Bloomington-Normal Restaurants

A plan to knock down a 13-year-old commercial building to make room for a new Raising Cane’s chicken restaurant will go before the Normal Planning Commission on Wednesday.

Bloomington and Normal collected more than $9.1 million in food and beverage taxes last budget year. That's up 29% from 2019.

There’s a lot going on in the restaurant world in McLean County, from new entries to longtime favorites closing their doors. Larry Carius follows all of it on his popular Bloomington-Normal Restaurant Scene Facebook page.

Bloomington Planning Commission chair Tyson Mohr said the proposed Starbucks would have only one access point, in a high-traffic area along West Market Street, a state highway.

The Bloomington Planning Commission on Wednesday will hear plans for a new Starbucks on the city’s west side and a new restaurant to take the former home of the Ozark House.

Aaron Francis, a young entrepreneur who's about to open his third restaurant in Bloomington-Normal, says paying and treating his employees well is one of the secrets to his success.

Larry Carius runs the popular Bloomington-Normal Restaurant Scene Facebook page, where 34,000 foodies follow openings, closings, renovations and more. There were 30 restaurant openings and 14 closings in 2022, according to Carius’ own tally.

Eleven new restaurants have opened or are in the process of opening in Bloomington-Normal.

Adam Elpayaa spent the pandemic mastering pizza. Now he runs Pizza Payaa, a New York-style pizzeria in Bloomington.

Adam Elpayaa spent the pandemic mastering pizza. Now he runs Pizza Payaa, a New York-style pizzeria in Bloomington.