I’ve heard about Yummy Bowl for quite some time but had never visited until now, which was my loss. Most of the comments I heard were about how crowded it is and how much creativity diners used in loading their bowl – but more on that later. My friend and I planned to have lunch […]
Restaurant review
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A sampling of Springfield’s chili
Every month for over more than 20 years, a group of four friends have been visiting Springfield restaurants and taverns to sample chili. They’ve all become good friends of mine, and we’ve shared hundreds of rounds of golf together. So, I was very pleased when they decided to add me and another friend as probationary […]
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Fairgrounds Cafe
I love diners, and the closing of the Ritz’s Jefferson Street location hit me pretty hard. Thankfully, two former staff members from Chatham Café decided to go out on their own to open a new diner in the former Jungle Jim’s space on Peoria Road. They delivered exactly what you expect – basic but good […]
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Delaney’s Smokehouse
Delaney’s Smokehouse is the latest iteration of this long-time, north-end stalwart. This latest incarnation has managed to provide diners with the classics that have been forever associated with the location, such as the fried chicken, as well as new and fun offerings. If you’ve never been to Delaney’s, you might think you are in the […]
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A magical, boozy dessert
Zabaglione (za-ba-lee-ohn) is a seemingly magical dessert that originated in Italy in the 15th century. Egg yolks are whipped with wine and sugar to create what is essentially a boozy custard sauce. Originally made with Marsala, the French quickly adopted their own version of the recipe using Sauternes, a lusciously sweet white wine from Bordeaux. […]
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Keep picnic menus simple
I am very passionate about both food and music and few things bring me more pleasure than dining al fresco at a musical performance. Al fresco in Italian translates to “in the cool,” and has come to refer to dining in the fresh air. The combination of delicious food, live music and a beautiful outdoor […]
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Twisted Fork
The St. Nicholas Hotel building seems to have been a cursed place for restaurants over the last 10 years or so. We’re hoping that Twisted Fork, a new downtown restaurant, will break that curse. Twisted Fork identifies itself as “Comfort food with a twist! Not a greasy spoon … a Twisted Fork.” And that’s a […]
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Seoul 4 Soul
Dining options, especially for lunch, have been dwindling in downtown Springfield, which is why I was happy to hear that Seoul 4 Soul had recently opened on the second floor above Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. on Adams Street. Seoul 4 Soul advertises itself as a “Korean fusion bistro with vegan and vegetarian options.” It also […]
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SILVER SEVENS
I’d been hearing about Silver Sevens over the last few months and seeing some good commentary on social media about its food, so I figured it was time to give it a try. I’m glad I did. Silver Sevens is located on Lake Plaza Drive just off of Stevenson Drive. For those in need of […]
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Chatham Cafe
I was excited at the prospect of Chatham Cafe opening in Springfield on MacArthur Boulevard, but a fire in the almost-completed space dashed my hopes for a diner in my neighborhood. With that in mind, I decided to venture over to Chatham to see what the original Chatham Cafe is about. Chatham Cafe looked like […]
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Brewski’s Pub
I’ve driven by Brewski’s Pub countless times but never stopped in until recently when I was craving a burger. When I think pub, I also think burger. My bad, as I should have paid more attention to Brewski’s logo, which proudly proclaims it’s all about pizza and beer. Other than sliders, Brewski’s has no burger […]
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Lake Springfield Tavern
Given my fondness for tavern fare, I was surprised I had never been to Lake Springfield Tavern. I’ve driven by hundreds of times, and I don’t think I even recognized that it was a tavern. Folks tell me that Lake Springfield Tavern has been around since Stevenson Drive was a dirt road. And, from exterior […]