Thyme Craft Kitchen — Restaurant in Peru

Make

Thyme

To Stop in Peru

I was pleasantly surprised by this quaint little gem of a restaurant hidden in Peru, Illinois. As I travelled from home in Indiana to Kansas, I decided a stop to visit with my cousin over dinner was long past due. I asked her where we could go that was a family owned place as I like to support the local small businesses and only dream of finding an atmosphere like this! Thyme has an inviting sophistication that has a relaxing comfort designed perfectly for a family catch-up session to a contract-signing business meeting. This place is made to impress for sure with a 6 page Drink listing from Craft Brews, Seltzers, from all over the country to wines from all over the world. Quite simply, one of the most amazingly delightful choices to browse through. Our Server Nicola, who had greeted us expediently upon our seating,explained that this is the updated and  current menu and that they change seasonally and frequently. I love that!  What a great opportunity for a superb kitchen staff and chef to shine! My cousin grew up a south side girl and I laughed as she said she didn't really know what anything was on the menu, but she knew what a hamburger was, so that is what she got. She ordered medium rare and it was perfectly cooked. It was topped with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, normally-remoulade sauce, (she had it on the side) and a side of crispy potatoes. The potatoes included the skins and had a kind of coating that made them crunch revealing the soft potato combining adventurous textures to satisfy the taste buds.

I chose a lighter dish of smoked salmon with pickled onions and fresh dill cream cheese.

This was just what my body desired. The salmon was gently smoked and the bread lightly toasted; just enough to keep the crunch while the dill spread complimented the slightly firm pickled onions. Oohhhh ssooo good!!! Our server was very generous in allowing us to view their breakfast menu and lunch menu as well. Nicola had impeccable timing when approaching the table and was always respectful to the conversation, providing excellent customer service with a pleasant smile. I was so tempted to try some of the wine from Greece, or Italy, or Austria, but I have a long drive in the morning and would prefer to do it with a clear head. Since I don't normally drink, I'll have to save it for the next time I visit my cousin. Overall, this was an extremely pleasant surprise to my cousin and to myself! I would have never expected to find such a phenomenal contemporary casual trendy cuisine and bar right down the street from her home. There are three Televisions showing sports which of course I love, it would have been great to see volleyball tv(hint hint) on at least one tv, but I enjoyed the fact that they had them there to satisfy those of us who enjoy watching sports and keeping up with the scores.

With the outside seating available seasonally, it has an area made for social interaction as well as enjoying a meal.

I would strongly suggest if you have the time to stop in Peru Illinois, or feel like taking a nice little drive only 12 miles away from Starved Rock State Park, you should definitely enjoy the farm to table and...

Might try again in the future, but hopefully with a new waitress. I don't know the name of the girl working last night, black hair and glasses, but she was totally ignorant.

I tried bringing my girl in for our six month anniversary to get the best in the area, and upon arriving everything was fine. We sat ourselves and waited a few minutes. Girl comes to our table and asked my girlfriend what she wanted to drink and didn't even make eye contact with me, just came and brought me a water, then acted shocked when I asked if they had anything else. When she came to give me my lemonade I asked for she did this super rude hand gesture and slammed it on the table while walking away all sassy.

She came back to our table and took our order, helping us with what's good on the menu, and we both had ordered the tacos. We got brought out one single plate with three tacos on it after waiting a half hour. What??? Why would we come for THREE small tacos?!

We finished our starter and main meal, not meals plural unfortunately, and we got asked if we wanted desert so we opted for the cheesecake. Can you guess how many slices we got? LOL! One!! One slice of cheesecake with a separation in the middle from a fork! Thanks guys!

I've heard nothing but good about this place and was fully expecting to come in and blow half a paycheck on their already expensive food, I guess I can't even say I got to do that because you guys didn't even bother to bring out the food we ordered and asked for. I'm not sure if the assumption was my girlfriend and I just couldn't afford the food or what the situation was, but for how "classy" you guys make yourselves out to be, that was completely unacceptable. Ten times the cost of McDonald's ingredients and we would've gotten treated better there.

Again, whoever the girl is with the black hair and glasses, hope you're reading this. Do better. That was pathetic. Great food, absolutely horrendous...

I really wanted to like this place and give them 5 star's based on their concept and initiative. Peru Illinois?? I mean...You just would NOT expect to find some passionate, Restaurateur's, in a town just a bit over 10,000 folks, 100 miles from urbanization. THIS PLACE SETS THE BAR FOR ANY RESTAURANT!! I would give them all the star's in the sky for what they are doing here!! What is even more impressive, is that as I write this, the World is in such a state of chaos like never before!?! You would never know the state of the world, based on what is coming out of this magical kitchen and establishment!! Yesterday, my family decided to order "take out" to celebrate our Father's Birthday. He live's about 10 minutes from Peru... WOW!! The execution! The attention to detail! The PASSION!! Ever so present! Mind you I am no stranger to the culinary world... A bit of my background...I have been a Chef employed by Wolfgang Puck at Spago Maui. I have mentored with Roy Yamaguchi. Worked alongside Jojo Vasquez (Sous Chef to Chef Masahara Morimoto among other outstanding accomplishments). I have been employed in Michelin starred kitchen's under the direction of Chef's who have trained under Joel Robuchon(the legend of Michelin Star's)!! Worked in kitchens from the Ritz Carlton, Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt & beyond... I have cooked for notable celebrities. I have cooked for notable Chef's from Alice Water's(pioneer of the Farm to Table movement) to Ferran Adria. The moral of my background I share with you is to substantiate the SUPERLATIVE, INEFFABLE, establishment that is "Thyme Craft Kitchen!" My Chef's hat off to Rob and Anthony for setting a standard that embodies the joy of what dining out should be! My deepest gratitude and best wishes for your...