The 11 Best Restaurants in Springfield

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.

1. 417 Magazine Best Origin Story · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO

1. 417 Magazine Best Cozy Food on a Cold Day: Stuffed Cabbage · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO

1. 417 Magazine Best Robot · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO

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.

1. 417 Magazine Best Ozarks-Specific Dessert: Green Tomato Cake · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO
2. 417 Magazine The Best Steaks in Southwest Missouri
3. 417 Magazine The Best Patios For Outdoor Drinking and Dining

1. 417 Magazine Best Spicy Bite: Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO

1. 417 Magazine Best Comfort Food · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO

1. 417 Magazine Best Shareable Dish: Tostones · Best Restaurants in Springfield, MO

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.

1. 417 Magazine The Best Patios For Outdoor Drinking and Dining

1. 417 Magazine The Best Steaks in Southwest Missouri

1. 417 Magazine The Best Steaks in Southwest Missouri

1. 417 Magazine The Best Steaks in Southwest Missouri