I went to 2 Chez restaurant for a Saturday night dinner a while ago and I was impressed with their bar. I went and looked up that post in the MBIP archives and discovered that that was back in 2017. Nine years ago!

I’d say we’re overdue for a return visit, so that’s exactly where we’re going for tonight’s stop!

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Bar Number 147: 2 Chez, Wednesday, June 24, 2026

I thought I’d take an Uber to the restaurant tonight because I remember they made a fantastic Moscow Mule drink and I think I’ll have more than one tonight! Check it out, looks like we’re heading towards a storm! Dark skies ahead!

I got this photo taken of the outside of 2 Chez before the thunderstorm starts. Now let’s go in before it starts to get scary out here!

There’s the bar and it looks exactly like I remember it from nine years ago. Let’s snag a seat and get settled in for the evening.

There’s the owner of 2 Chez, Todd Hohulin, serving me up that previously mentioned Moscow Mule. This is their house version of a Moscow Mule and it’s a cherry infused drink called, the Tart Cherry Moscow Mule.

Todd told me that years ago, this space was a Maid Rite restaurant and he worked here when he was 19-years-old and this was his first restaurant job. Years later, he and his wife bought 2 Chez and they recently celebrated their 20th anniversary of ownership in here!

Congratulations to Todd, his wife, Cyndi and their son Isaac who both share in the ownership and work at the restaurant on their anniversary! Cheers to twenty more years!

I love the well-stocked, wooden back of the bar and the fun items on top of it!

Check out the taxidermy animal heads staring out at the patrons from the wall behind the bar.

The music in the restaurant is supplied by an in-house stereo system with the turntable behind the bar.

Todd queued up Cheap Trick at Budokan because I was wearing a Cheap Trick t-shirt! Quite an honor!

Here’s a shot from the end of the bar and after I took this photo, I saw a familiar face at the other end of the bar…

It’s Mr. Peeeeoria himself, Seth Boyer!

In case you’ve been under a rock, Seth is known for his online videos reviewing food in and around Peoria and he’s become an online sensation! He was here with his pretty friend, Cece and it was nice to meet both of them and have a nice conversation about Peoria and creating online content.

They have a nice dining room in here and the walls are loaded with cool photos.

I love this corner table which you can reserve if you have a larger party.

There’s vintage musical instruments overhead, wine bottles and an impressive record collection in the bookcase in the corner.

Meanwhile, back at the bar…

I got a Caesar Salad and it was very delicious!

I overate during my trip to New York, so I’m trying to watch the calories, as much as you can watch calories while visiting 365 bars!

The bathroom door has a lifesize cut-out of Rainn Wilson in his Office character of Dwight Schrute on the door.

I wasn’t prepared for all of the cool items that awaited me inside of this bathroom!

There was a vintage typewriter and turntable and a wall of photos, many of them celebrity mugshots! This is the coolest bathroom I’ve ever been in!

I took a night shot of 2 Chez while waiting for my Uber ride home. The thunderstorm came and went while I was inside and it’s a nice, summer evening out here!

Thanks to Todd and everyone at 2 Chez for a fun evening at our first bar back in Peoria after our New York trip!

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