Highly Recommended 14 Dinner Restaurants Near Springfield, Illinois

Pam Lorenz We were visiting Springfield and looking for a new place for dinner and found Smokey Bones! The atmosphere was great but service and food were outstanding. Our server Jeff was awesome, didn’t have to ask for refills he saw when our drinks were low and came right over. Food was delicious, came out hot with big portions. We had the ribs with cornbread and loaded baked potato and smoked turkey sandwich with bacon and loaded baked potato. Onion rings for an appetizer. Highly recommend this restaurant

treviese griffin Place was recommended to us by an employee at the state capital that suggested we get the horseshoe. We got the one with buffalo chicken. It was so good. They had fried green tomatoes. Those were good. The ranch is really good. Definitely would go back and try a different type of horseshoe.

Paul Robinson First time trying the Legendary Portillos. They did not disappoint. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and the strawberry lemon shake was on point. My partner loved the Italian beef and sausage and cheese fries. The service was great and the staff were very friendly and patient to someone new. Would highly recommend visiting this location.

Lauren Wilcoxen Motorheads is everything you hope for when you walk in the door and then some. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was packed with nostalgia, Route 66 charm, and thoughtful details that make the experience feel special rather than gimmicky. You can tell this place is built with intention and heart. One of the highlights of our visit was having the honor to meet the men behind the scenes who keep Motorheads running so smoothly. Their focus on customer experience truly shows, and their passion for preserving nostalgia while creating a welcoming, family-friendly environment is felt throughout the entire space. The food was outstanding. Every dish we tried was fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. A must-order is the Piston Appetizer, absolutely delicious and perfect for sharing. The pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers all delivered, and everything came out hot and exactly as ordered. Service was another standout. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. Whether you’re visiting for the food, the atmosphere, or the memories, the staff makes you feel right at home. If you’re in Springfield or traveling Route 66, Motorheads is a must-stop. Amazing food, great service, and an experience that brings back the fun of classic Americana. Highly recommend. — Lauren Wilcoxen The Quaint Quarters

Irene Kittycat Spent a fun Columbus day weekend at Springfield and stopped in for their early bird dinner and it was fantastic! Took them a bit for service but it was great so we didnt mind waiting. Decorations were so cute and at 5:30pm, they were already packed with a long line out the door! We ordered the oyster appetizers, chicken Monterey, Cod Dejonghe and baked stuffed shrimp and it was all so so delicious. Came with this sweet butter roll that melts in your mouth. One of the best seafood we had in a while. Expect long wait but oh so worth it! Yum!

Sarah A wonderful pub with a good variety of drinks and food! I visited during their Shepherds Pie special day. It was very tasty and a good size for just a single serving. I also ordered the Peach Cobbler Cheesecake. It was so delicious! I good mix of cheesecake and Cobbler that wasnt too strong in either direction. Would recommend either, both very tasty!

Lillianna Huerta We came here for the first time with friends for dinner and we had a great time!! We made a reservation ahead of time since it was a Saturday. The food was delicious! We got the big bayou gator bites as an appetizer and split the yetti meal. So much food! For drinks I tried two martinis, the westwoods signature martini and the cherry cheesecake martini! Both amazing! My husband got the bourbon flight which was really nice. Great options to choose from! Our service and the atmosphere here was great! Well definitely be back again when we want to have a good time with friends.

Heather Nanney Enjoyed lunch at Finleys. Highly recommend the Orchard Harvest Salad from the fall seasonal menu. Great combo of flavors and the apple cider vinaigrette was delicious. Hubby said the fish was a little greasy, but took some of the breading off to help. A little more than wed typically spend for lunch, but portions were generous, food was fresh and flavorful, so we didnt mind. Jess took wonderful care of us- great service!

Leanda Seaton I havent been here in about 10 years but it was a great visit. Our waitress was very attentive and checked on us frequently. I ordered a Chipotle Chicken Bowl and it was delicious. Also, with my meal I got the Arctic Drift frozen margarita. That was also so good. This experience was amazing and is definitely somewhere I want to come to again.

Joe Lataille Beer was truly excellent and the menu was fun and creative... I wanted to try so many things. Service was friendly and attentive, but it also only moderately busy. The exterior of the building and history were cool and the bar area was nice enough. Other than that, the interior was pretty simple. Prices for beers on tap were fine, but there werent any pre-canned or bottled take-out options... only growlers and very large cans that are canned on demand. Location is fantastic in the heart of Springfield just around the corner from Lincolns home and a few minutes from the museum.

Jim Brown We shared the best pizza that we have had in years. The reopened restaurant has been refreshed. We were told that the new owners are the folks who run Charlie Parkers. The menu was reasonably priced and had a very nice selection. Open daily at 11, it was well attended by 11:30. A very pleasant lunch with an excellent staff. A real winner.

Jennifer Boynton We went for NYE. We waited for over 2 1/2 hours before our food came. They had large parties on new years and just couldn’t get the food out fast enough. Some people either left or got their food to go. The only highlight is our waitress kept a brave and friendly attitude and did the best she could. Very unfortunate situation. I don’t see us going back anytime soon.

Brian Sapp Good beer and good food! Visited during a snowstorm and the warm food and welcoming staff made for a good meal. The dish here was tasty! Potatoes and pulled pork. Someone suggested Engrained to me during a business trip. Great suggestion. Would go again - without the snow!!!

Derek Smitha Everyone was extremely nice, good was great and decent portions. Will come back if im in springfield again.