Ambiance = to any other restaurant in the country. Service = to the finest restaurants in the US. Food = to anything worldwide. The owner/chef came out to introduce himself since he was informed that my wife and I were celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary. This was our first time ever at the restaurant and I am disappointed that while living in Peoria, IL for 50 years I never had been there before. Now it's the only place I will go out to dinner at when I am in Peoria. The address is actually listed as 3218 N. Dries Lane in Peoria, IL and is across from the old Landmark Theatre on Dries Ln. You can actually locate it off of University St. also. read more

About the only thing that can be said is the place is a nice atmosphere. The food was average, the service was average to ambivalent, and just not worth the drive out there. The food was not of the best quality in general. It seemed (like everything else) average quality product to build the plates...leading then to average dishes. The food wasn't salted well nor particularly flavorful. Service-wise, we had to constantly try to find someone to provide for needs. Service did not anticipate needs or the service required. read more

We've been here several times. It is on the expensive side. We were seated at a small table by the entrance. Next time I make a reservation I will ask for a table in the dining room away from the door opening and people walking in and out. I love the lemon ice cocktail. I order it each time we go. The eggplant spread for the bread is great. They have the timing between appetizers and entrees down pat. The calamari is awesome not chewy at all. I was disappointed this time with the mozzarella capresse. The supposed heirloom tomatoes did not have much flavor. They seemed no better than a hot house tomato. The cheese and balsamic were great. We both had veal. Mine was Marsala which said with mushrooms and shallots. There weren't any shallots. When I asked they said it's in the sauce. I didn't see any. Service is good. Expect a relaxing dinner. We were there two hours. read more

Food was phenomenal, the potatoes that came with my dish were perfectly cooked and had great flavor depth. However, I run into a few problems with the cook on my steak, and the plating. This dish was 57$ and I requested the steak be cooked medium rare but more on the rare side. My steak was bordering blue rare. It tasted amazing regardless. I also wish to add that the plating was sloppy, obviously this is just nit picking, but it is something I wished to include. Service was alright, I had to ask multiple times for my sparkling water that I had ordered. This was during a work party and we had a group of around 10 while the restaurant was already pretty full so I understand how it could have slipped their mind, however at a restaurant as professional as this I would have expected better regardless. read more

Connected Restaurant - Del Monico - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

We came here on a Wednesday evening with a party of 6. The staff was very welcoming and seated us quickly. We ordered a bottle of wine and a couple other drinks that came out quickly. For appetizers w head the Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, and caprese, all were good. We enjoyed our entrees as well. The only issue was that they brought 5 out of 6 entrees, and the 6th entree came out 20 minutes after the rest which was not the best. Everyone else had finished their dinners by the time the other person received theirs. Food was decent, service was good, and would be willing to give it another try. read more

I was a little nervous because of the diametrically opposed reviews here. It seems like it's either a one or a five. We were celebrating my boyfriend's birthday, so I really wanted it to be a good experience And it was an amazing experience. The restaurant is really pretty. It's got fairy lights and waterfalls and tablecloths. The service was great. We were checked on multiple times. We never had a dirty dish on the table for a second. Our drinks were refilled promptly. Everyone was very nice and accommodating and most importantly the food was great! The warm crusty bread was delicious and the spread that they gave us was really good. My boyfriend got the Delmonico ribeye which was cooked perfectly and was tender and delicious. I got the chili and Seabass and it was also really great and then we got the black tie chocolate cake for dessert which was delicious and it even had a message written on it and we got a giant sparkler to celebrate at the end. They gave me a beautiful rose, which actually has bloomed out and looks amazing. Still, I would most definitely go back here! read more

Connected Restaurant - Flower - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Food and services were all wonderful. Get the delmonico- you'll love it. I also had the shrimp cocktail and the Caesar salad. read more

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Hands down top notch service from the moment we arrived. We had a large group and they accommodated us very well. The service was amazing and the food was stellar. The host was poised and perfectly executed the evening. read more

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The service was outstanding and the food was outstanding, the setting inside was romantic and cool

Food and Atmosphere were great! Service was terrible sat with my food in front of me after everyone finished for forty minutes. Then took another twenty minutes to finally get my bill. As well as my drink didn't get refilled for a while I had to call them over to refill it. read more

Everything was wonderful! Service was great! Food was excellent. Nothing should be changed. read more

All things just keeping getting better..... connected has always been great and coming back to Illinois I was glad to see some things never change. The interior is romantic and interesting. Love the front addition. Service is 5 stars here. Several people attending to your table. Still ending with a rose and limoncello I was very happy to see the sea bass was still on the menu. So good! And the delmonico steak is a must. The bread comes with an eggplant dip that I could drink ! They have a great selection of whisky don't sleep on connected ! read more

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The ambiance, the service, cocktails, apps, salads, entrees and desserts were phenomenal! read more

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Can't beat this place for Peoria area, but beware it's top tier for pricing here also. I've tried a number of dishes and they are always outstanding. I have also tried most of the speciality drinks. Lemon basil martini is worth trying for sure. I'd recommend skipping the mai tai. Might be the areas best old fashioned which surprised me, beats out my other favorite area old fashions at thyme and black band. read more

My boyfriend and I recently moved from Chicago and were excited to try this place for our anniversary dinner, but unfortunately, it was one of the worst dining experiences we've had. Service started off slow--we waited about 10 minutes before even receiving menus or water. Bread came with an unannounced eggplant spread (not butter), which wasn't appealing. Our waitresses were polite but didn't offer any recommendations despite it being our first visit. We ordered the calamari, which tasted frozen and was mostly breading. The salad tasted like one from the store with 90% leaf stems and no actual lettuce and barely any dressing. I had the veal, which came with an odd cornmeal side (which is odd for veal and usually is served with pasta which I substituted but was still bad) and was also mostly breading with little actual meat. My boyfriend had the veal as well and couldn't finish it--it just didn't taste good. We were also convinced to try a side of asparagus, which turned out to be overly salty and inedible. The only redeeming part of the meal was the dessert. While I did mention my dissatisfaction with my dish (and it was kindly removed from the bill), we left disappointed. The ambiance is nice, but the food simply doesn't deliver. The location--oddly tucked next to a Walmart--adds to the overall underwhelming vibe. Sadly, less than 24 hours later, I'm also experiencing some digestive issues from the meal. I wouldn't recommend this place for a special occasion--or at all. read more

Good food! Very pricey for the portions they provide. Service was okay, not very impressive. It's always dark inside, not seen alot when you are dining in a dark place. It could been better. People just have to try it to see for themselves and try the food. read more

Another great visit to a gem of a restaurant in the center of Peoria. Great service and even better food. Have you ever taken a bite of something and gotten chill/goosebumps? That's Connected! Compliments to Chef Troy! read more

Solid middle of the road 3.5. Traveling through and felt like Italian so this was the choice as I try to always do local experiences. Staff was friendly and attentive. Food was good but now outstanding. Calamari was average. I ordered the veal moral mushroom dish. It was flavorful but it did not leave me with a "man I want to have this again feel". They do provide a shot of lemoncello at the end of the meal and women receive a long stem rose. Kind of old school classy style. Overall the experience was good but average good. read more

Visited Connected the other day with some colleagues, food was so good, I didn't get a picture of it before I ate it! Top notch customer service and dining all the way through! I didn't know an experience like this existed here in Peoria, the atmosphere was like a dream! Roses for the ladies at the end of dinner was a treat on top! read more

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This review is for Troy!! You have an amazing restaurant! My husband Randy and I have recently moved back to Peoria from Orlando area and frequented Christine's!! Your Connected tops Christine's! Celebrated husbands 75th tonight with family!! Appetizers shrimp cocktail, crab cake, Caesar salads delicious!! Entrees Ravioli,Veal, Ribeyes with Au gratin potatoes delicious! I had my fav Seabass and the best ever !! Your detail in flavors and presentation an A+ 5 Star!! Oh have to mention Brussel sprouts tender and delicious!!! A must!!! Honestly the most enjoyable dinner with family ever!!!! Peoria lucky to have you! Don't leave without mocha martini and expresso martini and your rose!! Limoncello and lemonade for non drinkers!! Thank you to servers the best!!! Kelsey and Caron. Epic evening!! Will be back soon' read more

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Food was 10/10 , Service was 10/10 , atmosphere was 10/10 , i wish lightning was the slightest bit brighter but all in all was AMAZING read more

Connected Restaurant - Women's bathroom is just phenomenal - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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This was our second year dining here for our anniversary. Last year my husband got the Cinghiale with Au Gratin potatoes and when I had a bite I immediately knew what I would get this year. We started with the Carpaccio Di Manzo & both of us got the Cinghiale. It is melt in your mouth delicious. I cannot wait to celebrate another anniversary here! read more

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I wanted to love it, but I just couldn't. The wine was good as was the dessert but the rest, pass. I came here 6 months ago (very frequent customer, knowing what I like and normally spot on) 6 months ago was my last visit and I never thought I would return because it was not a good experience, tonight , same (I won't return) My best friend's birthday was tonight and she wanted to eat at Connected. We were sat in the overflow room , which frankly lacks the charm of the main room. However, we were happy to be there, so no problem. Drinks ordered and appetizers came out no worries. Our food took quite a bit of time, but we didn't mind too much because we were celebrating. Out meal came and we were disappointed 2 of the three meals were wrong. I was given veal chops (I ordered lamb chops). The veal was whisked away and I waited for the lamb chops to return. My friend (the bday girl) ordered her steak medium well and it was medium rare. I kindly pointed that out to the server and she whisked away her plate. My lamb chops were .. fair. The sever pointed out they were cooked "on the fly" and it was apparent- I've had these before and they def were not the same. Normally they fall off the bone, these were rubbery and bland. My friend's steak? When it returned, Haha the outside was charred and inside? Still medium rare. Connected - we all make mistakes (put in the wrong order - I used to be a server I get it) BUT the kitchen should be proud of what they serve - the charred medium rare streak you sent back out? Shame on you! Your dog wouldn't eat that burnt $50 filet. I respect the server for trying, the steak and sub par lamb chops, not her fault. I live out of state. Sadly on my return visits, I will not be dining here again. Twice in 6 months, for $300, I will take my business elsewhere. read more

It has been a long time since my wife and I visited Connected. We had heard mixed reviews so it didn't always make the list of places we wanted to eat at. However we had gift cards and decided it was time to go back there. First impression as we entered the building was of a pleasant surprise. The lovely 'extension' with the running water feature and the tv screen playing beach/ocean scenes was delightful. We were sat down (next to the water) and we're immediately met by an extremely enthusiastic and professional Maître d', followed by an equally friendly waitress. Both continued to look after us wonderfully all evening. What followed was a very pleasant evening, truly wonderful food and wine, rounded off by a rose and table sparkler (we we're celebrating an anniversary). My wife and I had an extremely enjoyable experience at Connected- possibly the best we have had in the past ten years. Highly recommended for anyone choosing a place to go out to eat in Peoria. Thank you, Connected. read more

Connected Restaurant - Wonderful evening at Connected - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

We went to Connected in July, 2023. The ambience looked good, the hostess and waiter were attentive and nice. The food however was NOT at all pleasing. We were a party of 5 and not one single person liked the taste and wasted about 70% of the food. The menu is very limited. Just fyi, this is not fine dining but for Peoria standards, I understand if people want to classify it as such. We will definitely not be coming back. Please do better for others read more

Ordered a rare steak and received a well done steak. Server never stopped by to see how food was after being served. For what my bill cost they did not care about my food being overcooked. I have been here several times guess this will be my last. read more

My wife and I came for dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Our service was great! They bring bread with a eggplant dipping sauce to the table. The bread is pretty good. I'm not a fan of the eggplant sauce. We started by splitting a salad (insalata capricciosa) with no feta. Both salads were very small! We were disappointed in the size of salads. We don't recommend splitting a salad here. Actually, we don't recommend getting a salad here. The salads are pricey. We wish a salad would come with your entree. I ordered the ravioli aurora and my wife ordered the special rigatoni in a bolognese. I love the ravioli aurora! I have had the ravioli aurora every time I've been here! The raviolis are perfectly cooked and come with a delicious tomato cream sauce! The cheese filling has the perfect texture and good flavor. The ravioli aurora is a 10/10. My wife enjoyed the pasta with bolognese sauce which had a hint of cinnamon to make it very unique. They brought out a complimentary small cannoli for our anniversary. The cannoli wasn't very tasty. It lacked flavor both in the pastry and filling. My wife also received a rose. A very nice way to end the meal. We will be back for more great pasta entrees! Overall, we had another good experience here. read more

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What can I say in Peoria it's the best dining experience.they really make you feel special and the food is as good as it gets

Everything at this Restaurant was fantastic from the service, to the decor, to the delicious, perfectly prepared, food!! We made a reservation, which I definitely recommend, and we were immediately seated. We got the calamari for an appetizer, it was very good. My husband got the Delmonico Ribeye with Au gratin potatoes, steak was ordered medium rare and was cooked perfectly, it was sooo good!! I got the Ravioli Aurora, cheese ravioli with a creamy tomato sauce, very good flavor. We were given a complimentary dessert to celebrate our Anniversary. Overall wonderful experience and definitely plan on returning!! read more

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Food, Service, and vibe is all very much on point here. Not one complaint. Everyone at the Connected Restaurant knows what they are doing, and they delivered. Will be going back! read more

I really like this upscale Italian restaurant All of the wait staff very professional Now...let Mr tell you about the food It is delicious! Highly recommend read more

My wife and I enjoyed celebrating our anniversary together at Connected at the recommendation of our neighbors at Oak Run. Handcrafted cocktails, a Caprese salad, Cesar salad with anchovies to get things started. I had the Delmonico steak that was incredibly flavorful and surprisingly large and my wife had a fra diabolo pasta that was fresh and cooked perfectly. The crème brûlée was a nice cap to the evening. Highly recommend this place despite the sketchy appearance of the building. read more

What an amazing restaurant to find in Peoria! Unbelievable! The ambiance is fantastic...the food was great and the service was excellent. I had the veal with morel mushroom dish and it was superb! And then the women were given roses before the departed...were we really in Peoria?? read more

The food is always delicious, service absolutely lovely. The last time we had a small group squeezed a little into a quiet room. The staff did an exemplary job of catering to us. Special care was given to make sure that we were comfortable. read more

This is my favorite for nice date night! Food, drinks, service, and price awesome! Great ambiance!

By far my favorite restaurant in the area! The atmosphere is beautiful, the food is delicious, and it is a great place to have a date night. I recommend it to all of my friends/family that visit. read more

The atmosphere is top notch for a romantic dinner. We have held many business meetings here and their meeting room always is set-up appropriately and the larger crowd service is amazing. Highly recommend and the best food in Peoria, by a long shot! read more

Connected Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Connected is the top spot for fine dining in Peoria. Yes, it isn't cheap, but the high quality of the food, the service, and the atmosphere is worth it. This may be more of a special occasion type of spot, but it will make that occasion so much better. Everything from the starters to desert is crafted with such care and meticulous effort. The drink options are great with several delicious cocktails on the menu, which are fairly boozy. 10/10 recommend trying this place at least once! read more

WHAT IS UP with these overrated reviews? maybe i was unfortunate enough to have one of Connected's off days. i came here for a birthday and the food didn't taste good at all. it wasn't throw up in your mouth bad, but more of like it didn't have a taste. several of us ordered chicken, another one lamb, and another one beef. we left all discontent and robbed of our wallets. not only was it ridiculous expensive but what did we pay for? maybe we paid for the "free" birthday jello shots they gave us, because despite the interesting and unique ambiance, i'm not quite sure the bill covered it. anyways, there are plenty of places that are better in this town, which is sad to say, since this is no big city. read more

Connected Restaurant - interior - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

As you step into this restaurant you'll notice the majority of the customers in business casual attire. It seems it's a popular dinner place for people to discuss work-related topics or for family and friends to celebrate a special occasion. The service was nice, our waitress was patient with us and did a great job with the food and drink description. I came here as a date night with someone special, and the waitress brought me a rose to celebrate after the bill which I thought was lovely! Connected also has an amazing bathroom, it was clean and tidy, included free feminine hygiene items and even had a mouthwash station! Very convenient. read more

Connected Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois