visit). Reservations for early dining are recommended but we have always been able to get a table later in the evenings with hardly if any wait.
(4)Scott W.
What!!! Four stars? Have you lost your gizzard. No, no, no, no, no. I've eaten here twice and won't be going back. Most recently, my wife and I went in about 5:30 on a weekday. Had to stand there at the host stand for about 3-4 minutes before anyone even said hello. Wait staff is very young which is always a BAD sign. If you go to a nice steakhouse like Joes or Keefers in chicago, you will notice that the waitstaff is late twentys at the youngest. If it's a nice place, people do not leave those jobs since they are making some serious money, therefore an 18 year old or young inexperienced twenty something would never be able to get a wait job there. Waitress didn't know jack about wine, which is fine since I do. She filled the wine glass almost to the top. Clueless. She took my order before my wifes and also served me before my wife. I will say she was very friendly and trying hard. My wife ordered the halibut grilled and I ordered the bone in porterhouse chop. Wife thought the halibut was chewy. They undercooked my chop twice (medium) and so I ordered the beef stroganof (sp?). I don't recall that dish being filled with onions when I had it growing up, well it is at Jims. On a bright note, we had the greg norman cab/merlot. Ole greg does some pretty nice wines. Stay away from Jims and go to June on prospect which is absolutely the best place to eat in Peoria. I also suggest Noir on prospect which is a new tapas place, very enjoyable.
(1)Sandy G.
Dine by candlelight at Jim's! This is a special place we often frequent for its holiday brunches. Easter brunch offers a seafood spread with raw bar, salad bar, your choice of lamb, ham, roast beef and turkey. Typical side dishes accompany the holiday fare. Desserts galore and the soothing sounds of a harpist makes brunch an experience for everyone to enjoy. Brunch was pricey, but well worth it.
(3)Job A.
great Steak, truly done wonderfully, much better then I expected. They did okay with their service and provided a great overall experience.
(3)Jim K.
I would bump this up just a little from 3 stars, but can't quite reach 4. We have been to Jim's several times over the last several years. There seems to be potentially a downward trend, but I sure hope not. However, the filets we had were top notch. Done perfectly to the ordered medium-rare. This visit started a little weird, as we had to stand by the hostess stand for literally several minutes waiting for someone to come check us in. It did give us a chance to do a visual recon of the wine locker, which proved to be important. We (two of us) were seated in the corner which was OK. The table of five next to us were a little rowdy but generally not bad. The menus we were handed were pretty low quality, with one actually torn along the fold with a bunch of stains on the back. Not the high quality one would expect here. We asked for a wine list, and as we scanned it we noticed at least two that were not on the list that we visually spotted while waiting. I asked if there was a secret wine list, and the waitress was open about there being some that were not on the list. So we ordered the one we saw (05 Silverado Merlot). I was very surprised by the temperature of the wine. I know they aren't aging wine, but it really seemed to be too warm, close to room temperature. Not terrible for serving, but a little warm to be sitting in the locker day after day. I would definitely not order a high end wine. Orders went in, food came out. Like I said, the filets were awesome, and really bailed out the evening. Will likely return, as it is in the corridor of our travel to family, but it won't be a priority like it has been in the past.
(3)Amy M.
Overpriced and not high quality. Stuffed mushrooms were made with imitation crab; not what I would expect from a restaurant that advertises itself as exclusive. My steak Diane was lukewarm, and the filet medallions were chewy. The service was slow, and the bartender gave me sprite when I asked for club soda with lime. The women's bathroom was rundown. The bill was $99.70 for two of us. I don't mind paying that if the food and service are worth it.
(1)Bob K.
Best place to get a steak in Peoria County. Jim's is where the rich and famous eat when they're in town for the evening. Excellent for business entertainment and the food, staff and atmosphere are rated 5 stars in my book.
(5)Rebecca W.
I have been going here for years and all good. But last night we had a bad experience. The place was incredibly noisy. We couldn't hear each other talk. My ears rang when I got back outside. The food was not good. My husband had beef stroganoff that tasted like uncooked noodles. I ordered the rib eye medium and he brought a filet well done. He said he wouldn't charge me the extra amount if I would eat it instead. So I did. I had green beans--also tasteless. I love green beans but didn't like these. We were treating friends who came to town. It was very disappointing.
(1)Jen B.
On my one and only visit here, I mostly felt let down. I guess I had built this place up into a Peoria institution which it probably once was but now it consistently hits just off the mark. The dining room is a wee too dim (hard to read the menu) and the candles on the tables are just melting down onto the tablecloths. The chairs are made for much taller folks so I kind of felt like my chin was too near the table the whole night. Our server was very pleasant but just lacked enthusiasm and sort of treated us like we might be related to her. Hard to explain but she was just really relaxed and familiar which didn't go with the rest of the place. When it was time for the food, I chose king crab and au gratins. The potatoes were so CHEESY! Like there were 6 potato slices covered in a solid cup of cheese. I could spoon up the cheese by itself. Then the crab legs needed me to cut them with my butter knife. I don't think there is anything else to say about that. I would not choose to go here again but I would go and eat something else if I was invited. It's not terrible but it's also not special. I think a new chef/manager might breathe some life back into this fading gem but right now it is just a dinosaur in a basement.
(2)Jesse P.
heard this place was the bomb but i dont see what the big deal is yo. its too dark in there , food is mediocre, and way overpriced for what i received.. oh yeah delivered some products there before and the cook was sweating over the grill .. watched the sweat drip right onto the food ... if your steak is a lil salty you know why folks... its no better than texas roadhouse or logans and longhorn blows them away.... go to any of these places instead bitches and use the money you saved on a movie afterwards cuz trust me the kitchen is disgusting!!!!
(1)Glenn W.
One of the best places I've ever eaten! Try the Brittney salad dressing.
(5)brian r.
What a disappointment. I haven't been to Jim's in about 5 years. It was very good with great service then. It is neither now. I sat at the bar and had the Lamb Chops. They were ok. The twice baked was cold. I was never asked how my meal was and had to ask the bar keep for my bill. It's not like they had too much to do. The staff was too busy talking to each other. 5 years ago it would have been 4 stars. This week just 2.
(2)Nancy W.
Jim's Steakhouse Tucked into a basement in a very quiet Peoria downtown Jim's is what a steakhouse should be: dark, opulent, accommodating with attentive service, heavy bottomed cocktail glasses, long pours, a decent wine list and long listing of dry, aged cow on the menu. It's not hip or happening - hey, it's Peoria, kids. We didn't have reservations (It was a Monday) but the restaurant was nearly full around 8 p.m. when we arrived. The house salad was iceberg lettuce-based and forgettable but C liked his tomato-basil soup. Between the three of us we had the bone-in rib-eye, New York strip and my own medallions of Steak Diane. All were perfectly cooked to order and tasty. The boys had baked potatoes approximately the size of my head and I had a side of very good mushrooms. We split a couple bottles of Rodney Strong Cabernet. The dessert cart looked lovely - I talked C into sharing a piece of the strawberry cake with M so that I could cadge a bite and it was delicious. Cake is a highly under-appreciated dessert choice.
(4)Edward M.
Excellent meal again this evening.
(4)Dimitri Y.
Looking for something romantic? Have a date? Anniversary? Go here! The atmosphere is amazing! Very soft light, candle lit, and soft live music played by piano, and sometimes harp. The vibe is definitely upscale. Service is very friendly and great. The pricing is a bit on the steep side, but it's worth it. From the juicy succulent steak to the salad and bread appetizers -- they were all impeccable.
(5)Erin P.
Its really a 3.5 I am not a big steak house person but when I was in Peoria for business my colleagues wanted to eat here. It is in the basement of a building and dimly lit. I waited at the bar for my coworkers and had a few martinis while doing so. The bartender was nice, mixed good drinks and made me blue cheese stuff olives (which is ALWAYS a plus!) The drinks were also cheap! Two kettle one martinis for $13.50!? This place was surprisingly busy on a Monday night. Our waiter was a good, paid attention to the table and service was quick. We had the calamari to start, it was nothing special, not good or bad. I had a tomato and onion salad which was great, the dressing was very flavorful. I also tried a friend's tomato and mozzarella salad which was also very good- lots of fresh cheese. I had the fillet mignon with blue cheese and it was cooked (or not cooked since I order "rare") to my request. I think that if you want to eat out in a nice restaurant in Peoria, this would be the best option.
(3)Mike G.
Food is good. I agree that like many places in Peoria that the service is lackluster. I prefer Jim's Bistro in Peotia Heights to this one. I like the more intimate atmosphere.
(4)