Really cool place in downtown Alton. Came here with my family and we had a great time. Very lively…read moreand well decorated place. I would recommend coming here to anybody who's looking for a fun bar experience. Service was quick and everything is great. Nice big space and plenty of parking in the area. I'm looking forward to coming back in the future, surprised I've never been here before as an Alton native.

Oh, Daddy. I like Catdaddy's…read more Catdaddy's recently went under new ownership. It's a new partnership that is mainly women. They are promoting themselves as, "A female owned space where women can let their hair down and have fun...We've got your back." They're promoting a safe place for ladies to have fun and not have to go it alone when feeling uncomfortable. The entire crew will have your back. It's a safe place. I met two female friends here for Happy Hour this past Friday. I thought I'd arrive early to secure a table, when I did the bar was already packed and it was just 5PM. I was greeted by a male bartender, who poured a good and refreshing Tito's with Seltzer. Pricing for a call brand was cheap. Not sure if it was a HH deal or not. I'll update that on next visit. The best way to describe, Catdaddy's is that it is an upscale dive bar. Its crowd was a good mix of ages, sexes and diversity. We were still there during the bartender change and the young lady who came on duty was also, attentive and friendly. There's no full kitchen, but they do offer bar pizzas, if you need a nosh to cut the liquor. I had fun, so I know I'll be back.

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!

Cheap, good food, and great vibes!…read more My husband and I finished date night with food and drinks at Fast Eddies. This place is normally packed on the weekends especially when the weather is nice. I'm guess because it was later in the evening when we went they weren't as crowded. There's always live music playing, someone celebrating their 21st birthday and good vibes. Staff was friendly, welcoming and made sure we were doing good the entire time we were there. Ordering food is all self service at the food station. You place your order then wait for your number to be called. They sell burgers, chicken on a stick, steak on a stick, chicken sandwiches, shrimp, and fries. Your food is up pretty quick. We ordered burgers, fries, chick on a stick, big Elwood and shrimp. We also ordered two long islands and a beer. All in all we spent about $60. The food was delicious, seasoned well and plentiful. The drinks were made perfectly. No complaints from me. I'll be back!

Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I had the time of our lives at Fast Eddie's Bon Air. The food…read moreinstantly took us back to the very first time we ever came here -- that same great flavor, same fun energy, and same unforgettable vibe. Everything was fresh, hot, and exactly what we were craving. And I can't forget about the popcorn -- that's always a highlight of the trip! There's just something about grabbing a cup and enjoying the atmosphere that makes the whole experience even better. Fast Eddie's never disappoints. Great food, great memories, and always a great time. We'll definitely be back again soon!

I'm biased because we frequent often, but if you still haven't made it over, do yourself a favor…read moreand go! Hubby and I were gifted tickets to their 11 year celebration. We were greeted by the owner, Lauren. During the event, we were housed in the newly renovated event space. Perfect for intimate events. They served guests a full spread complete and drinks on the house. The food was actually very delicious. There was this sort of cheese dip that we ate - all I know is that it had corn in it and spices, but everyone went back for seconds! It was good! (Put it as a regular menu option *wink wink*). Live music, photo ops, and a tour of the brewery where all the magic happens. Lauren led the tour and when I tell you she is knowledgeable, she is very knowledgeable! To learn about their inception makes me appreciate it even more. Go check them out!

I loved this place. I don't drink, but I got to try their local sodas, which lack all the HFCS…read morestuff and has real sugar. It was called Excel Bottling Company. I was pleasantly surprised. The walk to the restaurant area is very pretty and historic as well! They had board games and it felt pretty homey! The food was good, except for my fried chicken sandwich. It seemed to be over cooked, making it hard to chew from the outside. I enjoyed everything else, though! The service was great, too!

Had the ribeye and it was good. Had a live band and it was fun and met new people. Will continue to…read morecome back.

Great little place to stop when going for a drive on 94. The inside is fun to look around and the…read morefood was really good. Grilled shrimp yummmm.

I ordered a cheeseburger and fries from the bar at Argosy Casino, and honestly, it was about as…read morebasic as it gets. The burger tasted like standard frozen fast food,no real flavor, or freshness and the fries were just cold, nothing crispy or seasoned enough to stand out. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't good either. For a casino setting, I expected at least some effort or flavor. This felt more like a quick filler meal than something worth recommending. If you're hungry and need something fast, it'll do--but don't expect anything special.

I love the atmosphere! Tons of games on the TV. People having a good time watching the games. There…read moreis a bar there to get all your drinks. The menu has appetizers and sandwiches and a few dinner plates. I was kinda shocked there was not more to choose from since this is in a casino! Some casinos have a buffet but they did not. However the bar tender was super nice. The food was great.

We decided to make a whole day in Alton and Firehouse made the list…read more If you decide to make a day in Alton, this spot should be a must visit. They have a great indoor bar area and a fantastic outdoor bar area. I hope they market the outdoor area because it's perfect for summer and fall. The staff (we had Summer as a bartender-amazing) was great! We went right before Halloween and we learned the area always puts in a great Halloween parade.

It's a true "dive bar". It's a cash only bar. It's a heavy pour bar…read more When I moved to the Riverbend area, I thought it would be fun to visit all the local "dive bars". This one is located in downtown Alton just a few doors up from one of my favorite restaurants. I was picking up some bakery items across the street and also shopped at a new boutique next to the bakery. When I finished, I thought it was time for a cocktail and checking out another dive. The bartender was friendly and heavy on his free pour of my Tito's vodka. I use to bartender, so when they free-pour I watch and can tell if they go over or short a shot. My cocktail was refreshing. While I enjoyed my cocktail, it was interesting people watching. Everyone else in the bar knew each other and were buying each other shots. It was a beautiful day and the original garage door to the old firehouse was open. The other day drinkers were going back and forth from the patio and bar area. I am glad I got to experience another dive bar in my new hometown, but I can tell you, my neck is not red enough to return to this one. I truly stood out amongst this crowd. I didn't feel uncomfortable, but I was not a match for the clientele. When: March 27, 2021 Why: Dive Bar & Day Drinking

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.

This place is all about supporting local!…read more We wanted to pop in to see the new bar/venue in the Alton area. We wanted to make a whole day of Alton and we had to try the next hot spot. The place was filled with local art and they did a great job at displaying it. They have an upstairs area that was servicing a food truck style food option to support other local businesses. I was wowed by the support for their fellow Altonians.

Incredible art, great people. Comfortable places to escape the noice and people and chill or get…read moreloud and weird, all within a pretty small club. Not an all-ages club, but hosts the top local and regional bands in a great space with very good sound techs. This place is about quality, not quantity. A little weird mixed in.

After enjoying dinner at a restaurant in downtown Alton, I wanted something else to do. So I did…read moresome Yelp, FB and Google searches and found out that Bubby & Sissy's was having their 20th Miss Bubby & Sissy's Pageant. Watching that would be something else to do and it would be totally different. The crowd for this evening show was almost as entertaining as the contestants and guest performers. It was an excellent mix of diverse individuals. There were multiple M/F couples, senior citizens, Bachelorette Party and of course many members of the LGBTQ community. I even saw my waitress from the restaurant, when she got off work. The bartenders were hustling making sure everyone had a cocktail, as they enjoyed the pageant. Two of the bartenders I knew from other establishments in the community, but they work at B&S now, because we all know gays are good tippers. Don't judge Bubby & Sissy's for being a bar supporting the LGBTQ community. Just think of it as a dive bar supporting the local community. I've seen wild deer out on their patio. So if deer feel safe at B&S, you can, too.

This is one of the last bars with acclamation of a Gay Bar. The best is that the bartendWes George,…read moreTrish, David Roni, and Bubby welcome everyone and ensure they have a great and safe experience. highly recommended, Great Female impersonators and shows on the weekends. .