Rizzi’s On State

I really wanted pasta and ordered the linguine with meat sauce and meatballs. So yummy. but what i loved most was the crème brûlée… OMG Delicious, probably one of the better crème brulees ive had in a long time.

I’ve been here a few times recently and the food was bland and unexciting. The place needs a refresh on the atmosphere as well. I’t literally the same as it was 15 years ago when I first went here. Biaggi’s blows this place out of the water.

Thanks for the response. We arrived when we were told to be there. The server took 30 minutes to take our drink and food orders. I had no control over that. Further, we had 18 people. I know because I counted them on and off the bus. We had ONE check for all the food and drinks. I know because I paid it. Alcohol was paid separately– a very common business practice and only about 4 – 5 people had alcohol anyway. Several of us were back and forth to the bathroom and saw that the restaurant was mostly empty and indeed, all empty, when we finally left. And the bus driver arrived at 7:10 because we were texting back and forth and I let him know we didn’t even have our checks yet. I didn’t want the bus to clog up the entrance to your restaurant longer than necessary. You’re right, I should’ve said something about all the mussel shell pieces but I didn’t think there would be time to get a new order made as many in our party were still only getting their food at 6:55. The point is we didn’t have an entirely great experience and the food was slow to come out. And anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant business (myself included) knows that any place worth their salt doesn’t work to discredit the experience of a patron. So, in fact, you have validated that this might not be the friendliest (or fastest) place to go before a show.

Great pizza! Great wine! A real nice atmosphere and excellent waiters. Great for groups of 6 or less.

I called Rizzi’s last Wednesday to make a reservation for my up coming anniversary that just so happened to be today October 30^th. I was pleased that I was able to reserve the very same both that my wife and I had our first date in five years ago! (Thank you Lauren for helping me get the table right!) I had called ahead and had flowers delivered, but to my surprise when I arrived we had a pristine white table cloth and red rose buds decorating our table and the flowers I’d ordered! (Extra points for me because my wife thought it was my doing. Thank you ;)) I ordered the ever wonderful Pork Oso Buco and my lovely wife ordered the Pesto Crusted Salmon, as she swears by the roasted red pepper sauce. Mike delivered our food in such a timely manner that we were able to enjoy the feature Pinot noir of the month and our delicious house salads without rush. At the end of our meal he offered us a complimentary desert of our choosing, stuffed to the brim we were pleased to find that he was willing to box a piece of the Death by Chocolate Cake. All in all I thank Rizzi’s and their excellent staff for a home run meal.

Not sure why all the average reviews, this place was as good ‘Old Italian’ as I’ve been to in a long time. A busy place that you need reservations. Both our meals were superb, the table bread was very fresh and plentiful; house salad was just a salad but not why I come to a place like this. Waiter was very attentive even though his plate was full with table after table of home coming high school students. With all that they had going on, we were outside on the steps going to the street and the hostess ran out the door to thank us for eating with them. Never had that happen to me before.

Best Italian food in Peoria (except maybe Rizzi’s on Sheridan, haha). Great menu selections, decent prices and a knowledgeable staff. Plus a chef that is making specials that are unique and intriguing. They do take reservations, so make them on the weekends. They are doing their best to stay open during the mess of construction going on down town. Find your way through the mess and go. You won’t be disappointed.
The best dish I have had was a special one night. It was a chicken breast stuffed with spinach and cheese over a bed of linguini with the famous pink sauce. Delicious. (Rizzi’s, if you are reading this… put that on the menu!)
I like the Fettucini Carbonara and the Chicken a la Rizzi also. But honestly, I have never had a bad meal here. The lasagna is amazing as well.
A little secret, they will custom make your order. You want fettucini alfredo with asparagus, just ask. You want broccoli in your pasta dish, just ask. There is a charge, but it is minimal.
They have a lunch buffet as well, which allows you to sample many different dishes.
Go, you won’t regret it.

We love dining at Rizzi’s, both locations. Each visit, the service is prompt and attentive. I have always enjoyed my meals and recommend Rizzis to everyone. I don’t know why some have had a negative experience, but in all the years we have eaten there, we have always been treated great.

We hit the restaurant about 8:00 pm to find an empty place. One would think that if you are the only table when the place closed at 9:00 we would have been right on the money and all the attention would have been on us… well that was not the case here… the waiter was a bit standoffish and the food was very slow to come out!

Not busy at all… Food was ok, Server — Mike was good, but service was extremely slow. We ordered Cheese sticks and all of us ordered salads with our entrée and it was at least 15 minutes before we got our salad and appetizer. I ordered pasta tossed in Garlic olive oil and it wasn’t tossed it was swimming. I took off at least a ½ cup of oil out of my bowl. Will try somewhere different next time I’m in town.

Very nice. The food is very good quality and you get A LOT (almost too much). The waitress we had was good. Very prompt and courteous. Came back often to check on us. I definitely recommend coming here for a casual evening dinner.

Rizzi’s is my family’s go to for birthdays, graduations, celebrations or just a night out for dinner. It’s a great combination of classy and casual. The food is always delicious and comes out quickly. The staff is friendly and helpful. Many have been there for years. You can come in jeans or evening wear and never feel out of place. The menu is extensive and has something for everyone. The Pollo a la Rizzi’s is my absolute favorite and I can usually make two meals out of it. Servings are generous for the prices.

Went here for my boss’ going away party a few weeks ago. We had a table reserved for about 15. The staff was excellent! Our waitress was very attentive and patient. The food and wine were great! I think the prices were a little high, almost $ 20 for veal marsala over some pasta. The serving size wasn’t what I was expecting for the price — but like I said, it was tasty! Veal was tender and the noodles weren’t overly cooked. I thought the sauce was a little salty though. Overall an excellent experience. Will definitely return again!!!

Have eaten here a few times. Tonight we simply had a pepperoni pizza. It reminded me of brooklyn/​long island pizzeria pizza. Which is a compliment. Simple pizza, not overly thin crust, cut in eighths, the right amount of quality cheese, cooked well (could have cooked a little longer to get a couple burn marks), right amount of pepperoni. Top two or three pizzas in Peoria area.
And the staff was attentive as usual.
Waiter came outside to catch me to return my phone I left on the table. Thanks.

I usually go to Rizzis more for the atmosphere and location than the food. I usually get the lasagna which is good, but not great. I have always had great service and the wine selection is decent.

Rizzi’s On State is always a good lunch stop. It’s usually not crowded and I have always received professional, courteous service.
Another plus is that they are making use of a beautiful brick building and the exposed brick adds to the atmosphere.
This last time I had the pasta faggioli soup and a house salad with their tomato basil dressing. Yum!
In addition to lunch I’ve also been there in the evening with a couple of groups; one a bridal shower and one for New Year’s Eve. Great time for both events.

We were served crusts of bread, half glasses of wine, baby shrimp for jumbo, and no pasta with the eggplant Parmesan. Not impressed this trip 9 – 4.

We’d taken some time off since our last visit and had forgotten what a nice job they do with their food and service. Little things matter and our server had us covered. Cold fresh salads, sweet soft Italian bread, and very attentive service means a lot. I tried their mussels which were very tender and flavorful. The generous portion was covered in their delightful marinara sauce and set the tone for the veal Parmesan that followed. My wife had a carbonara with shrimp, mushrooms, and veggies. She remembered how good the pink sauce was and wasn’t disappointed. We spotted pizzas headed for the outdoor diners and made a note to go back soon and try one. They looked enormous and delicious.
We shared an inexpensive bottle of wine and enjoyed it completely but also found far more exotic selections on the wine list for those with a real nose for fine wines. There was a nice flow of people and that buzz of folks enjoying authentic Italian meals.

Great atmosphere; good food. I’ve only dined here between 8 and 10 times, but every time I have enjoyed my order. They have an excellent alfredo sauce.

My family stopped in Peoria overnight during a roadtrip. Rizzi’s was advertised in the hotel room information, but no one had Unilocaled it yet, so I was not in favor of going, but was outvoted.
We went in May during Peoria’s «Louie Louie Festival & Riverjam», so there was live music as we walked along the river to Rizzi’s. It took us an embarrassingly long time to find the correct entrance, but when we got in, we were seated outside with a view of the river. They have ceiling fans outside, so we had a nice breeze. Our server got us beers & recommended the bruschetta (it was good). Bread is also served with your dinner, in case you don’t want an appetizer. Also, no beer on tap, only bottled.
I ordered the special: salmon in a puff pastry with a side of mixed vegetables and risotto. Fabulous salmon. Fabulous veggies (the mushrooms in it were really good). Okay risotto. It also came with a good pre-​entrée salad. The rest of the family all ordered pasta, and they all really enjoyed their meals.
I would definitely recommend this place.