This was the most fun I have had dining at a restaurant in a while. First time eating here, needed a place to fill up before a long drive back home. Sat at the bar, had the pleasure of getting to know the bartender and owner who were excellent company. Gave wine and food recommendations, recounted stories of covid days and shared they had celebrated their 30th anniversary. If that is not something to toast, I don't know what is. read more

It's always nice to try new places. I didn't even know this one existed until an ad popped up on one of my social medias. It is a small restaurant, and I do mean small. Like only 20 tables or so. The couple next to us was on a date and I felt like I could follow their whole conversation from the moment we sat down. Our waiter came by to introduce himself, but didn't take our drink orders. When he came back, he jumped right in to our meal orders. All of our meals came with salads and he never asked us about dressing options, so I assumed all salads came with a house dressing. But my dad's girlfriend asked for blue cheese...I mistook her request for dressing and just put blue cheese crumbles on top of her plain salad...no dressing. We did ask him about drinks as he was leaving with the menus. While waiting, we overheard the table behind us ordering their salads and their waiter gave them a whole list of dressing options. Once we got our salads, we dug in but the vinaigrette was so strong, I couldn't eat it without grimacing. I ordered the chicken piccata. It was drowning in capers. That is all I could taste. It was so briny and salty that I could barely eat half of the portion they gave me. The chicken was also a little tough to cut through. I would be willing to try again. I never leave one experience to take over my whole perception. read more

Was busy but definitely either go at 4:30-5 or wait until 6. Once we sat down, service was quick and food was great! read more

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We went to Rizzi's for the first time, it was so good. I had the chicken piccata, husband had the sausage and peppers. Also a side of meatballs. Everything was delicious. Staff couldn't have been nicer. Definitely will be going back soon. read more

This was our second visit here, and it was AMAZING again! We had the chicken Picatta, the eggplant parmigiana, the Brussels, all outstanding! And, the bartender treated us like family - so genuine, attentive and welcoming. If you want a hidden gem, you've found it! read more

Great Italian food in Peoria! We arrived at 4:45pm on a Saturday night in November and the restaurant was packed! We were able to sit at the bar. The bar has 6 available seats. Our bartender Alexis was fantastic! One of the owners also helped Alexis a lot with refilling drinks, taking drink orders, and taking care of carry out orders. I ordered the special malfadina pasta in a rich rustic meat sauce. My wife ordered chicken Parmesan with the fresh malfadina pasta which was an up charge. All meals come with your choice of salad or soup. My wife had a Caesar salad which was an up charge and I had a house salad (cherry tomato, black olives, and cucumber) with vinaigrette and added mozzarella for an up charge. Both salads were great. Free Bread with olive oil and Parmesan also accompanied the meal. Both of our entrees had good size portions. The malfadini pasta special with the meat sauce was really good. The pasta was cooked perfectly. The chicken Parmesan was also really good but the marinara sauce was just ok. We were celebrating my wife's birthday and she received a free dessert. She chose a slice of cheesecake with raspberry and strawberry sauce. The cheesecake was so good. We loved our first time here. We will be back! Next time, we will get here at 4:15pm and wait in line to get a table! Also, ordering carry out is also a great option at this restaurant. We want to try the pizza. read more

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Rizzi's is a family owned Italian restaurant known for their authentic specialties and craft cocktails. The servers are helpful and your experience may vary based on how busy the restaurant is that evening. Arrival: Rizzi's does not accept reservations. This is a small restaurant located next to Jeffrey Alan's on Sheridan Road and has ample parking in the shopping center parking lot. The restaurant has limited seating for large parties. One round table for 5-6 or half booth tables which can be pushed together for a 8-10. Pro tip: Weekends they may fill all the tables upon opening. Weeknight service is more relaxed. There is a very small vestibule with just a couple chairs to wait. We were quoted 50 minutes on a winter Saturday evening at 5:10 PM. You give them your phone number and have 5 minutes to appear or they move on to the next name. So the obvious choice to wait is in your vehicle or the adjacent store which is open until 6 PM. A few bar stools are available but may not be suitable for children. Ambiance: This restaurant is almost too small for ambiance. They have a short bar area between the kitchen and bathrooms at the rear of the restaurant. Booths line the walls and there are a few tables in the center. Saturday night the place was packed and the tables were pushed close together. The servers had limited room to maneuver around the dining room and I witnessed a couple mishaps. Drinks: Unique craft cocktails and high quality wine choices can make for a special evening and a great way to relax while waiting for your food. Since I have been there twice, I have sampled both. Tap water and a large bottle for refills are part of the standard table service. Food: This family owned restaurant has a broad range of award winning specialties. A big plus is your meal comes with a salad with the works or a house made soup. There is a lot more than just pasta with many seafood options, Italian chop house favorites featuring chicken and veal or pizza and stromboli. Both visits I chose a chicken based meal, the marsala and last time the piccata. Each is served with your choice of pasta side and a flavorful sauce. I had enough for 2 or 3 meals and they were not stingy with the mushrooms or capers. There is a reason they are so busy. Hot crusty bread with quality olive oil/parmesan or creamy butter is a nice starter unless you are tempted by the seafood appetizers or arancini. Service: They have a professional experienced staff and they remember customers on subsequent visits which makes this a friendly atmosphere. Both times we had an attentive server who anticipated our needs and checked in to refill drinks, verified we were enjoying each course and upon request presented the check along with to go containers. We had split checks which were accurate and did not seem to be a problem. On the last Saturday night visit they were very full and to put it nicely the kitchen "was in the weeds." Our server provided status checks on our courses but our plans to meet up with family afterwards were blown up while we waited for our food. The salads even took a long time. Once delivered we tried to quickly consume our food to move on. While I enjoyed my food I can honestly say that the chaos did not make a relaxing meal. Rizzi's is a great choice for a special meal or family get together. I can understand why they don't take reservations because the intimate atmosphere does not allow for them to hold a table on a busy night. Patrons need to anticipate the wait by arriving at non peak times or plan accordingly. read more

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The food was great! Restaurant is small so tables are a little close together. Just know that they do not take reservations but put you on a list when you arrive and call you when you reach to top of the list read more

I really really enjoyed this place. It's small, dark but in a romantic way. We came in within an hour of closing, but never felt rushed at all. The food was just wonderful - with abundant proportions. read more

Great food, great service good ambience. Just wish they took reservations. Their menu is filled with choices to satisfy everyone.

Food here is always amazing!!!! I dream about their pasta... Everything is always super fresh.

Pizza, ouch. Not good. That's a compliment. Please try anything else on the menu. Nice clean restaurant.

Family dinner tonight!! Absolutely delicious all 5 of us!! Waiter very attentive and nice!! Beautiful small intimate restaurant with a very nice bar area!! Bruschetta app! Tomato soups special! Caesar salad best ever!! I can't have red sauce so kind waiter made Chicken Parm with no red sauce and garlic butter noodles!! Rest of dinners Lasagna, Tortellini, Shrimp linguini all delicious and large portions !! Owner greeted us and he was working all tables!!! Refer to picture with two grandkids!!! My Chianti very good too!! Truly a Best Peoria Restaurant! Look forward to next visit!!! read more

Rizzi's Restaurant - Rizzi's owner and two wonderful grandkids!! Delicious dinner!! - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Visiting town and stopped in here. I remember the one that was downtown. Food was great and prices were good and you get a ton of food. Pretty small place but that's not a bad thing. Service was great and they were attentive. Looking for some good Italian food...this is it. Very flavorful. Fyi the sausage and peppers was tasty. read more

Rizzi's Restaurant - Tiramisu was awesome! - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Picked up dinner and it was as great as ever. Enjoyed every bite . This place always outshines other places in food and service!! We will be returning soon. My favorite dish is the chicken piccata!! read more

Great Italian restaurant..... very clean, excellent service, nice atmosphere, and great food. I really enjoyed my meal. I will definitely be back ! read more

Rizzi's Restaurant - Chicken Rollatini - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Rizzis is without a doubt the best Italian restaurant in Peoria. The drink specials are phenomenal. Lisa is a wonderfully creative bartender. The menu is diverse, and includes everything from simple pasta to seafood and steaks. The tortellini Michelangelo is especially good. It's a small restaurant with no reservations or call ahead seating so you might wait a while for a seat. As long as the bar is open, you'll have no regrets. read more

I had high hopes after reading about Rizzi's being a long-standing, family-owned Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, the reality didn't match the reputation. The pizza was underwhelming, the pasta was overcooked, the meatballs were dry, and the chicken was tough and flavorless. Staff seemed indifferent, and it was clear the kitchen didn't put care into the food. Save yourself the time and money this was a major letdown. Place looked alright needs a little bit more lighting so I can see my food. read more

the lady who helped me and my girlfriend get a table was so kind and kept us updated through our wait. the restaurant was very clean and friendly. our server Bryce was very fast and attentive, but also precise and friendly. the food was amazing we got some apps and pasta and a pizza. everything was delicious. and the owner was very helpful and kind as well! i highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Some of the best Italian I've ever had!! I have been to Italy and lived in Chicago and this competes! The ambiance inside was great but we sat outside and had a wonderful evening. The pasta was clearly freshly made and delicious. Interesting options. I could have picked 5 different dishes and been happy. Apps were yummy, as were all dishes we had. The chef made a special meal just for my daughter because she wanted something with pesto and chicken. Each dish is fresh made for you. Great wine selections. The server was very knowledgeable and attentive. It was all terrific. Can't say enough how much we enjoyed it! read more

Growing up in Pittsburgh and being Italian, I am a huge Italian food snob! We came here while in town from the Quad Cities, and I will be back for sure. Don't let the strip mall location or size deter you AT ALL! This place is the real deal and the food is divine. Highly recommend the manicotti and the delicious homemade soups. Waitress was super friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back! read more

We went to Rizzi's on a Thursday evening. It wasn't busy, and we were seated immediately. The hostess gave us menus and water. The menu is pretty extensive. I usually get veal Marsala over linguine, but changed it up tonight. Our waitress was Gigi who has worked there for a long time. She took our drink orders and described the evening's special. We soon had our wine and ordered. I got the linguini di mare fra diavolo, a delicious mix of seafood in a spicy red sauce, but I asked for a pink sauce instead. My partner ordered linguini and meatballs. It comes with bread, delicious with olive oil on the table, and a salad. We both got Caesar salads, a $3 up charge, and I also added anchovies, another up charge. Bread came very quickly, followed a few minutes later by the salads. By the time we finished salads, our food was nearly done, as was our wine. We got a second glass with dinner. The food was very hot and fresh. The diavolo is spicy but doesn't burn the mouth. Portions were very generous, so we eat had our leftovers boxed to take home. The bill was pretty expensive, over $100! They charge $9 a glass for wine, which is pretty expensive for house wines. They also added a $3 surcharge for credit cards now. However, our service was exemplary and the food is excellent! Rizzis only competition for quality Italian food is Paparazzi's in the Heights. I highly recommend Rizzi's! read more

Rizzi's Restaurant - Linguine di Mare Fra Diavolo - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Place is always busy. Service was a little slow. I ordered lasagna. The lasagna itself was hot but the meat sauce poured over it was not even warm. It did taste good though. read more

Awesome food, awesome service! Had the special, sausage and pasta! Best ever! Lisa was great behind the bar!

Received terrible service. Food had no taste, People coming in after us got their food and left before we got our food. Drinks never came till after dinner. Spook to manager and he never apologized just said they were busy due to the holidays. Very unacceptable response from a manager. We will never be back!! read more

We went on a very bustling Friday evening. Probably not the best time to go as the staff are run off their feet. But it was fun. They they helped us move tables so we could use a high chair for our child. The food was very hit and miss. The bruschetta was awesome, the mussels were dry and obviously cooked in advance, with a very thick cloying sauce (extremely disappointing). The fettuccine Alfredo was actually good, and the salad and soup we got were perfect. My lasagna was very dry and the bolognese sauce wasn't rich or juicy, making my dish very dry. The driest lasagna. And when I mentioned this to the server, she kind of shrugged it off. They were busy, I get it. The tiramisu we got to go might be some of the best tiramisu I have ever had, but the cannoli was awful. I think we would go back, as the quality of the ingredients was definitely good, but maybe ask more questions before ordering. read more

Hostess and bartender save the day...wait staff was MIA. We were in Peoria for parents' weekend at Bradley. My husband got to choose the Saturday night restaurant and he wanted Italian. He was deciding between this and a chain restaurant and we chose to spend our money with a family-owned small business. The evening started as expected at 7pm on a Saturday night, a small wait with a friendly hostess. Our party of 3 sat at the bar with a knowledgeable and friendly bartender and were seated within the estimated time frame. The waitress took our order and brought us bread and salad... And dropped off the face of the earth. If you haven't been here, it's a small (cozy? Intimate?) Place. My guess is there were 8 booths, maybe 6-8 tables inside and 3-4 tables on the parking lot sidewalk. I counted 3 separate servers which seemed an appropriate amount, especially as super-hostess was busting her behind with the assist. Which begs the question... Why was the bartender running drinks out to the tables? Why did we have to flag the hostess to bring us olive oil, and refill our bar order, and then, after an hour and 15 minutes, go find our waitress. There was even a point during the evening where there was not a server on the floor for a solid 10 minutes, very eerie. At the 75 minute mark after being seated (I'm not including bar time here) we asked the hostess to go find our waitress. When we mentioned she was MIA the hostess didn't exactly roll her eyes, but neither was she surprised. Across the aisle was the couple that walked in the door directly before us who had ordered, been served, finished eating and were enjoying an after dinner drink. We hadn't even seen our food (or our server for that matter). Once located, the waitress assured us our meal was only minutes away and that she, too, was frustrated with the kitchen. (Not that her service was exemplary). She did not apologize, either, and seemed bothered we would summon her. Another 15 minutes pass... At the 90 minute mark waiting for 3 pasta dishes, we asked (the hostess of course) to settle the bar bill so we could get our daughter back to campus. My daughter and I left to pull up the car while my husband settled the bar bill with the bartender (again... Notice the pattern of who ISN'T serving us?). The bartender was -unfortunately- not surprised. And NOW when we've all left the table the waitress shows up and says "they're plating the food now!". It was too late. As a last ditch effort to save face, the manger packed up the order to go with his compliments. I was SO hopeful that the food would amaze me and could salvage a few stars. If I'm being honest, I've had better Italian from Fazolis. I had the lasagna and I agree with another reviewer that it was unlike any lasagna I've had (and not in a good way). They need to remove this from the menu. I really, really wanted to like this place and unfortunately the two main elements of a restaurant, food & service, were lacking. Do not recommend. We're only in Peoria 3-4 times a year so it's not a stretch to say we will never return. read more

Rizzi's Restaurant - The luke-warm (at best) "lasagna". I had two bites at the hotel and threw it out. - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Best meal I have had out in a long time. Very impressed. Can't wait to go back. Chicken Sorento was wonderful.

Rizzi's is delicious. Good old school Italian food. The servers are super friendly and helpful. I come to Peoria for business often and this restaurant will certainly be in the standard rotation. read more

Rizzi's Restaurant - Chicken, prosciutto, and mozzarella in a white wine garlic sauce with angel hair. - Italian Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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This is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Amazing food great waitstaff. Can get crowded small building and all ways pretty full.

Best calamari ever. The aranccini app is also great. Pork ossu Bucco is amazing. Chicken Sorentino is my go to for a pasta dish. Can't go wrong w this place. It's small, so don't be surprised if there's a wait.​​ read more

Small restaurant with quaint atmosphere. Service was great! Our waitress was so friendly. The food was delicious! The cocktail (lemon drop basil martini) was so good too! It was our anniversary so we had a complimentary cannoli with a candle. We will definitely return read more

Deliciousness, so many choices of great Italian dishes! The butternut squash ravioli is a robust dish full of flavor! All dishes come with bread and parmasean with olive oil. I love having the bread with the mussels as the appetizer. However, then I hardly have space for the ceasar salad, which is my favorite. read more

Food was delicious; service was great. I appreciated the family style restaurant atmosphere but it was still elegant in its own way.

Good food. Good service. Good wine selection. Cocktails on the weak side. Intimate setting.

Rizzi's is high quality Italian food at better than its competitions prices. Come early or late or be prepared to wait, the dining area is small and this place has a great deal of loyal diners. read more

Always eat here when in Peoria (our son goes to Bradley U) - and it is always excellent. Everything is great - authentic delicious Italian food - you can't go wrong! read more

One of my top 5 restaraunts in the peoria area. Pretty sure that the pasta itself was fresh compared to alternative Italian options in Peoria. read more

I called to make a reservation for my daughter's birthday dinner for 10 of us at 6:00 pm which was going to be in two weeks. I was told they don't take reservations, but they doors open at 4:30 and we could come and snag a table and hold it until 6:00. I thought OK, since they suggested it. When we arrived, we told the gentlemen that greeted us what we were told, He talked to owner and said, yes they would do that. Gave us two tables pushed together, added chair on the end. Our waitress, Marilyn, did get us drinks while we waited. Most of our party arrived by 6:00, we ordered drinks and appetizers, which took a little while to get there. One last party member arrived by 6:30 and finally our waitress took our order around 6:45. We gave her orders, most of ordering caesar salads, which when we got our bill there was $3.00 upcharge for each one, which was never conveyed to us. We asked for bread three different times and never did receive any. Took over 30 minutes to get drinks, which we had to flag down Marilyn to ask for. The could've make a lot of money on drinks, but she never would return. After we noticed the table next to us, had ordered after us and gotten their food before us, we stopped Marilyn at 7:50 and my husband asked how much longer it was going to be, because if it was going to be any longer, they could just cancel his ... her response "it's not our fault, we had to wait on you". Seriously, she's going to say that. She was a terrible waitress. Half of the food orders were cold, others lukewarm. Finally when we were done eating, she came around asking if we needed any more refills of water. I was holding my glass while she filled it, which she proceeded to pour so fast that it completely spilled out of the glass, all over me and the table. She was like, oops. Then she charged my son for a drink he didn't get, so she took his paper bill (and not his credit card) and then took mine with my credit card in the black holder. Took her forever, finally came back and she asked my name, I verified it, she left, came again and said, oh she had charged my son's bill on my account as well as mine and was trying to figure out how to back it off. Finally at 8:45 we walked out the door. If the owner didn't want our group of 10 people, then he should've said that when we called for reservations. We had heard great things about Rizzi's, even two of my sons really like it, but definitely was so disappointed. Maybe having a different waitress that actually cared about the job, might have made a difference, but Marilyn was terrible and probably won't return. Very overpriced and food was definitely not that great. read more

I came to the restaurant with 5 friends tonight and I can only speak for my meal. I had lasagna. Or that's what I thought I ordered. It looked nothing like any lasagna I've ever seen. I know exactly what happened. They took the cold lasagna out of the walk in and put it on a plate,covered it with plastic wrap and microwaved it. That made it just melt all over the plate, leaving a gob in the middle of the plate and the rest run out all the the plate. The remaining lump in the middle was covered with two slices of cheese, which did not melt...at all. It was lukewarm in the middle of the glob and the mess that was run all over the plate wasn't much hotter. It had a bad flavor, but hard to tell from the way it was so melted all over the plate. This is not how to serve lasagna. $18 for a puddle of mess. I won't be coming back. The other five people at the table didn't seem too impressed with their meals either. The place is way to crowded. The chairs to close. The whole place seemed to hectic. Nope. Never again. read more