Check out new fall menus from these 21 Peoria-area restaurants and cafes

Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star
·7 min read

The start of autumn is apparent in the Peoria area.

The hot days are subsiding, the leaves are beginning to change and local cafes and restaurants are rolling out fresh fall flavors on their menus. From "cozy snack trays" to "hatched spider eggs," here are some of the seasonal specials you'll find at local businesses.

Peoria-area coffee shops

A fresh cup of Faire Coffee awaits a customer at the new store on the square in Washington.
A fresh cup of Faire Coffee awaits a customer at the new store on the square in Washington.

From pumpkin in everything to maple hot chocolate and caramel apple doughnut lattes, you don't have to venture far to find fall flavors. There are multiple local coffee shops which have recently updated their seasonal offerings. These include businesses such as:

The Chef and The Baker

The Winter Cobb salad is one of the many fall menu items customers can order at The Chef and The Baker.
The Winter Cobb salad is one of the many fall menu items customers can order at The Chef and The Baker.

Customers will be able to find seasonal soups, sandwiches and salads. New menu items include:

  • Winter Cobb salad with butternut squash, dried cranberries, white cheddar, spiced almonds, onions, tomato and a maple vinaigrette for $12.

  • Code VII, which is served on a mandarin orange tortilla and includes sliced smoked turkey breast, Danish Havarti cheese, a cran-rosemary spread, onions, lettuce and tomatoes for $11.50.

  • Beef and Blue, which is served on a rosemary focaccia and topped with sliced roast beef, blue cheese horseradish sauce, lettuce, onions and tomatoes for $13.

The Chef and The Baker offer a Beef and Blue sandwich, which includes a blue cheese horseradish sauce, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and roast beef.
The Chef and The Baker offer a Beef and Blue sandwich, which includes a blue cheese horseradish sauce, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and roast beef.

The business also offers daily specials such as chicken pot pie on Thursdays, chicken enchiladas on Tuesdays and more.

Address: 106 E. McClure Ave., Peoria

Website: https://thechefandthebaker.com/

Crafted DIY Studio & Bar

The Pumpkin Mule at Crafted DIY Studio & Bar is described as "perfectly fall" on the business's website.
The Pumpkin Mule at Crafted DIY Studio & Bar is described as "perfectly fall" on the business's website.

Crafted DIY Studio & Bar has introduced a variety of seasonal cocktails, including:

  • Bourbon blush for $13

  • Pumpkin mule for $13

  • Fuzzy sweater for $13. The drink includes gin, lemon and chamomile, as well as "a beautiful foamy head (that) will remind you of your favorite fuzzy sweater."

  • Spiked apple cider for $12

  • Bonfire Mar-tea-ni for $12

Crafted DIY Studio & Bar offers a spiked apple cider on its fall drink menu.
Crafted DIY Studio & Bar offers a spiked apple cider on its fall drink menu.

Customers can enjoy a drink while working on string art, leather items, home decor, jewelry and other art projects.

On Oct. 19, the business is also hosting a Halloween Cocktail Class at 6 p.m. Reservations can be made at Crafted DIY Studio & Bar's website.

Address: 807 SW Adams St., Peoria

Website: https://www.crafteddiystudio.com/

Cyd's in the Park

After the death of longtime grill chef Justin Knight, operations at Cyd's eat-in grill were disrupted.

The eat-in grill is now operating on Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., though it will be on fall break Oct. 13 and 14. The fall menu includes items such as:

  • Fall focaccia for $20

  • Plums, Beets + Burrata salad for $22

  • Cozy snack tray for $22

  • Autumn grain bowl for $24

  • Pasta Bolognese for $26

  • Chicken Marbella for $26

  • Red wine braised short ribs for $32

The restaurant is also currently offering a baklava cheesecake for dessert.

The Star Bar is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and the Take Away Market continues to operate Monday through Saturday.

Address: 5805 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria

Website: https://www.cyds.biz/

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Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery

A blood bag cocktail known as a B Positive (blood orange and vodka) chills on ice at Kelleher's Irish Pub's Cauldrons and Cocktails Halloween-themed pop-up bar in Peoria.
A blood bag cocktail known as a B Positive (blood orange and vodka) chills on ice at Kelleher's Irish Pub's Cauldrons and Cocktails Halloween-themed pop-up bar in Peoria.

In October, Kelleher's is hosting a Cauldrons & Cocktails pop up bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Reservations are required, and the menu items include:

  • "Edward Scissorbeak" − which features chicken, pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, potatoes and tomatoes for $25

  • Ghoulish Greens Salad for $12

  • Hatched Spider Eggs − which are button mushrooms with crab stuffing for $13

For cocktails, the restaurant features names like "B Positive," Witches Brew, "The Witches Hat" and more.

Address: 619 SW Water St., Peoria

Website: https://www.kellehersonwater.com/

Kemp 208 Main Street Grille

Customers can find updated fall lunch and dinner menus at Kemp 208 Main Street Grille.

The lunch menu features items such as a fall salad − which includes pears, cranberry, pepitas, bacon, red onions and a spiced caramel apple vinaigrette − for $10. The restaurant also offers an Allium burger and blackened chicken sandwich for $15 and $14, respectively.

Address: 208 N. Main St., Morton

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kemp208

Obed & Isaac's Microbrewery and Eatery

The downtown Peoria business recently unveiled new food and drink menus for fall. Customers can find menu options such as:

  • Lobster mac and cheese for $14

  • Black & Bleu Salad which features grilled ribeye, crispy fried onion tanglers and bleu cheese, for $19

  • German goulash served with garlic bread for $17.50.

  • Grilled marinated bone-in pork chop served atop a bed of rice with a side for $19.

  • Diver's Catch − which features fried pollack, fried shrimp and onion rings served with french fries for $18.50.

For dessert, visitors can find an caramel apple crumble for $7 or $8.50 ala mode. Fall drink options include an "apple cider delite," bourbon beer back and more. Obed & Isaac's also offers rotating features.

This year, the restaurant has also reintroduced Sunday brunches, which is offered from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Customers can order country fried steak and eggs and more.

Address: 321 NE Madison Ave., Peoria

Website: https://www.connshg.com/obed-and-isaacs/peoria/

Real Smooth Foods

Customers can find a banana bread bowl at Real Smooth Foods, which is located in the Junction City Shopping Center.
Customers can find a banana bread bowl at Real Smooth Foods, which is located in the Junction City Shopping Center.

At the shop, customers can find seasonal smoothies and bowls. Smoothie flavors include pumpkin chocolate chip and apple pie, while bowls feature banana bread and caramel apple. Ready-to-drink smoothies are listed as $8 online, and bowls are listed for $12.

Address: 5901 N. Prospect Road, Suite 101A, Peoria

Website: https://real-smooth-foods.square.site/

Radish Kitchen

A neon sign declaring "Eat More Plants" decorates a wall at the entrance to Radish Kitchen in Campustown.
A neon sign declaring "Eat More Plants" decorates a wall at the entrance to Radish Kitchen in Campustown.

Customers can find seasonal items such as the "Brussel Bowl," which includes cranberry, yams, seasonal veggies, a maple mustard sauce and more for $14. The vegan restaurant has brought back roasted butternut squash "Mac & Chz" for $11.

Favorites at the restaurant also include "Eat Gourd Curry" for $12. The dish includes pumpkin and coconut curry, seasonal vegetables, apples, lentils and brown rice.

Address: 1200 W. Main St., Peoria

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radishkitchenpeoria

Suite Fire Bar & Grille

In October, Suite Fire Bar & Grille is featuring "Autumn Flavors Takeover" specials. These include dishes such as maple walnut salmon, balsamic brown sugar filet medallions and autumn chicken pasta.

The restaurant will host an "October Delights Suite Night" later in the month. The event will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 26 and will include brown butter honey shrimp, a bourbon chicken sandwich and Dijon-braised pork shank.

Address: 7601 N. Orange Prairie Road, Peoria

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suitefire/

W.E. Sullivan's

W.E. Sullivan's fall menu includes the "Porkimus Prime" sandwich.
W.E. Sullivan's fall menu includes the "Porkimus Prime" sandwich.

The restaurant rolled out its updated fall menu on Oct. 10. Customers can now find dishes including:

  • "Porkimus Prime": The sandwich features thick-cut smoked maple bourbon glazed pork belly, thin-sliced prime rib, the restaurant's pub sauce and red onions. It is served on an Everything seasoned bun.

  • Bourbon & bleu steak salad: The dish features pork belly, prime rib, bleu cheese dressing and crumbles, tomatoes, red onions, sweet potato and mixed greens.

  • Venison chili: The chili is served with Guinness sour cream and cheddar cheese.

  • Irish Cowboy: A chicken breast marinated in mesquite and served with pepper jack cheese, sauteed red peppers and onions and the restaurant's pub sauce.

For dessert, customers can find an apple streusel flatbread on the fall menu at W.E. Sullivan's Irish Pub and Fare.
For dessert, customers can find an apple streusel flatbread on the fall menu at W.E. Sullivan's Irish Pub and Fare.

Other new menu options include a harvest flatbread, Seoul fish sandwich, BBQ pork mac wrap and a margherita flatbread.

Customers will also be able to order two new desserts − an apple streusel flatbread and an alcoholic Irish car bomb cheesecake.

Recently, the business temporarily limited its hours to find and train more staff. The restaurant plans to resume its normal hours of operation on Nov. 1. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The business is closed Sunday and Monday.

Address: 4538 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights

Website: https://www.wesullivansirishpub.com/#dine

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria area restaurants and cafes introduce new fall menus