The Rock Restaurant

Went here for breakfast. Had a group of 8 prior to heading out for a round of golf. Service and…read morefood were just ok at best. Lot of our food was overcooked.

Back again withi, as this is my Dad's favorite restaurant on planet earth…read more Since this is my second review, this one is just to add some more photos and show you how cute Greeks is! But in case you don't read my first review, food is delicious and service is wonderful! Go get you some breakfast here right now if you're in the area!

The restaurant.

Gyro Plate

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The restaurant

Super Gyros

3.8(47 reviews)

1.9 mi

Another great meal at Super Gyros. The people are as amazing as the food. We both ordered the gyros…read moreand shared an order of fries. The place is always clean.

Tasty, freshly cooked food. Great service and friendly vibes! I will definitely be coming backread more

Gyro

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Garden of Paradise

3.9(130 reviews)

2.0 mi

I came to town to visit my dad, Jackie Mo, along with Ryan Mo, and the rest of the family. While…read moreI've been here on vacation, I've eaten at Garden of Paradise a couple of times, and it's been excellent every visit. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and our waitress, Abby, was awesome. She provided great service and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was fresh, delicious, and consistently good. I'll definitely be coming back the next time I'm in town. Thank you to Abby and the entire team at Garden Paradise for another great dining experience!

The Country Fried Steak was pretty good standard issue fare…read more The pancakes were average. Next time I'll try the French Toast or Waffle. As always the biscuits and gravy were great. My wife got it as a combo. The bacon needs to be ordered well done or else it comes out fairly raw. The sausage was decent. The coffee is weak.

Inside

Garden of Paradise - Greek Skillet came with nearly no Gyro meat, so I ordered an extra side of Gyro Meat. Lacked seasoning. Nice Tzatsiki sauce though.

Greek Skillet came with nearly no Gyro meat, so I ordered an extra side of Gyro Meat. Lacked seasoning. Nice Tzatsiki sauce though.

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Bar

Jerusalem Restaurant

4.8(321 reviews)

36.1 mi

A tear nearly came out when I brought that chicken into my mouth. It's just so good…read more Good service. The seating and tables were sparkling clean. Plus, the food took like three minutes to come out.

All the 5 star reviews are right! Amazing food, terrific service, great staff. Traditional falafel…read moreis a slam dunk.

Falafel, rice, hummus and salad.

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Combination Platter

Yannis Gyros

4.5(135 reviews)

62.0 mi

I've been kind of bummed out that I can't eat the gyro sauce due to being lactose intolerant. He…read morenow has a BBQ gyro that is amazing! Very good flavor and really tastes so good with all the fixings. The fries are not like any other fries in town. The fries have like a crisp on the outside that makes them so delicious. Every time I walk into this place everyone is so nice. The baklava is really good here too!

This place will serve you food! You won't be disappointed. Unfortunately you probably wont remember…read moreyour meal either. I hope that isnt harsh. I mean, it's a good gyro, but doesn't blow ya away. Think 6.7/10. Gets the job done, solid role player. And for what youre getting, you sure as heck cannot beat the price, bravo! Workers were nice, interior clean. The best part? Their spicy bbq! It is hot and it is tangy!

BBQ Gyros Pita and fries

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Exterior

Niro's Gyros

4.0(23 reviews)

48.2 mi

I ordered the two pita gyros plate. First, way too much food…read morethat included two pitas, a huge amount of meat, sweet onion, tomato wedges cucumber sauce and crispy fries. Second, very affordable and delicious! Third, really fast delivery. Fourth, not enough napkins which encourages you to lick your fingers. Thanks. So good!

Coming from a highly saturated Greek area. We craved some Greek food and were so excited to stumble…read moreupon Niro's. The gyro meat and sauce were bland and even the onions lost their flavor. Pita bread on the other hand was soft, warm and delicious. So were the fried mushrooms. Can't put my head around why so highly rated.

Self serve drinks

Outside

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Menu. Everyday Specisls

Olympia Sports Bar & Grill

4.0(93 reviews)

37.9 mi

I love this place!! The food and service are great. Portion sizes are big and everything tasted…read moregreat.

The food is amazing! Great atmosphere, lovely service. I will be coming back!! The hummus platter…read moreis an 11/10... everyone should try it.

People

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Kids cheeseburger

Medici

3.5(485 reviews)

0.0 mi

Absolutely loved this spot, especially after being cooped up in the car for six and a half hours…read more We were out on a family road trip and Bloomington/Normal was a good in between. Side note, really enjoyed walking the town and all the shops in our short time here. Medici was a draw within footsteps of our hotel, a good kids menu (had to call to confirm as we didn't see it anywhere) and a tree inside. I was very impressed, and for a long time on this trip, this was one of the best meals I'd had. I got some local beer that was delicious, and then a fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. The chicken thighs were flavorful and moist, and the green beans were very tasty too. Nice service as well. My kids enjoyed what they got, and my wife got a ravioli that she said was way better than expected. All in all, great spot and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Not my fave. I've been at various times in the afternoon and evening and each time wondered why I…read moregave it another go. I've had the duck and a chicken dish. Just...average. Service was decent. Ambiance is nice, though. Love the booth seating and the bar, even though I'm not a beer drinker. They do have quite the microbrew selection. Easy parking. I was expecting more. But they're still here, so they must be doing something right. And the large Mulberry tree inside is a fun quirk.

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Khoury's Restaurant

4.3(55 reviews)

26.0 mi

Khoury's is an amazing restaurant with everything made fresh to order, including the hummus! The…read moregarlic chicken wrap was equally flavourful. The owner is a very nice man and he's been making delicious food for 30 years at this venue. Portions are large and you may have leftovers.

Incredible, high quality food made with love. Had such an amazing experience with the staff and the…read moreowner, and look forward to coming back.

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Super gyro

Garlic chicken wrap

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63 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Jacqueline K.

5 years ago

This is my first time here so I have no idea what is in the food and the young lady working practically explained everything on the menu for me. For this alone the place gets 5 stars and Hailey would get 20 stars if I could give them to her. She was so patient with my group and her fantastic smile put us all at ease. Best worker ever in my opinion. Most people nowadays have the attitude of that they are being bothered when asked anything. Not Hailey. She was more than happy to assist us. For the food. I got the Gyro Special. Kinda small portions but it turned out to be just right. Super crispy fries and the gyro was med sized but jammed packed with meat. That ranch sauce stuff was pretty good too. Place was neat and clean and super nice. Highly recommend this place! read more

Olivia F.

12 years ago

First off I would like to say that the owner is really nice. When I ate there to see what all the fuss was about I was expecting a fantastic meal. The food was about average, there really wasn't anything spectacular about it. He's raised prices since the last time I looked over the menu. If you're looking for something greasy and a hearty portion then it's not a bad place. I will say that the portions you get are hearty for the price you pay. read more

Mack D.

11 years ago

Best philly cheesesteak in town. Beware if you see a kid doing the cooking. No experience causes the meat to be burnt and dried out. Make sure one of the owners/mgrs are doing the cooking. Gyro meat is okay, but they over heat the pita bread till it's too dry and brittle. They store the pita too close to the cooktop so it's overly dry anyway. Overall, it's a good place owned and managed by good people. read more

Jane S.

13 years ago

Eh, The Rock isn't really that special. Had their gyros once and they didn't really taste genuine. It tasted more processed than anything. The stuff looks like it all comes from a bag and doesn't look like it takes much to prepare the food. This makes me believe that the prices shouldn't be so high for the amount of effort that goes into it. read more

Doctor D.

13 years ago

I love this place. My favorite thing to get is the grilled chicken gyro with fries, and I HAVE to have ranch dressing for my fries. Something about the crispy coating on the fries makes them perfect for ranch dressing. It's my Sunday go to place for dinner because it's close to the constitution trail and I like to stop in after my ride. read more

Chad S.

11 years ago

Great food, great people, great atmosphere, it's great, just go and try it. I always get the challenger. The fries remind me of Burger King fries, but taste better. The new renovation is really good. I think they may be adding outdoor seating as well, not sure though read more

Michael M.

10 years ago

Falafel salad was really good, only problem was the iceberg lettuce. There are local farmers producing some great greens , so , why not try them? Iceberg is the sawdust/cardboard of the lettuce world. That said , My wife and I will definitely be back. read more

Jack F.

10 years ago

What can I say about the rock, the gorgeous scenery of uptown normal mixed with the succulent Mediterranean cuisine will leave you wanting to come back everyday. The friendly staff and open kitchen make the rock one of the best places to eat in normal read more

Mason D.

12 years ago

Great philly cheesesteak, but the gyro's aren't as good. The meat for the gyro's is great, but the pita bread is always stale because they grill it instead of steaming it which dries it out to the max. They fries here aren't worth ordering either. read more

Danny S.

10 years ago

This place is just absolutely incredible. I leave speechless every time I'm there. From the garlic chicken to the falafel you will be amazed with just how great this food is! Ran by a top notch family this place is a must stop! read more

Chris K.

10 years ago

Amazing restaurant. Very clean place with the nicest employees. The food reminds of the home cooked meals back home in Lebanon. Definitely a must stop if you are in Bloomington Nornal. read more

Britney R.

9 years ago

It's a little loud in here. Sound travels fast in a small space. But the food is good so it's usually packed! Good prices. The food comes out fast. I love those pretzel bun burgers. read more

John J.

12 years ago

Best place to eat in uptown normal. Fantastic food, good prices, and friendly staff. Great menu options. I definitely recommend the Gyro Special or the Challenger. read more

Mee M.

8 years ago

Great food, great atmosphere, prices are right, good service, very clean restaurant, owners really care about their customers! I highly recommend the Rock. read more

Said S.

4 years ago

Great food, great atmosphere, prices are right, good service, very clean restaurant, owners really care about their customers! I highly recommend the Rock read more

Rachelle K.

10 years ago

Food is amazing, and workers are great! This restaurant is one of my favorites! It's extremely clean and I always leave with a big smile on my face. read more

Giacomo L.

7 years ago

Visiting in town and absolutely had a great time. Was greeted warmly by all the workers, food was fast and fresh, and overall a great time!

Michele K.

11 years ago

Awesome food, AWESOME staff! Must come in and see the awesome new renovation. Love the hummus, falafel and gyros. Amazing look inside!

Kristin M.

11 years ago

Really great restaurant in downtown Normal. Very friendly staff and incredible food! We had the chicken gyros with hummus! Soooo good!

Joe W.

323

11 years ago

Absolutely the best int he business..... Amazing food! No more words needed.... take it from a guy who loves his food! read more

The Rock Restaurant - greek - Updated October 2026

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Incredible, high quality food made with love. Had such an amazing experience with the staff and the…read moreowner, and look forward to coming back.

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I only had the Gondola so I may change my review but this is a great local place for comfort food…read more Try the Gondola

My lasagna was smothered by WAY TOO MUCH marinara sauce. In addition to the marinara on the inside…read more- all I could taste was the sauce. Some cheese - after I dug around for it. Some pasta that looked dark and gray. The marinara was not very good tasting. My wife did not like the spaghetti for the same reasons. Bread was cold. No wait staff. So no tip given. Just like a fast food place. Ambiance: What ambiance? No music. Boring interior. Floors sticky - made a squelching noise when we walked out. We'll be going to any other restaurant for Italian. Avanti's - you lost our business forever.

Reality Bites

3.5

(171 reviews)

My wife and I came for dinner and had a great meal. The hamburgers and the grilled chicken were…read morecooked to perfection. In addition, we had great service from Nicole. We asked for some additional things and it came within a few minutes. Many places you get them when you're practically done with your meal.

The only thing that bit during our first (and last!) visit was the reality that this was one of the…read moreworst dining experiences we've ever had (and we eat out a lot). We waited over 30 minutes for a burger (ordered medium) and farfalle pasta with vodka sauce --we were the only table that had placed a dinner order at that time. No check-ins, no updates. When I finally asked, we were told the kitchen was "plating" and needed five more minutes. My burger came out first and was beyond well-done. It was dry and smothered in sloppy sauce. The pasta was completely wrong: linguini with basic marinara instead of the farfalle with vodka sauce we ordered. The sauce tasted straight from a jar. We were hungry and almost let it go, until my husband took a bite and the pasta was raw. Not al dente. Crunchy. We sent both dishes back because they were simply not edible. (Btw, food wasn't cheap eaither: pasta was $29 and burger was $20) Between the long wait, lack of communication, incorrect dishes, overcooked burger, jar-tasting sauce, and raw pasta, it felt careless, even insulting. Like the menu is banking on diners not knowing the difference. If the movie Reality Bites was about the harsh wake-up call of adulthood, this place is the harsh wake-up call of overpromising and underdelivering. I've never left a restaurant this frustrated. Would never recommend.

Bernardi's Restaurant

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(68 reviews)

Julie and I visited Bernardi's in Washington on Thursday, August 6, 2026, to meet up with a group…read moreof friends. There were eight of us at the table. When we arrived, the other six people in our group were already there, having drinks and sharing bread from the basket provided at the table. We ordered our meals, and when our food arrived, I asked for some additional bread to go with my meal. I was told, rather abruptly, that there was only one basket of bread per table. What I found particularly frustrating was that there were other tables with only two people sitting at them, and they had a full basket of bread. Meanwhile, our table of eight was expected to share one basket. I even offered to pay for additional bread, but I was simply told no, and I never received any additional bread. The policy itself was disappointing, but what really bothered me was the way the situation was handled. The waitress was extremely abrasive and difficult to understand, and there was no attempt to explain the policy or offer any alternative. A simple explanation such as, "I'm sorry, we have a new policy, but you can purchase additional bread if you'd like," would have been completely different. We have traditionally enjoyed Bernardi's and have gone there about once a week, either dining in or getting carryout. Unfortunately, after this experience, I won't be returning. Restaurants have plenty of competition, and when you're spending your hard-earned money somewhere, you should be treated with courtesy and respect. I understand that restaurants can change their policies, even policies I may not agree with. What I don't understand or accept is being treated rudely when simply asking for something as basic as a piece of bread with my meal. It wasn't the bread that ultimately made me decide not to return. It was the way I was treated.

I really love Bernardi's food. But we went there Saturday night and the service was Unbelievable!…read moreWe arrive promptly at six and we're seated ordered appetizers and drinks. Those were delivered, but we never saw the waitress again for 20 minutes. I'm seriously telling you 20 minutes. We sat there with no order. No refill on drinks nothing. We had to go to the bar to get refreshment. Finally got our dinner at 7:30! 730! By the time we ate, we were the last ones in the restaurant. They were actually running the vacuum around us. Here again the food was excellent, but there's no excuse for this type of service. they never did clear the table.

Shannon's Five Star

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Been here a bunch of times for breakfast lately, I s'pose based on location, familiarity and…read morefrankly the weekend breakfast buffet which includes all the morning staples and offers the most flexibility for a groups - esp large ones which this place handles well. That said, nothing here blows me away taste, or service-wise. I've never had a bad meal or service issue here either. I considered a demerit this time around for the current prices, but frankly it's the same way everywhere, esp for bfast. The biggest downside is probly the ambiance, which is more on the noisy side based on it being a pretty large place these days and still pretty popular. I can't comment on lunch or dinner because we've never tried it, but the place prized brunch spot mostly by folks middle-aged and up (with more families/kids on the weekends) for its all-around consistency.

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Fairly disappointing given the plethora of 5-star reviews for this establishment…read more I ordered the calzone and it was... passable. It automatically comes with Italian Sausage, ricotta, and mozzarella on the inside. But the fillings just weren't flavorful like, at all. The dough was admittedly pretty good though - had that browned sweetness to it like Papa Johns/Domino's. However, I was told that the calzone automatically came with a side of marinara sauce. It didn't come with said side. One of my family members ordered the Shrimp Napoli, which is specified to have jumbo shrimp. It had only regular-sized shrimp (or at least what I regard as regular-sized). Fried mozzarella sticks were the real standout disappointment. Barely any flavor at all in the breading, the interior cheese solidified like a brick even when warm, and they overall just tasted like they were bought from Dollar Tree or something and thrown in the microwave for 30 seconds. They seemed pretty understaffed? I understand if you don't want to overstaff your business just to have a bunch of your employees waiting around doing nothing, but I just feel like the service wasn't there.

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