Billing itself as Springfield’s “newest retro diner,” The Fountain on 66 has been dishing out classic American favorites for the last year out of the historic former Sonrise Donut space along the original Route 66.
The Fountain on 66 embraces the diner vibe and offers visitors a bright, airy space with large windows and 1950s music playing in the background. The whole place has a decided retro feeling to it, including counter seating that reminded me of childhood visits to my grandmother’s soda fountain in Cleveland. That’s not surprising given that the owners installed a 1941 soda fountain counter they found in Chicago.
Don’t worry – nostalgia doesn’t overshadow modern comfort, and in that regard The Fountain manages to honor Springfield’s connection to America’s Mother Road without become overly themed or kitschy. Although the space is somewhat small, the environment is equally suitable for business and social lunches as well as for tourists.
Speaking of tourists, on the day of our visit The Fountain had a healthy mix of what appeared to be out-of-town visitors (not surprising, given the paucity of dining options in the core downtown area) and locals. We arrived a little early in the lunch window, and the entire time we were there it was close to capacity.
Regarding the menu, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, there’s just no excuse today for not having your menu readily available online. Even without a dedicated website, restaurant owners really should take steps to make their menus available – even if just by taking some photos and posting to their Facebook page. Please take note.
The menu is compact and consists of a few appetizers, some salads, chili, burgers, dogs (including corn dogs) and sandwiches. There’s enough here to appeal to the general public as well as to satisfy Route 66 devotees. For those into breakfast, there are separate offerings that are available all day.
PHOTOS BY ZACH ADAMS
We were particularly interested in the multiple flavored fountain sodas as well as the shakes and the root beer float (again, all evocative of time spent in my family’s soda store back in the day).
Regarding that milkshake, I decided to start with a chocolate shake. It came close to those I remember from childhood and was probably the standout of the entire visit – enough that as I write this, I can almost taste it.
My guest and I wanted to start with the chili cheese fries (topped with onions) but decided that would constitute gluttony given our milkshake start. Still, we noticed an adjacent table with an order, and they looked tasty. I also made a mental note to add The Fountain to my chili group’s list of places to try.
I opted for the burger. All options were smashburgers. There were some fun options like the hangover burger served with bacon and a fried egg, the pastrami smashburger and the chili cheese curd burger. Maybe I’ll try one of those next time, but this time I wanted to concentrate on the burger itself, so I went with the simple cheeseburger. It was a beef patty smashed flat over a searingly hot flat-top grill until it developed into a crispy, craggy, non-uniform, cooked-through patty that was juicy, caramelized and beefy. It was advertised as served with a toasted brioche bun, but apparently mine came untoasted. Although toasted is always my preference, the soft brioche bun worked nicely with the crispiness of the smashed burger. Crinkle cut fries (onion rings available for an upcharge) completed the dish.
My guest decided on the BLT – an iconic diner dish if there ever was one. This version came with honey-smoked bacon. I generally don’t like my bacon to have any sweet notes, but my guest thought it added some flair. A BLT is such a basic sandwich that even the slightest miss can destroy the balance created by smoky, salty bacon, crisp, cool lettuce, juicy tomatoes and toasted white bread that holds everything together without fighting the filling. She thought The Fountain’s version of the BLT hit the correct notes and had the requisite balance.
Service felt warm and attentive. Drink glasses stayed full, food arrived promptly, and the staff maintained a sort of upbeat professionalism.
Pricing was also reasonable, especially considering current restaurant economics. Portion sizes, ingredient quality and service all compared favorably with The Fountain’s peers.
Springfield has long embraced its connection to Route 66, and restaurants like The Fountain on 66 help reinforce why that heritage remains meaningful. But it’s welcoming service and quality food that hopefully encourage guests to return.
This article appears in SBJ June 2025.