A must try. Perfectly assorted boards, lots of variety. Mood lighting, decor, and service.read more

So wonderful French Pig Flatbread and the Pull Cabernet! Hubs also ordered the Italian Stallion…read moresandwich which was also delicious. We had a delightful time and a super attentive and helpful server today! Thank you! Great atmosphere! We will be back!

This has become my new favorite wine bar. The location is a beautiful house turned wine bar on Main…read moreStreet Belleville. It's truly beautiful inside, which adds a lot to the overall feel of the bar. They have an extensive cocktail and martini menu, as well as an extensive wine menu. The food options were great, with many appetizer and main dish options. For drinks I had the Sarti spritz and the Italian Cream martini, which were amazing. For appetizer, we had the Grüv Bruschetta, which was spectacular. Both pizzas were delicious. Very fluffy yet crispy crust. Service was very good an attentive. We were lucky enough to go when they had live music, making it a wonderful date night. I highly recommend visiting if you're ever in or around Belleville.

Stopped in here after no spots available at another restaurant. Who knew it was prom night on our…read moretrip over from St. Louis to attend Laughs at the Lincoln at the Lincoln Theater? Gruv Bistro was our next stop, and they got us in on the back patio and the hostess and waitress so good knowing we had a time limit. The space is small with little off shoot rooms and really cute. Everyone we spoke with was very nice! My cocktail of choice, Smoke de Agave, a tequila drink of course. I really liked it. I had the prime rib sandwich with a side of brussels sprouts. Both were very good! Loved the ciabatta bread and the prime rib, arugula is always good! The Brussels were good, too. Would very much come back next time we make a visit!

First... the patio was amazing once the bartender/waitress shut the music off. Despite the patio…read morebeing in the shadow of the Pontoon Rd overpass, it was comfortable and allowed for a nice evening outside. Not easy to find in a public setting in GC. Bring your smokes, all appeared welcome. The food... I'm certain would have been delicious after 10-15 beers. The Special Turkey Melt was not so special. Turkey was dry, old, and tasted like a dirty grill, the bacon was under cooked and full of chewy fat, and the cheese was generic food product previously wrapped in cellophane. Those combinations with the overpowering rye bread left the sandwich 1/4 eaten on the plate. The crinkle cut fries were overcooked to perfection with the cheapest catsup money can buy. The Bacon Cheeseburger bun was stale. (Hint: Grilling a bun can bring it back to life) The bacon was cooked perfectly and ruined by the generic cheese food product. The burger patty was an a typical frozen Sysco burger cooked on a dirty grill. Nothing to destroy their 5 star rating over, but nothing to make us want to eat there ever again. If I return it will be for the patio to smoke cigars and drink whiskey with GC locals.

We had dinner here for the first time & it was very good & reasonably priced…read more We had the fried tacos, fried chicken & chicken stir fried. It was all great!

We decided to make a whole day in Alton and Firehouse made the list…read more If you decide to make a day in Alton, this spot should be a must visit. They have a great indoor bar area and a fantastic outdoor bar area. I hope they market the outdoor area because it's perfect for summer and fall. The staff (we had Summer as a bartender-amazing) was great! We went right before Halloween and we learned the area always puts in a great Halloween parade.

It's a true "dive bar". It's a cash only bar. It's a heavy pour bar…read more When I moved to the Riverbend area, I thought it would be fun to visit all the local "dive bars". This one is located in downtown Alton just a few doors up from one of my favorite restaurants. I was picking up some bakery items across the street and also shopped at a new boutique next to the bakery. When I finished, I thought it was time for a cocktail and checking out another dive. The bartender was friendly and heavy on his free pour of my Tito's vodka. I use to bartender, so when they free-pour I watch and can tell if they go over or short a shot. My cocktail was refreshing. While I enjoyed my cocktail, it was interesting people watching. Everyone else in the bar knew each other and were buying each other shots. It was a beautiful day and the original garage door to the old firehouse was open. The other day drinkers were going back and forth from the patio and bar area. I am glad I got to experience another dive bar in my new hometown, but I can tell you, my neck is not red enough to return to this one. I truly stood out amongst this crowd. I didn't feel uncomfortable, but I was not a match for the clientele. When: March 27, 2021 Why: Dive Bar & Day Drinking

Husband, myself, and one of the kids joined me for dinner here. I was excited to try this place out…read moresince it reopened. ( I never had the chance to try when it was originally open) They were busy! Which I did expect as downtown belleville had a few things going on. They were so busy that sadly they were out of meatloaf and limited on some hoagie type Sandwich. I ordered the pub burger with the garlic mashed potatoes. The burger itself wasn't bad a little too salty than I'm use to. I swore I asked the waitress for the garnishes to be put on the side but they had it all on the burger. ( no big deal) the garlic mashed potatoes was a staple according to a guest that was talking to us as they left. They were good. Mine came out a little on the almost past the Luke warm stage ( I was a little bummed on that). Our oldest ordered the bone in wings buffalo flavor as a meal ( it's an appetizer) she said those were good. We also shared their French onion dip with chips. Husband had the same pub burger but he got his with steak fries. He wast thrilled that he couldn't order the burger in rare form. He too thought the burger itself was a little on the saltier aside. The prices seemed a little steep on some of the menu. ( expected on steaks and fish) I had to give them a bit of grace with all the chaos going on. Our server was kind and attentive. They didn't have much options for the festive drinks. I ordered their thin mint martini. I'd love to give them another shot in the future when it's less chaotic and they have food we want available. I will say th bar itself is cute. Reminds me of cheers. They had their front area setup with fire pits/heat lamps and tables to enjoy some hot chocolate that was only $3 for reg but if you wanted to "boozie" it up it would depend on the alcohol. They had cookies out from The cookie stroll that they offered for free. Then had a nice set up for those interested in making s'mores! Charlie's is located within historic downtown Belleville on the corner of Abend. There is only street side parking available. Keep in mind they do have breakfast or brunch too on weekends.

First time to Charlie's the other week... Wow what a wonderful bar serving insanely delicious…read more(elevated) bar food! The chicken sandwich was large enough to share and the perfect balance of savory and spicy. I think their tomato soup might actually be one of the best I've ever had. Beer was served in a frosty ice cold mug and onion rings were fried to perfection. 10/10... we will be back!

Excellent quaint little bar in Belleville, IL Best chocolate…read moremartinis in Illinois! Fun atmosphere and staff!

Although the only food they serve is pizza, don't let that discourage you. There's plenty around…read morethere to eat. The drinks make up for it. Specialty cocktails are their signature norm. The service is quick, wonderfully presented and delicious. The 'Speakeasy' vibe is fun to get into. They have lounge furniture and gaming machines, if that's your thing. Karaoke is always fun. A great addition to the west end of Belleville

Another fun party at Small Change!…read more Happy Tiki Birthday to Jamie and Bill! I love the cocktail creations that include the Big O Liquor, this year I enjoyed the Back Breaker and the Big O-Spresso Martini. The Back Breaker was refreshing with the different fruit flavors and had a cute pineapple swizzle stick. The Big O-Spresso was very rich with lots of cream, yum Good Strangers was there proving Tiki inspired tacos, I tried both the chicken and the brisket and both were great but the chicken was the winner for me, that slaw was such a great addition! Order at the bar or with a waitress, everyone is having a great time decked out in Tiki gear and the bar full of lots of props. Always a good time!

What a sweet spot to grab a drink and enjoy some good company…read more Stopped in for a night cap with a friend. The place is steeped in pride for both STL and LGBTQ+ community. The bartenders were awesome. We walked up to the bar and both bartenders got things rolling for us quickly. They have a really solid menu as well. They have some wildly unique cocktail options that blend dive bar ingredients with a craft cocktail approach. The vibes were great. The back patio was super nice and a great spot to just relax. I got a gimlet which was beautiful. Slightly tart, with just enough sweetness to balance it all out. There are not many things on this planet better than getting a damn good cocktail at a dive bar.

Morrison's Irish Pub - Alton, IL…read more We finally stopped into Morrison's and it delivered that cozy, old-world Irish pub charm you want when you walk through those doors. I had the Irish cheese sandwich, Justin went with the corned beef -- and both were genuinely good. Comforting, hearty, and exactly what you hope for in a pub meal. Now... the kitchen was moving a bit slow this visit. Was it noticeable? Yes. Was it worth the wait? Also yes. Because Sam -- the female bartender -- absolutely made the experience. Fun, engaging, and the kind of personality that makes you feel like you're already a regular even if it's your first visit. That kind of service turns a "slow day" into a good memory. The menu is packed with authentic Irish favorites, and honestly, next time we're absolutely going to lean fully into the classics -- because this feels like a place that does traditional comfort food right. One small wish: I really wish they made their own chips. The bagged chips were a little lackluster and felt like a missed opportunity next to an otherwise hearty, made-with-care menu. Overall: a great spot that was likely just having an off day -- and still absolutely worth your time. Don't leave without ordering the pear cider. It is absolutely fabulous. Bright, crisp, lightly sweet, and dangerously drinkable. We'll be back -- and we're coming hungry.

This was my first time and let me tell you...it will not be my last! The food was phenomenal! The…read moreservice was perfect and the staff were amazing! The vibe had me wanting to book a trip to Ireland!