Gebby's Family Restaurant

Last week we were on our way out of town and looking for some place to have breakfast.

I hadn't been to Gebby's Family Restaurant in years, so I suggested it.

We arrived at 726 E. War Memorial Drive in Peoria Heights just before 9 a.m., and were seated quickly. But from the time we sat down, I noticed a constant stream of people coming in, and many times people had, and were willing, to wait for a table to empty up. All this on a weekday, too.

The restaurant was tidy and nondescript, with light wood and light paint colors throughout. Wagon wheels were mounted inside window openings next to the booths.

The coffee was hot but not bold, and I enjoyed a glass of grapefruit juice, which they offer in three sizes.

The service was efficient and the food was good.

I ordered eggs Benedict and my eggs were covered in Hollandaise, perched atop nicely crisped English muffins, appropriately accompanied by a steak knife to cut through said crispy muffins.

My husband had biscuits topped with a thick, creamy gravy and a side of corned beef hash.

I noticed several homestyle lunch specials posted on the wall, such as meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, which would hit just the right spot during the lunch hour.

Gebby's is only open for breakfast and lunch.

More dining savings

There was a discussion going on recently in the comments section of my blog about Dining Tour books.
The $30 books are sold as fundraisers for various organizations in the area.
My husband and I have bought these several times in the past, and recoup our costs quickly with the offers inside.
This year's book includes restaurants like Aachi's Indian Cuisine (which we've been planning to try); The Chateau; Kaiserhof Restaurant; Maid Rite; Peoria Pizza Works; and Water Street Café, just to name a few.
Find out more about how you can purchase a book on Peoria Secret Server's blog.

Noted

We've been vacationing over the last few weeks, and have been catching up on changes around the Peoria area.

Feldan's Pizza Pasta & More in Peoria has closed.

Apostrophe bar in Peoria's Junction City has closed, and soon will reopen as another bar.

Café Evergreen in Peoria's Metro Centre is closed.

Monroe Restaurant and Bar in Peoria's Campustown is now open in the Zim's location.

Double D Diner is in the works in Washington.

I'll post more as a remember or see them.

Savings galore

If you're looking to stretch your dollars and support local businesses, here are a few good finds.

Frugal Fridays is offering half price gift certificates such as:

$50 for $25 for Specs Around Town in Bloomington

$50 for $25 for Sticks and Stones in Peoria (as seen on Oprah, of course)

$51 for $26 for Wee Tee in Peoria

$50 for $25 for Kartville in West Peoria

Discount Dining is offering:

$30 for $15 for Stadium Pizza in Peoria

$30 for $15 for Firehouse Pizza in Pekin

$30 for $15 for Los Jimadores in Peoria

If interested in the above offers, there are only a few left in some cases, so don't wait.

This weeks 3B Freebies in the Journal Star include a free coin purse from Unique Teak in Peoria (Wednesday) and a free soft drink from the Kaiserhof in Peoria (Thursday).

Kaiserhof Restaurant

You may remember the Kaiserhof from Bradford. We do miss that location.

Since last winter, the Kaiserhof Restaurant has been much closer for Peorians, at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie.

We stopped by Sunday and I enjoyed the $3 Bloody Marys, my husband had a great tenderloin sandwich and I had a nice Caesar salad.

A couple of months ago I enjoyed an excellent bowl of clam chowder there as well.

There are sandwiches under $5 on the lunch menu, daily specials, plus a lunch card so you can earn a free lunch.

There are pitcher specials several days a week (I know a few people who are taking advantage of this), various drink specials, plus kids eat free on Mondays and Wednesdays.

There is a newly added beer garden, and also a German deli for your take home needs.

Hodel's Chanticleer

Recently on a Friday night we were bored and looking for something different to do, and the Chanticleer, or Chantilly, as StfRon's uncle would say, popped into my mind.

We made the short drive to Eureka and pulled up in front of the low, nondescript building at 744 N. Main Street.

We decided to sit on the bar side of the building, and were the only people sitting at a table instead of at the bar.

Our server was also doing bar duty, and was very cheerful and helpful, as was the manager or perhaps the owner who greeted us as soon as we stepped inside.

We placed our order for white meat fried chicken and potato salad for me, and prime rib for my husband, along with a salad. She explained that their bleu cheese dressing is homemade, with a Thousand Island type base, and said it is a favorite among customers. He decided to try it, and by the end of the salad, I was scraping the bottom of the container for every last drop for the crackers from our table cracker basket. It was not very bleu tasting, as I don't really care for bleu cheese, but it was very good.

As the menu stated, the fried chicken did take a bit of time to prepare, and we passed the time enjoying a pitcher of beer until it arrived.

I also noticed as an older gent stopped by to compliment the staff on the catfish he had enjoyed on his way out.

My chicken was not overly salty or seasoned, but had a nice, greasy, crisp crust covering the juicy bird.

StfRon said the prime rib was not as rare as he wanted and was not as slow roasted as some, but it was good, and the horseradish sauce the waitress mixed up for him carried a real kick.

The meal was very reasonably priced, service was good, and with the atmosphere and cracker basket, Hodel's Chanticleer brought back memories of places we went for family outings when we were kids.