Burbs to Springfield

Hello all,

The bride to be and I are planning on taking a much needed break from planning on Labor Day weekend. We've decided that Springfield, IL has the right mix of not near our house, combined with the educational aspect of the Lincoln museum.

Of course, I'm all about the food. Any specific recommendations? I remember someplace for corn dogs, but after that I am drawing a blank.

Flip

Flip - I can recommend:

Magic Kitchen Thai Restaurant
4112 N Peoria Rd
217-525-2230

It's BYOB and the food is really good, though probably not in the league of the best Thai places in Chicago. You must get there early (and downstate that means before 7pm) or you will have to wait. However, the wait is not so bad if you do the like the locals and tailgate-while-you-wait! Lovely plywood paneling on the walls, public school liquidation chairs and tables make for a unique atmosphere and they make their own fruit pies that are to die for. We drive over from Decatur all the time.

Cafe Brio is a decent Latin downtown option and they have a nice margarita menu:

Cafe Brio
524 E. Monroe
217-544-0574

And, of course, the home of the original horseshoe, Norb Andy - also downtown:

518 E. Capitol
217) 523-7777

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that Decatur - a 35-minute drive east - has several Lincoln sites including the fabled "wigwam" location where Honest Abe was first nominated to run on the Republican ticket for President, and the site of his family home on the north bank of the Sangamon River just west of Decatur to name a couple.

Have a great trip!

Davooda

Flip wrote: the educational aspect of the Lincoln museum.

Unfortunately, I found the Lincoln Library underwhelming. The Gerald Ford Library in Grand Rapids is way better. How sad is that.

Flip wrote:Of course, I'm all about the food. Any specific recommendations? I remember someplace for corn dogs, but after that I am drawing a blank.

The corn dog place is Cozy Dog. FYI - they are closed on Sundays and Labor Day.

Cozy Dog Drive In
2935 So. Sixth Street
Springfield, IL 62703

There used to be an excellent BBQ joint named Popeye's. Popeye is a transplanted Chicagoan and cooks a mean slab (if they are still open).

iblock9 wrote:

Flip wrote: the educational aspect of the Lincoln museum.

Unfortunately, I found the Lincoln Library underwhelming. The Gerald Ford Library in Grand Rapids is way better. How sad is that.

How sad is it that I suggested a weekend of go-karts, and her suggestion of a Presidential library won?

Flip wrote:
How sad is it that I suggested a weekend of go-karts, and her suggestion of a Presidential library won?

And you arent even married yet!

iblock9 wrote:

Flip wrote:
How sad is it that I suggested a weekend of go-karts, and her suggestion of a Presidential library won?

And you arent even married yet!

Well, to her credit, she did sell her condo, and move 900 miles for me! Also the only real planning that I have done is for the get together we're having for my family here 2 weeks before the wedding in CT.

It was HER idea to book an all-day fishing charter the first day of the honeymoon. (She wants to catch a tuna)

Flip

I second the recommendation of Cafe Brio above. Although I haven't been, I've heard great things about Magic Kitchen.

Here are a few others, most of which are downtown.

Maldaner's: very good, check out the menu on-line for more info.
http://www.maldaners.com/home.htm
222 South Sixth Street
Springfield, IL 62701
217-522-4313

Joe Gallina's Pizza: Excellent thin crust pizza and sandwiches
432 east Monroe street
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 522-5271

D'Arcy's Pint: I love the horseshoe's here. Fun atmosphere. Can't visit Springfield without trying a horseshoe (the secret's in the sauce).
661 W. Stanford Ave
Springfield
217-492-8800
http://www.darcyspintonline.com/index.html

Trout Lily Cafe: Very good coffee, bagels, quiche.
218 S 6th St
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 391-0101
troutlilycafe.com

Article from the NY Times with other idea:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/07/14/tr ... nted=print

I have it on good authority that the horseshoe was invented at the Leland Hotel, which was located at 5th and Capital, across the street from Norb Andy's.

Norb Andy's, however, has now closed.

The horseshoe was originally a breakfast dish, and named so because the ham that went on the toast was in the shape of a horseshoe.

Darren,

In your experience, isn't Sunday a tough day to get a meal in Springfield? It seems like there are considerably less options on Sunday than Saturday, which can be a surprise. Those are my experiences, I'm wondering if I am wrong or if anything has changed.

Thanks!

Regards,

Krekel's Custard & Hamburgers is a favorite of mine when in Capital City. The burgers are of the ultra-thin, crispy-edged variety (order the triple!) and the shoestring fries are good. I also enjoy their breaded chicken sandwiches. Unfortunately, I can't speak for the dairy treats as I've not tried them, but there's usually a good crowd there for the custard. If you're lucky, you'll get to see the chicken Cadillac, though I believe it's in some sort of family legal limbo. Alas, they are also closed on Sunday...

I also second the Cozy Dog & Joe Gallina's (paper-thin crust, the likes of which I have not yet found in Chicago) recommendations.

Krekel's Custard & Hamburgers
2121 NORTH GRAND AVENUE EAST
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62702
217-525-4952

Thanks for the Norb Andy's update Darren72 - hadn't been to Springpatch in a few months and wasn't aware. Also, on the origins of the horseshoe, I was recalling what I was told many years ago by Dick Durbin's senior aide at the time, so I stand corrected.

I will second that emotion on Joe Gallina's - the best meatball sandwich I've ever had was at Gallina's.

And if you're willing to drive west to Chandlerville and/or Bath you can try a carp sandwich which the locals seem to enjoy. Most of the taverns offer them but I can't say as I've been able to muster the courage as yet.

Davooda

Cathy2 wrote:Darren,

In your experience, isn't Sunday a tough day to get a meal in Springfield? It seems like there are considerably less options on Sunday than Saturday, which can be a surprise. Those are my experiences, I'm wondering if I am wrong or if anything has changed.

Thanks!

Regards,

Hi Cathy,

It's hard to say. I've only been going to Springfield for a few years and on Sundays we generally start with my significant other's mom's excellent breakfast casserole. We're usually on the road back to Chicago by midday. A few places that we like (D'arcy's) aren't open on Sundays, but I'm not sure how common this is.

On the way to Springfield along I-55:

Huddle House
Williamsville, IL
I-55, Exit 109
217-566-2067
http://www.HuddleHouse.com

I only had time to walk in, take a quick look and grab a take-out menu. This is a chain founded in Atlanta, GA in 1964 (there were prior businesses by the same founder). This place had the look and feel of a Waffle House. I hope to stop in to check my expectations sometime.

***

Russell Stover Candies, The Store (also referred to as a factory outlet store)
901 Heitman Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656
I-55, Exit 126, go east and it is on a rise just southeast of the expressway.
217/735-9934
www.RussellStover.com

I stopped specifically to inquire what happened to my favorite maple fudge candy roll. I would find these in Walgreens and Jewel, but haven't seen one in two years. It was discontinued, then returned somewhat reformulated under a new name: "Handmade Pecan Roll: Naturally flavored maple fudge center covered in pecans."

I bought two hoping the saleslady was correct in her affirmation this was new and improved. I ate the first one while driving away, it was delicious. I kept the second in a cooler to keep it from melting while I moved around the country. I came home, then hid it in the kitchen. Not well enough, because someone ate it.

The good news, I at least know I can get it again sometime.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Russell Stover Candies, The Store (also referred to as a factory outlet store)
901 Heitman Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656
I-55, Exit 126, go east and it is on a rise just southeast of the expressway.
217/735-9934
http://www.RussellStover.com

I stopped specifically to inquire what happened to my favorite maple fudge candy roll. I would find these in Walgreens and Jewel, but haven't seen one in two years. It was discontinued, then returned somewhat reformulated under a new name: "Handmade Pecan Roll: Naturally flavored maple fudge center covered in pecans."

I bought two hoping the saleslady was correct in her affirmation this was new and improved. I ate the first one while driving away, it was delicious. I kept the second in a cooler to keep it from melting while I moved around the country. I came home, then hid it in the kitchen. Not well enough, because someone ate it.

The good news, I at least know I can get it again sometime.

Hi,

During the last two weekends, I have visited a Russell Stover Store in Sedalia, MO and Lincoln, IL. Both times I bought my beloved pecan roll with the maple fudge center.

At the Lincoln location, I commented to the salesman how I often go through the fruitless effort of looking for these pecan rolls at Walgreens, Jewel and a few other retail stores. He advised Russell Stover contractually decides who can get which products. For whatever reason, these pecan rolls and some kind of mint meltaway type candy is no longer offered to Walgreens and others. That does explain why I never find it, though no idea why they cannot offer this product. It is more a Stover related issue than our local stores.

Regards,