I'm biased because we frequent often, but if you still haven't made it over, do yourself a favor…read moreand go! Hubby and I were gifted tickets to their 11 year celebration. We were greeted by the owner, Lauren. During the event, we were housed in the newly renovated event space. Perfect for intimate events. They served guests a full spread complete and drinks on the house. The food was actually very delicious. There was this sort of cheese dip that we ate - all I know is that it had corn in it and spices, but everyone went back for seconds! It was good! (Put it as a regular menu option *wink wink*). Live music, photo ops, and a tour of the brewery where all the magic happens. Lauren led the tour and when I tell you she is knowledgeable, she is very knowledgeable! To learn about their inception makes me appreciate it even more. Go check them out!

I loved this place. I don't drink, but I got to try their local sodas, which lack all the HFCS…read morestuff and has real sugar. It was called Excel Bottling Company. I was pleasantly surprised. The walk to the restaurant area is very pretty and historic as well! They had board games and it felt pretty homey! The food was good, except for my fried chicken sandwich. It seemed to be over cooked, making it hard to chew from the outside. I enjoyed everything else, though! The service was great, too!

Oh, Daddy. I like Catdaddy's…read more Catdaddy's recently went under new ownership. It's a new partnership that is mainly women. They are promoting themselves as, "A female owned space where women can let their hair down and have fun...We've got your back." They're promoting a safe place for ladies to have fun and not have to go it alone when feeling uncomfortable. The entire crew will have your back. It's a safe place. I met two female friends here for Happy Hour this past Friday. I thought I'd arrive early to secure a table, when I did the bar was already packed and it was just 5PM. I was greeted by a male bartender, who poured a good and refreshing Tito's with Seltzer. Pricing for a call brand was cheap. Not sure if it was a HH deal or not. I'll update that on next visit. The best way to describe, Catdaddy's is that it is an upscale dive bar. Its crowd was a good mix of ages, sexes and diversity. We were still there during the bartender change and the young lady who came on duty was also, attentive and friendly. There's no full kitchen, but they do offer bar pizzas, if you need a nosh to cut the liquor. I had fun, so I know I'll be back.

Really cool place in downtown Alton. Came here with my family and we had a great time. Very lively…read moreand well decorated place. I would recommend coming here to anybody who's looking for a fun bar experience. Service was quick and everything is great. Nice big space and plenty of parking in the area. I'm looking forward to coming back in the future, surprised I've never been here before as an Alton native.

A bowling alley bar and grill is just like a dive bar. They have a down home feeling and they seem…read moreto know all the regulars. I gotta come back at night time when there is a bustling bunch of bowlers in the bar area. I was the only one in the grill at lunch time, so the bartender was busy stocking and the cook had to come out and do double duty as a waitress. I will say, my beer was cold and the frosted glass gave it an extra chill. I had a cheeseburger that was a hand patty. My garnishes were onion and lettuce and I had a side of fries. It was all served hot, but not as quickly as I would have thought being the only diner. I think with the workers do side and prep work made things a little slower. That is why I'll return and give them a second try.

This place is like an oasis in the middle of a vast desert. The Christmas lights on the outside of…read morethe building pull you in like a strange unexplainable magnetic force. Once inside, you'll be exposed to one of the most expected but savory bar menus. You'll be able to wash down your mozzarella sticks, nachos, philly cheese steak and chicken wraps, with some of the best local IPA's and traditional beers you know and love. Once your belly is full, you'll be able to enjoy some of the best bowling this side of the Mississippi!! Whether you're out with some friends, on a first date, or celebrating your 25th wedding anniversary, this place is the only establishment to go to. You'll never have a bad time at Spectators!

Ranch House is a Godfrey staple for cheeseburgers and beer. This spot is in my weekly rotation…read more Plenty of parking and seating. The folks that own this spot take great care of everyone that comes in. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Great weekly specials on drinks and food. The prices are truly affordable for families. This is a hangout spot. Come in and take your time and watch a game on the TV or play some bar games. They also offer a monthly GREEK dinner by appointment only.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner…read more Ranch House offers Fried Chicken dinners, 3 days a week. It use to be only on Wednesday, which made for a great Hump Day treat. As the popularity of their crispy well seasoned chicken grew, they added Saturday and Sunday. Now, I can enjoy a traditional Sunday dinner. RH offers 2 piece or 4 piece dinners with two sides. You can mix your chicken, or you can choose all dark or white meat. Typically, I go with Mashed Potatoes with White Gravy and Green Beans as my sides. For me, that makes it just like the Sunday dinners when I was growing up. Sometimes when I switch it up, I order Cole Slaw and Fries. It makes it more like a picnic. I like the fried chicken here at RH, because it is super crispy and their seasoning is extra peppery. It is so peppery, you can see it the skin. Another winning dinner is, Fried Fish on Fridays. It's really good during Lent. My go to order is their, Catfish Fritters. I enjoy the bite pieces of crispy Catfish, along side an order of Cole Slaw and Fries. Pair it up with a cold beer and you've got yourself a Catholic approved meal. Ranch House truly is a dive bar, but it does have a family vibe. When you visit, you'll see a good mix of patrons and that is part of the charm of dining at RH.

According to their website, Good News Brewing Company is not a restaurant or a bar. They are a…read morebrewpub with a mission to build communities with craft beer and wood-fired pizza. That mission is being fulfilled here in Alton. There's nothing fancy about Good News, it's a simple process. You order at a counter, get a buzzer and go find yourself a table. There's seating in the Post Commons side of the building, outside picnic tables, or sit at the counter and watch them make your pizza in the wood-burning oven. I've opted and done all three and they're all satisfying. The patio is dog friendly, so bring your fur-baby with you. My recent visit, I enjoyed the special pizza. It was a Cheeseburger with, Read Sauce, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Beef, Bacon, Onion and Topped with Pickles. The associate asked if I would like to hold the pickles off and I said, yes. I have nothing against pickles, I just thought it would be better without them. Once my pizza was done and brought to me, (they were slow and didn't give me a buzzer) it was delicious. The blending of hamburger, bacon and onion made it taste like a true cheeseburger. I like how the crust around the edges gets a little charred, for me it adds flavor. Also, I don't always eat all the edging crust, I take it home and use it as a dog treat. My dogs give Good News crust, two paws up. Good News has Growlers and Gift Cards available, so I know what several of my cousins will be getting for their birthday. We may even, Gather, Eat and Drink at Good News to celebrate their aging. Staff is cool, they make eating pizza and drinking craft beer a fun and rewarding experience.

Good News Brewing is brand new to Alton. We arrived pretty early while they were open and s staff…read moremember what's training new staff how to pour beers and make the pizzas. We ordered the Vampire Deathwish, which was delicious. We toyed with the idea of the cheese bread, but saw it was similar. The staff member suggested making the cheese bread with marinara rather than garlic sauce, so we went for it. The pizzas are smaller than your big chain pizza places, but the price points are also a bit lower. My husband ordered the American IPA which he enjoyed. The Good News Shandy was also refreshing. There was wrap around bar seating inside, or picnic seating outside. The doors to the Post Commons portion of the building were also open.

Cheap, good food, and great vibes!…read more My husband and I finished date night with food and drinks at Fast Eddies. This place is normally packed on the weekends especially when the weather is nice. I'm guess because it was later in the evening when we went they weren't as crowded. There's always live music playing, someone celebrating their 21st birthday and good vibes. Staff was friendly, welcoming and made sure we were doing good the entire time we were there. Ordering food is all self service at the food station. You place your order then wait for your number to be called. They sell burgers, chicken on a stick, steak on a stick, chicken sandwiches, shrimp, and fries. Your food is up pretty quick. We ordered burgers, fries, chick on a stick, big Elwood and shrimp. We also ordered two long islands and a beer. All in all we spent about $60. The food was delicious, seasoned well and plentiful. The drinks were made perfectly. No complaints from me. I'll be back!

Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I had the time of our lives at Fast Eddie's Bon Air. The food…read moreinstantly took us back to the very first time we ever came here -- that same great flavor, same fun energy, and same unforgettable vibe. Everything was fresh, hot, and exactly what we were craving. And I can't forget about the popcorn -- that's always a highlight of the trip! There's just something about grabbing a cup and enjoying the atmosphere that makes the whole experience even better. Fast Eddie's never disappoints. Great food, great memories, and always a great time. We'll definitely be back again soon!

Solera is a great start to your evening in downtown Alton. It's a simple and intimate wine bar with…read moregood offerings and knowledgable service. It has become my place to go for a glass of wine before enjoying dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. Solera is strictly a wine bar, but they do offer various cheeses and meats to nosh on while you enjoy your wine. They also offer desserts so you can end your evening in downtown Alton with a glass of wine and offerings from a local bakery. Solera had to close down during the pandemic, but they are totally back and I highly recommend that you check them out.

The atmosphere was nice. Small and cozy to what you would find at any local bar. The service here…read morewas great, but items on menu were limited. NOTE: they no longer serve "food" since COVID 19 from what the bar tender told our group. Nonetheless a good place to go with plenty of options to eat close by.

When I lived in Kirkwood I would drive to this bar every weekend almost, to drink and have a great…read moretime with the locals. I met my now exgirlfriend there and won her over with a match of thumb wrestling. (she always won) The house Bday shot is the 3 wise men. I don't recall which nights but through the week they have $1PBR drafts, $5 PBR pitchers, and $2PBR bottles. Now don't start thinking I'm some South City Hipster. They serve this beer because it's cheap not trendy. The place is smaller than most would be used too. In the front it's just a bar with like 3-4 tables you can sit 4 people at each. With a bar you can fit maybe 15-20 people. The line for the bathroom works like clock work! The back room where the bands play is very large, while the stage is small, Singers usually on the floor in more than 3 piece band. They have a great Reggae night, as well as some great local bands that play as well. Muddy pub books a wide array of musical acts so there isn't really a set genre. The real action to me even now that I'm a non smoker, is out front of the muddy pub, nothing beats standing around the front door, talking to random people, and watching the people bar hop around the block of 3rd street Alton that is like a mini St. Louis Landing. One of my favorite all time bars for sure!

This is a bar I've been dragged to way too many times and for reasons I still don't understand. If…read moreit's up to me, I won't be back again. It has a basic problem that there's no good place to sit anywhere if you have a group of friends with you. Assuming there are seats open at the bar at primetime, when you most want to be out drinking (and that's a big assumption because there probably won't be seats open), your group is spread several people wide and not everyone can hear everyone over the music and other people. You want to be in that room because it's where the beer is, and where most of the people are, but it's hard to hang out in there because the space is too narrow and awkward. Then of course because you're having to stand behind your friend who's sitting at the bar, you're constantly moving out of the way of someone who's in line for the bathroom. The upstairs is never open (that I've seen), so forget about that. Then, on the ground level past the room with the bar and bar stools, you've got the big open room with ample tables and seating where they put bands. Whenever a band is there, the band usually sucks, so it's no fun to sit there then. Whenever no bands are there, the room is too dark and empty to hang out in and not feel like a weirdo. Or they turn on the light and then it's too bright. You're never in the sweet spot when you're in that room, with the right amount of lighting and non-shitty music. Ironically, the best place to hang out at Big Muddy is outside the back door of the bar. Sometimes you can get away with taking a drink out there with you, and it can be fun to stand there and look at what's left of downtown Alton's industry. But I find it funny and telling that the best place to hang out is not actually part of the business. It's just a place where people stand when they go to Big Muddy because the bar itself isn't much to speak of, and yet all your friends want to go there anyway, so you can't just leave without having a drink.

When I think of martinis, I think of Bossanova and when I think of Bossanova, I think of martinis…read more The two of them, just go together. I enjoy a relaxing evening sitting at the bar at Bossanova, sipping a Martini. The music is played softly in the background at a level that makes it easy to enjoy and still have a conversation. When I get hungry while I am sipping my martini, I like to enjoy one of their flatbreads, perhaps an order of Salmon Rangoon or a bowl of French Mussels. They're all delicious and will satisfy my hunger pains. The reason I took a star away is, when I ordered my Extra Dry Tito's with a Twist and Make it Skate. The bartender did not know what I meant by, "Make It Skate". I had to explain to her what that phrase meant. She did fairly well, but it wasn't a true skate. I'm confident her eventually master that martini skill.

Downtown Alton on a Saturday date night! First time at Bossanova was a hit. The musician covered…read morePhil Collins and various TV show themes. Excellent environment. $9Martinss in nice Martina glasses, not those little cheap ones. One 007 for me and a Octopssy for my wife. We did all appetizers. Great crispy shrimp. Very hot crosni olive deep. Goat cheese salads and salmon Rangoon. Absolutely wonderful.

Best liquor store in Illinois or Missouri!! They almost always have what I want and if they don't…read morethey are sure to order it

From the owner: Liquor store stocking a large variety of goods, including hard-to-find candies.read more