Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Central Illinois

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Central Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The FourNine

4.8

4.8 (244)

$30 and under

American

Mount Zion

About the restaurant

Small restaurant packed with an amazing menu, and cold beer. We give Mt Zion a flavor profile that you do not get in any other restaurant in town.

Top review

Todd

Dined 1 day ago

Always a fun place as we are so lucky to have them in Mt Zion

Discover more

Popular dish

Smash Burger

Firefly Grill

4.8

4.8 (3018)

$30 and under

Unspecified

Effingham

About the restaurant

The kitchen is the heart of the Campbell house which is why we created an expedition kitchen so customers can see all of the love and hard work that goes into our dishes. firefly's vision is a sustainable one; the frame of the building is recycled steel, all of the barn wood is reclaimed as is much of our furniture, the pond irrigates our gardens which greatly reduce our carbon footprint along with all the trash that comes with packaging food, we compost, are constantly upgrading our energy efficiency and NEVER use chemical fertilizers or pesticides in our garden.

Top review

Scott

Dined 6 days ago

We thought the service and food was great and enjoyed our night out celebrating our Wedding Anniversary

Discover more

4.5

4.5 (128)

$31 to $50

American

Bloomington / Normal

About the restaurant

Revery can be found tucked in a quaint neighborhood in Bloomington, Illinois. The building, once a locally famous restaurant, will be serving authentic American cuisine once more. Revery’s mission is to provide high-quality food & drinks for all those who wish to combine fun and enjoyable ambiance with skillful cooking into one extraordinary dining experience.

Top review

Angie

Dined 6 days ago

Food and service was great eating on Christmas Eve. Plan to go back.

Baxters American Grille - Champaign

4.7

4.7 (683)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Champaign

About the restaurant

Baxters American Grille - Champaign offers seasonal menus that boast a variety of signature dishes that you can't get find anywhere else. Our concept provides a variety of steaks, seafood and chops accompanied with a management & chef team that are excited to offer a unique culinary experience. We offer a big-city dining experience within dinner, private dining and catering to the Champaign area. Whether you stop in for one of our new signature martinis or to dine in our upscale dining room Baxters is the destination for your evening out!

Top review

NathanielVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great GF variety and quality. Server Mikayla was very attentive to Celiac needs. Crème brûlée among the best we’ve had.

Discover more

Popular dish

Steak Tacos

Jonah's Seafood House

4.7

4.7 (1638)

$30 and under

Seafood

Peoria/East Peoria

About the restaurant

Jonah’s Seafood House specializes in fresh seafood with a diverse mix of steak, chicken, and sandwich options. The menu is printed everyday to keep pace with seafood seasons and offers a wide variety of choices. Children’s menu, too! The house specialties change with the menu. The Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna is a Jonah’s Classic.

The 2601 Oyster Bar is a casual, seat-yourself atmosphere set in a world class oyster bar. The menu is an exciting mixture of oyster bar selections from around the nation. New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Tampa and Miami are all represented. The house specialty is a wide offering of flat breads and the signature Cuban sandwich.

Jonah’s "Down Under" Banquet Bar & Grill is a banquet facility with capacity from 20-300. Jonah's offers river level views and the cook-to-order style will make your next function the talk of the town!

Top review

Erica

Dined 2 days ago

The food was fantastic. The chairs were hard wood. No handicapped bathroom facilities. Very expensive prices. Didn't appreciate the music being turned up very loud at the end of our meal. Felt like they were ushering us out.

Discover more

Popular dish

Crab Cake

Popular dish

Jonah's Famous Chocolate Cake

Popular dish

Devil's Double Dark Chocolate Cake

Saffron Social

4.7

4.7 (326)

$50 and over

Steak

Peoria/East Peoria

About the restaurant

Saffron Social brings Peoria its latest upscale experience. Offering Prime Steaks, Fresh Seafood, and Pasta

Top review

Beck

Dined 7 days ago

Shockingly good steak for central Illinois! One of the best meals I’ve had in quite awhile outside of Chicago. Really impressed with the quality of the sear on all the proteins we ordered. Standouts here were the tuna appetizer, filet, and scallops. Definitely coming back here to try the seafood tower next time!

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Springfield, IL

4.6

4.6 (3584)

$30 and under

American

Springfield

About the restaurant

Experience the perfect fusion of award-winning wines, Napa-style tasting rooms, and modern casual dining at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine influenced by international flavors from our scratch kitchen. Each dish is expertly paired with our selection of wines for the best food and wine match. Whether you explore the tasting room for a pre- or post-dinner adventure or join the world's largest wine club, we believe in the power of food and wine to create lasting connections. Dining reservations are highly recommended, but walk-in guests are always welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are available.

Top review

Anthony

Dined 1 day ago

Cooper's Hawk consistently delivers exceptional dining experiences, and our recent visit was no exception. With a well-deserved five-star rating, this establishment has become a favorite haunt for us. The attentive service provided by our server, Meghan, added a personal touch to the evening and enhanced our dining pleasure. Each dish and drink was expertly prepared, showcasing the culinary mastery of the kitchen staff. Furthermore, we were impressed by the outstanding wine selection that perfectly complemented our meal. To top it off, the dessert selection was not only delightful but also a perfect end to a perfect meal. We look forward to many more memorable visits to Cooper's Hawk in the future. Thank you!

Discover more

Experience

Wine ‘O’ Clock Happy Hour | Mon-Fri 3 - 5:30 pm

Experience

Seasonal Chef Recommendations

Experience

Wine Tasting

Hamilton Walker's

4.7

4.7 (1587)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Champaign

About the restaurant

Hamilton Walker's is the community's gathering place. Founded by three long-time residents of Champaign, this modern steakhouse with a chic 1940's Hollywood vibe is an inviting backdrop for meeting, dining, and socializing; for friends, family, and business; for toasting special events and celebrating life. Our mission is to offer memorable food and flawless service in an extraordinary setting. Stewarded by widely-respected culinarian, Chef Zachary Schweig, Hamilton Walker's never disappoints. The menu-created from the finest premium aged meats, freshest seafood, and hand-selected produce-offers a superior dining experience, presented with Hamilton Walker's signature flair.

Top review

Shermain

Dined on Dec 20, 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening here. The food was tasty and the ambience was great. Also the best aperol spritz I've had yet! More than anything though was the superior service from the staff. They were very attentive and professional. They were excellent and made the experience even more enjoyable. Hospitality is everything!

Discover more

Popular dish

Crab Cake

Popular dish

7oz Center Cut Filet Mignon

Ko Fusion - Downtown

4.4

4.4 (124)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Champaign

About the restaurant

Description coming soon! New location- 30 E Main St.

Top review

Shari

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

The food is always delicious. This is the second or third visit, though, with slow service from the bar. For such a large seating area, they may need to invest in more bar staff.

Thyme Kitchen & Craft Beer

4.6

4.6 (391)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Peoria/East Peoria

About the restaurant

Thyme not only offers the ultimate restaurant experience, but can also provide guests an extraordinary bar experience if so desired. Opened in the old Sealtest building in the heart of the historic warehouse district of downtown Peoria, Thyme Kitchen + Craft Beer offers a variety of unique food items as well as an extensive bar menu that offers choices for all. While keeping the tradition of producing quality food alive, Thyme Kitchen + Craft Beer has superb menu items that provide an exciting and versatile experience for all guests who walk through the doors.

Top review

BRANDY

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Great food and service. The noise level was like that of a club (almost- the base was too low). Packed, cozy, eclectic atmosphere!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Central Illinois

Explore more Diners' Choice lists