Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger! Starring this week’s host, Judge’s Chamber and featuring the Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. Now please welcome this week’s host, all the from beautiful downtown Peoria on Main Street—Judge’s Chamber!
A big snowstorm started dumping snow a couple of hours ago, so it looks like we’ve got to clean off the MBIP mobile.
Seven freezing minutes later and we’re good to go. I fucking hate winter!
Wow, the roads are really slick. I’m halfway thinking about bagging this and just heading back to MBIP Headquarters...
Naahhhh, I’d never abandon Saturday Night Cheeseburger! Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays this courier from the swift completion of my Saturday night meals!
Okay, having said that, let’s get the fuck inside of this place, I’m freezing my balls off out here!
Judge’s Chamber is one of Peoria’s oldest and classic dive bars. It’s definitely an Al bar and since the weather is so shitty, there’s plenty of seats at the bar. Let’s, uh, dive in! Sorry about that!
And here’s veteran Judge’s Chamber bartender, Betty serving up an ice-cold can of Budweiser. Betty was on duty last year when we came here and she remembered that visit. It’s great to see her again!
Hey, check out the lit-up bottles behind the bar! Getting kind of fancy-schmancy in here! Next thing you know they’ll have a Nut Hut on the premises!
See that reflection on the mirror behind the Christmas tree? It’s a reflection of...
This painting behind the bar. Betty said it’s been back here since the bar’s been here, which Betty wasn’t sure how long the bar’s been in existence, but said it’s, “been a long time!” The painting is quite, uh...titillating. You can learn more about it from this Barstorming episode. And notice how the paper censored the titillating portions of the painting, that cracks me up!
Nick and Kara were seated next to me at the bar and they said their favorite food here is the chicken strips. I asked Betty to cook up whatever she wanted for me, as long as it wasn’t a cheeseburger, which we had last year. While she’s whipping up tonight’s dinner, let’s take a look around in here one year later.
Nice to see this vintage cash register is still sitting behind the bar.
There’s tables opposite the bar bathed in magenta light from the neon Budweiser sign hanging on the paneled wall.
A stained glass Judge’s Chamber sign from back in the day stands next to the lone dart board in here.
There’s a table up here in the front window if you want to stare out at Main Street, I like it better in the back where it’s darker.
Check it out, the Christmas lights are still hanging up at the bar.
A shot of the bar from where I like it in here, in the back in the shadows of the night. It makes me feel like Pat Benatar!
I’m starvin’ like old Marvin here, let’s go back to the kitchen and see how the grub is coming along.
Betty said it’s just about ready, so let’s go back to the bar.
And here it is...but what is it?
Wow, it’s a combination platter of every appetizer served in the joint! Very cool of Betty to go to the trouble to do that! It looks delicious!
And it is, especially these cheddar cheeseballs, you can read more about it in the review below.
That hit the spot on this snowy winter night.
And now, it’s back out into the cold...
And snow. I fucking hate winter! We’ll see you all tomorrow for another frosty post.
My Meal
As per our new tradition here, I asked Betty to pick out something for me to eat at Judge’s Chamber and she prepared me an appetizer sampling combination. The combo included onion rings, breaded mushrooms, mini tacos, chicken wings and cheddar cheeseballs. While it was nothing extraordinary, it was very tasty and excellent tavern fare washed down by a couple of cold beers. I especially enjoyed the cheddar cheeseballs, crispy on the outside and warm, gooey cheddar cheese oozing out as you bit into them.
They also have chicken strips and six styles of sandwiches including a cheeseburger, fish filet, pork tenderloin and a grilled cheese. And there’s also the Godfather of Peoria pub grub availble: Butch’s Pizza!
SNC Rating
Two Galloping Gourmets. Nothing fancy, but pretty tasty appetizers in one of Peoria’s oldest dive bars.
Judge’s Chamber
514 Main Street
Peoria
309-674-5005
P.S. There's no video or surprise link today due to a glitch in the SquareSpace layout, I'm hoping this will be corrected today. If I can add them later I will.