Restaurants we loved, no longer with us
I know there are 2 threads about current long-time restaurants in Peoria and surrounding area. Here are my favorite places to eat that are no longer with us:
Shakey's Pizza - on University. Loved their Bunch-A-Lunch. My parents and me went there often on Sundays after church. Had my brother-in-law's bachelor party there. We got thrown out for being too loud, singing along to ragtime piano. (Hey, I was drinking root beer, I was 15!)
Lums - Pekin and Peoria. Loved their Ollie Burger!
Ponderosa - Pekin and Peoria, on Knoxville. Ate at Peoria location a lot when working for PCCEO. There also used to be a Bonanza on University, I think.
Heritage House Smorgasboard - up on Knoxville
Unknown in EP - another Smorgasboard on Meadows Avenue just past the 1st curve. Cannot remember name.
Xanos - in Pekin, another Sunday favorite. Great chicken, but as a kid, always had to order Chicken & Noodles on child plate. (Andy's Diner in Pekin still has same recipe)
Bishop's Buffet - Downtown Sears Block
Sandy's - the place to go for fast food burgers and fries before McD's flooded the area with stores
Beef-A-Roo - in early 70's, my mom worked there as an Assistant Manager, along with my sister. Mom had to quit because I wasn't doing my homework at night, always watched TV (I was technically alone, since my dad was asleep in bed for his 3rd shift CAT job). Beef-A-Roo closed after Arby's came to town, who took over a former Hardee's location (who had taken over the Sandy's)
Weaver's Chicken - in Pekin. (There used to be one in Chili as well). They took over the building where Beef-A-Roo was located.
Wagon Wheel - in East Peoria near where CAT AD building is, close to the on-ramp to East & West bound I-74. Another place where I always got to eat chicken and noodles.
