Brothers Inn - Savanna

Char broiled cod was slightly overcooked but otherwise ok. The frozen vegetables that were served alongside the fish were not only void of color but very salty for some reason. The salad bar was the most ghastly I've ever laid eyes on and I passed despite it being included in the price. My boyfriend has never met a pile of hashbrowns he hated until he had them here. Perhaps the grease was rancid; they were undercooked and tasted so awful that he couldn't eat them. We didn't tell the waitstaff or manager any of this they wouldn't have believed our opinion, or cared, because restaurants never do, despite what the back of their tshirts say. You just go home and swear to never eat there again. This is a very small town so eating choices are few. This restaurant needs to improve its quality if it wants to survive in an otherwise dying town. The warm season boaters and bikers are the only people keeping the businesses alive. The one area restaurant that DID have good food was Poopy's mega biker bar.

Brothers Family Inn in Savanna, IL, truly deserves a five-star rating as it consistently meets or surpasses reasonable expectations within its category and market. I suspect that a negative review from another patron may stem from unrealistic expectations, and it seems they did not give the staff a chance to address their concerns, which is unfortunate. This region of Illinois is quite rural, with agriculture being the primary economic driver, boosted by tourism drawn to the scenic Mississippi River and beautiful landscapes. The local residents may not be urbanites, but they are discerning and appreciate a good meal. Brothers is a small, family-run establishment dedicated to providing simple yet exceptionally well-prepared, high-quality food at affordable prices. Based on my experiences and feedback from family members who live in the area year-round, Brothers consistently achieves this mission and often excels. The menu offers a good variety, with daily specials and discounts for seniors. Their Sunday brunch buffet, priced around $10, rivals those found in much pricier venues. The dining room is clean, well-lit, and spacious, and it always seems busy. In the past two and a half weeks, my wife and I have enjoyed three very good meals here. She has ordered the Queen Size (12 oz) prime rib twice, and it has been excellent. I have enjoyed a well-prepared broasted chicken dinner and two different salmon dishes, both perfectly cooked. Preparing salmon correctly is challenging, but Brothers has clearly mastered the technique. I can confidently say that I've never tasted better salmon, even at high-end restaurants in cities like Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, and Palm Springs, where I paid significantly more than the $15 charged at Brothers. The previous reviewer alleged that Brothers serves frozen vegetables. While this could be true for some items, most of the vegetables are fresh and sourced locally when in season. It's worth noting that vegetables come with every entrée and are included in the price. In my experience, the vegetables served have always been fresh and delicious. This same reviewer criticized the salad bar as terrible, yet she admitted to not even trying it. While it may not be large, the salad bar does offer fresh lettuce, salad vegetables, homemade coleslaw, kidney bean salad, macaroni salad, croutons, and chunks of fresh melon, which are always perfectly ripened. This provides customers the opportunity to create a satisfying and nutritious salad, which is the main purpose of a salad bar, after all. What struck me as particularly unfair in the negative review was the author's admission that she and her boyfriend chose not to address their meal complaints with the staff or management, assuming they would be ignored. Perhaps this is typical in her experience, but it's definitely not how Brothers operates—or any other restaurant in this area, based on my observations. Every staff member at Brothers wears a t-shirt that reads, "If you like our food, tell others. If you don’t, tell us," and they genuinely mean it! The owners of Brothers (and its sister restaurant 16 miles away) are committed to excellent customer service alongside meal quality. I have personally witnessed their dedication, as have my friends and family. In summary, at Brothers, you will enjoy a delicious, well-crafted meal served by friendly staff in a clean, family-oriented atmosphere—all at a very reasonable price. You won't leave hungry, and you're likely to take home leftovers. For a small-town, family-friendly American-style restaurant, Brothers truly represents the best you can find.

The food here is excellent and hearty, with generous portions at very reasonable prices. The service embodies that friendly Midwestern charm. They stay open late enough (until 9 PM) to help you escape the heat. The waitress seemed a bit surprised when we inquired about beer, but hey, you never know unless you ask, right? It’s definitely worth the trip from Savanna or Mount Carroll, especially when you consider the other options available.

The food was quite good, and the service was excellent. My sister and I were visiting nearby state parks and needed a family-friendly place with quality food since we had her baby with us. We spent two nights in town; on the first night, I ordered the patty melt while she had the baked walleye, and both dishes were delicious! On the second night, we both opted for the fried chicken, which was fantastic. They also serve amazing pie, sourced from a bakery in Chicago—absolutely delightful! Although Brothers Inn isn't the typical restaurant we would choose, we found it to be very enjoyable and accommodating for families. The place was bustling both nights, indicating it's a favorite among the locals!