We "ducked" in here on a warm day while at a car show downtown. Our plan had not been to eat but it…read morewas air conditioned and we were a little hungry so why not. My wife ordered a single burger and fries which was only $9. That is cheap by today's standards. My large soda was $2.50 (again, cheap in comparison) and we also had some mozzarella sticks. The burger was huge - at least 1/3 lb. And it was cooked properly - no pink! It was an excellent burger and I'd put it up against any chains including 5 Guys and Red Robin. A bit far for us to drive for a burger but I'd definitely consider it if I was in the mood for a good one. Interior is eclectic with an attempt at a retro look. Not much in the way of ambiance except a few wall decorations/pictures/paintings and repainted table tops. I almost took a star away for this but it was clean and not at all depressing. I'm pretty sure we'll be back someday!

Walked in the day they opened, not one word was spoken to us. We sat down and waited for 5…read moreminutes. We got up and walked out and still no one said a word. They broke the first rule. GREET YOUR CUSTOMERS ! Not worth rating

Cafe LaNae is a fantastic addition to Wood River and the entire Riverbend area. In my opinion, you…read morecan never have too many bakeries and cafes in your neighborhood. My first visit I kinda went hog wild and stuffed myself. Being a farm boy, I always have to try Biscuits and Gravy. I did a half order, which was a single biscuit. I had mine to go, so it was packaged in a Eco-Friendly To-Go Vessel. The biscuit was wrapped in foil and the milk gravy was in a separate container. Once I assembled it, it was a winner. The biscuit was fluffy and the milk gravy had a fair amount of sausage crumbles and was seasoned perfectly. It made this old farm boy happy. My other treat was a, Bacon Egg Boursin Croissant. It was a true meal in itself. There was plenty of bacon, the eggs were done perfectly and the Boursin made the breakfast sandwich sing. Seriously, I would have never thought to add Boursin to a breakfast croissant and I have it in my icebox all the time. After sampling a savory treats, I had to have something sweet. My sweet treat was their Cinnamon Roll. OMG! I am thankful I do not live closer, because if I did, I'd be having one of these delights daily. I love the open concept of seeing the kitchen. It's always fun to watch you food being prepared. The staff is friendly and makes everyone feel welcomed. With all the experience and connections that LaNae and A.J. have with other businesses; Duke's, Tony's Ranch House, Gentelin's and all the way back to Wimpy's, you know the food is going to be good. I wish them success and recommend you go give them a try.

I do not get to Wood River often but when I have, I have a few coffee shops I enjoy visiting…read more Today, I decided to try something different after seeing a newer shop open. Cafe LaNae apparently has been open about a year (as of this writing) so I went in because I was meeting someone for a Facebook Marketplace purchase. I didn't plan to be very long. I purchased an iced coffee for $7 plus a tip. After confirming my order twice (sugar-free mocha syrup), they brought me a sugar-free vanilla drink. Oh well, no biggie...It wasn't the best, but I'm not staying long. I have specific dietary metrics that I manage, so while waiting for the person I was looking for, I pulled out a muffin my wife got me that met those metrics. I took maybe three bites out of it while waiting. Quickly, I noticed one of the owners hovering over my table to see what I was eating, and within 30 seconds, the other owner came over and told me I'm not allowed to bring any food into the place. She tried to smile and act like it was no big deal, saying, "I'll allow it THIS time". Gee thanks! I tried to explain my situation and the fact that I had already purchased a drink and was planning to leave, and she talked over me, expressing once more not to do it again. I elected to leave after pondering her words for a few minutes. I understand the profit margins for these places are razor thin and I would not want people bringing in their own meals, but I bought a drink, tipped, and took two bites out of something that was mine that met my diet. This place is more of a brunch/lunch fast-casual Greek-style place. Nothing they had on their menu would have met my diet, at least not even for a couple of bites which I didn't think was a big deal. I won't return. Not after that experience.

Best cat cafe I've ever been to. It was so clean and all the cats were friendly and playful. Staff…read morewas accommodating and friendly as well. Will be returning.

This place was truly impressive!!! I got so excited to see something like this coming to our area!…read moreWe need more places like this. The people were kind and welcoming and the cats were also! Had I not just adopted the two we have, I would have definitely taken one (or two) home. The cafe is warm and inviting and well-organized. I cannot wait to go back one day! Thank you for bringing such an amazing place to our area!

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.

We were looking for a treat around Edwardsville today & Yelp "surprise me" feature selected Cafe…read moreBirdie for us - so glad it did! I had the gluten free lemon lavender donut & a vanilla latte - both were great! My husband had a scone he enjoyed & lemonade that was very freshly squeezed. Service was prompt and friendly - you order up at the counter. Lots of GF options, no upcharge for oat milk, gender neutral bathroooms, cozy seating both indoor and outdoor on the patio, self serve water station.

I live really close to Cafe Birdie and have been wanting to check it out forever, but I never…read moreseemed to be free during their open hours. Pro tip: definitely check their hours before you go--and honestly, just plan your day around it because it's that good. I was expecting your typical little coffee-and-sandwich spot, but it completely exceeded my expectations. They have a couple of parking spaces behind the building, and if those are full, there's a free lot about 500 feet down the road. It was pretty busy at lunchtime. You order at the counter, and they bring everything to your table. There's a mix of indoor and outdoor seating in various sizes, and the decor is adorable. I especially loved the maps--they make great conversation starters. I noticed several tables pointing out places they'd visited and swapping travel stories. The menu has a nice variety. I ordered the chicken salad on ciabatta with a side salad. The chicken salad had a strong dill flavor that I really enjoyed, and the ciabatta was perfectly fresh--not too tough. Next time, I'll probably pick a different side since the salad was basically just lettuce. If there was any dressing, it was super light, so I ended up adding some of the lettuce into my sandwich. The surprise standout, though, was the lavender lemonade--a total sleeper hit. It was scorching hot that day, and I wanted something refreshing, so I ordered it on a whim. Honestly, it was the best lemonade I've ever had. I don't usually find myself making a special trip to a café just for lemonade, but here I am. I'm not sure if it's seasonal, but I really hope it sticks around.

Visiting Edwardsville and I wanted to support a local coffee chain for my morning brew! Goshen came…read moreup when I searched and I'm not disappointed! Delicious latte, INCREDIBLE croissant and their store & packaging are so cute! Definitely recommend if you're in the area :) #supportlocal

Super cute and inviting coffee shop. The barista was super nice and offered up some fan favorites…read morealong with answering my questions. They have small bites along with beverages. The coffee was really good but what would keep me coming back was the service, absolutely enjoyed this entire exchange.

One thing cool about living in St Louis? Our next door neighbor across the Mississippi River in…read moreEast Alton. I found a unique hidden gem called, "Sip & Play Wine and Gaming Cafe." I was extremely impressed walking in the door as I found myself enjoying the simplicity of this place. It has a full bar, including slushy drinks, like pink lemonade that has right amount of alcohol in it. The menu featured a lot of food that is typical of what is served in a bar. The chicken salad sandwich was the highlight as it was so fresh and delicious. The service was excellent and the gaming experience was amazing with plenty of slot machines to play. This place is definitely worth checking out.

Love this place. Not a typical bar. Wonderful people, good food and great ambiance…read more Everyone is so nice. Love the patrons as they are older Adults not looking for anything but socialism. No drama