Poll results: These are readers’ five favorite new restaurants in southwest Illinois
Last week we started an online poll for readers to select their favorite new restaurant that opened in the metro-east in 2021.
Bear in mind that this poll was just for fun. There’s nothing scientific about it.
It’s a fun way for us to engage our readers, and the businesses involved get a bit of free publicity. Some of them get bragging rights too (bonus!).
For those who’ve been following the updates online, our leading contenders, three of them in downtown Belleville, have been consistent. After extending the poll an extra several days, the results are finally in!
Here are the the five restaurants that received the most votes:
The Quarter Restaurant – First Place
I called Brandon McGraw to tell him that The Quarter Restaurant placed first in the poll and gave him an opportunity to comment on the news.
McGraw was excited to hear it, but I clearly put him on the spot because he didn’t know what to say at first. After a moment he said, “Thanks to our guests and to our staff for working so hard.”
Open since August, The Quarter has been full of delicious food and drinks, great music and fun times. (I can say this honestly, having been there myself on several occasions.)
The Quarter has a slot machine game room available for the over-21s and has been known to hold the occasional karaoke night. There will be a Queens of the Quarter Drag show on Friday, Jan. 14.
The restaurant has also participated in multiple community events, including the Chili Cook-Off where they won second place with their gumbo chili, and the Metro-East Pride Fest.
Over the holidays, The Quarter joined Bennie’s Pizza Pub and Big Daddy’s 618 to collect donations for charity in the Charity Santa Claus Pub Crawl.
McGraw said that he and his staff are glad to be involved with the community.
The Quarter Restaurant is located at 126 E. Main St. in Belleville. Current hours are 4-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 618-416-1000, visit quarterrestaurant.com or check out the Facebook page.
Joe & Onie’s – Second Place
When owner Steve Hemmer was told Joe & Onie’s: The Art of Carry-Out won second place in our reader poll, his initial reply was, “Wow! That’s amazing!”
Hemmer went on to say that he’s “very proud of the fact that local readers voted” for them and that he definitely appreciates it.
Open since February, Joe & Onie’s is Hemmer’s first endeavor in the food industry. Hemmer said it’s been a learning experience, using customer feedback to help make small improvements to better serve the customers.
Joe & Onie’s features a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, breakfast eats, sandwiches, soups, salads and sweets.
In addition to feeding and caffeinating the clientele, Hemmer said they’ve recently added a piano.
Folks can book an hour to play the piano and entertain themselves and other customers. Anyone from professional musicians to music students are able to schedule a time.
Hemmer said that those who play for an hour get a free meal and can keep any tips they make during that time.
Hemmer wants Joe & Onie’s to participate in what’s been developing as “Music Row” on East Main Street, where many of the other establishments feature live music entertainment. He’s been in contact with Melodic Rhythms and local music stores to spread the word.
Anyone interested in booking an hour to play music at Joe & Onie’s can call Hemmer at 618-779-9833.
Joe & Onie’s is located at 18 E. Main St., Belleville. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 618-416-4555 or visit online at joeandonies.com.
Bennie’s Pizza Pub – Third Place
Although Bennie’s Pizza Pub has been around for close to four years, they did move to a new location in 2021. (So yes, this counts as a new restaurant.)
Owner Bennie Parr said their new home is “definitely new to us” with much more space than the previous location. He said the impact of the move turned the business into something bigger.
When Parr learned that the top three winners in the poll were all downtown Belleville restaurants, he said, “That’s the beauty of the downtown district. We all need each other … work alongside each other. It takes all of us” to succeed.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Parr about the growth of businesses in the downtown area. “We’ve just got stronger.”
Parr said it’s easy to help one another because the businesses (restaurant and retail) are “pretty individualized.”
“Each restaurant is very different,” said Parr. “We’re all so unique in our own ways.”
Bennie’s Pizza Pub is located at 113 E. Main St., Belleville. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.
For information or to place an order, call 618-416-0019 or visit benniespizzapub.com.
Golden Oak Pancake House – Fourth Place
Golden Oak Pancake House opened its second location at 6663 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Suite A, in Edwardsville last spring.
The popular restaurant serves breakfast all day, dishing out pancakes, French toast, omelets, skillets and so much more.
Golden Oak is a family-owned business with more than 50 years of experience in the restaurant industry, according to its website.
The original location is at 4519 N. Illinois St. in Swansea.
Both locations are open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. They are closed Mondays.
For information, visit goldenoakpancakehouse.com or call 618-307-9966 for Edwardsville or 618-416-4633 for Swansea.
Pappo’s Pizzeria & Pub – Fifth Place
A second pizza place has ranked in the top five of our reader poll.
Pappo’s Pizzeria & Pub, located at 15 Ludwig Drive in Fairview Heights, opened its doors in October.
Pappo’s has something for everyone, offering more than 30 specialty pizzas, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. I myself have enjoyed meals there on more than one occasion.
The menu also has appetizers, salads, calzones and pizza bowls (pizza without the crust served in a bowl), baked entrées and more than a dozen different sandwiches.
Owner Richard Galloway has been in the pizza business for 32 years, and it shows. Each time I’ve gone there for dinner, I noticed Galloway was always busy doing what needs to be done. He rolls up his sleeves and does everything from sweeping floors and bussing tables to making sure the customers are taken care of and enjoying themselves.
Pappo’s is currently open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday- Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. They are closed on Monday.
For information or to place a carryout order, call 618-213-6160. Find Pappo’s on Facebook or visit online at pappospizzeria.com.
Other restaurants included in the poll were:
FlamentCo’s The Place: 813 Seibert Road, Scott AFB. 618-801-2275. flamentcopizzasafb.com
Soulcial Kitchen Food Truck Park and Restaurant & Bar: 127 North Belt East, Swansea. 618-825-9100. soulcialkitchen.com
Chicken Salad Chick: 1128 Merchants Way, Suite 310, O’Fallon. 618-323-3854. chickensaladchick.com/ofallon-il
Spike’s Public House: 4 E. Washington St., Millstadt. 618-476-6276. spikepub.com
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers: 6565 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-394-7412. raisingcanes.com
Schlafly Highland Square: 907 Main St., Highland. 314-241-2337. schlafly.com
Sunrise Pancake House: 548 E. Washington St., Millstadt. 618-476-6260. facebook.com/sunrisemillstadt
AJ’s Smashed & Smoked: 6980 W. Main St., Belleville. smashedandsmoked.com
Twisted Biscuit Brunch Co.: 1071 S. State Highway157, Edwardsville. 618-800-5001. twistedbiscuitbc.com
El Indio Mexican Restaurant: 515 N. Bellwood Drive, Suite B, Bethalto. 618-216-2729 or 618-792-3178. facebook.com/elindiobethalto
Pop’s Fish & Chicken Market: 10616 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights. 618-489-1149.
Crafty Crab: 51 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights. 618-489-1153. facebook.com/CraftycrabIL
Edley’s Bar-B-Que: 2392 S. State Route 157, Glen Carbon. 618-307-9111. edleysbbq.com
Jet’s Pizza: 5200 N. Illinois St., Suite 103, Fairview Heights. 618-892-9900. jetspizza.com
Miss Jay’s Cafeteria: 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., East St. Louis. 618-874-8711. facebook.com/Miss-Jays-Cafeteria-110029357391148
Stir Hibachi: 1048 Collinsville Crossing Blvd., Collinsville. 618-223-1164. stirhibachi.com
Agavero Grill & Cantina: 604 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville. 618-855-9200. facebook.com/Agavero-Grill-Cantina-107644208181153
Tito’s Fresh Mex & Cantina: 7157 IL-158, Millstadt. 618-476-6189.
Wings & Things 318 E. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-589-3894. wings-things.com
O’bar Café: 1063 S. State Route 157 #12, Edwardsville. 618-307-9008. obarcafe.com
Gears Bar & Café: 201 E. State St., O’Fallon. 618-622-1693. bikesurgeon.com/gears-bar-and-cafe
