When a bakery has been around longer then yourself, you know it is a good bakery. Duke has 5 years…read moreon me and I bet they'll still be here after I cross the Rainbow Bridge. There are several new boutique bakeries that have opened in the Alton area and they're good too, but when it comes to traditional baked goods and donuts, nothing beats Duke. They are know for their donuts, my favorite is the Chocolate Long John and a sack of Donut Holes. Another local favorite they serve up is the Cream Horn. It's decadent cream wrapped in a flakey shell. I've branched out instead of getting my standard order and tried the Cinnamon Roll and Cheese Danish. A few seconds in the microwave and you've got a tasty accompaniment to your morning coffee or tea. The staff is young, and they are both friendly and professional. Good bakery items and friendly customer service, gets me as a repeat customer. If you're a selfie person, they have two great places for photos out front of the bakery, Snap Away.

Delightful little local bakery that has been clutch for events & gifts. Great cakes, cookies, and…read moremacrons. They accept orders online and over the phone; but also have a decent selection for walk in orders as well, which is very convenient. So many Last minute cakes! Less than favorable street parking situation, but that's the downtown life.

I don't like when I have to give a family owned business a bad review. This week's bakery crawl…read moretook me to Good Knight Cupcake and Cookies in Wood River, IL. First off it is a little hard to get to the place, it is in a strip mall and you have to go down the road, make a U turn and come back. I arrived before 8 o'clock and either them had a huge rush, or they just don't fill the shelves. They had maybe 5 cupcakes left in the case and two six packs of day old cupcakes. These were a bargain at $6 for the 6. We got Choco Mocha, Very Cherry, Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Cup. They were very pretty and nicely presented, but they were dry and the icing was very sugary tasting. One word......disappointed.

This is the cutest place ever! We walked in and came out with cupcakes, cookies, and cakepops. My…read moreyoungest daughter said that their cakepops are better than starbucks cakepops.

We've loved LuciAnna's from the start on State Street. I was so glad to see so many familiar…read morefavorites in the case when we stopped for a visit. The almond horn and espresso tarts are old favorites. My husband was excited to try the sausage rolls and has enjoyed them. The ambiance is cozy and classy. The large windows allow for a great deal of natural light. There is ample seating inside as well as a couple of tables outside when the weather permits. If you get your food to go, they have offered to heat the necessary food or given instructions on heating if needed for a later time. The owners are extremely friendly and kind.

Since I last reviewed, LuciAnna's Pastries, I've moved to IL and LuciAnna's has relocated in Alton…read more The two of us are now within walking distance of each other. That is a good and a bad thing. It's good for their bottom line and a bad thing for my waistline and weight. At least when I walk there, I am burning some of the calories I will consume. During the week, I enjoy stopping by and grabbing a pastry or two. It's hard to only buy one, when they have so many to choose from. I then continue on my way and enjoy a Blueberry Scone or Raspberry Lemon Cannoli at my leisure later in the day. When it's the weekend, that is when I dine in and enjoy the full experience of LuciAnna's. I either take a patio table which is pet friendly, or a relaxing table inside the charming dining room. I order at the counter and get my table marker, so they know where I am seated. It brunch time, so that also means it is Bloody Mary time. I always have mine with a cup of black coffee chaser. The two balance each other out. My two favorite entrees are; Waffles or anyone of their Benedicts. Seriously, you cannot go wrong with either of them. Plus, you gotta get an order of the, Million Dollar Bacon. Service is always top notch and attentive. You'll enjoy the tea room atmosphere.

I was invited to a dinner party and The Cheesecake Lady, came to my rescue. When I was invited, I…read moreasked if I could bring anything. The hostess immediately said, "Nothing, just bring yourself." Then she corrected herself and said, "If wanted to, I could bring a dessert." I was out running errands and was near Wood River, so I immediately thought of my favorite dessert lady. I went having the intention of buying a whole New York Cheesecake, or a variety of slices. Once I got to her little cheesecake boutique, I saw she had a Box of Bites. It was absolutely perfect. It contained 12 little bite size squares of 4 different cheesecakes. My hostess served a very refreshing and delicious Shrimp Risotto, but the Cheesecakes were the hit of the party. Many of the guest had not heard of, The Cheesecake Lady, so I introduced them to a new locally and woman owned business. Yipe!

Food is no good! My son and I went in the other day and had…read morethe chicken wings we waited a long time to get them. When the wings came out to us not hot at all just warm. I bit into one and it was RAW! So was my sons! Fries was soggy and old. A lady at the other table said her husband had the same prob last time he came in. My son has been sick for a few days now. Doctor says food poisoning i try to call and tell them and they are rude and hang up on us

Marie has the absolute best "Cheese Cakes" around!!!! My favorite is her Turtle. You got to try…read moreit because you will want more....I promise!!!

From the owner: Offering more than 60 dielicious cheesecakes, box lunches, party trays, desserts, handcrafted…read morecandies, soups, cookies & brownies, holiday specialties, client gifts, appetizers, wedding cheesecakes & much, much more. If you're having a party & you need food, call us. If you're having a party & you just need desserts, call us. With 30+ years experience in the food industry we can help with every aspect of your event - from planning to cleanup.

First timer. I had the chicken salad. Very good. Love the green olives in it. My friend had the…read moreBLT. She sad it was delicious. I will be back.

This is such a cute place! It's a bit small and it was very busy, but the service was phenomenal…read more Everyone who worked there was super sweet and communicated well with everyone. I got the homemade cinnamon roll which was divine, and the cinnamon roll latte! My friend got the breakfast sandwich and she really loved it. If you're ever in the area, give this place a try.

I ordered 35 sugar cookies for a bridal shower from BabyCakes Bakery. They were iced with the…read moregrooms initial in the wedding color. When I picked them up, they were in 3 small boxes and the cookies were stacked! I immediately said that they would be ruined, but the clerk said no - since they had been refridgerated that when they got to room tempurature they would be fine when I took them apart to put in bags as a treat for each guest as they left. When I called to complian, the clerk told me that the "contract" I had signed said that if I had any compliants I would have had to notify her at pick up! Do not go to this bakery! Go to Dukes or Schnucks! Cindy Lewis, Godfrey

Stopped in to give it a try, and was very pleased! My kids loved the sugar cookies and I loved the…read moreooey gooey butter cake!! This place is a nice addition to our town and to our farmer's and artisan's market!

From the owner: Welcome to Frost Bakery. We are located in historic downtown Alton, IL and we love to bake for…read moreyou. If baked from scratch sweets and frou frou coffee drinks are what you like come see us today. Stop in once and you will be back. We offer: - Gooey Butter Cakes - Scones & Cookies - Coffee Cakes & Pies - Cup Cakes & Breads - Savory Breakfast Items - Cheese Cakes & More We welcome special orders. Call us today.

This is a great little neighborhood coffee shop. It's located in what I"d guess was a gas station…read morein its earlier life. The ambiance is minimalist with a rustic twist and it truly is right on the corner, so you can't miss it. They offer a good variety of teas, coffee and morning pastries. If you're there at lunchtime, they've got that covered, too. They offer several sandwiches and for the health conscious, there is a variety of salads, too. The staff was friendly and brewed me a great cup of coffee. I love small town coffee shops. Their personalized service out shines that chain that most people love.

I found this delightful little cafe in downtown Wood River a pleasant surprise. While it has been…read moreopen for about two years now (yes, I asked), I had not heard of Russell's Corner Cafe until a few days ago when I took an alternative route and happened to drive by the cafe. It's an ideal place to grab your morning caffeine or a quick lunch, while supporting a small business. My Order: Mango Passionfruit Iced Tea & The Italian Sandwich Food/Drinks: The coffee menu is extensive, and they have a decent tea menu (my tea was Stash). There's a small bakery/pastry case, plus a few sandwiches and salads on the menu. After eating there, I checked out their social media; it looks like they have occasional specials that they post. I enjoyed my tea, and the Italian Sandwich was delicious. My sandwich came with a little cup of oil with herbs, which was so good! Atmosphere: The inside is simple, yet inviting. There's a counter where you order, and two small rooms with a few tables in each room. There's also a few tables outside, which I would have sat at had it been a little bit warmer. The woman working the counter was friendly and helpful. Logistics: It's 3 hour street parking, but I had no trouble finding a spot. The building is sort of on the corner/side road. Once inside, head up to the counter to order.