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Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards

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Illinois

* I planned to start this yesterday and then forgot. Oops. Our first two categories…

* Best Statehouse-area bartender

* Best Statehouse-area waiter/waitress

As always, keep in mind that this is about the intensity of the nominations, not the number of the nominations, so make sure to fully explain your votes. And, please, do your best to nominate in both categories. When lots of people focus on just one award, I figure it’s an organized conspiracy and discount those votes.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 1:57 pm

Comments

Marcie at Boone’s. She has to put up with legislative staff every Thursday for happy hour!Simple as that.

Comment by Crook County Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:06 pm
The best area statehouse waiter/helper is Bob over at the Sangamo Club. The man knows everyone, is always pleasant and helpful. Bob O’Brien has my vote.

Comment by Tom Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:11 pm
Maybe you should start a category for Pastors for the folks who don’t find as much intimacy with bartenders. lol

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:13 pm
I can’t say enough good things about Darcy at Obed & Issacs. Friendly, funny, and always keeping an eye on your table for a drink — especially on wine-down Wednesdays. Best bar waitress I’ve ever experienced.

Comment by ILPundit Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:19 pm
Both categories, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:26 pm
* Best Statehouse-area bartender: Dennis at the Sangamo Club. You can’t get better than him.

Best Statehouse-area waiter/waitress: Sarah Brillhart at Augies. She is by far the best waitress in Springfield. She has an eye for detail and makes such a great impression, you will always ask if she is working tonight.

Comment by realkewlio Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 2:47 pm
bartender- Marcie and Travis at Boone’s for sure. They never crack under the pressure of all the broke young staffers flooding the place for Thursday Happy Hour.

Waiter- As one of those aforementioned broke staffers… I do not frequent any restaurants enough to know them by name.

Comment by Diddy Bop Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 3:13 pm
Always hate to vote because it could cause the really good places to get too crowded. But hard to top Missy and Missy at Gabs.
If Mr. Strict Judge demands 2 candidates let go with Missy at Gabs for waitress and Alisha at the Butternut Hut for bartender

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 3:26 pm
I’m not a member of the Sangamo, so i can’t vouch for any of those nominees. I can say, though, that reading some makes me want to join the club.

I don’t frequent enough places to have had the same server more than once, and I’ve never ever had a problem with the service anywhere in Springfield. I know Rich wants us to vote in both, but I’m not qualified in this category.

As for bartender though, I thought this was settled. Didn’t Kathleen at the Globe retire the Golden Horseshoe Bartender Award? She’s won it how many times? She’s the Wordslinger of Bartenders.

As you can tell from the first part of my comment, i don’t spend too much time in Springfield. Nevertheless, Kathleen always, always remembers me and remembers my drink at the Globe. Three things you can count on during session: a long boring drive to get to Springfield, impossibly long days standing on ridiculously hard floors at the Capitol, and Kathleen presiding over the longest happy hour ever at the Globe.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 3:42 pm
Bartender: I don’t get around much anymore, so I don’t know names, but the staff at J.P. Kellys always takes good care of me.

Waitresses: A little off the beaten path, but Beth and Rhonda at DJ’s Café at breakfast-time are the best. Always call me “Hon” and have the coffee flowing.

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 4:40 pm
Marcie at Boone’s, she is the best and puts up with a lot! Sarah Brillhart at Augie’s, she is kind and attentive.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 4:41 pm
Kate at Obed and Isaac’s is one of my favorite bartenders anywhere. Always ready with a smile, remembers regular drink and food orders, and seems to have a preternatural knack for whether or not one feels like chatting on a given night.

I eat at the bar enough that she could count for both, but in keeping with the rule, I’ll second Sarah at Augie’s as a friendly, efficient, and attentive server.

Comment by LakeviewJ Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 4:56 pm
You can’t find a better bartender than Kathleen at the Globe. She remembers your name and more importantly your drink. She has a great wit but doesn’t take stuff from anyone. If you are good to her she is good to you. Pretty simple.
For a server her sidekick Taylor at the Globe is the best even though he bartends now also. Another quick wit with a very sarcastic bent. Great team together.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 5:02 pm
‘The Wordslinger of Bartenders’?

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 5:54 pm
Alisha Kulek at Bob’s Butternut Hut
Kate Catalano at Obed’s

Hands down.

Comment by :) Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 6:17 pm
Marcena Fleischli (Marcy) at Boone’s hands down. She can whip up a good cocktail - but more importantly, she can be super fast without taking away from the personable, social experience you want in a good bartender. She is both sassy and sweet and she is hilarious. She gives Thursday session days the perfect nightcap.

Taylor Thompson at Obed n Isaacs is a pretty good choice for best server. She’s a familiar face in the statehouse, and always hospitable. Treats every customer like a close friend.

Comment by Jack Kemp Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 7:05 pm
Bartender: Marcy at Boone’s always keeps my glass full, and she can handle the Happy Hour Rush by herself with ease. The statehouse should really keep her on retainer. Plus she is great conversation. Honestly favorite bartender I have ever had.

Server: Sarah ala Augie’s

Comment by Revolver Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 7:28 pm
Bartender: Without a doubt, Marcy at Boone’s for the best bartender. She remembers your drink the minute you walk in the door and always greets you with her big smile. Not only does she do her job and do it really well, but she is so personable. She’s smart, fast, witty and charming. When you start talking to her, she makes you feel so comfortable and that you’ve known her for years. You really can’t ask for much more than that.

Server: none that I can think of

Comment by Nameless Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 9:36 pm
little Teri at Boones is always pleasant a makes a good drink. Bob at the Sangamo is the best around for making you feel welcome and attentive to your table.

Comment by theCardinal Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:59 pm