417 Magazine | Best of 417 | February 2024

417 MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2024

EXPLORE OZARKS CAVES • BEST OF 417 • FROM THE OZARKS TO THE TETONS

417mag.com

FEBRUARY 2024 | Vol. 27 Issue 2 | $5.95 |

EXTEND AND ENHANCE YOUR LIVING SPACE...

• BASEMENT • STORAGE ROOM • PATIO • GARAGE EPOXY & METALLIC

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THE ELITE WHISKEY EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

BATCH NO.

10

Date: March 2, 2024 | Location: Finley Farms | 7–9pm | 4CWhiskey.com Ticket Price: starting at $150 | Limited tickets available | Early entry available with VIP ticket purchase $25 add-on seminars and tastings available for purchase | By reservation only.

Purchase tickets today!

For more event information and sponsorship inquiries go to 4CWhiskey.com or email 4CWhiskey@gmail.com

Imagine Beginning Every Day Here.

At Concepts By Design we specialize in designing custom spaces built around how you want to live. From cozy closets to dream kitchens, our talented designers can create beautiful and functional spaces designed around you.

CabinetConceptsByDesign.com

© 2022 Concepts By Design

The Crafted Clinic in Marshfield, MO delivers a high end vibe with a small town feel. We pride ourselves in natural results and zero intimidation.

Now offering Rx weight loss, Botox ® , dermal filler, facial balancing , IV therapy, vitamin injections, hormone replacement, SkinPen, PRP, facial laser resurfacing , laser hair removal, tattoo removal, IPL facials, acne treatments, facials and medical grade skincare.

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Located right off the square!

205 E. Madison

417-221-5700 thecraftedclinic.com

[ BUSINESS ] LOGAN AGUIRRE Publisher logan@417mag.com

417 Magazine | 417mag.com S astgate Ave , Springfield, MO Fax

MEGAN JOHNSON Vice President of Operations and Custom Publications mjohnson@417mag.com

[ EDITORIAL ]

AMMIE SCOTT MOTES Vice President of Strategy and Senior Account Executive ascott@417mag.com

KATIE POLLOCK ESTES Editorial Director editor@417mag.com

JAMI WIGHTMAN Senior Account Executive jami@417mag.com

JAMIE THOMAS Digital Editor jthomas@417mag.com

JANELLE HAIK Senior Account Executive janelle@417mag.com

JO JOLLIFF Research Editor jo@417mag.com

KAITLYN MESSINA Account Executive kaitlyn@417mag.com

KALI SALAZAR Engagement Editor kali@417mag.com

BERNADETTE PRY O ce Manager bernadette@417mag.com

JORDAN BLOMQUIST Custom Publications Editor Staff Writer jblomquist@417mag.com

ERIN PAYNE Operations Coordinator epayne@417mag.com

EDITORIAL INTERN Jenna Murray

J.J. MASSEY Finance Director accounting@417mag.com

SARAH PATTON Creative Director sarah@417mag.com JORDAN DYKSTRA Art Director jordan@417mag.com BRANDON ALMS Senior Photographer & Designer brandon@417mag.com GRACE CHIPLEY-THOMPSON Editorial Designer grace@417mag.com KATY ST. CLAIR Photographer & Designer kstclair@417mag.com EDITORIAL DESIGN INTERNS Hali Patton, Anna Pfaff EDITORIAL & ART CONTRIBUTORS

Karen Bliss, Tessa Cooper, Fried Design, Juliana Goodwin, Sony Hocklander, Kristin Knapton, Ryan Kowalski, Leah Stiefermann, Jared Watson

HIGH STANDARDS. HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

KATHY GRIEVE Account Services Manager kathy@417mag.com NICKI SHERWOOD Account Coordinator nicki@417mag.com KATIE BATLINER Advertising Designer kbatliner@417mag.com MCKENZIE ROBINSON Advertising Designer mckenzie@417mag.com ELIZABETH VANFOSSON Digital Coordinator evanfosson@417mag.com ACCOUNT SERVICES CONTRIBUTORS

FALL IN LOVE WITH HY-VEE SAVINGS Scan for Savings!

Tessa Cooper, Annah Crow, Ikenroth Images Photography, Josh Kingham, Geoff Ridenhour, Jennifer Swenson

[ AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT ]

[ FOUNDERS ]

MARIYA SERYKH Marketing Coordinator mariya@417mag.com

GARY WHITAKER Founder gary@417mag.com JOAN WHITAKER Founder joan@417mag.com

hy-vee.com 1720 W. Battlefield Road 417.881.1950 2150 E. Sunshine Street 417.444.6860 MAG COM

417 MAGAZINE

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417 MAGAZI

FEBRUARY 2024

NE FEBRUARY 2024 EXPLORE OZARKS CAVES • BEST OF 417 • FROM THE OZARKS TO THE TETONS 417mag.com

[

FEATURES

]

FEBRUARY 2024

| Vol. 27 Issue

2 | $5.95 |

on the cover

This month’s vibrant cover packed with fun foodie vibes was created by the team at Fried esign Co

BEST OF 417

68

Our annual Best of list shares our readers’ most beloved restaurants Whether you’re looking for the best place for brunch or the perfect bar to en oy a cocktail, look to our readers for your answer WR TT B AT POLLOC ST S

NATURE’S MASTERPIECE

82

S BSCR B

The 14-inch pancake from Billy Gail’s, third place winner of the Best Place for Breakfast category, comes smothered in butter and syrup. Find more Best of 417 winners on p. 68.

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Our April issue highlights the best places to put down roots in land f you’re ready for a move we’ll help you find the best place to live, from cozy neighborhoods with nearby shops to sprawling private oases To get it delivered to your mailbox, head online to 417mag.com/subscribe.

Photo by Brandon Alms, Cover illustration by Fried esign

417 Magazine Senior Photographer and esigner Brandon Alms spent five days photographing Grand Teton ational Park from sunrise to sunset Take a peek through his lens at the enchanting landscapes and wildlife he captured during his time in Wyoming WR TT B BRA O ALMS

FEBRUARY 2024

[

LIFE

28 MY FUNNY GALENTINE

Make plans this alentine’s ay with your gals at some of our favorite spots for food, flowers and creative fun

32 DINNER IS SERVED

Take a break from the kitchen with these local personal chef services for your next date night or dinner party

33 SOMETHING OLD

Jennifer lswick’s family has shared one wedding dress for eight brides across three generations

DEPARTMENTS

]

OUTSIDE

45 RAVE CAVE

Take a tour through land’s three commercial cave experiences

46 MUSIC TO MY EARS

Take a trip to Springfield Greene County Park Board’s very first musical playground

49 GARDEN GOODIES

Sign up for a local CSA subscription to support local farms and en oy regular orders of farm grown goodness

34 GETAWAY TO FORT SMITH

Take a trip to Arkansas to explore a beautiful riverfront, vibrant downtown and historic sites

37 TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

46

Get ready for MA A The Abba Tribute concert and more fun local events happening this month

37

TASTE

98 GLOBAL PALATE

Thai S uare offers a novel dining experience with delicious menu items from their take on fried rice to pad Thai

100 LET’S PATTY

101 FLAVOR FUSION

Find where to get b nh m , a ietnamese sandwich rooted in French influence and served on a baguette

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105 SOUPER DUPER

Cozy up with soup recipes from Tina guyen Bulger

S BSCR PT O RAT S issues, isit mag com subscribe Allow weeks for processing orders, payment and changes of address S GL SS , WSSTA back issues, plus shipping and handling, if available o back issue orders or subscriptions outside the nited States A R SS CHA G S nclude both new address and mailing label with old address Magazine SS is published monthly by Whitaker Publishing, LLC, S astgate Ave , Springfield, MO Whitaker Publishing, LLC All rights reserved Reproduction or use in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited Periodical postage paid in Springfield, Missouri and additional mailing o ces POSTMAST R Send address changes to Magazine, S astgate Ave , Springfield, MO The magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or cartoons The olume and ssue numbers appear on the front cover of the magazine Printed in the nited States of America

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Photos by Tessa Cooper, courtesy Shutterstock

Jamaican Patty Co ’s newest location is serving a flavor packed extended menu

PROMOTION

extras

SPECIALADVERTISINGSECTIONS

51

Residential Pros to Know From home remodelers to real state agents, these pros have all of your residential needs covered.

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topshelfboatlifts.com

92

Best of 417 Profiles Learn all about the businesses, people and places that you, our readers, crowned the Best of 417.

5000-32000 lift capacity PWC Platforms Dock Lockers Dock Protection

Let Yourself

Shine

102 The Plate

Check out these tasty, one-of-a-kind dishes.

COMING SOON

Dentist Profiles, Let’s Go! Regional Travel Guide, Realtor Profiles

April 2024

Six Locally Owned Locations in Springfield, Ozark and Nixa suntancity.com

For information on advertising, call Logan Aguirre at 417-883-7417

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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[

DATE

NIGHT

A First-Class Time...

]

EVERY TIME.

IT’S A DATE

It’s time to start planning what you’re going to treat that special someone to on Valentine’s Day. We’ve got more than a few options to help you narrow down your next romantic experience to celebrate Valentine’s Day, so head over to 417mag.com/greatdates to

[

see what’s happening Also discover our first Experience 417 event called Savor & Stargaze.

It takes place at Two Rivers and features a curated campfire dinner and view of the night sky unlike any other. Visit 417mag.com/ experience417 for more information.

INSTAGRAM

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LOVE

There’s one name in trout fishing, and it is Gaston’s. America’s #1 trout fishing resort is legendary, luring anglers from coast to coast for the ultimate White River experience.

Come fish in style and comfort as part of the Gaston’s family.

]

• FIRST-CL ASS GUIDE SERVICE

2

• LODGING • ONE OF THE SOUTH’S FINEST RESTAURANTS • PRIVATE CLUB • TENNIS COURTS • SWIMMING POOL • NATURE TRAILS • CONFERENCE LODGE • L ANDING STRIP FOR FLY-IN GUESTS

Discover the Legacy

Photo by Brandon Alms

1777 River Road, Lakeview, AR 72642 870-431-5202 • Email gastons@gastons.com Lat 36° 20’ 55” N Long 92° 33’ 25” W 1. We visited the new Buc-ee’s location and captured it all so you could see it too! We loved the beaver nuggets, Buc-ee plush toys and getting to meet the Buc-ee mascot in person. Have you been yet?!

2. We drove around and found the best sledding hills in Springfield for you to try out this winter isit our Instagram and watch the reel to start prepping for your next snow day.

Gastons.com

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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[ PUBLISHER’S NOTE ]

D

uring a particularly challenging time in our lives, my husband and I were complaining to my dad about all the things that were going wrong. My dad isn’t the best person to vent to because he doesn’t indulge the negativity and complaining. As an eternal optimist, he either offers a new perspective or tries to solve the problem. In this case, he asked, “Have you tried writing notes?” What? Ugh, eye roll, what does that have to do with anything?

“Every day, challenge yourself to write a note to someone and express gratitude for them,” he said.

He went on to explain that he had put this into practice and it was incredible how much your mindset changes when you are focused each day on finding a way to make someone else’s day. Oh, the old mindset shift. At the time we were so buried in grief and hardship that this just felt like one more thing.

But I did, slowly but surely, start sending handwritten notes. Not one per day, but I started. Then a friend had someone hand draw a card for me with “417” on it. I loved it so much that I asked the illustrator to personalize it with my name on it and I had 50 printed up. And as I started sending them out, I started getting little notes back. “Thanks for the note!” or someone would text me a picture of the note saying thank you. Or I’d be on a Zoom call and see my note tacked up on their board in their office. These little notes were making an impact. And

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whenever I would receive a handwritten note from someone I put it in a box in my office to pull out and reread when I’m having a bad day.

Now, I send out about a dozen handwritten notes every week. Often they are to personally thank an advertiser for partnering with us, or congratulate someone on a new role or an award, or just to say “I see you. Keep up the good work.”

Recently I received a Christmas card from a CEO I admire, of a large business in town. I was expecting it to be the standard printed greeting. But I opened it to find the CEO had personally written “Merry Christmas, Logan! Thank you for bringing style, class and connection to our community.” It meant so much to me that he had stopped and taken the time to write something so intentional. I went home and told my family about it. The next time I saw him, I thanked him personally. It’s still sitting on my desk because I’m just not ready to file it away in my box of notes yet.

These little notes make someone else’s day. It’s amazing what you can set in motion when you start with gratitude. Thanks, Dad.

Logan Aguirre Publisher | logan@417mag.com

Photo by Tessa Cooper

Love Notes

[ EDITOR’S NOTE ]

TASTES LIKE HOME

M

TK KATIE’S FAVORITE PAGE 20

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

ence, during a voting period in September 2023.

You told us who you loved the most, and the highest vote-getters are featured in Best of 417 lists starting on p. 68. After the voting period ended, the editorial staff got together to talk about the other flavors and eateries that have tantalized our taste buds in recent months. The winners we chose include old favorites that we can’t help but return to and new tastes that have sprung up in the past year or so.

A lot of the flavors that I crave when I come home from traveling are featured in the Best of 417 issue. They are the tried and true tastes of 417-land. How many of them have you ordered for yourself ? If you find that you haven’t tried very many, then we hope you use this feature as your guide to branching out and seeing what 417-land’s best restaurants have to offer.

Katie Pollock Estes Editorial Director | editor@417mag.com

My Favorite Page, 91 This image from Photographer Brandon Alms’s story about Grand Teton National Park was already my favorite. Then my daughter spied it and said, “Remember when we saw a moose in a lake, Mom?” Our moose was in Colorado, though. And Brandon’s pic is a lot more beautiful than mine!

Photo by Brandon Alms

y family and I just got back from vacation, our first-ever cruise. It was a super-quick trip to the Bahamas, and the all-inclusive nature of the cruise ship meant we ate well and often.

My kids especially loved that they could get a soft-serve ice cream cone anytime they wanted.

My husband and I were thrilled about the free upgrade from coffee to specialty espresso drinks all day long. One evening during dinner I was waffling between two appetizer options. Our server just went ahead and brought us both. It’s included, after all. Why did that extra app feel so luxurious?

Yet despite all our delicious indulgence, I found myself craving my typical, local favorites by the time we were done with our trip. It’s so much fun to dine on dishes you don’t get every day. But there’s something so comforting about coming home to the flavors you love the most.

We’re lucky in 417-land; we have some truly great dining options that are oh-so-craveable.

Those are the things we celebrate in this month’s edition of 417 Magazine. Our annual Best of 417 feature is our chance to give a huge high-five to the restaurants, dishes and personalities that make our local dining scene such a joy.

The celebration has two parts: Readers’ Choice Awards and Editors’ Picks. The Readers’ Choice Awards were selected by you, our audi-

TALK TO US

[ INBOX ]

feedback To send us feedback or story ideas, email editor@417mag.com

DOING GOOD This holiday season, we want to highlight our incredible local partners at 417 Magazine! Last week, 417 team members linked arms with Convoy of Hope to help assemble care packages for service members, which will be distributed on Christmas Day to bases around the U.S. in partnership with The Warrior’s Journey.

Convoy of Hope, via Facebook Volunteering as a team for Convoy of Hope was such a rewarding experience We got to tour their new facility before working together to make the holidays a little brighter for service members. We loved every minute Editor

BEAUTIFUL DAY So cool seeing this beautiful wedding I got to photograph on the cover of a magazine. Thanks for the feature, 417 Magazine!

Emily McCullough Emily photographed the wedding of Annie Adams and Hunter Robinson, and one of their oh-so-sweet wedding day moments was on the cover of the 2024 edition of 417 Bride. She spied it on newsstands, where you can find it too. Editor

WE LOVE 417-LAND

Photo Courtesy Convoy of Hope

417 Magazine is a proud member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, the Branson Chamber and Convention Visitors Bureau, the City and Regional Magazine Association, the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association of Springfield and the Republic Area Chamber of Commerce.

M E M B E R

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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1

where’s

417?

Bring 417 Magazine along for the ride on your next adventure— whether you’re traveling or exploring close to home. Take a snapshot with the magazine, and send us a high-resolution copy with caption information about where the photo was taken and who is in the photo to art@417mag.com. Don’t forget to share your travels on social media with #wheres417.

2 3

1. JUPITER, FLORIDA

2. BORA BORA

3. SRI LANKA, SOUTH ASIA

Drew, Diana and Brian Tyndall brought their copy of the “Hidden Gems” issue along on their travels to Jupiter, Florida.

Josh and Krista Manning traveled to their honeymoon in Bora Bora with their copy of “The Ultimate Arts & Culture Guide” issue.

Jody and Tim Burdette brought their copy of the “Ciao Down” issue to the Elephant Freedom Project in Sri Lanka.

We’ve been there.

Let us do the work!

Call us or visit our website for a free quote!

Local, Family owned, No hidden fees Voted Missouri’s Best 5 Years in a row!

5335 S. Campbell Ave, Springfield 417-633-7890 | 417travel.com

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2

4 3

1. WAIKOLOA VILLAGE, HAWAII

2. KEY WEST, FLORIDA

Kevin and Kristin Plain brought their copy of the “Made in 417-Land” issue to Hilton Kings Land in Hawaii.

Brad and Kimberly Smith brought their copy of the “Hidden Gems” issue to Key West.

3.TULSA, OKLAHOMA

Carol Goldstein, Sharon Thompson, Coco Justus, Polly Egbert, Judy Hollingsworth, Gretchen Kuhn and Ann Vogel with their copy of the “Cool Down in Ozarks Caves” issue in Tulsa.

4. OLATHE, KANSAS Christopher, Shawna, Arielle and Hosanah Mann traveled to Olathe with their copy of the “Ten Glamping Getaways” issue.

where’s

1

417?

1. CAPRI, ITALY Kate and Lisa Whitney brought their copy of the “Our Favorite State Parks” issue on their trip to Isle of Capri.

2. BERGEN, NORWAY Patricia Mann, Lydia Gwin, Ericka Clark and Vicky Stephenson brought their copy of “The Ultimate Arts and Culture Guide” to Norway.

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1

2

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1. PARIS, FRANCE

2. BRANSON, MISSOURI

3. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Elizabeth VanFosson traveled to The Louvre with her copy of the “Best of 417” issue.

The Sisters on the Fly Heartland Gathering brought their copy of “The Ultimate Arts and Culture Guide” issue to the Showboat Branson Belle.

Lura Faye traveled to the polo lounge with her copy of the “Best of 417” issue.

DIANA PARMELE & MACKENZIE MANNING OWNERS

Introducing Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Tap Dance classes for age range groups: 3–5, 7–10, 10–14 CALL OR TEXT 417.818.2339 | VISIT S3DANCE.COM

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 BON APPÉTIT, 32  SAY YES TO THE DRESS, 33  ESCAPE TO FORT SMITH, 34

abba-solute

FUN

Photos courtesy Shutterstock,The Gillioz

MANIA: The ABBA Tribute concert is making its way to Springfield. Find this and more fun events happening this month on p. 37.

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best

GALENTINE’S DAY IDEAS You probably already have Valentine’s Day plans for you and your significant other. Now, start planning a special day for you and your ride-or-die with these fun Galentine’s Day activities.

Create your own hand-poured candle at Heirloom Candle Bar.

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Photo by Brandon Alms

BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES

1

FOR FANS OF HYGGE MOMENTS

Hand-Poured Candles Heirloom Candle Bar, heirloomcandlebar.com This activity is a perfect option for friends who love to create something together—and are a little bit picky about it. That’s because you get to create a hand-poured candle in the vessel of your choice, and you can even mix and match scents to find the one that’s perfect for your discerning sense of smell. Grab your girl friends and head to Heirloom Candle Bar for their Galentine’s event February 2.

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FOR CRAFTERS AT HEART

Galentine’s Day Pottery Event Creava Studio, creavastudio.com Get creative with your friends at Creava Studio’s Galentine’s Day pottery event February 10. The fun filled pottery session includes interactive instruction in creating 3 pieces of jewelry to take home including earrings, pendants, beads or rings. The class starts at 12 p.m. and lasts for two hours to allow for plenty of snack breaks and fun Creave Studio will fire and glaze your jewelry pieces for you and then you can pick up your new Galentine’s keepsake about three weeks after the event.

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Ancient Artifacts Abroad Dec. 9, 2023–June 16, 2024 FREE admission Hartman Gallery The objects in this special exhibition are travelers — across both time and space. Ancient Artifacts Abroad considers how and why objects moved around in antiquity and also how they traversed social, cultural, and religious spaces over time.

1111 E. Brookside Dr., Springfield 65807 417-873-5700 | sgfmuseum.org @sgfmuseum

FOR FOODIES

Will You Be My Galentine?

Ariake Sushi & Robata, ariakesushirobata.com Ariake Sushi & Robata is known for beautifully prepared small plates perfect for a multi-course meal. They lean into that reputation with this special Galentine’s Day event, a four-course meal just for you and your best girlfriends. It takes place on February 14 with two seatings (one at 6 p.m., the other at 8 p.m.), and reservations are required.

4

OR DO

OODERS

Galentine’s Gala to benefit OACAC, oac.ac This annual event (taking place on February 2 this year) is perfect for grabbing your girlfriends, dressing up and dancing the night away. Tickets are only , and all proceeds benefit OACAC’s efforts to support poverty relief in southwest Missouri.

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FOR WINE LOVERS

The Vineyard Market The Vineyard Market, thevineyardmarket.com While not a gals-only Galentine’s Day activity, we think good wine and food are something to be celebrated with the girls regardless of the occasion. Enjoy their special Valentines menu and wine pairings February 13–14 and as always, make the most of their happy hour 2–5 p.m.

Tuesdays–Fridays.

MAG COM

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CURRENTS

[ BEHIND THE SCENES ]

SAY “CHEESE!”

Dana Osburn is up to no gouda on a photo shoot for the Best of 417 feature. Find out more about Osburn on p. 81.

Dining Bundle Bid farewell to the "What to eat?" dilemma! Experience the finest flavors of Springfield with a chance to win over $1,200 in prizes, including gift cards to acclaimed Best of 417 winners and an enticing gift basket from Springfield Grocer Company.

KALI SALAZAR Engagement Editor

SARAH PATTON Creative Director

HALI PATTON Editorial Design Intern

Best place to cozy up by the fire and drink something sweet: The Workshop. This is my favorite place to bring a book and sit by the fireplace on a rainy day while drinking one of their delicious seasonal coffees

Best grab-and-go lunch: Mama Jean’s. They are my go-to for a quick and healthy lunch, and their salad bar in particular is top-tier.

Best taco Tuesday spot in town: Jose Locos has my favorite taco Tuesday chicken tacos! I have gone almost every Tuesday since I was a freshman at Drury, and it’s always been a favorite.

MCKENZIE ROBINSON Advertising Designer

ERIN PAYNE Operations Coordinator

Best oil, herbs and teas: Tantara Farms! Not only do they build great relationships with their customers, they have the best oils, teas and herbs in town!

Best place to WFH: Neighbor’s Mill ou’re set for brekkie, coffee, lunch, an afternoon snack and you can stock your pantry for the week with some house-made bread. (My favorite is the sourdough.)

AMMIE SCOTT MOTES VP Strategy & Senior Account Executive

417MAG.COM/WIN

SPONSORED BY:

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Best Cuban sandwich: Club Cubano.

This tucked-away spot serves great food and their Cuban sandwich is delicious The staff and owner are always welcoming and friendly.

Photos by Grace Chipley-Thompson, Brandon Alms, Leah Stiefermann, courtesy Ammie Scott Motes

staff poll

WHAT BEST OF 417 CATEGORY WOULD YOU CREATE, AND WHO WOULD WIN?

what we

LEARNED “I was so excited to learn about the new Roseann Bentley Musical Playground at Phelps Grove Park.

It’s a great addition to one of my most beloved parks, and the best part is that you don’t have to be a kid to play on it.”—Creative Director Sarah Patton (read Playful Percussion on p. 48 “In this issue, I learned that 417-land is home to so many caves! I’ve lived here my whole life, and I wasn’t aware of the rich history waiting for me right here.” Custom Publications Editor Staff Writer Jordan Blomquist read Cave Tour on p. 47 “I am blown away by the outpouring of love for Jimm’s Steakhouse & Pub. They win every Best of 417 category they’re nominated for.”—Research Editor Jo Jolliff read Best of 417 on p. 68 “I learned that moose really seem to like Brandon Alms. He said he saw them every day on his trip to Grand Teton National Park, and you can see all the gorgeous photos he took there in his story about the experience. I have moose-sighting FOMO now.”

—Editorial Director Katie Pollock Estes (read “Nature’s Masterpiece on p. 82

Photo by Brandon Alms

“I learned about Swirly’s!

We managed to photograph ice cream from Swirly’s on one of the last days they were open for the season. The next day I had to take my husband back to get some for ourselves because it was so good!”

— Editorial Designer Grace Chipley-Thompson read Best of 417 on p. 68

FUN WE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT

417 is o cially launching Experience 417 in collaboration with 37 North xpeditions Our staff has gotten to experience a fun kayak trip down James River with them and we can’t wait to give our readers the same, elevated, boutique experience!

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O TA

ABO T

agenda Can’t-miss events, local news and our favorite odds and ends from this month’s issue

BY THE EDITORS

Foods brings in the fresh crawfish and shrimp and does all the heavy lifting you ust have to don the shirt you like the least seafood boils get messy and en oy the spicy Ca un flavors

And let someone else do all the work. These local businesses offer personal chef services so you can enjoy a dreamy Valentine’s Day date or dinner party at home without all the effort.

VINTAGE COOKERY vintagecookery.org Owners Austin and Amy Merath offer customized personal chef services for dinner parties, but we especially like their vacation option They will set up and prepare a gourmet dinner at your vacation rental ou book that perfect Airbnb, and they’ll take care of the perfect meal while you sit back and relax Bonus They use a lot of local veggies and proteins in their menus

PAUL ALLEN, ALLEN EVENT GROUP alleneventgroup.com Paul Allen has been offering his chef services in the Ozarks since n addition to offering typical catering options with family style meals or buffets, he also provides personal chef services

EXPRESS FOODS expressfoods.net This one is great for seafood lovers Owner Chris Perkins brings in fresh seafood from the coasts, which you can purchase directly from xpress Foods But he also offers a uni ue at home experience seafood boil parties xpress

WHAT’S ALFREDO? whatsalfredo.com Owners Lorenzo and aylee Antignano specialize in talian food, freshly prepared at your home The menu is personalized, and they bring everything they need to prep, serve and clean up They’ll use your in home cooking e uipment and dishes to prepare a multi course talian meal EATING THE OZARKS eatingtheozarks.com Rachael West specializes in locally foraged ingredients, which she uses to create dinner party menus She can also take you on a hike pre meal and show you how to find foraged ingredients She can show you how to forage on your own property too, and tell you how to get rid of invasive species

IT’S SHOWTIME! At press time, Ozark mpire Fairgrounds announced the grand opening of its new Wilson Logistics Arena The indoor space features , seats, a P section and lots of places to grab a bite to eat, like the bar and grill and concession stands t will host events like concerts, sporting events, trade shows, the PF Bullriding ationals and more Perhaps most exciting, it will be the home of the brand new Ozarks Lunkers Arena League football team (ozarkslunkers.com), whose first season starts with a June home game against the Waterloo Woo

Old Favorite, New News

O

belisk Home—a Springfield-based business offering interior design services, a home décor retail shop and original art at the OH Art Gallery— recently announced an ownership update and rebrand. Principal Designer Nathan Taylor is now the sole owner of Obelisk Home, which has rolled out a chic new logo as well. According to a press release, “the showroom

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is set to undergo exciting transformations to reflect the latest trends” and showcase furniture, décor and curated antiques. We’re so excited to see what’s on the horizon!

OBELISK HOME W Phelps Ste , Springfield , obeliskhome com

Photos courtesy Shutterstock, Ozark mpire Fairgrounds, Obelisk Home

Put Down the Spatula

that include multi course formal meals with white glove service Ooh la la

417 DEVOUR 417devour.com n addition to chef services for parties, owner Ashley Hunt also offers weekly in home personal chef meal prep services on an ongoing basis for folks looking for more than ust a one off meal ou customize the menu Hunt shops, cooks and cleans up Hunt is currently booked up for , but follow her on nstagram to watch for openings

SSA

Betty Embrey, 1962

Julie Hurd, 1985

Peggy Napper, 1962

Melanie Monroe, 1985

Charlotte Karr, 1983

Jennifer Elswick, 1991

Terry Sondermann, 1993

Melody Green was the eighth bride to wear a family heirloom dress

A Dress for Generations Eight brides were able to share one dress over three generations of women.

BY KAREN BLISS

Photos courtesy Jennifer lswick

A

wedding dress can be special to a bride, but if cared for and kept for generations it can represent a long-lasting love for multiple brides.

Jennifer Elswick’s family has kept their wedding dress, which has lasted for three generations of brides who chose to wear it.

The dress was originally purchased at Netter’s, which was a store housed in the Herr’s building in downtown Springfield. It was intended for Jennifer’s mother, Betty Embrey, and her sister Peggy in 1961 for back-to-back weddings.

“I got married in January of 1962, and (Peggy) planned a wedding in April of 1961,” Betty says.

“We purchased the gown for a little over $50. We shared the expense and we had shared almost everything our entire lives, so it was nice we were able to share the wedding gown too.”

But the dress had a longer life than originally planned on, and ended up lasting for a total of eight brides on their wedding days. The dress was

worn by Jennifer’s sisters’ Charlotte and Julie, her cousins Melanie and Terry, Jennifer herself, and then Melody, her oldest daughter.

Few alterations have been made for the dress, besides size adjustments, with the exception of Jennifer’s sister adding a longer train to the dress.

Jennifer says the dress was no longer as white, so the color of the train had to match and be stained.

She says she remembers her parents sitting in the kitchen, tea-staining it. Other than that, Jennifer says the style of the dress has stood the test of time through generations.

“My daughter and I went looking for a veil,” she says. “A lot of dresses in the shop were not ‘whitewhite’ either. So it has stood the test of time.”

Jennifer says her aunt, who is in charge of preserving the dress, has kept the dress in a suitcase all these years to keep it from getting damaged.

But the dress is more than likely going into retirement at this point in time. Jennifer says it can no longer be sent to the cleaners because of how

old the fabric is. It required an air cleaning for Melody, and was too fragile for a regular dry cleaning.

“The next generation would be grandchildren,” Jennifer says. “They are all four and under. I can’t imagine it making it to the next generation.”

Wearing the dress through the generations wasn’t exactly planned Betty says she wanted her daughters to have the wedding dress of their dreams. Charlotte, Betty’s oldest daughter, was the one who started the family trend by making the choice to wear it.

“She kind of surprised me, but I was very pleased of course when she told me she wanted to wear my dress. I never really encouraged it, but she made the choice.”

The dress isn’t the only thing that’s stood the test of time. Betty and Peggy wore a string of white pearls that have now been worn by Betty’s daughters and granddaughter Melody.

Plus, the most important thing that’s lasted is the marriages themselves. All the women in the family that have worn the dress have been married a total of 302 years.

“We’re thankful for our men in the family,” Betty says.

In regards to the dress, Jennifer says wearing it just seemed like a tradition that was worthwhile to carry on.

“I never considered wearing anything else,” Jennifer says. “That was one of the most important things to me at my wedding, that I was going to be in that dress. Those of us coming later in the line of people, we never really considered anything else.”

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H T TH ROA

FORT SMITH Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a place where history and modern street art mingle as more than 30 murals by international and national artists are peppered around the city. There’s a vibrant riverfront and downtown, historic sites, great restaurants and shopping. Garrison Avenue has a plethora of live music venues and eateries. The temperatures are cooler now, the crowds have thinned out, so it’s a great time to visit.

BY JULIANA GOODWIN

1

START WITH LUNCH

rolandosrestaurant.com About half a mile from Riverfront Park is a great lunch spot Rolando’s Restaurant featuring dishes from Central and South America Share the Adventura Appetizer, which boasts chicken, pork and goat cheese uesadillas, tamales, ta uitos, guacamole, and tomatillo sour cream sauce Perfect way to sample some fare They have a lovely assortment of margaritas, mo itos and more

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LEARN A LITTLE 

usmmuseum.org Located on the banks of the Arkansas River is a new nited States Marshals Museum, which traces the history of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agency The museum was years in the making and honors the more than marshals killed in the line of duty, including those on September t has a piece of twisted steel from the World Trade Center terrorist attack

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Photo courtesy Arkansas epartment of Parks and Tourism

howdy,

H T TH ROA

Photos courtesy Arkansas epartment of Parks and Tourism, Fort Smith Brewing Company

TRIP INFO

REASON TO GO

Rich history and vibrant arts

Pay a visit to Miss Laura’s isitor Center, a restored ictorian mansion

WHO TO BRING

that was once a brothel and is the only such establishment on the ational Register of Historic Places

our girlfriends TRAVEL TIME

hours minutes each way

3

EXPLORE THE RIVERFRONT 

fortsmith.org/riverfront-park Historic downtown and the riverfront are a must and contain a cluster of nearby attractions Riverfront Park hugs the Arkansas River and features million worth of walking trails There are concerts and events held throughout the year in the amphitheater, which seats nearly Miss Laura’s isitor Center (fortsmith.org/miss-laura-s-visitor-center) should also be on your list

4

FUEL UP ON DINNER

talianos.net For dinner, consider Talianos talian restaurant, which they claim is the oldest family owned restaurant in town t opened in in a grand old house close to the riverfront The pastas are handmade fresh every day They also have great steak and a nice wine list The atmosphere is old school and reminiscent of some of the establishments in ureka Springs

5

END WITH DRINKS 

fortsmithbrewing.com Fort Smith Brewing Company opened its doors in and is the only local brewery in the city There are a dozen regular beers on tap and a variety of limited releases The brewpub includes tasty sandwiches, nachos and pizza Try the Gourmet BLT sourdough loaded up with bacon, goat cheese, provolone, pesto, lettuce and tomato efinitely a nice spot to hang out

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medical spotlight

PROMOTION

Dr. Mike Swann and Dr. Brett Neill

Swann Dermatology Partners Dr. Mike Swann Dr. Brett Neill 417-888-0858 3850 S. National Ave. #705 Springfield

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r. Brett Neill is a board-certified dermatologist and a double fellowship-trained Mohs and advanced aesthetic facial reconstructive surgeon. A Southwest Missouri native, he attended Ozark High School, Crowder College and Drury University. He attended medical school at the University of Missouri followed by a oneyear transitional internship at Wayne State University. Dr. Neill completed his dermatology training at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He has authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed research studies and manuscripts and presented numerous times at premier dermatology conferences like the American College of Mohs Surgery and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). He co-authored articles that won the ASDS’ Young Investigator’s Writing Competition in 2021 and 2022 and was among five residents in the country to receive the ASDS Vic Narurkar MD Award for his dedication and passion for cosmetic dermatology.

Dr. Neill is one of a handful of Mohs surgeons in the country who has completed two intensive fellowships in Mohs surgery and dermatologic oncology, his first being with renowned surgeon Dr. Stanislav Tolkachjov in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His second fellowship was completed at Oregon Health and Science University. These fellowships featured Mohs surgery for all types of skin cancers among some of the nation’s leading and innovative dermatologic and oculoplastic surgeons. This integration has given Dr. Neill the expertise to treat all types of skin cancer and perform complex facial reconstructive surgery at the highest level.

He seeks to treat all patients with the highest quality of care and wants their surgical experience at Swann Dermatology Partners to be exceptional.

Photo by kenroth mages Photography

Dr. Neill has the expertise to treat all types of skin cancer and perform complex facial reconstructive surgery at the highest level.

CAL

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Head to Pythian Castle with your loved one this Valentine’s Day for an evening of dinner, drinks and dancing.

FEBRUARY CALENDAR This month is packed with live performances, outdoor events and interactive activities for the whole family.

BY KALI SALAZAR

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

MICHAEL CARBONARO

LAKE LIFE EXPO

xperience art from local artists, galleries and more at the monthly art walk downtown This free and self guided tour is available to all art lovers looking for inspiration or to en oy local pieces throughout land Free; 5–10 p.m.; various venues, downtown Springfield. For more information, visit springfieldarts. org/first-friday-art-walk or call 417-862-ARTS.

Best known for his role on The Carbonaro ffect, Michael Carbonaro is a multi talented entertainer with experience in magic, television and other theatrical mediums He is sure to keep you entertained all evening long with his many skills 40–135; 6 30 p.m.; Blue Room Comedy Club, 420 W College St, Springfield. For tickets, visit blueroomcomedyclub.com/events.

xperience a fun lake lifestyle event at the Lake Life xpo This event features lake toys, home decor, recreational watercraft, outdoor living accessories and so much more This is perfect for every lake lover to get ready for the summer season Free; 1 p.m.; Springfield Expo Center, 635 E St Louis St, Springfield. For more information, visit lakelifeexpo.com

FEBRUARY 2

FEBRUARY 2–3

FEBRUARY 2–4

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CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 27 LED & FACILITATED BY

ROCK OF AGES

MEAN GIRLS

It’s Hollywood in the 1980s and the party has been raging! Join Drew, Sherri and the rest of the cast to see if they can save the strip and themselves in this rockin’ show. Enjoy music from hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more at this spectacular production. $32; show 7:30 p.m.; The Historic Fox Theatre, 157 Park Central Square, Springfield. For tickets and more information, visit springfieldcontemporarytheatre.org.

An all-time fan favorite, Mean Girls, makes its way to Springfield for the Great Southern Bank Broadway Season! This hilarious hit musical is sure to have you laughing and singing along the entire evening as Cady attempts to put an end to Regina’s high school reign.

39–97; 7 30 p.m.; Juanita K. Hammons Hall, 525 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield. To purchase tickets, visit hammonshall.com.

FEBRUARY 2–18

INSIDE-OUT AT DOLING PARK FEBRUARY 3

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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PARISIAN DATE NIGHT COOKING EXPERIENCE FEBRUARY 9

Grab your family and head to Doling Park for a day of fun and exploration! Learn about rocks and minerals in the Ozarks and make your own fossils to take home. End the day with a fossil hunt and learning about the different rocks that make up Giboney Cave. $5; 2 p.m.; Doling Park, 301 E Talmage St, Springfield. To register, visit parkboard.org/calendar and search for the event or call 417-833-8647.

n oy this romantic French date night cooking experience in land Make Beef Chateaubriand, French Onion Soup, Tru ed Root egetables with Mustard Aioli and Ruby Raspberry Mille Feuille with your special someone. After cooking, enjoy your dinner by candlelight.

175; 6 30 p.m.; Pickwick Cherry Kitchen, 607 S Pickwick, Rear Door, Springfield. For tickets and more information, visit pickwickandcherry.com/event.

COUPLE SHUFFLE

SHAPEL LACY

t’s time for the couple shu e in Springfield From a 2k, 5k and 10k to a kids dash, there’s a run for everyone to participate in! Whether you like to take it slow or strive to win, this race is perfect for you. There are also volunteer opportunities for those looking to help.

15–40; 9 a.m.; Springfield. To register, visit runsignup.com and navigate to the Find a Race tab.

Search for Couple Shu e and sign up using the link.

Shapel Lacy is a hilarious comedian with a very promising future after opening for Henry Rollins, performing at Comedy Central’s festival Clusterfest and being named the ew Face by Just For Laughs Comedy Festival on’t miss his show as he makes his way to Springfield 20–25; 6 30 p.m.; Blue Room Comedy Club, 420 W College St, Springfield. For tickets, visit blueroomcomedyclub.com/events.

FEBRUARY 4

REGISTER NOW AT

FEBRUARY 5–7

FEBRUARY 9–10

Photo by Tessa Cooper

Matt Griswold + Don Harkey

SSO #SPACEEXPLORER FEBRUARY 10

iscover the heavens with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the combined choirs of Missouri State, vangel niversity, and rury niversity The ma estic scores will take you into the unknown with beautiful melodies The program will also include astrophotos taken by conductor yle Wiley Pickett $15–60; Show 7:30 p.m.; Juanita K Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield. For tickets and more information, visit springfieldsymphony.org/tickets.

INDOOR TRIATHLON FEBRUARY 10

Compete in a one hour indoor triathlon including a minute swim, a minute bike ride and a minute run Winners will be selected based on furthest distance traveled 40–50; 8 a.m.; Chesterfield Family Center, 2511 W Republic Rd, Springfield. To register, visit parkboard.org/calendar and search for the event or call 417-891-1616.

IN THE HEIGHTS

THROUGH FEBRUARY 11 Join Mosaic Arts Collective for a Tony Award winning musical centered on characters in the Washington Heights neighborhood in ew ork City When a power outage, a winning lottery ticket and romantic tension all happen to the neighborhood at the same time, the Washington Heights eighborhood learns many lessons about themselves, each other and their home 17–37; showtimes vary; Landers Theatre, 311 E Walnut St., Springfield. For tickets, visit springfieldlittletheatre.org or call 417-869-1334.

VALENTINE’S DINNER AND DANCE FEBRUARY 14

Grab your special someone for a fun night of dinner and dancing at Pythian Castle’s alentine’s inner and ance The meal will be followed by a slow dancing lesson and open dancing There’s no better way to celebrate alentine’s ay with your loved one than a fancy evening at Pythian Castle $40; 6:30 p.m.; Pythian Castle, 1451 E Pythian St, Springfield. For tickets and more information, visit pythiancastle.com or call 417-865-1464.

Experience Pure Bliss Gift cards available online at nuessencespa.com.

SHULER KING

FEBRUARY 15–17 Shuler ing knew from a young age that he was destined to become an entertainer With several viral videos, ing is sure to become a well known comedian in the near future The future’s looking bright for this hilarious comedian 25–30; 6 30 p.m.; Blue Room Comedy Club, 420 W College St, Springfield. For tickets, visit blueroomcomedyclub.com/events.

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SAVOR & STARGAZE: GOURMET NIGHT SKY EXPERIENCE FEBRUARY 16

2024 SERTOMA CHILI COOK-OFF

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER

MIKE SUPER 2.0H! SHOW

Head to the Springfield xpo Center for the Sertoma Chili Cook Off f you’re a chili lover this event is for you n oy beverages, great people, food, so much chili and more All proceeds will go to benefit Springfield Boys Girls Clubs 10–35; 11 a.m.; Springfield Expo Center, 635 E St Louis St, Springfield. To register, visit sertomachilicookoff.com.

Prepare for a night of mystery at Pythian Castle’s Murder Mystery inner n oy a three course meal while participating in the interactive show Members of the audience have the chance to play parts in the show to make this evening even more mysterious 38–50; 6 p.m.; Pythian Castle, 1451 E Pythian St, Springfield. To register, visit pythiancastle.com or call 417-865-1464.

t’s time for a little magic and illusion at Mike Super’s H Show n oy an all new show with all new magic perfect for you and your family This evening of mystery is one you won’t want to miss 50–60; 7 p.m.; Aetos Center for the Performing Arts, 514 S Nicholas Rd, Nixa. For tickets, visit nixapublicschools.net.

FEBRUARY 17

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FEBRUARY 17

FEBRUARY 17

Photo courtesy Gillioz Center for Arts

ntertainment

Start your evening with a gourmet campfire dinner prepared by our skilled outdoor chef ndulge in a carefully curated menu featuring seasonal ingredients cooked to perfection over an open flame As the aroma of the feast fills the air, relish the ex uisite flavors while surrounded by the serene beauty of Two Rivers Following this gourmet experience, turn your gaze to the skies for a viewing like no other, revealing the mysteries of the sky 200; 6 p.m.; Two Rivers, 5055 Two Rivers Rd, Highlandville. For tickets, visit 417mag.com/experience417.

CAL

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LEWIS BLACK

MANIA: THE ABBA TRIBUTE

Join Lewis Black for his Goodbye eller Brick Road The Final Tour at the Gillioz Theatre As a two time Grammy award winning comedian, actor and writer, Black is sure to keep you laughing all night long with his comedic brilliance on’t miss one minute of his hilarious finger pointing as he makes his way to Springfield while on tour 25–53; 7 30 p.m.; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central E, Springfield. To purchase tickets, visit gillioztheatre.com..

MA A The ABBA Tribute is making its way to Springfield This headlining tour from London’s West nd to Worcester allows ABBA fans to experience ABBA classics they know and love right here in land Sing and dance along to your favorite ABBA hits at this uni ue live show experience featuring all the costumes and songs from ABBA 28–65; 7 30 p.m.; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central E, Springfield. To purchase tickets, visit gillioztheatre.com.

FEBRUARY 22

BRICK FEST LIVE

MR. BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY

Joe List has become a well known name as a writer, stand up comedian and actor in Fourth of July that made its way to theaters across the country With over two million views on ouTube and performances on The Late Show, The Tonight Show, Conan and Last Comic Standing, List is sure to keep you laughing all night long with his comedic expertise Check out his half hour special on Comedy Central before the show 25–30; 6 30 p.m.; Blue Room Comedy Club, 420 W College St, Springfield. For tickets, visit blueroomcomedyclub.com/events.

n oy displays and exhibits with over one million bricks on display With life size models, hands on attractions and L GO merchandise available for purchase, this event is perfect for children and parents alike Meet contestants from the LEGO Masters show and screen uality cosplayers on’t forget to check out the Guiness World Record setting mosaic while you’re there 20–40; 9 a.m.; Springfield Expo Center, 635 E St Louis St, Springfield. For more information, visit brickfestlive.com.

Join Missouri State Theatre and ance for their production of Mr. Burns A Post-Electric Play After the power grid has failed and society has crashed in a post apocalyptic world, a group of survivors reminisce on the world and culture they once knew This dark comedy is sure to entertain you as it explores the role of storytelling in shaping different cultures 12–15; showtimes vary; Coger Theatre in Craig Hall, 1147 Grand St, Springfield. For tickets and showtimes, visit theatreanddance.missouristate.edu.

SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX - THE ‘10’ TOUR FEBRUARY 22

Join this exceptional group of singers and musicians for their revamped show xpect to hear pop hits blended with original styles like ragtime, swing, big band, country, doo wop and soul on’t miss your chance to experience Life n The Past Lane 40–175; 7 p.m.; Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central E, Springfield. To purchase tickets, visit gillioztheatre.com.

JOE LIST

FEBRUARY 24

FEBRUARY 24–25

FEBRUARY 29

FEBRUARY 29–MARCH 3

Energy Star Certified Wolf Building & Development At Wolf Building & Development we strive to build the best homes in the Springfield area. All of our homes are Energy Star Certified, with houses ranging from $269,900 to $899,900 covering a diverse range of builds in all areas! Please contact Taylor Harshman at 417-631-6803 for more information, rates as low as 5% with 321 buydown financing.

TAYLOR HARSHMAN, REALTOR® 417.631.6803 | tharshman@murney.com wolfbuildingdevelopment.com

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 SOUND OF MUSIC, 46

outside

 PICK OF THE CROP, 49

unearth

THE FUN

Photo by Brandon Alms

Adventure underground at Fantastic Caverns for a one-mile tour through cavernous rooms. Find more caves to fight cabin fever on p. 45.

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PROMOTION

B E YO N D B US I N ESS

Michael Dickerson, DNP

Precision PharmacoGenetics Health 913-251-9207 | mikedickersondnp@gmail.com mikedickersondnp.com

“Precision medicine is sound science, tailored to you.”

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ay goodbye to trial-and-error medical treatments, and say hello to precision medicine. At Precision PharmacoGenetics Health, Michael Dickerson, DNP, is passionate about removing the guesswork. He utilizes genetic testing to pinpoint each person’s unique physiology, taking an individualized approach to fine tune health.

All too often, patients find out after the fact that their standard medical treatments will not work for their particular biology. They may have tried numerous medications and treatments, to no avail.

For people suffering from depression and anxiety, genetic testing can help them uncover the medication that will finally give relief.

For patients who cannot properly metabolize some cardiovascular medications, genetic testing can lead them to the optimal choice— and diminish the risk of stroke.

As a Doctor of Nursing Practice, along with a master’s degree in genetics, Dickerson draws on more than two decades of experience in academic research and health care. He takes a holistic approach to medical issues by analyzing each patient’s genetics, lifestyle and environment. Proudly licensed as a family nurse practitioner in both Kansas and Missouri, located in Kansas and hailing from Springfield, Dickerson brings precision medicine services to 417-land through telehealth.

Precision medicine is sound science, tailored to you.

Call Precision PharmacoGenetics Health to find the answers you need.

Photo by Tessa Cooper

SAY HELLO TO PRECISION MEDICINE

EXPLORE

The entrance to the Smallin Civil War Cave.

cure your cabin fever with

A CAVE TOUR

Pining for a nature adventure this winter? Visit one of 417-land’s three commercial caves!

Two are north of central Springfield, one is in the Ozark hills and all three offer one-hour tours.

But don’t think one is like all the others: Each of these fun cave experiences is unique.

Photo by Brandon Alms

BY SONY HOCKLANDER

CRYSTAL CAVE

SMALLIN CIVIL WAR CAVE

FANTASTIC CAVERNS

7126 N. Crystal Cave Lane, Springfield, visitcrystalcave.com; 417-815-2283 Open: Wednesday–Sunday year round Crystal Cave, just 10 miles north of central Springfield, is especially family friendly to vis it in winter ot only does the degree cave feature unusual formations with quirky names, the cave complex has cabin fever busting activ ities that include an indoor nine hole mini golf course, a gemstone mining and fossil dig activ ity, and an old fashioned penny arcade Closed for a decade until reopening to the public in March 2022, Crystal Cave has a rich history: It was Missouri’s second commercial cave when it initially opened in 1893. Today, after passing through old iron gates from Springfield’s first jail, visitors will explore the Ghost Room with 13 white stalagmites, the large Concert Hall with hundreds of soda straw stalactites, the Helictite Room’s rare helictite formations and so much more.

3575 N. Smallin Road, Ozark; smallincave.com; 417-551-4545 Open: Varies in January February call ahead Imagine a warm barn with the doors left open: It’s not quite so warm anymore. At roughly 55 feet high and 100 feet wide, Smallin’s arched mouth is among the largest entrances in Mis souri so the cave cools down on cold days. But it’s nothing a jacket won’t solve, which is why tours are still conducted in winter with varying hours, weather permitting. Visitors are simply asked to call a day or two in advance. This local experience is worth it and makes a nice winter activity. It’s also one of the easiest caves to tour on foot, with a level half mile path and no stairs nside, learn the cave’s well document ed history, find ancient fossils on the ceiling and explore cave formations. Local history and years of use are evident on the popular Indian Ladder where visitors can find signatures by residents from the 1800s.

4872 N. Farm Road 125, Springfield, fantasticcaverns.com; 417-833-2010 Open: Daily Fantastic Caverns lives up to its name and with a consistent temperature around 60 degrees, the cave is open daily and can be toured in any weather t’s also Missouri’s only ride through cave, making it a nice winter outing for most age and mobility levels The one mile tour takes visitors by cavernous rooms, ancient rock formations, stalactites, stone pillars, soda straw formations, cave pearls and more. The cave’s backstory is nearly as interesting as the cave itself. It was discovered in 1862 by a local farm er’s dog who, one day on a walk, disappeared through a hole beneath the bluff While rescu ing his dog, the farmer—John Knox—discov ered a huge cavern. Over the years, the cave was home to live music, a speakeasy and even a television show, with the first riding tour in 1962—a longtime local tradition.

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PARK IT

Play with nature-themed instruments like serenade chimes and tenor tree bells at The Roseann Bentley Musical Playground.

Playful Percussion Watch as your kids show off their musical talent at the new Roseann Bentley Musical Playground at Phelps Grove Park.

BY JENNA MURRAY

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LOCATION The Roseann Bentley Musical Playground is located in the center of the existing playground at Phelps Grove Park. Phelps Grove Park also has a picnic pavilion, tennis courts and a paved walking trail. “Phelps Grove is a very popular park, it’s one of our oldest and most beloved parks, and it’s in the middle of town, so the park itself gets a lot of use and the playground gets a lot of use,” Edwards says. “It’s been very popular and not just with kids.” Phelps Grove is located right by the Springfield Art Museum and within walking distance from Missouri State University. This park was also chosen for the playground because of its connection to the honoree. Bentley and her family have lived close to Phelps Grove Park for most of her life, which makes it the perfect location.

ATTRACTIONS The Roseann Bentley Musical Playground is equipped with eight different percussion instruments, all of which create unique tones. These colorful instruments follow a nature theme and include the freenote flowers, lilypad cymbals, serenade chimes, tenor tree bells and more. The playground was designed for kids of all ages and abilities. The park board and CPO intentionally made the playground accessible for those with disabilities by installing the instruments on a 40foot concrete pad and by connecting a sidewalk from the playground area to the main footpath.

DEDICATION On the day of the dedication ceremony, over 100 people, including the honoree Roseann Bentley and several of her family members, attended to celebrate the opening of the playground. “The fact that a large group of people came and stood in the rain for a half hour to 45 minutes to ded-

HOW TO HELP The Community Partnership of the Ozarks is accepting donations for the Roseann Bentley Musical Playground.

Photos by Tessa Cooper

T

ake your family to experience the joy of music at the Roseann Bentley Musical Playground. Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s very first musical playground officially opened on November 21, 2023, and is located at Phelps Grove Park (950 E. Bennett St., Springfield). The park board teamed up with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks to bring this special attraction to Springfield and to honor Roseann Bentley, an educator and politician. The project was funded entirely by a donations campaign through the CPO, which began in November 2022. The construction began in mid-October 2023 and was completed by the day of the playground’s dedication ceremony about a month later. “For us to raise the funds needed and get the park installed in a year is pretty incredible and that’s really because of the community support,” Janet Dankert, president/CEO of the CPO, says.

This new musical playground is sure to attract children and families from all around 417-land.

icate the playground speaks to me of this community’s admiration of Roseann Bentley,” Jenny Fillmer Edwards, public information administrator of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, says. Bentley spent her life serving children and families, from teaching early childhood to serving on multiple school boards on local, state and national levels. After her career as an educator, Bentley served as a Missouri State Senator and then as a Greene County Commissioner before retiring in 2016. Bentley was a founding member of the CPO’s Board of Directors and served on it for 20 years, which is why the CPO proposed this project. “We didn’t want to do something really traditional, we wanted to do something that really illustrated her impact on the community and the state,” Dankert says.

A lifestyle publication with the mission to inspire a life full of experiences, passion, purpose and pride in 417-land. We love celebrating our community each and every month.

417MAG.COM/SUBSCRIBE

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PROFILES | Transformations

PROMOTION

Innovative Dental

B After

Before

ill Graves researched his options before choosing Innovative Dental Implant Center for his smile transformation. He and his wife SueAnn were both unhappy with their smiles, but the problems went even further. Bill was struggling to sleep due to pain in his mouth and other parts of his body. He couldn’t enjoy the foods he loved. After reading the 5 star reviews praising Innovative Dental Implant Center’s state of the art facility and worldclass team, he decided to change his life forever. His wife, SueAnn, was struggling with her denture and decided she was ready to smile again. They are both thrilled with their decision. Bill is sleeping and eating better, and they are both smiling bigger than ever!

Innovative Implant Smiles are helping patients all over the country regain confidence and live the life of their dreams. Dr. Olson’s innovative approach to full mouth implant dentistry changed Bill and SueAnn’s lives, and they are excited to share their story with others in the hopes it will help someone else looking to smile again. Scan the QR code to find out more about Bill and SueAnn’s journey!

Grant Olson, DDS

6401 S. Innovation Ave. Springfield 417-889-GRIN idspringfield.com

Before 48

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

Photo courtesy Innovative Dental

After

CUB CREEK

GET OUT

CUB CREEK

SCIENCE CAMP

This is the season to sign up for a local CSA subscription—and to reap the benefits of farm-grown goodness.

BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES

How It Works Customers purchase a share of what the farm will produce during a growing season. Each week, part of the farm’s harvest is set aside for the CSA member. A member’s CSA share payment supports the farm’s operations, while also ensuring the member gets fresh local veggies.

What You Get CSA boxes contain whatever produce is at its peak that week. You might receive familiar items like carrots and salad greens, or something you’ve never tried before.

YOUR AVERAGE

CUB CREEK SUMMER CAMP

SCIENCE CAMP

SCIENCECAMP CAMP THIS IS NOT

THIS IS NOT S. Brentwood Blvd, Springfield | alphaomegadelta.net YOUR 2049 AVERAGE CUB CREEK THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE SUMMER CAMP

SCIENCE CAMP THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE SUMMER CAMP

YOUR AVERAGESUMMER CAMP SUMMER CAMP

CUB CUB CREEK CREEK

SCIENCE SCIENCE CAMP CAMP THIS IS NOT

THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE YOUR AVERAGE SUMMER CAMP SUMMERR CAMP

REGISTER TODAY!

CUBCREEKSCIENCE

EK

CUBCREEKSCIENCE CAMP.COM

BC E CUBCREEKSCIENCE ENC CA CAMP.COM E S CI

How to Get It Your best bet for a weekly box of farm-grown flavors is to sign up for a share at Millsap Farms. Their robust program includes seasonal organic vegetables with options to add other items. To learn more, visit millsapfarms.com/csa.

Additional Options Although they aren’t technically CSAs, some farms offer bundles of local meat. Blue Silo Beef (bluesilobeef.com) produces beef, pork and chicken and offers bulk packages. Jones Hill Ranch (joneshillranch.com) raises free-range heritage pigs and offers whole- or half-pig bundles. And, Newman Farm (newmanfarm.com) raises Berkshire pork and offers monthly deliveries of boxes packed with meat.

CUB CREEK CUB CREEK SCIENCE

MP

FARM LIFE

THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE SUMMER CAMP Discover Your Potential in our Newly Renovated Space THIS IS NOT

CU

a taste of the

SCIENCE CAMP

REGISTER TODAY! CUBCREEKSCIENCE

CUBCREEKSCIENCECAMP.COM CAMP.COM

REGISTER REGISTER TODAY! 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

49

PROMOTION

Before you entrust your home to just anyone, you have research to do.

Who is the most experienced? Who will be reliable to work with? A big investment requires a big amount of trust. No worries—we’ll guide you to the professionals. Here are your Residential Pros to Know.

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51

PROMOTION

Front: Nicole Carr, Jordan White | Back: Dustin White, Sheilah Shortt, Stephanie Chapman, Jeff Parks

F

rom humble beginnings in the mid-1990s, 888-Log-Guys has grown to an expansive team of log home and wood craftsmen professionals serving hundreds of 417-land clients on their residential and

commercial projects each year. With careful attention to detail, the experts

888-Log-Guys

on their team have grown this niche trade over the past few decades. As they have grown, so has their following of loyal customers across Mid-America.

Their service offerings have also expanded from exclusively restoring log homes to now offering a variety of services for all types of homes with decks, privacy fences and log or wood accents.

888-564-4897 | 888logguys.com 6701 Selmore Rd. | Ozark

Often their usto ers think that they i nee to n another ven or to re nish their e ks

aint their in o s or

ay e even re nish oo

oors.

The good news is that 888-Log-Guys can do those tasks, usually at the same ti e that they are re nishin your ho e.

888-Log-Guys has been in the business of log home restoration for more than 20 years, with team members who have decades of handson experience. Restoring log homes is their business, and when it comes to dependable services and quality workmanship, nobody does it like 888-Log-Guys. Contact them today for a hassle-free bid.

52

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

PROMOTION

E

dge Supply is in the business of transformation. Whether it’s a custom home or simply a new sink faucet, Edge Supply has the parts and professionalism to bring transformation to how you live. After all, they’re your go-to plumbing store!

Experience is what makes the difference. This family-owned company has been in business since 1946 serving both contractors and homeowners throu hout issouri an orth est rkansas. taff at oth the ast raf ay and South Campbell locations are serious about serving customers and meeting their needs. In fact, they have more than 100 combined years of experience.

They’ll bridge the gap between homeowners and plumbing contractors, and even offer installation advice to do-it-yourselfers.

Find the latest styles at Edge Supply. Whatever your project style or budget may be, they have countless options to make your dream bath or kitchen a reality. Their products range everywhere from essential to astounding. Edge Supply’s showrooms spark the imagination, and their warehouses are stocked ee an hi h ith even the har est to n ro u ts the kin of ite s that most places have to special order. Edge Supply is all about making customers happy and building lasting relationships. After all, at Edge Supply, it’s all about how you live.

Edge Supply 417-862-7082 | edgesupply.com 1920 E. Trafficway | 5665 S. Campbell Springfield

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PROMOTION

Doug and Andrea Windsor

Five Star Painting

F

ive Star Painting’s local owners, Doug and Andrea Windsor, understand that a home is more than just a house; rather, it’s a a e to un in

to ather an to refle t a ho eo ner s sty e an

personality. It’s also one of your biggest assets. Good home maintenance

can have a positive effect on your home’s value.

The experienced professionals at Five Star Painting bring excellence to every project. They are a full service company that transforms residential and commercial properties, both inside and out. From walls, trim, ceilings and cabinets to exteriors, garage doors and more, no detail is too small for Five

417-720-2376

Star Painting’s attention. And because of their reputation for transparent

fivestarpainting.com

pricing and outstanding customer service, Five Star Painting is the recipient of a BBB Torch Award for Ethics. Licensed and insured, they are active e

ers of the

rin

e

o e ui ers sso iation of

rea ha

er of o

reater

rin

e

an the

er e.

Countless homeowners have trusted Five Star Painting’s expertise to elevate their property and protect their investment. Five Star Painting is proud to deliver beautiful results in a timely, professional manner.

54

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PROMOTION

Left to Right: Kevin Hanks, Patti Bloxom, Joe Greene, Lorrie Kleier, Steve King, Donna Winslow, Chet Blackburn, Macee Curtis, Stephanie Sweet

E

stablished in 1923 in 417-land, Great Southern Bank has been a trusted name in banking for over a century. The Residential Lending tea un erstan s the si ni an e of n in the erfe t ho e an knows how to provide unwavering support tailored to their clients’ needs.

Comprising industry veterans deeply acquainted with local markets, Great Southern Bank’s associates cultivate relationships with real estate industry professionals to bring forth excellent options. At Great Southern Bank, they take ri e in their a ar innin esi entia en in tea e i ate nan ia experts committed to guiding clients through the home-buying journey.

For over a century, they have upheld their mission to foster winning relationships with customers, associates, shareholders and communities.

Serving with a sense of privilege, they contribute to community growth through a range of products and services. Great Southern Bank is a strong community partner dedicated to making their communities great places to live, work and do business.

Connect with their Residential Lenders at www.greatsouthernbank.com/ mortgage-lenders and discover how Great Southern Bank can help.

Great Southern Bank 417-888-4370 greatsouthernbank.com/mortgage-lenders

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

55

PROMOTION

Front Row: Joshua Hermans, Coltan Arentz, Michelle Hermans, Austen Smith, Chuck Hermans Back Row: Brandon Hermans, Andrew Hermans

Imber Pool & Outdoor

D

reaming of warm weather and the sound of water lapping at your feet? Bring that dream to fruition with Imber Pool & Outdoor. With more than 80 years of

combined experience, their team is more than knowledgeable about anything outdoors, including pool builds and repair, pergola builds, outdoor fireplaces, ponds, fences, waterfalls and even outdoor kitchens. Your backyard can become an oasis with Imber’s unparalleled customer service, newest products and technology and highest quality materials. Imber Pool & Outdoor

417-771-7552 imberconstruction.com 4411 E. Sunshine St. Suite A | Springfield

specializes in creating one-of-a-kind living spaces that make your home usable, comfortable and fun. Imagine what you can do in your backyard. If you can imagine it, Imber Pool & Outdoor can design and build it!

If you are ready for the outside living space of your dreams, call Imber to schedule your free in-home estimate at 417-771-7552.

Ask about their convenient financing plans available to help build your backyard oasis sooner.

56

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PROMOTION

Chad Holgerson

K

eystone

reative fu

re o nize

a ar

s ho eo ners innin

esi n r

rea s.

hey are a nationa y

that fo uses so e y on resi entia

projects, including whole house transformations and new home design.

Keystone Creative brings 30 years of experience to each project, whether it is a kitchen remodel, a reimagined laundry room, a fresh interior design or a custom

Keystone Creative

home build.

Keystone Creative handles the complete journey for every build, from initial concept and blueprint drafting to construction and quality control management. Before building begins, they utilize top-of-the-line software and hardware to produce accurate renderings. Throughout the process, they are attentive to the unique details of a home, and are proactive with every question and decision.

417-582-7526 | keystonecreativeco.com 2332 W. Kingsley St., Suite B Springfield

Countless clients attest to their high level of creativity and integrity.

Keystone Creative approaches each project with an innovative, artistic eye, because they are continually training and researching diverse designs. Their designers pair outstanding beauty with exceptional quality and function, always keeping the client’s goals and best interests in mind.

Let Keystone Creative reimagine the way you live. Contact them to schedule a consultation and to learn more about their services.

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

57

PROMOTION

Karen and Dave Faiferlick

B

etter furniture at the best prices. This is the promise of Missouri Furniture. For nearly 50 years, family-owned Missouri Furniture has helped 417-landers transform their houses into homes by

offering a comprehensive selection of furniture, mattresses, appliances

Missouri Furniture

and hot tubs.

Led by a knowledgeable team who is committed to outstanding customer service, Missouri Furniture’s staff delivers a stress-free experience. Every customer receives expert guidance and personalized recommendations. Missouri Furniture has an array of furniture styles and

573-346-7400 | missourifurniture.com 1881 James River Rd | Ozark

an inventory of thousands of designer fabrics and top-grain leathers. If you’re looking for that special handcrafted heirloom piece, made in Missouri, they’ve got you covered. And if you don’t know where to start, Missouri Furniture’s professional design team is there to help. Whether customers need assistance with kitchen suites, outdoor furniture or hot tu s e i ations an insta ations the o

any oes the e tra

i e to

simplify the entire process.

With eight showrooms across the state, Missouri Furniture has been

vote the est in issouri for ve years in a ro . on t iss their s e ia seasonal offers! Missouri Furniture is a one-stop shopping solution for all your home furnishing needs.

58

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

PROMOTION

Jason Bekebrede, Riley Strickland

B

ui

ith

on

en e

ith

onti e o

usto

o es an

Remodeling. Owner Jason Bekebrede has a record of excellence

as past president and current member of the Home Builders

sso iation of erti e

reater

rin

e

a erti e

reen rofessiona . e has s ent

ui in

rofessiona an a

years erfe tin his ro ess

of building a custom home or remodeling an existing one. He works with the best trades and vendors in the area and is constantly gaining education in an ever-changing industry.

Monticello stands out with their systematic approach to each project. ro

foun ation to nishe

ro u t ea h

e ision is

anne

for in

advance, which leads to a smoother process, better results and happier

Monticello Custom Homes & Remodeling

homeowners. Monticello’s work, seen on social media, garners raves from fans and building professionals worldwide.

Monticello’s team takes seriously the trust placed in them, to come into your home and to work within your budget. Some projects take months to over a year to complete, so a strong relationship with good communication

417-416-4497 homesbymonticello.com

and transparency is key.

The mission of Monticello Custom Homes & Remodeling is to be good stewards of the buyers’ resources and the environment, while also pushing the limit on ideas, design and functionality. Call 417-416-4497 to start the conversation.

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

59

PROMOTION

Top Row: Sam Evans, Chris Hodge, Jesus Arizaga | Middle Row: Toni Echols, Maddie Sprenger, Angela Houska, Nathan Taylor, Nicole Fuller, Penny Scroggs | Bottom Row: Landon Enlow, Colby Kern

D

esi nin your ho e to t your stan ar s of erfe tion an e stressful, so let Obelisk Home tackle the stress for you. Obelisk Home provides professional design services from initial concept

planning, budgeting and construction consultation to executing all phases

Obelisk Home

of the interior design process.

Whether a personally tailored residence or an inspired commercial space, the common thread through their work is the artful, sensitive approach they take to the tenets of unique design. With over 20 years of design expertise, Principal Designer Nathan Taylor and his team are known for giving

417-616-6488 | obeliskhome.com 214 W. Phelps, Suite 101 | Springfield

architecturally traditional homes a youthful energy and sophistication by mixing periods, styles and moods, bringing an eclectic mix to their projects.

As an incubator for the designer’s genius and a showcase for style, trend and what’s new and next, Obelisk Home has become a favored community atherin

s ot for

oth retai sho

in

an

esi n

ro e ts

ar e an

small. Their dedication to the home furnishing industry is never stagnant ut in reasin y if u t to ontain. o they ontinua y evo ve in or er to support and facilitate the way people design, plan and purchase for their homes today. Obelisk Home knows they are at their best when helping their discerning clientele do the same. They invite you to join them, if not in person, then at ObeliskHome.com.

60

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

PROMOTION

Matt Williams

S

mart technology has transformed how people live, offering onvenien e ef ien y an inter onne te ness ike never efore. t home, smart devices have seamlessly integrated into everyone’s lives.

att Wi ia s

hief e hno o y Of er for

ro erties has e

the

charge to elevate smart technology to create a car-to-couch experience for the multifamily housing industry. TLC Properties’ incorporation of smart technology into its o

unities has re e ne

o ern ivin .

TLC Properties

“We use technology to enhance the resident’s experience, and innovation is key to making this happen,” Williams says. “The more we develop and innovate, the more we create a community where residents can’t imagine leaving.”

These initiatives serve as the cornerstone for TLC Properties’ newest development, Heritage, where Williams and the TLC team have worked to

417-869-1118 | tlcproperties.com 3811 S. Weller Ave. Suite A-101 | Springfield

integrate internet service, smart technology, security and support. From grabbing essentials at the automated bodega to charging electric vehicles in the parking lot, smart technology will be integrated into everyday activities at Heritage. Residents will also enjoy unparalleled control over their living spaces through access to the latest smart home platform, allowing them to customize their living experience.

The future promises even greater integration in smart technology. As technology evolves, Williams will lead the TLC Properties team in shaping the future of smart living.

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

61

PROMOTION

Top Row: Stephanie Karlsons, Kevin Alba ,Meagan Kolotyuk, Tara Guydos, Nick Falls Bottom Row: Melissa Turpin & Paul Mudd

Unique Tile

S

ince 1988, Unique Tile has been a locally owned wholesale distributor of designer-oriented tile and stone. They strive to set the standards for style and design to meet the demands of their clients, both residential

and commercial. Their expert staff travels the globe in order to personally select each tile series, which enables them to present the latest the tile industry has to offer. Unique Tile’s evolving showroom is open to the trade and features a vast array of products, with over 480 stock tile SKUs and all of the tools and installation products that are needed for installation.

The Stone Gallery at Unique Tile is the only local full granite fabrication

417-725-5515 | uniquetile.com 1364 Kelly Ave. | Nixa

facility in the area that is accredited by the Natural Stone Institute. Unique Tile’s established team members have decades of experience in the stone industry and are poised to fabricate any project.

Quality products, attention to detail and exceptional customer service are all traits that have helped Unique Tile gain the loyalty of their clients over the past 32 years.

Get to know them online by browsing their website at uniquetile.com and order through a professional near you.

PROMOTION

Austin Miller and Brandon Ward

W

hen it comes to choosing a builder, the checklist is clear: honesty, open communication, dependability, and quality craftsmanship.

Wise Built not only ticks all these boxes but goes beyond to re e ne your rea ho e.

Wise Built Homes crafts residences that stand out and endure the test of time. They seamlessly blend yesterday’s values with tomorrow’s innovation, reatin ho es that trans en fleetin tren s. Wise ui t ho e isn t ust aesthetically sharp; it’s a testament to enduring design that evolves with the changing needs of its owners.

Functionality is key, adapting intelligently to the abilities of the occupants. f ien y is oven into the very fa ri of Wise ui t ho es ensurin ther a comfort throughout the seasons. The fusion of traditional craftsmanship with modern building practices makes these homes not just sturdy but intelligent.

Choose Wise Built Homes and make a statement with a dwelling that’s not ust a resi en e ut a e a y. ra e a ho e that refle ts your uni ueness built with precision, and designed for the ages. Elevate your living experience with Wise Built Homes – where excellence meets innovation.

Wise Built 417.689.4224 | wise-built.com 1824 N State Hwy CC | Nixa

PROMOTION

Arvest Bank Whether it s a rst ho e a forever ho e or an invest ent property, Arvest Mortgage Lender Supervisor Jami Dressler helps her clients build personal wealth through obtaining real estate.

In the business for nearly two decades, Jami leads a team with a combined 75 years’ experience, making them highly adaptable and attuned to each client’s unique circumstance so they are able to attain the best possible outcome.

Their work doesn’t stop at the closing table. Arvest services 99% of the loans made, so each client receives local customer care in addition to having access to digital tools like the Arvest Home4Me™ app, which makes the application process convenient and easy.

417-885-7256 | arvest.com

Jami Dressler, NMLS 564442, Equal Housing Lender

Brookline Doorworks Brookline Doorworks has been a staple in the Ozarks for the last 30 years and counting. If you are looking for someone you can trust to install or service residential and commercial garage doors, you will want to learn more about this family owned and o erate

usiness. rook ine

oor orks is

erti e an

owned by local residents Kevin and Christine Howell.

Brookline Doorworks offers a wide variety of overhead door products from the industry’s leading manufacturers. isit their sho roo

in

rin

e

issouri

here you an

see your new garage door imposed over a photo of your own home or even take home samples if you would like to see them in your location’s lighting!

417-883-3667 | brooklinedoorworks.com 308 W. Lakewood St. | Springfield

Kevin and Christine Howell 64

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PROMOTION

Budget Blinds Looking to revitalize your living space without raiding your savings? Budget Blinds of SW Missouri can help. With over 30 years of experience in providing personalized customer service, unique design and expert installation—plus a no-questionsasked warranty—Budget Blinds offers the best quality products and styles to suit any budget. Budget Blinds of SW Missouri has a design team with an eye for personal style, plus access to the best in blinds, shades, shutters and more to complement any kind of interior decor. Stop by the Budget Blinds of SW Missouri design centers in Nixa and Branson, call 417-633-7922 or visit budgetblinds.com/swmissouri today.

417-633-7922 | budgetblinds.com/swmissouri

Charles and Diana Doan

Ethel Curbow It’s hard to outshine Ethel Curbow’s reputation for excellence in 417-land real estate. Along with her AMAX team, she’s made a name for herself in the industry, listing and selling residential and land properties over the past 30 years. She brings plenty of e

erien e to the ta e an

usto ers are floore

that

she always answers her phone. Ethel keeps clients informed, markets their properties in every kind of media and has a great tra k re or

of su ess that ea s to

any satis e

ast

clients. The Curbow team is knowledgeable, experienced, hardworking and ready to help you with your real estate needs!

417-447-4968 | ecurbow@aol.com ethelcurbow.com

David Braeckel, Ethel Curbow, Kristi Williams, Nick Jackson 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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PROMOTION

JAG’s Lawn & Landscape It’s that time of year when we all start looking to revamp our outside areas. JAG’s Lawn & Landscape is a local business that specializes in landscape installation and maintenance. Their staff has over 40 years of combined experience creating and bringing beautiful and functional landscaping projects to ife in

an . With orna enta an turf erti ations an

as authorized Belgard contractors, they have the knowledge to stand behind their work. They do it all: lawn mowing, landscape design and build, lawn chemical applications, tree an shru treat ents

a kflo

an irri ation servi e inse t

control, mole removal, leaf cleanup and snow removal. JAG’s strives to be the one-stop service for all your outdoor needs.

417-844-7644 | jagslawn.com 2733 E. Battlefield #339 | Springfield Top Row: Jayce Miller, Logan Hygh, Wil Shrable, Cleat Harp, Harley Parker, Cheyenne Hygh | Bottom Row: Kayla Gwennap & Josh Gwennap

Lorenz Plumbing Heating and Air Lorenz began in 1978 and has proven they know what it takes to succeed in an industry where customer satisfaction is everything. Their goal is to provide excellent workmanship, consistent service and fair prices.

Lorenz’s technicians can repair and replace your HVAC system.

From traditional gas systems to the new electric ductless and mini-split systems from Mitsubishi Electric, they can share what would be best to keep your home warm this winter. Locally owned and operated. Just another reason why they’re your friends at Lorenz and your Trane comfort specialists.

417-863-1122 | lorenzphac.com

Andrew Wagner, Andy Carr, Mike Lorenz Polino, Don Gardner 66

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PROMOTION

Niangua Furniture Niangua Furniture transforms rough cut Missouri Hardwood into beautifully hand-crafted, sustainable, affordable heirloom furniture. Take a scenic drive to discover a unique shopping experience in their 4000-square-foot, 3-level showroom and the craftsmen who build the featured dinning room, bedroom, living room and occasional furniture. They also offer customized, unique furniture pieces from their rustic throu h assi

onte

orary esi n

oo an

nish o tions.

Niangua Furniture. Something Different – Something Better.

417-993-1625 | nianguafurniture.com 344 State Road E | Tunas

Spring-Green Lawn Care and Trimworks Lawncare & Irrigation Spring-Green Lawn Care and partner Trimworks Lawncare & Irrigation, both locally owned by Jonathan Thurman, can take care of your lawn the way that you would… if only you had the time!

They are the neighborhood lawn care professionals, providing healthy, weed-free lawns, landscapes and irrigation services since 1997. Caring for lawns in 417-land requires skill, knowledge and experience, as well as reliable, regular attention.

They provide a personalized service plan that is unique to each customer, so that your individual lawn goals can be met. Forget the hassle during the hottest parts of the year. For a lush and healthy lawn, contact them today!

417-368-0591 | 417-886-5740 spring-green.com | trimworkslawncare.com Jonathan Thurman

3328 E. Linwood St. | Springfield 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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HOW DOES 417 MAGAZINE PICK WINNERS? Throughout the year, our team has kept up with what’s new, hot, in style, delicious, making waves, going viral, selling out and making a big impression in 417-land. Then our editors combined them into a slate of nominations for 417-land to vote 68

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

on. There were killer contestants to vote on for each category, plus voters had the option to write in anyone we left off the list gh, why didn’t we think of them?!) After the voting period ended, we compiled your votes, and the winners are published right here.

HOW DO I TELL YOU ABOUT MY BUSINESS? If you think your business deserves to be on next year’s ballot, we want to know about it! Send a note to our editorial staff at editor mag com. We take calls, letters, emails and skywriting from our readers about what to check out. We’re

Photo courtesy TK photographer

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS, WE’VE GOT ANSWERS

OUR READERS HAVE SPOKEN. WE’VE COMPILED SOUTHWEST MISSOURI’S BEST PLACES TO EAT, DISHES TO TRY AND BARS TO VISIT, AS VOTED BY OUR READERS.

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS EDITED

BY JO JOLLIFF EDITORS’ PICKS BY KATIE POLLOCK ESTES PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRANDON ALMS

Photos courtesy TK photographers

ILLUSTRATIONS BY FRIED DESIGN

sure you’re awesome, so tell us why. Don’t be surprised if some of our staffers come around to check out what you have to offer n fact, exploring new, fun local stuff is our favorite part of our obs We are always looking to share the best with our audience.

DO ADVERTISERS AUTOMATICALLY WIN? Nope! Let’s put this rumor to rest. Still skeptical?

Ask one of our advertisers who didn’t win. We take serious measures to keep our integrity intact and maintain boundaries between our sales and editorial departments. In fact, we’re required to in

order to uphold our good standing with the City and Regional Magazine Association CRMA ou can’t buy a Best of 417 nomination or win with money ou can only earn a spot on the list by being the best, getting the word out and raking in the votes!

417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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Readers’ Choice Awards THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN 417-LAND, VOTED TO THE TOP

BY THE READERS OF 417 MAGAZINE. 70

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

This chicken tikka masala pasty is from London Calling Pasty Co., winner in the Best Food Truck category. See the runners up on p. 77.

5

BEST SPRINGFIELD FINEDINING RESTAURANTS

5

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT

BEST PLACES FOR LUNCH WINNERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

WINNERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Bambino s Caf

Avanzare Italian Dining

City Butcher and Barbecue

Flame Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Jimm s Steakhouse

Jimm s Steakhouse

Nearly Famous Deli & Pasta House

Pub

Metropolitan Grill The Ozark Mill Restaurant

Pub

eighbor s Mill Bakery

Cafe

WINNER: PICCOLO (NIXA) Second Place Galloway Grill Galloway Third Place Caf Cusco Commercial Street

BEST JOPLIN AREA RESTAURANT WINNER: RED ONION CAFE Second Place Crabby s Seafood Bar

Grill

Third Place: Red Oak Steakhouse 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

Photo courtesy TK photographer

BEST BRANSON AREA RESTAURANT WINNER: THE KEETER CENTER AT COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS Second Place: Level 2 Steakhouse Third Place: Chateau Grille

BEST NEW RESTAURANT W NNER SE OR J L AN

E

AN BAR

BEST PLACE FOR BRUNCH

AND GRILL

WINNER: THE KEETER CENTER AT COLLEGE OF

Second Place: Ariake Sushi & Robata

BEST SWEET-AND-COZY MORNING STOP WINNER: THE WORKSHOP AT FINLEY FARMS Second Place: RISE Third Place: Sleepy Opossum Cafe

BEST PLACE FOR BREAKFAST Photos courtesy TK photographers

W NNER

A LEY S BREA

AST A E

Second Place: Early Bird Breakfast Pub Third Place Billy Gail s Restaurant

THE OZARKS Second Place: Aviary Cafe Third Place Lindberg s Tavern

BEST STEAKS W NNER J

S STEA HO SE

P B

Second Place: Flame Steakhouse & Wine Bar Third Place: Avanzare Italian Dining

BEST BURGERS W NNER BLA

SHEEP B R ER

SHA ES

Second Place Lindberg s Tavern Third Place Bair s Sports Grill

BEST SALADS W NNER J Whether you go for sweet or savory breakfast, you’ll find it at Billy Gail’s, third place for Best Breakfast.

S STEA HO SE

P B

Second Place Bambino s Caf Third Place Garbo s Pizzeria

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BEST SANDWICHES W NNER THE S B SHOP Second Place J Parrino s ueen City eli Third Place: Derby Deli

BEST THAI FOOD WINNER: EVERYDAY THAI

BEST PIZZA W NNER P

A HO SE

Second Place: Thai Express Third Place Rama Thai Caf

Second Place Arris Pizza Third Place Pappo s Pizzeria

BEST CHINESE FOOD W NNER LEON S AS AN D NER

BEST CHICKEN WINGS W NNER

OYOTE S ADOBE A E

Second Place: Corner 21 Chinese Cuisine Third Place: Chinese Chef

Second Place Big Whiskey s American

W NNER

BEST SUSHI W NNER HAR NO JAPANESE S SH BAR R LL

BEST BARBECUE

Second Place: Nakato Japanese Steakhouse &

TY B T HER AND BARBE

E

Second Place Gettin Basted Third Place: Crosstown Barbecue

BEST ITALIAN FOOD W NNER BA B NO S A E Second Place: Avanzare Italian Dining Third Place: Piccolo Contemporary Italian

BEST MEXICAN FOOD W NNER SE OR J L AN

E

AN BAR R LL

Second Place Cesar s Old Mexico

Sushi Bar Third Place: Kai After Dark

BEST BEER MENU W NNER

TAPHO SE

Second Place: Farmers Gastropub Third Place: The Backlot at Alamo Drafthouse

BEST COCKTAIL MENU W NNER THE OLDEN

RL R

L B

Second Place: The Ozark Mill Restaurant Third Place: Vantage Rooftop Lounge & Conservatory

Third Place: La Paloma Mexican Grill

W NNER

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BEST TACOS

BEST LOCAL BREWERY EXPERIENCE

ESAR S OLD

WINNER: WIRE ROAD BREWING COMPANY

E

O

Second Place: Tinga Tacos

Second Place: 4 by 4 Brewing Company

Third Place: Tacos El Champu

Third Place Mother s Brewing Company

417 MAGAZINE • 417MAG.COM

Fill your glass at 417 Taphouse, first place winner of Best Beer Menu.

Photo courtesy TK photographer

Restaurant & Bar Third Place Lindberg s Tavern

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Photos courtesy TK photographers

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Photo courtesy TK photographer

Lindberg’s Tavern, second place winner for Best Burgers and third place winner for Best Chicken Wings and Best Place for Brunch, has it all.

BEST SWEET TREATS W NNER ANDY S RO EN

STARD

Second Place: The Keeter Center College Creamery Third Place: Pineapple Whip

BEST COFFEE SHOP W NNER Second Place

DHO SE O

EE

ancing Mule Coffee Company Third Place Classic Rock Coffee

BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE W NNER J

S STEA HO SE

P B

Second Place: The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks Third Place: The Ozark Mill Restaurant

BEST FOOD TRUCK WINNER: LONDON CALLING PASTY COMPANY

BEST CATERER

Second Place: I Love Tacos Taqueria

W NNER S

Third Place

Second Place: Traveling Chef

ot cho Ordinary Taco

PLY DEL

O S ATER N

Third Place: Char Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

BEST VEGETARIANFRIENDLY OPTIONS W NNER

A E

S O

Second Place: Piccolo Contemporary Italian Third Place: Farmers Gastropub

Photos courtesy TK photographers

BEST GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS W NNER Second Place

A E

S O

an Gogh s eterie

Third Place: Black Sheep Burgers + Shakes

BEST WINE MENU W NNER

ELLAR

PLATE

Second Place: The Vineyard Market Third Place: Flame Steakhouse & Wine Bar

BEST PATIOS W NNER THE O AR

LL RESTA RANT

Second Place: Wire Road Brewing Company Third Place: Vantage Rooftop Lounge & Conservatory

BEST PLACE TO RUN INTO EVERYONE YOU KNOW WINNER: METROPOLITAN GRILL Second Place Georgia Mac s Third Place Architect Coffee Co 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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Editors’ Picks OUR EDITORIAL TEAM (INCLUDING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR KATIE POLLOCK ESTES, ILLUSTRATED ABOVE) NAMES SOME OF OUR VERY FAVORITE RECENT 417-LAND BITES. 78

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The Sausage Roll from Blue Heron is made with sausage and perfectly served with poppy pickle and mustard.

BEST HEARTY HANDHELD

BEST LATE-NIGHT MENU

BEST SUPER-HOT BITE

W NNER SA SA E ROLL RO BL E HERON AR We can’t get enough of these comforting, flavorful treats! They make an excellent lunch when you’re on the go ou can pop in to Blue Heron and grab one for the road ts flaky pastry, tender homemade sausage and poppy pickle and mustard accouterments are a combo made in heaven.

W NNER S LLY S RA EN The tasty little additions to Skully’s menu in the evening hours prove that this spot offers expert flavors in more categories than ust ramen The crab rangoons are addictive, the fried rice bites are a true indulgence, and the mushroom eggrolls are a veg-friendly comfort food.

W NNER HOT SA E RO ARA AS HO SE We have a borderline unhealthy obsession with the hot sauce that comes with your arepas order at the Venezuelan food truck, Caracas House. It has a lasting burn paired with excellent flavor, and we only wish they sold it in bottles to buy and take home But they don’t we asked

BEST EXPANSION OF A BELOVED BRAND

BEST SKILLFULL BARTENDERS

BEST HOMEGROWN PANTRY STAPLE

WINNER: SPRINGFIELD BREWING CO. Springfield’s OG brewing company has been a staple for so long that we were both surprised and delighted when they announced two new locations on the horizon: a production facility and tasting room in Willard and a tasting room in Rogersville.

WINNER: THE ORDER We love that we can say “surprise me,” at The Order, and the bartenders always come back with something perfect. The cocktail lists are impressive, and they hit the right note with classic faves too. Plus, the Walnut Street Smash never disappoints.

W NNER B TTER RO O AR S ART SAN ver since nabbing this stuff at Farmers Market of the Ozarks, we’ve been obsessed with it. The salted butter is a classic, the berry-honey butter is an nglish mu n’s best friend, and the black pepper butter spices up homemade garlic bread.

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The Starting Quarterback from Swirly’s is the perfect mix of bananas and peanut butter.

BEST MIXED UP TREATS W NNER SW RLY S E REA WA LES At the Swirly’s ice cream truck, toppings are fully blended into the ice cream for a flavor bomb in every bite We love ordering it with a bubble wa e a trendy alternative to a wa e cone Try The Momma’s Boy, a coffee toffee caramel concoction that’s to die for

BEST NEW SPOT FOR COFFEE AND FUN W NNER LASS S YARD At the , s uare foot Classic’s ard space at Classic Rock Coffee, you can play all sorts of games while you munch on dishes like smothered nachos, pizza and sandwiches. There’s pickleball, gigantic Connect Four, cornhole, fowling bowling with a football!), a golf simulator and more.

BEST SURPRISE TACO SHELL W NNER J A A TA O RO NDO S LAT N KITCHEN This taco features a crunchy icama shell instead of a tortilla, and it’s a dish we go back to again and again nside is your choice of protein we strongly suggest the coconut shrimp) and a chipotle sauce for flavor packed bites ou’ll want to order two

BEST WAY TO EXPLORE THE TINNED FISH TREND W NNER BE ORE A TER BREW N If you spend any time at all on FoodTok, you know tinned fish has been wildly trending, and upscale brands are getting a lot of attention. One of those brands, Fishwife, is served at Before & After Brewing alongside tasty condiments and crispy crackers for a mini sea-cuterie experience.

BEST PIZZA-BUBBLY COMBO HER S HAPPY PLA E P A HA PA NE LO N E The eclectic bites at Metropolitan Grill have been longtime faves among our readers, and now there’s something new to love: They’ve opened Cheri’s Happy Place Pizza Champagne Lounge in the space ad oining Metro Grill. Add bubbly and pizza pie to the list of reasons to love this place.

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Now, as customers have continued to come back for more, Osburn has gotten to know them and loves welcoming them to the cheese counter. “I’ve met some of the most amazing people,” she says.

“It reminds me every day how different we all are, and yet we have one thing in common: cheese.” She adds with a laugh: “People just need to stop and smell the cheese!”

Read on for our quick Q&A with Osburn about all things cheesy.

417 Magazine: O a it s ti e or a e c eese estions no W at is o r a orite c eese e er Dana Os rn That’s a tough question because you have to do it by genre. Barber’s 1833 Vintage Reserve Cheddar is by far my favorite aged cheddar.

417 W at s a c eese o ate D.O.: I can’t do bleu. Me and bleu don’t go.

417: W at s a n ne pecte reco enation or a c sto er o s a c eese eginner D.O.: Henning’s cheddars, for when you want to step up your game. It’s still affordable, and it’s a mild cheddar with fun flavors, like garlic-dill, chipotle and cranberry.

417: W at s a n ne pecte reco enation or a ent ro s eaters D.O.: Sartori BellaVitano. They make cheddar-Parmesans, so the cheese has those crunchy crystals.

The merlot flavor is rubbed with red wine, and the espresso one is rubbed with espresso beans.

BEST CHEESE-CENTRIC CUSTOMER SERVICE DANA OSBURN, HY-VEE

I

t’s a real thing to become a cheese specialist!” says Dana Osburn, who is a Level 1 Cheese Specialist at the Sunshine Street Hy-Vee location. Osburn still seems in awe of the role she holds here. Up until five years ago, she was living in Austin, Texas, where H.E.B. is the grocery store of choice and cheese was nowhere on Osburn’s radar.“I grew up on Velveeta,” she says.

But after moving to Branson to find and connect with her birth mother and sisters, Osburn’s attention was drawn to buzzing news about Hy-Vee. She showed up the next day and got a job in Aisles Online. “Then they realized I had some other skills, and they asked me to work in cheese,” she says.

One of those skills—the one that earned her this Best of 417 award—is stellar customer service. We heard from readers that Osburn has become their

go-to-gal for all things cheese, and that they can’t stop ordering one particular spreadable item behind the counter: Cheese Smack.

Cheese Smack is Osburn’s recipe, and it’s her take on the pimento cheese that she loved to eat back at home in Texas. “One day, I had an epiphany,” she says. “I missed what I could get in Texas, so I decided to make my own version of it.” She whipped up her own concoction of two cheeses (one sharp, one mild), dill, pimentos and mayo. After she offered samples to customers, they wanted more.

Through word-of-mouth alone, her side project to satiate a craving has become a hugely popular item that now comes in four flavors—some spicy, some smoky. Since Osburn made the first batch in May 2023, the store has sold almost 2,500 pounds of the stuff, and they can barely keep it in stock.

417 W at s a c eese too o o e D.O.: My Parmigiano Reggiano knife set to get into a big 90-pound wheel of Parmesan.

417: W at are o r tips or a ne ie o is p tting toget er t eir first c arc terie oar D.O.: I’d tell them, “Relax and take a deep breath.

It’s not as hard as you think.” Follow the threes.

Salty, sweet, savory. Have three of everything— cheeses, meats, complements, breads or crackers.

It’s an art. Cheese art.

H

in eese S ac at ee on 2150 E. Sunshine St. 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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IN THE HEART OF WYOMING’S WILDERNESS LIES A SANCTUARY FOR BOTH THE SOUL AND LENS: GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK. FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, BRANDON ALMS—NATURE AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, AND SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER AT 417 MAGAZINE—SPENT FIVE DAYS PHOTOGRAPHING THE PARK’S ENCHANTING LANDSCAPES AND UNTAMED INHABITANTS. ISO 100 f9 1/60 100mm

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rom the dramatic towering peaks above to the playful antics of chipmunks darting below, Grand Teton National Park is a photographer’s sandbox waiting to be explored. In mid-October 2023, my wife, Martha, and I set out to explore what the park had to offer.

We planned our trip to Wyoming with one main goal in mind; to see and photograph a moose. After only a few hours in the park, that goal quickly became a reality. About 100 yards away in a field of sagebrush stood a commanding yet gracefully elegant bull moose. Little did I know at the time, this would be the first of many encounters during the course of the trip.

If you want to see a moose, the Tetons are the place to go. We saw moose every day! The proximity to the moose seemed to increase in our daily encounters, leading to progressively better photos. Capturing the heartwarming connection between a cow moose and calf, set against the Tetons as an awe-inspiring backdrop was a memorable experience.

“IF YOU WANT TO SEE A MOOSE, THE TETONS ARE THE PLACE TO GO. WE SAW MOOSE EVERYDAY!” ISO 500 f 7.1 1/2500 500mm

continued p. 84

Set up and ready to shoot pre-dawn enabled me to capture the first rays of sunlight highlighting the peaks of the Teton Mountains This bull moose marched through a field of sagebrush and right up onto the highway, causing a bit of a tra c am

uickly got into the habit of always having

my telephoto lens e uipment while on the road What better way to kick off a

mile hike than at

the pictures ue Jenny Lake, where the Cascade Canyon Trail reveals its beauty right from the start

ISO 100 f9 1/100 16mm

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from p. 83 Each day I began photographing at dawn with hopes of capturing the first rays of sunlight painting the peaks in glowing tones of golds and pinks.

After sunrise, our days were filled with scenic drives and breathtaking hikes. Among our cherished experiences, the Cascade Canyon trail stood out as a favorite. Although we unfortunately didn’t see any big game along the trail, its beauty unfolded in stunning panoramas of meandering streams, pristine lakes, cascading waterfalls, vibrant fall foliage and striking vistas of the Tetons.

As the days turned to night, we shifted our focus to the shops, restaurants and breweries nestled in the charming town of Jackson Hole.

Conveniently within walking distance from our cabin, these locales provided the perfect way to unwind and conclude an eventful long day of shooting.

The Taggart Lake Trail, a highly favored

mile

roundtrip hike, leads to a remarkable payoff Arrive early to seize the moment before the wind stirs, allowing you to capture pristine reflections of the rugged Teton Mountain Range By mid October, most of the fall foliage had already fallen This path of cottonwoods was a great find Perfectly lit by the sun, the yellows really popped against the Teton backdrop

ISO 100 f5 1/400 159mm

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ISO 100 f 2.8 1/8000 23mm

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ISO 2000

SO

f 10

f 10

1/400

1/60

700mm

560mm

One of our first stops inside the park was at the Craig Thomas isitor’s Center

With the wind blowing and the temperature outside around

degrees, the

asking for tips on places to see moose To our surprise, Moose Wilson Road located

thought of being submerged in water sent chills down my spine

ot a problem for

ust behind the visitor’s center turned out to be a key spot

this moose who seemed to en oy the conditions must have fired away before she finally turned toward the camera after taking a big gulp

SO f9 1/80 mm

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shots

ISO 800

ISO 1000

f 7.1

f

1/500

1/1600

500mm

400mm

 espite a full day immersed in ellowstone’s breathtaking scenes of bison, it

 ’ve seen and photographed a lot of doe over the years, but for whatever reason,

wasn’t until my visit to Grand Teton ational Park that finally secured the intense,

bucks have always eluded me Finally got my first buck photo as he turned his

straight on portrait shot had been wanting to capture

head toward the camera while eating a salad

This massive 360 megapixel panoramic image of the Teton Range at sunrise consisted of eight images stitched together in Photoshop. While editing the image, I was surprised to discover a pair of moose walking through the sage. The landscape is so vast, the pair appear here smaller than a grain of salt.

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Those cheeks! With all the big game in Grand Teton National Park, it was fun to turn my attention to the ground and photograph this little guy.

ISO 800 f 7.1 1/1250 500mm

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ISO 100 f 11 1/60 27mm

Known to be the most faISO 100 f9 1/250 mm

mous and photographed barn in the world, the T A Moulton Barn with the iconic Teton Range in the background has become a symbol of Jackson Hole, Wyoming On my next visit to the park, ’ll be sure to hit this spot up again for some sunrise shots To create depth with some additional pops of color, crouched down and shot through the thistle flowers here at Oxbow Bend

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ISO 800 f 5.6 1/1600 mm

The highlight of my trip was capturing this ISO 100

scene at sunrise, where a cow moose and calf

f 18

stood side by side, creating a heartwarming

seconds

photographic moment

16mm The views along the Cascade Canyon Trail are simply amazing To capture a long exposure with a silky, rushing water effect, set up here with a wide angle lens,

filter

and tripod  f were to summarize our ourney to Grand Teton ational Park in a single image, this would undoubtedly be the one—a harmonious blend of nature and wildlife at their absolute finest

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ISO 320 f8 1/80 35mm

BRANDONALMSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM • INSTAGRAM.COM/BRANDONALMS

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BEST OF 417

PROMOTION

PROFILE

BEST BRANSON AREA RESTAURANT 1ST PLACE BEST PLACE FOR BRUNCH 1ST PLACE BEST SWEET TREATS 2ND PLACE BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE 2ND PLACE YEARS HONORED 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

417-239-1900 | keetercenter.edu One Opportunity Ave., Point Lookout 92

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T

he Keeter Center is delighted to receive the commendation from 417 Magazine for the Best of 417 awards. Patrons of The Keeter Center are treated with the highest level of service and truly appreciated for their visit. Students at College of the Ozarks offer guests an exceptional experience, from homemade delights to exquisite farm-to-table dining.

As the largest workstation on campus, The Keeter Center plays a pivotal role in the lives of students as they embark on their educational journey, both academically and professionally. The work education program affords students the opportunity to “learn how to work” before they graduate college.

Mollie Crawford, Director of Sales and Marketing, shares her heartfelt appreciation for the recognition of the students’ diligent endeavors: “We find working in hospitality to be a wonderful start to any career journey. Our students learn through hands-on experiences the value of a strong work ethic, soft skills and integrity in business operations. We are honored that our students are recognized in this capacity amongst many other wonderful local establishments.”

The Keeter Center is situated on the picturesque campus of College of the Ozarks, just two miles south of Branson’s main attractions. For more information, please visit keetercenter.edu.

Photo courtesy The Keeter Center

THE KEETER CENTER

PROMOTION

BEST OF417

PROFILE EVERYDAY THAI Best Thai Food 1ST PLACE YEARS HONORED 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Indulge your palate at 417-land’s favorite destination for authentic, fresh Thai food. Everyday Thai captures the exotic flavors of Thailand with a harmonious blend of sweet and sour, salty and spicy. From savory soups and salads to bold curry, stir fry, noodle and rice dishes, all items are made to order by professional chef Thippawan Shutts.

Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned Thai food enthusiast, Everyday Thai invites you to discover Thailand’s diverse culinary heritage. Open six days a week, they are honored to provide the best Thai food in Southwest Missouri.

Bottom Row: Harry Sam, Kachena Moore, Ketnika Leftwich, Nanthana Cody, Suphaporn Catin Middle Row: Thippawan Shutts, Souksavath Phouthone, Tanner Ross, Kotchakorn Moonthip, Phunnadavee Gumlangngam, Allee Wright Top Row: Steven Shutts, Tanner Cook, Tristan James, Jorden Henson, Hollie Fisher

417-770-0147 | myeverydaythai.com . attlefield d. pringfield

GARBO’S PIZZERIA BEST SALADS 3RD PLACE

Photos by Josh Kingham

YEARS HONORED 2003 2006 2007 2008 2013 2023 2024

Since 1990, Garbo’s Pizzeria in Springfield, inspired by St. Louis’s culinary traditions, has delighted patrons with authentic thin-crust pizza, subs, pastas and more. Founder Pam Babcock’s dedication to perfecting family recipes endures, now continued by her daughter, Laine, marking a proud second-generation ownership. Celebrating 34 years in 417-land, Garbo’s expresses gratitude to the community for the love bestowed upon the famous Garbo’s house salad.

Bursting with veggies, meats, Provel cheese, and Garbo’s secret oil-and-vinegar dressing, it remains an unparalleled delight, now available in bottles. Cheers from the entire Garbo’s family at Chesterfield Village!

417-883-9010 | garbospizzeria.com 1 1 . hesterfield lvd. pringfield

Pam Babcock & Laine Scholz

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BEST OF 417

PROMOTION

PROFILE

GEORGIA MAC’S Best Place to Run Into Everyone You Know 2ND PLACE

Step into the heart of community connection at Georgia Mac’s, a proud winner in this year’s category “Best Place to Run Into Everyone You Know.” Congratulations to this local sports pub & grill for fostering a welcoming atmosphere where friendships thrive. Indulge in the comfort of homemade southern dishes, savoring every bite crafted with love. Whether it’s their signature fried chicken, the delectable mac ‘n’ cheese or a mouthwatering burger, Georgia Mac’s delivers a culinary experience that feels like home. Elevate your evening with their specialty drinks, adding a dash of flavor to every gathering. Discover the epitome of local camaraderie at Georgia Mac’s—where good times and great company unite.

417-319-5770 | georgiamacs.com 144 . epublic d. pringfield

Jennifer & Darryl Barr, owners

Photo by Geoff Ridenhour

YEARS HONORED 2024

I LOVE TACOS TAQUERIA Best Food Truck 2ND PLACE

I Love Tacos Taqueria is 417-land’s favorite spot for a flavor fiesta. Serving a tantalizing menu of authentic Mexican food, owners Aldo and Yeni Vasquez are proud to bring generational family recipes to Southwest Missouri. Every item is made from scratch and guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

With two permanent Springfield locations, it’s easy to satisfy your cravings. Stop by their food trailer by The Flying J (W Chestnut Expressway), 417-489-0076, or visit their storefront at 2724 E Chestnut Expressway, 417-522-9774. Call-ahead orders are always welcome! For your next special event, check out their catering options.

I Love Tacos Taqueria provides exceptional service and unforgettable flavor.

417-489-0076 | ilovetacos417.com 4 roadview l pringfield

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Photo courtesy I Love Tacos Taqueria

YEARS HONORED 2023 2024

PROMOTION

BEST OF417

PROFILE SEÑOR JULIAN MEXICAN BAR & GRILL Best New Restaurant 1ST PLACE Best Mexican Food 1ST PLACE

Photo by Josh Kingham

YEARS HONORED 2024

Celebrate the vibrant flavors of Northeast Mexico at Senor Julian’s Mexican Restaurant, crowned this year’s Best Mexican Food and Best New Restaurant in 417-land!

This family-owned gem not only serves up unique and mouthwatering dishes but also brings an infectious joy to every meal. Their commitment to impeccable customer service ensures you’ll leave with a smile. Dive into a world of festive flavors and let Senor Julian’s be your go-to for a lively culinary experience. With each dish telling a tale of tradition and love, this restaurant promises not just a meal, but a jubilant celebration of local Mexican cuisine.

Come join the fiesta!

4

417-240-2120 | senorjulian.com . attlefield d uite 1 pringfield

WIRE ROAD BREWING Best Local Brewery Experience 1ST PLACE Best Patios 2ND PLACE

Photo by Brandon Alms

YEARS HONORED 2023 2024

Wire Road Brewery thanks 417-land for yet another year as Best Brewery Experience! Every day they welcome loyal regulars and daily newcomers with a unique blend of hand-poured craft beer, food trucks, live music and special events. Founded in 2022 by Jeff Birchler, Angela Birchler, Kary Walker, and Deanna Walker, Wire Road stands out for its diverse beer menu and family-friendly ambiance.

The brewery thrives on community support, including that from the Distinguished Drinkers Society and fellow local breweries. The owners and staff express deep gratitude to everyone who has considered Wire Road the Best Brewery Experience two years in a row, acknowledging the rewarding experience of community backing. Cheers to Wire Road for becoming a cherished local destination!

417-512-7391 | wirebrewing.com 44 . Timbercreek ve. attlefield 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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 GLOBAL FLAVORS, 98  BREAD AND BUTTER, 101  SUPER SOUP, 105

shrimply

THE BEST

Photos by Brandon Alms

Thai Square’s coconut shrimp is served with a sweet and sour plum sauce for the perfect tangy kick.

Read more on p. 98.

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[ REVIEW ]

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW Thai Square opened in November and operates in an old home full of character, just like its sister business Rama Thai. However, its menu is entirely its own and rich in complex spices and fresh flavors.

BY TESSA COOPER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS

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REVIEW The creamy iced Thai tea is the perfect solution to balance the heat of dishes on the spicier side

M REVIE ORE W 417m S AT ag.co m

 The khao moo dang is served with crispy three layer pork belly, rice, cucumber and a boiled egg covered in a sweet and savory sauce

J

ust a year shy of a decade in business, Rama Thai has perfected the art of dishing out Southeast Asian flavors from a historic home-turned-restaurant. So much so that they’ve successfully copied and pasted the concept just a few doors away at Thai Square. However, that doesn’t mean you should go there expecting a replica of the Rama Thai menu because you’re definitely in for a much more novel dining experience than that.

I made my way over to the new venture on a chilly evening for a double date with my husband, Chandler, and two of our Thai food-loving friends, Zach and Michaela. Before deciding on our entrees, we ordered a round of coconut shrimp for the table, which was an excellent choice on our part. The crispy, tail-on shrimp came with a sweet and sour plum sauce dip, which gave the appetizer a tangy kick. Each meal also comes with a brothy soup filled with a rotating starch vegetable and green onion.

After slurping our soup, our taste buds were officially prepped for the meal ahead.

As for my main course for the evening, I went with the restaurant’s namesake dish, the Thai Square Fried Rice. If your entree of choice doesn’t feature any protein, Thai Square allows

Crispy coconut shrimp, Thai S uare Fried Rice with chicken, egg wrap pad Thai noodle, khao moo dang and the iced Thai tea are ust a few of the delicious dishes you can find at Thai S uare

you to add on chicken, beef, pork or tofu, so I went with the chicken. The fried rice had a great presentation and texture. Fair warning: it was spicy, so I recommend ordering a creamy iced Thai tea like I did to balance it out. This meal was somehow fresh and comforting all at once. The tender pepper and bamboo mixed with the basil and traditional green Thai sauce was an amazing contrasting combination.

However, I must say Michaela seemed to be the real winner of the evening. She ordered the Pad Thai, which immediately induced a bad case of food envy among the rest of us at the table. It featured a stir fry egg noodle topping that showed off a basket-weave pattern plus a beautiful carrot garnish in a flower shape.

She was kind enough to let me try some of the crispy tofu that soaked up all the Pad Thai sauce, and it was by far my favorite thing I tried that evening.

Chandler and Zach ordered the khao moo dang, which comes with slices of three-layer pork belly, rice and a boiled egg. They both described it as a sweet-meets-savory dish and noted that the pork belly was perfectly crispy and tender and not too chewy.

If you’re a bit of a Thai food novice, navigating the menu at Thai Square may take a little back-and-forth between you and your server.

But don’t be intimidated to ask questions. The beauty of trying out new-to-you global flavors is that you always leave the meal with an expanded taste palate and worldview.

Thai S uare Fried Rice is fresh and comforting with a green Thai sauce, basil and bamboo

The historic home turned restaurant gives guests a cozy, intimate dining experience

THAI SQUARE

S ational Ave , Springfield, 5300, facebook.com/Thaisquare307, Open aily xcept Wednesdays , pm $$ MAG COM

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TRY THIS

[ YUM OF THE MONTH ]

PEANUT CHICKEN NACHOS

from The Wheelhouse, Located inside V b Best Western Springfield, 1845 E. Sunshine St. THE SAUCE

THE PROTEIN

Sweet meets savory in this creamy Thai peanut sauce.

The combination of shredded chicken and refried beans will leave you feeling full and satisfied for hours.

THE HEAT

Choose your own adventure with a spice level

BT S

R

W

Patty Please Jamaican Patty Co. is now dishing out an extended version of its flavorpacked menu at its newest location in downtown Springfield.

B

raving the winter elements to visit a downtown Springfield restaurant is always worth it when there’s a delicious reward involved. I find this especially true when it comes to Jamaican Patty Co.’s comforting hot food with warming spices. And there’s one extra incentive to visit the local business’s newest location at 301 Park Central West: its jerk burger. While you can acquire dishes like the eatery’s handheld meat pies, shrimp alfredo and curry chicken meal from either location, the jerk burger with fries is exclusive to the downtown joint.

This hearty sandwich features Jerk chicken that’s a tad sweet and spicy, but I have a feeling that it’s the house-made ranch that makes this dish one of 100

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the best sellers on the menu. From 12 to 3 p.m., you can order a generous lunch-sized portion of any of the meal combos. On my visit, I tried the BBQ Jerk Chicken meal. Personally, I found the spice level to be just right, but if you’re a bit sensitive to spice you may want to have a chilled drink on hand, like one of the Ting Jamaican sodas they serve. The chicken was juicy and tender, and it

slid right off the bone beautifully. The soft rice with beans mixed in didn’t try to compete at all with the spices in the chicken, and the tangy slaw added a nice acidic flavor to round it all out. Of course, I couldn’t leave without a curry chicken patty, and let’s just say I regretted that I promised to save half of it for my husband. He only ended up getting about a third of it. Oops.

Photos by Tessa Cooper, Brandon Alms

BY TESSA COOPER

TRY THIS

NEIGHBOR’S MILL BAKERY & CAFÉ 1435 E. Independence St., Ste. 110 If you’ve ever paid a visit to Neighbor’s Mill only to find your favorite bread is not avail able, you’re at the right place but just at the wrong time. Here’s when each of these pop ular specials hits the shelves: Springfield Sourdough: Tuesday and Friday Whole Wheat: Monday, Wednesday and Friday Cranberry Pecan: Wednesday Pumpernickel: Tuesday and Friday Cinnamon Raisin: Tuesday and Friday Tomato Herb and Cheese: Monday, Wednes day and Friday [ TASTY TIP ]

GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT There’s a healthy supply of good bread in 417-land. However, the trick to landing your hands on a loaf lies in the timing. Here’s a little cheat sheet of when and where to get locally made-from-scratch bread.

BY TESSA COOPER

AVA BREAD AT MAMA JEAN’S NATURAL MARKET & DELI multiple locations It’s common knowledge that Ava Bread’s rye, multigrain and sourdough loaves sell out fast at MaMa Jean’s. They get in fresh shipments on Tuesdays and Fridays, so plan your grocery trips accordingly.

COLLECTIVE KITCHEN instagram.com/ collective kitchen On a typical Tuesday, Alex Maurer is busy whipping up her famous sourdough loaves in her home kitchen in Rountree. Reach out to hello.collectivekitchen@gmail.com to get on her email list and be the first to know which loaves are available for the week and when they’re up for grabs.

[ EAT THIS NOW ]

a delicious

FUSION

Bánh Mì (pronounced BUN-mee) is a Vietnamese sandwich rooted in French influence. Served on a baguette, the fillings typically include a protein like chicken or pork with warming spices plus fresh toppings like cilantro and veggies. Here’s a mini round-up of where to get one.

BY TESSA COOPER

[ LOCAL FLAVOR ] PHO KIM 3433 S. Campbell Ave., Ste. C, phokimspringfield.com, 417-883-9999 Must try: The Bánh Mì Bo features beef mari nated in lemongrass and a blend of Vietnam ese spices, so it’s juicy and tender.

berry good

Photos by Hali Patton, Tessa Cooper

BUTTER Ozarks Artisan Creamery’s Honey Berry But ter is a delicious delicacy that also adds a lit tle e ciency to your day Spreading a heap of this butter on a slice of toast or a warm biscuit allows you to skip the middleman by ditch ing the jelly. In fact, we’d argue that it tastes even better than your basic salted butter and elly combo because it’s more berry forward and ever so slightly sweetened with organic honey. The butter itself is made from cream from Ozark Mountain Creamery, and there’s only about a two week gap from cow to butter

TEAOLOGY BOBA CAFE 1111 E . Republic Rd., Ste. 120, teaologyboba. com, 417-306-9610 Must try: The Teriyaki chicken hits the spot when you’re craving a warm sandwich with both umami and sweet notes.

However, the key ingredient is the freeze dried mixed berries from Ozarks Artisan Creamery’s sister company, Fast and Forever Foods. Pick up some for yourself on your next trip to Farm ers Market of the Ozarks (2144 E. Republic Rd., Springfield). Tessa Cooper

PHO E ER 701 S. Madison St., Webb City, pho4everwc. com, 417-717-0165 Must try: The roasted pork Bánh Mì also in cludes ham and pork sausage, so it’s perfect for a meat lover.

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PROMOTION

Bone-In Porkchop The Order 305 E Walnut St | Springfield 417-851-5299 | theordersgf.com

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Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Devil’s Pool Restaurant 612 Devil’s Pool Rd Ridgedale | 417-339-5320 bigcedar.com/dining

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The Bison Burger

Short Rib Pasta

Canyon Grill Restaurant at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park 2038 W. State hwy 86 Lampe, MO | 800-225-6343 dogwoodcanyon.org

The Ozark Mill 802 Finley Farms Lane Ozark | 417-210-6644 finleyfarmsmo.com/eat-drink

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PROMOTION

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Sea Scallops

Tuna Firecracker Roll

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The Garrison at The Ozark Mill 802 Finley Farms Lane Ozark | 417-210-6644 finleyfarmsmo.com/eat-drink

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Ariake 1110 E Battlefield Rd Springfield | 417-501-1675 ariakesushirobata.com

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Braised Beef Short Rib

Chilean Sea Bass

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Level 2 Steakhouse 200 E. Main St Branson | 417-243-3433 level2steakhouse.com

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Worman House Bistro 612 Devil’s Pool Road Ridgedale | 417-339-5200 bigcedar.com/dining

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MAKE IT

Soup for the Soul RECIPES BY TINA NGUYEN BULGER, AS TOLD TO TESSA COOPER

T

ina Nguyen Bulger’s Instagram account, @overthetable_food, is such a cozy corner of the internet. Scroll through her feed, and you’ll find delicious recipes inspired by her Asian-American heritage that are meant to be shared. “I’m a daughter of two Vietnamese immigrants and was taught that food and family are essential parts of Vietnamese culture and tradition,” she says. “One way that Vietnamese parents show love is by asking their children, ‘con n c m ch a?’ which basically translates to, ‘Have you eaten yet, my child?’ My family always made sure I was well-fed because that love language transcended any cultural barriers we faced between us.” Here are two of Nguyen Bulger’s special soup recipes that will warm you right up.

LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP

Photo by Tessa Cooper

Ingredients 3–4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken 2 medium summer squashes, chopped into inch slices 2 medium carrots, chopped into inch slices 1 small sweet onion, diced 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 cloves minced garlic

1 cup of uncooked orzo 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried dill ½ teaspoon sugar 2 teaspoon salt 2 bay leaves 4 cups chicken broth 3 cups water ½ cup of chopped fresh parsley Extra salt and pepper to taste

Directions Prepare vegetables as listed and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a stockpot on medium heat. Add in onions and garlic and cook for 2 minutes.

Add carrots and yellow squash and stir in thyme and dill. Cook for another 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, water, bay leaves, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring the pot to a light boil. Add orzo, chicken and lemon juice into the pot. Cover

pot and simmer on low medium heat for another tender. Stir frequently. Add salt and pepper to taste.

minutes until orzo is

CANH BAP CAI VIETNAMESE CABBAGE SOUP WITH MEATBALLS Ingredients 200 grams large shrimp, thawed and peeled ½ pound ground chicken or pork ½ napa cabbage chopped into ½ inch slices (about 4 cups) 4 cups chicken broth 2 cups water 3 minced garlic cloves ½ shallot thinly sliced 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sugar teaspoon fish sauce 3 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon cornstarch extra salt and black pepper to taste cilantro and green onion for garnish

Directions Prepare all of the vegetables as listed and set aside. In a food processor, combine shrimp, chicken, soy sauce, black pepper, cornstarch, sesame oil and 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon. Pulse until fully combined. Scoop into a sepa rate bowl and set aside in the fridge until ready. In a medium stock pot, heat oil on low medium heat Add garlic and shallots and cook for 1 minute. Add carrots and napa cabbage and cook for another 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and water. Bring to a light boil on medium heat, about 5–6 minutes. Stir in fish sauce, sugar, salt and the rest of the chicken bouillon powder. Scoop meatball mixture into small balls and drop ½ tablespoon into the pot one at a time.

Continue until all of the mixture is gone. Let soup simmer for an extra 6–8 minutes while all of the meatballs cook. Add salt, pepper, fish sauce or chili oil to taste. Garnish with chopped cilantro and green onion slices.

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DINING

GUIDE  Restaurant Listings, 106  7 Good Things, 109

FINE DINING

ARIAKE SUSHI & ROBATA 1110 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, facebook. com/arikake.spfd. Japanese. This restaurant from the owners of Haruno, Kai and Karai offers excellent nigiri and sashimi, as well as small plates and tapas ou have to try the delicious tuna cigars or the hot rock dish that uses wagyu beef For dessert, the matcha creme brulee is our favorite Be sure to order from the excellent sake menu Order a sushi roll with some sake $$–$$$ D ☎

AVANZARE ITALIAN DINING 1908 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-567-3463, avanzareitaliandining.com.

Northern Italian Pasta is always a hit at Avanzare, a longtime Springfield favorite eal dishes are top notch at this talian eatery, but you’ll have to pick the right night, as they’re only served once or twice a week Customers love the Bistecca Rosemarino steak and the pasta with seafood in a spicy tomato based sauce ndulge in the luscious chocolate torte for dessert Open Mon Fri , am pm Mon Thu , p m Fri Sat , p m Sun , p m $$$ L D M ☎ WIFI K

BRUNO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

[ LISTINGS KEY ] $= nder $$ Mostly $$$ and up B serves breakfast L serves lunch D serves dinner outdoor seating

V live music

M meeting space

serves alcohol

smoke free ☎ reservations

recommended wheelchair

accessible

WIFI free wifi K offers kids menu

The 417 Magazine ining Guide is a select list of restaurants in southwest Missouri mplicitly, the magazine’s editors recommend all these restaurants The ining Guide is not related to advertising, and 417 Magazine doesn’t accept freebies in exchange for reviews or listings Listings are updated often they appear based on space availability Restaurants that are written about in ining Guide items such as restaurant reviews, restaurant update sto ries and Good Things are chosen by edi tors as a service to readers

If you have a foodie story idea, news about a local restaurant, or a correction to one of our Dining Guide listings, we’re all ears.

Please send an email to our editorial team at yum@417mag.com.

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416 South Ave., Springfield, 417-866-0007.

Sicilian. The bucatini with panchetta, chili oil and basil is a must try pasta dish Get it with the arugula salad with pine nuts and Parmesan cheese Also on the menu is piz za, wagyu steak and lots of excellent entree options The ever changing specials always sound extra tasty, like the recent offering of shellfish arancini Open Tues Thu , pm Fri Sat , p m $$$ D M ☎ WIFI

CHAR STEAKHOUSE & OYSTER BAR 1620 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-8238383. Steak and seafood. The former Touch Restaurant Oyster Bar retains some standby dishes like bacon wrapped dates and chicken Bi an in its new iteration as Char Steakhouse Oyster Bar owned by the same people , but offerings of Waygu steaks, lamb shank and fish dishes up the ante ndulgent lobster potato puree and crispy flash fried Brussels sprouts round out the side dishes, and raw oysters, ceviche and bone marrow pi ue the appetite as starters Open Mon Thu , p m Fri Sat , p m midnight Sun , pm $$$ D WIFI M ☎

CHATEAU GRILLE 415 N. State Highway 265, Branson, 417-2431777, chateauonthelake.com. Contemporary American Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa Convention Center, Chateau Grille offers gor geous views of Table Rock Lake The restaurant focuses on upscale, seasonal cuisine, flying in fresh seafood and sourcing local ingredients for the award winning menu Open daily during the regular season open during week ends only during the off season $$$ B L D M ☎ WIFI K

CRABBY’S SEAFOOD BAR AND GRILL 815 W. Seventh St., Joplin, 417-206-3474, crabbysjoplin.com. Contemporary American.

This Joplin hot spot serves some fantastic seafood, and we’ve en oyed everything we’ve tried there The Chilean sea bass is a specialty Try some of the small plates, like portobello mushroom fries, steamed mussels or a lovely charcuterie board There are also some great entree salad options Open Mon Sat , am p m $$–$$$ L D M ☎ WIFI K

FLAME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR 314 W. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-862-4444, flamesteakhouse.com. American steakhouse.

The restaurant specializes in dry aged steaks that are truly delicious on’t miss the lobster macaroni and cheese we’re serious you have to try this stuff The desserts are always di vine, and we can’t get enough of the appetizer menu Head to Red Room downstairs for kill er happy hour food and drink specials on’t miss the burgers at happy hour They are so delicious and such a bargain Open for dinner Mon Thu , p m , Fri Sat , p m Red Room open p m to bar hours $$$ D WIFI KM☎

THE GARRISON at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, 417-210-6644, finleyfarmsmo.com. Upscale shareable plates Located beneath the Ozark Mill at Finley Farms, The Garrison features a dark and moody speakeasy vibe, a fine dining menu and a beautiful riverside patio Try the mini pot roast, the forest panzanella salad or the delightful rosemary pound cake Be sure to order one of the delicious cocktails espe cially the refreshing Mill Pond that goes great alongside all the dishes we tried Open Weds Sat p m $$$ D M ☎

GILARDI’S 820 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-862-6400, gilardisonwalnut.com. Northern Italian Owner James Martin focuses on handmade pasta and fresh ingredients at this charming little talian restaurant that makes a wonderful date night spot on’t miss the amazing meatballs in red wine rosemary cream sauce that are served over a bed of creamy goat cheese polenta And be sure to dine in the outdoor seating area when the weather allows Open Mon Sat , p m $$$ D WIFI M ☎

HARUNO JAPANESE SUSHI BAR 3044 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, 417-8870077, harunosushi.com. Japanese The Oh My God roll and the Sex and the City roll are trade marks here f simple nigiri is your style, you’ll love the tuna sampler Be sure to venture off the sushi menu and try some of the delecta ble entrees as well on’t miss the bibimbap or the fresh mango alape o ahi tuna entree f you love a spicy bite, make sure you try the seafood soup Mon Fri , am pm, p m midnight Sat , am pm, p m midnight Sun , a m p m $$–$$$ L D M K ☎V

DINING GUIDE

HARVEST RESTAURANT 8011 E. State Highway AD, Rogersville. Contemporary American. 417-830-3656. ining at Harvest Restaurant is an experience like none other in land The owners, Craig and Tamara on Foerster, have created a restaurant focused on hyper seasonal, lo cal cuisine Although the menu is constantly in flux, Craig is known for his mushroom risotto and scallop trio Open Thu Sat , p m Open Sunday for brunch, a m p m $$$ D M ☎

JIMM’S STEAKHOUSE & PUB 1935 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-886-5466, jimmssteakhouseandpub.com. American steakhouse.

We love the tasty steaks here They are always pre pared perfectly The stuffed Peppadew peppers are a must try appetizer trust us, you need to taste those things The peppers are stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and drizzled with a balsamic glaze And if you love a good salad bar, Jimm’s has one of the best f you’re feeling adventurous, try the off menu smothered rib eye for a little decadence Open Sunday, a m p m Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat am p m $$–$$$ L D M ☎ WIFI K

KAI 306 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-832-0077, kaiafterdark.com. Contemporary Japanese and Korean.

This lounge like restaurant in downtown Springfield has fantastic sushi t has the same owners as Haruno, which is famous for their incredible rolls so you know it’ll be delicious on’t miss the restaurant’s black cod or sea bass entrees with delicious wasabi risotto They are ust as impressive as the sushi rolls There are some great cocktail and appetizer options here as well Lunch Mon Fri , am p m inner Mon Thu , p m midnight Fri Sat , p m am $$–$$$ L D M ☎

LEVEL 2 STEAKHOUSE The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, 200 E. Main St., Branson, 417-243-3443, level2steakhouse. com. Steakhouse. This Branson restaurant specializes in steaks, but its gooey butter cake dessert is gaining a following Try the ansas City strip steak and the egg noodles with cheese f you like to start your meal with greens, the Caesar salad is a must try it comes topped with delicious fried anchovies Also, don’t miss the fresh Hawaiian ahi tuna served on a Himalayan salt block delightful Open daily, am pm, p m $$$ B L D WIFI M K

METROPOLITAN GRILL 2931 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-889-4951, metropolitan-grill.com. Eclectic fine dining. Known for its delectable flash fried spinach, this restaurant spe cializes in steaks and seafood The salads are always fresh and delicious And we love that the menu is always changing, giving us something new and deli cious to be excited about served in a familiar space The cocktails are delicious, the wine menu is wonder ful and the service is always top notch Open Mon Thu , p m Fri , p m Sat , p m $$$ D M ☎ WIFI K

NICOLA’S RISTORANTE 3631 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-886-3700, nicolasspringfield.com. Italian. This restaurant serves a delicious sea bass Try the lumache fresh snails sau

teed in garlic butter and baked with Parmesan cheese Gluten free pasta and pizza are available The chicken parmigiano is a highlight definitely worth ordering The icola’s pizza here is also super tasty, and the des sert menu is impressive n oy the spacious outdoor patio when the weather permits, or belly up to the bar for happy hour with friends Open Mon Sat , p m close $$–$$$ D WIFI M ☎

OCEAN ZEN PACIFIC RIM RESTAURANT 4117 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-889-9596, eatoceanzen.com. Asian fusion. Try Chilean sea bass or the macadamia nut chicken We particularly love ordering the Hawaii Five O sushi roll with seared rare tuna and a pineapple salsa, it’s a tasty combina tion of savory, sweet, spicy and refreshing on’t miss the delicious top notch steaks that are on the menu here, too Open Sun Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m bar closes at p m happy hour p m and last two hours of operation $$–$$$ L D M ☎ WIFI K

THE ORDER at the Hotel Vandivort, 305 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-832-1515, theordersgf.com. New American. Step inside the andivort Hotel and turn left for a down town Springfield dining experience not to be missed The atmosphere is trendy but relaxed while the food is an elevated take on American cuisine prepared in a from scratch kitchen Try xecutive Chef Calvin avis’s spin on cashew chicken or the market fish specials that change daily Brunch is excellent here too Open for dinner Mon Sat p m , Sun p m brunch Sat Sun am p m bar open daily p m close $$–$$$ D M V ☎ K WIFI

OSAGE RESTAURANT at Top of the Rock, 150 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, 1-800-225-6343, topoftherock.com. American Take in beautiful views from the dining room at Osage Restaurant, located at Top of the Rock, and en oy fine dining that includes steaks and roasted chicken The fried chicken is stellar, and the cocktails menu always offers created and delicious options Reservations are recommended Collared shirts are recommended af ter p m Open Tue Sat , p m Wine cellar and Buffalo Bar open later Brunch served Sun , am p m $$$ B D K M ☎

Beef Ramen Noodle Bowl

RETRO METRO 2150 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-720-1708, eatretrometro.com. This throw back concept brings back decades of old Metropolitan Grill favorites and uite a few brand new flavors too from owner Chef Tiny The aptly named Retro Metro serves some of Metropolitan’s greatest hits, including flash fried spin ach and chicken spiedini But there are original items on the menu as well, from Chef Tiny himself uring happy hour, come in fro wagyu sliders, crab cake slid ers and more ishes are available via drive thru, too Open Tues Sat p m $$$ D WIFI

CAS AL

Crab Rangoon

G

65 TAPAS 3371 E. Montclair St., Springfield, 417-827-2777, tapas65.com. Spanish. Try a variety of small plates to share with your friends at this Spanish style spot

1540 W. REPUBLIC ROAD · 417-887-7500 ORDER ONLINE: LEONGSASIANDINER.COM

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DINING GUIDE ishes include things like burrata topped with sau teed mushrooms and marinated tomatoes, char grilled oysters, charcuterie and lots more There are larger en trees too, like paella, sea bass and tikka masala salmon Reservations re uired on weekends This restaurant is located inside the same building as ReRico Brazilian Grill Open Tues Sat p m $$–$$$ D

ANDY B’S ENTERTAINMENT CENTER 1127 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-883-1234; 405 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, 417-213-8631; bowlandybs.com. American fare. 1127 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-883-1234; 405 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, 417-213-8631; bowlandybs. com. American fare. This is a great spot for a full night of fun plus food all in one building The restaurant at Andy B’s ntertainment Center offers lane side food service and a menu full of hearty, tasty fare like burgers, pizzas, pasta and more f you have any pint size bowlers, get the hot pretzel t’s a kid pleaser Springfield open Sun Thu , a m midnight Fri Sat , a m Branson open Mon Thu , noon p m Fri , noon p m Sat , am p m Sun , am pm$L DM K

AVIARY BY LAVENDER FALLS 2144 E. Republic Road, Suite E120, Springfield, 417881-9736; aviarycafe.com. Crepes and bistro fare. This spot has long been known for being one of the few places in the area to get freshly prepared crepes which you can find there in both savory and sweet varieties But there’s so much more besides crepes There are also beautiful salads and delish entrees that have a little bit of French flair Open Mon Thu a m p m and p m , Fri Sat a m p m and p m Sun a m p m $–$$ B L D ☎ K

BAIR’S SPORTS GRILL 3821 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-368-5919; 1644 Highway 60 East, Republic, 417-732-5077; 701 N. McCroskey St., Suite 1, Nixa, 417-725-3777; bairsburgers.com. American There are appetizers and burgers on the menu at Bair’s, plus plenty of non burger sandwiches, great chicken wings and salads We love the burger that is topped with ranch dress ing and fried pickles So indulgent and delicious ou can get other sammies too, like fried pork tenderloin, Philly cheesesteaks or triple decker clubs stacked tall For an appetizer, dig into a plate of fried green beans or spicy cheese curds The sweet corn nuggets are also excellent Hours vary by location $ L D K

BEST OF LUCK BEER HALL 313-B S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield; 417-522-9009; bestofluckbeerhall.com. American. This downtown beer hall combines backyard charm with killer food and more beers than you can count f suds aren’t your thing, try a seasonal cocktail or one of the draft alco holic punches The extensive food menu includes fla vor spins on cookout favorites, like uicy cheddarwurst brats, salty shoestring fries with dipping sauces, and kimchi spiked fried chicken sandwiches The beer hall also has a faux turf lawn available for rent Open Tue Thu , a m midnight Fri Sat , am am Brunch Sat Sun , a m p m $$ B L D

BIG EASY GRILL 3641 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-832-0040. Cajun.

The ambalaya is fantastic, and we like to order it extra spicy The oyster po’boys are customer favorites, and 108

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the boudin Ca un sausage balls are not to be missed Try mix and match dishes to create a meal full of your favorite Ca un flavors you can order a side of red beans and rice with a po’boy, for example Open Mon Sat , am pm $ LD K

BIGSHOTS GOLF 1930 E. Kearney St., Springfield, 417-427-3040, bigshotsgolf.com. American. Come for the golf but stay for the good eats There are great burgers like the double smash burger with Hatch green chilis , pizza, wings and lots of shareable apps like the crispy red chili cau liflower on’t miss the fun cocktails We loved the Bee Sting, made with te uila, agave, grapefruit, lime uice and alape o So good Be sure to stop by for brunch on the weekends Open Mon Thu am p m , Fri a m midnight, Sat a m midnight, Sun a m p m $$ B L D

BIG WHISKEY’S Several 417-land locations, bigwhiskeys.com. American.

Springfield’s go to for buffalo chicken dip, burgers and the staple pub foods has locations spreading through out the Midwest Fans rave about the spin dip too a cheesy concoction with spinach and a little bit of heat on’t miss the ever popular burgers, including the pretzel burger with horseradish aioli, bacon and ched dar There are also meaty chicken wings, a handful of salads we like the Strawberry Hill , hand cut steaks and more Hours vary by location Ask about brunch service $$ B L D

BISTRO 58 15038 Business Highway 13, Branson West, 417-7731985, vcellars.com. Bistro fare. This restaurant is off the beaten path and offers a stellar selection of wine, a tasty lunch menu and a seasonal monthly dinner menu ummy sandwiches fill the lunch menu, like the super tasty Steph sandwich t features a ciabatta roll that is topped with roasted chicken, Gorgonzola cheese, fig am and bacon for a wonderful salty and sweet flavor profile Also be sure to check out the Friday night dinners Open Tue Sat , am pm Fri , p m $ L D WIFI

BLACK SHEEP BURGERS & SHAKES 209 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-319-5905; 2160 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Springfield, 417-368-0227; 2420 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-351-3595; blaaacksheep. com. Burgers This swanky but comfortable burger oint is located in downtown Springfield, with outposts in Chesterfield illage and on ast Sunshine Street Chow down on the Good ogi two grass fed patties are topped with white cheddar, lettuce, onion, pick le and baaad sauce house made Thousand sland dressing egetarian Black Sheep has you covered with its Hippy Jen Open Mon Thu , am pm Fri Sat , a m midnight Sun , am pm $ L D M

BLACKSTONE GASTROPUB 1521 E. Broadway St., Joplin, 417-553-0665. Gastropub. amien Tiregol of Crabby’s Seafood Bar Grill now has another Joplin eatery Blackstone Gastropub features hand crafted cocktails and beers on tap alongside some great looking eats like the crispy fried chicken, grilled salmon on a bed of gnocchi eep an eye out for Blackstone’s super creative daily specials Recently, we’ve seen a Seattle Roll with smoked burnt end sausage and a ton of toppings, and smash burger

grilled tacos with alape o ranch slaw Open Weds Sat am p m Sun am p m Mon am pm $$ LD

BLUE HERON FARM & BAKERY 206 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-701-1130.

Farm-to-table All of the freshly baked pastries and breads are amazing here They do some creative things with pastry, from tender galettes filled with loads of lucious lemon curd to flaky pot pies filled with savory meats and veggies Many of the ingredi ents are from Blue Heron Farm and other local and regional producers We love the sausage roll served with pickles and whole grain mustard, and the almond croissant is oh so dreamy Open Weds Sat a m p m , Sun am pm $ BL

BOSKY’S VEGAN GRILL 405 W. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-507-1050, boskysvegangrill.com. Vegan With a meat free kitch en, Bosky’s egan Grill serves a small but mighty menu of hearty, filling fare ou can find burgers, a deep fried bratwurst, a chicken sandwich, and chicken tenders all in meat free vegan versions Open Mon Wed a m p m Thu Fri a m p m , Sat am pm $–$$ L D

CAFE CUSCO 234 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-868-8088, cafecusco.com. Peruvian. This menu is packed with fun and unexpected dishes that are inspired by the cuisine of Peru and the Andes Mountains A few standouts the black bean uinoa burger with avocado spread, the Lomo Saltado, and a host of delicious entrees Anything that includes the ceviche is a sure bet ou can get it as an appetizer, or as a taco filling ou can even order the Leche de Tigre appetizer to get your ceviche fix it is a shot of ceviche uice with hot sauce and a chilled shrimp chaser Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m Sun , am pm $$ L D M WIFI

CANYON GRILL RESTAURANT at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, 2038 W. State Highway 86, Lampe, 800-225-6343, dogwoodcanyon. org. American. Located on the grounds of the sprawl ing, spectacular ogwood Canyon nature preserve, the Canyon Grill Restaurant oozes rustic elegance and boasts a menu inspired by its earthy surroundings Try the bison burger made with bacon and caramelized onion topped with fire roasted poblano peppers and pepper ack cheese For a fresh sip, there’s a strawber ry basil gin and tonic on the small but mighty spe cialty cocktail menu Open daily, am p m $–$$ LD M

CHERRY PICKER PACKAGE + FARE 601 S. Pickwick Ave., Springfield, 417-986-5800. Cafe fare What do you get when you combine a coffee shop, bar, cafe and li uor store Cherry Picker Package Fare A small selection of sandwiches, soups and sal ads is served daily We’re big fans of the To Brie or ot to Brie The coffee drinks are always well done, and for dessert you can grab a slice of Prairie Pie Open Mon Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , a m midnight $ BLD

CIVIL KITCHEN & TAP 107 and 222 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-5018456, civilkitchenandtap.com. Bar fare. With beers

Balboa Meatballs from Piccolo are stuffed with mozzarella cheese and served with marinara.

USS MISSOURI SUSHI BOAT

These seven dishes or drinks have passed our taste buds this month and made us rave. They are ranked by level of yumminess.

1

Once we learned we could get $1 tacos every Monday at Tacos El Gordo 1510 N. National Ave., Springfield , it was all over for us Those ta cos are super tasty, and at ust a buck each it’s an easy lunch decision on Mondays

2

on’t udge us for this We had the jicama tacos with coconut-breaded shrimp from Mundos Latin Kitchen 5493 N. 17th St., Ozark not once but twice in a single week They were so delish with their toppings of chipotle sauce and pico de gallo that we ust had to go back for more.

3

Photo by Hali Patton

When we want something that feels both in dulgent and brightly flavored, we order the garlic chili shrimp pappardelle from Farmers Gastropub 2620 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield t is made with arugula, peas, green onions and garlic chili butter sauce

4

One staffer has been regularly dreaming about the mushroom bisque from Cherry Picker Package x Fare 601 S. Pickwick Ave.,

Springfield This dreamy, comforting dish is packed with the flavors of sage and both crem ini and portobello mushrooms

5

 We never knew we could fall in love with a meatball, and yet here we are The Balboa meatballs from Piccolo 107 W. Aldersgate Dr., Nixa are huge, uicy, stuffed with melty moz zarella cheese and served over marinara with a sprinkling of goat cheese on top

6

A salad that is truly satisfying and one that we crave over and over again is the Forest Panzanella from The Garrison at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark t’s made with tender mushrooms, sesame sourdough bread, arugula and a delicious umami aioli

RAINBOW ROLL

NOW OFFERING KOREAN CUISINE!

HOURS: MONDAY–FRIDAY: 10:30 A.M.–2 P.M., 4–9 P.M. SATURDAY 10:30 A.M.–9 P.M.

7

Saturdays are our favorite days at European Café 207 Park Central East, Springfield That’s when you can get your hands on the freshly baked cardamom buns, a soft and not too sweet braided roll with the heavenly scent and flavor of warm spices

7 Good Things is chosen by the editors of Magazine as a service to readers. We’ve tried everything on this list, and we like it. To send us your suggestions, click Contact Us on 417mag.com and then submit a letter to the editor. –The Editors

CALL 417.890.1016 TO ORDER VIEW MENU ON OR GRUBHUB 1440 W. REPUBLIC ROAD, SUITE 120

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DINING GUIDE on tap and chicken and wa es on the menu, it is easy to see the appeal of this rustic but comfortable restaurant and bar Specializing in upscale comfort food, Civil itchen and Tap draws inspo from Southern and Midwestern staples Some favorite dishes include salmon with fruit pico de gallo, crispy charred brussels sprouts, huge salads and truly indulgent and gigantic battered onion rings Open Tue Sat , am a m Sun , a m midnight $ B L D M ☎

DERBY DELI 2023 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-883-4066.

Cafe fare. Located inside Brown erby nternational Wine Center, this eatery features sandwiches, salads, a variety of cheese plates and salami plates, a hummus board and more We love the Martin’s salad, topped with oven roasted chicken, or the Local Goat salad topped with a scoop of chicken salad on’t miss the Parisian sandwich with rosemary ham, Open Tue Fri , am p m for lunch, Tue Fri , am p m for small plates Sat , am pm $ L D

DEVIL’S POOL RESTAURANT at Big Cedar, 612 Devil’s Pool Road, Ridgedale, 417335-2777, bigcedar.com. American. Here you can en oy a tasty meal while watching a gorgeous view of Table Rock Lake For an appetizer, the smoked trout is fantastic, and so is the cornbread topped with cracked pepper maple butter and smoked bacon The entrees change with the season and are always the perfect blend of rustic and upscale For brunch, try the ohnny cakes with fried green tomatoes for something with a southern flair, or the acai and chia smoothie bowl for something a little trendier Brunch on Sundays Open daily for breakfast, a m lunch, am pm dinner, p m $$–$$$ B L D WIFI K M ☎ high season

DOBYNS DINING ROOM 1 Opportunity Ave., Point Lookout, 417-690-2146, keetercenter.edu. American The smoked tomato soup is knock your socks off delicious College of the Ozarks students grow produce and raise meat to use in the restaurant, so the menu has a very farm to table ual ity There’s a fried green tomato caprese appetizer that uses pickled tomatoes and a house made mozzarel la cheese For something hearty, try the pork belly shrimp and grits it packs a bit of spice Try the hicko ry smoked prime rib Thursday through Saturday Open Mon Sat , am p m Sun , am p m $$ B L D WIFI K M ☎

DOWNING STREET POUR HOUSE 24 Downing St, Hollister, 417-320-6106; dspourhouse. com. Serving elevated bar food and creative, hearty en trees, owning Street Pour House is the brainchild of the award winning barbecue slingers who own Gettin’ Basted But there’s a lot more than ust barbecue here Must try dishes include the giant Bavarian pretzel ap petizer, the ueso smothered tamales and the black ened mahi mahi entree on’t miss the wagyu burgers Open in Hollister Mon Thu a m p m , Fri Sat am p m , Sun am p m Open in Springfield Sun Thu am p m , Fri Sat am p m $– $ $ L D WIFI K

FARMERS GASTROPUB 2620 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-864-6994, farmersgastropub.com. Contemporary British and American. The menu here features locally sourced 110

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ingredients wherever possible and changes regularly The entrees are well priced and satisfying, like the Scotch eggs and the chicken chop salad arugula, kale, cabbage, blue cheese, boiled egg, pumpkin seeds, buttermilk dressing There’s also a great selection of beer, and the burgers and fish and chips are always delicious Open Mon Thu , a m p m Fri , a m p m Breakfast served Mon Fri , a m Sat , am p m Sun , a m p m $$ B L D M ☎ WIFI K

FIRE & ICE 2546 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-866-5253, oasisfireandice.com. Global cuisine. This spot locat ed inside Ramada Oasis Hotel Convention Center specializes in dry aged steaks and certified Angus beef and has a delicious menu that changes with the seasons Be sure to try the Fire ce Whiskey Burger with a Maker’s Mark whiskey glaze and crispy fried on ions Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m Sun , am p m $$ L D M ☎ WIFI K

the delicious hot and honey sauce and the tasty house dry rub Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sun , am pm $ L D K

HOULIHAN’S 2431 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-862-7777; houlihans.com. American The fish tacos and burgers are fantastic, and we love the enormous nachos appe tizer along with the vast salad selection Grab some friends and share a few of the small plates Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , a m midnight Sun , am p m $–$$ L D M WIFI K

HUEY MAGOO’S CHICKEN TENDERS 3352 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-812-8020, hueymagoos.com. Chicken tenders. The region’s first Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders is located in Springfield near Sunshine Street and Highway This spot of fers chicken tenders both fried or grilled in platters, sandwiches, salads and wraps f you get tenders, dip them in the Spicy Magoo’s homemade sauce $–$$ L D K

GEORGIA MAC’S

HY EE

1440 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-319-5770, georgiamacs.com. Southern sports bar. The food is hearty and comforting with a southern flare at this south Springfield eatery ou can find loaded burgers like the one topped with alape o bottle caps , fried catfish, country fried steak, loaded fries with tons of toppings, and lots more The chicken fingers are some of the best we’ve ever had get them with sweet po tato fries , and the Georgia Hot Chicken sandwich packs a big flavor with mild heat Open Mon Sat am a m , Sun a m midnight $ $ L D

1720 Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-881-8224; 2150 E. Sunshine St., Springfield; hy-vee.com. t’s all about variety when it comes to the freshly prepared food at Hy ee, so it’s a great place to find something for every member of your family even the picky ones ou have a hibachi grill, a pizzeria, hearty com fort food, sushi, Chinese dishes and Wahlburgers burg ers. $–$$ B L D WIFI

THE GROTTO 301 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-886-9600 gogrotto.com. West Coast–style American. The menu is accessible to meat eaters and vegetarians alike The super indulgent warm blue cheese chips are a favorite appetizer Customers like the burgers especially the burger topped with lots of tangy blue cheese One of our favorite things to order is the grilled salmon sandwich with a side of the sweet and yummy sweet potato fries Open Mon Sat , am p m Sun , am pm $ L D K

GUY FIERI’S BRANSON KITCHEN & BAR 100 Branson Landing Blvd., Suite 1111, Branson, guysbranson.com. American. Come to eat over the top dishes created by the Mayor of Flavortown All the dishes have a little touch of something unexpected like burgers topped with macaroni and cheese, the nachos made with pulled pork and barbecue sauce, or the cake topped with whiskey caramel f you’re in the mood for a filling sandwich, try the Old Skool Steak Sandwich with ew ork strip steak, caramelized onions, onion straws and more Open Sun Thu a m p m , Fri Sat am p m $$ L D K

HACKETT HOT WINGS 520 S. Main St., Joplin, 417-625-1333, hacketthotwings. com. American Sometimes the only thing that will satisfy your cravings is a big plate of some seriously good chicken wings The wings at Hackett Hot Wings are fantastic and we’ve heard rave reviews from read ers and staffers alike There are hot wing flavors ranging from tame barbecue sauce to super fiery hot sauces that pack a huge punch But we’re partial to

LA HABANA VIEJA 220 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-771-5723, la-habana-vieja.com. Cuban Find great mo itos and a menu full of Cuban fare at this Commercial Street eatery Try the ropa vie a, Cuba’s national dish of beef brisket, rice and veggies ou can also get an appetizer of yucca fries, or ceviche that’s served with plantain chips For dessert, be sure to grab some of the tres leches cake Open Mon Sat am p m and p m $$–$$$ L D

MACCHEESY’S 1920 E. Independence St., Springfield, 417-351-3084; 2202 S. Range Line Road, Joplin, 417-691-8256; maccheesys.com. There are varieties of loaded maca roni and cheese and types of grilled cheese sand wiches on the menu here, along with soups, salads and some over the top shakes that are piled high with tons of wild toppings Open daily a m p m $–$$ LD K

NEARLY FAMOUS DELI & PASTA HOUSE 2708 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-883-3403, nearlyfamous.net. Deli and Italian Regulars love the weekly specials egg salad on Fridays, pear sandwiches on Thursdays and more The tomato soup is fantastic, and it goes well with ust about any sandwich at this friendly spot t’s hopping at lunchtime, and the din ner hours offer a menu filled with tasty pasta dishes They’re a good stop for a weekend brunch as well Open Mon Sat , a m p m $$ B L D K M

NEIGHBOR’S MILL CAFÉ & BAKERY 1435 E. Independence St., Suite 110, Springfield, 417720-4162; neighborsmill.com. This full time bakery offers a hearty menu packed with sandwiches, soups and salads on’t miss the honey pecan chicken salad,

which comes on Bronze honey wheat bread, or the Reuben, which comes on pumpernickel rye bread They have two soups of the day, one of which is veg etarian For a lighter option, order one of the fruit and yogurt parfaits with house made granola and fresh blueberries, raspberries and strawberries Open Mon Sat , a m p m $ B L D K

LA HABANA VIEJA

THE OZARK MILL RESTAURANT at Finley Farms, 802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, 417210-6644, finleyfarmsmo.com. nside the beautifully restored Ozark Mill, you can order upscale farm to table meals that are made with ingredients grown right at Finley Farms or produced in their on site api ary on’t miss the incredible risotto fritters appetizer made with artichoke, sausage, mozzarella and served over a pickled pepper aioli Pop in for happy hour from p m Sunday Friday for half price appetizers and deals on cocktails, beer and wine Open daily a m p m $$–$$$ L D M K

QUEEN CITY SOUL KITCHEN 1626 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, 417-379-8614, facebook.com/QueenCitySoulKitchen. Soul food. The menu changes from week to week here, but the of ferings are always delicious Find comforting fare like meatloaf, fried chicken wings, smothered pork chops and more Make sure you leave room for dessert be cause there are always classics like peach cobbler or bread pudding with rum sauce up for grabs Open Thursday Sunday a m p m $–$$ L D

HAND¯CRAFTED CUBAN FOOD 220 E. Commercial Street | Springfield 417.771.5723 | la-habana-vieja.com

RED ONION CAFÉ 204 E. Fourth St., Joplin, 417-623-1004, redonioncafe. com. American/Italian. The Tuxedo Chicken is a cus tomer favorite iners also love the bacon wrapped shrimp, the blackened tuna sandwich or ave’s fried chicken salad Try the BLT A The A stands for avocado yum There’s even a section of the menu with kteo friendly options that are low carb and gluten free Live entertainment every third Thursday Open Mon Sat , a m p m $$ L D WIFI K

C U R A T E D

A D V E N T U R E

ROSIE JO’S CAFE 1711 S. 15th St., Ozark, 417-581-6047. American. This place is a very popular hangout at breakfast time with great daily specials, and it also has great homemade pies, including surprising ones like gooseberry The fried chicken is delicious at this eatery, and so are the fried dill pickles and the onion rings Basically, if it’s fried at Rosie Jo’s, you know it’s going to be delicious Open Mon Sat , a m p m Sun , a m pm $ BLD K

SPLIT SOCIAL KITCHEN 3027 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-755-7155, splitspringfield.com. American. Come for creative and beautifully prepared shareables, like burrata with tru e pesto, that are served a teeny restaurant space that packs a lot of good vibes We love the amazing macaroni and cheese get fried chicken with it as your optional protein And the Chiliville hot chicken sand wich is seriously spicy Come on the weekend to try the tasty brunch menu Open Tues Fri am p m , Sat am p m , Sun am p m $$ B

S AV O R & S TA R G A Z E | F E B R U A R Y 1 6

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ST. MICHAEL’S SPORTS BAR & GRILLE 301 South Ave., Springfield, 417-865-2315. American.

The burgers are top notch, and the huge salads topped MAG COM

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DINING GUIDE with deliciously seasoned grilled chicken breast are a favorite try the one with spicy Ca un chicken yum Come hungry enough to order dessert because the cakes are stellar Open Mon Wed , a m p m Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m $–$$ L D K☎

TEA BAR & BITES 621 S. Pickwick Ave., 417-866-7500, teabarandbites. com. verything we’ve tasted at Tea Bar Bites has been fantastic Try the curry chicken salad or the yummy uiche with beautiful, flaky crust We love any of the menu items that have a Mediterranean flair The menu features plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options There are tasty baked goods too, like giant caramel rolls or sweet coconut cream cupcakes Occasional theme dinners Open Mon Thu , a m p m Fri , a m p m Sat , am p m $ B L D M ☎ V

VAN GOGH’S EETERIE 334 E. Commercial St., 417-344-0085, vangoghseeterie. com. Indo-Dutch. utch pancakes, chicken witlof and other ndo utch and utch inspired cuisine pop ulate the menu at this Commercial Street hotspot from Joe Gidman of Cafe Cusco We love the pan cakes especially the Farm ear Auvers topped with goat cheese, apples, honey, arugula and thyme For something packed with veggies, the Liza’s Stamppot entree is perfect For something sweet, our favorite is the Starry ight dessert pancake Open Tue Thu , am p m Fri Sat , a m p m Sun , a m pm $$ B L D ☎

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BUCKINGHAM’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ 2002 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-886-9979, buckinghambbq.com. iners love the ribs and the burnt ends at this classic barbecue eatery We can’t get enough of the killer smoked salmon topped with horseradish sauce And don’t miss the alape o bot tle caps f you’re extra hungry, get the baked potato that’s covered with ust about everything Open daily, a m p m $ L D WIFI K

CITY BUTCHER & BARBECUE

GETTIN’ BASTED 3242 S. Stewart Ave., Springfield; 2845 W. Highway 76, Branson; 606 W. Mount Vernon St., Nixa; gettinbasted. com. Come here for award winning barbecue in all your favorite varieties brisket, ribs, pulled pork and more The seven wagyu burgers on the menu are fully loaded, and the apps game is strong with homemade pimento cheese, barbecue nachos and more Open Sun Thurs am p m Fri Sat am pm $–$$ L D K

HEADY BAR B

E O

CROSSTOWN BBQ

573 E. Elm St., Republic, 417-732-4227, headybbq. com. This spot specializes in ansas City style bar becue Among stellar ribs, brisket and more perfectly prepared meats, you can find unexpected dishes with a barbecue spin nachos, salads, a burrito The sandwiches are all packed with ingredients, liked the Hogwallop that has pull pork, hot link, pickled ala pe os, pepperd back, pepper ack chese, sauteed onions and a special sauce Whew That’s a lot Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am pm Sun , am p m $–$$ L D M K

1331 E. Division St., Springfield, 417-862-4646. Try the ribs or the brisket The Big Pappa inner is a signa ture dish, and it features tons of meat including ribs, brisket and hot links We loved the smoked chicken salad for something that feels healthy and indulgent at the same time And as for sides, you have to go with the crispy fried okra Another customer favorite even though it’s not barbecue is the always tasty and oh so crispy fried catfish Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , a m p m $–$$ L D ☎ K

2833 W. Chestnut Expy., Springfield, 417-771-5018, momikesbbq.com. n additional to very well done clas sic barbecue options brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork , you can also get a handful of great sandwiches The Lyndsey is a smashburger with pulled pork, brisket, barbecue sauce and cole slaw Try the tri tip sandwich on brioche with a side of pit beans Open Mon Sat a m p m $–$$ L D K

3650 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-720-1113, citybutchersgf.com. Come early because this Texas style barbecue spot, where the meat is smoked in small batches for optimal freshness, is known to sell out iller brisket, pulled pork and other favorites are sold first come, first served with a few simple but delicious side dish options Open daily a m until sold out $–$$ L D M

MISSOURI MIKE’S BBQ & MORE

Finest

Experience the

Monday–Saturday: 4:30–11 p.m. Sunday: Closed | 417-501-1675 | 1110 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield 112

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PAPPY’S PLACE

THE BRUNCHEONETTE

943 N. Main Ave., Springfield, 417-866-8744. Be sure not to miss the pork spare ribs with Pappy’s barbe cue sauce or the barbecue nachos at this long run ning Springfield institution xtra perk We’ve heard people say that Pappy’s sells the very coldest beer in town The restaurant’s daily specials are delicious, too Open Mon Sat , am pm $ L D

424 N. Main St., Joplin, 417-781-3447, thebruncheonette.net. We love the creative takes on eggs Benedict that we’ve found at The Bruncheonette, whose menu changes weekly but is always interesting on’t miss your chance to order a plate of poutine, hand cut fries topped with gravy, shredded cheese and a poached egg The carrot fries are wonderful too This restaurant is small but mighty, and it’s worth the wait for a table Open Wed Fri , a m p m Sat Sun , a m until supplies run out $ B L

WHOLE HOG CAFÉ 224 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-868-0042; 2731 N. Glenstone Ave, Springfield, 417-720-4759 wholehogsgf.com. Customers love the pulled pork sandwich There’s a delicious sauce for every taste bud at this eatery we like the spicy ones, but the mustard base is delicious, too , and we love the extra indulgent potato salad it is among the best we’ve ever tried Open Mon Sat , a m p m Sun , am pm $ L D M ☎ WIFI K

BR A FAST

BILLY GAIL’S CAFE 5291 State Highway 265, Branson, 417-338-8883; 1882 James River Road, Ozark, 417-582-2600; billygailsrestaurant.com. Billy Gail’s in Branson has been a beloved breakfast hotspot for ages The Ozark spot and has become ust as popular Come for massive pancakes Branson open daily a m p m Ozark open daily a m p m and Fri Sat am pm $BLD

Brunch Sat and Sun: 9am–2pm Dinner Mon–Sat: 5pm–10pm Sunday: 5pm–9pm Breakfast Bar Mon–Fri: 7am–11am

EARLY BIRD BREAKFAST PUB 1717 E. Cherokee St., Springfield, 417-885-8088. This spot serves up creative breakfast fare and has a full service bar churning out breakfast margaritas and the ilk Bonus Those breakfast margs are made with orange marmalade for a nod to the day’s first meal on’t miss the tacos, burritos, breakfast fare, sand wiches and more Open Mon Fri , a m p m Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ B L

FIRST WATCH 2946 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-889-0601; 3103 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-633-7094; firstwatch.com. Go traditional with a plate piled with crispy bacon, eggs and toast Or order something more creative At First Watch you can find breakfast power bowls like the one filled with uinoa, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, kale and eggs , lemon ricotta pancakes, avocado toast, a superfood bowl with chia pudding and fruit and lots more There are a few differ ent varieties of eggs Benedict we love the one topped

You don’t just dine at The Order, you feast on the freshest flavors in the Ozarks. We invite you to try our seasonal menu featuring a modern take on Missouri cuisine showcasing locally sourced ingredients and craft cocktails.

305 E. Walnut St., Springfield 417-851-5299 | theordersgf.com

Hours 5–9pm: Tues.–Thurs.

5–10pm: Friday Hours vary: Saturday 3–7pm: Sunday Closed: Mon. Happy hours every day!

with bacon and avocado , and we love that many of the dishes come with a simple lemon and greens salad on the side to brighten it all up on’t miss the lunch treats, too Open daily, a m pm $ B L K

GAILEY’S BREAKFAST CAFÉ 220 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-866-5500. The sweet potato hash browns are super delish here, and we highly recommend ordering them in place of the traditional hash browns We also love The Bear Hug biscuits and gravy, choice of meat, two eggs and either hash browns or sweet browns f you’re feeling a little British, try The Full Monty Gailey’s is known for break fast, but the restaurant also has a tasty lunch menu Breakfast and lunch are served all day, and the weekly dish and cocktail specials are always a fun change of pace Open Sun Tues , a m p m , Wed Sat , am p m $ B L WIFI K

JW’S KITCHEN 2111 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-306-9997.

This brunch spot comes from the owners of Farmers Gastropub, Andy and Misty Hampshire t features excellently prepared favorites and some fun surprises ou can get biscuits with chocolate gravy a southern American favorite or a full nglish breakfast black sausage included and everything in between Open Weds Mon a m p m $ $ B L WIFI

RISE 105 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-691-6088, 417rise.com. This spot is the brainchild of the same

Never-ending summer vibes with beachy dishes, and elevated bar bites at a local bar and grill. Warning:Tthe cocktails and atmosphere will be hard to leave!

1198 W St. Hwy NN, Ozark, MO 65721 417-771-9330 | volleyballbeachozark.com

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DINING GUIDE people who own uropean Cafe The large and varied menu is inventive and superbly executed, with clever dishes like pavlova inspired French toast, baklava in spired Belgian wa ees, both sweet and savory rice pudding meals, nourishing grain bowls, breakfast sandwiches from classic to creative and so much more Open Mon Fri a m p m Sat Sun a m pm $ B L WIFI

SLEEPY OPOSSUM CAFE 1427 E. Cherry St., Springfield, 417-379-9401, danisflourpotbakery.com. Located inside The Royal, this dar ling spot serves creative, classic and always delicious breakfast fare We are obsessed with their hashbrown uiches, and the homemade biscuits topped with everything seasoning are to die for Any baked sweet is a dream here too, especially the filled donuts and any of the creative cakes Be sure to order a cup of cof fee they use beans from Arkansas based Onyx Coffee Lab Open Tues Fri a m p m Sat a m p m , brunch the first Sunday of the month a m noon $ B L WIFI

favorite is the Hunan beef The signature dishes are great, but be sure to keep an eye out for new items, as they change up their menu a couple times a year Open Mon Thu am p m , Fri Sat am p m , Sun a m p m $–$$ L D WIFI K

COFF

SHOP FAR

ARCHITECT COFFEE 1604 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-771-5030, architectcoffeeco.com. This nstagram chic coffee shop on Springfield’s south side offers a bright and cozy at mosphere with warm drinks and hearty food, to boot The breakfast burritos are stellar and so filling We love the seasonal drinks that change every so often, especially when they offer some version of a refresh ing espresso tonic So good on’t skip the sandwiches or salads for lunch served all night We also love this spot because it’s hopping, and we always run into a friend when we visit Open Mon Fri , a m pm Sat , a m p m $ B L M WIFI

BIG MOMMA’S COFFEE & ESPRESSO BAR CH

S

BAO BAO CHINESE BISTRO

217 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-865-9911; 1010 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, 417-868-4157; bigmommascoffee.com This spot offers coffee, espresso and blended frappes But there is more on the menu than ust drinks Be sure to try the super delicious sandwiches that are served here, too The Juliette is one of our favorite sandwiches from Big Momma’s with apples, provolone and creamy spreads , and we also adore the sweets selection Open Mon Fri , am p m Sat Sun , a m pm $ B L D M WIFI

2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Suite A104, Springfield, 417877-7505. Chinese food fans, this is a must try spot for you We ust keep hearing rave reviews about Bao Bao Chinese Bistro This little spot in Chesterfield illage has a chef who used to own a restaurant in Shanghai, so there are several authentic items on the menu Try the salt and pepper pork, a super tender duck entree, the veggie filled wonton soup, or the iaozi dumplings Or bring your appetite and tuck into a hot pot filled with seafood, tofu and more Open Sun Thu , a m p m Sat , am pm $ L D

545 E. Elm St., Republic, 417-647-5125, facebook.com/ theblacklabllc 300 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417942-7881, facebook.com/BlackLabDowntown; 3541 S. Lone Pine Ave, Springfield. This casually canine in spired coffee stop is Republic’s place to be for a piping hot labbuccino, and their second location in Springfield serves all the same pup inspired menu items Open Mon Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ B L V WIFI

5 SPICE CHINA GRILL 2058 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-799-0215. A modern take on Chinese food iners love the General chicken, the sweet and crunchy crab Rangoon and the mango chicken We really love the alapeno basil dishes too Open Mon Sat , am p m Sun , a m p m $ $$ L D K M ☎

THE BLACK LAB COFFEE CO.

CORNER 21

CAFE CUBANO

1369 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-766-6630, corner21us.com. This restaurant might look tiny from the outside, but its menu offers a large variety of authentic Chinese dishes, including several Sichuan style meals ou’ll even find dishes that aren’t common on local Chinese restaurant menus, such as braised pork belly with rice noodles, ribeye and enoki mushrooms in a curry broth, crispy fried pumpkin, spicy Sichuan fish and so much more Open Tues Thurs am pm, Fri Sat am p m , Sun am pm $ L

3650 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-887-7777, facebook.com/countrygirlsespresso. Aside from all of the delicious coffee drinks, the real must try item here is the authentic Cuban sandwich, served pressed on Cuban bread Cafe Cubano’s’ signature is its Cafe Con Leche with scalded milk We also love the guava pas try, a huge treat that costs less than and is filled with delectable, tropical sweetness For breakfast, the pressed bacon and cheddar burritos are a favorite thanks to crisp, thick cut bacon Order it with an iced Americano for a hearty brekafast on’t forget to come by on Tuesday, when you can Cuban tacos on spe cial featuring that same tasty pork that comes on the Cuban sandwiches Open Mon Sat , a m p m $ B L D WIFI K

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LEONG’S ASIAN DINER 1540 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-887-7500.

The Leong family serves its original cashew chicken at this tasty eatery, among lots of other yummy stuff The crab Rangoon are especially delicious here, and we like to dip them in the bold and spicy mustard sauce The egg rolls are a classic, made from scratch with a peanut butter flair The General Tso’s chicken has a rich and spicy sauce and lots of veggies Another 114

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inspired names Try the Sweet motion latte with chocolate and caramel and a ham and cheese puff pastry breakfast pocket to start your day Another perennial favorite drink The irty White Boy Open Mon Wed , a m p m Thu , a m pm Fri , a m midnight Sat , a m midnight Sun , am p m $ B L D V M WIFI

THE COFFEE ETHIC 124 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-866-6645, thecoffeeethic.com. Try the single origin coffee, brewed one cup at a time, or any of the creative and delicious seasonal drinks The cappuccino is fantastic truly one of the best we’ve ever had , and the shop also serves wine, craft beers on draft and a small selection of uality li uors The food game here is strong too, with loaded oatmeal, freshly baked mu ns and more We love the bottled lattes too Open Mon Sat , a m p m $ WIFI

DANCING MULE COFFEE COMPANY 1945 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-883-5114, dancingmulecoffee.com The mochas are great here chocolatey but not too sweet ancing Mule also does a really good authentic cappuccino that’s made ust right Try the Peanut Butter Fandango Frappe if you’re in the mood for something a little more funky, and if you’re on the run, swing through the drive thru Open Mon Fri , a m p m Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ B WIFI

ECHELON COFFEE 2407 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-374-2739, echeloncoffee.com. This sunny coffee shop with a drive thru has excellent espresso drinks, drip coffee, pour over and more The cortado is always well done And we love The Formation espresso with vanilla, cin namon and honey prepared as a frappe when we’re feeling indulgent on’t miss the delish breakfast and lunch fare too There are biscuits and gravy on the weekends only, and options like smoothie bowls, breakfast burritos, sandwiches and salads every day of the week Open Mon Fri a m p m , Sat a m p m , Sun a m p m B L D WIFI

EURASIA COFFEE & TEA CULTURE CAFE 445 E. Commercial St., 417-720-1949, culturecstreet. com This coffee roaster with a mission also serves some tasty fare in its Culture Cafe n addition to carefully crafted cups of coffee and Turkish coffee , there’s a eggie aan’wich made with chickpea mash, carrots and pickled onions it’s one of our favorite lunches We love orderig a latte and adding rosewa ter and honey Open Mon Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ B L D M WIFI

GREENHOUSE COFFEE & AFFOGATO BAR

CLASSIC ROCK COFFEE

431 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, 417-763-8032. This bright and sunny spot has all your favorite classic espresso drinks, great seasonal options and one of the yummiest treats a variety of affogatos sually an affogato is ust espresso and vanilla ice cream, but here you can get other flavors too ou choose the drink and ice cream flavor, and they combine it for you Open Tues Fri a m p m , Sat Sun a m pm $BLD

1900 W. Sunset St., Springfield, 417-881-7625, classicrockcoffee.com; 535 W. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-771-5143, classicrockcoffeedowntown.com. This coffee shop offers espresso drinks with rock n’ roll

211 S. Market Ave., Suite 100, Springfield, 417-3501234; 2896 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield; kingdomsgf.

KINGDOM COFFEE

DINING GUIDE com. The coffee menu features classic espresso drinks, like cappuccinos, macchiattos, mochas and more We love the classic cortado the most, and the not too sweet and super creamy iced matcha latte is truly de licious The seasonal drinks are always a treat here, too f you can get your hands on it, be sure to order a ched dar and chive scone and ask them to warm it up For an even more substantial bite, try the nion Biscuit smoked bacon, two eggs, sharp cheddar cheese and herb preserves on a buttermilk biscuit Open daily, a m p m $ B L D WIFI

MUDHOUSE COFFEE 323 South Ave. Suite B, Springfield, 417-832-1720, mudhousecoffee.com. The coffee is always fantastic here, at Springfield’s OG downtown coffee shop Plus, Mudhouse also offers a wide variety of loose leaf teas The mu ns here are huge and delicious make sure you try the one with berries it’s our favorite Open Mon Sat , a m p m Sun , a m pm $ B L D WIFI

THE PRESS COFFEE & JUICE BAR 2710 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield, 417-771-5950.. This whole foods cafe offers organic dishes with ingredi ents from local market vendors Juices are organic and cold pressed The real draw here is the Mexican orean fusion menu, featuring gogi nachos, kimchi fried rice and street tacos The gogi uesadilla with kimchi is our favorite we like to order it with tofu and extra go i sauce on the side for dipping every single crispy bite of our uesadilla Open Mon Sat , a m p m $ B L D WIFI

URBAN GROUNDS COFFEE & PLANT LAB 5557 N. 21st St., Ozark, urbangrounds417.com. This spot specializes in drinks made with locally roasted coffee Try classics like lattes and cappuccinos, or opt for a flavored options like salted caramel toffee or a botanical latte made with things like beetroot, tur meric and more When you’re hungry, munch on one of the loaded toasts, a grazing tray, a smoothie bowl and more This coffee shop doubles as a plant store and bouti ue, selling gifts, home decor and more n the plant lab, you can buy a plant and a pot and then put them together while you sip a coffee or a cocktail Open Mon Fri a m p m , Sat Sun a m pm $BL

THE WORKSHOP AT FINLEY FARMS 840 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark, 417-210-6644, finleyfarmsmo.com. The Workshop is a coffee shop and gathering space The menu includes classic coffee and tea offerings plus super sized suped up toasts the avocado toast is fully loaded and fully delicious on’t miss the delicious creamy chicken salad it’s excellent As for drinks, we love The Workshop Shake, a shaken iced latte with vanilla bean syrup, cinnamon and honey Their take on a London Fog, featuring pH lavender syrup, is delicious too ou can also sign up for hands on workshops and classes Open Mon Sat , a m p m $ B L WIFI

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J. PARRINO’S QUEEN CITY DELI 1647 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-887-1148, queencitydeli.com. This spot serves up pasta, soups,

salads and some super delicious sandwiches on’t miss The Burnes beef tenderloin on garlic bread or the talian beef sandwiches order them wet to get plenty of luscious us ou can’t go wrong with the pastrami sandwich that’s incredibly meaty piled high ust like they do it in ew ork City delis Open Mon Sat , am pm $ LD

MYTHICAL ‘WICH 113 E. Main St., Branson, mythicalwich.com. This sand wich shop comes from the owners of another Branson favorite Gettin’ Basted t offers a large selection of bold lunch and breakfast sandwiches, like the Holy Hand Grenade topped with pastrami hash and a fried egg There are also soups, salads and desserts like the banana pudding that we’re dying to try Open daily am pm $B LD

THE SANDWICH SCENE 208 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-685-9682, thesandwichscene.com. This little spot started out inside Sweet Boy’s eighborhood Bar and has now found a home of its own on Mc aniel Street This spot slings some seriously good sammies on’t miss the urbano, made with mo o pork, house made terrine, ham, swiss and spicy giardiniera The Meatball sub is crazy good too, and you should keep an eye out for any of the get them while you can specials that are always creative and delish Open am p m Monday Saturday $ LD

THE SUB SHOP 1721 E. Seminole St., Springfield, 417-887-3804; 456 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-831-8077. The Fighter Pilot sandwich comes fully loaded with salami, pepperoni, cheese, banana peppers, lettuce and sub sauce Be sure to try the sandwich specials also known as the secret sandwiches they are always cre ative and delish Hit an ATM on the way there, because The Sub Shop is cash only Seminole Street location open Mon Fri , am p m West Mc aniel Street location open Mon Fri , am pm $L

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ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD Multiple 417-land locations, eatandys.com. on’t miss the rotating seasonal toppings our staffers love the key lime pie and blackberry in the summer, and the apple pie and pumpkin pie in the fall Try the Ozarks Turtle sundae, a classic concoction with caramel, hot fudge and toasty pecans There are several sundae and concrete options, plus root beer floats and talian ice pops Or you can order your own creation We like to get a sundae with raspberries, pecans and marsh mallow fluff Open Sun Thu , am p m Fri Sat , a m midnight $

BOX TURTLE CREAMERY 1458 E. Cherry St., Springfield. From ani Hunnell, the owner of Sleepy Opossum Cafe, this cute little cream ery in the Rountree neighborhood serves handmade scoops in flavors ranging from familiar to adventurous We loved the lemon cranberry and the banana hon eycomb ice creams the most so far ou can even get a six scoop ice cream flight to try them all Fun bonus t has a walk up window Open pm $

EUROPEAN CAFÉ 207 Park Central East, Springfield, 417-569-6702, 417europeancafe.com. Along with coffee drinks, this little bakery serves up lovely croissants, beautiful desserts, perfect pastries and more ou can even find some savory pastries, like the bacon, egg and goat cheese tart Their macarons are to die for, and the pretty little mousse cakes are almost too lovely to eat We love the uiche here as well t pairs per fectly with the ever changing seasonal coffee and tea drinks, which are always delicious and full of lovely ingredients Open Mon Thurs , a m p m Fri , am p m Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ WIFI

HURTS DONUT 320 Park Central West, Springfield, 417-719-4119; 1111 E. Republic Road, Suite 164, Springfield, 417-7557574; wannahurts.com Outside the box toppings cover these super delicious doughnuts, and they are available hours a day in downtown Springfield A customer favorite is the maple bacon bar, a huge, salty sweet concoction that is oh so delish But it’s not ust donuts ou can also get shakes, frehsly baked cookies, enormous apple fritters, macaroons, kolaches and more Open hours $ B L D WIFI

LUCKY CAT BOBA TEA & TAIYAKI 3424 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-351-3136.

There is a hefty menu of bubble tea options we like the passionfruit mo ito bubble tea that comes with fresh lime and mint leaves plus sweet snacks like mitarashi dongo skewers, red bean filled mochi, and darling slices of cake The taiyaki are fish shaped waf fle like cakes with tasty fillings that come in a variety of flavors like sweet red bean, utella, vanilla custard and more f you want something savory, try the pork filled steamed buns Open Sun Thu am pm, Fri Sat a m p m $ WIFI

PRAIRIE PIE 307 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, prairiepie.com. Prairie Pie makes stellar all butter crust pies in flavors that range from classic to inventive The caramel apple pie is an elevated take on a classic and is uite popular Any of owner leanor Taylor’s pies made with rhubarb some with cherry, some with strawberry are superb Stop by the storefront for other offerings as well, such as savory pot pies, cookies and crazy good mashed potatoes Open Thurs Sun am p m $–$$ L WIFI

SOCIETEA 1653 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-720-4094, facebook.com/societea. Bubble tea is the name of the game at this authentic spot where the matcha milk tea and the matcha roll cake are both must try offerings Whether you’re a bubble tea veteran or looking to try something new, this is your place We love that you can customize the sweetness level of your drinks and top them with options we don’t see often at other boba tea spots like big pieces of coffee elly, or creamy cheese foam Our favorite is the fresh strawberry milk tea with crystal boba Open Mon Thu , am pm Fri Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ WIFI

ST. GEORGE’S DONUTS 3628 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-881-7515; 3012 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-882-1718; 1415 W. State Highway J, Ozark, 417-425-7885; stgeorgesdoMAG COM

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DINING GUIDE nuts.net. Lots of luscious doughnuts are made fresh daily here We love the glazed blueberry and the oh so fresh chocolate cake donuts Open daily, am p m ational Avenue location closed Sunday Ozark location closed Monday $ B

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BILLY BOB’S DAIRYLAND 1901 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson, 417-337-9291.

Billy Bob’s is a greasy spoon institution that has long served delicious sweets and tasty American food on the strip in Branson There are flavors of fried pies here, cheeseburgers pro tip top them with grilled onions , foot long hot dogs with chili and cheese and more Open daily, am pm $ LD

CASPER’S 937 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. This local favorite is getting settled into a new location on Glenstone Avenue that’s filled with bright colors and a kitschy vibe that’s both Casper’s familiar and also brand new The spot serves overflowing bowls of great chili and a few other yummy diner options like burgers and hot dogs on’t forget to order some luscious chili cheese fries while you’re there Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am pm $ BLD K

DRUFF’S 331 Park Central East, Springfield; 417-719-1719, yumdruffs.com. ruff’s brings glorious cheesiness to diner fare with a menu of grilled cheeses, soups and cre ative sides For a little heat, try the Good octor, made with cheddar, cream cheese, bacon and alape o, or satisfy your sweet tooth with a nutella and strawber ry grilled sando it’s nuts Open Tue Wed , a m p m Thu Sat , a m p m Sun , a m pm $ L D

RED’S GIANT HAMBURG 2301 W. Sunshine St., Springfield. A revival of the Route staple the original Red’s is rumored to be the country’s first drive through restaurant , this diner serves up as much nostalgia as it does classic burgers Opt for the stacked high griddle burgers served with fries or onion rings, slurp on a malt or milkshake, or try out some of the newer gluten free options Check out the breakfast menu if you’re up early Open daily, am pm $ BLD K

INDIAN

INDIA CLAY OVEN & GRILL 2005 W. Highway 76 Country Blvd., Suite 209, Branson, 417-973-0044, indiaclayovenandgrill.com. Come to this yummy little spot on the Branson strip to indulge in some tasty ndian fare We loved the karahi lamb tender lamb, bell peppers and onion in a spicy sauce and the mushroom aloo matar mushrooms, potatoes and peas swimming in a creamy sauce Open daily, am pm, p m $$ L D

NAWAB’S INDIAN CUISINE TANDOOR BAR 3654 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-844-5050.

Find all your favorite classic ndian dishes here the tandoori chicken and the makhni paneer are both 116

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excellent along with some others you might not have seen around town before For example, the gol gappay is a crispy little hollow fried ball filled with chickpeas, potato, onion and spices Open Weds Mon am p m Thu Sat p m Sun , Mon , Weds pm $$ L D

TAJ MAHAL INDIAN RESTAURANT 1250 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-719-4573. ou can find all your ndian favorites here on the large menu There is a variety of naan bread and it’s so, so soft and perfect , many types of curry and rice dishes and fun desserts like rice pudding and gulab amun donuts soaked in syrup We are obsessed with the lamb rogan osh and the chicken alfrezi, and the bhindi masala an okra dish is a favorite too Open for lunch and dinner daily $$ L D

ZAYKA INDIAN CUISINE

BRUNO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT, see p. 106 GILARDI’S, please see listing p. 106 NICOLA’S RISTORANTE, please see listing p. 107 NONNA’S ITALIAN CAFÉ 306 South Ave., Springfield, 417-831-1222, nonnascafe. net. Italian. The seafood lasagna is a must try dish, and the spicy arrabbiata lasagna is crazy good And then there’s that drool worthy deep fried lasagna Basically, if the dish has lasagna in its name, you know it’ll be good at onna’s The Tuscan pappardelle ragu is excel lent, and the pesto linguini is a delight F onna’s also does a Sunday brunch with regular menu items from a m – p m Open Sun Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , am p m $$ L D K M ☎

PICCOLO

311 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, 417-351-4400, zaykaspringfield.com. There’s a lot to love about this downtown Springfield ndian restaurant The vegeta ble korma, chicken tikka masala and malai kofta are ust a few of our favorite dishes f you’re new to ndian food, try the pre set combo meals that feature a lot of different flavors For dessert, you can’t beat a bowl of warm gulab amun sweet pastry balls The lunch buffet is also killer when it’s open Open Tue Sun , am p m open for dinner Tue Thu , p m Fri Sat , p m Sun , p m $ $$ L D M

107 West Aldersgate Drive, Suites 1 and 2, Nixa, 417374-7291, eatpiccolo.com. When you’re craving indul gent talian fare, Piccolo delivers with a range of piled high pastas, pizzas, steak and chicken entrees Start things off with the talian achos fried wonton chips, homemade alfredo sauce and toppings , or the Balboa balls, uicy meatballs stuffed with mozzarella and fin ished with goat cheese and marinara o yourself a favor and leave room for dessert because you won’t want to miss the incredible cannolis Open Tue Thu , p m Fri , p m Sat , am p m Sun , a m p m $–$$ L D WIFI ☎ M

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1932 W. Retail Lane, Ozark, 417-485-3838, salvatoresfresh.com. The menu here is packed with handmade pastas that are freshly crafted every day f you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of them mak ing the fresh pasta you can see it from the dining room The menu also boasts everything from a fried artichokes appetizer to a Tuscan T bone steak entree Open Tue Sat , am p m Sun , am pm $–$$ L D

AMICI 4728 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-299-8236, dineamici.com. This modern talian eatery has a com fortable yet stylish atmosphere and a menu of talian appetizers, pastas, steaks, desserts and more For an appetizer, indulge in the arancini risotto balls but get them while you can because the menu is ever chang ing Be sure to try one of the cocktails we liked the Hugo, made with elderflower li ueur, prosecco and mint Open Weds Sat p m $$ D WIFI

SALVATORES FRESH RISTORANTE ITALIANO

JAPA

AVANZARE, please see listing p. 106 BAMBINO’S CAFÉ

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ARIAKE SUSHI & ROBATA, please see p. 106 CRAFT SUSHI

1141 E. Delmar St., Springfield, 417-862-9999; 2810-D E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-881-4442; bambinoscafe.com. This little talian eatery serves hearty helpings of tasty talian fare that won’t break the bank, available at two land locations The Poppa is a popular pasta dish t comes with penne pasta, talian sausage, mushrooms and a spicy tomato cream sauce Open Mon Sat , am p m Sun , noon p m $ L D WIFI K

251 E. Sunshine St., Suite 116, Springfield, 417-3195887, facebook.com/craftsushi. At Craft Sushi, you’re in control of your meal as you customize your own sushi and poke bowls And the best part t won’t break the bank f you don’t want to make up your own dish, there’s a menu of some pre designed poke bowls and sushi rolls too Open Mon Sat , am p m $$ L

BASILICO ITALIAN CAFE

HARUNO, please see listing p. 106

306 Commercial St., Springfield, 417-873-9224, basilicoitaliancafe.com. on’t miss the delicious tortel lini carbonara here, or the penne pesto cream with chicken a dreamy combo of alfredo and pesto sauces The lobster and shrimp ravioli in spinach mushroom sauce is a nother delight get it with the freshly made bread The talian cream cake is a great option for des sert, and so is the carrot cake Open p m Weds , am p m Thurs Sat , am p m Sun $$ L D WIFI K

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HINODE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 4301 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-877-1777.

Come to see the show at the hibachi grills Hinode is known for wonderful hibachi meals with perfectly cooked proteins and all the extras rice, stir fry noodles, veggies and that luscious seafood sauce And don’t forget to try something from the sushi menu Open daily, am p m Sun Thu , p m Fri Sat , p m $$ L D K M ☎

DINING GUIDE

KAI, please see listing p. 107 KARAI RAMEN + HANDROLL 640 W. Republic Road, Suite 100, Springfield, 417-319-5225. With arai, owner oung Jun, of Haruno, ai and oriya, takes ramen seriously, and it shows in her food The arai Ramen with a flavorful and spicy house made broth is incredible, and we like to get it with pork and a seasoned soft boiled egg added Open Mon Fri , am p m Mon Thu , p m Sat am p m Fri Sat , pm $ L D

KORIYA 4121 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, 417-882-0077. This spot serves create your own bibimbap dishes, and you can choose between chicken, beef bulgogi, tofu and shrimp for your protein One of our favorite dishes is the apchae, made with slippery and sweet stir fried potato starch noodles and lots of veggies it’s fun to eat and so satisfying Open Mon Sat , am pm $LD

NAKATO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 2615 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-881-7171, nakato.com. Performance style hibachi dining is what akato is known for And they are super good at it A little entertainment plus a great meal All of the sushi is top notch here as well on’t miss the Jenny Roll, a favorite For an appetizer, try the bacon wrapped scal lops, the agedashi tofu or the seafood tempura Open Mon Fri , p m Sat , p m Sun , am pm, p m $$ L D K M ☎

NIJI SUSHI 3938 S. Lone Pine Ave., Suite 100-B, Springfield, 417851-1707. n addition to a large variety of sushi rolls we love the Cherry Blossom Roll and the Spicy ummy Roll , this menu also boasts rainbow bright cocktails and seven types of ramen soups Come with friends so you can share and sample lots of rolls For dessert, try the fluffy Japanese cheesecake Open Sun Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , am p m $$ L D

SAKURA 3230 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-882-8000.

There’s a solid sushi menu the Sam’s Roll never dis appoints if you like a roll with a lot going on , and you can order a sushi donburi box to really get some bang for your buck if you prefer to keep your sushi meals simple and refreshing The bento boxes are great too, packed with your choice of entree, California roll, rice, salad, miso soup, fruit, spring rolls, veggie tempura and ice cream We recommend getting teriyaki salmon in your bento box it’s always delish Open Tue Sun , am p m $$ L D WIFI M ☎

SUSHI VILLAGE 1440 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-890-1016, facebook.com/springfieldsushivillage. This cozy sushi spot has a warm date night atmosphere with cherry blossoms and plants around every corner All the sushi is fresh and flavorful, but some custom creations pack fun ingredient combos Open Mon Thu , am pm, p m Fri , am pm, p m Sat , am p m $$ L D WIFI

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BAWI KOREAN BBQ 4121 S. National Ave., Springfield, 417-886-2777, bawikbbq.com. Bawi orean BB brings an authentic orean dining experience to Springfield, where you’ll pay a flat fee of for an all you can eat meal ou cook the meat yourself on tabletop grills eep an eye out for orean style fried chicken, which is sometimes offered on special Open Mon Thu , p m Fri Sat, p m Sun , p m $$ D

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GREEK BELLY 320 E. Walnut St., 417-597-3382, greekbelly.com. We love everything we’ve tasted here Try a tasty pork or chicken gyro topped with creamy tzatziki, tomatoes, onions and French fries on a soft pita Our favorite, though, is the loukaniko wrap t’s an orange spiced pork sausage served in a pita with spicy feta dip, fresh veggies and French fries Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m Brunch served the sec ond Sunday of each month, am pm $ L D ☎ WIFI K

THAT LEBANESE PLACE 338 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-536-6677. The kibbeh is fantastic if you like herbaceous and satisfy ing eats, and any of the delicious and meaty kebabs is a great choice We love the stuffed grape leaves appetizer, served with a delicious tahini dipping sauce The falafel mushakal sandwich is great too, with falafel, baba ghanou , French fries, fresh veggies, pickled tur nips and tahini There are plenty of options for din ers with vegetarian, vegan or gluten free diets For a super delicious dessert, don’t miss the baklava made with Lebanese rose water Open Tue Sat , am p m $ $$ L D

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CABOS BONITOS GRILL & CANTINA 406 South Ave., Springfield, 417-221-3490. Come to this downtown Springfield spot for all your Mexican favorites plus some fun and uni ue dishes like the fried avocado appetizer t has beer battered avoca do halves filled with your choice of meat and topped with sour cream and chipotle ranch sauce Open Sun am p m , Mon Thu am p m , Fri Sat am p m $$ L D

CANTINA LAREDO 1001 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, 417-334-6052, cantinalaredo.com. Cantina Laredo is a great option if you’re exploring Branson and have a hankering for Mexican food Located on Branson Landing, it has a great view of the choreographed fountain and of Lake Taneycomo and the bluffs across the water The menu is varies, and we love the salsas Open Sun Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , am p m $$ L D

restaurant location is huge too, so there’s plenty of room to bring your whole crew for some Mexican eats Open Sun am p m , Mon Thu am pm, Fri Sat am p m $$ L D

CATRINA’S MODERN MEXICAN 2925 Battlefield Road, Suite 105, Springfield, 417-3501006, catrinascantina.com. This spot serves authentic shareable dishes and full entrees Look for hand crushed guacamole that can be loaded up with chich arron The grilled plaintains are a treat Some of our favorite entrees are the sopes topped with shredded beef, the spicy ucatan shrimp and the Catrina ue sadilla The cocktail menu is excellent here too Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am pm, Sun , noon p m $$ L D

CESAR’S OLD MEXICO 2627 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 17-881-8252. ndulge in authentic Mexican food at incredibly reasonable prices We love the birria taco, which is filled with succulent shredded beef on’t miss the Salvadorian pupusas stuffed with beans and cheese they are delightful The carnitas torta is also excellent t’s huge and is stuffed with savory carnitas, topped with melted cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and mayo and then sandwiched between a pillowy bun eed we say more Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am pm $ L D

EL PARAISO MEXICAN KITCHEN 610 W. College St., Springfield, 417-771-5641; 305 E. Chestnut St., Suite C, Strafford, 417-736-0019; elparaisokitchen.com. This Strafford based Mexican restau rant now has an outpost in owntown Springfield too They are known for a great lineup of margaritas and all your favorite Mexican dishes For an app, try the flaming cheese or the ceviche Springfield open Mon Thu am p m , Fri Sat a m midnight, Sun am p m Strafford open Mon Thu am p m , Fri Sat am p m , Sun a m p m $$ L D

IGUANA ROJA 107 W. Church St., Ozark, 417-485-8585; 12051 MO13, Kimberling City, iguanaroja.net. There are delicious margaritas at this little eatery located on the s uare in Ozark on’t miss the one made with alape os it has a kick that’s so much fun to drink The chips are excel lent here, with a yummy seasoning sprinkled on top of every one Open Tue Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m $–$$ L D K

LA PALOMA 3041 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-719-4484, dienlapaloma.com; 1425 W. Battlefield St., Springfield, 417-889-2985, thelapaloma.com. This spot offers a huge range of Mexican dishes including fish tacos, which are excellent Battered and fried fish is topped with fresh pic de gallo, cabbage and a creamy chipo tle sauce and then served with Mexican white rice Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m Sun , am p m $–$$ L D

CASA BELLA MEXICAN CUISINE

MEXICAN VILLA

4610 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-771-5031; 300 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-885-9097. The menu is huge at Casa Bella, which has two Springfield locations Try the tasty ceviche, any of the street ta cos, or the spicy camarones a la diabla The Battlefield

Multiple 417-land locations, mexicanvilla.net. This spot is a favorite among longtime Springfield locals, and it is known for its sweet sauce served with tortilla chips Also popular is the Sancho nchilada Style a huge burrito that is completely swimming in red enchilada MAG COM

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DINING GUIDE sauce ids love the chicken fingers, and you can even purchase the sweet salsa in a ar to go Hours vary by location $ L D K

PRIMA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Springfield, 417-823-7180; 3662 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, 417-890-1212; 5557 N. 21st St., Ozark, 417-582-2776; primasmexicangrill.com. iners love the pollo abovado, an ounce chicken breast that’s grilled and topped with home made chorizo, white ueso and tomatoes Open Mon Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , am p m Sun , a m p m $–$$ L D WIFI K M ☎

SEÑOR JULIAN MEXICAN BAR & GRILL 3405 E. Battlefield Road, Suite 100, Springfield, 417240-2120. This tiny restaurant packs big flavors, with a menu that features traditional Mexican soups, hand made to order flour tortillas, uesabirria tacos, mas sive uesadillas, fa ita baked potatoes and more on’t miss the huge margaritas menu, featuring fun options like their mangonada margarita and a great selection of te uilas Open Mon am p m , Weds Thu am p m , Fri Sat am p m , Sun am p m $–$$ L D K

TEAM TACO 1454 E. Cherry St., Springfield, teamtacosgf.com. Let the little ruby red building near Pickwick Avenue and Cherry Street be your guiding beacon to fla vor packed tacos, nachos and rice bowls This tiny cafe serves ma or flavors in its taco menu We also love the te uila and mezcal based cocktails that pair so well with all those tasty tacos with their big flavors Open Mon Sun , am pm $ LD

TINGA TACOS 308 W. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-831-8007, tingatacossgf.com. This downtown taco shop is open late slinging shells of its wildly creative combinations We are partial to the Fu u made with super flavorful mar inated tofu or the Fruity Piggles with uicy pork and fig am for a salty sweet combination Open Tue Wed , a m p m Thu Sat , am am $LD

TORTILLERIA PERCHES 1601 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-864-8195. This tiny little authentic Mexican restaurant makes its own tortillas and chips fresh every day Try a Mexican soda, a traditional Mexican soup or a tamale when you visit on’t miss Taco Tuesdays and Tamale Thursdays, where the dishes are only a dollar Open Tue Fri , a m p m Sat , a m p m Sun , a m p m $ B LD

PIZZA

ARRIS’ PIZZA 1332 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-881-7260, arrispizzaonline.com. Thin crust pizzas have a Greek flair at Arris’ Pizza Be sure to order the Athena a pizza made with feta, pepperoni, olives, mushrooms and green peppers if you want to try one that bursts with flavor The bruschetta is a great appetizer, and it’s unlike bruschetta we’ve had other places Open Tue Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , am p m Sun , am pm, p m $–$$ L D M

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THE BIG SLICE 1450 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-720-1928; 4126 S. Kansas Expy., Springfield, 417-720-4108; thebigslicespringfield.com. ou can get big ew ork style brick oven pizza by the slice here Or buy a whole pie if you prefer, but either way make sure to try to the chicken bacon ranch pizza We love the creamy spinach pizza too, when we’re in the mood for a white pie Open daily, am p m $–$$ L D

GARBO’S PIZZERIA 2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Suite C101, Springfield, 417883-9010, garbospizzeria.com f you love a loaded St Louis style pizza, try the toppings packed Grandiose Or try the Bavarian pizza for something a little differ ent it is topped with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut Customers are big fans of the Garbo’s house salad Open Wed , Thu , Sun am p m Fri Sat a m p m $–$$ L D M

MASO PIZZA BAR 3653 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-720-1047 Maso Pizza Bar is owned by icola Gilardi and located ust a few door down from his other restaurant, icola’s Ristorante And ust like at icola’s, everything on the menu is delish We can’t wait to try options like the ic Rise and Shine, talian Stallion and vegetarian friend ly Monica Healthy pies The menu also spans salads, panini, pasta, soups and more Open Mon Sat , p m close $$ D WIFI

PAPPO’S PIZZERIA 221 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-866-1111; 900 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-306-9091; pappospizzeria.com. Try the spicy chicken Cholula pie topped with a mixture of red sauce and olive oil, grilled chicken marinated in Cholula sauce, garlic, mozzarella cheese, red onions, cilantro Also, be sure you try the meatballs We really like the salads here as well Open Mon Wed , am p m Thu Sat , am am Sun , a m p m $–$$ L D

THE PITCH PIZZA & PUB 2924 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-368-0277. With a menu full of pizza, pastas, salads, sandwiches and pub fare and a killer beer selection, there’s something to please everyone We love to build our own pizza with alfredo sauce and a ton of mushrooms Try the carrot cake for dessert Restaurant open Mon Sat , am p m Sun , a m p m pub open later $ $ L D M WIFI K

PIZZA HOUSE 312 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-881-4073. This restaurant has been a tradition in Springfield for more than years, and the pizza they serve is super thin and cut into super tiny pieces t’s a classic that’s not to be missed and is a favorite of lifelong locals Our fa vorite thing there any pizza that includes bacon Open Tue Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am pm $ L D WIFI

ROCCO’S PIZZA & SUBS Multiple 417-land locations; roccospizzaandsubs.com.

This talian eatery specializes in ew ork style pizza that has anybody who’s been to the east coast swoon ing t’s legit Also on the menu are hot subs, like meat ball or eggplant Parmesan, plus salads, calzones and a handful of pasta entrees $–$$ L D

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BARS

BRICKTOWN BREWERY 2040 E. Independence St., 417-887-0100. This brew pub has its own beer plus local beer that can be hard to find elsewhere Here the menu is vast and the food is tasty We en oyed the burgers, and the apps menu included some super tasty options This spot is also known for its cauliflower pizza crust that is super del ish and perfect for anybody trying to avoid wheat f you want to watch a game, there are tons of T s Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri , a m midnight Sun , am p m $$ WIFI L D

THE CELLAR 507 W. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-351-2824, thecellar. springfieldbrewingco.com Created by the team behind Springfield Brewing Company and located ust around the corner from it , The Cellar is a casual set ting for small bites and creative cocktails Munch on popcorn garnished with fresh Parmesan and house made portobello erky while you sip on a craft cocktail and en oy a rotation of live music Open Weds Sun pm $D

CELLAR+PLATE 2916 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, 417-368-1739, cellarandplate.wine. At Cellar Plate you can get excep tional wine and tasty food in a comfortable and invit ing atmosphere Customers love the steak medallions and the seafood ravioli on’t miss the Cellar Board with meats, cheeses and fruits And as you can prob ably guess from the name, Cellar Plate has a great wine menu Open Tues Weds p m , Thurs Sat p m $$ D

CLEAR LOUNGE At Hilton Branson Convention Center, 200 E. Main St., Branson, 417-243-3433. Just across the street from Branson Landing at the Hilton Branson Convention Center is Clear Lounge, a great place to grab a cock tail with friends This spot is home to tasty food, good music and fun drinks Hours vary open p m at press time D

GALLOWAY STATION 1281 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-881-9730.

We love the Ra un Ca un burger it’s big, hearty and always delicious Plus, we can’t get enough of the fries and freshly made potato chip Order them with a side of the spicy ranch dressing for dipping The chicken wraps are another longtime customer favorite at Galloway Station, and there’s a reason for it t’s a clas sic itchen open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am pm $ LD K

HARRY’S COCKTAIL LOUNGE & BAR at Big Cedar Lodge, 612 Devil’s Pool Road, Ridgedale, 417-339-5200, bigcedar.com/dining. This chic cock tail spot is located downstairs at the Worman House on the Big Cedar Lodge property t’s a great place to stop by for a drink they have excellent cocktails and a great wine and whiskey selection , and they also offer a rotating menu of small plates and appetizers Tuesday Thursday p m , Friday and Saturday p m $–$$ L D K

THE GOLDEN GIRL RUM CLUB 137 Park Central Square, Springfield, 417-425-5162, thegoldengirl.com. This rum bar on the southwest cor

DINING GUIDE ner of Park Central S uare with a great people watch ing patio space serves up handcrafted cocktails and a made from scratch, eclectic, internationally inspired menu Try the Thai sticky wings for an unusual twist on a bar staple Our favorite drink Mr Guava Lava, which is both fruity and spicy Open Tue Sat , p m a m $ L D WIFI

bar food up several notches with items like the pork rillette tartine Make sure you try something from the super fresh raw bar The pickled shrimp and scallop ceviche are two of our faves Open Tues Weds p m midnight, Thurs Sat p m a m $$

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318 W. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-868-8900, lindbergsbar.com. Forget about basic bar food This storied watering hole goes above and beyond with creative takes on hearty comfort food classics The burgers are delicious, but honestly everything we’ve tried has been impressive Open Tue Sat , am am Sun , p m midnight $ L D M WIFI V

JIMM’S STEAKHOUSE, please see listing p. 107

THE ROYAL

LEVEL 2 STEAKHOUSE, please see listing p. 107

1427 E. Cherry St., Suite B, Springfield, 417-351-3029, theroyalmusichall.com. This tiny and beautiful spot serves well crafted cocktails, bottled cocktails and finger foods like warm olives or rosemary and bitters glazed nuts Be sure to visit when there is live music the intimate setting makes for a great experience Open Tues Thurs p m Fri Sat p m midnight $

SPRINGFIELD BREWING COMPANY 305 S. Market Ave., Springfield, 417-832-8277, springfieldbrewingco.com. Try the fish and chips paired with the beers that are brewed on site Also delicious are the burgers and the mac and cheese Live music Tue Sun kitchen open Sun , a m p m Mon Fri , am p m Sat , a m p m bar close daily at p m $$ B L D WIFI K M V

SWEET BOY’S NEIGHBORHOOD BAR 310 South Ave., Springfield, 417-719-4224, sweetboysbar.com. Come for pinball, a laid back atmosphere and a small but very well done cocktail list For something more like dessert, try the HellBoy, a frozen rish coffee with a Fat Boy’s ice cream sandwich Open Weds Sat p m close Sun noon close $

VINO CELLARS WINE SHOP & LOUNGE 2137 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-773-1985; 15038 Business Highway 13, Branson West, 417773-1985, vcellars.com. Small plates, snacks and tapas make up the menu at this comfortable spot Springfield open Mon Thu , am p m or later Fri Sat , am p m or later Branson West open Tue Thu , am p m or later Fri Sat , am p m or later $ L D WIFI

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CRABBY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL, please see listing p. 106

VANTAGE ROOFTOP LOUNGE & CONSERVATORY 260 E. McDaniel St., Springfield, 417-851-1768; rooftopvantage.com. This rooftop bar at Hotel andivort has a breathtaking view of downtown Springfield and even offers dining igloos in the winter so you can en oy the scene all year long The cocktails are re freshingly creative and classically well done, and the menu of shareables and snacks bring the concept of

CHAR STEAKHOUSE & OYSTER BAR, please see listing p. 106

FLAME STEAKHOUSE, please see listing p. 106

RED OAK STEAKHOUSE Downstream Casino Resort, 69300 E. Nee Road, Quapaw, Oklahoma, 1-888-396-7876, downstreamcasino.com. ry aged prime steaks are served in this restaurant’s fine dining atmosphere The sides are delicious too, with options like garlic potato puree and tru e creamed corn Be sure to try the charcuterie board with all the usual goodies plus some house made am Open Sun Thu , p m Fri Sat , p m $$ D ☎

WILDER’S STEAKHOUSE 1216 S. Main St., Joplin, 417-623-7230, wilderssteakhouse.com Come to Joplin’s Wilder’s Steakhouse to find steaks in all sizes and varieties, all of which are certified black Angus beef and free of hormones and antibiotics The restaurant’s menu also has a variety of other items like seafood and chicken Open Mon Thu , p m Fri Sat , p m $$$ D ☎

T A ROOMS

BETH’S BAKE SHOPPE & TEA ROOM 1645-D W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-866-5533, bethsbakeshoppe.com. Try a chicken salad sandwich served on cinnamon raisin bread And we love the spinach salad served with warm bacon vinaigrette, and the gigantic couscous salad loaded with fresh veggies and Feta Tea room is open Mon Sat , a m p m bakery open am pm $L KM

MS. GILMORE’S TEA ROOM AND VINTAGE SUITCASE 211 E. Commercial St., Springfield, 417-886-7000, robinsvintagesuitcase.com. The daily specials and desserts are the star of this tearoom and pastry shop on Commercial Street There is always a uiche and soup of the day, plus great desserts Open Mon Fri , am p m Sat , am p m Bakery is open Mon Fri , am p m Sat , am pm $ L WIFI M

SPRING CREEK TEA ROOM 107 S. Third St., Ozark, 417-582-1331. The homemade desserts are to die for Be sure to order them uickly before they run out like you might want to order them before you order entrees on’t miss the veggie sandwich, the strawberry soup or the chicken salad Open Tue Sat , am pm $ L K

THAI

RAMA THAI CAFÉ 1129 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-865-3204. This restaurant, located inside a charming old house on Historic Walnut Street, features a menu full of deli cious Thai tastes in a cozy atmosphere with a shady patio out back Start your meal with the avocado spring rolls Open Mon Thu , am pm, p m Fri Sat , am pm, p m Sun , noon pm, p m $–$$ L D K

THAI EXPRESS 2113 W. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-865-0101, 417thaiexpress.com. When you visit this friendly spot, don’t miss the Magic oodle, mango curry chicken and volcano shrimp dishes They are all tasty The green curry is delicious, with a sauce so divine you might ust want to drink it Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri , a m p m Sat , am pm $L D

THAILAND STATION 1730 E. Republic Road, Springfield, 417-350-1001, thailandstation.net. Find all your favorites a variety of curries, stir fried noodle dishes and soups plus some surprises like crispy duck and stir fried pork belly We’re super excited about the salad options, like the som tum papaya salad and the laab ground chicken salad When it’s in season, order the mango sticky rice dessert Open Mon Sat , am pm $L D

TONG’S THAI RESTAURANT 3454 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-889-5280. This spot serves up a menu packed with tasty Thai flavors, and the sarn lettuce wraps are a longtime customer favorite The fried basa with your choice of one of Tong’s yummy sauces is another fan fave we like to order it topped with basil sauce Full bar Open Mon Fri , am p m Mon Sat , p m $–$$ L D WIFI ☎

THE WHEELHOUSE 1845 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-430-0400, wheelhousefood.com. The pineapple fried rice is a fan favor ite at this Thai Mexican fusion spot, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu We always go for the kimchi falafel tacos Open Mon Thu , a m p m Fri Sat , a m p m Sun, a m p m $BLD V

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BAMBU 1338 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield, 417-881-9881.

The pho is a specialty here ou can add spice, herbs, alape os and sprouts to customize it Our favorite se all of the herbs, a couple of alape os and a s uirt of Sriracha Open Mon Thu , am p m Fri Sat , am p m Sun , am p m $ L D WIFI K☎

PHO KIM 3433-C S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-883-9999, phokimspringfield.com. Here you can fill up on ietnamese staples like pho, spring rolls, a variety of bahn mi sandwiches and more The chicken fried rice is extra crispy, and the chicken pho is ust as tasty as the classic beef variety here Open Mon and Wed Sat , am p m Sun , am pm $ L D WIFI MAG COM

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PROMOTION

Giving back to the community is one of 417 Magazine’s highest priorities, and each month we support local non-profit organizations that keep 417-land thriving. These organizations and events contribute to the betterment of 417-land. 417 Magazine is proud to support these events hosted by charities and organizations that create TIMES for a CAUSE.

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PROMOTION

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PROMOTION PROMOTION

FULL GTGC Springfield Catholic Schools is excited to celebrate the 30th Annual Emerald Evening! Join us on Saturday, February 24th, at the Oasis Convention Center, as we celebrate this special milestone.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit bidpal.net/EE30

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[ PEOPLE PICS ]

NIGHT OF CARING The Doula Foundation’s Night of Caring raised awareness and funds for their cause by hosting an evening full of food, drinks, live music and activities.

All of the funds raised at this event went toward their mission of supporting local mothers and their families by offering pregnancy support programs and trained community-based doulas.

Amber Vanderwal, Meaghan Green

Trent & Allison Jackson, Caitlin & Weston Kissee

Cheyann & Bryan Horton

Brittany & Seth Carpenter

Brittany Lewis, Shelbi McCoy

Susan Hedgpeth, Dora Adams, Tammy Storer

Kailey Coiner, Stacey Coiner, Cindy Bussen, Mindy Hesterly, Alivia Sutton, Alice Harmon, Becky Mathis

Justin & Elizabeth Hurst

Date September 22 Benefiting Organization The Doula Foundation

Sponsors 417 Magazine, 4 By 4 Brewing Company, All Saints Anglican Church, Andy B’s, Arvest Bank, Associated Electric Cooperative, Bambino’s Cafe, Bass Pro Shops, Big Shots Golf, Big Slice, Big Whiskey’s, Black Lab Coffee Co, BluCurrent Credit Union, Breakthru Beverage, Buff City Soap, Burrell Behavioral Health, Butterfly Palace, Chelsea Sowder Interior Design, CJW Transportation Consultants, CoxHealth, Dickerson Park Zoo, Donelan Law, Dr. Kienstra, Dr. Patricia Dix, Environmental Works, Inc., First Watch, Forvis – Scott and Dana Gold, Gearhead Outfitters, Great Southern Bank, Heart of America Beverage, Hollywood Wax Museum, Jeff and Lisa Allen, Justin and Elizabeth Hurst, KPM CPAs and Advisors, Largent Printing, Linda’s Flowers, Mark McQueary, Mercy, Mr. Steam Carpet Cleaning LLC, Nelson Creative Co. 417, Nixa Lawn Service, Oasis Hotel and Fire and Ice Restaurant, Onyx Coffee Lab, Paper Moons, Phat Tire Bike Shop, Phil and Katie Caudle, Pleasant Valley Church, Salt and Light Pilates, Sight and Sound Theaters, Soap Refill Station, Southwest Audio Visual, Staxx, Success Naturally-Loa Freeman, The Assistant 417, Weston and Caitlin Kissee 124

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Photos by by Mariya Serykh

Location Judy Thompson at Drury University

[ PEOPLE PICS ]

JOSH GRACIN AT AETOS Cayman Ott, Macy Ballard, Mason Kindell, Olivia Carlin, Natalie Lewallen, Elliot Goodall, Lake Garrett

Chase Collard, Chris Nero

Country singer and past American Idol contestant Josh Gracin performed at the Aetos Center For The Performing Arts in Nixa. This night of live music raised awareness for the Nixa Education Foundation, an organization focused on enhancing Nixa Public School District’s education experience.

Date September 23 Benefiting Organization Nixa Education Foundation

Kennedy Thompson, Kristyn Thompson

Amanda & Caleb Stoll

Location Aetos Center for Performing Arts

Photos by Ryan Kowalski

Attire Casual

Chelsea & Michael Marrocco

Josh Gracin

Regina Roberts, Emily Kargel, Molly Roberts, Brendi Kargel

Sarah & Aaron Garrison 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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[ PEOPLE PICS ]

99X: SEASIDE DREAMS The Springfield Art Museum’s annual 99 Times fundraising event had a beach theme this year inspired by artist Will Barnet’s beachscapes. The event provided guests with food, drinks, entertainment and a unique interactive art experience, all to raise funds for the museum’s programs and art preservation efforts.

Angie & Brandon Adamick

Christy McNeely, Alia Lee, Ryan Mattix, Rodney Ayres

Jennifer Wilson, Jessie Tindall, Stephanie Shadwick

Ben Kweskin, Kaitlyn Schumacher

Jens Hager, Jamie Morris, Kari Kleinsmith, Rick Atwell

Kristin & Brian Riedy

Kristin Gearhart, Michael Scharpf

Lynn & Betty Carlton, Deanna & John Ford

Date September 30, 2023 Benefiting Organization Springfield Art Museum Location Springfield Art Museum

Sponsors 417 Magazine, Albert and Alia Lee, All True Studio, Amber and Bryan Musgrave, Betty and Lyn Carlton, BNIM, Celebrate Springfield, Central Bank, Family of Pamela Morrissey, Forvis, Great Southern Bank, Hotel Vandivort, JE Dunn Construction, John and Sonya Wise, Johnny and Jeanie Morris, KY3, LeJeune and Associates, Mattax Neu Prater Eye Center, Mid-Missouri Bank, Missouri State University Department of Art and Design, Mostly Serious, Nesbitt Construction and Andrea Nesbitt Designs, Paint WRX LLC, Sally and Rob Baird, Sarah and Matthew Kerner, Scott Whiteley Carter, Southwest Missouri Museum Associates, Tal and Rosalie O’Reilly Wooten Family Foundation, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Wallace Rae Salon

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Photos by Ryan Kowalski

Attire Creative cocktail attire

[ PEOPLE PICS ]

SPS HALL OF FAME Cody & Allison Cash

Cyndi Driver, Larry Lee, Cathy Wells, Don Landon, Patty Merritt

Jeremey Brown, Lucas Clem

Jim & Sam Marshal, Sydney Cash

Five new inductees of the Springfield Public Schools Hall of Fame were honored during the 2023 luncheon. The honorees were chosen due to their success in their field or other achievements. This year’s inductees included author and philanthropist David L. Harrison, awardwinning journalist Daniel E. Arnall and founding members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils Steve Cash, Randle Chowning and Larry Lee. Date October 5 Benefiting Organization Springfield Public Schools Attire Business casual

Photos by Kristin Knapton

Sponsors 417 Magazine, ADsmith Marketing & Advertising, Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, KY3, Mattax Neu Prater Eye Center, Ozarks Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Bottling Company, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Marie Muhvic, Melanie Earl-Replogle

Spencer Ernst, Hailey Lopez, Stan Bess

Tina Pham, David Harrison, Matt Hudson

Linda Arnall, Daniel Arnall, Gary Arnall 417MAG.COM • 417 MAGAZINE

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YOUR BEST SHOT

Home Sweet Home PHOTO BY JARED WATSON | @JARED_W_ATSON Photographer Jared Watson snapped this beautiful blue-sky image on his family’s land near Mountain Grove.

“I chose to capture this photo because I loved the texture and feeling of it,” Watson says. “The image has a cool dreamy feeling to it, which is how this winter has been for me.”

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Same

Family,

Same

Trust.

Providing Service You Can Trust Since 1980.

Book online at ricksautomotive.com 417-887-2225 | 2121 S. Campbell Ave. One block south of Bass Pro Shops