We can comfortably recommend this to everyone. Big bar, big dining area and a pleasant staff. We arrived a 7:15pm on Friday and the place was packed. That did not affect our service or timing and quality of the food. Our meals were steaming hot. Bravo. Prices are reasonable and portions good. The talapia plate was filling, the sweet potato tater tots make a good appetizer. They even have vegetarian and vegan dishes which pleased my wife. It is better than the reviews and rates more than 3.5 stars. read more

Been here in the past but has been a few years since I made my way downtown to deal with the parking and walk to restaurant but was a beautiful day so not as bad as in inclement weather. Medici has always had an ample tap beer selection if craft beers. I got the Salmon brulee nicely glazed salmon fillet and grilled asparagus on a bed of Gouda Mac and cheese loved it. Wife had mahi tacos and enjoyed them, daughter had turkey provolone sandwich and salad and gave a thumb's up as well. Nice basket if assorted bread with your meal too. I would recommend and will be back. read more

We end up going to Medici A LOT because it's within walking distance of home and work, plus the restaurant itself is beautiful, and the beer/cider/mead selections is generally pretty good. For the most part, however, my experience with Medici's food has been really hit or miss. Their pizza madrid with artisan stone crust is always great (tried several others and they varied from okay to the sad four cheese pizza that was brought to our table uncut), the truffle fries are good, and their salads tend to be pretty good as well (though sometimes the vegetables are left freakishly huge and hard to eat). All in all, the food is just okay but probably not worth the price. If Uptown Normal had ANY other relatively nice sit down restaurant, we'd probably go there instead. read more

Seeing how hard the Medici employees work inside and outside for the Medici Craft Beer and Jazz Festival, I am far beyond impressed. Even other times I've been in here, I've been treated and served with the highest tier of service. Everyone here is a hard worker and takes pride in what they do. This is a restaurant with a staff that definitely has passion and a supreme understanding of what customer service means. These people will do their best for you even when they are slammed, and that is what matters. Medici is an incredible restaurant with great food and an amazing staff. read more

This is my first time here. Good service, nice choice of wines. The salmon was nicely prepared. The pizza we ordered did not really resemble the menu description bit they insist it is the right pizza. It is a little noisy in here. I like the choice of jazz playing. I'd definitely return back here. read more

Medici belongs on the short list of "Best Bartenders in B/N" up there with Rosie's and . . . well, that's about it. That's the list. When you get sat in the dining room, the service is severely hit or miss. They're all nice people, but sometimes they just don't have the skillset to be a good server. I'm often giving our server the benefit of the doubt (it's busy, he/she is new). There are a few servers who are very good and if we see them, we request them. Best case scenario, we'll just belly up at the bar and eat there. That's where the service is the best anyway. The dinner menu is good, the pub menu is great. I think too many people overlook their pizza. Whether you get deep dish or thin crust, the pizza at Medici is terrific. They get 5 stars from me only because it's one of the coolest settings in town, a unique menu, terrific beer list, and great bartenders. They get a pass for the occassionally bad service and the so-so dinner menu. read more

If your traveling between Chicago and St Luis and want a cozy eclectic place place to eat with flavorful food and good service.....Medici is definitely worth a stop in Normal, IL. Moroccan Ragout and Salmon , read more

I read the review that mentioned the "vegan black bean burger" and was really excited to get it. BUT when I got there, they told me that the burger itself (even without the cheese and aoli) was not vegan. So that was sad, and I got the spaghetti squash instead. BUT when they brought it out, there was cheese sprinkled on top. I felt bad, but had to send it back again. When it finally came back without cheese the portion was slightly smaller. So all in all, kind of a frustrating experience. My server was pretty nice about the whole thing, but I was disappointed. read more

SHADY. Jason the server left us parched in the near 80 degree restaurant rarely filling our water. When the meal concluded my mom gave Jason her card and he walked off. Came back asking what her card looked like because he lost it and he "hopes that he can find it". Management comped our meal (no card to pay for it) and was not apologetic in the slightest. Offered to take her name and number and give a call back if anything turned up. Had to file a police report which delayed our Saturday night for hours during family weekend. Terrible service, terrible management, decent food. Picture attached is buss boy bent over a table searching for the card. Dine at your own risk. Won't be coming back even if they paid me (which they didn't). read more

My friends and I ate supper here one evening. The place was really full, so we were placed at a table in the bar which was fine. Other than it was long & narrow and not very good for eating meals on. It was definitely more for people having only drinks and maybe a few appetizers. However, it was still really enjoyable, the atmosphere was lively. They had really good food! I got a plain burger with sweet potato fries. They did lose our order back in the kitchen, so it took a lot longer to get our food, but they responded really well by giving us half off our meal!! Overall a good experience and I would recommend it if you are looking for a good place to go with friends! read more

The interior is exquisite and I love their thin crusted pizza. I had my birthday and dates here. Peaceful atmosphere and professional waiters/waitresses. read more

This was my second time here. Brought my son and his family for his birthday. They have a very good menu with unique items. I love that. They also have a great beer selection. This occasion, we ordered dessert. I had the Carrot Cake Bread Pudding. I am a Carrot Cake fan. I didn't care for this much. It was much too breaddy. It could have had a few more spices, nuts, and raisins. My son had the Skillet Cookie. It was kinda dry. It could have been a bad night for desserts. Overall, we had a great time. The food overall was very good. We will make this a regular stop when eating in the Bloomington/Normal area. read more

Don't understand all the hype. Food was just OK, sadly. Paid a lot for what ended up being an average-good meal. Been here a few times.

The sort of place you have your parents take you. Not really memorable, pricey average food but good atmosphere and decent drinks.

I went to Medici's during my lunch break and the service was frustratingly slow. The moment I stepped in the hostess was rude, the waitress hardly served our table, and the food was completely overpriced. The only reason I give this restaurant 2 stars is for the environment not for their service at all. I have gone to this place multiple times and it has never been worth the money I've spent here which is why I'm finally writing a review to warn others it's just not worth your time. read more

First time here, and was just ok. I had the tilapia picatta and the baby spinach small salad. The food was given out pretty quick. The salad was basically spinach and it barely had any of red onion, goat cheese, and the pecans, which disappointed me. The tilapia picatta was nice and hot, but for the price, I felt that was expensive for such a small amount. It was a good entree, but the tilapia was a bit too salty for me. My friend ordered one of their pizzas with a thick crust, but the crust was not thick at all,and she wasn't really pleased with that. We had an awesome waiter named Alex, and he always checked in with us and started conversations with us. I would come here again and try their other food on the menu read more

I have been here 3 or 4 times. When I go visit my daughter a ISU we go here. We went this past Sunday. It is a popular place. We went for a very late lunch and didn't have to wait to be seated. Our server and service was excellent. She was very attentive and helpful with suggestions or answers to questions. The food was very good. I really enjoyed the chicken chipolte soup. That was excellent. And also the fried pickle spears. Those were awesome! I had a burger. And while the burger was good, the bun is just too big. Way too much bread. I had to remove the top bun and eat with a knife and fork. But that could be just me. Two of the kids oredered pizza. They love the pizza here. I am not a fan but everyone has different tastes. We had a good time. Great atmosphere. And it looks like they have a great bar here so I will have to try that out next time. read more

Okay, where do I begin? with the tree in the middle of the dining room? Read up on the story of the man who opened this restaurant and it will tell you the story of the tree, the information is not coming from me, do your own research. We can begin with a good beer selection as well as a cocktail selection. The ages varied, from students to older folks. We did find out that there is also a restaurant in Hyde Park/Chicago area of the same name, never tried that one. The menu is varied and I will begin with the fried pickles. Have had these on many occasions and NOTHING beats the pickles at this location. On to the sweet potato buds....good gosh almighty, where did he get this recipe. Never tasted any thing like them and never will again unless we return to Medici. Soup was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. Moving on to the main courses that we all had... BEER CAN CHICKEN TO DIE FOR BAR BE CUE SPARE RIBS A CROWD PLEASER TALAPIA A KEEPER. HAMBURGER TOO MUCH FOR ONE SMALL PERSON TO FINISH RED SNAPPER THIS PERSON FINISHED THE WHOLE PLATE Not sure why someone would say the food is terrible, we did not have the same experience. Do not know who the chef is but he sure does a wonderful job of cooking the meals mentioned. Many different areas to eat in including upstairs deck area. Give it a try, you should not be disappointed. The only problem we ran into was that they ran out of a particular beer that we ordered. read more

Heard about this place from a friend, so we recently tried it. Very trendy setup. We were seated right at our reservation time and got a great table next to the street. Our waiter was Anthony and he was awesome! We started with the apple and brie flatbread. Eh. It was ok, but they must have used the only apples without flavor. The glaze made the flatbread though. We ordered the salmon brulee and the mahi tacos as entrees. We can't say enough good things about both dishes. Simply awesome food. The salmon over gouda mac and cheese was great! The mahi tacos were delicious as well. You won't be disappointed with either of these. When the mahi tacos came out, they were served with a side of chips. This got me thinking, how about some chicken and andouilee sausage queso to dip those bad boys in. I didn't need a full order. Anthony ran off to see what he could do. The only disappointment was that the queso can only be prepared in full servings (not sure why). So we ordered a full and decided we could always use some at home. The queso came out quickly (Anthony rushed it through since it was an addition to our table) and was good. Get it as an appetizer right up front and enjoy it leisurely. All in all, we had a great time here and we will definitely be back. read more

From the outside, this place looks great. There is nice decor, an outside eating area, and a menu that looks delicious. I beg you not to judge a book by its cover. Medici has some of the worst service I have ever experienced. I have tried to go with a group of people numerous times to get some drinks and appetizers, and each time the host/hostess flips out saying that can't accommodate us. The management went so far one week at getting into a verbal altercation with us for coming in. Our group size varys from 6-12 people generally, but we always get turned away no matter what. We have tried making reservations, but it doesn't help either. Even when going in a group of 2-4 people, the service is slow, and it always takes forever to get seated even when it appears that many tables are available. The food is good, but hard to keep in mind after you have been waiting long periods of time for seating, and for it to come out to your table. Don't go here. Medici doesn't know how to treat customers. You deserve a better dining experience. read more

Have since been back about 5 times over the last 6 mo. They've definitely come up in quality, but it's still a disappointment. The food isn't any better than you could get at a sit-down chain, and I still just don't know who they are -- what they're trying to be. Honestly, the only reason I ever go is because someone I'm with wants to go there. They seem to have done well in partnering with some orgs to do things like green drinks, and that has created some loyalty. Sunday brunch was decent, and the make-your-own bloody mary bar was great. But it's still really low on my list of places to go or recommend for a nice dinner in town. read more

My wife and I thought the food was excellent! We had reservations, the wait was a little longer than expected. Our server forgot to give us the specials. Everything else was great. The food, the atmosphere, was great. read more

Food came out super quick. The service was great. I ordered the prawns and polenta. It had great flavors and good portions. I was hesitant to come here because of the low yelp rating but I'm glad I did. Overall a great place to go. read more

Close to the hotel, so I was able to walk. Loved the gnocchi and the skillet cookie was AMAZING! The bartender really knew how to make a martini. read more

Bakery Review Only - The spinach and feta croissant was fresh and very, very tasty. The chocolate bread with cherries was unique and good, but not great. read more

i'm shocked to see the low star reviews for medici! i had dinner there in late december with my parents are really enjoyed the experience. i moved from central IL 3 years ago, so i'm still getting used to the whole "uptown normal" thing. the construction and parking situation are nightmarish, but i think that should be cleared up soon. i hope anyways. i was impressed with the atmosphere of medici - the lighting, the tree, the bars, the booths, the art glass. the beer list was extensive - so many great choices on tap! the dinner menu was very diverse, almost too much variety. our waitress let my mom sample a beer before she ordered it and made good recommendations for dad and i. she was right on for mine, but dad wasn't as excited about his brew. we had the goat chese appetizer, mom had the lasagna, dad had a burger, and i had the chicken florentine. we enjoyed all the dishes and the basket of bread that kept being refilled by our attentive server. all in all, a great experience. i hope to go back the next time i am in "uptown normal". read more

came here with a friend, who recommended it. ambiance and atmosphere was great. i loved the huge tree that was set in the middle of the restaurant. lots of room between tables for semi-intimacy if your bringing a date or gf/wife. food was good. i ordered special of the day which were pork chops and mashed and green beans. the sauce was spicy and sweet, which was eccentric, but i loved it. mac & cheese was delicious. read more

The food is great and the menu is not complex. Great for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Great beer selection along with great bartenders.

We happened to have a very good waitress last weekend at Medici. The location in Uptown Normal is great. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the atmosphere is certainly inviting and exciting. The bar is jammed full on a Saturday evening--every table in the dining room is full too--at least until 7 or so. The bloody mary I ordered was very good. I was primed and anxious to try the food. Alas, the food was less than outstanding. Nothing looked awful, but the Southwestern Chicken Salad I ordered was lacking pop. The ingredients were fresh, but the salad was heavy on the lettuce and woefully light on the Southwestern flair. Too bad, I wanted to love this place. read more

Very cool, classy dinner spot smack in the middle of downtown Normal. I love the atmosphere inside with the tree at the center and lots of different shaped tables surrounding it. Didn't get a chance to go upstairs, but it looks like they have a nice outdoor area as well. Interesting menu with a diverse array of decently priced options, including plenty of vegetarian choices. Good cocktails too. Pizza was just OK but overall I enjoyed the experience and would definitely go back if I'm in the area. read more

Just the fact that they have 2 Bro's Northwind Stout is enough to garner 4 stars. It's the only thing I had there (as I was just there for happy hour), but it was enough. Awesome. Way to support craft beer, guys! read more

I had high hopes for this restaurant in uptown Normal, but was disappointed. We had to wait for a table...no problem so ordered a Bloody Mary and the hummus appetizer. The drink was the worst one I have ever had, really I should have asked them to make a new one (but I am never one to send items back). The hummus was bland and nothing special, would not order it again. After we got seated at our table I ordered the salmon. It was not bad, but not delicious either. I just expected it to be better than it was. No complaints about the service or ambience. I may give it another try...maybe. If I do, I will have lower expectations. read more

Easily the best place to eat in Uptown Normal. One of the top restaurants in the Bloomington Normal area. The decor is really cool, featuring a large preserved mulberry tree climbing to the roof of the second story. Outdoor rooftop seating. Medici wonderfully balances standard seafood, burger, and pizza fare with creative and delicious interpretations. The black and blue burger is not to be missed, the key west chopped salad is also fantastic. Great selection of beer and good wine selection as well. The dinning area can get noisy. Wednesday features Wednesday Warriors. Wednesday is a good time for drinks with friends, not a good time for a relaxing dinner though. read more

Very conveniently located around the corner from the Marriott. The brisket soup was great. I also had the Key West Salad which was light, very flavorful and hit the spot. Excellent service read more

Food is decent quality, servers are kinda clueless. I would come back for the Mac and cheese!

Food is good and portions usually healthy but service is inconsistent. Sometimes you get seated then wait forever to see a server, sometimes you place your order then wait eons for the food. Interesting interior with the tree. read more

Ate here with a friend on a Sunday night in October. Between the two of us, we had soup, salad, a pizza, a burger and drinks. The tab was around $48 with tip, so it's a little bit on the pricey side for B-N, but not out of line with the prices at a national chain restaurant in a parking lot on Veterans. The Mediterranean Pizza was the star of our meal. The crust was crisp, and the sun-dried tomato, goat cheese, pesto, and olives provided a tang not found at any other pizza joint. The burger was flavorful and done well-- the potato bun perhaps a little oversized and with an unexpected flavor, but not bad. A chili-flavored soup of the day was flavored just right, and the garden salad was typical. The atmosphere is very casual, with a kind of modern rusticity that would suit a wide range of diners and drinkers. There were many people stopping in before seeing "Casablanca" playing at the Normal Theater across the street, some watching Sunday night football at the bar, and others just there for the food. Uptown Normal is starting to buzz as the redevelopment is starting to take shape, and this place will be an obvious beneficiary. There is a small parking lot in back, and the Uptown Parking Deck is just a block to the north. read more

Fun place to eat with reasonably good food. I think it is a bit overpriced and caters to parents taking their kids out for a nice meal.

Best local brews on tap in the area! Excellent food and service. I'd give them 5 stars if they returned to farm to table local food, seasonal menu as they had in times past. Excellent place for great weather on their 2nd floor deck. Located in uptown Normal, if you are traveling via Amtrack, its a block away and a great place to hang out between trains or waiting for a ride. read more

The staff is very kind however I had better food from my high school cafeteria. I had the salmon witch was extremely fishy and the Mac and cheese that they served with it was starchy and sticky with no flavor and my asparagus was basically straight from the garden. My husbands choice of entree was pork shank which he said was okay however again his vegetables were hard and tasteless as if grown out back and placed on the plate just before serving. read more