I am shocked and proud of myself. I tried a new sandwich today at Sammis and it was just as…read moredelicious as my usual order. I typically order a Pastrami sandwich, but today I went with, The Betty which is a turkey sandwich. Thanksgiving is later this week, so I thought I'd get a jumpstart on enjoying some turkey. The sandwiches are all made fresh and they are plentiful. To eat an entire sammi you have to have a hearty appetite. I actually think two people can share one sandwich, but get a bag of chips for each of you. The staff if friendly and you know the kitchen is clean, because you can see it and see them making your food. If you love a good deli sandwich, Sammis is where you need to go.

Reviewed this place two years ago and I'm thrilled to say that two years later it is just as…read morewonderful as it was then. As I write this, it is soup season. At Sammi's, always get the soup. It is so good good. And Taco Tuesday is a do not miss. Every week is a different taco and they are all great. The service is just what anyone wants - they are fast, efficient, kind, funny, and friendly. The environment is a sandwich shop connected to a bar. Go for the food. It is clean and there is a wide variety of sodas and drinks in the cooler. We see everyone from my yard guys to my doctor here. There is truly something for everyone. Go to Sammi's Get the soup And the tacos, if it is Tuesday

Bakers & Hale is a family favorite and an absolute must whenever I am in IL seeing family. The vibe…read moreis incredibly relaxed and very family friendly, ample space so you never feel crowded. The food is consistently good with generous portions, and the friendly service always makes the experience enjoyable. if your there during the live music, it's a really nice touch. Even though I come here all the time, for some reason I always forget the actual name and just refer to it as "Bangers and Mash." Luckily, my family always knows exactly whatI mean!

Bakers & Hale is probably one of the if not the most popular restaurants in the Riverbend area…read more They are know for their amazing bands on the patio, which is year round and a pretty decent Happy Hour. The other day I meet up with some of my cousins for Happy Hour. I cannot go wrong with one of the HH pizzas. Three of the six cousins, ordered pizza with different toppings. I went with the HH Taco's. I enjoyed Two Shrimp Taco's for only $7. The HH pizzas are $10. Three cousins went with the regular menu and enjoyed salads, chicken wings and chicken strips/tenders. Everyone was pleased with their food. The only thing keeping B&H from getting 5 Stars is the service. It's never consistent. One time it's over the top and the next time it's the bare minimum. It really depends on who you get as a server. The seasoned ones who have been for a long time, know how to work a table. The newer and younger ones, just don't get it. They don't hustle and as their station fills up, they get overwhelmed and everything goes downhill. When: January 7, 2026 Why: Happy Hour with the cousins

When you enter a worker will ask you, "BBQ, Coffee or Ice Cream?" Once you share what you're there…read morefor, they direct you to that counter and take your order. The BBQ counter is near the entrance and kitchen. The BBQ menu is in a acrylic on the counter and also on a wipe board hanging on the wall. When I visit a new BBQ place, I always try their ribs and brisket. Here, I ordered the ribs ala carte and the brisket in a meal. The meal came with only one side and it's a half pound serving. That's a big helping of a side dish. I wish they offered two smaller portions as the side, like most BBQ joints do. I asked the young girl working which sides were made in house and it took her by surprise. I then asked if some of the sides came from a food vendor. Then she stammered the answer, "I've heard him say, that he makes them all." I ended up ordering the Smoked Beans. I'm picky about my beans and these lacked seasoning and were bland. The brisket was cut thick and was on the chewy side. I prefer my brisket cut thinner and much more tender. My order of ribs, shocked me. They were the first ribs that I ever had that did not have the membrane on the back of the ribs removed. The ribs did have good seasoning, since the membrane was not removed, they were tough. They had a 2" thick pork steak on the menu. I guess I'll have to come back and give that a try with a different side. If the pork steak disappoints me, I wont be back. The staff were friendly, but not overly friendly. Also, I don't think the cashier was knowledgeable about the product she was selling.

I stopped in at the Sugar Shack while driving through Brighton and wow! What a treat. I was like a…read morekid in a candy store, except the candy was apple glazed pork belly. Eat it by itself, eat it on a roll, dip it in bbq sauce every which way is culinary delight. I tried so much food, and I appreciated how moist all the meat from the brisket to the chicken was. The Nachos were piled high with meat and beans, doused in sauce and cheese with generous peppers on the side. Too this off with friendly owners and incredible service, and you have a winning combination. I'm already dreaming of returning to try the loaded brisket baked potato.

Wife and I stopped here for lunch and it was amazing! They were busy, so he prepared for a possible…read morewait if you're going right around lunch. We only waited like maybe 20 minutes for our food, it was a nice day and we sat outside so it really didn't matter :) I had a burger, it was perfect! I got my with chips...again perfect :) Atmosphere was fun and relaxing outside. My wife said her sandwich was great too. We will be back no doubt. All the employees were really nice along the way, no issues there. What stood out to me was the amount of traffic where you order was nuts, but they were all nice and happy to help with our first visit. Thanks all we appreciate it!

We were antiquing and stopped for lunch. This place looked good, so we hopped in. So glad we did!…read more Cute little place. Hubby had the weekend special of cheeseburger and chips. He said it was great. It sure looked good! I got the daily special; Granny's Gobbler. It is a turkey apple delicious fantastic sandwich! Loved it! The inside is a small area for seating, but there is lots of seating outside. The young girl who took our order was so friendly and helpful. The food came out quickly and it was delicious! The desserts looked amazing, but I was too full to have any, will have to go back! It's a busy place with lots of take out orders. A really wonderful place to grab lunch! It's fun, friendly and delicious! Highly recommend!

This is a great little fish shack to grab a bite to eat when your in the mood for some fish. The…read moremenu is pretty simple but the fish is good. It's also fairly cheap for the portions and most people will even have some leftovers. The only thing I wish this fish stand had was some local fish like Bass or Crappie even just as a special every once in awhile, it would take it from four stars to five. But if your looking for a good meal for a reasonable price and like fried fish check it out.

So this is where Halloween 2010 gets kicked off. On my way home from practice in Edwardsville I…read moretook a detour to stop by Kohls and Alton Square to seach for some costume essentials. I really wanted to not eat anything and run when I got home, as the nice days this fall are going to be over before you know it. But then I thought about gorging myself at Chinese Buffet. Sitting all by myself, stuffing myself. Jacki said it made her sad to think about me eating by myself and I would be a little embarassed to be seen eating by myself in Alton... So I drove a little farther and made a quick two lane change and pulled up to this little fish shack. I have been wanting to try here forever (since my love for fried fish began). I'm glad I finally made it by. The lady manning the window wasn't the friendliest, but I'm probably not the clientele she is most used to dealing with. I am not well versed in fish and asked her what she thought of a couple of them before just deciding myself to go with a Jack sandwich. I didn't know there was a fish named Jack, but he was rather tasty. She did inform me a couple of the sandwich varieties have bones in them, so I am happy of that. I also went with a side of potato salad which I was originally disappointed in the size, but the flavor ended up making up for that times 100! It was mustardy and sweet, kind of pickley. It didn't take long for them to fry up the fish and in no time I was sitting in Kohl's parking lot enjoying my bounty. The sandwich came with two filets, two pieces of bread of your coice (wheat), bread and butter pickles, and onions. It was awesome! So flaky and delicious. At first I was a little nervous this Jack was going to be too fishy, but that was not that case at all. I will definitely be making trips back by here.

Tried this place for the first time today (used DoorDash for delivery) and we were all very happy…read morewith the food. We will definitely be ordering from them again!

From the owner: Stampede Market & Grill is a Restaurant & Market located in Alton, IL and has been serving…read moredelicious American cuisine to all the people of Alton and the surrounding areas for many years. We specialize in serving up American Food, BBQ, Fish, Fired Chicken, Daily Specials, Sandwiches and Pig Snout. We also offer Delivery and Liquor. Stampede Market & Grill serves up delicious American food hot and fresh daily. You can also stop by our convenience store to pick up drinks, snacks, and home essentials. Don't forget to ask about our daily specials to try great new recipes at a bargain price. Stop by for a meal today.

We ordered the fried chicken salad and gyro with fries. There was so much meat on the salad that we…read morewere too full to try the gyro! (Which is not a bad problem to have at all. ) The chicken was tender and juicy and had a nice seasoning on it. The fries had a similar seasoning, they were savory a little sweet and a bit sour. The staff were friendly. It's a carry out only establishment, so if you're looking to dine in, I'd save this place for another day, or take a short drive to Koch park like we did.

Great spot for takeout! We got a gyro and chicken Philly. Both solid choices. The owner is very…read morefriendly and welcoming too.

Remember, patience is a virtue…read more The sandwiches are great. The restaurant is kept clean. The staff is friendly and professional. However, the service can be on the slow side. However, keep in mind that everything is freshly made. I've watched them and they do not dawdle. They are moving those sandwiches down the assembly line very smoothly. I wonder if adding another person would expedite the production. So, if you're in a hurry, I recommend using their app to place your order before you arrive. I've created my own sandwich in the past, but today I went with their, New York Steamer. Yum-Yum. It's a hot deli-style sub with corned beef brisket and pastrami (my favorite deli meat), melted provolone cheese, deli mustard, mayo and Italian dressing. All that goodness is pressed between a toasted sub roll (I choose, wheat). I live about a mile and a half from the Firehouse and when I got home, it was still toasty warm. The pairing of beef brisket and pastrami was a winning combination. I pretty confident, I'll be ordering this one again. I've never made a combo, but I like that they have Miss Vicki's as a choice of chips. They also, have the typical Lay's potato chips, too. If you donate $4 you can get yourself an empty pickle bucket. The donation goes to support first responders and safety organizations. Mine comes in handy when doing yard work. Also, be sure to sign up for the rewards program. You can accumulate points towards free food. We all like free. Speaking of free, Firehouse Subs will treat you to a free medium sandwich on your birthday. Isn't that nice. When: February 3, 2026 Why: Lunch Hunger Pains.

I was just at the Firehouse Subs and the cashier placed my drink cup upside down on the counter…read more When I asked for a cup that is not upside down she just flipped it. When I said, no I'd just like a new cup that is not upside down, she swapped my cup and put the dirty cup back in the pile with the clean cups. The same girl was making my sandwich and using the gloves to clean off the counters then went back to making my sandwich. Gross! .

This place is the BEST! I love their cinnamon rolls and coffee. It's strong and customizable. What…read moremore could you want? Oh yeah-the staff is so kind. I've never had a bad experience here. They are so fast. The vibes are always good. Love this family owned business. Always doing stuff for the community. I recommend trying either an iced matcha with oat milk and vanilla or a cinnamon crème cold brew!! The everything bagel is my favorite sandwich. Started coming here last year and haven't stopped. It's a daily morning staple on my way to work.

Scooter's is a Drive-Thru coffeehouse, with friendly and fast service. Typically, I am not a fan of…read moreany type of drive-thru, but I started to adjust my attitude during Covid. So when Scooter's opened a short distance from my home, I gave them a try. To my surprise, the service was super quick and the quality of coffee was good. Typically, I just get a simple cup of black coffee, but today I went all out. They had a new drink posted on the menu and it caught my attention. I ordered, Vanilla Creme Cold Brew. It was cool, refreshing and not overly sweet. Since I was heading into work my part-time job, I also ordered an, Everything Bagel. It was a sandwich made with, spicy sausage, egg and gouda cheese. Wow! It had the perfect amount of spice and the gouda cheese was melted perfectly around the egg and sausage. I'll be ordering it again and again. The staff was friendly and attentive over the intercom and even more so at the actual drive-up window. Their professionalism shined. Not being a fan of using a drive-thru, this Scooter's has taught me that using one can be a positive experience.

This is a hard review to write. The things Josephine's did right, were amazing and the things they…read moredid wrong, ruined the entire experience. It had me walking out of there after my lunch saying, "It ain't all that." I lived in the area when Josephine's first opened, so I've heard about it for years and years. I moved away and then moved back about 5 years ago. Again, I kept hearing stories about Josephine's, so I finally decided to check them out. I dined as a single male and I am now wondering if I was discriminated against because I did not have a lady with me. My experience started off nice, I was impressed with the fire pit burning outside as I approached the entrance. Once inside, I was greeted by a hostess. Lucky for me they had a table available, because I did not have a reservation. Reservations are recommended. The ambiance is nice, but it's very dated and could use a serious updating. I also found the tables to be extremely crowded. They all were super close, which made it kinda uncomfortable. However, I understand they want to serve as many guests as possible. I had studied the menu on line and basically knew what I wanted. Once I was seated I decided to have a glass of Pino Grigio. Big mistake. If I had seen the price of a glass, I would have not ordered one. The glass of wine was only $6.99 and it tasted like a cheap wine. Major disappointment. My meal was good, but not up to all the hype they receive. The Lobster Bisque was steakhouse quality and very good. I also enjoyed my 1/2 Club Sandwich. They were not stingy with the three meats, (ham, turkey and bacon) and the winter tomato even gets a thumbs up. My Mystery Pecan Pie was average, but it still satisfied my sweet tooth. The biggest disappointment was the service. I have received better service at greasy spoon. My server was rather gruff. She was always rushing and barely stopped long enough to speak to me. After my food was served, I needed a napkin and as she was passing by, I requested one. She reached over to a rack and tossed a linen napkin back to my table. She then told me they had paper ones, if I preferred them. I declined saying, I preferred the linen. I'll go again, but next time I'll be sure to have a female escort. I hate to say it, but I really believe I was treated differently because I was alone. When: February 17, 2026 Why: Lunch

Josephine's Tea Room & Gifts is still one of my absolute favorite places to spend an afternoon. The…read moredrive to Godfrey is always beautiful, no matter the season, with gorgeous river views, colorful trees, and the kind of scenery that makes for great conversation on the way. One of the things I look forward to most is seeing how Josephine's is decorated for each season and holiday. Their designers are incredibly creative and inspiring. I always make a beeline for the main fireplace mantle to see what masterpieces they've put together. And the best part? Everything they decorate with is available for purchase in the boutiques. Now for the real star of the show: the desserts. Almond Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Bread Pudding, Strawberry Shortcake, truly the best part of the meal. And the dessert trays don't even show everything; they often have cobblers, cream pies, and additional sweets that satisfy every kind of craving. We usually take two or three home to share with everyone. As for the menu, my go-to is the 1/2 Crystal Bowl Salad, which comes with a bowl of soup and a muffin. Their homemade poppyseed dressing is incredible. Other favorites of mine include the Lobster Bisque, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Ham Special Sandwich, and of course, the rotating daily specials. Iced Tea and Sweet Tea here is so good, they even give you, your own mini refill carafe which I appreciate greatly. Josephine's is charming, delicious, and always worth the trip.