The service here was great. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. Since this was my first visit, I can't speak to all of the menu, but the Crab Stew was very tasty and not something you would get at any other Alton establishment. The portion sizes were adequate and the food didn't seem to be just a re-hash of pre-packaged restaurant staples. The interior was clean and comfortable, and the walls were decorated with photos of historic Alton buildings and attractions. I also liked that there was a separate bar, so that the noise was kept to a minimum and didn't interfere with patrons dining. All in all, I will be back to try more of the menu.
(4)
Steph M.
Great place! Service is good, food is delicious, have not had a bad thing yet. Try the crab chowder it's a must!
(5)
Gary A.
Tried the newest dining spot in Alton (desperately needed) this evening. My wife and I tried the fried banana pepper appetizer. It was very good. The breading was very light and not greasy. The dipping sauce tasted like the type you get with an awesome blossom. My wife got the chicken grachsa with a salad dressed with their Italian house dressing. It was a large fresh salad with Parmesan cheese, red onions, artichoke hearts and ripe olives. Her entree was a large serving of chicken with angel hair pasta that had a light sherry cream sauce, not too heavy. Tasty, but the chicken could have used a little more seasoning. I tried the crab "stew." As they say on the menu, it is loaded with crab. It was in a light cream sauce, not as heavy as a chowder. To me, it was more of a soup than stew. Either way, it was great and I will definitely order it again! I had the spicy chicken and shrimp pasta. Again, a large serving with generous amounts of chicken, shrimp and mushrooms with bow tie pasta. Prices were very reasonable and our waitress was very attentive. We look forward to returning and trying out their other menu items.
(4)
Cassandra B.
My husband and I have been considering this place for a long time. They are busy often and have good reviews so we decided to give it a try tonight. Upon entry I noticed the restaurant is separate which I like, not being a "bar-person". The restaurant area is nicely decorated with pictures of beautiful Alton. First, our server, Savannah, was very helpful, friendly and well versed on the menu. After looking over the menu we decided to try a few apps since they all sounded so good. Mozzarella planks, medium wings and fried banana peppers. Can't say a bad thing about any of them! Banana peppers are lightly battered and crispy. You get SO many for 3.99 I was shocked. The wings were perfectly fried and sauced well also. Not dripping sauce or oil like you get at some places. The mozzarella sticks were good, although, not too special. Our burgers came out fast, we're cook exactly the way we wanted and the meat was so fresh! This place is way above the rest of the offerings in Alton. If you're unsure if it's a fit for you, give it a try!
(5)
Amanda H.
Really enjoy coming here the crab stew is amazing and the flavors in the rest of the food have a nice ranger from hearty to a light sweet spice. Will be coming here again! P.S. Now they have wifi
(4)
Melinda M.
Well I don't know why this is the number 2 restaurant on Alton on tripadvisor. We ordered the hamburgers and fresh made chips. Hamburger was ok a best. Chips were made ar lunch. We were there for dinner. Sorry, won't go back.
(3)
Steve B.
Love the decor and atmosphere. Guacamole bites are a unique appetizer and were very good. Definitely recommend them. The stingers (breaded chicken tenders) are okay. Wasn't a fan of the breading and the Carolina sauce I chose wasn't very Carolina-y. (That's a new word). Had those on top of a stinger salad. It was fine. I like there menu and will try more things. Definitely worth a visit. Nice addition to Alton.
(3)
Mark B.
First off the draft beer menu had Goose Island Ipa on it...when I asked for one they told me we don't have that yet...seriously you gonna list a beer that you haven't even stocked yet!! I ordered a different beer and she asked me if I wanted a cold glass to which I said no. I get my beer and a cold glass.... Here take it back. Then when I got my hot wings they were cold. I told them so. Then the manager brings out fresh wings but they are bbq wings!! Sorry I had HOT sauce...ok they had to fix the fix. They did buy me another beer which is the only reason they got 2 stars
(2)
Tina S.
We decided to try Bluff City Grill again today for lunch. It was not restaurant week, but we found the parking lot to be full. This Friday we chose to eat in the bar, nice setting. The waitress brought us our menus and explained the daily specials. One of the ladies in our party recommended the fish tacos. I was excited, I had always wanted to try fish tacos and finally I had my chance. You get three tacos and a side of fries. They were very appealing to the eyes. It has lettuce, diced tomatoes, tilapia, and a red sweet/spicy chili powder sauce. It was just enough of a kick. The only down side we have continued to discover, is it takes forever for your food. I am guessing they remodeled the building to add more seating, but left the kitchen the same size.
(4)
Andrew S.
This new Alton gem is well located on IL-67. The menu is decent but surely not exhaustive. The pulled pork is decent but some cole slaw would definitely improve the sandwich. Make sure to ask for extra sauce as well. The fried banana peppers are tasty, but I didn't need that many. I should have had the vegetable or tater tots. The beer selection was good for an Alton bar. The wait staff was extremely polite and very attentive. I will give this establishment a second try, but they have some work to do to earn some more stars with their food.
(3)
JR H.
i recently made my first visit and, based upon first impressions, it will not be my last. I stopped for lunch and had a salad. It was plentiful and well constructed. The staff were friendly and efficient. The menu is not extensive, but offers a bit of everything. The beer selection looks good. There are plenty of TV's in the bar for sports viewing. I will return for dinner and to sample a "cold one" (or two...)
(4)
Aj V.
Not too shabby a place. This was my second time eating here and my wife and I enjoyed it. The food so far on these trips have been good, but not great. I ordered the baseball cut steak this evening and it was cooked well and was a fine cut of meat. The desert menu is unfortunately only two choices though.
(3)
Nicole A.
We went here for lunch while on a business trip. We were seated and immediately noticed that the restaurant smelled musty. It looked like it had been recently renovated, so maybe the smell was from construction. The waitress came over immediately and took our drink and appetizer order and came back soon after for our food orders. We had the Guac Bites for an appetizer which were AMAZING. Our food took a long time to come out though and was decent. Don't go here if you need a quick bite.
(3)
James T.
I had really high hopes after I saw the deep fried banana peppers. But sadly the rest of the meal wasn't as great. It was ok but that's all I can say. The menu just doesn't have a lot to offer. Typical bar food.
(3)
Makenzie W.
Stopped by on our way through town, glad we did! We were one of the only people in there so service was fast and friendly. Everything we ordered was was awesome. For desert we got the blonde brownie with ice cream. I was expecting it to be soft and chewy but it was pretty dry and crumbly. If I'm ever in town again I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Ok we went back and had the pasta Joseph, the special of the day. OMG this was fabulous and almost as good reheated. The crab soup was really good but the pasta was more than a grand slam. Our server, savannah (with glasses) was superb and offered great suggestions. We definitely will be back. Great job!
(5)
Anna P.
My mom and I stopped in for lunch. We split the crab stew which was really tasty and rich, but I bit into 3 pieces of sharp shell. I got the chicken stinger sandwich, Mom had the burger - no complaints. The sweet chili sauce was really good. Not sure if it's house made or not, but definitely worth adding on. The food was good, but nothing spectacular or unique. Most of the menu looked extremely similar to other places - that do it better. Will likely stop in again to give it another try.
(3)
Len J.
The three little pigs is a sandwich that you cannot live without. It is amazing. Sleek modern dining room was warm and inviting and don't forget the fried guacamole bites to start. A great meal at a great price.
(5)
Helena M.
I've been here several times previously and each of those were pretty decent, good enough to come back at least. But tonight it was absolutely fantastic! First, our waitress Savannah was attentive, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the menu and item offerings. She was very sweet and my daughter loved her! Second, we started with the Guac Bites which were different...in a great way! I wish there wasn't quite as much pico de gallo in the guacamole but hey it was still a great appetizer! I also had the crab stew which was rich, buttery, and full of crab. I highly recommend it (I think its better than the white chicken chili!) The fish tacos that my fiance had were awesome, my chicken grascha was great, and the grilled chicken is always a solid dish! In the beginning, the service left you lacking and really distracted from the quality of the food. Now that they have fixed the service problem, the food really has its chance to shine. If you're in the area and don't consider coming by, you're missing out!
(5)
Dawn M.
Great food. Better than expected even! LOVED the tillapia and shrimp entree, it was perfectly prepared and so much food! Atmosphere is surprisingly sweet and quaint, like a bistro on the inside. Cheeseburger was cooked to perfection. The dinner salad was a pleasant surprise, included artichoke hearts and olives. They have two homemade salad dressings, ranch and house oil and vinegar.
(5)
Vanessa F.
The atmosphere was great and service was good. They were super busy. I would definitely recommend as a place to go. Our table had the fried mushrooms and smothered fries as appetizers. The mushrooms were fresh and very good. The French fries were also good. A couple of us also had the crab stew. It was tasty and you definitely could taste the crab, but to me a stew is a little more hearty than this was. There was not a single person who did not enjoy their entree... We had the king of clubs, seafood platter, pasta carbonara, grilled tilapia, and the stinger salad with the sweet chili sauce. I do wish the salad was made with romaine instead of iceberg. They were big portions and there were definitely leftovers brought home.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
C H.
The service here was great. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. Since this was my first visit, I can't speak to all of the menu, but the Crab Stew was very tasty and not something you would get at any other Alton establishment. The portion sizes were adequate and the food didn't seem to be just a re-hash of pre-packaged restaurant staples. The interior was clean and comfortable, and the walls were decorated with photos of historic Alton buildings and attractions. I also liked that there was a separate bar, so that the noise was kept to a minimum and didn't interfere with patrons dining. All in all, I will be back to try more of the menu.
(4)Steph M.
Great place! Service is good, food is delicious, have not had a bad thing yet. Try the crab chowder it's a must!
(5)Gary A.
Tried the newest dining spot in Alton (desperately needed) this evening. My wife and I tried the fried banana pepper appetizer. It was very good. The breading was very light and not greasy. The dipping sauce tasted like the type you get with an awesome blossom. My wife got the chicken grachsa with a salad dressed with their Italian house dressing. It was a large fresh salad with Parmesan cheese, red onions, artichoke hearts and ripe olives. Her entree was a large serving of chicken with angel hair pasta that had a light sherry cream sauce, not too heavy. Tasty, but the chicken could have used a little more seasoning. I tried the crab "stew." As they say on the menu, it is loaded with crab. It was in a light cream sauce, not as heavy as a chowder. To me, it was more of a soup than stew. Either way, it was great and I will definitely order it again! I had the spicy chicken and shrimp pasta. Again, a large serving with generous amounts of chicken, shrimp and mushrooms with bow tie pasta. Prices were very reasonable and our waitress was very attentive. We look forward to returning and trying out their other menu items.
(4)Cassandra B.
My husband and I have been considering this place for a long time. They are busy often and have good reviews so we decided to give it a try tonight. Upon entry I noticed the restaurant is separate which I like, not being a "bar-person". The restaurant area is nicely decorated with pictures of beautiful Alton. First, our server, Savannah, was very helpful, friendly and well versed on the menu. After looking over the menu we decided to try a few apps since they all sounded so good. Mozzarella planks, medium wings and fried banana peppers. Can't say a bad thing about any of them! Banana peppers are lightly battered and crispy. You get SO many for 3.99 I was shocked. The wings were perfectly fried and sauced well also. Not dripping sauce or oil like you get at some places. The mozzarella sticks were good, although, not too special. Our burgers came out fast, we're cook exactly the way we wanted and the meat was so fresh! This place is way above the rest of the offerings in Alton. If you're unsure if it's a fit for you, give it a try!
(5)Amanda H.
Really enjoy coming here the crab stew is amazing and the flavors in the rest of the food have a nice ranger from hearty to a light sweet spice. Will be coming here again! P.S. Now they have wifi
(4)Melinda M.
Well I don't know why this is the number 2 restaurant on Alton on tripadvisor. We ordered the hamburgers and fresh made chips. Hamburger was ok a best. Chips were made ar lunch. We were there for dinner. Sorry, won't go back.
(3)Steve B.
Love the decor and atmosphere. Guacamole bites are a unique appetizer and were very good. Definitely recommend them. The stingers (breaded chicken tenders) are okay. Wasn't a fan of the breading and the Carolina sauce I chose wasn't very Carolina-y. (That's a new word). Had those on top of a stinger salad. It was fine. I like there menu and will try more things. Definitely worth a visit. Nice addition to Alton.
(3)Mark B.
First off the draft beer menu had Goose Island Ipa on it...when I asked for one they told me we don't have that yet...seriously you gonna list a beer that you haven't even stocked yet!! I ordered a different beer and she asked me if I wanted a cold glass to which I said no. I get my beer and a cold glass.... Here take it back. Then when I got my hot wings they were cold. I told them so. Then the manager brings out fresh wings but they are bbq wings!! Sorry I had HOT sauce...ok they had to fix the fix. They did buy me another beer which is the only reason they got 2 stars
(2)Tina S.
We decided to try Bluff City Grill again today for lunch. It was not restaurant week, but we found the parking lot to be full. This Friday we chose to eat in the bar, nice setting. The waitress brought us our menus and explained the daily specials. One of the ladies in our party recommended the fish tacos. I was excited, I had always wanted to try fish tacos and finally I had my chance. You get three tacos and a side of fries. They were very appealing to the eyes. It has lettuce, diced tomatoes, tilapia, and a red sweet/spicy chili powder sauce. It was just enough of a kick. The only down side we have continued to discover, is it takes forever for your food. I am guessing they remodeled the building to add more seating, but left the kitchen the same size.
(4)Andrew S.
This new Alton gem is well located on IL-67. The menu is decent but surely not exhaustive. The pulled pork is decent but some cole slaw would definitely improve the sandwich. Make sure to ask for extra sauce as well. The fried banana peppers are tasty, but I didn't need that many. I should have had the vegetable or tater tots. The beer selection was good for an Alton bar. The wait staff was extremely polite and very attentive. I will give this establishment a second try, but they have some work to do to earn some more stars with their food.
(3)JR H.
i recently made my first visit and, based upon first impressions, it will not be my last. I stopped for lunch and had a salad. It was plentiful and well constructed. The staff were friendly and efficient. The menu is not extensive, but offers a bit of everything. The beer selection looks good. There are plenty of TV's in the bar for sports viewing. I will return for dinner and to sample a "cold one" (or two...)
(4)Aj V.
Not too shabby a place. This was my second time eating here and my wife and I enjoyed it. The food so far on these trips have been good, but not great. I ordered the baseball cut steak this evening and it was cooked well and was a fine cut of meat. The desert menu is unfortunately only two choices though.
(3)Nicole A.
We went here for lunch while on a business trip. We were seated and immediately noticed that the restaurant smelled musty. It looked like it had been recently renovated, so maybe the smell was from construction. The waitress came over immediately and took our drink and appetizer order and came back soon after for our food orders. We had the Guac Bites for an appetizer which were AMAZING. Our food took a long time to come out though and was decent. Don't go here if you need a quick bite.
(3)James T.
I had really high hopes after I saw the deep fried banana peppers. But sadly the rest of the meal wasn't as great. It was ok but that's all I can say. The menu just doesn't have a lot to offer. Typical bar food.
(3)Makenzie W.
Stopped by on our way through town, glad we did! We were one of the only people in there so service was fast and friendly. Everything we ordered was was awesome. For desert we got the blonde brownie with ice cream. I was expecting it to be soft and chewy but it was pretty dry and crumbly. If I'm ever in town again I'll definitely go back.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Ok we went back and had the pasta Joseph, the special of the day. OMG this was fabulous and almost as good reheated. The crab soup was really good but the pasta was more than a grand slam. Our server, savannah (with glasses) was superb and offered great suggestions. We definitely will be back. Great job!
(5)Anna P.
My mom and I stopped in for lunch. We split the crab stew which was really tasty and rich, but I bit into 3 pieces of sharp shell. I got the chicken stinger sandwich, Mom had the burger - no complaints. The sweet chili sauce was really good. Not sure if it's house made or not, but definitely worth adding on. The food was good, but nothing spectacular or unique. Most of the menu looked extremely similar to other places - that do it better. Will likely stop in again to give it another try.
(3)Len J.
The three little pigs is a sandwich that you cannot live without. It is amazing. Sleek modern dining room was warm and inviting and don't forget the fried guacamole bites to start. A great meal at a great price.
(5)Helena M.
I've been here several times previously and each of those were pretty decent, good enough to come back at least. But tonight it was absolutely fantastic! First, our waitress Savannah was attentive, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the menu and item offerings. She was very sweet and my daughter loved her! Second, we started with the Guac Bites which were different...in a great way! I wish there wasn't quite as much pico de gallo in the guacamole but hey it was still a great appetizer! I also had the crab stew which was rich, buttery, and full of crab. I highly recommend it (I think its better than the white chicken chili!) The fish tacos that my fiance had were awesome, my chicken grascha was great, and the grilled chicken is always a solid dish! In the beginning, the service left you lacking and really distracted from the quality of the food. Now that they have fixed the service problem, the food really has its chance to shine. If you're in the area and don't consider coming by, you're missing out!
(5)Dawn M.
Great food. Better than expected even! LOVED the tillapia and shrimp entree, it was perfectly prepared and so much food! Atmosphere is surprisingly sweet and quaint, like a bistro on the inside. Cheeseburger was cooked to perfection. The dinner salad was a pleasant surprise, included artichoke hearts and olives. They have two homemade salad dressings, ranch and house oil and vinegar.
(5)Vanessa F.
The atmosphere was great and service was good. They were super busy. I would definitely recommend as a place to go. Our table had the fried mushrooms and smothered fries as appetizers. The mushrooms were fresh and very good. The French fries were also good. A couple of us also had the crab stew. It was tasty and you definitely could taste the crab, but to me a stew is a little more hearty than this was. There was not a single person who did not enjoy their entree... We had the king of clubs, seafood platter, pasta carbonara, grilled tilapia, and the stinger salad with the sweet chili sauce. I do wish the salad was made with romaine instead of iceberg. They were big portions and there were definitely leftovers brought home.
(4)