Alexander's Steakhouse Peoria

Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria Illinois is an “old”fashioned steakhouse that is a weird cross between a senior citizen buffet style restaurant and a fine dining steakhouse. The wine bins had really solid wines, but the establishment still uses plastic tablecloths, paper napkins and is about as dated in appearance as you can get; the carpet was old, dirty and had years in it. The wait staff was courteous and attentive, but a request for a cocktail while acknowledged when made was forgotten about for 20 minutes until a second request was made. The food was lackluster at best: the medium rare steak was medium and dry—therefore it was tough—and $38 for an add on 6oz lobster tail was outrageous. Moreover, the steak was over seasoned, and the sautéed peppers & onions accompaniment an odd pairing with a NY Strip. All-in-all the meal wad off! Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria, Illinois, is an odd mix of old-school steakhouse and senior center buffet. While the wine selection was surprisingly solid, the setting felt tired—plastic tablecloths, paper napkins, and worn, dirty carpeting, dragged the experience down. Service was polite and attentive, but inconsistent. A cocktail order was acknowledged but forgotten for nearly 20 minutes until I reminded them. (The chocolate martini was the best part of my dining escaped). Unfortunately, the food didn’t redeem the experience: it was lackluster at best. My medium-rare steak arrived medium, and it was quite dry. The $38 upcharge for a small 4oz lobster tail was absurd. The steak itself was over-seasoned, and pairing it with sautéed peppers and onions felt mismatched for a NY Strip. Overall, the meal missed the mark. A steakhouse simply cannot fail to properly cook a steak!

I really don't care about atmosphere. But when you charge 40 bucks per steak and 14 for potato skins and 14ish for carrot cake. I would expect the dollar amount would command high value. It didn't. The steaks were poor/tough and more leaning towards incorrect cuts all together. The cook correctly cooked each of our steaks correctly. Party of 3. But the knives could not cut the steak, to tough. The potato skins where poorly toasted. Cooked to the point suitable, but not crispy. And the carrot cake that I ordered to take home is a sliver. For an out the door price of 200 dollars of my money, I should not say the meal was okay. I should be running to people and telling them that this is the best meal I every had. I will not be saying that. To the point my wife and I looked at each other and said, we will not be coming here again. We were full and not poisoned. But for 200 with tip, not worth it.

The best way to experience Alexander’s in my opinion is to choose a delicious cut of meat from the fridge, cook it yourself on their charcoal grill (with generous butter drippings and seasonings that they provide), and make yourself a few garlic butter pieces of Texas Toast. Pair it with their outstanding salad bar (the best in Peoria), and you’ve got a delicious complete meal! Also love their sweet potato fries, kebab, and teriyaki chicken!

Good steak house, nice atmosphere. You can also go to the grill and cook your meat.

The Best and Cheapest place to take your kids for a meal, where you can also enjoy a great meal!! $10 kids steak meal with the salad bar!! My kids been asking to go here instead of McDonald's or anywhere else since she could speak 8 yrs ago, and this is where I bring her and her friends all the time! Even the ones who only want chicken fingers. It's $10 with the salad bar. You can't get that price or quality at any fast food like you do at Alexander's! Always a great experience and meal! You can't go wrong here! Favorite is the Teriyaki Fillet, but all of their steaks are Amazing!

Start your journey as you walk into an old paper mill factory and immerse yourself into a new experience. We decided to have lunch and made this our destination. The interior is well done yet preserves some of the past. Take a walk around and explore and. Heck out the framed art and articles. We chose a water view table and ordered drinks. Waitress was great, ordered our food and decided to let them cook it so we could just talk while waiting. Food delivered and it looked great. Steaks were cooked as requested. Lunch was delicious, definitely a return trip is in our furture.

Hasn't changed in 25 years. Great selection of meat and the salad bar is full of options. Traditional lettuce and spinach to choose from, along with fresh veggies and lots of what I would call Midwestern favorites. I didn't know what they do to their baked potatoes but I had 3 because they were so delicious. Decent beer selection. I didn't grill my own steak this time, but in the past it has been a great way for the guys to leave the table and let their ladies talk girl stuff. Great for large groups or even a first date. The lunch menu has good deals and appropriate portions. It's a go to for special occasions.

A Peoria stalwart tradition. You will not find a better steak, period, full stop! The facilities are spacious, comfortable and well lit. During the season, outdoor seating is to be enjoyed and the views of the marina and The Illinois River provide a picturesque backdrop. Reservations are always a good plan. The hammered copper-top bar adds a cherry warmth while you imbibe in a very well appointed bar and a deep selection of offerings. The bar staff are one of the best in the region and will take great care of you at the bar seating. The scent of the coal fired grills fills the air, promising a steak prepared perfectly by the grill attendants, or if you choose, you can grill your own. I prefer the professionals take the task on with a perfect Pittsburgh-style sear on a well marbled ribeye. The steaks are all on display in refrigerated cabinets for you to choose the exact steak you want, if you so desire. The cuts offered are generous and properly done. All cuts are usually available, except on extra busy nights which may sell-out on certain cuts. Absolute steal heaven at Alexander's Steakhouse. The wait staff is well trained, attentive, competent and friendly. The menu offers a huge variety of items and will not disappoint those who do not prefer steak. Alexander's salad bar is famous throughout the region and is hard to beat whatever city you are in. Going to dinner at Alexander's Steakhouse is an excursion to look forward to and enjoy great food with great friends and associates! Well done to the ownership and staff at Alexander's Steakhouse for taking the time and displaying the pride to do what you do. KUDOS!!!!!

This was our first time visiting Alexander's Steakhouse and what a cool place to eat! First, it's right on the Illinois River, so a cool view. Next, it has a salad bar! Can't remember the last time I had a salad bar (pre-COVID??) and most importantly, great steaks, cooked on charcoal in the dining room! Steaks were delicious, and had that amazing charcoal flavor. Friendly service topped off a fantastic meal. A great dining experience!

Alexander's Steakhouse in Peoria, Illinois, is an odd mix of old-school steakhouse and senior center buffet. While the wine selection was surprisingly solid, the setting felt tired--plastic tablecloths, paper napkins, and worn, dirty carpeting, dragged the experience down. Service was polite and attentive, but inconsistent. A cocktail order was acknowledged but forgotten for nearly 20 minutes until I reminded them. (The chocolate martini was the best part of my dining escaped). Unfortunately, the food didn't redeem the experience: it was lackluster at best. My medium-rare steak arrived medium, and it was quite dry. A steakhouse simply cannot fail to properly cook a steak! The $38 upcharge for a small 4oz lobster tail was absurd. The steak itself was over-seasoned, and pairing it with sautéed peppers and onions felt mismatched for a NY Strip. Overall, the meal missed the mark.

A relaxing, casual atmosphere. While all of the meat offerings are quite good, the salad bar is totally complete and is the best one in Peoria. Staff are welcoming, friendly and efficient. Great restaurant for all family occasions!!

I've been here many times and this place never disappoints. Great salad bar, steaks cooked to perfection, and a great steakhouse atmosphere. Service has always been excellent.

While this place is a fun catchy little place and my steak was cooked perfectly (filet medium) but the other steaks were a bit over cooked- what was supposed to be medium rare were more medium. But we didn't want to send back and have to wait for our others party's food. The salad bar is good and had a lot of options. The service was decent he was nice and tried hard but a bit slow for 5pm and not busy. The cheesecake was good but the crème brûlée was meh-it had no flavor and the sugar on top was not hard due to the whip cream. The calamari was not my favorite either and could have been crispy. Overall my first experience was good and I would go back and try again. Please note it does get a bit Smokey due to their cooking and gets a bit toaster than anticipated!

This Venezuelan spot is a hidden gem. The food is incredible, and the service is always friendly and attentive. I've tried a few different dishes, and each one has been more delicious than the last. Highly recommend!

First time here and I loved it! Our waiter was so awesome and quick to help our large group! The atmosphere was welcoming. The salad bar was a great start to the meal ... didn't realize it would get better. My steak was cooked to perfection!! I wish I took a picture but my phone did not eat first, it looked too yummy! The Caterpillar garlic bread was so fun!

Review Visit: May 3rd, 2014 Cook your own steak?! No thanks. Alexander's Steakhouse in Peoria is known for two things. It's legendary salad bar and the ability to cook your own food. Yep, you can go out to eat and cook your own food. I have some cooking ability but nothing that would produce a steak on the level as a professional. Not even close. So, it's my humble opinion that if you go out to eat, you should have someone else do the cooking for you. That's just how I feel. I've been to Alexander's quite a few times since 2014 and have seen a lot of people cooking their own steak. To each their own. I'm not sure the process on cooking your own steak but it does seem like they supply everything you need and you cook your food along side the chefs cooking my food. My first time here was to treat my dad for his birthday. We took a seat, we looked over the menu and we placed an order. My dad has a similar view on having your meal cooked for you versus doing it yourself. He picked out something meaty and I picked out a Santa Maria sirloin. The spices it was cooked with sounded too good to pass up. We placed our orders, sipped on our beers and were swimming in an olfactory overload of cooked meat. Once the chefs get cooking, the smells permeate everything. It's nearly impossible to not drool at the savory smells. The food came out and my dad and I dug in after being taunted by the scents lingering in the air. Each bite was bliss. I have and will use steak sauce but I don't go out of my way to get it from the waiter. The Santa Maria sirloin was cooked to perfection and each bite made you want to say 'Santa Maria' with an Italian accent while kissing your finger tips. I could tell my dad was also really enjoying his meal as he had the same smile on his face that I am sure was plastered on mine. The steakhouse fries that came with the meal were actually a bit of a disappointment. They tasted like they were either not fully cooked or sat out too long. The insides were cold, at best. That didn't put a damper on things but was still a bit of a bummer as I love some good steakhouse fries. Our bill came to about $100, which is what I was looking to spend. This place isn't cheap but it's not entirely outrageous, either. In fact, they have amazing lunch specials. That's what I normally come here for. You can get a sandwich, side, and a beer for about $10-12. Just think of that. A steakhouse where you can get a lunch special for $10-12 that fills you up. I've been here many times with my friend Maria to take advantage of that deal. It does change once in awhile so keep an eye on the website for their current specials. My go-to was and is New York Strip Sandwich. It's absolutely delicious except for the first time I had it. The bun was scorched a little too much for my liking. The fries that come with it weren't disappointing like my first time here. And the beer is beer. Can't really mess that up too much. If you happen to be a vegetarian/vegan, you are in luck. This place has a massive salad bar. Alexander's is legendary for their salad bar. I got it on a whim during one of my lunches here and I thought it was alright. There is a million things to put on your salad should you option for that. Alexander's is indeed a steakhouse and it's prices reflect that but the whole attitude of the place is pretty laid back and casual. This isn't a suit-and-tie place. You can roll up in your Tuesday Best and not be turned away. I'm pretty sure I've seen pajama pants during their lunch specials. (PSA: Do not go anywhere in pajama pants. It's not a good look.) I could go on more about Alexander's but I think you get the general gist of the place. Whether you are on a tight budget or have a company credit card burning a hole in your pocket, you can find something delicious to eat at Alexander's.

This place started adding credit cards upcharge fees which were not disclosed, and on their receipts used the total AFTER tax as the basis for calculating tips. Tips should NEVER include the tax in the total; there is no service provided on the state and local tax. I have asked the manager to correct this previously. The suggested tip amounts become mandatory when you have a large party, so watch out or speak up about the shady extra fees.

We were looking to go out to dinner for our 41st anniversary and decided to try Alexander's. We had an excellent experience and we will definitely come back. My husband had the filet and I had the salmon. Both were delicious. For dessert we had the cookie skillet and it was the perfect size for the two of us. Our waiter was Jarret and he was the best. Very attentive and a great personality. We will definitely ask for him the next time we go.

We always come here for my wife's birthday because of the discount and it's a tradition. Salad bar is epic. We always get the Santa Maria top sirloin. Always have good service here. The atmosphere is really cool, love the decorations and good spots to take pictures outside if you are on a fancy date or whatever. Now, if you think you will come here and have the best steak in the central IL area, that's just not true. I have been disappointed many times by my steak, tough, dry, undercooked, overcooked. Just need to get lucky. Will be back. Salad Bar: 5 Stars / Everything Else: 3 Stars. Restaurant average of 4.

Service - Excellent Ambience - Interior - Good Ambiance - exterior - Ugly neighborhood Food - Steaks - Fair Food - Lobster - Fair Food - Salad Bar - Excellent Accessibility - Stellar! Hubby and I were exploring Peoria for the 1st time, in consideration of relocating there. Alexander's h ot food was a huge disappointment to us. We're from Chicago, so maybe we're spoiled. If Alexander's is the best steakhouse for 'surf and turf' Peoria has to offer, then Peoria is not for us. Ribeye steak was fatty, Sirloin steak medallion was dry. Lobster tail was overcooked and not sweet. High prices, too. Even if we lived in Peoria, we would not return to Alexander's. Note: We found delicious food with outstanding service at Sushigawa [Japanese] and Hickory Smokehouse [BBQ]. Reasonably priced restaurants.

The original! Talk about an authentic experience, I am not sure you could get more Midwest than charring a slab of beef over an open pit barbecue inside a barn, than Alexander's! The food is awesome, the setting as real as the day is long, and the experience addicting! Love going here every time we are back in town! And let's be clear, the beef is great! The setting is real and the beer is cold! You will have fun and a great time! Good for groups!

Went here on a business trip. Terrible service. Our waiter took our order and never came back. Checked on every table around us and kept walking by - forgot my bosses baked potato and continued to walk around our table ignoring us. Another friendly guy (buss boy?) working there brought us 2 potatoes when he noticed something was wrong. When the waiter finally brought our check, he made a snide remark and left the check without making eye contact...? Maybe just a bad egg but ruined our experience.

Came here for my birthday dinner last week with my parents. I remember coming at least one other time with my dad and thoroughly enjoying everything. We had a reservation, so we were seated immediately. The place was really crowded. At the salad bar, the plates are kept in the freezer to keep them chilled. Nice concept, but most of the plates were frozen together and wouldn't separate. Had to pull large stacks out to find on not stuck and even then it was still covered in a sheet of ice that makes the plates slick. While at the salad bar, you could tell the staff was having trouble keeping things stocked. Rushed staff members were coming up beside you left and right and yet a lot of items still looked low. The croutons were pretty much out so I ended up with a bunch of crumbs. My dad's girlfriend also mentioned seeing a guest put their hands straight into the container of tomatoes, so she went to the other side of the bar for those. I ordered the 7oz teriyaki filet with sweet potato fries, and it was amazing. Cooked perfectly and seasoned nicely. I had ordered lemonade to drink...it basically tasted like lemon water but was decent enough. Since it was my birthday, they came out with a special dessert and ring a bell. I counted at least 3 other birthdays happening while we were there. No wonder they were busy. Overall, the food itself is great and I can see coming back for future birthdays when in the area.

I had horrible food poisoning from this establishment just a few short hours after leaving. I will not return. The service was terrible, and the food is extremely overpriced for such an awful experience. It's a shame. This restaurant used to be great.

Everything was perfect. My friend and I had a lovely meal after driving 8 hours on Sunday, June 30. Salad Bar, fresh cold and tasty. Service was flawless. Two 7 oz filets perfectly grilled to medium with crispy sweet potato fries. We were able to chat and enjoy a wonderful meal. Highly recommend.

In the winter the view of the river during lunch or early dinner can sometimes afford views of Bald Eagles! The food is great with lots of choices for protein lovers! Vegetarian items can be found, but it's a STEAK house, so what do you expect! Our waiters have always been great with lots of experience and easy interaction. The managers are hands on and can be found all over the restaurant. If there's an issue they have always tried to correct it if it's in their ability. Hands down, the salad bar is just AWESOME. We have had many parties here from a romantic dinner for two to a wedding rehearsal dinner for over 200. No deposit!

Been here several times and the steaks are prepared as we ask them to be and are very tasty The wait staff was very efficient and she had a sense of humor which helps us enjoy our meal

The salad was amazing.. we ordered 16oz ribeye dinner.. it tasted really well.. add to draft mug beers and you have about 150.00 bill. It was very good food and great romantic place. But they are pricey.. the steak sauce was maybe a 3 out of 5.. but the steak taste was great without and of if. It was my birthday so got about 10 bucks off my bill.

Went on a Saturday night two weeks before Christmas. Expected it to be very busy and it was due to company parties and such. Even though it took three hours from being seated to paying the tab, we all had a good time. We had them cook for us and steaks were delicious but small. Stay away from the pork chops. Hockey puck texture to say the least for $22. Prices have increased substantially since we last went a couple years ago so be prepared. No steak options under $32.

Their toast is so super good. Nice spacious atmosphere. Decent salad bar. Usually everything is excellent but I did go once and received a steak that was really undercooked and quite bloody-looking (I asked for medium).

It's my first time in Peoria and I wasn't sure what to expect. I walk in and immediately see "peorias best salad bar" so I'm excited. It did not disappoint. Lots of options and the best part - ice cold plates available. Unique. I liked it. Service was great and super personable. They wait staff rings a cow bell for your birthday. Pretty entertaining. My steak was great. You can grill your own steak but I chose to have the chef grill mine. Again - something unique! We shared sautéed mushrooms and they were really good to add to our steaks. I'd come back for sure. Food was seasoned well and great service overall.

Visited Alexander's steak Sunday afternoon. Hadn't been there in a while. Service was fast and waitress was very good. Had filet cooked med rare, it was perfect , savory and very tender like it's supposed to be. Salad bar was wonderful as it always is. Best in town. I'll be going back soon.

1. Condescending server 2. Forgot mushroom order 3. Received undercooked salmon and cold fries 4.1/2 of salmon filet missing when re-served. Horribly charred with an oversized mound of potatoes on top to hide. Texas toast soggy from a second round of butter upon return. Not edible! 5. Server did not return to check on satisfaction 6. Server lost credit card belonging to dinner companions for a crazy 30 minutes until located. This was our second experience that was lacking. Too expensive to try again!

The best 7 oz. filet I've ever had! Medium-rare. Mmmmm. - Jim C. ( It seemed like 8 oz. ! )

Stopped for a "Linner" as we like to call it. To late for lunch but too early for dinner. Anyhow, the restaurant is like the other Alexander Steakhouse in Bloomington except the great view of the river with out door seating. The steaks were made to perfection. My mix drink was done just right. The service was attentive and friendly. The prices were high but that's to be expected with inflation. We will definitely be coming back! DELICIOUS!!!

Great steaks and salad bar. Consistently delicious. Can't go wrong Handicap accessible.

Steaks delicious perfectly cooked. I love the salad bar. Nobody makes pickled beets and homemade cucumbers and onions like they do!! Old vinyl tablecloths are a bit dated but the staff is nice.

My first time at Alexander steak house and had fun and good dinner there was 7 of us I had a Stirlion steak and sweet potato fries and salad bar was very delicious and lot of people there tonight

Alexander's isn't what it was see to be. Could definitely use a remodel to bring it back to its previous glory!

We just moved to Peoria and Alexander's came highly recommended. After looking online at the menu we saw how expensive it was so expected a fancy steakhouse like ambiance. It was VERY casual and had more of a vibe of a sports bar(which didn't bother me). We ordered a filet of beef and swordfish. The filet was under seasoned and overall very basic. The swordfish wasn't terrible but I wasn't impressed. They charge 1.75 extra for a small piece of broccoli which was upsetting. At this price point you expect A LOT more.

Very nice wait staff, but this "chicken tenders" was like chicken fries and a nugget. I'd be embarrassed to know my staff was plating this..

Never had a bad meal there, and you can't beat their salad bar. The pasta salad is my favorite. I always have them cook... if I wanted to grill myself, I'd stay home. I've had their steaks and pork chops and cooked perfectly every time. Went for my birthday, and they took off $10 and complimentary piece of cake. Note: they sing to you and bring out a drum, so say something if you don't want the attention. Also, the complimentary cake is snack size, like 4 bites, so don't expect a big slice like at other places.

A great Steakhouse straight out of the 70's. Wouldn't change a thing. Being from Chicago I found their prices very reasonable. Anytime I want a sure thing in the way of good red meat, no need for me to search. I would call their salad bar vintage in the best possible way! Great service.

Have not been there recently but delicious steaks and great service!!!! You can cook yourself or order!!! Excellent atmosphere. Try it!!!

It's a steakhouse so expect to pay on the higher end per plate. All entrees come with their large salad bar and carb side. This place is unique because you get the opportunity to cook the food on their grill by yourself. The chefs are there too in case you need help or start burning your food lol. There's bread and butter by the grill so you can make your own Toast. They have chicken and seafood options as well. The chicken has a teriyaki sauce to it so it has a slightly sweet taste to it. You should definitely try cooking yourself for the experience (don't worry I thought it was weird too) but if you're not in to that then they certainly can cool it for you. For the price of wine per glass you're better off splitting the bottle. Overall good restaurant. You'll get full off salad bar before getting to your entree ;) Chicken entree pic below: Ok yes got adventurous with the bread and added cheese (but wouldn't recommend it, it's not the kind of cheese you want for desired cheese bread lol) and yes side of ranch from salad bar. Otherwise you get 2 pieces of chicken for the entree.

Best steaks in Peoria! And salad bar! And sweet potato fries . Never had anything but great service...even during COVID! Classic ambiance .

Oh how the mighty have fallen. This is the second time in a row that I've been disappointed. I ate at Alexander's today, Sunday, at 12:30 PM. The salad bar was ok (smaller than it used to be), the baked potato was ok. I ordered the filet kabob. I ordered it medium but is was well-done to burnt. You can see that I did take one bite. It was not only tough, overcooked, but it was miserably tasting. I don't know if it was marinated or just way too much pepper. I told my server that the meat was inedible. Her reply was, "Would you like a box to take it home?" Also notice the picture of the parking lot. That should have given me a clue. That photo was taken 1 PM on a Sunday. The lot is almost empty.

Shannon lies. After seven years of service, she told us this was her third night. She provided the best service Peoria had to offer us the entire weekend. We opted not to cook tonight. So, the chefs took great care in taking care of our food preparation. Obviously, this is the best place in town. There were NO parking places available. We were pleasantly surprised when our hour and a half wait only took 40 minutes. GREAT place.

This is the most unique, fun steakhouse I've ever been to!!!! I moved away from Peoria and love coming back here every time I'm back. We came back this time for the happy hour deal- the have smaller portions between 4-6 pm. One thing to note that with chicken it says 2 pieces but you only get one. The salad bar is always fresh & expansive! I like all the bread & baked potatoes on the grill. I don't understand why people go here & don't cook the steak themselves- it's all part of the experience!!!! I have tried to find restaurants of this sort in other places where I lived and still can't. If you don't know how to grill, the chefs at the grill are more than willing to give you pointers as well.

This place is so fun. One of Peoria's best kept secrets! A friend told us about it and we took my parents. We all loved it! The food was amazing and the staff was excellent!! Can not wait to go back!!!

Amazing food and service. Do not get to go often but jump when I do get the chance. Kind of like a hidden gem

We've been to Alexander's multiple times, but sadly it becomes worse each time. We must be gluttons for punishment, and always hope it's better. The steaks great cuts, but no seasoning. I always order mine medium well. It either comes out still mooing on the pasture with a pulse or burnt to hell. The baked potatoes are always ice cold, but the salad bar is pretty darn good, even though I want steak and not a salad. I like dining there because it's near the water, the Staff is very nice, and the building has alot of history. I'm sure we'll try it again sometime.

Great service! Steaks are good, but lately not consistent. Had rehearsal dinner there. Wanted to show the others how great it is was. Alexander's let me down. Overall, it's good.

What a great experience! The salad bar is fantastic and fresh. There is a lot wonderful variety of items available on the salad bar. Once you order your steak, you can cook it yourself on the big grill or have the chefs grill it for you. You can also grill your own toast. Don't forget to order some mushrooms!

Traveling in from California, I wasn't prepared for this type of Korean BBQ experience. Yes, you read that right. Cook your own meat just like Korean BBQ. In love with this concept. Located right off the river in a rustic old factory, they've taken this artifact and transformed it into a vibrant, bustling establishment. Several different choices of cuts of meat are available and if you don't trust your own cooking techniques, don't worry, someone is there to cook it to your perfection. Huge salad bar offered. There's just something about the ranch sauce that made it heavenly. Don't get me started on the Mule drinks Just try one. (Please drink responsibly).

When in the Peoria area with my family, Alexander is always our favorite for great steaks and friendly environment The atmosphere and staff are the best. Highly recommend

Great welcoming, we were seated right away and were greeted by our server. The service was fantastic and were given our drinks right away. After being ignored at a restaurant before (look at my reviews) it was very refreshing. The food as always was outstanding. The salad bar was unbelievable. We all had steaks and they were perfectly cooked. Please support this local restaurant, they are an asset to the Peoria community.