It's been over nine months ago that we had a Saturday Night Cheeseburger at Castle's Patio Inn and lately I’ve been craving some of their homemade cheese spread. So that’s the destination tonight for two beers and a crock of Castle's Patio Inn cheesy goodness. To the MBIP mobile!
Off we go into the black-skied night in search of two things that are all-important to truth, justice and the American way: Beer and cheese spread...and hopefully some Ritz crackers to pile the aforementioned cheese spread onto.
And I think both items can be found right here on this corner that houses Castle's Patio Inn, the self-proclaimed: "Cheesiest Place In Town."
I love the neon in the window and Cubs fans beware, this is a Cardinals bar!
Here's another neon light at the doorway, let's go in and see what's shaking in here tonight.
It's kind of quiet in here and plenty of seats at the bar, perfect!
Looking over to the right I spy a familiar face behind the bar...
It's Alex the bartender serving up beer number one! Cheers!
I ordered up a crock of cheese and crackers and followed Alex back to the kitchen where he said he'd get a fresh batch for me.
That's a beautiful sight!
There's another familiar face back here at the kitchen, Kevin who cooked us up our cheeseburger on our last visit here, good to see him again!
Meanwhile, back at the bar, our crock of cheesy delight awaits us, time to dig in!
I made a double-decker for the first bite.
Then I blinked and it was gone. I swear this is the best cheese spread in the world!
You can get crocks to go, but I know if I did I'd eat the whole thing before I had a chance to give it as a gift or take it to a party, so I limit myself to eating this cheesy treat only when I come here.
Here's Castle's trio of taps and further proof that it's Cardinal's territory in here!
You can almost always bet that if you're in a classic Peoria tavern, there's going to be one of these vintage Busch beer signs hanging behind the bar.
There's the specials of the evening sandwiched in between a Halloween decoration and some pictures of Ron Santo.
Here's Bob who told me he lives in the neighborhood and has been coming to Castle's for over 50 years.
MBIP pal Phil Luciano wrote about the cheese in here a couple of years ago and Alex told me after this came out, sales really spiked. Phil and Danielle Hatch hit Castle's for their Barstorming video series back in August, check it out here. Danielle asks the question I never thought about, where the hell is the patio here?
Here's the dining area just behind the bar.
Lots of pictures and knick-knacks over here in this corner including...
An unlit Spuds MacKenzie neon light on the wall.
A shot from one end of the bar...
And one from the other end. We've looked at this bar from both sides now. From up and down and still somehow it's this bars illusions I recall. I really don't know this bar at all...wait, I've been coming here since the late '70's, I do know this bar...never mind.
Beer number two is served up with the traditional two finger salute by Alex. We'll see you all tomorrow...and hey, let's be careful out there!
Castle’s Patio Inn
802 W. Loucks
Peoria
309-685-9570
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