The Birds Nest - (Near Pekin, IL)

Natalie Marsh I cant give this place a good enough review! Excellent sushi is something that people in rural Illinois have to travel a long way to find, so its a rare treat. If I had known this place was open 2 years ago, it would have been a monthly stop. We got the Rock Shrimp appetizer, Shrimp and Filet Mignon hibachi plate, a Saki cooked roll (keep forgetting the name, but its on the first sushi page in the menu), the Super Man roll, and the House Fried Rice. All of it was so good that I forgot to take more photos. We ordered a Wow roll and an Angry Dragon roll to go. Everything was fantastic! The tempura breading was light and crunchy, all of the fish, chicken, and meat were tender and fresh, the veggies were nicely sauteed but still had a snap, and the sauces were flavorful but not overpowering. Each of the sushi rolls was masterfully crafted, and held together well enough that I could use a fork to pick them up. The House Fried Rice included chicken, steak, and shrimp, and they cooked the steak to my preference of medium rare. The teriyaki sauce was authentic in flavor and texture, and not mostly comprised of sugar. Our server was excellent, and went above and beyond what I would normally expect. She regularly checked on us even when it got busy, genuinely asked us for feedback, and indulged my curiosity (I asked how long the business had been open, and about the little charms and bracelets they sell - which she makes herself). The restaurant itself is quaint but spacious, well lit, decorated tastefully, and comfortable. The bench seats werent too hard, nor did I sink into them to the extent that I struggled to hold my head above the table. The sushi bar is in the front of the house, so it is possible to watch the chef work. The only possible criticism I can give is that they dont have fountain drinks, but they had a great selection of canned sodas served with cups of ice and straws, as well as red or white wine and both hot and cold sake. Overall, this sushi and hibachi restaurant is a gem not only for Morris, but for all of Central Illinois! You made my birthday dinner memorable. Thank you!

Katie Hillman Such a great place to hang out with the family. Friday nights they feature live music and food trucks. The location offers 2 playgrounds, lots of seating and umbrellas, and Marcos Express is on the lot serving up great food all the time!

Michael Kochie Drove through and loved the amenities of the gas station. The staff was great as well. Bowan and I had a great conversation, a rare find in convenience stores today.

Mike Biehl Was out taking photos in this area one Saturday and decided to get a bite to eat. Landed here at the lumberyard and had a great meal. The place was clean and the lady working the bar was super nice. I ordered their lumberyard burger special. It was really good burger, had lots of mushrooms and grilled onions on it. Their fryer was down so i opted for chips with my burger. One suggestion might be to look into making chips in house to go with the burgers and sandwiches. Customers can get regular potato chips at home, in house made chips add more to the sandwich, in my opinion. They don’t take credit cards, so cash is a must. They do have an ATM on site and they also have a gaming room if that’s your thing. They do offer a full service bar with beer and spirits. Great place to stop and eat if you’re passing through the area! Would definitely frequent this establishment if i didn’t live almost an hour and half away.

sutherlandk19 The Tea Spot in downtown Belleville is an adorable venue to enjoy sandwiches, soups, and of course tea.  My mom and I enjoyed lunch here on a busy day in December 2025; even still, there was no delay in receiving our order.  Due to the high prices ($16 for a sandwich and cup of soup), we decided to split the Ploughman sandwich and order an additional cup of soup.  She had the Mac & Cheese w/ Broccoli and I had the Zuppa Toscana (which came served with a baguette).  At first, my mom was put off by the name of her soup, but realized its just like a normal cheddar and broccoli soup, but with noodles in it.  And she loved it!  The Zuppa Toscana was savory and mouthwateringly delicious and Ill definitely be back for more.  The sandwich was tasty, but nothing to write home about.  Honestly, I could replicate it with little effort at home, just need the special bread.  On my return, I plan on enjoying hot tea.  I couldnt justify spending (I think it was) $7 on a cup or $13 on a pot, in addition to the cost of lunch. $15-$17 on a salad (with no protein in it) and a cup of soup is absurd to me, but I suppose I just have to get used to inflation continuing to rise.  I understand that operating costs are higher than theyve ever been. Either way, I am thrilled that downtown Belleville has a cozy, locally owned restaurant where one can sit down and enjoy freshly-made sandwiches, hot soup, and hot tea.  Bread Co. left downtown many years ago and the Tea Spot is satisfying that craving. The space is a modernized tea room.  The Tea Spot resides in the old Seven sushi restaurant, is connected to The Candy Bar, and has been decorated perfectly.  It was nice to see the support of other local businesses inside the restaurant- tea for sale from the London Tea Merchant, books on a table from Belleville Books,  and decor from Circa Boutique.  The space is clean, classy, and I could spend hours in there with a good book and a pot of hot tea.  Service was fast and staff were helpful and friendly.

diana travers I have always been a fan of the Mushroom n Swiss burger! At a decent price also, compared to other prices around town! Oh, and the onion rings are the best Ive ever had! Add a good ole fashion thick strawberry shake and what a delicious meal that makes! Note-they have huge straws, to get every drop, lol!