You Gotta Eat: W.E. Sullivans feels like a home away from home

PEORIA HEIGHTS (25News Now) - It’s billed as a place where family and friends come together under a roof of dreams coming true.

W.E. Sullivans in Peoria Heights takes great pride in the Irish fare, but owners Billy and Lauren Blasek feel it’s the relationships that keep people coming back.

“We really like to see everyone as family and friends when they’re here. So, we do feel that it really works out that you can come to the bar and a lot of our people that work here have been here since we began,” said co-owner Lauren Blasek.

“It’s familiar faces that they see and people in the community that live around here, and so I think people just have a really good time when they’re here,” said Blasek.

Customer Jolene Doyle said, “They are super, super people. And anything anyone ever needs or wants they would be there for them no matter who it was or what they needed.”

“I know Billy and Lauren. I always love their food. I work at another Irish bar, so I guess I like Irish bars,” said customer Ash Brown.

Edgar Sandoval and photojournalist Andrew Best tried the cut and hand-breaded catfish fries... cut and hand breaded.

The Old 47 is a giant chicken sandwich with garlic truffle aioli.

The 5-grain power bowl is a salad with avocado, red peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, and a grain blend of barley, wheat berries, wild rice, and quinoa on a bed of mixed greens.

“That cilantro lime dressing is really good.” said Edgar. Andrew decided he should try the power bowl as well.

The Irish Mac and cheese with corned beef on top is a good mix of salty and sweet.

Sullivans also takes pride in serving up the fun, especially on Tuesdays, featuring trivia and standup comedian Joe Roderick...

There’s also board game night, although the games are always available.

“Our customers kind of appreciate it. They come and are like ‘what are they playing’ and then they get interested in it. So, it’s really nice to see people, not just sitting at a table waiting for their food playing on their phones,” said Blasek.

Customers say Sullivans feels like a home away from home.

“The food is absolutely fantastic. The staff is unbelievable. And the drinks... we’re not even going to go there. They’re phenomenal,” said Doyle.

W.E. Sullivans at 4538 North Prospect Road in Peoria Heights is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and it closes at 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

You can follow Edgar on his Facebook page or on Edgar’s website

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