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.

Came in around 9 on a Sunday and service was friendly and quick! The menu is extensive so we took a…read moreminute to decide but then food came out quickly and was delicious!

Bakers & Hale is a family favorite and an absolute must whenever I am in IL seeing family. The vibe…read moreis incredibly relaxed and very family friendly, ample space so you never feel crowded. The food is consistently good with generous portions, and the friendly service always makes the experience enjoyable. if your there during the live music, it's a really nice touch. Even though I come here all the time, for some reason I always forget the actual name and just refer to it as "Bangers and Mash." Luckily, my family always knows exactly whatI mean!

Bakers & Hale is probably one of the if not the most popular restaurants in the Riverbend area…read more They are know for their amazing bands on the patio, which is year round and a pretty decent Happy Hour. The other day I meet up with some of my cousins for Happy Hour. I cannot go wrong with one of the HH pizzas. Three of the six cousins, ordered pizza with different toppings. I went with the HH Taco's. I enjoyed Two Shrimp Taco's for only $7. The HH pizzas are $10. Three cousins went with the regular menu and enjoyed salads, chicken wings and chicken strips/tenders. Everyone was pleased with their food. The only thing keeping B&H from getting 5 Stars is the service. It's never consistent. One time it's over the top and the next time it's the bare minimum. It really depends on who you get as a server. The seasoned ones who have been for a long time, know how to work a table. The newer and younger ones, just don't get it. They don't hustle and as their station fills up, they get overwhelmed and everything goes downhill. When: January 7, 2026 Why: Happy Hour with the cousins

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.

Stopped by Post Commons for the first time on my way to Pere Marquette State Park! Wow this place…read moreis awesome, seriously a HUGE coffee shop, it makes sense it used to be a federal post office. Lots of different seating available from couches, comfy chairs, tables, bars by the window, you name it. I ordered a banana bread latte and the lunch special which were the steak tacos. Both were great! Steak tacos were spicier than expected but it had good flavor. Lots of parking too which is a plus.

If you didn't already know, Post Commons has added two tenants to the building. They now share this…read moregrand old post office with, Good News Brewing Company and CJ's Juicery. However, this review is about them, so let me focus on them only. If you go to Post Commons, you gotta get a biscuit. Their biscuits are homemade and they are delicious. My personal favorite biscuit sandwich is the Sausage. In addition to the sausage patty, it has cream cheese and pepper jam. The pepper jam is what really makes this sammie special. If you're wanting a more hearty breakfast, you can create your own plate with items from the A La Carte menu. I've created one with two scrambled eggs, bacon and breakfast potatoes. The potatoes are cut into little cubes and fried to a crispy golden color. It's a great place to meet friends for a cup of coffee. The staff is cordial and makes you feel welcomed. Why go to a chain coffee shop, when you have a unique one in a old post office building? There is, no reason to go. When: February 4, 2026 Why: Biscuit Sandwich

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!

We've loved LuciAnna's from the start on State Street. I was so glad to see so many familiar…read morefavorites in the case when we stopped for a visit. The almond horn and espresso tarts are old favorites. My husband was excited to try the sausage rolls and has enjoyed them. The ambiance is cozy and classy. The large windows allow for a great deal of natural light. There is ample seating inside as well as a couple of tables outside when the weather permits. If you get your food to go, they have offered to heat the necessary food or given instructions on heating if needed for a later time. The owners are extremely friendly and kind.

Since I last reviewed, LuciAnna's Pastries, I've moved to IL and LuciAnna's has relocated in Alton…read more The two of us are now within walking distance of each other. That is a good and a bad thing. It's good for their bottom line and a bad thing for my waistline and weight. At least when I walk there, I am burning some of the calories I will consume. During the week, I enjoy stopping by and grabbing a pastry or two. It's hard to only buy one, when they have so many to choose from. I then continue on my way and enjoy a Blueberry Scone or Raspberry Lemon Cannoli at my leisure later in the day. When it's the weekend, that is when I dine in and enjoy the full experience of LuciAnna's. I either take a patio table which is pet friendly, or a relaxing table inside the charming dining room. I order at the counter and get my table marker, so they know where I am seated. It brunch time, so that also means it is Bloody Mary time. I always have mine with a cup of black coffee chaser. The two balance each other out. My two favorite entrees are; Waffles or anyone of their Benedicts. Seriously, you cannot go wrong with either of them. Plus, you gotta get an order of the, Million Dollar Bacon. Service is always top notch and attentive. You'll enjoy the tea room atmosphere.

Place seems like a fun night place. For lunch, it's standard bar grille food. Not a huge standout…read more I had the cheesesteak. It was odd. Instead of pieces of thinly sliced steak mixed with cheese, it was a thin sliced piece of steak with cheese on top. More of a steak sandwich. It was ok. The fries were well seasoned. And the homemade ranch was a standout. Service was pretty good. We had a big group and they did very well. Biggest turnoff was the semi outdoor area that allows smoking. Not a big fan of eating with cigarette fumes throughout the building.

I've lived in the area five years and I am still bewildered how people can smoke on the patio at…read moreRoper's even when the all the sliding doors are closed. I just always hope no one who smokes is seated near me. Today I expanded my menu experience by trying something totally new and different. I went with a Foul Ball, which is a chicken breast on a Brioche Bun with garnishes. I choose hand battered. You can also do, grilled or blackened. My breast was super thick and batter was crispy and had good flavor. As a side, I went with Tater Tots instead of fries. I've done this at other places and I'm starting to favor Tots. My beer was cold and the service was attentive. My server was training a new person and I think you always get better service when they are training. They want to make sure the newbie gets it, so they overdo it sometimes. I live super close to Roper's, but don't think of them when I'm heading out to eat. The food is good, I need to train my brain to remember them. I'll be back, hopefully sooner then later.

Staff are great and food is not pretentious and filling. Anything you get will be cooked well and…read moretaste great.

Food was not bad, do not get me wrong, but you need to be willing to wait LONG. And they weren't…read morekidding on the menu! On the menu, it states, "Do not expect your food to come quick, this is not a fast food restaurant..." Though on the day we ate there, it was 6 of us in the party, when three of us ordered burgers w/Fries, one person a Slinger and 2 of us the Steak and eggs breakfast. We arrived there at 11:10 and got served our meals at 1:10. Sooo you could imagine, it was a bit of a wait. Mind you the place closed at 2pm. I did grab a bag of their day-old donuts and a cherry pie on the way out, which were exceptional, but the wait. It's hard to want to come back to wait 2 hours for your meals. Though the staff was kind, and the restaurant is small and quaint, (about 12 tables?), and offers donuts and pie. We didn't expect fine quality steaks either, but what we had were overcooked and chewy, so don't order those, but the burgers and slinger seemed good enough. Mind you this is like a little country kitchen close to Grafton. It's meant to be a place to grab a sandwich with a cup of Joe, and meet up with local friends. So if you don't mind the wait, and in the neighborhood for a coffee and donuts, it's your place.

Stopped in to enjoy my St. Patrick's Day with some Corned Beef…read more Mac's was serving up a plate full of tender Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes and Baby Carrots. The Corned Beef was fork tender. Their cabbage was a mixture, half of my serving was mushy and the other still had a little snap to the texture. Both the potatoes and carrots were spot on, I enjoyed them more than I did the cabbage. The food never disappoints me. I follow Mac's on FB so I can see what the daily specials are. There's been many times when I see something good and it helps me plan my meals for the day. The steak specials are always a winner. I'm also a fan of their burgers, onion rings and Sunday brunch. My beverage of choice was a Citrus Wheat which is brewed here in Alton at, Old Bakery Beer Company. I'm not a fan of Guinness beer, so the local craft beer was a nice substitute. The service was attentive and friendly for a busy holiday.

Whatever you do, don't get the blue cheese burger. It was dry and so bad. The bun was also stale…read more Just bad. On the flip side, the t bone steak was really good. Warning: the steak fries are just like a potato cut into 1/8s and fried. The regular fries are much better. Also, the beer garden area allows smoking. Not a great time for non smokers or kids. Service was pretty good despite being super busy. Definitely were attentive and always on the move.

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.

Never disappointed at this establishment! Gin and tonics were refreshing on a hot night. Menus just…read morechanged for fall. We enjoyed shepherds pie ( now with Yukon gold mashed potatoes on top).. delicious! Hubby enjoyed the Romesco steak kabob, cooked med rare and delicious. Both entrees served with small Caesar salads--just enough! Service was excellent as usual, just enough checking in on us to make sure all was good. Mark and staff are a well oiled machine. Kudos to waitstaff and bartender! A step above the rest! Busier in dining room as evening progressed but not so loud that we could not converse. Great place to eat any day of the week! Appreciate all of you!