Wittmond's Restaurant in
Brussels (IL)

I absolutely love this place I've been going there since I was a child. For the first time a couple of weeks ago, the chicken smells like old oil. Please check your oil, I want to keep coming back.

Everything was fantastic. They basically keep bringing food until you're stuffed. It was $23 tax and tip included. Cash or check only

We’ve been coming here for years and enjoy our meal every time. The building is so unique and nostalgic. The entire staff are warm and welcoming. The food is the best part of the experience. Everything is served family style and all of the dishes are delicious! The sausage they serve before the meal is sooo good! The applesauce homemade and coleslaw is also fantastic. On to the main dishes…wow! Fried chicken, roast beef, chicken and dumplings, potatoes and vegetables. It’s a wonderful meal! Of note, they are cash only.

I had out of town visitors and wanted a different dining experience. They loved everything about Whittmond 's. Food and service were excellent. Definitely worth the drive

Zero Menu! This didn't hit me at first... The waitress kept repeating, "We are Family Style." meaning No Menu... They just bring food out of kitchen and you should be happy with it. (?? ???) This place is like KFC but chicken is standard nothing extra ordinary not as crispy. Deserts are the only items very nice. Service was slow and not attentive. Building is historical significant in town, largest in town. I would not return on purpose of ⁷ way situated on a peninsula between rivers and the food is very average nothing extraordinary, exactly like grandma would make on Sunday. This is the only place to eat on peninsula. Very plain, not fancy or special.

This restaurant quickly became a favorite for my wife and me. Everything that came out was nothing short of fantastic. The waitress and the chef were outstanding and personable, and the dining area itself was beautiful. I am grateful to find this place and look forward to the next visit.

Wonderful food that reminds you of the meals grandma cooked. All served family style and the service was the perfect level of ‘attentive’ without being over-bearing. Sausages are *ridiculously* good, and so is the cole slaw and corn relish. Chicken dumplings and fried chicken were also very tasty and perfectly cooked. We ate to our hearts content and though the dessert sounded good, we had to leave while we could still walk. Can’t wait to return.

Incredible delicious beets, sausage, peach preserves, mash potatoes, gravy, and roast. I am addicted to their home style food. Charming decore, great window view in the back dinning room.

Me and my.family crossed the golden eagle ferry and visited this gem. The food was so good. Like soooooo good. We had not 1 complaint. All you can eat fried chicken dinner served family style ???? we will definitely be back. #cash only and gratuity already included.

Great food and friendly staff. Mary is the best!

Excellent food served family style. The slaw and corn relish were stand outs! We got the optional roast beef with the other offers that was very tender and served with flavorful pan dripping gravy. Chicken was well done with a crunchy flour coating. Plenty of food is served, but save room for some cobbler and ice cream for dessert!

This reminds me of traditional Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants in Lancaster PA. There is a set menu, and everything is served family style at your table. The only choices are your beverage, which relishes to try before the meal is served (ask for the corn relish!), whether to add roast beef, and dessert. If you like traditional American food, this is great. The food is all very good and the portions are generous. The server was very friendly and talked with everyone in the room about how things are going in Calhoun County (no peaches this year because of a cold snap). At lunchtime on a weekday, the restaurant wasn't crowded so we had a table to ourselves. The hotel is no longer operating, but the common rooms have an interesting collection of, well, collectibles. Bonuses: the area is lovely, there are farm markets to explore, and you'll likely take a ferry to get here.

This place is a gem to eat at the fried Chicken was awesome green beans are great and the mashed potatoes and gravy was to die for

What an amazing experience! The food is always fresh, delicious, and plentiful! Thank you!

Every time I visit my folks, I have the need to come back here! There is something very charming about this place. It is a family style dinner, so all the food comes out to share amongst each other. Their peach & strawberry daiquari's are phenomenal!

We came here for a rehearsal dinner and wow! Very nice little place, the bartender got a bit overwhelmed when 40 people came in. But hey I use to be a bartender and it would have gotten me as well! She ran it like a champ! The food was AMAZING. So was the Apple Pie Mule, my wife loved them. Such a great time and such a beautiful building with rich history.

I am here to leave a review for the millennials and Gen z who may find themselves in the area. This is a blast from the past. Your parents may think this is completely normal. But I am here to speak to the younger generations. There is nothing posted to explain this bizarre experience. So we learned as we went. There is no menu. You are served what they cook (which is the same thing every day) My family did not eat much at all. Bill came to $196 (tip included) for 6 adults and 1 child. Cash only. No debit or credit. This is not the typical experience in today’s world. Which is why I believe it should be posted in-person inside the restaurant; a note on the table, a sign when you walk in—Literally any information at all and we would have left. I believe the locals adore this place because of the history. But to the younger generations who may be passing through, please be aware. We just spent $200 and each of us left hungry.

We had lunch here and it was so wonderful. First, you walk into this historic building (Register of Historic Places in US), and friendly staff greet & usher us into a dining room with lace tablecloths. Warm rolls and a relish tray comes right away (thank God cause we were starving... :-) Then comes an array of comfort food. Family style mashed taters, corn, etc and some scrumptious chicken. We don't eat pork or beef, thus we declined the sausages that are part of the "relish tray/rolls" presentation. Highly recommend this place. AND - bring cash (or check) but no credit card. An ATM across the street, which we dashed to. It was the ATM or wash dishes! Haha.. Note that my pix of corn, etc, was after we'd taken a bit onto our plates. They ask if you want more of anything, everything. ??????❤️

I've been coming here for 20 years Fantastic fried chicken, roast beef, veggies, mash potatoes, gravy, and other, perfect country drive, and it's always fun taking the ferry across to get there.

This incredible historic business is an absolutely priceless hidden gem. It has been in the same family since its founding in the 1800's. It has been a hotel, general store, bar, restaurant, part of the underground railroad, and more. Today, they have a museum quality collection of antique inventory from its days as a general store, antiques for sale, a cool bar, a family style restaurant, and if you ask nicely when someone is available to give it - you may get a tour of the building. This is a bucket list stop on your road trip through the area if you're not local, and a truly marvelous opportunity for local photographers, event planners, history buffs, and people looking to explore their backyard.

It’s an enjoyable experience going to this fantastic, old time restaurant. The food is served family style and is excellent and there’s plenty of it. The atmosphere makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time 150 years. Plus, taking the ferry to get to Brussels Island adds to the adventure. I went there with my kids and grandkids, and everyone loved it. As far as travel time, it’s between a half hour and an hour from St. Louis, depending on what part of the metro area do you live in.

If you are out in this neck of the woods and looking for some down home cooking. Would highly recommend this place. The servers were great.

we were a bit rushed, and courses came out in the wrong order. its about $20/person so not bad for the amount of food you get. the food was kind of okay too. also difficult to get here as well. thanks though!

I don't even know where to begin?! I'm a foodie and a history buff and this was absolute heaven for me! I surprised my kids with an adventure to the ferry, roadtrip out to middle of nowhere to this amazing 5th generation owned historic restaurant. You're immediately overwhelmed with antiques, original woodwork and old world charm. As someone who works in the restaurant industry the food was above average, the establishment is very clean (including the kitchen), has a spotless bathroom and stellar customer service. The aesthetic is something to be appreciated by just about anyone including two teenagers who are impressed by very little. It's an experience that I will be sharing with more people very soon! Thank you Whittmond, we can't wait to go back!!!

CASH or check only. There is a bank right across the street if you run short on cash. Food is served family style, no menu. I would say the portions were great and the food was delicious. Service was also great.

This is definitely a hidden gem. Step back into time and immerse yourself into a fun experience. Dinner is served family style and refills of whatever you choose will be brought right out. Food was so good and the waitresses were so engaging. (Note this is a cash, check only or you wash dishes when done. No plastic card accepted at all.) Go out of your way to find this place!!!

Excellent food. The sausage is incredible and everything is well done. The staff are friendly. It's far away from everything but the trip there is fun in it's on own.... Take a ferry, drive through the back roads of Calhoun Country, it's a pleasure.