The Barn is my favorite go-to spot when back in the area for visits! The owner is friendly and…read morehelpful, the menus light up so you can see them in the darkest of places (great for our parents) and the selection of alcohol is extensive for southern Illinois small town bar. We love the patio, especially when there is live music! You can book events for free at The Barn- just ask!

As someone who really tries to support local businesses and share positive experiences with them, I…read moredon't find joy in posting my experience yesterday at The Barn. I am only posting this as a warning for anyone else that wants to book a party with them. I have been a supporter of The Barn since the day they opened. It was my first choice when I wanted a cocktail in town. I booked my 30th birthday party with Steve back in November. I've been chatting with him about my party every time I saw him in between that time. We messaged back and forth about the logistics and how I would get the whole upstairs room. He also didn't ask me to pay a deposit and promised that he would put me down on the calendar. Fast forward to yesterday, I went up there to start decorating at 3 pm. I started walking up the stairs and noticed that someone else's decorations were already set up for a 40th birthday party. I immediately was like, Steve that's not my party. He then says, "Oh, you're downstairs!" I immediately knew that he had no idea what was going on. I was extremely disappointed but I decided to make it work. He said he would shut the bar down at 6 for my party He helped me set up a table for our food and I told him I'd be bringing in a balloon arch with a backdrop around 6. My husband spent the whole day cooking food for our party and I spent the day making sure everything would be perfect. When we got there at 6, the whole parking lot was full. We had to park on the street and upon our arrival we saw that the entire bar downstairs was full of people and then I saw a girl wearing a sash that said "my 21st birthday." This was a completely different party from what was going on upstairs. He not only double booked us but he TRIPLE booked us. He came outside acting as if he had no idea what was going on. He said he thought this party was us. I'm like... how do you get that confused? You knew my party started at 6:30. He tried to have us move the party outside. I did not want to do that because we would have to go in and out for drinks. The woman that planned the 21st was so nice to me and even offered to combine our parties. She told me that he did the exact same thing to her, she thought she would get the upstairs as well. He also told her that she wouldn't need to pay anything at all to have her party there, but told me that I would have to pay a fee the day of. At that point, I didn't want to give them my business anymore. I was over it. Thank God we were able to move my party to Top Shooters and they were able to accommodate us. We obviously weren't able to bring any of the food that we made, but it was better than nothing. Steve at The Barn needs to hire someone else to plan parties if he is unable to plan and coordinate them himself. Unfortunately this experience was a learning lesson for me. Anytime I plan or book a party somewhere, I need to make sure there's a contract in place. I hope that everyone reads this learns from me and does not book with The Barn.

Graphite was a wonderful surprise and a standout dining experience in Columbia. I love that the…read morerestaurant's name is a nod to the building's history as a former schoolhouse, which now beautifully houses both the Principal Hotel and Graphite. Both feel like elevated, unexpected gems in a small town. I ordered the fried chicken dinner with the half chicken portion, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was juicy and flavorful with perfectly crispy, crunchy skin. The service was excellent, and our waitstaff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout the evening. The restaurant itself was clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. The restrooms were also spotless and well maintained. It is clear that a lot of care goes into every aspect of the guest experience. My only minor criticism is the size of the drink glasses. Once ice is added, there is not much room left for the actual beverage. My parents found themselves needing refills more frequently than they typically would at other restaurants. It was not a major issue, but slightly larger glasses might make things more convenient for both guests and staff. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back. Graphite is a true hidden gem that offers great food, excellent service, and a unique atmosphere.

Had another great meal here but the is time it was lunch. I opted for the salmon Sammie- a wise…read morechoice I must say! It was yummy with the aioli on a brioche bun. The salmon was again cooked to perfection. Evidently the Reuben sandwich is delicious too. They serve a side with the sandwiches. I got fruit; a good sized serving of fresh fruit. Chips are also house made if you prefer those. Our service was great. It is such a cute place- this time I sat on the bar side vs restaurant side.

This is one of our favorite venues to see our friends sing at…read more They have a plethora of drink options and bar food. I feel like they always are out of certain ingredients for particular drinks so I haven't had a chance to try a select few yet. My go to when this happens is their berry sangria. Pricing isn't bad. This place gets packed and the seating is limited. I suggest throwing chairs in your car in case. Service is iffy. Sometimes they are attentive, sometimes you're waiting forever. Best time to go is when the weather is nice out so you can catch the gorgeous sunset.

The past couple of times I have been here the service has been terrific. Plenty of people working…read moreso it is easy access one of them if needed although they check in frequently on each table. My most recent visit I enjoyed a strawberry lemon drop martini. Yum! I was able to sample a couple of their apps- chips/queso, chicken tenders etc. All were good - standard fare. They do offer flatbreads too. Although the inside is somewhat small they have lots of outdoor seating. They must do something to control for mosquitoes because we didn't get a single bite while sitting out watching sunset. Whew!

It's like drinking in a friend's basement, but drinking carefully crafted cocktails!…read more The mixologists were fun, inviting, and really made us feel at home. That coupled with the great drinks they are serving up make this such a fun place! The place is small, so be sure to make a reservation, you will be glad you did!

Great service with a lot of cool little drinks…read more The location was a cool idea to have a speak easy concept.

One of my first times stopping in at what's quickly becoming a St Louis landmark with a large…read morefollowing on Instagram. Coming to this Columbia, Illinois hot spot and enjoying the atmosphere you can see why. Be prepared to seeing it totally packed on the weekends. I wanted to see the two bartenders I personally consider the stars of the venue Abigail and Kassidy. As beautiful and talented as you obviously see they are it's their guest service and personalities win the day. Two sweeter and more genuine individuals I challenge you to find anywhere. I'm going to be 100% honest I actually do get nervous coming into see them. It's hard to imagine seeing two angels on Earth. All the girls rock and provide premier service. I lived in St Louis for 14 years and I must say this would definitely be my spot if I still lived in the area. With Abigail and Kassidy it's like coming back and seeing friends I've known. I get that impression it's their style with all guest. I travel the country and these two are my two favorites anywhere. I'd highly recommend if you're a first timer you request them. They're hard working and get their business done. And tip the well!!! They deserve it. Thank you. Michael J Beal Clearwater, Florida.

If a top notch sports bar is your jam this is the place. Golf simulators, outside volleyball,…read moredartboards, pool tables. Plus the food and drinks are tasty. Very friendly staff.

What a gem to find in a strip mall. This is cute wine bar with a rustic feel. They have indoor and…read moreoutdoor seating. The Cellar House sells wine and beer but also mixed drinks. We had the French dip which was wonderful with crispy French bread melted cheese and tender sliced beef. The dish also comes with fries. They have a great happy hour. Everyone who worked there was wonderful from the person who sat us, to the waiter and bartender. They friendly, warm and professional. This is wonderful place. I highly recommend Cellar House

This was an overall good experience. We came for a birthday dinner and drinks during the holiday…read morepop-up. While it was festive, the Christmas décor wasn't as extensive as I expected for a pop-up, and the drink menu didn't feel much different from their regular offerings. The food was decent. The Brussels sprouts were a standout, along with the garlic aioli fries. The French dip, however, was disappointing and lacked flavor. Service was excellent, and the bartenders were both friendly and attentive. Drinks and food were quite expensive, but we appreciated receiving a complimentary dessert for the birthday. Overall, it was a nice experience with some highlights, though not something I'd go out of my way for.

I love looking for a new (to me) speakeasy to visit. This one popped up during my search for…read moresomething to do neaby... sooo, why not?!? The dimply lit space was open, with plenty of intimate/cozy seating areas. Service was great & we enjoyed the cocktail options & appreciated the use of fresh herbs. I'd like to stop back when we have more time vs a quick stop-in... soon, soon

Such a cool place! The staff were great. The atmosphere was really neat and intimate. The drinks…read morewere great. Highly recommend it. Be sure to check their instagram for the daily password.

We were looking for a lunch bite to eat for a hungry carnivore adult, a gluten intolerant adult and…read morea vegetarian adult. After looking at a handful of menus on the street, we de died on Good Company. Service was great. Very attentive. They immediately asked if we had any dietary issues and then promptly after hearing out needs, made a handful of recommendations. We started with the cauliflower. It was excellent the light sauce and pine nuts really made this dish top notch. The vegetarian and GF adults then split the Caesar salad and the squash seasonal salad. Both were so flavorful, filling and entirely unique. If you're a salad eater, I'd highly recommend either one of these. The carnivore in our group ordered the Italian beef with French fries. Unfortunately they were out of the Italian beef so he had to settle on the wings. The wings were a solid lunch after an appetizer, but the sauce was not what was expected. Overall, the menu is simple, maybe 15 items in total and they probably need to have more for carnivores who are looking for something other than a hamburger and not too heavy for lunch. But for the other 2 in our group, we walked out super satisfied.

First time in and I was underwhelmed by the service but the food was good and at the end we got a…read moreglimpse of what service could be. We arrived for a late lunch around 3:15ish. There were a few people in the dining area and a person at the bar. Our host welcomed us and asked if we had a reservation, we did not. He led us to a table and indicated our server would be with us shortly. We reviewed the menu and reading about them and their philosophy, the menu, the drink options and so forth. One of the staff behind the bar came and took our order. I stuck with water and we ordered chicken wings to share, I also got the Cucumber Tomato Salad for my meal, it sounded so fresh! Chicken wings came out fairly quick; delivered by the host who seated us. They were really good. The skin was crisp and the buffalo sauce a good flavor. We both enjoyed them. They came with a Green Goddess dressing, I am not a fan of that dressing, but the wings were good on their own. My salad came out and it was as refreshing as it sounded! It was the half salad, and it was a generous portion. Cornichon, Oven-Roasted Tomato, Crispy Shallot, Chopped Egg, and Dill Buttermilk dressing. It was perfectly dressed, and great proportions on the ingredients. My daughter ordered the Patty Melt advertised on Union Loafers bread and that clinched it for her. She indicated it was very good. The food was delivered by someone other than our server. After our food was delivered no one came back to check on us and we waited quite a while before we could get someone's attention to bring boxes and our check. While we were waiting the employees were setting up for dinner service, adding mini aperitif style glasses and then a couple came in for an early dinner and their server was so awesome, he came over and chatted with them offering samples of some kind of alcohol, he was so friendly! If we had been a little later and had him for a server, it would have changed our whole experience! We both commented that on our way out after we had eventually got settled up

Cute little spot. Off elm near 44. We came without…read morereservations but were able to grab the bar by the window. Have an extensive cocktail menu. Ordered a couple drinks. Server checked on us & made recommendations on drinks when asked. They have some unique cocktails which was nice for a change from the standard cocktail. They had fun ice cubes with the name etched in them.

Off Elm? Yep, it's just two doors down on Big Bend and they're laughing and having a party…read more The staff of bartenders are from STL Barkeep, so you instantly know the cocktails are masterfully made. I came for a HH and enjoyed three different cocktails. My first was a Gold Rush. It's basically a Bees Knees with Vodka instead of Gin. It was light and refreshing, making it a great start. The second cocktail was one of my all-time favorites, a Old Fashioned. I can honestly say, it was one of the best, if not the absolute best one I have ever had. I finished the HH with a Espresso Martini. It was a good ending to my HH. They use a Cold Brew instead of true espresso, so it had a milder coffee taste. My nosh while drinking was a, Jalapeño Popper Dip. It was okay, in my opinion, it did not fit the description on the menu. Especially, the type of chips described. My friend ordered, The Small Board and it was fantastic and a good value. Our bartenders were friendly and as I stated earlier, they are masters of their skill. What stopped them from getting a 5 Star review, is simple. They do not offer a Martini on their Happy Hour Menu. I'm a Martini Man and that disappointed me, but it wont keep me away, it just keeps them short of 5 Stars.

An intimate, low-key, and aesthetic spot to enjoy a nice meal and a good drink. My friend and I…read morecame here one evening for dinner and drinks. Clayton was busy, so street parking was hard to find. Once seated, we were greeted with friendly service and were brought water. I ordered a ginger beer with cranberry juice added to it for a refreshing mocktail. We ordered the Squeaky Cheese to start, the golden-brown cheese curds were gooey and had the perfect crunch. They were served with marinara and a serrano dill aioli. The aioli had just the right amount of spice, complementing the dill flavor. The marinara was saucy and also good. I ordered the Bacon Jam Burger with fries. The burger was juicy, sweet, and had a nice crunch. The bacon jam was subtle, but it enhanced the overall flavor. My only complaint was that the bottom bun came out a bit soggy causing the burger to lose structure as I ate it. The fries were thin and crunchy! I had a lovely experience and would like to come back to try a cocktail!

Great ambiance at Bemiston Cocktail and Speakeasy last night! Look for the red light outside the…read moredoor just to the left of Louie's Wine Dive on North Bemiston Avenue. We came with friends to wait out the rain after dinner at a cafe Manhattan. Everyone had a cocktail: Aviator, classic Cosmopolitan, specialty gin mixed drink with cherry syrup and Crown Royale with Coke. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the specialty drink menu too. There is a delicious looking dinner menu and we all agreed we will come back for dinner soon!