Craving barbecue? New East Peoria restaurant will offer ribs, smoked meats and family feel - Pekin Daily Times

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It is an auspicious beginning when a restaurant's co-owners readily agree on the type of establishment they want — and on a clear division of responsibility.

When Terry Williamson and Mike Phillips decided to open The Old Town Smokehouse in East Peoria, they knew they wanted to provide the feel of a hometown family diner. Because they have families themselves, they understand that the prospect of bringing children to a restaurant can often be a daunting one.

"You always worry that your son or daughter will be upset, cranky or crying," Williamson explained. "You worry about all the dirty looks or the glares you might get from other customers. We want to give them a place where they don't have to worry about that. We want to give them a home-cooked meal and a place where they can feel comfortable, no matter what."

Phillips brings over 20 years' experience of cooking and creating menus to the endeavor. Williamson has about 25 years of office management experience.

"Together, we make the perfect team," said Williamson. (Phillips) can run a kitchen, and I can run everything else."

More: This Peoria-area business grew from a high school concession stand to sales in 26 states

While they feel their family-friendly atmosphere will attract customers, Williamson and Phillips are aware that return business depends on the quality of the food. The Old Town Smokehouse will feature such traditional fare as barbecued spare ribs, smoked brisket and pulled pork. But the menu will also include smoked salmon, smoked oysters and smoked scallops. While he is proud of the restaurant's entire bill of fare, Phillips said that if he had to recommend a single item to a first-time patron, he would choose the spare ribs.

"We're going to have six different homemade sauces, plus a dry rub, and we're going to cook them the way people in the area seem to want them," he said.  "We're going to slow cook them like everyone else does, but (we'll cook them) a little bit longer. I've noticed in the area that people want to see them falling off the bone versus having to tear them apart."

As part of the co-owners' plan to create the feel of a family-friendly diner, The Old Town Smokehouse will offer breakfast along with lunch and dinner. Williamson said the breakfast menu will feature such items as applewood-smoked bacon, smoked ham, smoked sausage and smoked hard-boiled eggs.

"It's going to be like a restaurant where you'd go with your family to have breakfast after church," Williamson added.

Good eats: This healthy Peoria-area eatery opens a second location inside a medical building

Williamson and Phillips have spent the last three months renovating the site of the former Whitey's and are awaiting the arrival of a commercial-grade smoker. Williamson projected the opening date as June 12.

"We've had to go through and completely clean up, refinish and paint the entire building on the inside," he said. "We had to refresh it and give it a newer look: a family-friendly look."

After The Old Town Smokehouse opens, Williamson and Phillips are planning to launch an Invite a Chef program. Local chefs from other restaurants will be invited to try an Old Town Smokehouse menu item and then adjourn to the kitchen to demonstrate their own skills.

"They can do an original dish or they can cook one of ours," said Williamson.

The Old Town Smokehouse is located at 131 E. Washington St., East Peoria. Hours of operation will be from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. More information is available on The Old Town Smokehouse Facebook page.

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