This was my first visit to Alter Brewing's St. Charles location, and I was surprised to learn they have multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area. I met up with friends, including two who were visiting from Alabama, and we all had a great experience. My friends ordered the brisket nachos and the walleye, and both dishes came in generous portions--they couldn't even finish their meals! I ordered the carne asada tacos, and they were absolutely delicious. The only thing I would have changed is that my meal came with beans but not rice. I probably should have asked if rice could be added. The indoor atmosphere was warm, inviting, and a perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon. Between the friendly service, generous portions, and tasty food, I'd definitely return and look forward to trying more of the menu. read more

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Great atmosphere. I walked in during a thunderstorm with the World Cup playing behind the bar. It got better from there. We requested to be sat at the riverside window and it was absolutely no problem. The service was very quick and pleasant. We started with an order of cheese curds which were awesome (a little hot for my wife but perfect for me). We split a patty melt. I am a bit of a snob when it comes to patty melts, so when I say it was the best one I've had since Woolworth, that should tell you everything you need to know. My daughter got the kids grilled cheese. When I say grilled cheese, this was an absolutely beautiful sandwich that was put together with care. My daughter is very picky and wound up gobbling down this enormous sandwich, which surprised me because she eats like a bird. The beer there is top notch. I'm very opinionated when it comes to craft beer. Everything I've had there I have really enjoyed. I highly recommend this place. We had an app, kids meal, split an adult meal and 4 beers for $90. Well worth it because I have no issues paying for quality over quality. Do not miss this place. read more

Outside seating was full, so we needed to stay inside which is Ok (always prefer outside). It is a little noisy inside. A shame they did away with entire front door seating, as it is all common area seating now. Outside seating is off to the side, next to the Fox River. We were there just for a few brews, which are always tasty. We like the atmosphere, mid-tier brew pub with a little modern appeal and always collaborative service. My wife ordered Not Your Mother's Mule, but was a little sour for her taste, but they replaced without issue. See pictures of the menus. read more

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What a cute area in the suburbs of Chicago. Great outside area with lots of other shops and walking trails nearby. Great spot for the summer. Food was great, everyone left full and happy. Server was perfectly attentive. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Steak sandwich - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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My family and I visited Alter during Scarecrow Fest this year, so it was understandably very busy. We ended up waiting about thirty minutes for a table. Thankfully, we were able to sit outside while we waited and listen to the live band, which made the wait much more enjoyable. I am not sure how crowded it gets on a typical weekend, but during the fest, it was definitely packed. When we were finally seated, we were placed in our own small section of the restaurant with no other tables around us. That was interesting because we had waited so long for a table, yet no one else was seated in that area the entire time we were there. Staff picked up after we were seated, so it was frustrating to see empty tables while the wait continued. Our waiter, however, was very friendly and attentive, which helped balance out the experience. For lunch, I ordered the Truffalo Hot Chicken Sandwich ($18.99) with fries, and it was excellent. The chicken breast was huge, crispy, flavorful, and had just the right amount of heat, and the truffle buffalo flavor really stood out. My husband ordered the Alter Caesar Salad ($18.99), but he said it was nothing special and should not have been that expensive. There really isn't that much to the salad, and the chicken wasn't even seasoned or grilled. I tried it, and it tasted like the chicken in those grab-and-go grocery store pre-made salads. Very disappointing for the price. Overall, despite the long wait due to the fest crowds, the chicken sandwich and service made the visit worthwhile. I would definitely return, especially on a less busy day to get a better feel for the normal dining experience, but I do not recommend the Caesar salad. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Caesar Salad - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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Tastiest burgers we've ever had! The steak was also absolutely delicious. Great atmosphere, amazing service, and very reasonable prices. We loved it so much that we've already been here two days in a row and we're planning to come back tomorrow AND the day after before heading home to Miami! That should tell you how good this place is. Highly recommend! read more

Service - always great, servers and hostess always have a good attitude. Shout out to Paul, our server was awesome! Ambiance - depending on the day it can be a little loud but nothing too crazy. It gets busy so a reservation is highly recommended. Food - today we had a cheeseburger with fries and kids chicken tenders. Food always tastes freshly made. The Alterado brew was so good, light and fresh Mexican Pilsner. All in all great experience, will be back for sure! read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Alterado - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Cool hip place in downtown St. Charles. Service was great. It had a ton of beers and cocktails. The menu provided many options. Everyone was pleased with their meal. I would go back. I had Shrimp tacos. They were delicious. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Shrimp tacos were awesome. - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Our meal was pricey & disappointing! Never really liked their beer, I usually have a couple when I come here but they're nothing to brag about. We had the jalapeño cheese curds as an appetizer which were nothing special at $16. I was craving a hearty salad but chose the Greek chicken bowl instead for $17. It's a bunch of ingredients on a plate & you just mix them yourself. It included olives, red onion, tzatziki sauce, diced tomatoes, feta cheese, grilled chicken & brown rice. I also ordered the Chimichurri Steak sandwich $24, had a big piece of fat in it which ruined my meal. I also did not like the fact that it was on focaccia bread. My wife ordered the Steak Frites which also had a chunk of fat & was not seasoned, imagine a steak & smashed yellow potatoes but bland...& for $36! She also had the Bourbon Berry Spinach salad which was ok for $15, she managed to eat half of each & took the rest for leftovers. My son had the Mac n cheese with fries from the kids menu & didnt like it. He will literally eat anything but did not eat his meal this time. Add a couple of beers & two cocktails total bill with tip $200 for an unsatisfactory meal. No wonder the place had a bunch of tables free. We tried to come here last summer for dine in & it was a two hour wait so we went elsewhere. This time we made a reservation but it was not necessary (About half empty inside & outside seating). The service was attentive but not overly, just how I prefer. Sure the views are great, especially seated outside with the river there & the outdoor bar but the quality of the food just wasn't there. Don't think I'll be back, not for these prices. read more

Solid brewery /taproom option! Great rotation of beer and the food was good. Our first brewery in this area so excited to try others and see how this one stacks up. Will be back in the summer and sit in their outdoor area on the river. read more

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Was here recently with a group of coworkers. We ordered the big ass pretzel, which was enough for 6 of us to share. Very glad there was a yummy cheese sauce as I'm not a fan of mustards. I ordered the shrimp tacos with the house chips for dinner. Shrimp tacos were very tasty, but the chips weren't. The reason for 3 stars: they leave a lot to be desired for non-beer drinkers. They didn't seem to carry many vodkas or whiskeys. I ordered some kind of cocktail that was decent. Finally, the service was pretty terrible. It was a slow Monday night but our server rarely checked in. It seemed like everything took forever. Waiting for the food, the check, the running of the card. If you're a beer drinker you'll love this place. They have flights too! read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Shrimp tacos - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Alter Brewing in St Charles could not have a cooler location! Right on the Fox River, they have plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the downtown atmosphere. The inside had some very cool beer inspired features like a beer bottle canopy, brewing equipment on display and branded accents. Parking was a bit tough because of the location but there were certainly options. The staff was extremely energetic for it being Fourth of July and Erin made our experience that much better with her smile/upbeat attitude. The beers we liked most were the Rally Point & Mosaic Motive. They seemed to offer a variety of beer types for all. While we didn't order food, we saw many trays go past us and it looked delicious! I also loved that their menu was full service of beers, wines, cocktails, and food. Tip: They have Happy Hour M-F 3-5pm for $9 bites & $5 draft beers. read more

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Super fun place great patio, food, and drinks. I have to say we absolutely love our server John! He was extremely kind & fast! He really knows his menu and gave us the best suggestions on beer.! read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Choosing to a fantastic cocktail - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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Bought a few beers at this brewery in St. Charles. It has a few locations with this being the newest of these. Alter has this one that also has a kitchen. Get some pretty interesting things to drink and eat. The prices are pretty good on most beers while being pretty expensive on the food it seems. A busy place as it's in a pretty busy location surrounded by everything. It's certainly a lot more prominent than the original Downer's Grove location. There's a good amount of space inside so it can handle large groups and parties. Good prices for the beers. It's about $7 a pint. Best we had of these was the Ambigram. This is a hazy IPA that's has notes of orange and tangerine. It's about $18 for entrees. The food menu is pretty meaty except for a few things. I got the Vegan Italian Beef. This is made by Chicago Not Dogs, with au jus and giardiniera. Has various events. Trivia night is on Tuesdays, and they have live music. For sure it's worth going to and getting beers. It's located close to the bridge in downtown. There's lots of food and even though it's expensive there's a few options for vegans and vegetarians. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Ambigram And Vegan Italian Beef - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Great location right on the Fox River. Cool outdoor area and neat view. AB+K has a solid menu with starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads and full entrees. I tried a flatbread with Brie, bacon, apple, arugula with a drizzle of balsamic. Great selection of beer and also a full bar for cocktails. Hostesses, bartenders and servers are all really friendly, knowledgeable and god at their jobs. Had a nice supper and enjoyed it very much. There was also live music in the dining room / bar which added to my enjoyment. Highly recommend. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - fU Covid - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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WARNING: Illegal Surcharges at This Restaurant (Illinois & Federal Law Violations) If you're thinking of eating here, know this: they are illegally charging debit card and non-compliantly charging credit card surcharges Food & Value The food simply doesn't justify the happy hour price. $9.99 for three tiny sliders or a cauliflower dish is outrageous -- especially when right down the street at La Mesa or Moto Mioto. That's real value. Here? The sliders were bland, and the cauliflower tasted like frozen Trader Joe's, not fresh or restaurant quality. Mediocre food at inflated prices. Illegal Card Surcharging Even worse than the food is the billing practice. This restaurant is in gross violation of Illinois law, federal law, and Visa/Mastercard/Discover rules. Example bill: * * Subtotal: $19.98 * * Credit Card Surcharge (3%): $0.60 * * Tax: $1.73 * * Final total: $22.31 Why this is illegal: 1. Illinois Law - Surcharges are capped at 1% or the actual processing fee (whichever is lower). Charging 3% is unlawful. 2. Visa/Mastercard Rules - * Surcharges must be disclosed with signage at entrances and at the point of sale a they are not. * They must appear as a separate line item on receipts. * * The surcharge must be calculated on the final total including tax and tip -- you cannot add tips after the surcharge. * * Debit cards cannot ever be surcharged. 3. Federal Law - Durbin Amendment (Dodd-Frank Act) - Surcharging debit cards is outright illegal in the U.S. regardless of whether processed with a PIN or "as credit." 4. Network Enforcement - Visa and Mastercard can issue fines from $50,000 to $1,000,000 for violations like this per card swipe. I have notified the Illinois Attorney General of this gross violation, as the restaurant is applying this illegal fee to every single customer. Surcharge Rules in a Nutshell 1. Merchant must be registered with the card networks. 2. Customers must be notified at store entrance + point of sale with proper signage. 3. The surcharge must not exceed 3%, and merchants cannot profit from it. 4. Fee + product/service price must be processed together as one transaction. 5. Receipts must clearly show the surcharge as a separate line item. 6. Debit cards cannot be charged a fee -- ever. 7. Tips cannot be surcharged since they occur after the fact. What You Should Do If You Ate Here If you ate here and were charged a "surcharge," keep your receipt. This is a clear consumer protection violation. I have already contacted a major law firm in Chicago that represents Visa, Mastercard, and Discover to add this restaurant to their target list for violations. And let me be clear: they win these cases. In the meantime, you can contact your card company directly and they will refund you the illegal surcharge (and in many cases, your entire meal fees). Card networks take these violations very seriously, and customers are fully protected. I will update this review with a claim link from the law firm -- assuming the restaurant doesn't change its ways. I've already gotten nine other businesses to change their policies once confronted. We as customers shouldn't be paying all these damn fees. It's a cost of doing business -- own it and get over it. Bottom Line This place doesn't just serve mediocre food -- they break the law and rip off customers at checkout. Until they fix this practice: * * Don't eat here. * * If you do, don't pay with a card. * * And if you've already been surcharged, get ready to file a claim and get your money back. Better food, better value, and fully compliant billing can be found nearby at La Mesa, Moto Mioto, McNallys, ZaZa where you won't get scammed on your bill. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Trader Joe's Cauliflower - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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We stopped by for lunch on a Sunday. It wasn't super packed or super dead. We were seated and after what felt like forever and not a single soul came by, even though the hostess kept making eye contact with us. My husband finally waved someone down to ask for a server. We both wanted burgers so we had ordered the big mic and the wild game. The big mic is like a smash burger style. It was super juicy when I cut it in half. The special sauce was decent. It's basically a semi elevated Big Mac haha I'm not sure how I feel about the bun since everything feels one note. The seasoned chips were okay. Some pieces were good but the overcooked ones tasted bitter and kind of unpleasant. The wild game was good at first bite, the bite with the garlic aioli. After awhile, the patty got hard and felt very tough. It was also gamey afterwards too. The bun was hard and chewy too. We were not fans of this burger at all. The beer fries were pretty good though. read more

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Tasty appetizers and a good selection of beers. Seeing that I am in a cider or seltzer phase for summer, I was a little disappointed Alter doesn't offer either. I get it, it's a brewery. But, I opted for Proseco. The sliders were good and not overcooked. Good flatbreads too. Finding parking can be a hassle, at night, or during happy hour, as this area is popular for dinner time. The servers here were very quick and kept up with our orders, despite being a large party. I would like to return and try some other foods next time. read more

Real nice location, ambience. The food was good, solid. We had a brand new waiter getting trained who was real good. Wish him the best.

We recently went with a group, it had been a few years since we were here last. The menu seems to have grown from my last visit. I am a fan of their beer, the Lemon Squeeze is one of my favorite sours. It was hard to pick as they have so much that sounds good. I was looking at food pics on yelp and the lovely pink burger got my attention. I was drawn to the Brewmasters rise and shine, 2 patties with BBQ pork belly, an egg american and swiss and beer mayo. It was OK, nowhere near the requested medium, it was very well done and kinda greasy. Some of that should be expected with the pork belly. I should have noticed that the egg was listed as crispy...AKA no runny yolk...what's the point! Nothing stood out, it was a decent burger, the fries were nice and crisp. Again the beer was good, the service was....serviceable, we waited quite a long time to try and get another beer during dinner. It was a Thursday night and not crowded at all. The location is great and I like the room. Next time I will try something else. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - brewmasters rise and shine - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

Place is upscale, well decorated and clean. Staff is attentive and kind. Good menu options for gluten-free people and vegetarians. Good drinks. Love the igloos outside read more

This place is probably good just for a beer and hanging out. But definitely not good for a sitdown meal - the food is mediocre and extremely overpriced. $18-$20 just for an appetizer with entrees being $25-30. They also charge you 3% for using a credit card which should just be the cost of business. read more

I was a little hesitant going to Alter based on some reviews, but now I'm kicking myself that I did not go sooner. They have a fantastic juicy burger, and the bacon used on said burger was plentiful and CRISPY for a change! None of that sad, soggy pseudo bacon. The fries were hot and crispy. This place is right on the river so of course it's gorgeous and the inside isn't too shabby looking either. I wish I had noted our server's name yesterday, but she was super nice and was very pleasant. I'm excited to go back and check it out again. read more

Atlas has a cool vibe. The service was great, the bartender really was into beers and very happy to discuss and give samples to my friend and I to make she we were happy. We were there during happy hour and drafts were all $5. My friend opted for a flight, and I got a draft of what tasted like Christmas in a glass. It reminded me of the cranberry ginger shandy from leinenkugels back in the day, delicious. We also shared the jalapeño cheese curds was ranch dipping sauce and candied jalapeños on top, also delicious and part of the HH food specials. The regular prices are very expensive, but HH was a nice way to try a couple things. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Back of bar/menu - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

$16.99 for elote bites. They were terrible. It's like you're eating chunks of deep fry. No flavor whatsoever. Won't be returning

Always great beer, food, and service. Patio with river view is rare and enjoyable. Great place to unwind.

Food was amazing, took no time to come out. Service was one of a kind, nothing but smiles kindness and a lil bit of love. Ambiance was just the best I've ever had. Shoutout to our beautiful and kind server Chance, nothing but the best from her. I would truly come here everyday for her service along side Taylor's. Both workers were impeccable. read more

Typical bar food. Went for lunch on a Saturday and had shrimp tacos. They were tasty but a little cold.

Tyler at Alter Brewing always gives top-tier service! He's friendly, and makes every visit a great experience. Even my dog Milo gets excited when he sees him walk over -- that says a lot! Highly recommend asking for Tyler if you stop by and looking for a great beer suggestion! read more

Went here recently to enjoy the weather with a nice beer and snack over looking the river. The service was great - our waitress was friendly and helpful with our selections. Really the reason I'm not overly enthusiastic about this spot comes down to price... appetizers and flatbreads are $16+, burgers are $18+... it's just very steep IMO. The beer is pretty good but I know of some better breweries in the area too. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Bbq chicken flatbread - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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Located right along the Fox River in downtown St Charles, Alter Brewing + Kitchen has a menu full of tasty sounding options. But talk about sticker shock, we were immediately shocked by the $28 price on the appetizer pretzel. They said it serves four, but really, $28 for a pretzel? Other items on the menu had similarly high prices. Our server was attentive and quick. Although sometimes too quick as she would drop off things and run off before we could ask a question or when we had a request. Food was good, and the portions were plentiful. I had the shrimp tacos and they were tasty and large. The inside room is large and sunny and they have an inviting outdoor area right next to the river. It's a nice place to hang for a while, just plan on spending more than you usually would for a brewery of this caliber. read more

Wow what an impressive spot. At the heart of downtown St. Charles by the river. It's ideally located next to many other shops and bars. Also it is a large and inviting space. One of those spots you can spend plenty of hours at inside or on the patio. Beer is about average but they have great bar food. Two giant pretzels with delicious mustard/cheese dip was phenomenal. Also some really good brisket nachos. Service was adequate but I would come here for the food and decent brews. read more

Had lunch here on a Monday with friends. Place was almost empty at 12:45pm. A few people inside and at tables outdoors. Huge selection of beers and the bartender/waiter was excellent! The reason for my 3 star rating is because I ordered the salmon bowl from the lunch menu at $13.95. Blackened salmon, tomato, grilled corn, red onion, mixed peppers, avocado, chimichurri, crispy tortilla, and smokey ranch served over brown rice. It was pretty good but the piece of salmon was so small! It was pretty much one bite sized piece! Way too small for $13.95. I should have said something but I did not. Overall not a bad place and at a good location but not happy with the portion size. read more

Great selections of craft beers! Flatbread Pizza's are delicious! Service and staff were top notch. Highly recommend if staying in St Charles IL as the downtown area is hidden gem! read more

Great beer and fantastic meal. Service was friendly and accommodating for our large group. The shrimp tacos were even better than expected and the fries were nice and crispy. They did not skimp on the shrimp in the tacos and they had ample flavor and a little kick. Ambiance on the patio was nice and great views of the river. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Malty charms red ale - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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Extremely disappointed! Lunch time of Scarecrow Days they were not preared- tables were still available but it was 30 minute wait. We had to follow up for a table and the hostess sat us at a table that was open the entire time. They ran out of cups for water, ran out of meatballs for the meatball sandwich. We ordered flatbread. The brie, bacon, apple flatbread was burnt and cold- we found maybe two pieces of bacon, couple apple bits, and only a few slices had brie. $18.99 for that! Ridiculous rip off! Not returning! read more

My group and I had an excellent experience at Alter! The staff was super helpful helping me pick out a beer I would like. Our waitress Kelly went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time! Will be coming back soon. read more

Alter Has the potential of being a really good restaurant. We like having the pretzel at $19 for a small $29 for the large is quite expensive. We've gone to several other restaurants for a pretzel. Most places was between 13 and $15. The food is good We had the hamburger and the Reuben. Both were good . Ruben needed a little more meat. I would recommend to try Alter. read more

Came here for mid-day beers. The patio space is beautiful and a great place to have a meal and catch up with friends. I tried two of the beers (the festbier and the oatmeal stout). Both were good and perfect for one of the first fall-like days. I also really appreciate that they have taster size options so I didn't have to pick just one and pound back a full pint. Prices for each of the different sizes are fair and comparable to other places in the area. My friend ordered fries and they were okay, but not my favorite fries. They have some other interesting things on the menu that I would like to try when I come back in the future. read more

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Catching up with a friend in my hometown on my way back home from a work trip - Brewpubs Near Me - Saint Charles, Illinois

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First time coming here and would definitely be back. The place is large and very clean. The layout is great - you aren't right on top of each other but has a warm feel. We had a party of 5 that all go there at different times. Our server was kind and understanding and checked in on us an appropriate amount of times. Our orders and drinks came out quickly. We got the 1/2lb pretzel as an appetizer and I highly suggest. Everyone enjoyed their dinners but the highlights were the bang bang cauliflower and the shrimp tacos! If you are in St Charles, I highly suggest a visit here! Oh, and my husband said the beer is good also :) read more