"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."
