Do you love large breast? If so you need to visit Castelli's and have their fried chicken dinner…read more The breast they serve, are the largest I have ever seen and the accompanying pieces are impressive as well. Thick meaty thighs, curvaceous legs and wings that look as if the chicken has been pumping iron at the local gym. Big pieces, crispy flavorful coating and juicy meat. I primarily do carry-out and the quality of their take out is equally as good as when dining in the restaurant. Pick-up is smooth and fast, as they have a separate entrance and room for take-out. The staff is friendly and very professional. The service has that family owned business feel. If you're a fan of Onion Rings, I recommend enjoying an order as an appetizer. Their rings are super big and made in house. I do not like onion rings that come from a bag. When ordering my sides, I like mashed potatoes with white gravy. They also offer brown gravy, if that is your thing. My other side is always green beans. They make their green beans with bacon and onion. It reminds me of my momma's. With those two sides, it is a true Sunday Chicken Dinner on any day of the week. I've been coming to Castelli's my entire life. I started coming here as a child when it was called, Moonlight. Many of the locals still call it, Moonlight and no-one will correct them, because we all know where they are talking about. Service in the carry-out room is always speedy and friendly. So if you're a fan of fried chicken, I recommend ordering on-line for a pick-up. Or, treat yourself to a night out and dine in the restaurant. Remember to order the onion rings.

The best fried chicken in the area with a great menu Italian. This has an upscale ambiance with a…read moreseries of rooms from multiple expansions and upgrades. The service staff is experienced and professional. The tortellini soup is wonderful. Veal parmigiana and chicken cacciatore dishes are tasty. Big portions of food so you'll probably take a go box home. Nice main bar near entrance with an original second bar in bar one of dining rooms. Plentiful parking with easy access ramp for handicapped. Has a separate takeout room at rear of restaurant. Long-standing local favorite with well deserved reputation. Great for special occasions. Nice banquet room that is quite popular for sales presentations.

State Street is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the Riverbend area. They were a shining…read morestar in downtown Alton until their lease was not renewed. At first I thought it was a bad call by the landlord. Now that they are located in Elsah, I realize he did them a favor. Beau and Terri rallied and took on the challenge of relocating their restaurant. They searched hight and low and found the perfect location in Elsah, just 8 miles north of the old location. Elsah welcomed them with open arms and issued them the first liquor license in the history of the township. Since the relocation I have been multiple times for lunch. You cannot go wrong with their famous Mushroom Asparagus Soup or one of the popular Paninis. I've also been to a wine dinner that impressed me and my cousin who is a wine connoisseur. The wine and food were paired beautifully. Experiencing a regular dinner in the boutique dinning room is also a delight. Their menu changes regularly, but I must say when you see Terri's Lasagna being offered, that is a sign to order it. You will not be disappointed. All the servers and staff are spectacular. It blows my mind how many of them can remember the names of all their regulars. It makes for a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Next time you're traveling the River Road, take a detour into Elsah and visit State Street on LaSalle.

This is my first time here since they moved to Elsah, and it's as delicious and wonderful as ever…read more The service is so personal, the kind you only get in a small town. The new dining area is beautifully decorated and cozy. And of course the food is delicious. Just look at their panini options and you'll know what I mean. This time I had the potato soup and the roasted turkey panini, and it was absolutely delicious. I only wish I had gotten a full sandwich! I had a dilemma ordering because there were too many incredible options. Thankfully I was able to see a few other dishes that my friends ordered, so I know how yummy they look! I can't wait to return and try more.

Ranch House is a Godfrey staple for cheeseburgers and beer. This spot is in my weekly rotation…read more Plenty of parking and seating. The folks that own this spot take great care of everyone that comes in. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Great weekly specials on drinks and food. The prices are truly affordable for families. This is a hangout spot. Come in and take your time and watch a game on the TV or play some bar games. They also offer a monthly GREEK dinner by appointment only.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner…read more Ranch House offers Fried Chicken dinners, 3 days a week. It use to be only on Wednesday, which made for a great Hump Day treat. As the popularity of their crispy well seasoned chicken grew, they added Saturday and Sunday. Now, I can enjoy a traditional Sunday dinner. RH offers 2 piece or 4 piece dinners with two sides. You can mix your chicken, or you can choose all dark or white meat. Typically, I go with Mashed Potatoes with White Gravy and Green Beans as my sides. For me, that makes it just like the Sunday dinners when I was growing up. Sometimes when I switch it up, I order Cole Slaw and Fries. It makes it more like a picnic. I like the fried chicken here at RH, because it is super crispy and their seasoning is extra peppery. It is so peppery, you can see it the skin. Another winning dinner is, Fried Fish on Fridays. It's really good during Lent. My go to order is their, Catfish Fritters. I enjoy the bite pieces of crispy Catfish, along side an order of Cole Slaw and Fries. Pair it up with a cold beer and you've got yourself a Catholic approved meal. Ranch House truly is a dive bar, but it does have a family vibe. When you visit, you'll see a good mix of patrons and that is part of the charm of dining at RH.

I tried the mahi tacos and they were actually really good! They were out of grouper which we were…read morelooking forward to trying. The outside bar is a vibe with beautiful views of the sunset on the river. My only complaint is the birds that are up in the rafters of the outdoor bar. Nothing like eating & having bird droppings splatter on the bar next to your food. Several people were moving seats to get out from under them. The parking situation adjacent to the building is cramped with no exit so i recommended parking across the street.

Pretty disappointing coming here. Food was terrible and service a mediocre. I strongly recommend…read more bringing a gas-x , mylanta , pepcid and pepto bismol and some butt wipes.

Went there this evening, place was empty do to fair. Service was lousy, and food not much better…read more Had the place been packed I would have ignored this, but when the place is empty bad service and food is in no way acceptable. Eat here every Saturday morning both service, and food are always good. Will never make the mistake of eating here again in the evening, nor allow that server to ever wait on us again. Wednesday July 15, 2026

Outstanding food. 8 of us traveled from 4 hours away for Labor Day weekend in the area…read more Went here for breakfast. And returned same evening for dinner.

We had a surprise party at the Penalty Box and the service was extraordinary! The food was a big…read morehit and they kept it hot. The atmosphere was perfect for everyone to gather and visit and have fun. Thank you Penalty Box for a perfect evening!

I had to cross State lines to find a quality sports bar??? And even this time it wasn't one I was…read morelooking for? To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing in Alton, (probably considering trying Fast Eddie's, but as i drove right past it, I was like .. ehhh. So I stopped in one of the nearest plazas and thought about this axe throwing bar.. but I don't think I'm ready for that, at least not in the mood i was in from my previous disappointment. Then i realize there's a fast food court right by it.. but it's closed on Saturdays????? What? So i look down and just try my luck "nearby sports bar".. and you have read about my "luck with sports bars' right? Well, luck be told, there's one right here in this same plaza parking lot... (there was also a drive through coffee shop I should have tried but passed on.. maybe when i come back for the axe-throwing place?) Anyway , my sports bar luck so far, has been truly hit or miss, so the question was.. do i have a good experience and head home happy, or a bad experience and pray for an axe to take me out in the forehead (you know like you see in the cartoons!) So anyway, let's get to the rules of a sports bar: 1) TV screens on various sports right? World Cup on one Tv, College World Series on tv two, an HISTORIC Espn broadcast on tv 3, 24 hours of Lemans on TV 4, a MLB game on tv 5, and some Tv sports intrview on tv 6 .. and that was just in the main room. (and every tv high enough to where I could see from my chair/table). Check, i think we got sports covered! 2) Attention side items for adults and kids. Darts, check (Plastic board, but i can live with that). Pool Tables, check.. I think they even had a tabletop shuffleboard, (but i wasnt' about to interrupt the "birthday" party to see if I was right, a claw machine (I think?) and Pac-man standing video game (heck, they even got the perfect video game if you're only going to have 1). We've got category #2 well in hand! 3) DRINKS. You know my rule, If you serve me, you better have a speciality. Well, ironically the bartendress thought i meant soda.. Do I look like a soda and sugar water guy? (Okay, sometimes I do... ), but a quick correction adult beverage on it's way.. 4) FOOD.. This is where I always screw up my pocket book, cause I always seem to go bigger than I should have.. and I did it again! Potato filled poppers to start with *Drool worthy cheese sauce under it* and then .. Philly Cheesesteak Pockets with Waffle Fries. I really need a travelling companion so i can split things and feel like I'm not spending as much on myself 5) TREATMENT from the staff... If you had noticed in the Fox & Hounds I honestly felt like I was ignored by the staff. This time... just the opposite, and they did it right.. And yes, this is going to sound chauvenstic, but it's my review, right? Everytime one of the ladies came by to check on me (and they did so regulary so to those of you who got inattentive servers, maybe it was just a bad day), cause I was checked on by even my non-servers when they came by, it was with a smile, and a feeling like they were glad I was there.. And the ladies made me feel years younger just by using those key words, With a "dear", "darling", "babe" polite word thrown on pretty much every time they came by. So no aspirin for the axe-splitting-head-ache tonight... just a smile on my face and a very good time, and I think the same will be said for anybody (Family, solo, friends, party group) who finds themselves ... and I think you'll find yourself asking to be called for hooking or tripping or high-sticking or whatever it takes to end up... in the Penalty Box. (okay bad pun, but i hadn't worked any good ones in here yet!)

Good atmosphere!plenty of good food A bit pricey! Can get…read morecrowded! I don't have anything else to say.

The fried chicken was great. The pre dinner sides were good-sausage, beets, corn relish,…read moreapplesauce, peach preserves. Service was great. Nice family atmosphere. The owner was working the dining area too. I will return.

Worst bartender I've ever experienced at this place as I requested wine and was given sour/old wine…read morewhich means the bottle has been open for too long and wine is spoiled. She wouldn't open a fresh bottle and told me "all the open wines are old because they don't sell a lot of wine" so, my option was old spoiled wine or no wine. First in my lifetime a bartender refused to open fresh wine AND she didn't refund us for the returned spoiled wine. What an unprofessional, classless and disrespectful bartender. Been there several times with different bartender who was great. That one ruined the experience. Unfortunately. May 01, 2022.

Great atmosphere. Lots of ceiling fans to keep ya from overheatin'. PICKLE SHOTS!!! I had a…read moretasty Bloody Mary. It wasn't dressed up with a whole lot, but the drink itself was quite good. Would love to make it back here.