Deuces are Wild (My Two25 Review)
Well, here is a first for this blogger. I was invited as an official Peoria blogger to my first “blogger dinner” last night at the brand new restaurant, Two25. It may not be Bill O’Reilly quite yet, but it was pretty big to me. The restaurant is located inside the Mark Twain hotel here in downtown Peoria, the location of the former Pizzeria Uno. While I was sad to see Uno check out, I was very pleased with my experience overall with Two25.
I arrived at the dinner around 7 PM, just in time to order a drink (the water is quite pure and delicious) and meet some of the other bloggers who were invited. I was quite excited as I had never participated in a blogger meetup of any kind, including any blogger bashes here in Peoria so this was my first time meeting many of the bloggers. I will have to say that I was especially excited to finally meet two of my favorite bloggers, Morton Malaise and Pointlessly Hypertechnical. I praised both of them for their blog and they were excited to meet me as well, which was nice.
The owners in the business did come out and welcome us as well as introduce themselves. They explained their philosophies on the restaurant industry as well as their goal for Two25. I felt that we were welcomed and ushered in like we were kings, and I don’t think it was because we were bloggers. The service is just outstanding and each server takes extra care to ensure your meal and your experience is one to remember in a very positive light. I felt quite at ease for someone who isn’t really big on dining out as a rule.
I ordered a simple chicken salad myself, trying to eat as healthy as possible. I will say I have had many chicken salads of all shapes and sizes across Peoria and Central Illinois, but this was one of the best. It was simply made and they did not add or subtract anything to the salad that I did not ask for, which for me, as a picky salad eater, is a plus. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals including fish fillets, large porterhouse steaks, and gourmet pizzas. There was some light dinner conversation over some excellent desserts including pies and, my favorite, chocolate mousse.
And, just as quickly as it began, it was over and I headed on home to finish the night by watching The Office and ER. But, all in all, I had a great time, met some great people, and enjoyed some great food. While I do miss Pizzeria Uno, I will say that I look forward to future meals at Two25. So, to Shane and the rest of the crew, I want to thank you for a great time, and I will say that I really appreciate your tapping into the social media vein with this “blogger dinner.” I hope more area restaurants and service providers realize this untapped resource. As a Web Specialist myself, I am very in tune with this sort of marketing and you and your staff did well to tap into it.
Also, for those who are interested in fine wines, Two25 is starting up a program next week, in which they select 5 premium wines and pair them up with some excellent cheeses and tasting menus for your enjoyment for a small fee. It sounds like a great time to get together, enjoy wine, and just relax with some good people in an elegant environment.
For more information on Two25, please visit their website here.
March 27th, 2009 at
It was great to meet you and it was a great meal. I hope to write my review later today.
March 27th, 2009 at
I had a great time, too, and enjoyed the company. It was interesting to hear about your recent testing and the results.
November 29th, 2009 at
Very interesting idea, it’s all so pretty. Can’t wait to see what you write about. Go for it!