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Question of the day: 2023 Golden Horseshoe Awards
Thursday, Nov 30, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Yes, it’s that time of year again, when we single out the best of the best of the Statehouse world. We generally start with the best “session” restaurants and taverns, but the area we used to call “The Sandbox” just doesn’t dominate after-hours congregating like it did pre-pandemic. Places have closed (including my formerly favorite hangout) and out-of-towners are living further away from downtown. Also, people just don’t drink alcohol like they once did. These days, you can run into Statehouse types almost anywhere after session. Heck, I met up with some folks at Island Bay Yacht Club during veto session - and that’s about as far away from 2nd and Capitol as you can get. But some of the old school hangouts are still going strong. It was tough getting a table at Maldaner’s and Saputo’s during veto, for example. So, the award titles have been slightly changed to reflect reality…
* Best place to gather for drinks, etc. during session weeks Our rules haven’t changed, however. Submissions with no explanations will not count. Please justify your votes by telling us why your faves should win. Also, please do your very best to nominate in both categories. Enjoy! * Also, if you haven’t yet contributed or can afford to kick in a few more bucks, click here and help Lutheran Social Services buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Thanks!
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- Annon'in - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 11:40 am:
Dinner remains Alexanders — good food, space to talk.
Drinks and dinner is Motorheads — less out of the way than Island Bay, but still outside the zone.
- New Day - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 12:10 pm:
Dinner: Tie between Vele and Cooper’s Hawk
Drinks: Celtic Mist (with the decline and shrinking hours of The Globe, Celtic Mist has taken its place
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 12:13 pm:
Explain or your votes are meaningless.
- Osborne Smith III - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 12:22 pm:
Dinner - Maldaner’s. Unique menu, albeit pricey to do often.
Drinks - Boones, especially on a night warm enough to be outside. Good atmosphere and a Springfield tradition in the bar scene.
- Chicago Voter - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 12:26 pm:
For drinks, Boone’s in warm weather. It’s great to be in the beer garden after a long day inside the Capital.
After the sun goes down, Saputo’s. It has taken over for the Globe as the place to see everyone before, after dinner and just hanging at the bar.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 12:54 pm:
Dinner - Obeds and Issac’s, good food, outside seating much of the year.
Drinks - Celtic Mist, good beer selection, during session gets non-lobsters in town to “testitfy / lobby” … ChicagoLand Fire Fighters love the place.
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 1:00 pm:
Drinks: Boones — its close, a ton of people are always there, its cheap, and the outdoor beer garden is perfect when it is nice out.
Dinner: Vele — it is the best food in town, and has become one of the go-to places, which allows you to have a pretty darn good dinner AND see people.
- N - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 1:04 pm:
Chesapeake Seafood House- Best place for Marty’s Parties and delicious food
JP Kelly’s- Good drinks/ Great place to gather and chat with others (Close to Capital)
- Franklin - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 1:10 pm:
Joseph’s has great food. You go to Vele or Saputos to be seen at dinner. You go to a place like Joseph’s to have an excellent meal with your chosen dinner guests.
DH Brown’s is still the best place to get a drink and rub elbows with actual movers and shakers. You don’t go there to get noticed, you go there because everyone already knows who you are. Some will complain that the Brown’s isn’t open. That’s not true and you know it if you are truly an insider.
- M - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 1:38 pm:
Drinks: JP Kelly’s. Good atmosphere, great staff and quickly replacing Boone’s as the place to go after a session day.
Dinner: Indigo. Indigo by far has some of the best food in town. It’s not downtown but it’s well worth the drive for the food, quiet atmosphere and the wait staff.
- sasha fierce - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 1:41 pm:
Dinner: Curate, great new place, good cocktails, small plates and the wait staff and hosts are always pleasant
Drinks: not much a drinker so I will shift to the coffeeshop Custom Cup is great in the am.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 2:19 pm:
Dinner: Luminary Kitchen & Provisions. Exemplary menu, fun drinks and an incredibly accommodating staff and ownership.
Drinks: Boone’s. On a warm night after session you walk across the street and escape with everyone else.
- Dan Johnson - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 2:34 pm:
Dinner: showing a little love to a brand new place called Twisted Fork in St. Nick’s just across from the Amtrak station I went there during veto session and it was really good. I think it would be good if people knew about it and made sure it makes it through.
Drinks: I do like Maldaners. The history is unbeatable.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 2:38 pm:
===The history is unbeatable===
I never quite understood the flamingo display in the northwest corner of the dining area. One night, I asked Chef Mike and he told me it’s because Abe Lincoln liked flamingos. So, there you go.
- Lurker - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 2:48 pm:
The best for dinner, and possibly drinks too, is Engrained. It is large enough you can get out of the way or you can sit in the front main room if you want to be seen. And the food is good farm to table that is authentically Illinois/Springfield. And lastly, with a nice owner and great staff, it’s worth the drive to the south corner of town.
As for drinks, if engrained was not your choice, I’d say Anvil and Forge, especially if a nice day and you can sit outside. They have the best brewery in Springfield and can make some other drinks if desired. Plus the apps are unique but good.
- CommentsByStaff - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 3:32 pm:
Dinner: Vele - The food is always incredible and the service is great (friendly & knowledgeable wait staff)
Drinks: Celtic Mist - It’s helpful that it’s across the street from the DoubleTree and the Wyndham, but ending up here after work is always a fun time. It’s a good mix of statehouse people and locals.
- Out of Towner - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 3:52 pm:
Dinner: Little Saigon. I really enjoy Vietnamese and Thai food, and this has been the place I’ve gone to when I lived in Springfield and now when I come down for session. The atmosphere is enjoyable, and the menu has something for mostly everyone to enjoy.
Drinks: Boones. I know it has gone through different owners over the years, but I have really fond memories of this place. My favorite part is the outdoor patio in the fall and how close it is to the capitol. Though, I am sad that they no longer sell the dynamite stick (i.e., oversized mozzarella sticks).
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 3:53 pm:
I like my picks but Lurker isn’t wrong.
- Tony T. - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 4:06 pm:
Good points about the decline of “The Sandbox” — part and parcel of the overall decline of downtown Springfield. I think one of the reasons people drink less is because we’re driving to dinner every night. Twenty years ago I never got in a car while in Springfield — always walked between the capitol, apartment, dinner, drinks.
My picks:
Dinner: Gotta stick with Maldaner’s. Never had a bad meal there. The traditional feel combined with its status as one of last of the downtown hold-outs, give the place a nostalgic old-school vibe.
Drinks: Celtic Mist. Good beer selection and I love that they’ve never had a television in the joint — just like an authentic Irish pub. Patrons are induced to socialize.
- Proud Sucker - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 4:20 pm:
Dinner: Saputo’s - I love Italian food.
Drinks: I was already going to say Celtic Mist but I couldn’t think of a good hook for it. Tony T. nailed it - no TVs.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 4:31 pm:
Dinner - Magic Kitchen. Best Thai food in town, and the best crab rangoon.
Drinks - echoing sasha, but Hae’s is my go-to. The coffee is great, their bakery options are amazing, and I haven’t had a bad Lotus, nor have I had the same one twice.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 7:01 pm:
Illini Country Club - it’s become the place to go for private meetings, dinners, and drinks. Quiet, not too far away. Every session night you’ll see a cornucopia of power players.
Drinks: Custom Cup in the morning.
- Space Cowboy - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 8:45 pm:
Food:
Mayflor, where Augie’s used to be. The food and service is quality. House salsa is among the best I’ve had. While it’s still newer, there was an intriguing enough crowd every time I went there. I hope it is here to stay.
Drinks:
JP Kelly’s has grown on me. Very good and friendly servers these days, always run into great people to talk to there. I used to default to Boone’s and it’s still a good establishment; I just don’t feel like it has a good as a vibe as it used to as far a session bar. Just based my overall experience there this last session. I don’t begrudge anyone who still considers it their go-to.
- Sangamon Watches - Thursday, Nov 30, 23 @ 11:26 pm:
Dinner - Saputo’s. It’s a place to be seen while having a decent meal.
Drinks - JP Kelly’s. Great atmosphere. Cozy. And it has always felt more egalitarian and accessible than some of the other popular session spots. You’re just as likely to see younger legislative staff enjoying themselves there as you are high-powered lobbyists and legislators. It’s always a good, diverse mix. The bartenders are fantastic too.
- Boomerang - Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 10:45 am:
Dinner: I’ll go with Joseph’s for the best food available in Springfield, with Mimosa being the best Asian.
Drinks: Boone’s for the best session type bar, although since I’m into bourbon, West Woods has the most complete bourbon selection in town.
- Red Line Rambler - Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 10:49 am:
Dinner- MaryFlor. (Where Augie’s used to be) The gentleman that serves tables is always hauling around keeping the place running! Works his tail off and serves great food.
Drinks- JP Kelly’s. Best bar in SPI, hands down.