The scones are the clear star: perfectly balanced between tender and crumbly, with just enough…read moresweetness to feel indulgent without being overwhelming. Each flavor tastes intentional, not like an afterthought. The atmosphere adds to the experience. It's warm and inviting--somewhere you can sit and catch up with a friend or just enjoy a quiet moment with a scone and good cup of coffee. Service is friendly and genuine, which makes a difference. You don't feel rushed, and you can sense how much they care about what they're serving.

Four scones and thirty years ago…read more.. This place is hopping! Maria and I made plans to get some coffee and I suggested Four30 scones since it's been on my radar for a few years now. We dropped in around 10:30am and almost all the indoor and outdoor seating was full with a line from the register to the door near the registers once we got in line. Maria was getting a bit flustered at how busy it was but I could tell the staff was doing their best and going as fast as they could since they also had a long drive-thru line to contend with. I grabbed my usual americano and since I was hungry, I got a cheddar bacon sausage biscuit to give my coffee something to wash down. Despite how busy it was, both the drink and the sandwich came out fairy quick. The americano was a bit inoffensive, which is a bit of a letdown since I love a good strong punch of bitter with them. It was still good, flavor-wise, just a bit of a miss on the bitter. The cheddar bacon biscuit sandwich was good but as I reflect back on it, I think it was about $6 for a small sandwich and it seemed like one they had pre-made and just heated up. Again, good but not much bang for my buck but that might just be the world we live in these days. Once the crowd finally died down, Maria and I headed outside and chatted until the afternoon sun started to bake us alive. Getting baked by the sun at a bakery. Haaaa! With how busy it was, the interior of the place is pretty small, so if you are going to try and settle in to do some homework or work meetings, this might just not be the place for you. Quick little hangouts or grab and go is the best option for this place. Overall, I think Four30 Scones was pretty good and I would go back if I was in the area. Parking can get pretty tight if they are busy and the drive-thru seemed to be non-stop hopping so that's a good indicator that this place is going to become a Morton staple if it hasn't done so already. On a side note, there is a big glass window that lets you see into their bakery operations if you are inclined to watch them make the scones. I didn't get to snap a photo since the seats in front of the it were occupied.

Trefzger's is one of those places where you bite into one of their creations and you immediately…read morethink "Ahhh I understand why they've been around since 1861". The thumbprint cookies are pure flames. I can't think of a single item that doesn't have the sweetness precisely dialed in. My only real nitpick I can think of is with the bread used for the pastries (danishes, cinnamon rolls). It's slightly too... Dry? Gluten-y? But it's not an overarching issue so it's pretty insignificant.

Beautiful, large, independent bakery with incredible sweets. Everything is amazing about this…read moreplace except for the unfriendly staff.

I ordered a small iced matcha latte with almond milk, sugar free, and light on the matcha. It was…read moreperfectly balanced and refreshing. I also had a small hot Pumpkin Miel with oat milk that was cozy, smooth, and full of flavor. Both drinks were a great size and tasted wonderful. I really like that they seem open to custom orders, and you might even be able to create something off menu with the syrups displayed near the register. There is also a small table with straws and other extras, including boba straws. The pastry selection is impressive, and I even saw a chocolate vegan pastry. The shop has a calm and inviting atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating. This town is known as the pumpkin capital of the world, so of course I had to try a pumpkin latte. It did not disappoint.

What a cute little coffee house. On a chilly (and snowy) fall day, I stopped by and got one of…read moretheir specialty Iced lattes. It was good, not the best I've ever had, but i definitely liked it. I liked how they had some fun seasonal drinks. For example, my boyfriend got the campfire cold brew, which he enjoyed. Service was quick and friendly.

This is THE BEST bakery in the Peoria area noone talks about! If you are wanting gourmet…read morebrownies/cupcakes/cookies stop here! Prices are decent and portions generous! My go to spot for cocktail sauce, random seafood deli dishes and basket fillers like local honey/jam/crackers. Fantastic seafood spread and coffee also!

Purchased seafood platter for holidays , amazing! Everything so fresh , difference over grocery…read morestores! Purchasing again for New Years .

We stopped in to grab a dark rye sea salt chocolate cookie! They are always so good! The pastries,…read morebreads, and cookies are all delicious here!

Got the hot honey chicken sandwich for lunch and it was amazing! If you're going for a light lunch…read moreorder something else because this thing was huge.

Due to poor planning on my part, I needed to pick up food for an event I was a part of and nothing…read morewas really open at 5 am so I drove to Pekin for doughnut. Awesome experience. The woman behind the counter was really helpful. Everything was incredible and everyone loved them. Some of these were so massive that I genuinely over ordered, but we started handing them out at the end of the day. Would go back if I lived in the area.

The prices are way too high. $3.25 for a cinnamon roll? Almost $2 for a plain glazed doughnut? This…read moreplace has really strayed from what made them great. Save your money you'll be better in the long run for it

Review Visit: September 20th, 2019…read more Leaves 'n Beans, round three! At long last, I have finally visited the third and final Leaves 'n Beans. Does it contain the same feel as the Peoria Heights location? How about the same menu and good tasting coffee? Yes and no. (Should you be interested in the 3rd and closed location, you can read about it here.) Upon arriving, I noticed the feel and look of the place was of one that wasn't like the Peoria Heights location. This had more of a restaurant/basic feeling to it. There were some sparse autumn decorations on the tables and furniture. My friend sat on a couch and I sunk deep in to this cozy red chair. The area where they had products for sale had a nice look to it and everything looked well organized. I was looking at a coffee cup with their logo on it and was surprised at the price tag. $7.99 for a local coffeehouse cup is really cheap compared to other places I've been. With it nearing fall, I decided to look over their seasonal menu. Being a sucker for lattes, I decided to get the Maple Vanilla one. I took a seat in the aforementioned red chair and instantly felt relaxed. Before I could settle in too deep, the barista was setting my drink down in front of me. As my friend and I conversed, I took small sips to savor the latte as I knew we would be there for awhile. The blend of vanilla and maple was decent, if a bit lacking on the maple side until the very end, when it was all maple. I am not sure what my friend ordered as she was already there and had her drink by the time I walked in the door... plus I forgot to ask. During the 2 hours we were there, the barista/cashier never once stopped to ask if we needed anything. I thought that was a bit odd, as almost every other coffeehouse (and most places that serve food/drinks) will check in and make sure you are doing okay or if you need anything. Luckily, we didn't need anything but it still struck me as odd. Should you need to grab a coffee while on the go, they have a convenient drive thru. We witnessed quite a few people utilize that service. If you decide to go in, there is a public parking lot to the right of the building. If I had to recommend which of the two remaining places to visit, I would highly suggest the one in Peoria Heights. It just has this unique feel and atmosphere that this location is lacking, but you have to remember that one is in a house and this one is in a business location. If you don't need or care about any of that, you can't go wrong with either place for that burst of caffeine. Some day, I will try the food and update the blogs accordingly. Stay caffeinated!

Great coffee and simple food items. Locally owned with great service. On a lovely street filled…read morewith small shoppes

Love the service! Love the baked goods! The muffins are so good! Love this location! Highly…read morerecommend the cinnamon swirl muffin!

Review Visit: May 2nd, 2016…read more Great Harvest has Great food and Good coffee. Great Harvest in my opinion is one full of delicious coffee and fulfilling food that is delicious and satisfying. Luckily you can get both of these at Great Harvest Bread Company in Morton, IL. On an unusually cold and rainy day, my friend and I had hunger pains and the desire for caffeine. I mentioned to her that there is a place in Morton that sounds like a perfect place to go on such a dreary day. After arriving and being warmed up by the friendly staff and room temperature, we looked over the menus and took a few minutes to decide. I settled on the Turkey Bacon Swiss sandwich that came with a pickle. I don't remember what my friend ordered but we decided to split a delicious-looking cinnamon scone/muffin. I ordered just a plain black coffee to go with everything. I do remember being slightly confused by the ordering process. Unfortunately, I don't have any interior photos to help jog my memory on why it was different. But after some friendly help by the staff, we were able to place our orders and took a seat. I can't remember if we had to get up and get the food when it was ready or if they brought it out to you. Either way, the wait time wasn't long at all. Finally, it was time to dig in to the food, coffee and dessert. While the presentation of the food was a bit lacking (as seen in the photos below), the food and quality were anything but. Each bite was like unlocking flavors made up of premium ingredients and expert chef hands. This was one of the best Club-type sandwiches I had in a long time. My friend was equally happy with her food as well. It came time to split the cinnamon baked good and that was also delicious. While it didn't quite hit the same high notes as our main course, it was still delicious after our main meal. As for the coffee, what is there to say about plain black coffee. It was warm, delicious and did it's job. Nothing fancy nor exotic. Just some plain ol black coffee. Granted, it wasn't your bottom-shelf variety but it wasn't anything to write home about. After we sat there with full bellies and spiked blood sugar levels, we lamented the fact that is was so warm and cozy in Great Harvest but miserable and dreary outside. We finally mustered up the courage to leave... despite our full bellies protesting.

I ordered from them for the first time and was a little nervous, but wow--they exceeded all…read moreexpectations! I ordered a Tres Leches cake for a gender reveal party, and oh my God, it was absolutely AMAZING. Everyone kept asking me where I got the cake from. It tasted incredible and looked stunning as well. Hands down, totally worth trying--I'll definitely be ordering again! Also, when I went to pick up the cake, I noticed they have a super cute café next to the bakery. The place had such a great vibe--everyone seemed to be enjoying their coffee and fresh salads, and it just felt like a really warm, welcoming space.

Disappointing experience at the bakery. First time there. The girl behind the counter didn't seem…read moreexcited at all, she seemed bothered and impatient to even serve customers, it really left a bad taste in my mouth, I should've not spent a penny there and walked out. I never understand how service companies never trained their employees to be friendly and just human decency. Went to the coffee shop. They don't even have half-and-half. They've got carnation little creamers that's not half-and-half. Also, as somebody else has mentioned, the setup is very confusing. You have two different rooms that are connected to each other, but you have to pay for the baked goods on one side of the coffee on the other side, those supposedly they're the same company, very disjointed. As you can tell, I won't be returning. I'm a small business owner and I wish them all the best but they've got to fix their service. There are 101 coffee shops in Central Illinois.

Review Visit: May 2nd, 2015…read more Not just a bakery but a tourist stop. If you mention getting donuts (or doughnuts) in East Peoria, everyone will talk about how good Carl's Bakery is. They produce a lot of doughnuts (or donuts) that are beloved by the residents of East Peoria. Having lived in the general area and having drove by the place a million times, I thought it was time to check it out. If you are familiar with Carl's Bakery, you are familiar with the giant rooster that is outside the building. If you aren't familiar, then there is a giant rooster outside the building. One that is prime for taking a fun photo with. My dad and I did just that after trying out their food. Carl's Bakery is one of those places that seems to be open from before the sun rises to around noon-ish. So, if you are interested in going, you better head there when the roosters crow or else they will be closing up shop. When you go, you have to compete for a parking spot on the side of the building. While Carl's has an indoor eating area, I took the limited parking as a sign that they cater to the 'pick up my donuts (or doughnuts) and go' crowd. Nonetheless, my dad and I found a spot to park and headed in. Once we were inside, we had to squeeze a large throng of people to get to the counter. We told the cashier we wanted to eat in. She guided us to a table and we took a seat. While looking over the menu, I had hopes of getting some breakfast as that is what I assumed they specialized in. Maybe we missed a cutoff point or something else happened but we ended up ordering some lunch instead. My dad got a tenderloin and I got... I honestly don't remember. Maybe a burger that came with a ton of fries. Oh, and we both got coffee. Let us start with the coffee. It was... not good. I've had cheap coffee and this stuff takes the cake. I used more half-n-half and sugar than I normally do. While I am no snob and I put down a few cups, it wasn't worth it in the end to taste some water masquerading as coffee. But no worries. It's just coffee. We were there for the food. How was that?/ A notch above the coffee. I fully admit that I don't remember what sandwich I got but I do remember not being a fan of it. My dad said the same thing about his tenderloin. Both just lacking in everything. How does that happen? Can a chef or someone with cooking knowledge explain that to me? The french fries were salvageable at least. In fact, they were the only things that tasted good. Hype. It has it's place in the world but more often than not, I find that hype ruins a lot of things for me. Movies, video games, restaurants, and various other things. It's nice to get excited about something but when it doesn't live up to that level, I believe it is more disappointing than if it weren't hyped at all. But we aren't here for a hype discussion. My dad and I got to hang out and try something new. Was it the best place ever? No. Do I cherish the memory of this outing? Heck yes. While I may have had a lack luster time here, don't let the opposite of hype dissuade you from checking it out if you are a doughnut (or donut) person. Or you want to stop and take a photo with the giant rooster outside and then find yourself magically teleported inside, trying out their coffee and menu offerings.

This is an older family business that has become curbside only, check FB for menu or call ahead to…read moreplace an order. Do not let this stop you from heading over ! Open Thursday to Saturday (always check) . Can only speak for donuts & pastries but I can't imagine that they'd fail at dinner ! The service was very personal and polite. The donuts are Old School ! Fresh Home Made, hot if you're early! Big variety , fair prices , honestly good ingredients that you can taste . I was in town for a dog show, picking up 2 dozen to have out for people and this place was a fan favorite for many . You want commercial, cookie cutter , uninspired donuts you can find that anywhere. If you want to impress or treat yourself, friends and family give this place a try !