We recently visited the new Brienzo's Pizza + Bar in East Peoria, and I love that we have one closer to home now!
First of all, the entire area has developed so beautifully! Between the new Blutowne apartments and the surrounding plaza, it's such a wonderful addition to East Peoria. The restaurant itself has a really unique layout. From the outside, it almost looks like it might be on the smaller side, but once you step inside, you realize just how spacious it actually is!
The first thing you'll notice is the enormous bar right in the center of the restaurant, with seating all the way around it. It definitely takes up a good portion of the space, but I can see why they chose to make it the focal point. The second thing that immediately caught my attention was the booths! I absolutely loved them! They're beautiful, incredibly spacious, and many are designed to comfortably accommodate larger groups. There are also plenty of tables throughout the restaurant, so they've really done a great job utilizing the space.
The warm brown leather seating, wood tables, modern lighting, and industrial-style touches give the restaurant such a beautiful atmosphere. Even the smaller details caught my attention, like the water being served in these gorgeous glass bottles! It's such a simple touch, but I love little things like that. Everything feels thoughtfully put together!
Now, let's talk about the food! I ordered one of my favorites, the Buffalo chicken ranch pizza, but I always request it without the buffalo sauce, essentially making it a Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza. And it is absolutely fantastic! The combination of chicken, bacon, ranch, and all that delicious melted cheese is just so good!
My husband ordered the Carnivore pizza, which is loaded with different meats. They crumble the meats into really small pieces, so you get a nice combination of flavors in every bite. It was definitely good, but I still think my Chicken Bacon Ranch wins!
One thing I've always appreciated about Brienzo's is how fresh everything tastes. Their food is made to order, and you can really tell the difference! The crust is bomb diggity!
We actually happened to visit the day before their grand opening, and our waitress was telling us how excited she was for the big day. The service was great, and it was nice to see that enthusiasm!
Overall, we had a wonderful experience! Between the delicious food, friendly service, beautiful atmosphere, and spacious seating, I think this is a fantastic addition to East Peoria. I'm thrilled to have Brienzo's so much closer to home, and we'll definitely be back! read more