Oh, Happy Day. I love the new location of CJ's Juicery. It is so cool having it inside Post…read moreCommons. What I like best, is that they open at 9 AM. I can now stop by and get a smoothie on my way to my part-time job. The new space is just inside the entrance. It's on the left side, that use to be set up as a bar. I like the convenience of being able to order my smoothie and then going over to the Post Commons counter and ordering a breakfast biscuit sandwich. My go to smoothie is always the, PBJ. It's a tasty mix of; blueberries, strawberries, bananas, peanut butter, dates and chia seeds. Once the blended concoction is poured into a glass, it's topped with granola. It's a great way to start the day. The service is always top notch. I've followed CJ's from the two previous locations to this third one and have never been disappointed. If you want a smoothie, avoid the chain company and go local with CJ's. When: February 4, 2026 Why: Breakfast Smoothie

CJ's has a very fun, bright, and chill vibe, with couches, tables, games, and even a video game…read more They also have a bistro set outside. Their PB&J bowl is delicious. The Mother Earth Matcha is beautiful and tasty. I've only ever encountered positivity and friendliness from the owner. She is willing to help with recommendations, as well.

I'm so happy to have a place close to me that serves boba/bubble tea. Their taro milk tea is…read moredelicious, the best I've had on this side of the river. I also had a delicious breakfast sandwich here. Every server I've interacted with has been super kind, and the shop is really great to hang out in. I love that they've got late hours, too. I hope more people find there way here.

We've been here twice on the last 2 days! My daughter really loved the Dr. Pepper ice cream and…read morewe had our first ever Açaí bowls! Even the small was a lot to eat. They do serve kaldis coffee, which we didn't try, but I'm sure it's great. We were able to have a nice chat with the owner too. This is such a great addition to East Gate Plaza. As a hockey mom, I'm sure be spending a lot of time here!

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.

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 pleasantly surprised, when I visited Roasterz Coffee for the first time. When I entered the…read morecoffee shop, I was immediately greeted with a welcoming "Hello". Followed closely by, with a compliment. That is a great start to quality customer service. Another great surprise was discovering that they have a liquor license and can make a variety of adult beverages anytime of day. I went in planning on a simple cup of black coffee and ended up enjoying an Espresso Martini. I instantly knew it would be well made and with real espresso instead of some coffee flavored liquor. My martini was served in a stemless martini glass and garnished with two espresso beans. It was chilled to an appropriate temperature and had a good topping of froth. Only negative was not having the third bean for the garnish. I politely explained to the young barista that an Espresso Martini should always have a 3 bean garnish. The 3 beans represent; health, wealth and happiness. She was appreciative of the story. For my nosh to accompany my martini, I enjoyed an Asiago Bagel. It was toasted and had a spread of Heaterz Hot. The cream cheese had a good zing and after burn to it. I enjoyed the Nashville Hot flavor on my bagel. The atmosphere is funky and relaxing. If you want to play some slots, they've got several to keep you entertained. I enjoyed the piped in music, it was at a good volume and made it easy to still have a discussion with friends. In closing, I'll give another shot-out to their customer service. Listening to them give each customer a compliment, was very uplifting. It helped create a very positive environment. I'll be back!

I ordered a Banana Bread Coffee with half & half and a bacon egg and cheese bagel sandwich, the…read morecoffee was good but something I feel like i'd be able to make at home, wasn't anything special. the bacon egg and cheese bagel sounded good but when i went to bite into it the egg was completely cold?? so i just threw it away. I'd forsure go back for coffee MAYBE!! but id probably try somewhere else first :/ the service was pretty fast for how busy they were considering they had 2/3 people working in there and they had a drive thru and an inside service. I went around 10/11 so it was starting to pick up inside, the coffee was super fast and the food took a little bit (even tho my bagel was cold?) but whatever.

Excellent choice of hot and cold coffee and specialty drinks. Too many flavors to list. Freshly…read moremade pastries daily always a new selection. Sara is an amazing baker. They love it if you bring your 4 legged family members.

It has a drive through which is a huge plus to me! Eskimo joe is so good. I heard they have good…read moresmoothies too so I'll have to try that next!

Neighborhood tea spot. I was pleasantly surprised at the seemingly unlimited choices of teas,…read moredrinks and shakes. I don't do caffeine, so my choices were limited. I opted for an Oreo cookie shake. It was more milky than shake. The flavor was good. I just missed the creaminess of a true shake. There was only one person working so service was a bit slow. She was super friendly and patient as we decided what to order. While you wait, browse the store to see crafts, books, clothing and even artistically decorated acrylic nail tips! Random but fun to look at. Someone took a lot of time to decorate those things. The shake was pretty pricey ($10) so I will go back but at that price it'll have to be when I'm treating myself!

Another visit to try yet another item on this massive list of drinks . Yummy Nutrition is yummy in…read moremy tummy. I'm trying today a Strawberry Sunrise Refresher with added strawberries. Delicious, refreshing and tasty! And if you are an ice lover like me the ice alone in this drink is 10/10! Crushed and flavorful. This drink is pricey at $13 bucks but I look at it as a treat for me on this nice sunny hot day . Staff is very friendly and welcoming and eager to assist you in your choice of beverage. Point system is available to get you awarded free items. Until next time .....

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.