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.

We were looking for a treat around Edwardsville today & Yelp "surprise me" feature selected Cafe…read moreBirdie for us - so glad it did! I had the gluten free lemon lavender donut & a vanilla latte - both were great! My husband had a scone he enjoyed & lemonade that was very freshly squeezed. Service was prompt and friendly - you order up at the counter. Lots of GF options, no upcharge for oat milk, gender neutral bathroooms, cozy seating both indoor and outdoor on the patio, self serve water station.

I live really close to Cafe Birdie and have been wanting to check it out forever, but I never…read moreseemed to be free during their open hours. Pro tip: definitely check their hours before you go--and honestly, just plan your day around it because it's that good. I was expecting your typical little coffee-and-sandwich spot, but it completely exceeded my expectations. They have a couple of parking spaces behind the building, and if those are full, there's a free lot about 500 feet down the road. It was pretty busy at lunchtime. You order at the counter, and they bring everything to your table. There's a mix of indoor and outdoor seating in various sizes, and the decor is adorable. I especially loved the maps--they make great conversation starters. I noticed several tables pointing out places they'd visited and swapping travel stories. The menu has a nice variety. I ordered the chicken salad on ciabatta with a side salad. The chicken salad had a strong dill flavor that I really enjoyed, and the ciabatta was perfectly fresh--not too tough. Next time, I'll probably pick a different side since the salad was basically just lettuce. If there was any dressing, it was super light, so I ended up adding some of the lettuce into my sandwich. The surprise standout, though, was the lavender lemonade--a total sleeper hit. It was scorching hot that day, and I wanted something refreshing, so I ordered it on a whim. Honestly, it was the best lemonade I've ever had. I don't usually find myself making a special trip to a café just for lemonade, but here I am. I'm not sure if it's seasonal, but I really hope it sticks around.

This is truly a local gem on the River Road. We were staying at Green Tree Inn (also a gem), and…read morecame here for dinner on Saturday night. Melanie took excellent care of us. My dirty Martini was outstanding. Our entrees were excellent. They were also good for dinner the next evening when we had the left overs. It was a very warm evening in Elsah and the restaurant was also a bit warm...but so totally worth it! We will be back soon!

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

Super cute and inviting coffee shop. The barista was super nice and offered up some fan favorites…read morealong with answering my questions. They have small bites along with beverages. The coffee was really good but what would keep me coming back was the service, absolutely enjoyed this entire exchange.

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!

Absolutely amazing ambiance !! Great service and the food ‍ my goodness was it delicious. From the…read moreBeignets to the chicken and waffles. The loaded potatoes was on point! Most definitely my new go brunch spot

Absolutely loved our breakfast here! My husband and I sat on the patio overlooking the river, and…read morethe view alone made it worth the visit! So peaceful, beautiful, and the perfect start to our morning! What truly made the experience exceptional was our server, Jenn. She was incredible from start to finish!! She was warm, attentive, and genuinely thoughtful. She made great recommendations, checked on us at all the right times, and went above and beyond in ways you don't see often. My husband is picky about biscuits and gravy, and Jenn kindly brought him a sample of the gravy first to make sure he'd like it...such a small gesture to some people, but truly made it special for my husband. She even sent us off with coffee to go, which we really appreciated!! The food was just as impressive. I had the traditional breakfast. Everything was cooked perfectly, the potatoes were nice and crispy, Jenn recommended the ham, which was so flavorful and perfectly charred, so good!!! My husband ended up loving his biscuits and gravy! Between the amazing service, delicious food, and relaxing riverfront setting, this was easily one of our favorite breakfast experiences. Jenn truly made it memorable, and we'll definitely be asking for her every time we come back. Can't wait to return!!

Food is no good! My son and I went in the other day and had…read morethe chicken wings we waited a long time to get them. When the wings came out to us not hot at all just warm. I bit into one and it was RAW! So was my sons! Fries was soggy and old. A lady at the other table said her husband had the same prob last time he came in. My son has been sick for a few days now. Doctor says food poisoning i try to call and tell them and they are rude and hang up on us