I am so proud of myself. Today, I went to The Pump House and I did not order chicken wings. It was…read morea struggle, but I forced myself to order something else off the menu and I am glad that I did. Instead of my typical order of wings and fries, I got the Pump Jack Burger. It's made with Angus beef topped with Pepper Jack cheese, Grilled Balsamic Onions, Mild Banana Pepper Rings with a Sweet and Spicy Sauce, all served on a Onion Roll. It was served with a side of Fries. I was impressed by the size of the burger and that it was hand pressed. A hand pressed burger always tastes better to me. I requested that it be prepared medium rare and it was done perfectly. The fries were soft, I'd prefer mine a little crispier, but they were seasoned well. I got a giggle from their ketchup bottle, it said it was "Fancy". They have an impressive variety of beers. They offer draft, bottle and canned. I personally always go with one of the many craft beers they have on the menu. When dining alone, I always sit at the bar. The bartenders are typically female and are friendly. I am fan of hooks under a bar and Pump House takes it even a step further. They also offer, outlets. If your phone needs a charge and you've got a cord, you are set to go. Offering outlets under a bar, is top notch customer service. Now that I know they have great burgers as well as their wings, I'll have to rotate between the two when coming to dine.

Update Haven't been back here too much but called in for an…read moreorder to go tonight. Pump House! You need new cooks! The ones you have don't know how to cook basic food. Like I said in my first review you need to learn low and slow for a pork steak. Oh we don't have that anymore. Thank goodness. Your pork steak was chewy and not done appropriately. Horrible to try and eat. Tonight one of us got the chipotle chicken sandwich. The chicken was cooked to death. Ugh. Came out like chicken powder, you know the kind they put in your dog's food? Way too dry. Hard to eat. All the menus online are out of date so just about everything we chose we were told oh we don't have that anymore. Not good business practice. Put out a new menu and delete the old ones!! You fit right in with the rest of the crap food we are served in this area. Not a bit better. We won't try again.

Love this place, the burgers are amazing! I also recommend the fried pickles, and I love they give…read moreyou a fortune cookie!

I finally tried a Hot Dog at Burger Bar and it was as delicious as their burgers. It was National…read moreHog Dog Day and I thought it was the perfect time to give one a try. Their dogs are 12" and All Angus Beef. It was served in a 12" bun that was lightly toasted. They have a variety of Specialty Dogs to choose from, but I went with a plain dog with onion & relish. Once the dog arrived at my table, I added, mustard and ketchup. Yes, I like ketchup on my hot dogs. The dog came with a side of crispy fries and the portion was just the right size of a serving. My server was the same one I have had numerous times for burgers. He has always been friendly and attentive. Being a single diner, he gave me the same attention that he was giving to his tables of 2 and 4. If you're a game of chance person, they've got several video gaming machines for you to play. The ambiance is plain and simple, nothing fancy. You're here for burgers and dogs and that is what you'll enjoy.

Fried or Grilled? I use to be a big fan of their Famous Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, until I…read moretried it Grilled. A while back when I went in for my regular fix of a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, the waitress asked me if I ever tried the grilled. When I said, no, she told me I had to give it a try. So, I did and now it is my way of ordering a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich. The piece of grilled meat is as big as the fried. It hangs off the bun. All you need to add is some white onion, pickles and lettuce. Some add a tomato, but that's not my thing. Also, just like when I enjoy a fried Pork Tenderloin, I upgrade to fries. Chips just don't do it for me. The service is always top notch. The ladies working are always so friendly. They make everyone feel comfortable while dining. Jimmy taught his staff well. I miss him always being there, but the ladies are making sure his legacy lives on. Another big plus when you come to, Johnsons Corner is the other patrons.It truly is a neighborhood bar. I was dining alone at a hightop and I ended up having a conversation with someone sitting at the bar and another hightop. We shared some good laughs. That's a small-town dive bar at its best.

So saddens me to write this…read more.. Very disappointed in Johnson's Special Salad. Have had this numerous times over the years - admittedly not too recently until tonight. Awful. Sorry but I have to say it. I'd read a similar review before I ordered but I knew JCorners and I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. Nope. $17 after tax and tip - for just a salad and it has NO meat. ONE anchovy slice. Literally ONE black olive ... a sprinkling of cheese. And a whole lot of [admittedly fresh] lettuce and croutons. Was so looking forward to this salad. Very sad & disappointed in an Alton staple business. The other reviewer had pretty much the exact same experience with the exact same order and said her waitress (mine was a to-go order) blamed it on a new chef. But the chef can't be "new" for long. And making a salad is pretty darn basic cooking-101. Doubt I'll be back. Jimmy would be so disappointed. May he rest in peace

Although we have eaten there before, it's been a few years and this review focuses on the takeout…read morequality and experience. I like this place enough that we get it 2-3 times a year even though we live about an hour away (driving 2 hours out of your way with no other errands or stops along the route is a lot for pizza). It's clean, just off the highway, and attached to a hotel. Every time we go I think of all of the restaurants attached to hotels that I have had when traveling for work and how few of them were even in the same approximate quality realm as this place. The wait staff have always been pleasant and competent with a couple of stand out great experiences. But the food - the bone in wings are good. They are normal sized, not steroid franken-chicken. There are several sauce options, but we like the traditional buffalo. Salad is good. Like the wings, it is solid. The pizza is why we go. We get the Chicago style although the thin crust is decent, too. The sausage and pepperoni are balanced, the vegetables delicious, the crust and tomatoes very nice, and best of all the cheese is mozzarella and old school. Nothing tastes plasticky and frankenfood. It reminds me of restaurants 25 years ago. Highly recommend, even if it's a long drive.

Service was great and food came out quick. A great casual feel no fuss, has a great bar area. The…read morefood was delicious - surprisingly enjoyed the salad too!