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Name: The Brown Bag Bistro
Telephone: (618) 433-9933

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The Brown Bag Bistro

About Us

Welcome to The Brown Bag Bistro, a celebrated American-style restaurant in Alton, IL, since 2018. With over five years of delighting customers, we serve a delectable range of sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. Treat your sweet tooth to our luscious cheesecake and ice cream desserts. Our curated beer and wine selection makes us a premier spot in Alton for an evening out. We are excited to continue serving Alton, Grafton, and the greater St. Louis area with exceptional food and warm hospitality. Drop in today for a delicious meal!

Our Story

Co-owners and mother-daughter team Chris and Erin Velloff started Brown Bag Bistro together in 2018. Chris had a lifelong dream of opening her own restaurant and after her daughter, Erin, graduated college, they decided to take the risk together. Brown Bag Bistro has been providing their local community with delicious food and friendly service ever since!

We’re a family-owned and operated business that makes fresh and consistent sandwiches that are unlike any of our competitors! Our made-to-order sandwiches are completely unique, so stop by Brown Bag Bistro for a one-of-a-kind eating experience. Our menu also includes soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts like ice cream and cheesecake. We also have a beer and wine selection that makes us the best place in town for a night out!

We’re proud to say that our customer service is the best around because we treat all our patrons like family! In addition to great food, we also boast a fun and relaxing atmosphere, so you’re sure to have a good time whenever you visit Brown Bag Bistro!

Brown Bag Bistro provides carry out, catering, and a pickup window where customers can stop by and quickly pick up their food orders. Another thing that sets us apart from other restaurants is our Itty Bitty Brown Bag Bistro food display truck! This is the ultimate food display vehicle ideal for weddings, corporate events, baby showers, and more.

We’re looking forward to partnering with Alton, Grafton, Wood River, and the surrounding areas to continue offering delicious food and excellent customer service. For more information about our products and services, contact Brown Bag Bistro at (618) 433-9933 or stop by for a visit to learn more.

Areas Served

Our Professional Associations

Alton Main Street
Rivers and Routes
Riverbend Growth Association

What We Offer

Our Specialties include:

Specialty Sandwiches

Our Services include:

Pickup Window
Patio Dining
Live Music (Seasonal)
Catering

Our Products include:

Sandwiches
Soups
Chili
Salads
Appetizers
Desserts
Cheesecakes
Beer
Wine

Testimonials

On 3/22/2025 Tim R had this to say:
Went in for a reuben for St. Patrick's Day, and, as usual, it didn't disappoint. The sandwich was huge. Like, it either needed to be smashed down or my jaw needed to be dislocated. They piled on the goodies. It was very good. And the clie slaw was spot on. I honestly don't know if you can get something bad from here. Love this place!!!

On 3/20/2025 Nicolas Henning had this to say:
Very few places seem to mark every box for a restaurant, but Brown Bag Bistro just really does it for me. Immaculate food and vibes, really homey feeling and in a great part of Alton. Everything here is amazing, definitely a must try!

On 3/15/2025 Abby Ressler had this to say:
Excellent service provided by the brown bag bistro! Wow the weekend cheeseburger was amazing and cooked to perfection and paired with the chili! I will be a returning customer forever! Wish I could rate this 100 star and I would! Keep up the great work!

On 3/14/2025 Elizabeth Buck (Liz Buck) had this to say:
Food, service, everything was wonderful. It was a bit pricey but again, very excellent.

On 3/9/2025 Janet B. had this to say:
I come all the way from St Louis to enjoy the delicious cheeseburgers, which are the best I've ever had! They're hot they're juicy and cooked to perfection. The garlic cheese bread is very gooey and delicious. My favorite sandwich, the Granny's Gobbler, is unfortunately seasonal but worth the wait. The atmosphere is good and the restaurant is always clean, plus they have outdoor seating. The staff is always positive, courteous and efficient. Brown Bag Bistro is worth the trip!! Testimonial written by Janet B. on this site.

Contact Us

The Brown Bag Bistro
318 E Broadway Alton, IL 62002
Phone: (618) 433-9933
Email: brownbagbistro@yahoo.com

On Broadway Street, about 1/2 mile from The Argosy Casino and The Clark Bridge

Where To Find Us

Payment Types Accepted

Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Debit Cards, Cash, Business Checks

Our Hours

Holiday Hours May Vary. Please Call For Details.

Monday: 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday: 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM

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