Poll results: Here are southwest IL’s top new restaurants, according to BND readers
Well, my good readers, as far as the results of the favorite new restaurant poll are concerned, I think I kept you waiting long enough.
Since launching this poll, there was a good deal of activity as a few establishments jockeyed for positions among the top.
However, the constant throughout the entire polling period was one restaurant that ended where it started: in first place.
So here’s the part you’ve been waiting for — the top three favorite new restaurants to open in 2022, as chosen by you, the readers.
First Place — Village Pizza To-Go, 300 votes
“Wow, that’s pretty awesome,” said Village Pizza To-Go owner Joe Patti when he learned that his restaurant came in first in the poll.
Open since June, Village Pizza To-Go provides a menu of “authentic Italian flavors” with specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches and other fine eats.
To go, of course.
“We’ve been pretty grateful [to] the town. They really took us in,” Patti said.
“We’ve been lucky.”
When the pizza place first opened, they were really slammed, he said, but business slowed a bit since then.
Patti stated that their food is as high quality as ever.
Most of the food is prepared themselves, probably more than they need to, admitted Patti. But he’s not afraid of hard work.
Three generations of family recipes that haven’t changed are still in use today at Village Pizza To-Go.
“We don’t mess with what works,” said Patti.
VIllage Pizza To-Go is located at 13 S. Main St. in Smithton. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
For more information or to order, call 618-416-5116. Their menu is available online at villagepizza85.wixsite.com/villagepizzato-go and their Facebook page.
Second Place — Speak to Miss J, 183 votes
When I reported this poll’s first update, Speak to Miss J was in sixth place.
By the second update, the restaurant in Lebanon surpassed Clara B’s Kitchen Table, 1929 Pizza & Wine, Smithton Kountry Market and June’s Breakfast + Patio to land in second place.
And that is where they stayed.
Manager Denon Minney was happy to hear that Speak to Miss J took second place in the poll.
Formerly a furniture shop, Speak to Miss J opened as an ice cream shop and budding restaurant in early August.
When I spoke with Minney in October, he joked that they switched from furniture to food because he was “tired of lifting furniture.”
In December, I received a quick note via Facebook messages from Speak to Miss J that they now have options for dine-in and to-go orders.
Some of the fare included meals of barbecue pork steaks and meatloaf, black-eyed peas, cornbread, dressing, pinto beans and, of course, a variety of ice cream flavors.
One can also find soups, street corn, grilled cheese sandwiches (with ham and turkey additions), fried rice and other tasty items on the menu.
Recently, Speak to Miss J closed for a week (hey, everyone needs time off now and then) but will reopen Wednesday, Jan. 18.
“We came back with our creative juices flowing,” said Minney, adding that they are currently experimenting with new recipes.
Minnel also said they will have extended hours and some new food items, so follow their Facebook page for updates.
Events are also in the works including for Valentine’s Day. Again, follow their Facebook page for the latest.
In addition, folks can sign up to be part of the eatery’s VIP Club (it’s free) by texting “TREAT” to 855-721-2724.
Minney said that club members will be the “first to know about all the cool stuff” and receive coupons to use during the first week of membership, $1 off of all bubble tea and advance notice on new menu items and the occasional special.
Speak to Miss J is located at 207 W. Saint Louis St. in Lebanon. To learn more, call 618-808-0288 or visit facebook.com/SpeakToMissJToday.
Third Place — June’s Breakfast + Patio, 62 votes
And in third place is the Shiloh coffee shop June’s Breakfast + Patio.
Owner Liz Lingelbach Welzbacher was excited to hear that June’s ranked among the top three new restaurants in the poll.
The business opened Thursday, March 31, with what Lingelbach Welzbacher called at the time a “coffee open,” consisting of a full coffee drinks menu, some house-made baked goodies and adult beverages.
Since then, breakfast and brunch items were gradually introduced, as well as soups, salads and sandwiches.
And desserts. (Seriously, scroll through their Facebook feed. The pics speak for themselves.)
Lingelbach Welzbacher said they regularly change the menu to keep in tune with what’s in season.
“Things have been going really well,” said Lingelbach Welzbacher.
She said they’re starting to rent out space for private events such as baby and bridal showers and rehearsal dinners.
June’s will be closed for a much-needed winter break Monday, Jan. 16 through Tuesday, Jan. 24. They will reopen Wednesday, Jan. 25 at their regular winter hours.
Lingelbach Welzbacher said she has big plans for the rest of the year and mentioned an upcoming evening program launch as the weather warms.
She said she’d keep me posted, so stay tuned.
June’s Breakfast + Patio is located at 430 S. Main St. in Shiloh. Winter hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
For more information, visit junesinshiloh.com (join the mailing list) or the Facebook page.
The rest of the standings
As far as the other participants in this poll, here they are, listed from most to least votes:
Smithton Kountry Market, 620 N. Main St., Smithton. 618-612-7118. smithtonkountrymarket.com
Papa Vito’s - Smithton, 101 N. Main St., Smithton. 618-212-2100. mypapavitos.com
1929 Pizza & Wine, 7 N. Wood River Ave., Wood River. 1929pizzaandwine.com
Clara B’s Kitchen Table, currently in the process of moving to 723 S. Illinois St., Belleville, with plans to reopen in January. 618-416-1812. clarabs.com
O’Town Food Hall and Tap House, 1214 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. 618-206-8268. foodhalltaphouse.com
The Gasthaus (The Cobblestone), 115 W. St. Louis St., Lebanon. 618-808-0088. facebook.com/thegasthausil
Hawaiian Brother Island Grill, 1630 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-852-1103. hawaiianbros.com
A&W Restaurant, 648 Carlyle Ave., Belleville. 618-235-8672. awrestaurants.com
Wise Guys, 500 S. Illinois St., Belleville. 618-744-7017. wiseguysil.com
Hi-Pointe Drive-In, 630 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-680-1414. hipointedrivein.com
Edley’s Bar-B-Que, 531 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-206-8489. edleysbbq.com
Tropical Breeze Café, 4901 W. Main St., Belleville. 618-416-4399. tropicalbreeze.cafe
Tony’s Tacos, 1550 IL-15, Suite B, Belleville. 618-509-6828. facebook.com/tonys.tacos.18
Dogwood Social House, 1206 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. 618-589-3307. dogwoodsocialhouse.com
Golden Dragon, 128 W. Main St., Belleville. 618-233-7714.
Tullaghan’s Irish Pub, 100 Laurel St., Highland. 618-651-4080. facebook.com/tullaghanspub
Wasabi Sushi Bar, 1124 Merchants Way, Suite 220, O’Fallon. 618-622-9737. wasabisushibars.com
Flock (food truck park), 210 Ridge St., Alton. facebook.com/flock.alton
Fanatics Sports Bar & Grill, 9735 W. Main St., Belleville. 618-213-7600. facebook.com/fanaticsportbar
Thanks again for participating in this poll.
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This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
