I don't like when I have to give a family owned business a bad review. This week's bakery crawl…read moretook me to Good Knight Cupcake and Cookies in Wood River, IL. First off it is a little hard to get to the place, it is in a strip mall and you have to go down the road, make a U turn and come back. I arrived before 8 o'clock and either them had a huge rush, or they just don't fill the shelves. They had maybe 5 cupcakes left in the case and two six packs of day old cupcakes. These were a bargain at $6 for the 6. We got Choco Mocha, Very Cherry, Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Cup. They were very pretty and nicely presented, but they were dry and the icing was very sugary tasting. One word......disappointed.

This is the cutest place ever! We walked in and came out with cupcakes, cookies, and cakepops. My…read moreyoungest daughter said that their cakepops are better than starbucks cakepops.

First timer. I had the chicken salad. Very good. Love the green olives in it. My friend had the…read moreBLT. She sad it was delicious. I will be back.

This is such a cute place! It's a bit small and it was very busy, but the service was phenomenal…read more Everyone who worked there was super sweet and communicated well with everyone. I got the homemade cinnamon roll which was divine, and the cinnamon roll latte! My friend got the breakfast sandwich and she really loved it. If you're ever in the area, give this place a try.

Marie has the absolute best "Cheese Cakes" around!!!! My favorite is her Turtle. You got to try…read moreit because you will want more....I promise!!!

From the owner: Offering more than 60 dielicious cheesecakes, box lunches, party trays, desserts, handcrafted…read morecandies, soups, cookies & brownies, holiday specialties, client gifts, appetizers, wedding cheesecakes & much, much more. If you're having a party & you need food, call us. If you're having a party & you just need desserts, call us. With 30+ years experience in the food industry we can help with every aspect of your event - from planning to cleanup.

Great donuts and my kids love coming by after school for a treat. Can't beat the charitable concept!read more

From the owner: Local nonprofit bakeshop Now accepting donationsread more

When a bakery has been around longer then yourself, you know it is a good bakery. Duke has 5 years…read moreon me and I bet they'll still be here after I cross the Rainbow Bridge. There are several new boutique bakeries that have opened in the Alton area and they're good too, but when it comes to traditional baked goods and donuts, nothing beats Duke. They are know for their donuts, my favorite is the Chocolate Long John and a sack of Donut Holes. Another local favorite they serve up is the Cream Horn. It's decadent cream wrapped in a flakey shell. I've branched out instead of getting my standard order and tried the Cinnamon Roll and Cheese Danish. A few seconds in the microwave and you've got a tasty accompaniment to your morning coffee or tea. The staff is young, and they are both friendly and professional. Good bakery items and friendly customer service, gets me as a repeat customer. If you're a selfie person, they have two great places for photos out front of the bakery, Snap Away.

Delightful little local bakery that has been clutch for events & gifts. Great cakes, cookies, and…read moremacrons. They accept orders online and over the phone; but also have a decent selection for walk in orders as well, which is very convenient. So many Last minute cakes! Less than favorable street parking situation, but that's the downtown life.

I ordered 35 sugar cookies for a bridal shower from BabyCakes Bakery. They were iced with the…read moregrooms initial in the wedding color. When I picked them up, they were in 3 small boxes and the cookies were stacked! I immediately said that they would be ruined, but the clerk said no - since they had been refridgerated that when they got to room tempurature they would be fine when I took them apart to put in bags as a treat for each guest as they left. When I called to complian, the clerk told me that the "contract" I had signed said that if I had any compliants I would have had to notify her at pick up! Do not go to this bakery! Go to Dukes or Schnucks! Cindy Lewis, Godfrey

Cheesecake is the best! That's all I've had from here through work, but it's worth the trip for…read morethat alone.

I recently swung in for a fundraiser and grabbed sugar cookies and I am hooked! If you're a sugar…read morecookie person, THIS-IS-IT! They also don't have a minimum for sugar cookie orders which is awesome! They have multiple packaging options at different price points.

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.

The sweet aroma filled the room. The desserts appealing to the eyes and making my mouth water. So…read moremany options. I had to make a decision. Customer service was pleasant. They handled each customer with care. They didn't rush me. I know i took too long to decide. After finishing my order I kept adding to it. I had to hurry and leave tge building before I added even more to the order. I ended up with 4 delicious cupcakes and a gooey butter cake. Everything was so good. The gold rush was the last cake that I purchased. I had completed my order. But got back in line to get it. 2 ladies told me that I can go ahead of them. I told them I already ordered and I'm ordering again. I initially got 3 vanilla butter cream cupcakes. Then I saw the gooey butter cake. I asked the young lady to add that too.. My coworkers placed their orders. Their desserts are kind of pricey. At least they are on my opinion. But they are very good. Of course there's parking out front.

This location is kind of hidden. It's in the back corner of a strip center and off the main road…read more However, it is still easy to find and parking is a breeze. Yesterday, Sophia my little fur-baby had a vet appointment that was just a block away. Being a good dog dad, I made sure she arrived early. In fact, we were so early I had time to kill so I made a stop at, The Cup. To my delightful surprise, they had a special on two of my favorite flavors and they were combined into one cupcake. I love lemon & raspberry. The cupcake was called, Spring Fling. It was a lemon cake, with Raspberry cream cheese frosting and a raspberry filling. The cake was moist and soft. Most importantly, the frosting was not overly sweet and did not overly dominant the cake. It was just the perfect amount of topping. The lady working the counter was attentive and made friendly conversation. I was glad to see that they are part of the, Gift-A-Meal program and that they offered Student Discounts to those who attend SIUE. That's community supporting community.

Love this fabulously funky coffee space in the Milton Schoolhouse! Comfortable and cozy where…read morepeople sat studying, chatting, reading. My dirty chai was really great and Clyde's latte was as well. We shared a GF/Vegan banana chocolate muffin - yum! Staff was friendly and welcoming. The Milton Schoolhouse is a terrific space with other businesses to check out as well. Highly recommend!

I absolutely love this coffee shop. The coffee is always so good and so strong. They offer a bunch…read moreof different bakery items. I am gluten-free and they had this amazing vegan banana muffin that was gluten-free. It was so delicious. The people that work there are so kind. The vibe is really cool too because it's in an old school house and it has a bunch of different little shops in it too. I highly recommend if you're in the area to check it out. It is definitely worth the trip and you will not regret it. They also have alcoholic drinks too, but I have never tried any there.