Welcome to The Brown Bag Bistro
At The Brown Bag Bistro, we celebrate the joy of fresh, vibrant dining in a cozy Alton atmosphere. As a women-owned establishment, we focus on crafting unique salads, sandwiches, and desserts that delight the senses. Our welcoming bistro offers vegan options and a casual, trendy vibe, making it perfect for families and groups. Enjoy outdoor seating or take advantage of our prompt delivery and takeout services. Our menu is bursting with creativity—a highlight being our hearty Italian beef and the beloved Granny's grilled cheese. At The Brown Bag Bistro, every meal becomes a special experience, embraced by warm service and community spirit.
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318 E Broadway St Alton, IL 62002 United States Hotline: (618) 433-9933
Welcome to The Brown Bag Bistro, a charming culinary gem nestled in the heart of Alton, Illinois, at 318 E Broadway St. This delightful eatery has quickly become a beloved local hotspot, celebrated for its vibrant menu that features a delightful blend of salads, desserts, and sandwiches. With a focus on fresh ingredients and innovative flavor combinations, you're bound to discover a unique dining experience in every bite.
What sets The Brown Bag Bistro apart is not just its diverse culinary offerings but the inviting and trendy atmosphere. The bistro is not only wheelchair accessible but also boasts outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying your lunch or a casual dinner under the Alton sky. For those on the go, the restaurant provides convenient options such as delivery and takeout, along with a drive-thru service for the ultimate in convenience.
- Brand Highlights:
- Women-owned and committed to community support.
- Accepts various payment methods, including cryptocurrency, reflecting a modern, tech-savvy approach.
- Catering options available; perfect for gatherings and events.
- Inclusive atmosphere welcoming families, pet owners (dogs allowed!), and individuals from all walks of life.
Customer reviews echo the restaurant's commitment to outstanding service and quality. Tiffany S. raves about the unique sandwiches paired with delightful soups and salads. John F. highlights the Italian beef as a must-try, recounting his experience with a perfect blend of spice and flavor. Meanwhile, Erin J. praises the beautiful patio, a wonderful spot for a leisurely lunch— an excellent choice for dog owners and those seeking a relaxing dining atmosphere.
The food itself is consistently noted for being a cut above the rest. Cian D. mentions the charming decor and the meticulous preparation of dishes, emphasizing popular offerings like the "granny’s grilled cheese" with Brie and homemade brown sugar aioli— a clear testament to the bistro's innovative flair. Jennifer M. enjoyed the extensive menu and delightful Chicken Salad with poppyseed dressing, while Debby A.'s accolades for the charcuterie boards highlight their impressive presentation and quality.
This eclectic bistro is not just about food; it's an experience. Whether you're stopping by for a comforting meal, needing a space to gather with friends, or simply looking to support a local business, The Brown Bag Bistro embodies all these elements with charm and warmth. From the sounds of laughter to the aroma of freshly made dishes, a visit here promises to be satisfying and memorable.
Next time you find yourself in Alton, make it a point to visit The Brown Bag Bistro. Your taste buds will thank you!
I have been here a few times and I always try to stop and support this local restaurant in Alton when I am in the area. They have a unique set of delicious sandwiches paired with soups, salads, sides and desserts! Check them out! The service is great and this quaint little sandwich shop always brings a delicious twist to their menu. So good!
Very nice place with a fantastic menu and gastronomy results....in short...great food. The Italian beef was excellent with just the right amount of spice and kick. Good portion sandwich could be shared but I would keep it for yourself. The other dishes were Turkey Reuben was also excellent and the chili sides were hot with a mild kick. This is a definite must return bistro. Craft beer was okay but I'd like to see some draught craft to but it's not a deal breaker.
Took a little while but was worth the wait. We had our dog with us and called ahead. The patio was beautiful and perfect for a lovely lunch. It took a while to get our food but when we finally got our food it was well worth the wait.
Great place. We were docked at the riverfront on a stop for our Mississippi cruise and wanted a lunch in town. Yelpers had good words a out this place and it was a quick 15 minute walk from the dock. Momma and I split a sando from the large menu of unique items because they were huge. Be aware they get very busy and the staff was up front about a 30 minute wait. We said ok but started to get paranoid about getting back to the ship because, well, we're paranoid travelers. The shop changed our orders from eat in to carry out with a smile. Killer staff and incredible sando. Go. Eat. Enjoy.
Love the food and atmosphere here keep coming back first time we sat down here we usually get to go. However this time had been different we sat down at around 12pm and yes a little busy we watched as multiple people tables up to 7 people who sat after us got there food and we were still waiting on ours I finally was getting frustrated after waiting 30 mins so I went in to ask they said " our number was next up" it's 12:30 at this point we sat there for an additional 15 mins watching groups of people again who sat after us receive there food and finally at 12:50pm we get our food at this point we had some where to be and weren't able to enjoy sitting outside and eating. I don't know if it's bc they were short staffed or it was busy. But we were thinking it would be a nice day to sit outside and eat and not have to be in a hurry oh how we were wrong.
My husband and I spent a day up in Alton and stopped here for lunch. It is a small place and you order at the counter. Once done ordering they give you a number and you can find a seat and they'll bring you your food. They had a few specials for the day which was nice. I got the chicken salad on a croissant and my husband got the grilled cheese special. Bother we're very good. The chicken salad was like most chicken salads but it was still good. The grilled cheese special was nice too. It had some apples and a sweet brown sugar aioli. It was delicious!! This was the perfect place to stop for a good lunch!
Adorable cafe that is always bustling. Service has been great and the food is solid. Everything is made to order so expect a little bit of a wait. I've enjoyed salads and just tried their special, "granny's grilled cheese", which had Brie, cheddar, provolone, apples and a homemade brown sugar aioli. Excellent grilled cheese and came with a cup of tasty soup. The interior is really cute with brick walls and nice windows looking out onto the street. I highly recommend them for lunch when in Alton! We just moved here and I love having it in town!
Headed up North to Elsah for the Holiday House Tour but needed to fuel up. The Brown Bag Bistro downtown Alton was so good. If you want that quaint cafe vibe this is for you. Menu is extensive so I really want to go back and try other things!!! Plus it looks like Alton is reviving the downtown area!! The Chicken Salad was Amazing. The poppyseed dressing and I love my chicken salad with grapes (not celery). I upgraded to the Mac n Cheese! The hubby got the Ruben. They make their own Rueben Sauce. I am not a Rueben fan but this was tasty! We also got the Lobster Bisque. This was a take it or leave it item. Didn't hate it but didn't love it either. Our friends got the Chili Mac which they said was so delish!!! This is counter service. Also the overflow seating is General store next door!!!
My husband and I love the Brown Bag Bistro. It's a great lunch spot with unique sandwiches and great service. At peak times it gets really busy. My review is about the charcuterie boards though. I ordered one a week ago for this week. You do have to pay in advance, which is reasonable considering the amount of work and quality of the product. The "board" was actually 3 and had fruit, nuts, cheese, meat, fruit, etc. It was a huge hit at the celebration get together I brought it to. There were leftovers and they were delicious 3 days later still. One item to note: One does have to return the actual boards. The pictures show the artistry and the incredible amount of food. I could not recommend Brown Bag more. Oh yeah - one last thing - everyone who works there has always been so NICE. That is hard to find these days.