Cafe LaNae is a fantastic addition to Wood River and the entire Riverbend area. In my opinion, you…read morecan never have too many bakeries and cafes in your neighborhood. My first visit I kinda went hog wild and stuffed myself. Being a farm boy, I always have to try Biscuits and Gravy. I did a half order, which was a single biscuit. I had mine to go, so it was packaged in a Eco-Friendly To-Go Vessel. The biscuit was wrapped in foil and the milk gravy was in a separate container. Once I assembled it, it was a winner. The biscuit was fluffy and the milk gravy had a fair amount of sausage crumbles and was seasoned perfectly. It made this old farm boy happy. My other treat was a, Bacon Egg Boursin Croissant. It was a true meal in itself. There was plenty of bacon, the eggs were done perfectly and the Boursin made the breakfast sandwich sing. Seriously, I would have never thought to add Boursin to a breakfast croissant and I have it in my icebox all the time. After sampling a savory treats, I had to have something sweet. My sweet treat was their Cinnamon Roll. OMG! I am thankful I do not live closer, because if I did, I'd be having one of these delights daily. I love the open concept of seeing the kitchen. It's always fun to watch you food being prepared. The staff is friendly and makes everyone feel welcomed. With all the experience and connections that LaNae and A.J. have with other businesses; Duke's, Tony's Ranch House, Gentelin's and all the way back to Wimpy's, you know the food is going to be good. I wish them success and recommend you go give them a try.

Grub lunch in a cute restaurant. Food was fast and food. They handled the influx of customers well…read more We will be back!

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.

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.

This is my first time here since they moved to Elsah, and it's as delicious and wonderful as ever…read more The service is so personal, the kind you only get in a small town. The new dining area is beautifully decorated and cozy. And of course the food is delicious. Just look at their panini options and you'll know what I mean. This time I had the potato soup and the roasted turkey panini, and it was absolutely delicious. I only wish I had gotten a full sandwich! I had a dilemma ordering because there were too many incredible options. Thankfully I was able to see a few other dishes that my friends ordered, so I know how yummy they look! I can't wait to return and try more.

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.

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.

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.

Tab's Place... Reminds you of home. But do yourself a favor…read morethe Philly is a must!!!! My son loved the nuggets and fries. Next time I'm getting the Buffalo Philly!!!

I took my husband here as a surprise for his birthday and he did not figure it out until we parked…read moreright across the street. He was so excited and loved it! For years I had heard nothing but good things about this place and so we were eventually going to go and what a great day it was for it. It started off cloudy but the sun came out and all of them were sunbathing and napping. It was such a great experience to be around so many cat lovers of all ages and witnessing everyone's interactions where they would play, run around, or snuggle with others. We ordered some teas and they came out piping hot! We will definitely come back. My only qualm was while registering or purchasing a reservation was it populated an option to send tickets to my Apple wallet but then it went away and there was no email sent that had the same link to send to my wallet. I only received a receipt and the waiver email. I was a little bit worried that we wouldn't get in if I didn't have tickets to scan. I sent an email and message through contact us but never heard back. Luckily it went fine though the day of but would've liked a little more seamless experience on the UX side.

Absolutely love this place! All of the workers are very friendly and inviting. The atmosphere is…read morereally laid back and the lounge is very comfy to hang out and just enjoy petting/playing with all the cats. I love that they are giving all these cats a home & they are all available for adoption! They also serve the best chocolate chip cookies that I've ever had in my life!!! I need more of these cookies! You can make a reservation in advance or just walk in for availability.

I was a little surprised by how this experience stacked up against the 4.6 rating…read more I ordered the turkey and brie sandwich, and it didn't really land. The bread was more like a basic sub roll than something you'd expect from a café like this, and the balance was off. It was very heavy on the turkey and pretty light on the brie, which kind of defeats the point of ordering that combo in the first place. That said, service was solid and the space itself is a nice, quiet spot if you're looking to get some work done over lunch. Overall, not terrible, but not something I'd go out of my way to come back for.

After standing in the large queue the woman working the cash register was rude when asked…read morequestions. We were sat outside during a windy day directly in front of a backdrop that kept blowing into our party. I ordered bacon requesting it was crispy and the bacon was undercooked mostly. The "crispy" sections were just burnt. It was also $4 for 3 pieces. It was particularly busy (brunch time) and on the weekend so that's something to keep in mind.

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!!

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.

First time visiting the new location. Wow it looks amazing and I'm so glad they have a drive…read morethrough now to speed things up. I got a maple cortado which was a seasonal menu item. I love germanias drinks and it's always fun to try something new. The drive through made my experience quick. I liked my drink but I don't think I'd order it again cause it was a bit too sweet for me. I do think they have the best cold brew I've ever had.