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    Alter Brewing + Kitchen

    3.9 (257 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

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    ALTER BREWING + KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Alter Brewing + Kitchen

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    Steak sandwich
    Elizabeth Z.

    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.

    Caesar Salad
    Jessica S.

    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.

    Alterado
    Mayra M.

    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!

    Shrimp tacos were awesome.
    Brandon Z.

    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.

    Wild Game Burger with house chips
    Becky K.

    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.

    Shrimp tacos
    Kali M.

    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!

    Miranda L.

    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.

    Choosing to a fantastic cocktail
    Leslie P.

    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.!

    Ambigram And Vegan Italian Beef
    Steve A.

    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.

    fU Covid
    Chad S.

    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.

    Trader Joe's Cauliflower
    Jason L.

    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.

    Lan N.

    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.

    brewmasters rise and shine

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    4 years ago

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    Adam H.

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    1 year ago

    The pierogi small plate was great and enough for a full meal and the wild game burger was very good also.

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    Jessica M.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Small business but worth a look. I'm. It a beer fan but my son enjoyed a few of their beers. Friendly staff.

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    Adam H.

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    1 year ago

    Pepperoni flat bread was amazing and service was prompt and courteous. Outside patio very pleasant as well

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    Jessica M.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great menu. Amazing ambiance, especially the outside seating. Excellent and friendly service.

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    1 year ago

    Selena is such an asset to this place! Always tremendous service and bubbly personality. We'll be back just for her

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    Jessica M.

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    1 year ago

    Delicious food. Nice staff and good service. They accommodated our needs for a larger group of people.

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    Jessica M.

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    2 years ago

    Love it here, definitely a nice place to meet up with friends have a bite to eat and get a few drinks

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    2 years ago

    The patio was fantastic! The service was perfect. The vegetarian selection was a little light (no veggie burger?) but I made it work.

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    Page 2 of 7

    Ask the Community - Alter Brewing + Kitchen

    What type of oil do you use for frying?

    Hi Kyle! We currently use canola oil.

    Are there gluten free items?

    Hi there! We do have some salads that are (or can be made) Gluten Free. We also have Gluten Free buns available for handhelds.

    Any n/a beers?

    Hey Chris! Unfortunately we do not have any at the moment.

    Do they allow small dogs on their patio?

    Hey Rachel! We allow small dogs on the perimeter of our plaza patio area (north side of building by the front door), but not on the riverside patio.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Pollyanna Brewing Company - St Charles - Main entrance

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    Stopped by on a Saturday when there was a hosted comedy show…read more I noticed there was multiple seating areas but the comedy show was hosted in their largest room. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the space was converted to accommodate a non- music event (including sofas upfront - which I enjoyed thoroughly). Our server was kind and attentive before, during and after the show and her presence didn't distract from the show either. I was easily able to enjoy my beer while laughing through the sets. My friends were able to enjoy some beers and canned cocktails as well. We all were impressed with the combination of sold out event and service. I would recommend coming by here on any night - especially one with live entertainment.

    Came here and hit up this longtime local favorite of a brewery. It has expanded to other locations…read moreand its products can be found many other places but this is the best place to get it. Pollyanna is one of the top attractions in downtown St. Charles along the Fox River. Has the brewery as well as a patio that's nice when it's warm enough. They also have a distillery for those who are getting the hard stuff. Best thing about this place is of course the beer, but it also has a chill atmosphere. It's located in the middle of downtown in a plaza. There's a patio in front that will be packed in warm weather. For this particular trip we sat inside. The inside is actually pretty big, and has the bar area as well as an area with quite a few tables. It's about $7 a pint. There was a pretty good variety. I got the Sweater Paws. It's a blonde ale that's on the lighter side. This beer has notes of coffee and vanilla. As for the food, not much else besides $1 or so bags of chips but you can bring stuff in. Has Colleen's Breadsticks for $6 a bag which are local. There's several restaurants next to here that will deliver an order. Has a pretty fun atmosphere and most important has good beers to choose. It also has cans to go. The brewery also hosts some food trucks.

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    Pollyanna Brewing Company - St Charles - Patio

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    Riverlands just keeps getting better every time I visit! The staff is incredibly friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. They're always happy to help you find the perfect beer or seltzer, whether you know exactly what you want or just want to try something new. The selection is fantastic, with a great variety of beers and seltzers that truly offer something for everyone. Sours are my absolute favorite. Plus, I'm always excited for their rotating Tiki Time drinks during the summer! The food trucks are always delicious and add a fun, fresh element when onsite. The outdoor (and pet-friendly) patio is yet another highlight. It's clear they continue to invest in making the space even better each year. It's such a great spot to relax, hang out with friends, and enjoy a drink (or two). Riverlands is easily my favorite local spot. Highly recommend giving this place a try and hopefully it'll become your new favorite, too!

    Riverlands Brewing is a little off the beaten path in St Charles' beer scene. With that, means they…read morehave a good amount of parking, great outdoor patio, and a fun, industrial interior. We stopped in to sample their beers. The favorite choices were the Dukes of Bavaria & Dean Street. I also tried the Painkiller seltzer and thoroughly enjoyed the flavor. We also tried "the stc six" collab beer and loved it! The staff were super friendly, they had a wide variety of beers, and seem like they do fun events often.

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    Conveniently located on Lincoln highway without that feeling of being off a loud busy road. The…read morepatio was open so we could enjoy the beautiful weather with the awning and umbrellas giving plenty of shade. Five stars for the beer selection! I had a flight with sours, a Mexican ale & a blonde ale - all were delicious & smooth. The food comes from their partner Urban Counter. Husband had the Maxwell St Polish - really good with caramelized onions. The onion rings were nearly perfect with a light crisp beer batter. Not great menu options for a vegan, I went with the southwest salad. It was okay. I'm sure it would be better for anyone able to have the dressing. Adding meat was also an option. Overall worth the stop & will probably be back to enjoy the beers & patio.

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    93 Octane - So wonderful to see Octane 93 create an IPA to raise awareness and support for individuals with disabilities. Thank you!!

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    Alter Brewing + Kitchen - brewpubs - Updated August 2026

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