If you’re a graduating senior, there’s a high chance that the only thing you’re worrying about at this point is making it to graduation (or the senior bar crawl).
What with the ceremony itself, saying some goodbyes and the millions of photos your family will try to take, graduation is a stressful day.
This can be even more stressful if, like me, you are incredibly indecisive when trying to pick a place to eat. We all know parents and grandparents love the obligatory celebration lunch or dinner, and trying to pick a restaurant can be a nightmare for everyone involved.
Lucky for you, we’ve got a list of some great local restaurants to help narrow down your choices.
Rhythm Kitchen
If you’re looking for something more laid back while still sufficiently awesome, Rhythm Kitchen is the place for you. What with an amazing menu and live music to boot, this is definitely a restaurant worth frequenting if you’re not a fan of incredibly fancy places. Hop on down to Water Street for a great list of wine and beer. Its menu also has a variety of options for veggie-friendly folks, as well as non-vegetarian food.
Kelleher’s
Close neighbor to Rhythm Kitchen, Kelleher’s is an authentic Irish restaurant with an amazing variety of drinks. While it’s still a sit-down type restaurant, Kelleher’s has both indoor and outdoor seating, so it’s a great option for springtime eating. You can dine in or carry-out here, which could come in handy depending on when you actually go eat. Kelleher’s has a ton of beers on tap, along with a staggering list of bottled beers, liquor, wine and other specialty drinks.
Sugar
Located in Peoria’s Warehouse District, Sugar is the epitome of wood-fired goodness. With sandwiches and pizzas made from scratch along with some sweets, this unique restaurant could be everything you’re looking for. While it’s not the cheapest food in town, Sugar’s menu and overall quality makes up for its prices. One perk is that you can order your food to go, so there’s no fighting a crowd for your post-graduation lunch/dinner.
Publik House
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, Publik House serves it all. On Prospect Avenue in Peoria Heights, this gastropub has a great selection of drinks, as well as quality food. Don’t let the menu size fool you, because quality food and friendly service is a given. The prices may seem a little above average here, but they’re not enough to break the bank. Remember, quality food isn’t on a dollar menu.
Salt
Salt may just be the fanciest restaurant on our list. With freshly grown and made ingredients and food served on blocks on Himalayan Salt (see where the name comes from?), this is not the place to go to in jeans and a T-shirt. Also on Prospect Avenue in Peoria Heights, Salt has five different menus to choose from, including brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert and a limited menu consisting of burgers and appetizers. The prices overall are pretty reasonable for what you’re getting here, with the lunch menu being reasonably priced for some above average food. If delicious and a bit more formal is your thing, Salt may be the place for you.
