If you grew up in the 1990s, a visit to The Spot 90’s Bar & Grill is likely to trigger a wave of nostalgia that approaches sensory overload. Located on Ginger Creek Drive on Springfield’s west side, The Spot pays homage to a decade that gave us everything from grunge music and compact discs to Adam Sandler movies and some of the more questionable fashion choices in modern history.
Although my guest and I are more children of the 1980s, we found ourselves spending almost as much time looking around the restaurant as we did studying the menu.
The dining room is an unabashed celebration of the 1990s. Compact discs adorn the ceiling and catch the light from an assortment of brightly colored neon accents, furniture and wall art. One entire wall is devoted to Happy Gilmore, a movie that remains required viewing for anyone who enjoys golf or simply appreciates one-liners that have somehow survived three decades.
My favorite decoration, however, was the Callahan Auto Parts shirt prominently displayed among the memorabilia. Look it up if you don’t get the reference. A hint – any restaurant willing to dedicate wall space to Chris Farley automatically earns a few points in my book.
The soundtrack is also from the 1990s, which pales in comparison to the 1980s. Disagree? Email and let us know why.
Perhaps what we most appreciated was that the nostalgia seemed genuine and not the work of some overpaid corporate consultant who used too many focus groups. Instead, it felt like an enthusiastic collection assembled by someone who genuinely loved the decade.
Of course, nostalgia can get customers through the front door, but food is what brings them back.
The Spot’s menu creatively describes dishes with reference to various cultural moments from the 1990s. Some made instant sense while for others, we had to reach back into our memory banks. No matter, though, as The Spot’s menu is about what you would expect for upscale bar food.
A few of the more interesting items included the She’s All That sandwich (salami, prosciutto, mozzarella and fig jam on a toasted baguette), the Mixtape pizza (fig jam, mozzarella, goat cheese, red onion, prosciutto, spinach, hot honey and balsamic – eclectic enough to resemble some of my mix tapes back in the day) and the Smells Like Brussels Spirit appetizer (smoked bacon, sweet chili, crispy onion strings, scallions and sriracha aioli). And yes, there’s at least one dish with the latest (and most overdone) food trend: hot honey. Please, just stop already.
We decided to pass on appetizers (“snacks” in 1990s speak, apparently) because each item looked like more food than we wanted. Instead, we focused on the salad, sandwich and burger section of the menu. For those who want something a little more elevated, there’s also a separate entrée section.
I ordered the single smashburger with American cheese. It was close to what a smashburger should be. The beef was properly seared but missing the crispy edges that distinguish a great smashburger from a good one. The burger remained juicy, the toppings were appropriately balanced, and the bun held together until the final bite, although a toasted bun would have been a nice touch. When it comes to pickles, my decided preference is for the simple dill variety. The Spot’s had a touch of sweetness and resembled more of an artisanal pickle. They added a pleasant and different hint of acid that pulled it all together. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and were well-seasoned. Portions were appropriate for the price. The sauce was, to my palate, the one real weak spot: It was too mayo-centric with no real flavor. Mayo is proof that even eggs can make poor life choices. I was glad I got it on the side.
My friend’s brisket sandwich was a success. The meat was reported as tender and flavorful without being overwhelmed by the horseradish sauce or the melted provolone. Brisket is one of those items that reveals whether a kitchen knows what it’s doing. Done improperly, it’s dry, stringy and disappointing. Done correctly, it achieves a balance between smoke, seasoning and tenderness. For a non-barbecue restaurant, The Spot’s version trended decidedly to the latter.
Service throughout the meal was friendly and attentive. Drinks remained filled, and food arrived promptly; the overall experience felt organized, despite a healthy crowd. My guest and I particularly appreciated the offer to send us off with to-go glasses of our drinks – a nice touch.
Springfield diners have more options today than ever before, particularly on the west side of town. The Spot appears to have found a niche by combining comfort food with a unique atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to relive the decade of CD players and movie rental stores or simply searching for a good burger, The Spot is worthy of a place on your list of restaurants to visit.
Address: 3236 Ginger Creek Dr., Springfield
Phone: 217-572-1996
Website: thespotspringfield.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
This article appears in August SBJ 2026.