Our Lady of the Snows Restaurant – Belleville, IL

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, located in Belleville, IL, is well-known for its Mother’s Day buffet, and rightly so. The restaurant offers three separate menus for the day, one for breakfast (8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.), one for the afternoon (11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.), and one for the evening (3:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.). The buffet meals are switched in seamless fashion, and the food is something to be admired.

The breakfast buffet offers everything from biscuits and gravy to peach bread pudding. The cheesy eggs, though slightly runny, were delicious, and the bacon-wrapped water chestnuts offered a delightful new taste. Add to this list freshly sliced ham and every standard breakfast dish you can imagine, and you have the Our Lady of Snows breakfast buffet. The price was quite reasonable, coming in at $8.95 for adults.

The afternoon and evening menus boasted even more tantalizing menus, with courses like sliced beef with Henri sauce, roast pork loin with sweet apple glaze, and juicy fried chicken. The garlic mashed potatoes and specialty pasta selection really set these meals off. The later meals, which cost $14.95 for adults, are definitely worth the price.

The staff at the Our Lady of Snows restaurant was very friendly and cordial. They appeared to be genuinely polite and were more than happy to accommodate any requests. Given the crowd, however, with a waiting list of at least 10 parties at any given time, the service did tend to be a bit slow. The restaurant appeared to be slightly understaffed for such a hectic occasion, but what was lacked in service was made up in ambiance. Diners who wish to stray from the crowded main dining room are invited to dine on the restaurant’s patio, a beautifully landscaped, almost picnic-like area. The grass around the patio is neatly trimmed, and a small, bubbling fountain provides natural, soothing background noise. The flowers and the woodline are inviting and offer a feeling of seclusion among so many guests to the shrine.

On a “normal” day, diners can choose their meals from a surprisingly full menu, which can be viewed at www.snows.org.

Part of the charm of this restaurant rests in its surroundings. After eating, diners are free to walk or drive through the shine, which boasts breathtaking scenery and stylish architecture. The shrine’s many paths offer the perfect opportunity for walking off the rich meals consumed in the restaurant.

The restaurant at the Our Lady of the Snows shrine may be out of the way, and out of the ordinary, but it’s certainly worth the trip. Dining at the restaurant is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.