Burgers, steak, coffee. Here’s the 3 closed metro-east restaurants readers miss most
Whether it’s sipping refreshing iced coffee at your favorite cafe or visiting that quirky place your family adores, some experiences are just hard to let go.
Unfortunately, letting go has been the norm for many restaurants across the U.S. in the last two years as they’ve struggled to keep their doors open amid the coronavirus pandemic and the tight labor market it’s created.
We asked our readers to tell us which shuttered restaurants in Belleville and St. Clair County they miss the most, what their favorite dishes were and what made the experience so magical.
You responded, with 18 participants weighing in through our survey. This isn’t scientific or too serious, just for fun.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and dive into the local restaurants you’re most nostalgic for.
Balance Coffee & Tea
This popular Belleville coffee shop closed two months ago, but the loss is keenly felt by our readers, particularly Claudia Stammer. She misses sipping an iced americano and the vegan hash crumble.
Located in an old railway station, Balance offered atmosphere, but ultimately the owners opted to close the restaurant for “personal reasons,” according to a Facebook post at the time.
“We have now had several offers to take over this business, so there’s definitely hope for the cafe to return under new ownership!” the post said.
1818 Chop House
After five years in business, the owners of this O’Fallon steakhouse serving in-house butchered cuts and seafood announced last year that they’d be consolidating the restaurant’s operations at a single location in Edwardsville, about 45 minutes away.
The owners broke the news on Facebook, stating, “Our team was filled with joy and gratification when the community welcomed us with open arms,” back in 2016 when the restaurant opened.
“We have been blessed to have the opportunity to serve you all these last 5 years,” the post said.
But the coronavirus pandemic and the disruption it wrought on the hospitality industry proved fatal for the restaurant’s location at 1405 North Green Mount Road in O’Fallon.
Survey participant Judy Dunehew told us she enjoyed all the food at the Chop House, especially the shrimp tacos.
Jefferson’s
For 15 years, Jefferson’s was an institution in Belleville, but in 2021, the owners announced the pandemic had proved too much for restaurant known for hanging dollar bills decorated by customers from its walls and ceilings.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time in west Belleville and getting to know all of you helped make the last 15 years enjoyable,” the restaurant’s closure announcement stated. “We tried our best to get through this past year and a half, but the time has come to close our doors.”
Jefferson’s menu featured burgers and oysters, and its wings were a favorite of survey participant Melissa J. Toennies, who also appreciated how close and affordable the experience was.
This story was originally published July 20, 2022 at 3:47 PM.