Wow! Our food was superb; my breakfast croissant was made to order, as I do egg whites only! A MUST…read moretry is their cinnamon roll. It is light and the icing on top not super sweet. Allows you to enjoy the entire roll. The breakfast burrito too was very good. Service was excellent and the staff very helpful, letting us know they had a couple specials. The ambiance was nice, but again we came for the food not that. YES, we will be going back as this is a new found for us. The meal was a little pricey, but worth it !!!

I do not get to Wood River often but when I have, I have a few coffee shops I enjoy visiting…read more Today, I decided to try something different after seeing a newer shop open. Cafe LaNae apparently has been open about a year (as of this writing) so I went in because I was meeting someone for a Facebook Marketplace purchase. I didn't plan to be very long. I purchased an iced coffee for $7 plus a tip. After confirming my order twice (sugar-free mocha syrup), they brought me a sugar-free vanilla drink. Oh well, no biggie...It wasn't the best, but I'm not staying long. I have specific dietary metrics that I manage, so while waiting for the person I was looking for, I pulled out a muffin my wife got me that met those metrics. I took maybe three bites out of it while waiting. Quickly, I noticed one of the owners hovering over my table to see what I was eating, and within 30 seconds, the other owner came over and told me I'm not allowed to bring any food into the place. She tried to smile and act like it was no big deal, saying, "I'll allow it THIS time". Gee thanks! I tried to explain my situation and the fact that I had already purchased a drink and was planning to leave, and she talked over me, expressing once more not to do it again. I elected to leave after pondering her words for a few minutes. I understand the profit margins for these places are razor thin and I would not want people bringing in their own meals, but I bought a drink, tipped, and took two bites out of something that was mine that met my diet. This place is more of a brunch/lunch fast-casual Greek-style place. Nothing they had on their menu would have met my diet, at least not even for a couple of bites which I didn't think was a big deal. I won't return. Not after that experience.

Unbelievable coffee, tea, breakfast, lunch and brunch. They also serve wine and beer. Owners and…read morestaff are great and the ambience is very low key. If you haven't tried it, you should!

Stopped at Cafe Birdie this morning. First thing you order at the counter and get your silver,…read morenapkins and water yourself. When you order the pad comes up suggesting a 18, 20 or 25 percent tip and the only thing they do is carry your food to the table! Next my wife ordered French toast and I ordered biscuits & gravy. French toast was 8 dollars and the biscuit's and gravy was 13. My wife got one piece of French toast and I received 1 biscuit with gravy with a small amount of tater tots not even close to the price we paid in food! The gravy was tasty but please! This is a very limited menu, very little selection! The place was very cute inside. We will not be back!

We had such a great dinner at State Street on LaSalle! The cocktails and food were exceptional…read more Terri welcomed us with open arms and was so accommodating to me and my friends over the few nights we stayed in Elsah. She made us feel like one of the locals. Terri and her little bistro are a hidden gem in Elsah! I highly recommend a reservation so that she and her team can prep accordingly! The whole staff was attentive and so professional.

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.

Visiting Edwardsville and I wanted to support a local coffee chain for my morning brew! Goshen came…read moreup when I searched and I'm not disappointed! Delicious latte, INCREDIBLE croissant and their store & packaging are so cute! Definitely recommend if you're in the area :) #supportlocal

Best way to describe the ambiance is, sleek, modern and minimalist. It makes a very relaxing and…read morecomfortable atmosphere to enjoy your coffee and have a meaningful conversation with friends. My visit was on a Monday, so it was a great way to kickstart a new week. Once I glanced over their pastry case, I knew exactly what I wanted. I'm a fan of scones and blueberry-lemon is a favorite flavor and they just happened to have one in their case. As my caffeinated beverage, I choose a vanilla and honey latte iced. The scone was top-notch. I was impressed by the number of blueberries that filled my scone. I also enjoyed the tangy flavor the lemon gave it. Blueberry & Lemon, in my opinion is a perfect combination. The texture of the scone was right in the middle of moist and dry, which gets a two thumbs up from me. My iced latte was a great way to start my Monday and new week. The vanilla flavor with the blend of honey, went well with my scone. I enjoyed that they used whole milk in the preparation, it adds a richness to the latte. The cashier who took my order was super friendly and made giving and taking of an order a fun experience. Having been a barista, I liked the professionalism of the young lady who made mine. The tone of voice from a supervisor, is what kept them from getting 5 Stars. I'm in E-ville a lot, so I know I will be back and when I return, hopefully they'll get that 5th star.

Walked in the day they opened, not one word was spoken to us. We sat down and waited for 5…read moreminutes. We got up and walked out and still no one said a word. They broke the first rule. GREET YOUR CUSTOMERS ! Not worth rating

This is one of the most delicious places in Alton, Illinois…read more. I had the loaded fries with chicken, omg!!!!! To die for . It was a big portion and I had to take a bunch home but was not sad about leftovers for once . I have recommended this place to everyone since I've been.

Mauhaus is a relaxed place to see and interact with adoptable cats…read more Good coffee and snacks. I just met a very friendly male cat named Charlie! What a lovebug!!

Super cute place to hang. Need to pay by the time to hang with the cats…read more Service will bring the food to you once you're with the cats.

@labellevie_frenchtown…read more Grab your people and go! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaSxbqDujgx/?igsh=MXZ1d2w0eWVyYnJpeg==

What a cute gem in St. Charles! Another spot I had been wanting to visit for a while and although…read moreit was very hot this morning, we made our way! Not a lot of parking, but lots of street parking and it's in a very walkable neighborhood. This place is order first, and then find a seat! And there is plenty of seating inside and in their covered patio! They have the menus all up front for you: breakfast and lunch, kid's menu, and drink menu. We ordered: Croque Madame Crepe - standard crepe, but w all the croque Madame fixings! The ham was soo good in this The Lake Bake - poached eggs on HASH BROWNS! Great seasoning on the potatoes. Just Cheese Flatbread - my 3 year old loved it! Orange Juice Cold Brew w milk Apple Juice I loved our breakfast! It was simple and filling! The atmosphere here is so lovely so I recommend visiting. It is also huge space. The further you go in, the more seating there is and a covered patio as well! The breakfast we ordered didn't come with any sides but it was still very filling and big portions! My son loved his flatbread. The staff here was also super nice!

First visit, so extraordinary, can't wait to go back!! Beautiful coffee shop and restaurant,…read moreabsolutely spotless with quiet calming decor. Very comfortable seating. Cloth napkins, something you don't see any more and greatly appreciated. Lots of choices on the menu, settled for the standard breakfast, the burrito breakfast, the pecan Belgian waffle, with a side of bacon and eggs. Drinks were iced green tea. Service was quick, efficient and friendly. Breakfast was great! Able to get sourdough toast with the standard breakfast as we needed one gluten-free option. Burrito was tasty with a little kick of spice. Pecan waffle was fabulous, chewy and moist not dry. We were checked on numerous times during our meal, which we appreciated. This place is wonderful, in a great spot on North Main. Can't wait to return.

What a charming cafe in the middle of a charming Downtown area!…read more It was freezing the morning we went in, but I was wanting breakfast - specifically pancakes. I had this place in the bookmarks and figured now was the best time to visit. Parking can be an issues in Downtown St. Charles since it is limited to street parking or public parking a few blocks away. We found parking right in front of FPC, mainly because it was a cold, Monday morning. We were greeted immediately, and inside was much smaller than I expected. We got seated right away though, and a good chance to really review the menu. I got a house coffee (delicious), and my husband got a Purple Haze Lemonade. We ended up getting a kid's pancake with bacon and scrambled eggs, Short Rib Breakfast Stack, and a Bomb Burrito. The pancake for my 2 year old was MASSIVE so it was a good day for him lol. The short rib stack was yummy - hash browns with runny eggs and meat on top. The burrito was also pretty good. Our breakfast entrees came with a side order of potatoes and while it was good, it got saltier over time so I might not get that next time. They advertise beignets, so we might go for that next time and try out their lunch menu!

I absolutely love this new location on Ridge Street. It's so easy to buzz through the drive-thru,…read moreget a refreshing caffeine beverage before crossing the Clark Bridge. My current favorite is a seasonal offering, Cinnamon Honey Latte. If I'm stopping before noon, it's always hot and after 12 noon, it's iced. I love the blending of cinnamon & honey. It's a sweet treat, but not overly sweet. If you need something savory to eat, I am a huge fan of their, Jalapeño Sausage Biscuit. It's delicious and easy to eat while driving. If you want something sweet, you cannot go wrong with one of their scones. Again, easy to eat on the road. If your co-pilot is your four legged best friend, be sure to get them a free Pup-Cup. They'll thank-you with lots of licks.

Service was quick as we headed out of town and my son loved the ham and cheese croffle. The…read morecinnamon apple chai with almond milk was amazing! Little rooftop patio was lovely to sit on at lunch time on a pretty fall day.