By Thomas Pavlik I’ve been hearing about the wonderful food at Broadgauge in Petersburg for quite some time. So, a few months ago, I cajoled a group of friends into taking a Monday drive to Petersburg for lunch at Broadgauge’s lunch partner, Talisman. Unfortunately for my friends, I neglected to notice that Talisman is not […]
Thomas C. Pavlik Jr.
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The Taco Joint
By Thomas Pavlik I’ve driven by The Taco Joint, a food truck located at South Grand Avenue and Second Street, literally hundreds of times and have always made a mental note to stop by and give it a try. Finally, my wife suggested that we grab a friend and head on over for lunch on […]
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Sportman’s Lounge and Restaurant
By Thomas C. Pavlik I used to be a regular at Sportsman’s in its former iteration, before it got a little long in the tooth and rundown. And then it went dark. Recently, however, a group of friends bought the building and decided to resurrect Sportsman’s, and in doing so, they’ve managed to preserve all […]
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Made-from-scratch makes an impression at Papo’s Café
BY TOM PAVLIK I’ve been hearing about Papo’s Café for the last several months, but primarily in connection with its made-from-scratch breakfasts, baked goods and hand-crafted coffee drinks. And yes, Papo’s breakfast menu sure is enticing. Although plenty of business is done over breakfast meetings, this month the fates decreed a lunch meeting with a […]
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Try something new at Nu-Voh
BY TOM PAVLIK Although I love a good steak, I get particularly animated over more esoteric dishes like steak tartare or roasted bone marrow. It’s the kind of food that gets me excited, but not the type of fare usually seen in the capital city. So I was excited when I first saw Nu-Voh’s food-forward […]
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Committed to Downtown – for another 50 years
BY THOMAS C. PAVLIK JR. When you’re open for business in the same community for more than five decades, you’ve probably done a few things right. And let’s be honest: you’ve probably made a few well-intentioned mistakes, too. This year marks our 50th anniversary, and we’re proud to have served the capital city for the […]
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Having a tiff about TIF
By Thomas C. Pavlik Freelance Contributor Between the surveyor’s museum, the former Methodist church downtown, the YWCA, and Enos Park, everyone seems to be in a tiff about TIF. There have been many discussions lately among the aldermen and the general public about the most appropriate use of these funds. First, a bit of history […]
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Nancy’s Chicago Pizza
By Thomas C. Pavlik, Jr. As with chili, horseshoes and burgers, the topic of Springfield’s best pizza is usually going to be quite spirited. Perhaps that’s why Springfield has seen an influx of new pizza joints over the past few months. The more the merrier, I say – it’s all good for Springfield. And the […]
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Trade Winds Pub and Eatery
By Thomas C. Pavlik, Jr. When a friend first suggested Trade Winds Pub and Eatery, I wasn’t sure where it was. Sure enough, when I pulled up and saw the yellow metal building, I would have thought I was at a small town village hall or fraternal organization rather than a restaurant. But looks can […]
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Hy-Vee Market Grille
By Thomas C. Pavlik, Jr. I’d guess that when most people think of a grocery store it’s not as a dining destination, but rather a place to get food to make meals elsewhere. And despite having multiple business lunches there since Hy-Vee opened, I never thought about reviewing it – after all, it’s just a […]
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Kingsway African & Caribbean Cuisine
By Thomas C. Pavlik, Jr. I love exploring new cuisines. That’s not always easy in Springfield, where many menus look the same. Kingsway African & Caribbean Cuisine’s menu is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Springfield. And that’s a good thing. It’s hard to explain Kingsway – for example, how can a restaurant that offers […]
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Bitcoins: How do they work?
By Thomas C. Pavlik, Jr. Although Bitcoins have been around since 2009, it is only recently that they have been all over the news. Most of us understand that Bitcoins are basically Internet cash, but beyond that there seems to be confusion and misunderstanding. Bitcoin is a digital currency. Rather than coins or paper bills, […]