The Top 16 Restaurants Near The Order
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Rank 1. Mama G's Kitchen
Southern
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A brewpub that's been an old-school downtown Springfield institution long enough that the regulars have strong opinions about which house beer to order first. The setup is classic pub: fresh-brewed drafts, pretzels with beer-cheese fondue, burgers, root beer floats made with house-brewed soda. The east end of the patio offers a decent perch for watching whoever's wandering through downtown on a Friday night.
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Rank 3. Tea Bar & Bites
Mediterranean Coffee Shop
Mismatched tablecloths and cloth napkins set the tone at this cozy Mediterranean-leaning tea room and cafe, where the menu runs to sandwiches, salads, and sampler plates with a light Greek accent. The house iced tea is steeped with clove, and the patio, tucked behind a fountain, manages to feel like someone's backyard despite sitting right off the street. A good spot for a slow Saturday lunch with no particular agenda.
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A craft brewery and pizza spot on Cherry Street with a tiered outdoor patio that does a convincing impression of a neighborhood park, sun shades and all. The beer list swings from a New England IPA to a French toast pastry ale, with a Cherry Street Sour for those keeping it local. Detroit-style squares and thin tavern-style pizzas handle the food side. Live music plays regularly, but the back picnic tables sit just far enough away that conversation survives.
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Rank 5. La Roux Bistro
French-inspired Cajun & Creole
A French-Cajun bistro built around a sub-basement that nobody knew existed until construction crews found it, two levels below the street with old stonework still intact. The team leaned in rather than filling it with concrete, so you can eat your way through a Cajun-and-French-inspired menu deep underground like some kind of delicious urban spelunking. Ground level is technically the third floor, which is a good conversation starter if the food leaves you speechless.
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Rank 7. Omo Japanese Soul Food
Japanese
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Rank 9. Old Country Chimney Cake
Eastern European
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Rank 10. JW’s Kitchen
Southern American
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Rank 11. Galloway Grill
American
The Galloway Trail runs right past the back fence, so the patio fills up with cyclists and runners who've just earned something fried. This casual American bar and grill keeps things straightforward: big sandwiches, Frito pie, barbecue-sauced burgers, the kind of food that makes a two-hour ride feel like a sound investment. Sun shades cover the back-corner tables where you can hear the trail traffic rolling by outside.
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Rank 14. The Ozark Mill Restaurant
Farm-to-table New American
The tables closest to the bridge put you near enough to hear the river running over the dam, which sets the mood before the food even arrives. This is an upscale farm-to-table restaurant on the Finley Farms property, where some of what ends up on your plate was grown out back. The seasonal menu leans into that, and the patio alone makes a strong case for lingering over one of their cocktails well past dinner.
- 417 Magazine Best Ozarks-Specific Dessert: Green Tomato Cake · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO
- 417 Magazine The Best Steaks in Southwest Missouri
- 417 Magazine The Best Patios For Outdoor Drinking and Dining
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Rank 15. Cellar 417
Italian
Patio seating looks out over the rolling Ozarks with a sliver of Table Rock Lake in the frame, which sets expectations high before the food shows up. This is an Italian restaurant where the pasta is made from scratch and the wine list is long enough to require help. The chef trained formally and spent time on the West Coast before landing here, and the cacio e pepe and burnt Basque cheesecake suggest he paid attention.
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Rank 16. Buffalo Bar
American Dive Bar
Perched at Top of the Rock with a patio that faces the lake just as the sun drops behind the Ozark hills, this casual bar and grill makes it easy to stay for one more round. The kitchen borrows a few dishes from the fancier Osage Restaurant next door, so the food punches above the dive-bar vibe. Go at golden hour, find a seat with water in front of you, and order the bourbon Osage Smash while you still can.