Connected - (Near Peoria, IL)

Rachel Fuys This place is incredibly welcoming and charming! I sat at the bar and was taken care of by two wonderfully kind and hospitable bartenders, Darin and Julie—they were fantastic. I ordered the mezcal margarita from the signature cocktail menu, and since I don’t usually love overly smoky mezcal drinks, Darin thoughtfully adjusted the recipe to suit my taste. It was perfect! Parking was easy on the side of the building, the food was delicious, and I highly recommend this spot!

Yevette Brown If you love Duck, this cool elevated bar is the place for you. The Duck Inn gets its name from the menu, because Duck is King here! From the Duck sausage to Duck fat fries, Duck wings to the amazing whole Duck experience. It is all so delicious. The bar is also on point, from old style beers on tap to creative cocktails, there’s something to fit all tastes. So make a reservation and visit this neighborhood gem located in Chicago’s south side Bridgeport neighborhood. it’s definitely a fun time with good vibes.

Culinary Chronicles of Central Illinois SevenMALKIN Acres Inn in Pontiac is a radiant example of Central Illinois’s vibrant food scene, perfectly blending small-town warmth, local sourcing, and culinary ambition. Culinary Chronicles of Central Illinois had the honor of visiting after connecting with Nick Rynerson of WGLT/NPR, who brought us in as part of their upcoming feature spotlighting our region’s restaurant excellence—huge thanks to Nick for championing local eats and giving us a platform to share why Central Illinois food is so special! Acres Inn: The Back story Owner Jake Haag and front-of-house manager Darian have energized the corner of downtown Pontiac with a cool, unpretentious vibe that traces its roots to a coffee shop—but this place has gone full-throttle rogue into dinner territory. Known for inspirational hospitality and a kitchen that buzzes with energy, Acres Inn is expanding quickly, with menus that thoughtfully showcase locally sourced ingredients from heavy-hitting Central Illinois farms and dairies like Kilgus Farmstead, Chicken Feather Lane Farms, and Ropp Jersey Cheese. Local Ingredients, Punchy Menu Cheese Curds: Made with Ropp Jersey Cheese, these are as fresh and springy as they come. Pimento Cheese: Signature dish—creamy, bold, and designed to make you say "wow." Crispy Loaded Potatoes: Every bite pops with flavor, making a classic feel inventive. The mains set the benchmark for local sourcing: Acres Double Cheese Burger: Ground beef from Kilgus Farms, juicy and beautifully charred, layered with local cheese—this burger showcases what farm-sourced can really mean. Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich: Chicken from Feather Lane Farms, transformed with kimchi, spice, and house-crisped bun—East Asian flavors meet Illinois farmstead freshness. Illinois Hops & Sips Acres Inn’s drink program pops with local flavor too: Pints from Emancipation Brewing Company, "Hopping on 66" and "Barn Bier" keep things fun and true to the region.Vibe & Service Step inside and you’re greeted by a space that feels just right for a meal with friends. Darian and the team make guests feel instantly at home, with fast, enthusiastic service and visible pride in every plate heading out. The energy hums—expect laughter, conversation, and a low-key party as lunch rush turns into evening, and plenty of locals dropping in for coffee or a frosty pour.

Nora Xiao This is a great local steakhouse. The steak isnt dry-age or USDA prime but ordering medium rare turns out to be pretty good. The bread is soft and warm. Their Mac n cheese is flavorful (unlike some places in town that serve blend Mac n cheese). Sauteed mushrooms that go with steak are a little bit too salty to eat by themselves, but sometimes I make mistakes and cook saltier dishes. Crab cake are seasoned well too, also flavorful. Shrimp is fresh with a firm texture. Salad bar that comes with the entree is a big plus, many choices in the area are pretty good and flavorful. Service is great, even though we arrive a little later 7:45 while they posted on the door that they stopped taking customers at 7:30, they still seated us. We appreciate that. With 2 cocktails, 1 soda, shrimp cocktail appetizer, 1 steak/chicken combo and a seafood platter ending up to be 170-180. The shrimp cocktail sauce is just regular sauce, nothing too unique. Overall, its a nice steakhouse with good cocktails, great service that Id come back for special occasions.

Luis Rodriguez Decided to visit this location and was received by a friendly staff, followed by the owner. He recommended a stake. The chef was able to create a great sauce (with ingredients i requested)to a perfectly cooked medium well NY steak. Delish!

Daphne L. Kinzig A friend recommended that I try this place for NYE. Decor was tastefully done. We loved all the dishes. My eye went to the cold tapas style selection. Very good - we had coconut ceviches in a half coconut half shell, nice touch; salmon crisp - great, hamachi cones; seafood platter - good & nice presentation; Cesar was excellent; hot octopus - VERY tasty; deconstructed key lime - great. Then they gave us a spiced caramel square. Definitely would go back. It was tasty! And Amber was great waitress! Highly recommend for fresh seafood in the Midwest!