Nicer than you would expect for an Alton dive bar and the bartender was super friendly showing off…read moretiny samples of shots. Plus this is the eternal home of Mondinband!

Food and service never disappoints. Sandwiches or trash pizza, you cannot go wrong. Nice selection…read moreof beers as well.

I had to check this bar out since I was in the area and this seems to be one of the more popular…read moreplaces in a small town. It was Sunday and I could tell you that this place was packed! The beer here is pretty cheap, if you're paying by card there is a $10 minimum. I didn't have any of the food but the menu I saw online looked really appetizing. Staff here was pretty young but the crowd here was more middle-aged than anything. It's in a pretty busy intersection too. They have Gaming Machines too. They have an outdoor area but it was too cold to be over there. In the far back room they have basically a Four Seasons room but they have a heater so it doesn't get too cold over there and boy does it feel like it could get to 90° over there like you're in a senior center or Florida! Overall I was pretty satisfied with a visit here though it was pretty short .

We love this small bar. Friendliest service with welcoming patrons. Growing up in the area, I love…read moregoing back and being treated like a local even though I'm not anymore. Just good people here. We always have a few drinks. Not much seating inside, but we go outside to the covered patio and sip on beers while talking. It's perfect. Even in a storm as it poured down, we were warm and cozy there. Cheers!

This bar has multiple areas where you can enjoy drinks, but you have to first go into the actual…read morelittle "bar" area to order. Then you can take your drinks to whichever other part you choose. We wanted to sit on the cool couches with the firepits but the firepits weren't on. We ended up sitting on the outside deck but this deck was kinda scary... it is shaky. Even when people were just walking across it.... I'd stop in here again if I just wanted a drink but it may not be my first choice with the other options.

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.

If you go to, The Bloody Bucket Saloon, you'll definitely have a bloody good time. The drinks are…read morestrong and the other patrons are a fun group of people. The service at times can get slow, but just be patient and your drink will be strong. It's slow because the bartender is too friendly and attentive to all guest, regulars and new. So, is that really a bad thing. The ambiance is something to behold, so go check it out. They have a terrace or deck depending on what you call it, making sitting outside on a beautiful day a perfect. Beware, there will be smokers out there, too. If you forgot your cash, or just running low, they've got you covered with a ATM machine. There's no food, TBBS is a drinking establishment. If you are hungry, go explore Grafton and you'll find numerous places to satisfy your hunger pains.

Morrison's Irish Pub - Alton, IL…read more We finally stopped into Morrison's and it delivered that cozy, old-world Irish pub charm you want when you walk through those doors. I had the Irish cheese sandwich, Justin went with the corned beef -- and both were genuinely good. Comforting, hearty, and exactly what you hope for in a pub meal. Now... the kitchen was moving a bit slow this visit. Was it noticeable? Yes. Was it worth the wait? Also yes. Because Sam -- the female bartender -- absolutely made the experience. Fun, engaging, and the kind of personality that makes you feel like you're already a regular even if it's your first visit. That kind of service turns a "slow day" into a good memory. The menu is packed with authentic Irish favorites, and honestly, next time we're absolutely going to lean fully into the classics -- because this feels like a place that does traditional comfort food right. One small wish: I really wish they made their own chips. The bagged chips were a little lackluster and felt like a missed opportunity next to an otherwise hearty, made-with-care menu. Overall: a great spot that was likely just having an off day -- and still absolutely worth your time. Don't leave without ordering the pear cider. It is absolutely fabulous. Bright, crisp, lightly sweet, and dangerously drinkable. We'll be back -- and we're coming hungry.

This was my first time and let me tell you...it will not be my last! The food was phenomenal! The…read moreservice was perfect and the staff were amazing! The vibe had me wanting to book a trip to Ireland!

Okay but how fun is The Loading Dock? I don't think there is anything comparable to it in St. Louis…read morecounty/ city, and it's a nice little drive to check it out. I love the big patio overlooking the river, and the casual fun vibes with the food choices and frozen drinks. The yellow umbrellas make it look really fun, and the service was quite attentive to the how busy and packed the patio was. They have a stage for live music, and they had a farmers market inside that we checked out. It feels super community driven, and it's small and quaint. I had such a fun time!

We visited with a large group that included several kids, and it worked really well for everyone…read more We sat outside, which was really nice, and there was enough space for the kids to get up and move around without feeling like they had to stay glued to their seats the whole time. The food was good, the service was good, and overall it was a really easy, enjoyable place to go with a bigger group. I'd definitely recommend it for families or anyone looking for a relaxed outdoor spot.

My friend heard about Naked Tiki Distilling in June and we visited for the first time last week…read more It's a small/medium space. We picked a table behind a wall. It was a little isolated from the main bar area. This is a "dark tiki" place. (Think of the Enchanted Tiki Room during the storm segment.) We liked the decorations, including the posters and records and especially the puffer fish lights over the tables. Some midcentury music played all evening. The volume was just right; I could hear my friends perfectly well. We drank 2-4 cocktails per person and these were good cocktails from a long menu. Some of the cocktails are made with the distillery's rum and I liked the flavor of it. The food menu at the establishment is more extensive than the menu I saw online. (I don't recall whether I saw that other menu on the website or a photo of it on a review.) We ordered pizza, loaded tater tots, and.... probably some meat item I didn't try. My friends liked the pizza more than I did. I thought it had too much sauce, but they commented that they liked the amount of sauce, so your take will depend on your preference there. The tots were good. Next time I hope to order a flatbread (white sauce). We ordered a couple of items modified or with questions about allergens and they were good about answering our questions and delivering as we ordered. Everyone seems to be experienced in table and bartending and know the ropes of the place. Our server was so nice. He spent a couple of minutes answering our questions towards the end of the evening. He told us about the membership program that costs $25/month and is worth it if you come at least 2x (or 1, depending on what you order, I think). I hope to return quite soon!

He stopped in on opening day. Tiki bars are right up our alley so we could not wait to see what…read morethey had in store. The inside was perfect, decked out just as I think a tiki bar should be. It's not a large space, but they managed to handle the crowd very well. Bartenders were super friendly and the drinks were very good. We had the Crab Rangoon which was plentiful and delicious. We will be back very soon!