Montarra - (Near Algonquin, IL)

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.

Vence L We celebrated my moms birthday here. Everything was great. The servers deserve a separate compliment, the waitress who helped us(forgot her name) was super friendly, gave some great menu recommendations, made sure we always had everything we need. The food is also great, I ordered a steak with asparagus and a side of mashed potatoes, my father had the burger and my mom the fish. Everyone enjoyed their food. Definitely a place worth to visit

Luis L My first time here was great! My boyfriend suggested that we try it so we came after having dinner elsewhere, but before heading to the Vespers performance at Millikin. We wanted to have a drink and take a look at the dessert menu. The interior is sophisticated and stylish, although somewhat too brightly lit for my taste. I like it when places are more dimly lit, but that was a minor thing. Our drinks came pretty quicky and the bartenders were very welcoming and lovely. We ordered two things for dessert, but they took longer than we expected. However, once we got them, we were very happy and then headed to the show. My boyfriend says he wants to come back here to sit down and have dinner. Next time!

Jordan Gary I’m convinced S.K.Y. could hand me a menu written in Wingdings and whatever I randomly pointed to would still taste great. But let’s skip the suspense: the Hamachi Sashimi is the star, the headliner, the reason to book a reservation. Order one if you’re polite, two if you’re sensible, and three or four if you’re honest with yourself. It was the best thing we ate all week and could easily be its own tasting menu. The Warm Mushroom Salad followed the Hamachi, which was unfortunate—for the salad. Tough act to follow, though still perfectly fine if you enjoy being reminded of your earlier, better choices. Maine Lobster Dumplings: generous portion, legitimately delicious. Slow Roasted Prime Rib: also generous, tender, and cooked exactly the way you hope but rarely get. Spice Roasted Cauliflower: if you insist on vegetables, these at least reward your virtue. Desserts are not optional. The Banana Budino is the second-best thing on the menu and fully aware of it. The Carrot Cake is excellent—so good it practically files a complaint if you skip it. In short: go for the Hamachi, stay for everything else, leave wondering how soon you can justify your next visit.

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!

Asher Wiegand 2 Chez is an absolute must-visit if youre in or near Peoria! After dozens of visits, I can honestly say Ive never had a single negative experience. Todd, Cyndi, and Isaac Hohulin do an incredible job running both the bar and restaurant. Some personal menu favorites include the calamari, beef tartar, and oysters for appetizers, and the rack of lamb, halibut, and maple leaf farm duck for entrees. Dont skip dessert – the bananas foster and bread pudding are amazing. Plus, their soups, salads, coffee, and mixed drinks are always top-notch. Truly one of my favorite restaurants in all of Illinois! I recommend planning ahead and making a reservation. Bar and farm table are first come first serve.