Best Restaurants Open for Christmas Dinner this year in Springfield – 2024

After retiring and becoming full time RV travelers we love to find these restaurant gems for excellent dining. Absolutely fabulous experience and we will return before leaving town. Thank you to the chef and our waiter! We returned 2 days later and the food was as fabulous as the first visit. Great service and conversation. Thank you Jenna!

Overall a beautiful experience. Rick, My waiter had provided me such a delightful experience. Will be returning in the near future. Had a delicious Tuna entree with beautifully whipped garlic butter. And for desert, had a perfectly executed Coffee Bean cheese cake. If I could rate it more, I would! 10/10 experience. It’s a must worth experience!

IF you want to be mislead about soup and salad being included with your meal, eat in an uncomfortable vibe, drink a poorly made old fashioned, eat food that is under seasoned, paying 150 including tip this is the place to eat .

The moment you walk through the door, prepare to be greeted by the most hospitable gentleman. Our dining experience was exceptional, sampling a wide array of dishes from salads to crab mushrooms, dips, Alfredo, spaghetti, and bread pudding. The establishment is impeccably clean, and the service is truly outstanding. Perfect score of 10 out of 10. We will definitely return whenever we are in Springfield. Thank you!

Visiting from out of state for the Palomino World show. After having a successful day an excellent meal was a must. Mariah’s was exactly what we were looking for. The best food, atmosphere, and service in Springfield. I highly recommend stopping in. It will be a must go anytime we are in town!

Beautiful restaurant! Recommend the lobster ravioli. Good food and service !

The food was just amazing! We loved Tostones the most and the Garlic Shrimp. We were traveling and came across this restaurant while searching the web for the best places to eat in Springfield. Worth going there!

Great food. Nothing like it in springfield. Mexican food is a dime a dozen around here. This is more south American food. The drink menu was a little limited. Lack of red bull for one thing . And they really need a bigger location. Could easily pack something 3 times it's size with the type of food their serving. Will definitely be going back in the near future.

A couple months ago my wife and I were in Springfield, IL and, just by chance, found Roots Latin Grill. I had the Lomo Saltado for dinner, and it was delicious! We were back in Springfield recently and had lunch at Roots. We had two cheese Tostones and a beef Tostone for starters. The cheese Tostones were very good, but the beef Tostone was great! For our main courses, we had Pincho (marinated steak, fantastic seasoning, stuck on a skewer, and grilled) and Camarones al Ajillo (garlic shrimp). Both items were very flavorful and delicious! The servings were generous and ample. Service was excellent. Lunchtime was not crowded, and we were seated right away. On the other hand, the place fills up for dinner. Get there early for dinner or make a reservation. The food is excellent, flavorful, and well prepared. We'll be back in Springfield and will definitely head to Roots for a meal. Highly recommended with two thumbs up!!!

Stepping into Charlie Parker's Diner was like stepping back in time. This cozy little spot, tucked away in an unexpected corner of Springfield, was a delightful surprise. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, and the friendly staff made me feel right at home. I opted for the classic breakfast horseshoe, and it was a revelation. The perfectly toasted bread was piled high with savory sausage, crispy fries, and a generous blanket of creamy cheese sauce. Each bite was an explosion of flavor and texture, and the portion was incredibly generous. But what truly astonished me was the sheer variety of pastries crammed into this little diner. From towering pancake stacks and amazing stuffed waffles and French toast. They basically made me a stuffed Banana Foster French Toast even though it wasn't on the menu. Charlie Parker's Diner is a hidden gem that exceeded all my expectations. With its delicious food, charming atmosphere, and surprising pastry selection, it's a must-visit for anyone looking for a taste of classic American comfort food.

Great little diner with great food at competitive prices. There was a 15-minute wait that ended up being like 7 minutes, would definitely go back next time were in town.

I saw a review that said “best breakfast in Springfield” and they weren’t lying. After days of being disappointed by the restaurants and food I had been having in Springfield on a trip, I was so happy to have some actually good food. I got blueberry pancakes and hash browns… so yummy!! The pancake was huge and I swear I asked for the small one. The hash browns were great and not soaking with grease. The environment and concept was great. I would definitely go again and I think about the next time I can go back!!

Saputo's has a lovely, welcoming atmosphere that makes it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The food was excellent—I started with the olive salad, which was fresh and tasty, followed by the chicken parmigiana. The chicken was tender, and the marinara sauce really stood out with its rich, flavorful taste. However, the service was slower than I'd hoped, which took away from the experience a bit. If you're not in a hurry, the great food and cozy ambiance make it worth the wait.

The service is excellent. The employees are attentive. But the taste is terrible. I like Italian restaurants. But it is the worst Italian restaurant I have tried. Pasta sauces are bad. Meat is not fresh.We didn't like anything and didn't take it home.

Food is average. The atmosphere is great. It is so old school. Atmosphere is outstanding. $50 lunch for 2 with no alcohol.

My hubby and I have been eating here for 20+ years. The food is homemade and tastes amazing. The staff is courteous and friendly. Even the owners are present with a smile. Definitely a 10 out of 10!! Oh, but don't miss out on the best cheesecake you'll ever taste!!

WRITING REVIEW COUPLE WEEKS AFTER EATING HERE…just a delayed review. This is a busy place. Don’t let the idea of a truck stop fool you here. The menu is very extensive with so many options that it may take some time deciding on what to get. In my opinion Star 66 is the old school diner where locals are known well, staff calls you “hun” or “sir” etc and the bustling of cooking food, staff carrying dishes weaving between patrons and each other, clanking silverware, along with conversations between friends family and strangers bring you to the heart of the American diner. I’ll highlight American diner as the English language was mixed with Spanish and Ukrainian (or Russian, but definitely a Slavic based language) among staff and patrons. You really do get a slice of today’s America while sitting in Star 66 and it will make you feel at home…at least those of us who grew up with different languages around us. The food was good and came out fast. We had diner and then an early breakfast the next morning as we left for home on the last leg of our summer driving vacation. Seriously give this a try even when busy. You can’t go wrong with a traditional diner where you are treated well with both food and hospitality.

I can't believe I've not been to this local restaurant before. The staff was so lovely. They kept checking on my water. Very busy but still got our hot food fast and fresh. Try the cheesecake! Their menu is also pretty huge. Check it out in the photos.

My daughter and I had a wonderful "date night" experience! We were quickly seated and served by Allison, Who was very knowledgeable about the menu and the drink selection. Her friendly attitude on a very busy night never wavered. The food was fantastic, my daughter enjoyed a shrimp and fries dish while I had a bowl of the vegetable beef soup. The chef came out after our food was served greeted us and gave us some background on the venue. We will be back in the near future!!!

We come to Finley’s at least once a month. Karsen is amazing! Always very attentive and my drink is always full and he always entertains my special drink requests. Highly suggest their Mulled Berry Mule right now.

Love eating here when we visit Springfield. Laura is the best server I. The planet. Ver attentive. Very mindful. The brussel sprouts are fantastic!

The bartender deserves a raise, absolutely amazing drinks. Get your cocktails smoked! It's worth the extra couple dollars for the presentation alone and, of course, tastes better. Food and desserts were mouth-watering delicious. 10/10 recommend the lamb lollipop and splurge and get the teriamisu for dessert.

First time we ate here; came for my girlfriend’s birthday. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere is elegant. The food was excellent and very flavorful. Our waitress was informative with the menu. The only downfall to our experience was the cold, outdoor, hard metal, white chairs. These need to be lit on a patio than in a fine dining atmosphere.

The place was packed and parking lot out side was busy too. We had reservation, so we were OK. the pictures are of what we ordered. I dont remember the names of most of it, so I go by pictures. Mozzarella Salad was OK, but few of the tomatoes were rotten- dont recommend. the dish with steak pieces was very good, boys said the rice was too cheesy, but I liked-recommend. The dish with eggplant and stuff on top was a little dry- dont recommend. Mushroom Ravioli was OK, but a little under-cook- recommend?!!. Chicken Parmesan was a disaster- no taste, no salt- do not recommend. We didnt see the waiter after the food was served to ask for anything (salt, pepper, or Parmesan)- dont recommend at all. I loved my coffee ice cream- highly recommend. Stay away from the Pistachio cheese cake. Nothing Pistachio about it except the green color. There was a flavor of almond there, but no pistachio. To top it off was the siding of Cool whip, and not the real cream. do not recommend. All together, I do NOT recommend this place. May be the $$40 steak, or sea foods would have been better. But our dinner was not good and we will not go back. They really need to shake up if they want to keep the place going. The service was OK for so many people they have to serve. But the staff seemed worried and over worked. we paid close to $180 for 3 of us and expected a little better.

This is fine dining at its best. Went there for our daughter's birthday. Our food was delicious and our server was so attentive and kind. We will definitely be back again

I guess, three strikes and you're out. Took some friends from out of town here years ago, food was either under seasoned or overly seasoned. Recently I was invited by friends for a celebration and the manager pretended to not know the definition of a 'rack of lamb'. The restaurant made no effort to make it right. Next time I dine there maybe I'll dine alone for a 'unique' experience

Phenomenal experience. From the food to the service, 100% top notch. We had the tuna tartare, the special deviled eggs, the NY strip, pork chop, lobster tail, and sea bass. Creme brulee and flowerless chocolate cake for dessert. Each item was better than the next, and I doubt I'll ever have better sea bass in my life.

Overall, enjoyed the wine and food. I feel it's good place if you get a good server. We started by wine tasting in the front. The staff member that was working with was not as engaged with us compared to the other staff members. We had dinner reservations and were seated promptly. Our server was friendly as we ordered an appetizer and pitcher of Sangria. It took quite some time as our server brought us water but then time passed and we finally asked when we would be getting our Sangria. Other tables seated after us already received their drinks and bread as we sat there and waited. The table was tiny so we couldn't enjoy our food before the table was overcrowded with plates. The server was very nice but we didn't seem to be taken care of as well as the table next to us even though we ordered 3 courses, wine, appetizers, main course. Regardless, the food was phenomenal. We enjoyed the Sangria, salmon spread appetizer, Parmesan Crusted Mahi Mahi, Pistachio Crusted Grouper and Filet Medallions which was fantastic.

We had a reservation at 6:45. We didn't get seated until 7:20. It's a chain restaurant with decent food, but when they don't offer you anywhere to sit while you wait over 30 minutes past your reservation it isn't worth it at all. The staff was unbelievably rude and uncaring. They rolled their eyes when after a half hour I asked how much longer. It was crowded with nowhere to sit because they had clearly overbooked the reservations. Horrible atmosphere as everyone was angry that they had terrible service. Won't be going back unless they change management. Unbelievably bad. No apology, no "hey here's a free drink while you wait" or "here's a free appetizer as an apology for us screwing up so badly". Not even an "I'm sorry for your wait". That shows a lack of leadership, poor management, and a bad staff. Corporate should clean house and try again. When the food came around 8:00, my brother’s medium rare stake was a hockey puck. My mother and I’s pasta had clearly been reheated in a microwave, and my other brother’s flatbread looked like it had been dipped in a bowl of soup. When the bill came, it was for $152. The tip below showed that 20% of that was $48. I shared a picture because I was absolutely stunned. They not only screwed up the entire meal but then they tried to get us to leave a 33% tip by calling it 20%!? This place is a scam! Do not eat here. Ever. There are so many better places in Springfield

Overall, enjoyed the wine and food. I feel it's good place if you get a good server. We started by wine tasting in the front. The staff member that was working was unpleasant from the start, so we moved to the other side of the rail where a wonderful woman took care of us. We had dinner reservations and were seated promptly, but so close to another table that myself and another guest couldn't fit. The server let us move to be comfortable. The table was tiny so we couldn't enjoy our food before the table was overcrowded with plates. The server was very nice but we didn't seem to be taken care of as well as the table next to us even though we ordered 3 courses, wine and dessert. Regardless, the food was phenomenal. We enjoyed the sparkling almond wine, Calamari, Tomato Bruschetta, Napa chicken salad, Parmesan Crusted Mahi Mahi and Gnocchi with Roasted Butternut Squah which was fantastic. We also enjoyed the truffles for dessert which were delicious.