Why Yelp says an Edwardsville restaurant is among the most popular in IL right now
Popular review website Yelp recently released its list of “October’s Most Popular Restaurants in Illinois,” and while the majority of the 100 picks are in Chicago, one fan-favorite Edwardsville spot made the top 30.
Cleveland-Heath was named the 30th most popular restaurant in the Land of Lincoln, and Yelp reviewers praised the establishment’s kale salad, old-fashioned cherry pie, pulled pork, beignets and more. The restaurant has more than 600 Yelp reviews, with a 4.4-star rating.
The Edwardsville restaurant describes its cuisine as “gourmet comfort” food, with menu options such as deviled eggs, whipped feta, tomato salad, “gringo tacos” and others, along with brown butter rice krispie treats for those with a sweet tooth.
Cleveland-Heath is located at 106 North Main St. and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sundays.
The No. 1 Illinois restaurant in Yelp’s ranking was Penumbra, a Chicago spot known for Latin-flavored steaks and seafood. You can make reservations online, and some of its popular menu items include charcuterie, surf and turf, Creole jalapeño shrimp and chocolate lava cake.
Penumbra has more than 1,000 reviews on Yelp, with a 4.8-star rating. The review site’s description praises the restaurant’s “romantic ambiance,” candlelit tables and intimate booths.
Chicago’s Taste of Lebanon, Chicago Magic Lounge and jeong rounded out the top four most popular Illinois restaurants for October, while Fort Jesse Cafe in Normal landed in fifth place.
The News-Democrat has contacted staff with Cleveland-Heath for comment on the Yelp distinction.
What are the most popular restaurants in Illinois?
Here are the top 30 “most popular” restaurants in Illinois, according to Yelp’s list for October:
1. Penumbra in Chicago
2. Taste of Lebanon in Chicago
3. Chicago Magic Lounge in Chicago
4. jeong in Chicago
5. Fort Jesse Cafe in Normal
6. KAI ZAN in Chicago
7. Community Tavern in Chicago
8. Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf in Chicago
9. Carnitas Uruapan in Chicago
10. S.K.Y. in Chicago
11. Trivoli Tavern in Chicago
12. Pueblo Nuevo in Chicago
13. Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe in Chicago (196 E. Pearson St. location)
14. Epiphany Farms Restaurant in Bloomington
15. Monteverde in Chicago
16. Indienne in Chicago
17. Virtue Restaurant in Chicago
18. Aba in Chicago
19. Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken in Chicago
20. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab in Chicago
21. Wagyu House Chicago
22. Girl & The Goat in Chicago
23. Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights
24. Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe in Chicago (130 E. Randolph St. location)
25. Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park
26. The Capitol Grille in Chicago
27. Sapori Trattoria in Chicago
28. Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill in Effingham
29. Ocean Prime in Chicago
30. Cleveland-Heath in Edwardsville
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This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
