Literally my favorite restaurant ever, and it's not even close. If you're in the St. Louis area,…read morethe hour long drive is worth it for the hummus alone. Or the sticky toffee pudding alone. Or the soup. Or any of the entrees. If something is on the menu, it's because it's great-- there's no "filler" options or reheated Sysco food. It's the freshest food I've ever had at a restaurant (you can tell it's farm to table/locally sourced) and I don't really know how to describe this but like... after I eat there, I feel full to the point of bursting, but not in a gross way? Like usually when I eat that much I feel kinda sick or nauseous, but that doesn't happen here. And for how high quality the food is, you'd expect a kinda stuffy environment and high price tag, but no! It's got a friendly, laid back vibe with chill (but attentive) staff. Apps are $10 and entrees are $20. They could charge twice as much and I'd still consider it a fair price. As previously mentioned, everything on the menu is amazing so follow your heart and get whatever sounds good. But I'd personally recommend the hummus, grilled bread, and soup as starters (yes, all of them) and don't even THINK about leaving without getting the sticky toffee pudding, even if you split it between a few people. It's exactly how I imagined ambrosia tasting like.

It was a Friday during Lent and I went to Delmar Public House to enjoy their Fish & Chips. Well,…read morethat didn't happen. In addition to their regular menu, DPH always has a Weekly Special Menu. Once I saw what the weekly special pasta was, I had to have it. I am a huge fan of Smoked Salmon and they did theirs in house. The pasta not only had the smoked salmon, it also had sautéed red onion, a tangy European style cream cheese sauce and cavatappi pasta with fried cappers and fresh dill. The cream sauce was perfect. It was just a light covering, enough for flavor without being overwhelming. As always, the portion was healthy, so I had leftovers for the next days lunch. I enjoyed it chilled and it was like eating a cold pasta salad. DPH always gets bonus points from me for having eco-friendly to-go vessels. My adult beverage of choice for the seafood pasta, was a glass of Pinot Gris. I prefer a Grigio, but they only had the Gris. Gris is fairly similar to Grigio. I always say, it's like a first cousin, once removed. Service is always top-notch. It doesn't matter if you are sitting at a table or the bar, you'll be treated right.

This has always been my favorite Alton area restaurant and I have lived here over 40 years, known…read morelocally simply as "The Moonlight". From its humble beginning as a chicken shack on Fosterburg Road, this Italian family owned and run gem has grown to become the best in the area. They are most known locally for their outstanding "talk n chick" fried chicken and their fabulous Italian dishes and soups. They have a popular take out service with a separate counter and room on the south side of the building with slightly lower prices. The interior is unique with several odd-shaped dining rooms and two bars due to building expansions wrapping completely around the original chicken shack, which now is the kitchen, with a salad preparation basement room underneath. The Moonlight still has one dining room with now unused large interior front staircase that goes to the old front east entrance since the main entrance was relocated to the north side of the building where the parking lot is located. On the west (rear) side is the primary bar and a banquet room that is frequently used for local seminars and marketing presentations. Special meeting or special occasion? This is your place. Love the tortellini soup and the Italian dishes are top notch. Nice main bar and a great side room off the lobby for special gatherings. You won't go wrong if you go here.

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.

I had a fantastic Tuesday night dinner. They were offering a $30 3 Course Dinner, but I went with…read morethe $25 Pepperloin Steak. Before ordering, I enjoyed a Tito's Extra Dry Martini with a Lemon Twist. The bartenders here are masters of their mixologist skills. Trust me I know, they've made my a lot of cocktails. Once my entree arrived, I totally impressed with all three items. The asparagus was prepared perfectly. It wasn't too hard and not overly soft. It had just enough snap. The Loaded Baked Potato was the size of a fist, which is a perfect size. It was fluffy and was topped with butter, cheese and bacon. The steak was truly the piece of resistance. It was super tender and they served it a true medium rare. The kitchen truly knocked it out of the park with this meal. I was a happy diner. Good food and good service will have me returning to Gentelin's, time and time again.

Absolutely loved every minute of my first visit here. The two different bread options with butter -…read moreDELICIOUS. One of the best Caesar salads I've ever had and loves the homemade croutons. The steak wasn't the best I've had but still cooked perfectly and the loaded baked potato was equally as good. The ambience of this place is what I enjoyed most, dimly lit and can be dressed up or dressed down. The service was phenomenal we ended up eating at a table and moving to the bar just to stay a while longer and try a few more drinks. Absolutely loved everything about this spot!

Fried or Grilled? I use to be a big fan of their Famous Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, until I…read moretried it Grilled. A while back when I went in for my regular fix of a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, the waitress asked me if I ever tried the grilled. When I said, no, she told me I had to give it a try. So, I did and now it is my way of ordering a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich. The piece of grilled meat is as big as the fried. It hangs off the bun. All you need to add is some white onion, pickles and lettuce. Some add a tomato, but that's not my thing. Also, just like when I enjoy a fried Pork Tenderloin, I upgrade to fries. Chips just don't do it for me. The service is always top notch. The ladies working are always so friendly. They make everyone feel comfortable while dining. Jimmy taught his staff well. I miss him always being there, but the ladies are making sure his legacy lives on. Another big plus when you come to, Johnsons Corner is the other patrons.It truly is a neighborhood bar. I was dining alone at a hightop and I ended up having a conversation with someone sitting at the bar and another hightop. We shared some good laughs. That's a small-town dive bar at its best.

If you like salad with slimy lettuce, this is the place. And if you want to deal with a manager…read morewith a poor attitude. Eat here!

Omg. Our photos tell it all! We can't say enough about their food! I had the warm goat cheese…read moresalad. Ok, hear me out, I NEVER order thee kinds of foods, but I was feeling wild and crazy today and it paid off! It's probably one of the best salads I've ever had. I added chicken and it was perfect. My husband had the beef teepee which is one of their staple dishes and he LOVED it. We sat at the bar. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. And martinis are superb! Highly recommended! 11/10

When I think of martinis, I think of Bossanova and when I think of Bossanova, I think of martinis…read more The two of them, just go together. I enjoy a relaxing evening sitting at the bar at Bossanova, sipping a Martini. The music is played softly in the background at a level that makes it easy to enjoy and still have a conversation. When I get hungry while I am sipping my martini, I like to enjoy one of their flatbreads, perhaps an order of Salmon Rangoon or a bowl of French Mussels. They're all delicious and will satisfy my hunger pains. The reason I took a star away is, when I ordered my Extra Dry Tito's with a Twist and Make it Skate. The bartender did not know what I meant by, "Make It Skate". I had to explain to her what that phrase meant. She did fairly well, but it wasn't a true skate. I'm confident her eventually master that martini skill.

Quaint little restaurant with the friendliest staff ever. Food was fabulous. Lunch prices were…read morecomparable to chains offering soup and sandwiches but the food quality here was so much better. One person in our party has a garlic allergy and easily got a tasty meal, with no problems. This establishment takes allergies seriously.

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.

Local favorite for fried chicken or fried shrimp meals. Served from an old ice cream stand, this…read morelocally owned and run fast food place is strictly drive-up and carry out with phone in or walkup ordering. Chicken is old style with crinkle fries in a cardboard lunch box. Tasty but greasy, with reasonable prices. Opens late and closes early so check times. Old style malts and shakes, Good not great food but a fun experience to get take out. Not associated with Fast Eddie's Bon Air but well known and liked by locals. Quite busy so sometimes fairly long wait times for walk up orders. If you liked Woody's fried chicken before they closed you'll like this as a fitting replacement, although I find this one better.

It was a day of craving fried chicken, so off to FEFC for an inexpensive lunch. As I've said…read morebefore, my go to is the White Box. It contains, two side breast and one center breast. I always thought a chicken breast was a chicken breast. Until I started eating here at Fast Eddie's, I didn't know there was a difference. To be honest, I still really don't know the difference. The reason I don't know the difference is because I am too busy enjoying my crispy crunchy chicken. I like how their chicken is simply seasoned with salt and pepper. Also, it's never overly greasy. The outside is thin and crispy and the inside is moist, tender and hot. All boxes come with a side of crinkle fries. They're fried crisp and the crinkles catch the ketchup, making them a perfect side. There's no dining in. It is walk-up to a window and order your food to go. The staff is friendly and hustle to get your order out to you as quickly as possible. When: January 5, 2026 Why: Craving Fried Chicken

Service and food CAN'T BE BEAT. The waiters & waitresses are prompt and gracious. It is always…read moresuper clean and you are treated as a "true" guest.

Round Table is my local dive diner. The portions are plentiful and they have senior discounted…read moremeals for individuals over the age of 60. My recent visit, I went with the breakfast I had on my very first visit back in 2020 when we were living in C0VID times. The single biscuit with milk gravy was fluffy and the gravy had a generous amount of sausage. Since my gravy had sausage, I chose bacon as my meat. I enjoyed my eggs scrambled. It also came with a choice of potato and I went with, American Fried over Hash Browns. I was surprised that I got 4 slices of bacon. 1 was cold, but the other 3 were warm. The eggs were super fluffy. I've had scrambled eggs here several times and they are always way better than other diners. When they brought me my order, they forgot my potatoes. My server went back to retrieve them and she returned with a portion that could have served three people. They were good, but I only ate a third. The servers are friendly and attentive, giving the diner a hometown feeling. With it being close to my home, I'll definitely return.

Typically, I am not a fan of buffet style breakfast. However, I will say that Hickory Grove has won…read moreme over with theirs. The offerings are limited, but they are the most popular breakfast items. Also, the staff is extremely attentive to the buffet and keeps it not only well stocked, but clean and well organized. The buffet started with fresh fluffy biscuits and milk gravy with sausage. It also had; scrambled eggs, hash browns, scrambled omelette, american fries, link sausage, bacon, patty sausage, french toast, waffles, pancakes and carve-able ham. They even had a bowl of fresh fruit. I took a sampling of everything and for buffet food, it was as good as if it were made to order and brought to my table. The servers are friendly and did frequent table checks to make sure everything was satisfying. My coffee cup was topped off on the regular, so it was always warm. HG isn't a true diner, but it's a restaurant that specializes in comfort foods.

Hickory Grove is one of our families favorite go to's for hole in the wall food where some of us…read morecan order breakfast and some of us can order dinner. Menu is really packed full of every option you can think of from breakfast to burgers to pastas - your typical family restaurant. Their french toast is really good! Portions are big. Service is always good! Tip - bring cash, it's about 3% fee to use a card.

We grew up in the area but was in town visiting family. Decided to head over for lunch! Everyone…read moreenjoyed their food. Burger was delicious. Wife got the avacado chicken sandwich and she also enjoyed it. Kids got chicken sandwich and grilled cheese. Would definitely recommend.

George's has never disappointed me. I'll go out on a limb and say, it is probably the best pub food…read moreI have ever hand and I've eaten in a lot of them. I've enjoyed burgers, chicken wings, pork tenderloin and steak sandwiches. Plus, a variety of their steaks, Meatloaf and most recently, their fried chicken. Not to mention the variety of craft beers and the masterfully made, Mules. They get bonus points for serving the mules in copper mugs. My recent visit was for the Fried Chicken. I had plans to go on Friday for one of their Lenten Specials, but when I saw on Facebook that the Thursday special was Fried Chicken, I changed my mind and I am glad I did. The chicken was super crispy and full of flavor. The four pieces were good sized and the meat was tender and juicy. It came with two sides, the promo suggested, mashed potatoes with milk gravy and French style green beans. If you want to, they allow you to choose other sides off the menu. I don't know why somebody would want to, the sides they recommended makes for a Sunday Dinner feeling. The service is always great. All of the staff are friendly and the owner goes around talking to all his guest. I typically sit at the bar and I like that they have outlets and hooks under the bar. Outlets come in handy when you need a quick charge and the hooks for purses or a jacket. They offer live music of Friday and Saturday and the huge patio is dog friendly. I know everyone needs a day off, but I do wish they were open on Sundays. If they were, I'd probably would eat there more often. When: March 5, 2026 Why: Checking out their Chicken Dinner.