BLACK BAND Distillery

Fantastic local distillery and bar/restaurant. The whiskeys pay respect to Peoria’s history as a whiskey Mecca, the craft cocktails are delightful seasonal selections, and the emphasis on local ingredients on the menu makes this a unique experience. Best burgers in town, too!

The tour at Blackband by Tate was excellently curated and an amazing deep-dive into Peoria’s rich Whiskey City history. The tasting lineup was wonderfully diverse, with standout bourbons, rye, whiskeys, gin, and even a delicious coffee liqueur. A fantastic experience from start to finish! This is such a wonderful experience right in our own city.

Our first time here and the food was amazingggg. We ordered blackband smash burgers, mocktail (wham jam) & chocolate mousse cake. Everything was too good. The service (Jonah was our server) was quick and food was fresh. We would definitely be coming back.

Me and my fiancé went for our first time for a date night and we will definitely be back. The atmosphere was beautiful. The drinks were very delicious and I’m not a drink person but I found my absolute favorite! The flavors just blend so well together so definitely have to try the sunshine green dream! We first got the smash burger which was absolutely the most amazing burger and then ended up trying the grilled cheese. I was very skeptical about it but to my surprise it was absolutely delicious. I could have used more jam actually but that was just our opinion. But then the real star are those fries!!! They are out of this world and if you need a sauce the homemade ketchup and ranch are very good. A little pricey so we can’t go as often but definitely a great treat for a date night!

First time visiting for our Anniversary tonight. Great service, fantastic food. Pricey but worth it for freshness & atmosphere. Please support placed like this in central Illinois!

I brought my friend from St.Louis to Black Band Distillery for some locally made bourbon and local cocktails. My friend loved the house bourbon. I tried a pulp fiction cocktail. My drink was great . We tried the Cajun wings with our drinks. The bar staff, (where we sat)were excellent. Our drinks were quick to be refilled and were professionally prepared. Outstanding atmosphere in the building. We met some interesting people there also enjoying the bourbon and food. I will be returning soon.

We’ve been to Black Band many times for what we think is excellent food and drinks. Never had a bad meal or cocktail there! The service is always adequate but not friendly. The staff, on multiple occasions, has made it seem like we’re inconveniencing them by being there. I wish they would fix this, but it’s been that way for several years now.

Tara and I celebrated our anniversary at The Bar at BLACK BAND in Peoria last night. It was our first time visiting, but it won’t be our last! The atmosphere was impressive, the service staff was friendly, professional, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Even the runner who brought our dishes was able to detail every ingredient in each dish. Our server Josie was attentive but not overbearing. Our every need was addressed immediately. We were seated near the kitchen, and had the pleasure of watching and hearing the kitchen staff at work. Tara and I could not stop smiling at how fantastic the evening was. The food was like something out of a novel. Charcuterie, roasted Brussels Sprouts, deviled eggs, and crab cakes. Each bite perfectly balanced. The lemon in the deviled eggs was surprising, but welcome, and added a bright, fresh flavor to a simple dish. I’m not one for seafood, but Tara raved about the crab cakes, and they looked amazing to me. Cocktails were balanced, flavorful, and the perfect complement to our meal. When I say that the experience was outstanding, it’s a huge understatement. Go check it out!

Surprise Surprise Surprise! Great distillery in Peoria Illinois. Great bourbon and whisky. Good, not exceptional vodka. The service was exceptional though. Food was better than expected. Try the Brown Butter Fries with your Smash Burger! The Adult Grilled Cheese had good jam but needed more cheesy product for my taste. But, ya wanna know the best part? The Restroom ratings are off the chart! 10 out of 10! ¹

Very cool space in the warehouse district, Black Band is a true functioning distillery which also has a restaurant and bar. I've been here twice, both at the bar, and I really enjoyed the visits. It's definitely unique and upscale, with a restaurant section, bar, and patio. You can see the distillery through glass which gives the place a steam punk vibe. I tried a number of their whiskey based cocktails - old fashioneds, manhattans. and such. The cocktails are well-executed although they tend to run a tad sweet. Still, with the service and ambiance and quality, it's definitely a great spot to come alone or with a group.

Food was great, but waaaaay too expensive. I will not be going back just for that reason. I would have given a 5-star rating if the food had been worth the price.

located in the warehouse district an up and coming area. The building is a century old filled with history a lot of the original bones have been kept. I would call this a very upscale distillery with everything they do. From the moment you walk in a see it's multi level done in monochrome colors very sleak and classy. You can sample by doing a flight or have a mixed drink. This is an organic distillery which shows the love they have for what they do. The food menu is a seasonal type menu since the food is sourced from local Midwest growers.

The food was excellent. We had the sweet potato cornbread, apple blue salad and the Cornish hen with gnocchi. The cocktails were also good. We did also have the smash burger and fries. 3 of us shared all the plates. The fries were great, but the burger was just ok. Great service and ambience.

The bartenders are always knowledgeable. I've never had any kind of food that was bad. Although I will say as a person has to eat gluten-free due to celiac disease, and not just the new rave of gluten-free food, I struggled with finding some options. I love attending their vinyl night on Mondays. Chill atmosphere sometimes I'll come down with a Book to draw other times I just like meeting friends and chatting. Most the time that's good. Sometimes the music is a little bit too loud. Highly recommend checking it out.

Coming from Chicago, this restaurant felt like it belongs among the other great restaurants in the West Loop. The drinks..amazing, the food..amazing. Our server Jonah was super attentive and didn't steer us wrong. They have their own distillery on premises, and we left with a bottle of their own Bourbon. Will definitely be back again.

We had a wonderful meal at Black Band Distillery last week. This place is very classy & distinctive. It makes its own whiskey & vodka & gin & other kinds of liquor. For an appetizer, my husband & I shared an order of lamb ribs. They were melt-in-your-mouth delicious. For my entree, I had the pork loin. It also was superb. Very flavorful & served with a tasty sauce & yummy carrots.

I love this place! Great drinks and food. I love the sharing idea because you get to taste a variety of delicious items. We loved them all. Tonight it was Brussel sprouts, Korean oyster mushrooms, bao buns, crab cakes and lamb chops. We were so into it we only got a picture of our tasty drinks. We sat upstairs this time. Nice and warm and cozy. If you order all at the beginning you can have a quick dinner. They were very nice about accommodating our dairy allergy and marked the menu for us. Service was good.

Incredible selection of food and prepared wonderfully! Lots of unique flavors to try! Also has my favorite alcoholic drink I've ever had, the Sunshine Green Dream! Incredible staff and beautifully decorated!

The food was incredible, the service was quick and the staff is very knowledgeable. Go in and try the beef hearts! They melt in your mouth 10/10 will be back!!

Nice place. Not so nice staff! Dined on a Thursday, not very busy at all. Upon entering the building I asked by host. " can I help you" not would that be a table for two? I shrugged it off. So we took a seat at the bar. The place is really nice. Some great features. We ordered a couple drinks. The drinks were tasty. When we came in we asked if the full menu would be offered at the bar. It was, however we waited a long time to get a menu. Had to stop the bar tender and ask for one. Had to ask to order. Had to ask for a second drink even the the smug bartender looked at our empty glasses. I think the fact that I hadn't shaved and have long hair had something to do with it. We don't want your kind around here! Well cool I heard yeah loud and clear! Only reason they get a three is cause the food was really decent. As for the stuck up staff. Piss off

The new menu at Black Band Distillery has taken the experience to new heights. The urban loft vibe combines with elevated plates to be shared among good friends - a joyful combination. For those who fondly remember the original bar menu, the expanded experience includes innovative, locally sourced items like Leek and Cabbage Fritters (that my high schoolers devoured, they were so delicious) and a Roasted Bone Marrow that competes with foie gras and Wagyu for its melt in your mouth savory-ness. Complete with outstanding service from start to finish - we will be regulars !

What a unique place in Peoria's warehouse district. Beautiful building on the in and outside. They make their own wisely and gin which are amazing. The menu is small but all the dishes were very tasty. Great place to have a nice drink and enjoy a beautiful meal indoor or outdoors.

Great experience- classy. Gin and whiskey were top notch. Wasn't sure what to expect with food portions, but they exceeded our expectations- and very tasty. We sat at the bar- the bartenders were insightful and quick with service.

Hands down the best meal I've had in Peoria. This would stand up to food in Chicago, New York, or New Orleans. Well done.

Great Food. Greater Whisky. Greaterer Service. Greatererer Vibes. Classy retrofitted establishment in the heart of the original whiskeytown.

Great food. The spirits are good. Great addition to the whiskey city craft scene. The building and interior is cool and the service was excellent

One of a kind experience. Upper level staff. The building alone is beautiful. It offers unique spaces with different vibes that blend together to socialize and connect. The detail put into the menu and quality of spirits is unmatched. I can't wait to watch this brand grow. This is the best addition to the Riverfront in years.

Wonderful service, refreshing drinks, the appetizers were awesome, and the steak was cooked to perfection.

Great atmosphere. Food was unbearable. Would not return. Pork belly ewe! I knew when I asked there would be no ketchup for the burger. Ketchup not cool? Very expensive. Classy but you gotta have something more. Got mustard in the wing sauce. Who puts mustard on wings? Need I go on?

The food and drinks are good, a little pricey, though not totally out of line, but the portions are small, the service is acceptable. They make you pay $3 per person for a reservation, just to reserve the table. No application of this money to the bill. One of our party didn't show, so I paid $19 for five people. When we arrived there were several empty tables. This is another way that businesses like this have found to pass along their operating costs to the customer. Though the food and drinks were of good quality, I doubt I will return because of this attitude one should pay through the nose and enjoy it.

Black band is an incredible experience mixing fabulous food and a great bar atmosphere.

horrible, horrible, horrible. we went in before the marine corps ball in our formal attire one of the guys was in his dress blues, and we weren't allowed to stand at the bar off to the side we were asked to leave because they could not accommodate us. the gm had the gall to tell us that we could sit outside in 45° weather when all of the women had on formal gowns.

Too bad, the beautiful esthetic will never been seen again. Terribly RUDE bar staff, I will never go back. Refused to serve drinks because I joined my group of friends at bar and was standing. Three different people offered their bar seat, so that I could order... this is how ridiculous. The response received was, "the bar is at capacity." At that point, Seriously felt discriminated against. There was plenty of room at the bar and the bar staff had enough time to talk bad about other establishments in Peoria - in comparison to the way other bars are ran. Little did they know that we actually know the owners of those establishments. Very unprofessional. I've been here many times... the kitchen always does a great job. It's a shame, the bar staff has such negative vibes. I won't be back - Lost customer.

What a great experience. The food and service was the BEST! We tried several items on the menu and was not disappointed by any The charcuterie board was delicious especially the goat cheese. Wow. We also had the lamb ribs that were fall off the bone. Could have a couple orders for a meal. For our meals we had steak frites and the dumplings. Could not eat all but great for tomorrow. To top it off the traditional old fashions were wonderful. Our waitress was Jennifer. Please ask for her as she really understands the menu and provides the best service. Can't wait to visit again

Great fun tasting different offerings paced as selections came up. Everything served was exceptional!

Went recently with some long time great friends for a casual night out. Our group tried several of their signature cocktails including two different versions of Old Fashioneds and four small plates. We enjoyed every thing we tried and commented on the pacing of the presentations. Our server was very interactive and complimented our evening well. We will definitely be back to Black Band- our only request - get some coffee to enjoy with your desserts. Thanks

Ridiculously impressive place... vodka was exceptional, gin just beautiful... rarebit (French onion-soup-esque) and shrimp n grits just wow dishes. The staff passionate, knowledgeable, helpful, smiley... Everyone drinking the kool-aide here, and it tastes amazing! (Didn't try the whiskey but told fabulous)

Someone needs to light a fire on the bartenders and cooks service is terribly slow. This was on a Thursday too.

The place looks amazing inside, the bartenders are very friendly. But here's the rub, when u charge $150 per bottle of a new bourbon and you know literally nothing about it... that's management . The food wasn't anything special, but the building is Impressive. We hope it evolves.

Get here. You won't find places like this often. Amazing Bourbon. Recommend the Pulp Fiction. The best part about this place besides the vibe, location, style, design, drinks and service .... The FOOD. I've to date never had a better burger. The fries are fried in brown butter and seasoned to perfection...brown - butter. Come. On. And not only that - the prices might seem steep but literally everything is worth every penny and please end dinner with the sundae!

Interesting specialty drinks. Great food. Service was good and bartenders were knowledgeable. A little expensive, but everything I've had there has been good. Especially like the mushrooms.

Creative food and drink choices, good value for perfectly sized portions. Recommend giving it a try

Service, food and drinks were superb. If you are looking for a great restaurant this is the place. Enjoy!

Made reservations for dinner with another couple and had a lovely time. I will say that Black band does have a smaller menu than probably most other places but found that each dish ordered was executed to perfection. We started with the mussels which were delicious and fresh. My wife found the broth they were served in the highlight of the dish and one of the highlights of the evening. The couple we dined with ordered the rarebit which was also delicious and balanced, I hadn't seen raclette featured on a menu in Peoria before but if paired with the marrow bordelaise very well. Our table ordered one of each of the three mains and each one was fantastic in it's own right but I would say the pork tenderloin was a real standout, particularly the way the flavors paired with the stone fruit mustard. I actually feel sorry for the reviewer who compared the double smash burger to nothing better than something you could get at Steak n Shake. Not only was the quality of the ingredients far superior to anything I've had at any chain in Peoria but the flavors were balanced in a way that made for an incredible bite. When paid with fries for $19 you could do far worse with more expensive mains at other restaurants. Cocktails were delicious and the service was friendly and attentive. If you're looking for a cheap and quick meal, Black Band isn't going to be for you. But if you're looking for a modern American menu that pairs quality ingredients with skilled execution I can't think of many better options for spending a long dinner with friends in Peoria. We will definitely be back.

Black Band has quickly become one of our top date nights spots in the Peoria area! We first visited a few weeks ago for drinks and an appetizer before going somewhere else for dinner. We had the traditional old fashioned and cheese curds which were delicious. We sat by the kitchen and watched all of this amazing food come out and decided we had to come back for dinner. We returned for dinner this past weekend and were not disappointed. We both had the spiced rye old fashioned which was phenomenal. I had the Gin Martínez for round two and it was also incredible. The shrimp and grits were fantastic and my husband's smash burger was "probably the best burger he's ever had". He said the fries were pretty killer as well. We'd heard about the bourbon, pecan and bacon sundae, so we went for it. AMAZING. You'll want to share because it's super rich. Be prepared to spend a bit here, but the prices are comparable to any of the places in the Heights and the food is comparable if not better. The ambience and decor is great as well. We're definitely going to be regulars here!

We went here last night for dinner. The drinks are great. The food was awful. $48 for a cold steak with fries. The apps were ok but over priced. Our waiter was great and the place is very cool. But not happy with the food. Go here for drinks, not food.

Great experience! Loved the food, enjoyed the facility. Great addition to Peoria. The the server was very knowledgeable

Not sure if the menu changed but did not like it. The burger was gone and it looked all vegan. That's fine to have but not to have any meat options? Doesn't seem compatible with the concept.

Great place with an awesome atmosphere. The morning old fashion is amazing. If you're in the area, this is definitely a place to stop and have a drink.

Love the feel of this place. Food and drinks are consistently good. Service has become hit or miss lately but I'm hoping that is just temporary.

Amazing place! The food, spirits/cocktails, and atmosphere make it an easy 5-star review.

Super creative food & beverage selections. Gorgeous interiors. Award winning spirits. What's not too love?

Stopped for a quick dinner and drink. Drink menu is great, but limited. They have a selection of one white and one red wine. I went with the white, but found out when I got the bill the wine was $12 a glass, overpriced in my opinion. My husband got two vodka speciality drinks that were $10 and worth it! Now for the menu, extremely limited. There are three main menu items ranging from $16 to $32 dollars per entree. We went with the burger and added fries for$4 dollars more for a total of $20 per. meal. Honestly, this place is way overpriced for what you get. The burgers are comparable to Steak N Shake burgers with a significant up charge. Our bill for four drinks and two burgers with fries was $93.00. Nice place, but way overpriced.

I've been very impressed at the cocktails and the food. I'm not even a big cocktail drinker but they have some excellent ones. And the food is on a short list for the best in town. Want to be impressed by bread and cheese? Try the rarebit. Want a burger? It's excellent.

I will be driving back here from Chicago even if it's just for the bourbon sundae. I still think about it...it's been a few months.

Love eating here! Great food!! We always recommend Black Band to all of our friends.

Seems like my last review somehow disappeared. Wouldn't be surprised if the owner Chris had something to do with that. If you're a vegetarian, DONT go here as there is no vegetarian options. Way overpriced and limited drink/food menu. If you want fine dining in Peoria I would go to Connected or Fish House over this place. Also witnessed a group of men be extremely profane and saying racial slurs but nothing was done even though they had been clearly over served. Very sad and ruined my meal.