When visiting Brussels, don’t miss out on a family-style meal at the historic Wittmond Hotel Restaurant, which opened in 1847 as a general store by Conrad Wittmond after he immigrated from Germany. At the end of the 19th century, Conrad’s son, Charles, expanded the building and business to include a hotel with 15 rooms for overnight guests. Although the hotel is no longer operating, the rooms are furnished with original antiques and vintage family photographs, creating a charming museum-like atmosphere.
The fifth generation of the Wittmond family still owns and operates the restaurant. Much more than your average meal, the experience at Wittmond’s keeps customers coming back from near and far.
Beginning with a picturesque ride on the Brussels or Golden Eagle ferry, then a short scenic drive to the restaurant, arriving at Wittmond’s feels like a step back in time. Before lunch or dinner, customers can peruse the original general store and see artifacts from the earlier days.
If You Go
Wittmond Hotel Restaurant
Location: 166 E. Main St., Brussels
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Phone: (618) 883-2345
Email: wittmondhotel@hotmail.com
Website: facebook.com/wittmondhotel
Note, Wittmond’s doesn’t take credit cards, but there is an ATM across the street for anyone needing cash.
Everyone coming to Wittmond’s should come hungry. All meals are served family-style with a huge offering of starters and entrees for the table to share. Customers can also order spirits from Wittmond’s full bar, including their famous Bloody Marys, a freshly made peach daiquiri, or excellent options from the beer and wine menu.
Meals begin with a variety of relishes, including Wittmond’s specialty coleslaw, apple sauce, pickled beets, corn relish, spiced apple slices and peach preserves, followed by their specialty pork sausage and Hawaiian rolls. Fried chicken, green beans, corn, chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes and gravy with optional roast beef are all served next for the main course.
Finally, those who still have room for dessert can choose from various cobblers (peach, apple, blackberry, pecan), cheesecake, vanilla ice cream or orange sherbet for a small additional cost.
“Our food is excellent, and our staff is amazing,” says Caroline Stegman, a fifth-generation family member. “People love the nostalgia and traditional aspect of their experience here, as our restaurant reminds them of going to their grandmother’s house for a home-cooked meal.”
See more: Ferry Away to Calhoun County for a Summer Trip with Rich History, Juicy Peaches and More
Hello, I’m the Content Manager at Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau based out of Alton. We cover tourism in Calhoun County and five other surrounding counties and were pointed to this article from Wittmond Hotel. I was wondering if it would be possible use the two photos in this article to represent Wittmond’s Hotel Restaurant on our website for their business listing. If you are unsure, do you have contacts so I can reach out to the photographers? We are having trouble finding good photos to represent the Hotel and they pointed us in your direction. Thank you!
So many fond growing up memories visiting the farms for produce and Sunday lunch at the Wittmond. It was generally an after church expedition on Sundays followed by blanching, canning and preserving. Missing those family times…even after moving from the area I’d come back and my parents would do the Sunday routine with me well into their late 90’s.