Comedy icon eats at longtime steakhouse during Peoria visit

On December 22, 2024By Littum

As the Griswold family gathered around the table to enjoy Christmas dinner, they served up one of the many iconic moments strung together throughout the “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” – from mentions of Grace’s passing 30 years ago and a patriotic take on the Christmas blessing to the surprise of an over-the-top turkey.

Comedy icon Chevy Chase – who starred as Clark Griswold – hopefully enjoyed a meal with fewer mishaps when he and his family visited Jim’s Steakhouse in Downtown Peoria this past weekend.

Waitress Gayla Ray said Chase and his family arrived around 6 p.m. 18.30 on Saturday 14 December. The well-known comic actor was in town for a 35-year-old^th anniversary screening of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” which was to be followed by a live conversation with Chase.

“I was just super excited to meet him, you know, and I was really obviously honored to be able to wait on him and his family,” Ray said.

Chase, also known for movies like “Three Amigos,” “Caddyshack” and “Fletch,” had a medium filet mignon with a side of broccoli and baked potatoes, according to Ray.

Manager Kristin Comfort said Chase visited with his wife and children. Ray said everyone at the table was nice and down to earth, describing Chase as a “normal, regular, family guy.”

“I heard him say something to them that he was just glad they could all be there for dinner…” Ray said. “I was just trying to give him that time, that space, to eat and enjoy, you know, time with his family.”

However, Ray said his family laughed and joked together as they ate next to the fireplace. Comfort said he also joked a little with the staff.

“We put a picture on the table for him to sign so we can put it on the wall,” Comfort said. “And I heard he made a joke to make sure to hang it up in the ladies room.”

Although Comfort wasn’t at the restaurant during Chase’s visit, she said her family was “thrilled to have him.”

“We grew up watching all the National Lampoon’s and he’s really just an icon,” Comfort said. “So he’s really, I think, one of the favorites that we’ve had.”

And his visit obviously made an impression. When Ray returned home from her shift, she settled in to watch “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with her daughter.

Comfort described the film as a seasonal classic and said it is her favorite movie starring Chase.

“I think it’s just one of those Christmas movies that people watch every single year at this time and you just never get tired of it,” she said.