The Brown Bag Bistro — Restaurant in Alton

Brown Bag Bistro has got it going on! I have been to plenty of Bistro, or 'Lunch' type spots over my lifetime. Many if not most of them try to innovate their menu, but most of them fail miserably at it. As a regular type dude, I don't even necessarily seek out the 'innovators'. Sometimes I just want lunch. However, I definitely recognize greatness when I see it, and that is what I saw when I walked in their door! First off, everything is super nice and clean. Thank you for that. When I go out to eat, I really would rather not spend my money in a dive. I went in to check the cleanliness of the restroom, and it was tip-top! Keep it clean, and it will continue to smell clean. Nice job people. The rest of the dining room is nice to take in. It makes you want to spend plenty of time there. That is the key, and in my opinion worth an entire star in this 5 star rating system. The clean bathroom is another star. I approached the counter and had no shortage of things I could have for lunch! The menu is fantastic! The friendly service is even better. Keep it up ladies, because for me customer service is THE most important part of any establishment I patron. I am old school trained in customer service, so I hold that bar very high. No worries at Brown Bag Bistro. They have the positive customer service figured out! Very nice, and very pleasant to speak to. In my Book, customer service is a full two stars. I know, I know...right now you are saying, "Hey Yeti, there aren't enough stars left to rate the food!" You are correct! There simply aren't enough stars to properly rate Brown Bag Bistro! That's how good they are. The food you ask, yes now for the food. I had the Italian Beef on a Dutch Roll, with Slaw, and a pickle. It was perfect in every way. The sandwich was full and no skimping on ingredients. They include the pickle and that to me is everything at lunch. I love dill pickles and I love the spear to be served on the same plate as my sammich! It just makes the meal. Now for the real Magic! That coleslaw was THE best I have ever had. I like to order coleslaw pretty much everywhere I go because I have found it is one of the hardest menu items to get just right. So when I find a place like Brown Bag that truly knows the magic combination to get the coleslaw right, then I have basically found Heaven! I mean that juice for the coleslaw was so good, I wanted to ask if they would just line up four or five shots of just the magic coleslaw juice! OMG!!! So if you are in the Alton, IL area, you have got to have lunch here. This place has the right combination of everything you need. I like the look of the place and there is also a candy store right next door that can take care of your sweet tooth (teeth). Both of these establishments are in cool looking historic buildings and it reminds me of an old west kind of feel. Being that I am originally from the Pacific Northwest, this is right where my heart is. So now for the final rating of The Yeti...2 stars for customer service, 1 star for cleanliness (is next to Godliness), classic decor gets 1 star, and the food gets 1,576 Gold stars! That is a grand total of 5,964 Gold lovely stars!!! There is no better rating than The Yeti system. A Yeti may not be that great at math, but he knows good lunch when he tastes it. This rating is above Trip Advisor! Yeti says, "check it out"! You won't be...

If I could give more than five stars, I would — The Brown Bag Bistro is absolutely one of the best lunch spots I’ve visited in Alton, and easily among the top for sandwiches, atmosphere, and friendly service. From the moment I walked in, the coziness and charm stood out. It’s the kind of place where everything feels fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and clearly made with pride.

First, the food. Wow. I tried their Bistro Club sandwich, which came on a perfectly grilled ciabatta, piled high with turkey, ham, bacon, provolone, sharp cheddar, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, red onion, and a cranberry aioli that was tangy and sweet without being overwhelming. The portion was generous — I had plenty to take home. The Sammy Roo (their take on the Reuben) was also phenomenal: the corned beef was tender, the sauerkraut tangy, the sauce perfectly balanced, and the marble rye beautifully grilled. Sides like their housemade chips and dill-spiced potato salad are standouts in their own right. Their soups are equally amazing — I had the Broccoli Cheddar and the French Onion at different visits, and both were rich, comforting, and flavorful. Desserts like cheesecake and a rotating selection of sweets cap off the meal in the best way possible.

Then there’s the service. The staff are so warm and attentive. Even when the place is packed (which happens often), they manage to keep things moving smoothly and still check in to see how everything is. One time I mentioned a dietary restriction, and they were extremely accommodating, double-checking and making sure things were safe. That kind of care goes a long way.

The ambiance also deserves praise. The indoor space is cute and clean, tastefully decorated, with natural light. Their patio is lovely too — umbrellas, outdoor tables, a nice vibe without feeling too noisy, even on a sunny weekend. It’s clearly a place where people enjoy lingering, chatting, relaxing — not just grabbing food and running.

Finally, the value is excellent. Prices are fair given the quality, freshness, and portion size. It feels like you get what you pay for — more, really. It’s not fancy fine dining, but it’s made with love, high standards, and consistency.

In short: The Brown Bag Bistro has quickly become my go-to in Alton for a satisfying, well made lunch (or early dinner), especially if I’m craving a great sandwich, stellar sides, and warm hospitality. Five stars without reservation — I can’t recommend this...

Ate here for the first time recently. Overall it's a decent place. It's clear they're shooting for the artisanal sandwich shop premise but miss the mark a bit. I'm in the area a few times a year, I might give it another try some other time, but won't be rushing back anytime soon.

Service was fine and the staff was polite. You order, they bring your food out, and everything else is self-service so not much to critique on their overall service. I didn't have enough interaction with the staff to really form a strong opinion either. There's an additional 3% fee if you pay with credit card which is annoying since the fees are deductible for the business. Inside was clean, the bathroom was tidy as well. We ate on the patio and the tables could use a bit of attention from time to time. A handful of the open tables were dirty to some degree and could use a quick wipe-down.

I tried the lobster bisque which was fine. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but won't warn anyone to avoid it either. Was a bit disappointed that it's called "lobster" bisque when it really isn't. I just ordered off the menu posted on the wall which (understandably so) didn't provide a detailed description. Glanced at the printed menu later which describes it as a "seafood bisque." Shame on me for not grabbing the printed menu first.

Another member of our party's meal came with chips which came in a small paper bag to give that appearance of fresh made chips. They were stale, crushed up Lays sour cream and onion chips. They're not claiming to be made in-house, but c'mon, at least make sure they're fresh and not the leftovers at the bottom of the Lays bag.

Also tried a caramel apple snickerdoodle mini-pie... thing. Basically, snickerdoodle dough, baked in a muffin tin, then filled with canned pie filling. For the $6 and change I paid, I expect more than just canned pie filling (that gelatinous goo is unmistakable). Looking past the canned filling, it still just...