The CopperWorks

StfRon and I ended up at the CopperWorks, 7815 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria, on a recent Sunday night, after a failed attempt to dine at Chef John's. It was a special occasion, and I wanted to go somewhere different.
The CopperWorks is definitely different. The decor is very contemporary, and the menu features a large array of cuisine.
We started our dinner with a bottle of wine, XY Zin. It was excellent. So good we ordered a second bottle and took the rest home, thanks to the new leftover wine carryout policy. Our wine went with us in a cool doggie bag.
To accompany our wine, we started with an order of bruschetta. This was a little different that what most Peoria area restaurants served, complete with fresh mozzarella and drizzled with aged balsamic. We loved the balsamic, but we wanted more, more, more!
For dinner I chose the Thai chicken, complete with peanut sauce and fried wonton strips. The sauce was spicier than most Thai sauces I've tried, but I liked it.
StfRon talked to our waiter, Todd, who was excellent, about the steaks. Todd said their steaks are aged, and come from Chicago. StfRon went with the New York strip, which is served with a portobello sauce poured over it. He asked for a bottle of Heinz 57, and debated asking them to hold the mushroom sauce, but let it go. The steak was fabulous, complete with mushroom sauce, and as soon as we saw Todd again, StfRon told him he could take the Heinz 57 away, which, incidentally, had never been opened. Maybe it's a testament to their food.
Both meals were served with a vegetable medley of asparagus, squash and red peppers.
Continuing our night out, we had dessert as well. StfRon had a bourbon chocolate pecan pie, but I went for the creme brulee. It was wonderful.
We will remember the CopperWorks the next time we are looking for a special night out.

Sadly, CopperWorks closed in early 2008.