Submitted by [deleted] t3_ylw9sw in springfieldMO
Two come to mind for me. Cafe Cusco, the service has always been great and the food is delicious. Mother's Brewing also. I've enjoyed just about every beer I've had from them and the atmosphere of the tap room, barrelhouse, & backyard is fantastic.
The public library system in Springfield/Greene county is absolutely spectacular! There are so many locations, great free programs, amazing amount of materials to check out, and a fantastic book sale twice a year. It's such a weird dichotomy to the anti-intellect vibe that much of Springfield gives off, and I'm certainly happy that the library seems to always have patrons. Edit: spelling
"Anti-intellect vibe"
Much nicer than the adjectives I would personally use to describe Springfield lol
>the anti-intellect vibe that much of Springfield gives of
C'mon now, there's no reason to be rude.
To the contrary, I thought that was very polite.
You spelled "intellect" incorrectly.
The Art Museum is a gem. I try to go every few months to check out the new exhibits.
My mom insists on going to our art museum every time she visits me. It's her favorite place in town.
The Library Center is my happy place.
+1 for the library. Campbell is my favorite location too, but really all of them are good. During middle and parts of high school I was always in there (the one across from Central) because my family only had one computer and no printer. So I'd be in there after school every day finishing up work, or maybe just finding a new cookbook to read...think that's where I got my interest in collecting recipes, actually. For a good few of those years I didn't even have a phone and couldn't drive, so it became my go-to spot to just wait to be picked up after class too.
Also, I didn't know the art museum was free. I really should look harder for things like this, I guess. Thanks, maybe I'll go by sometime.
Growing up close to the library center really spoiled me. I've been to libraries in other towns and even just the others in springfield can't compare
Oh wait it's free??? I never knew that. Cost is one of the things that prevents me from going places. That's good to know!
The art museum is free. They ask for a donation but you don't have to pay to get in. Some of their classes and workshops have a cost.
Here's a link to the Library Center Page with some of their service costs for copies, etc. It's very reasonable.
I love the Midtown Library and Brentwood! I’m able to get free Discovery Center passes for my family
Most art museums that I've been to are free. Priceless works of the masters: stare all day for zero dollars. Taxidermied animals and fish in aquariums: forty dollars. Go figure.
Rama Thai, Bawi
Rama Thai, so good.
How do these compare to Everyday Thai?
Bawi is Korean BBQ so there’s really no comparison, but I had Everyday Thai once and the service was so bad I’ve never been back. Food was cold, servers were standing around talking to each other while there was food visible on the kitchen counter. Ruined the date of a friend who was with us.
Everyday Thai has always been awesome for me! Good service and kind people
La Habana Vieja, the Cuban restaurant just a couple doors down from Cafe Cusco.
Never heard of this one, but after perusing their menu online, I absolutely gotta try it. Thanks for the introduction!
Whoa. Somehow I've never even heard of this place.
I've been on a quest to find Hispanic food like from my hometown. Do they cook with anything hotter than a jalapeño?
Typically, Cuban food isn't heavy on heat. Source: am Cuban.
Dang :c
In my home town I loved eating habenero chicken fajitas and I've been suffering for years without it
I believe heat is pretty unique to Mexican cuisine when it comes to cuisines within the Hispanic world.
However, my father loves heat, and we always add jalapenos into our black bean soup.
Naaaaah Trinidad and Tobago have some of the hottest pepper breeds in the world. And I feel like I've ate some very spicy jaimaican food from a street vendor here.
I know hot cluckers is supposed to have this Uber secret spice level and food I make poisons the air. You can't even be in the house or your eyes and lungs will burn.
Bww uses to have a ghost pepper sauce several years ago as their hottest sauce. I loved it so much I bought bottles of it. All the bottles. Started my super spice journey. Their reaper wings feel really mid. Wing stops atomic level is not hot enough. Cheese steak sandwich place by sound smart and wing stop had this sandwich called Eye of Sauron--omg it needs to.he a permanent menu item for my soul 😩
I told Taj mihal many times to make my food as spicy as possible. Never once was it very noticeable. I told my.indian friend he said to ask for it "Indian spicy," and I don't think it changed anything. Guy must think I won't like it or something.
Perches had good quantities of food for the price. Maybe not as absolutely stacked and jacked as del gordo and lacked I felt in the spice department but I've only tried two dishes there.
Whenever the Mexican restaurants bring me that green habanero sauce I practically eat 3/4 of the bottle shamelessly.
I'm a glutton for spice. At least the mall has my favorite hot sauces. That Trinidad Moruga Scorpion sauce is divine. Can eat the whole bottle is about 2 months. Sometimes less.
I've been on a quest to find a resturant here or food truck with just what I'm looking for but have not :(
I hadn't thought of T&T as Hispanic, but I suppose they are. I figured they were more like Jamaica. Caribbean, but not Hispanic. The more you know.
Oh I am not entirely sure sorry if I'm lumping them them together incorrectly.
Still looking for spicy food resturant :T
No need to apologize to me! I made the mistake of assuming T&T wasn't Hispanic.
Have you tried Thai restaurants in town? They have a spice star system that can get pretty hot.
I've heard but never gotten like what I expected. I can't help but feel when I demand it super hot the restursnt thinks I won't know the difference to give it to me normal or think I wouldn't like it. I'm paying for it come on maaaaaaan
I wanted to like it. But it is pricey and nothing special. I think they should have gone with a regular old cuban joint rather than the higher class version they attempt. This is a bottom dollar market after all.
El puente on republic.
Shhhhh I like my non-busy Mexican restaurant secret. People can keep their Cesar's and Jose Locos
Sharing is caring.
Not if it comes between me and free chips and salsa 😂
Yessss!!
Stick it in your ear
A Springfield staple. I've spent so much time and money there.
Cesars and Farmers Gastropub
Greek Belly, the feta fries are amazing and I love gyros.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned it yet but That Lebanese Place on C St is owned by one of the nicest and best owners I have run into since moving to Springfield. The food is great too but the experience is why we keep coming back.
I might go there once every couple of years and he still chats with me like I'm an old friend. I remember my family taking me there for my birthday, as soon as he found out he brought us all baklava on the house.
I’ve heard he’s in poor health and looking for someone to take over the business in coming years…
Van Goghs, Cafe Cusco, Tortilleria Perches
Came here to see of anyone else knew about Tortilleria Perches. Glas to see I'm not the only one.
Don Tono (food truck around Glenstone and Bennett) I've been going there since they opened years ago. They are so friendly and their food is great.
Corner 21
Shhhh let’s keep this one a secret 😆
??????? Lol
Team Taco and the Almighty Sando Shop! 10/10 experiences every time I go.
EDIT: Also Pho Kim. RIP Izumi Hitake.
the almighty sando shop has me in a chokehold
Little Tokyo, aka Misaki. It's like a fast food version of Nakato's. Cheap, tasty, fast, and the people are super nice. The guy who works the pickup window on weekends is trying to educate me on anime. Bless his heart it's a lost cause. I've been going there so long that when they see it's me they just start the spicy chicken cooking. Honorable mentions go to Pappy's for their amazing pulled pork sandwich and Braum's for their sausage biscuits, which I'm eating one of right now. Cafe Cusco is my go to for family events because my parents are vegetarians and everybody has something they love there.
Yes, love Little Tokyo, they are all so nice. I used to live and work closer to there, now I rarely go but they still remember both my food and drink order. Can't say enough great things about this place.
The Sub Shop hands down. I would die for the people who run this place. Not even worth putting a second option down
Completely agree. Ethan is one of the nicest humans in town. He never forgets names. Truly wonderful people and subs!
Ott’s pasta is solid. Super cheap, tasty, and filling
I feel bad that I've driven past Ott's thousands of times and never tried it. Gonna try and correct that.
As a born and raised local im pretty sure part of my blood is ott's house casserole sauce 🤣
Never heard of it
I've always heard people rave about otts. We were going to use them for my wedding and we tried a few dishes to test it out. Not one single person thought it was good. It was OK. We went with bambinos instead which was 1000x better for slightly more money.
Neighbor’s Mill bakery is Panera if it were actually good and not overpriced. Also China King on Republic is fantastic and cheap as hell.
For spots other than restaurants, my wife and I practically live at Alamo Drafthouse
They make the BEST sandwiches. And I don't even like sandwiches all that much.
El Sombrero fucks
Carnally
Carne asadally.
Del Gordo taco. Both locations 1 and 2 are very nice. Some people swear by #1 and many things there are outright superior. But you go to number 2 and you order nachos. Pork or chicken. That shit with a big as glass of beer or horchata with shot of rum 🥴
I used to be a fan of purple burrito but found out they supported a bill or city ordinance that discriminated against trans people. Being trans I unfortunately have to boycott them :<
Purple Burrito are an odd bunch. I remember going into one on S Campbell years ago and all the TV's were on Fox News. Seemed a bit odd for hispanic Californian transplants.
Right??? So strange.
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Springfield watershed, its tucked away in the north east part of town and is absolutely beautiful. I try to go out there several times each month and am always amazed at how beautiful it is, I have seen deer, river otters and beavers on the trails as well. I may also be biased as fiance proposed to me there at the overlook platform over the spring, but I think its one of the most amazing parks we have.
I absolutely agree! I feel so lucky to have VWM so close
Skully’s! Urban Roots. Starbucks on Cherry & Glenstone.
Skully's is the only place I go where I can pay over ten dollars for ramen and not be angry about it. Very good stuff.
How could I forget Skullys!?
Braums
People can downvote all they want, but Braum's is at the top of the pile for fast food for me. I'm literally eating a Braum's sausage biscuit right now. And I much prefer their sundae's to Andy's.
Terribly underrated place. They have fantastic ice cream.
They have the best half gallon ice cream too. We always stop and even if we don't eat there, we grab some ice cream from the freezer.
I like the churro ^_^
Wire Road…decent beer, an excellent atmosphere, and a variety of delicious food trucks keeps me coming back all the time. They even have good coffees in the morning while waiting for breakfast from Backyard Carnivore.
I also like Tie & Timber. Better beer and another great outdoor area, however it just doesn’t have the same energy as Wire Road.
T&T's outdoor space is S-Tier.
Also recommend Wire Road. You can bring your pets and kids, so family friendly with alot of drinking options. The outside is awesome.
Why are y'all only doing restaurants? My go-to place in Springfield is The Acoustic Shoppe
Love this place! Such nice people!
Bambino’s
4by4 Brewing Company
Druff’s, Mother’s, JOB
I literally buy pho from Pho Kim every single Sunday. That bitch works her ass off. She makes her bread in house every day for bahn mi's. She rocks. You go, Kim!
Lindbergs. But it really depends on what I’m craving? I’m not going to go to Lindbergs for Mexican. But as a general rule, Lindbergs.
Also, Basilico on C street is also DIVINE. Best Italian I’ve had in Springfield.
Back in the nineties the original Peg Bundy steered me right on chocolate Bon Bon's. So Notnotpegbundy can't be wrong on Basilico. Have walked past but never gone in, now I'll have to try them. Definitely agree on Lindberg's. Love their burgers.
Peg Bundy is a saint, really.
May I suggest the pasta primavera? Good god it was delicious.
I’ve never been done wrong at a place on c-street. I hope your experience is lovely!
Thank you! I imagine it will be, I've also never been done wrong on Commercial.
Los michoacanos garcias for their Mangonada!! It’s so good. Hits every single time
holdup… mangonada in Springfield?!?!?! i’m gonna have to hit this place up…
thanks SO MUCH for pointing it out!!!
Yep there is also a place called piña loca I believe. They do a variation of the chamoy, tajin and fruit dishes.
oh WOW… i SERIOUSLY cannot thank you enough for this info!!!
Rama Thai, Thailand Station, Pho Kim, Hyong Yen, Luco’s Pizzeria 😥, Jose Loco’s (Northside), Team Taco, Karai Ramen, Waffle House
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Meh
Culture Counter! Their waffles are great for breakfast or lunch, the ice cream flavors are unique and the baked goods are amazing!
Van goghs eeterie, Skullys ramen, culture counter, culture flock, otts pasta, team taco, chameleon cuisine and BOSKYS VEGAN GRILLLLLLLLL. All my faves
Boskys is on my short list to try very soon. I've heard nothing but great stuff and they use Jake's Vegan Meat.
The pastry chef from Van Gogh's works nights at Moon City down the street. Was talking with him one night and it turns out he and one of the chemists from the science lab I work at get together to study flavors to try and reproduce them in vegan options. Pretty cool stuff.
OMO
For food the Wheelhouse is a favorite of mine. Wonders of Wildlife was somehow worth the wait and 1984 is almost always fun (best to avoid times when little kids are there lol)
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board system. We have GREAT parks for a city this size. Anyone with kids knows the godsend that is Harvest Fest at Rutledge-Wilson.
Race brothers for hardware and farm and home. Locally owned small business, always friendly and helpful, fair prices.
Just for parrots off glenstone...SUPER friendly, knowledgeable, family owned and operated. Genuinely care about their animals amd customers. Reasonable boarding rates and value added services. Really can't say about nice things about these people.
For a hair cut or straight razor shave, Shane formerly of Dapper, gives the best hair cut I have ever experienced. He just moved to a shop off division, idk the name of it, but I'd drive WAY further for a quality haircut. He genuinely cares about the quality of his work and it shows.
The people at just for parrots are so nice and knowledgeable. Our son got a lovebird there last year. We still go there to get his wings clipped and other supplies.
McSalty’s pizza. Their whole wheat crust is devine.
Meta Games Unlimited at 65 and Sunshine. Great staff. Big game room. It's become a staple of the Springfield geek scene, imo.
St. Michael's
Lindberg's
Grad School / JOB House
Tie & Timber
Cielito Lindo on South Campbell slaps hard never disappoints.
Taj Mahal
Thailand Station on Republic Road is wonderful. Awesome food served by a super sweet family. We go there about once a week since it opened and everything we've had is amazing.
Amazin Asain. Super accommodating to celiac & the staff is always on top of everything
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Roots Coffee Bar on Republic Rd - Great drinks, tasty food with wide variety, and chill vibes for days.
Rama Thai and Mothers'. You all have made me hungry, I have to have some Kaitod Rama now...
Also Chabom Tea and Spices on C-Street.
It's Friday, dip out of work a little early, grab some curry, & then walk a few blocks and have a beer at Mother's.
Screw productivity, Viva Winter Grind!
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It's a great place to go after a bike ride. I've spent many summer evenings on their patio having a beer and burger.
druffs, otts, mother’s, hold fast! as for non-restaurant/drinks, sound smart (fucking love those guys) and hotel vandivort lobby lmfao
Dude the Sound Smart guys are so fucking chill, i love it there
ikr! they rule 😭
Cashew Station for their crab rangoons
Early Bird!!!!
Char and or Flame
Why
Because they’re both delicious!
Why not
Bambu, Casa Kusina and Karai
Without question, anytime I come back to visit, I’m going to Whole Hog BBQ & making sure to get the ranch potato salad & cheesy corn. ALSO, Tortilleria for some delicious authentic tacos 🙌
Mother’s. It’s like family.
Andy’s!
Mijuri used to be… Rama Thai, Cesar’s and Bambino’s are in our monthly rotation for sure.
Pho Kim
The Wok on Scenic (formerly known as China Wok).
Warning: their general or cashew chicken causes transcendence.
That Lebanese Place. The food is great, the owner is so nice, he treats customers like long time friends. He once gave me free lentil soup when i went in
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Taj Mahal for the lunch buffet, food is always great and the staff is wonderful.
Bawi is a favorite in my family, although it is a little expensive.
The Hill, Italian restaurant. Great food and good staff. Its my go-to place for mothers day and taking my sisters out to eat.
Taj Mahal hasn’t started their lunch buffet yet, right?
Shanghai Inn on glenstone. Best Chinese food ever and the service is always amazing. I've gone there enough they remember my order!
The Wheelhouse.
Skully’s.
Sup Shop - both locations.
Mexican Villa
Also Mexican Villa.
"I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other."
Maxwyfe t1_iv124iu wrote
All y'all listing restaurants so I'm going a different direction. The Library Center on S. Campbell is lovely. It's comfy, that coffee shop is great. The gift shop has some neat little things. There is always some nice historical or cultural display, they have book clubs, book discussions, lectures and as far as I know, these are free - or mostly free. You can use their computers, their printers and even their fax - it's practically a little business center. So nice.
And I love the art museum. They have a nice collection and interesting exhibits, and it's a lovely place to spend a rainy afternoon - for free.