Joe's Original Italian & Martini Bar — Restaurant in Peoria Heights

Brought my wife and daughter here for her 40th birthday as a nice treat. If you’re looking for American Italian restaurant, this is the place. If you are looking for anything close to real Italian, keep walking. I’ve been to Italy multiple times and this is not it. While the ambiance is a little better than expected for IL, you will find pasta noodles with absolutely no taste that can be bought at your local WalMart , then it’s drowning in overly spiced marinara sauce. This unfortunately ruined and clouded the decent $28 worth of scallops, shrimp, mussels in the Pasta Du Cale (clams in shell and calamari were missing). The description on the menu for my plate (see images) clearly does not match the entree as delivered. Simmering is a cooking technique, not a serving style. Supposed to be simmered in a tomato lemon broth. Instead soaked in spicy marinara. The kitchen manager and owners really need to get their act in order. I was never asked how the food was by the wait staff. So owners, here is your feedback for all to see. In summary, Anyone with a half way decent culinary understanding and good taste in high quality and food at this price point will see right through this overly priced facade. I really wish I didn’t have to say this about a local Business as I try my best to spend and shop locally. But everything stated here is fact. My wife said her Chicken Parm was good (she loves typical American Italian). However I won’t be back to this place ever again. I can make the same plate at home for 1/3 cost that tastes 2x as good. I recall this establishment used to have real table linens. Now it’s plastic table coverings like you’re at...

My fiancee and I recently came here for our anniversary after having an excellent meal here with friends several months ago. Joe's did not disappoint. The hostess promptly seated us in a comfortable booth and, almost immediately, our waitress arrived and went over the menu with us, described items we asked about, and took our drink orders - an Espresso Martini for me and a Blue Lavendar for my fiancee. Both were refreshing and delicious - expertly made. We later ordered a dirty Martini and a Prosecco - again, both wonderful. For appetizers, we ordered both Calamari and Parmesan Black Garlic Truffle Fries with spicy aioli, and for dinner, my fiancee ordered Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken, and I ordered Pasta DuCale - shrimp, scallops, crabmeat, mussels, and calamari in a lemon-tomato broth tossed with thin spaghetti. Both meals were outstanding - perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned, and each ingredient stood out on its own - a rare accomplishment. You could taste everything in the dishes separately, yet enjoy the harmony they all created. It was one of the best meals we have had in quite some time. For dessert, we shared the expertly crafted Tiramisu. Sooooo good! It was a large piece and it took us both a while to work on it - but we killed it! Peoria, Illinois can brag on the many fine dining establishments here, and Joe's is one of those places. Evenings - especially weekend evenings - are busy at Joe's, so I'd suggest reservations....

I shared this experience through the contact form on the website, but never heard back so here goes!

My boyfriend and I came for our anniversary, on Tuesday the 30th. While our food was delicious and the service was prompt, we overheard your bartender/our waiter (with a beard, bun and mustache) having an EXTREMELY unprofessional conversation with a gentlemen at the bar during which they BOTH used the words “retarded” and “fag” while reminiscing about a better time when they could use them more openly. It put a HUGE damper on the evening and ruined my appetite. We promptly got our check and got out of there ASAP. I can understand not being able to control the customer and what he said, but to repeat the words and sentiment on the clock instead of simply placating him was just grossly unprofessional. We were the only ones there at the time, so it’s not as if they could’ve assumed we didn’t hear. In fact, I made it very clear we did. As I said, I tried contacting someone directly but had no luck and it was SUCH a disappointing, divisive experience, I can’t just let it go. I hope that for the future, you’re able to tell your employees what is and isn’t appropriate work...