What a cute little place! When we entered the restaurant we were warmly welcomed and promptly seated. We admired the funky decor and varied menu. For drinks we had a jalapeño mint julep and a raspberry lager. We were a little disappointed that they were out of grouper, but we decided on the portobello pizetta and jerk chicken for dinner. Both were creative and tasty. The homemade desserts looked amazing. We hope to come back for those next time. read more

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I was in Peoria visiting the Riverfront Museum and needed dinner. Rhythm Kitchen appealed to me because I need vegetarian and gluten free options. The good news was that I could walk three minutes from the Museum, keep my car, parked in the garage, have dinner, look at the river on my way back to my car. The staff was very nice and accommodating. The picture of my food doesn't look like it's much, but it was very tasty. It was a Mexican chicken salad subbed with tofu. While I was there, I listened to Billie Holliday and Stan Getz. No complaints! If I visit the museum again, I will definitely come back to Rhythm Kitchen. read more

Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe - Mexican Tofu Salad - New American Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Great soul-food restaurant in Peoria. Went for dinner with my family. I got the gumbo and it was pretty good. Not the best I've ever had but pretty good, the portion was kind of small for the price. However, a member of my party got the shrimp and grits and they were AMAZING. I wish I would have gotten them. Holy cow I'm still thinking about them. The restaurant itself is very unique and I love all the local art displayed. For 4 people the bill was $90 which I believe is fair for 4 entrees and 1 dessert. Would definitely return and get the shrimp and grits. read more

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Quite literally a hidden gem. Went here while visiting Peoria on a work trip with a group of six and this place did not disappoint! Service was spectacular. Food was absolutely phenomenal (pic of the jerk chicken below). Dessert was divine. Ambiance was lovely as we dined on a Tuesday evening when there's live music! If you're in town for work and haven't been, I highly recommend! read more

Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe - New American Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Great vibes and totally tasty food! Fun Mocktails and appetizers. We had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with creamy grits, Salmon Berry Salad, Grilled Aha Tuna with mashed potatoes. Everything was delicious! read more

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Very cool little place. Never expected Cajun food in Peoria. Loved the hip vibe, creative cocktails and friendly wait staff! Also as a bonus, there was a guest artist spinning vintage vinyl. read more

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Best staff with amazing food. The ambience is great and the kitchen is open so you can see the magic happening in front of your eyes. All food is freshly made per order and get ready for some of the best Cajun Creole food you've ever had. read more

Excellent gumbo with pecan roll. Upon recommendation from the bartender, I got it with the grits instead of rice. Good option. Great service and attention during the whole meal. The desserts were EXCELLENT, especially the carrot cake. read more

My Ahi tuna was cold. My husband had the meatloaf which was lukewarm as was his beans and rice. We won't be back

Love the food, atmosphere and people that dine here! Jazz nights are a thrill and some of the best jazz players frequent this spot for a night of wonderful music! We love going here. And all the servers and staff are so nice!! read more

Despite it being our first time going there, we were warmly greeted like long friends and were quickly seated. The menu was great and we had a hard time deciding. We ended up splitting the Cajun caviar and Caribbean pizza - we chose well? The ambiance was fun and quirky and the drinks were great. Definitely going back to try more. read more

LOVED the Portobello Pizzetta as an entree. My companion had the Carribean and was not as thrilled, nice flavor but could have more sauce. Service was excellent. Ambiance nice, a little loud for conversation. Looking forward to returning on a Tuesday for the live music! read more

Food is always good! The ambiance has a very New Orleans vibe. Great drinks! In a fun near the River neighborhood

Dinner is always consistent and flavorful. They have a diverse menu that can accommodate many diets. The servers are attentive to your needs. They have some amazing desserts too; we do our best to fit them into our experience. read more

The food and the vibes were amazing. The moment you walked in, jazz music was playing and placed smelled amazing. The bartender Dylan, who helped me with my order, was very kind and held a great conversation while I was waiting for my order. I got the crawfish etouffee and bread pudding. The crawfish bowl was a bit small for the price, but still delicious. The bread pudding was a big hit in my book. If I'm ever in the area, I will definitely be back! read more

Small cafe with fantastic food, service and ambiance! We were outta-towners looking for a local cafe with a taste of its own and we found it at Rhythm Kitchen! Owner is in the kitchen with staff and preparing and approving each dish before it's served. Gotta get the BBQ shrimp & grits! Light spice with a bold flavor layered over amazing grits! Try the gumbo with grits if you favor a heftier spice kick! read more

Really neat restaurant on the river. Service was great. Everyone was so friendly. And the food was superb! They don't lie about the BBQ grits being amazing! We also tried the homemade sugar and cinnamon cream pie and the bread pudding for dessert and they were both delicious! Would love to come back for the live jazz they have on Tuesdays. read more

I've been going to the Rhythm Kitchen since my early college days in the late 90's. Had my first major experiences with art, music and poetry in that building so it will always be special to me! Although I moved away several years ago, I try to visit this spot every time I go back to the area and make it my place to visit friends and family. There are many new "local eats" to try in Peoria now but RK is my old faithful. I've never experienced this level of consistency in any restaurant. Even though owners have changed hands, most of the menu items offered are the same as 22 years ago and they always look and taste the same! Also, I have a place to go that satisfies a variety of dietary needs (veggie, vegan, low carb, meat and potatoes). I visited with my family a few days ago - party of five. We sat near the open kitchen as I always try to do. So crazy how the view never seems to change. Love watching the family going crazy behind the counter and kudos to anyone who can sit so close to the homemade desserts and not order something. We all ordered classics: burger, salmon dinners, portobello pizetta and my all-time favorite, the salmon BLT with the side salad and house pesto dressing (which I have been able to replicate pretty closely at home). They cook salmon perfectly with beautiful grill marks! The night became busy but the kitchen kept up and our food came in very reasonable time and I was so into our meal that I forgot to take any pictures. Servings are not overly sized but satisfying, leaving plenty of room for a dessert. Our table tried the pecan pie, chess pie, bread pudding and the lemon pie. No complaints. I will also say that I feel the prices here are ridiculously reasonable! Due to this, leaving a larger tip (deserved) is easy to do. I implore the community to keep this spot going including the neighboring vendors in the building - the Fiber Universe, the CAC upstairs, Running Central next door and I see a new bakery as well but I've not yet been there during their open hours. Thanks, RK, old friend. See ya soon. read more

Incredibly delicious food in a charismatic space! And there was live music (we went on a Tuesday) which was a tiny bit loud and also delightful. Get the bread pudding because it's a game changer! Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful food and fun atmosphere! Service is good! Highly recommend checking this place out!

What can I say about RKMC that hasn't already been said. This has been my go-to first choice in Peoria for many years. I dreamt about the food when I had moved away, and could not find any restaurant that came close to the excellent quality of food found here. Always, always, always: get the muffin! Get the biscuit! Get the pie! Jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp and grits... I know what it's like to miss n'awlins, but RKMC helps me alleviate that longing! read more

Unique menu. Everything fresh and flavorful. Service was spot on. She was very busy- but no waiting. Eclectic but homey ambiance.

The staff was all women and very kind and helpful. The food was delicious. Even the sweet tea was good (I am from the South). The red beans and rice were so good. I got the gumbo and the muffin was charred and hard as a rock, but I was given a biscuit when I asked. The atmosphere was amazing. I noticed everyone was a couple on a date, so it is a good spot for that. It was surprisingly not very busy for a Friday night! read more

Your typical scam restaurant experience in 2025, overpriced food, bad portioning, cheap ingredients, $12+ drinks. Please don't charge $20 for a sandwich and use cheap store bought bread. Terminal POS also shouldn't default to 20% minimum tip as the lowest recommended option. Definitely not coming back. read more

A group of us went there for the first time. The service was top tier during our entire dining experience. Two of us had the shrimp creole, two had the blackened grouper and one person had the grilled Ahi tuna. All of it was fabulous. We shared bread pudding, chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, carrot cake and sugar/ cinnamon cream pie They definitely did not disappoint us either. The drink menu has something for everyone I can't wait to go back again. read more

We had an excellent meal at Rhythm Kitchen. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. The Caribbean pizza and carrot cake were amazing! Thank you for a great experience! read more

This was by the BEST did the city has to offer, I would've never expected to find Creole food of this caliber in Peoria.. And yes I mean CREOLE, their chef has surpassed Cajun. Anytime I'm in the area I will definitely have to make this place a MUST go. Highly recommend anyone who wants an authentic New Orleans cuisine experience .. This is your place to go. read more

Great food ,great staff, sweet place to hang out and enjoys life. E erything we have tried has been great.

Came with a group from Chicago for a visit. This restaurant did not disappoint. Everyone loved the food, lots of different dishes. Great price, Great food and great service. Will be back again. read more

In town for business, and I had no idea we'd walk into the most delightful and delicious restaurant! Live jazz was playing (a wonderful Tuesday night surprise)...I enjoyed the perfectly seasoned and proportioned blackened grouper salad, served with with a side of remoulade. It's tucked away, somewhat eclectic, and entirely fabulous! Highly recommend! read more

First time at Rhythm Kitchen great food and great service. Homemade desserts. Live music only on Tuesdays.

Had a fantastic patio dinner here on a Saturday night! The staff is the best here and owners really cool people! We had some beers and bourbon mules for drinks...they make a mean signature cocktail! Started with the portobello pizzaz app ..tasty but not really enough for more than one person. I had the strawberry vinaigrette salmon salad-without a doubt the best salad Ive ever had. Large portion of perfectly cooked salmon with plump chunks of fresh goat cheese, walnuts, blueberries and strawberries. The housemade dressing was fresh and complimented it perfectly! Boyfriend had the gumbo specialty...the meat in it was flavorful and juicy and the dish itself was balanced well with spice and topped with a bran muffin (we thought it was). Ended the evening with the bread pudding...I was reluctant but it's not to be skipped! Cannot say one bad thing... ordering again soon! Peoria gem! read more

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The shrimp and grits was pretty damn good. Just the right amount of spice on the shrimp and grits. The service was great too and they brought out my shrimp and grits rather quickly. I'm glad they also served Stone Delicious IPA, a perfect pairing for my shrimp n grits. read more

We found this place while looking for a varied manu in Downtown Peoria that was open for dinner. Located along the river, it is easy to miss since there minimal signage and the restaurant is located in the back of art center. The atmosphere is pretty fun with lots of chandeliers, blue lighting a bar and light music some nights. They also have an open kitchen which is pretty cool. The weekday night was quiet but service was pretty slow. They have a range of items on the menu which was refreshing after all the bar food we found in Peoria. I had a grilled blackened grouper over greens which was flavorful. The dressing was very thick though and more like mayonnaise so I used only a bit. My coworker enjoyed her This would be a fun place to try when there is live music. I also bought the chocolate chip bar located at the counter; it was very good. The cool atmosphere and an eclectic menu make this place a good spot to try if in the downtown area for dinner. read more

Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe - Interior bar - New American Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Was so happy that I came across this place. The first day that I was supposed to check it out, they were closed. Thankfully, they were open the next night. Being downtown on a weeknight, they were not very busy and I found a spot. Waitress came over quickly and I ordered the chickpea sandwich with red beans and rice, with a side of bean soup and a beer. All of it was delicious! As a vegan traveling, I'm always happy to support a local spot and glad that I had a meal here. Would recommend. read more

Great food. Great wait staff. Owner's nice. Never had a bad experience here. Favorite place to eat in Peoria

I give this place five stars because everything is spot on. Service, price, menu options, food quality and a funky atmosphere. The kids burger which my daughter got was delicious as were her homemade mashed potatoes. I got the Jamaican Jerk Chicken and it was fantastic. I will certainly go back next time I am in Peoria!!! read more

Food was delicious and imaginative. Great service and funky ambience. Close to the river walk. Would definitely return.

The food at Rhythm Kitchen is excellent, served hot and always with friendly and attentive service. I highly recommend. On a recent Saturday night I enjoyed their salmon dinner and my wife had their Jamaican jerk chicken. Rhythm kitchen is one of our favorites and It's always consistently good! read more

For starters, everyone's reviews seems to complain about the wait time. Our food was was on the table within 20 minutes of placing the order. Now that I've addressed that...the Food! I ordered the Chickpea Burger and it was a delicious meatless option; probably the best I've ever Had! So very flavorful. I almost want to go back for dinner. When I'm in Peoria, this will be a regular stop for me. read more

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