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Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards

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Illinois

* Yesterday’s voting was very light, so please click here and register your choices because I don’t have quite enough responses to declare a winner. Those two particular categories (bartender and wait staff) have been dropping off over the past couple years, so maybe this will be the last year if we don’t see more voting.

Our next category…

* Best political bar in Springfield

* Best political restaurant in Springfield

Please nominate in both categories if you can and don’t forget to explain your vote. This is more about intensity than raw numbers. Thanks!

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:58 pm

Comments

So my idea of a good political bar and restaurant is one where I feel that I can speak freely without being overheard.
Thus I love the
bar at Mimosa (Fountain of Youth cocktail)
the restaurant at Mimosa
Love me some Vietnamese food.
Unlike other spots I don’t feel like I’m going to get in trouble for having a political conversation.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had a friend relay a conversation that they overheard at another table.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:10 pm
Political Bar: JP Kelly’s. I’ve seen some unusual groupingsbat night, every once in a while the Gov and his staff would hold court.
Political Restaurant : it’s brand new, but during the 1st week of veto Nu Vous (sp) had an interesting clientele one evening. Incoming Gov JB’s COS had a table, the illustrious press crew of Sfondeles, Vinickey et al had another full table. Leader Durkin with a full table of close Republican advisers.

Comment by Wow Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:12 pm
Best bar:
The Butternut Hut has friendly, knowledgeable bartenders that usually know what you want before you do. Political types from all persuasions co-mingle, and check their party affiliations at the door. Never disappoints.

Best restaurant: Pao, where you’re nearly always greeted by the owner. It’s off the beaten path, but offers excellent food in a formal setting–or belly up to the bar for appetizers and cocktails. Legislators love the relative anonymity and swanky atmosphere.

Comment by unspun Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:21 pm
Best Political Bar- The last couple of years the bar at Saputo’s has become one of the better spots to hangout for a drink after dinner. You can always find legislators, staff, and lobbyists there and the bartenders do a great job.

Best political restaurant-This is a tougher one because of the two newer restaurants that opened in the sandbox last year. Vele and Loukinens both exceed expectations when you go, and the food is always great. I would pick Loukinens to be the best out of the two because the menu has a little more variety and is more traditional, the drinks are a little better, and the view of the mansion is second to none.

Comment by Les Nessman Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:22 pm
Bar: JP Kelly’s. I recall at one point early in Rauner’s term there were two bottles of Jameson, from Rauner and Cullerton. That’s the kind of crowd it is during session: mixed, but not in a contentious way. As long as you don’t start filming. That’s another good reason it’s my nominee: it produced one of the stranger campaign stories.

Restaurant: I’ve heard the new place in the St Nick is drawing a similar mixed crowd, so I’m going with that. Added bonus of being in the infamous St Nicholas.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:25 pm
Political bar: Sangamo Club. Dennis the bartender is super efficient and welcoming and the clientele is mostly in the know. It’s just a great place to relax, have a glass of something before dinner and chat about the day before everyone goes their separate ways for the rest of the evening.

Best political restaurant: Augies gets it this year for me. Food and service are excellent and you just never know who you will run into.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:26 pm
Best restaurant: Loukinen’s. Their food is very good and interesting.

Best bar. Saputo’s bar.

Comment by view from the cheap seats Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:32 pm
Here’s what I’ve never been sure of, is the Sangamo Club “members only” or can any schmoe off the street go it for a drink?

I usually stay at the Abe when I’m in town so the Globe is a convenient spot for me. And since many legislators either stay there too or have to stop by events being held there, the Globe attracts a good showing. Lobbyists too.

(as an aside, the reason I didn’t vote for Kathleen yesterday is because I didn’t know anyone to nominate in the other category. I wouldn’t miss it if those categories disappeared next year, but FWIW, Kathleen is the Wordslinger of bartenders.)

I will nominate Alexander’s for best political restaurant. I used to love the Alexander’s in Normal back in the day and couldn’t picture myself standing over the grill pit in Springfield until a buddy of mine brought me there and showed me the magic of having them cook the steak for me. While it sort of defeats the point of a “cook-it-yourself” joint that made Alexanders famous, I have a hard time seeing Speaker Madigan cook his own steak.

Although after the public abuse he took last year, I don’t think he’ll be coming back anytime soon.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:33 pm
===I don’t think he’ll be coming back anytime soon===

Saw him there the first week of veto.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:34 pm
===Saw him there the first week of veto.===

Does he cook his own steak?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Political bar: Butternut Hut. Alisha is an excellent bartender. You never know who you’ll run into or who might be playing music. Ownership is top notch.

Political restaurant: Saputos. Great staff, good atmosphere and simple, yet good Italian food.

Comment by So_Ill Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:37 pm
Bar - While I’m fond of JP Kelly’s, it’s hard not to vote for the Globe. You can always count on legislators (yes, Lou, I’m looking at you), staffers and lobbyists populating the place until they close.

Restaurant - Augie’s works for me. It’s not where I like to go, but you can always count on the political crew to be there.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:04 pm
Most of us try to avoid naming really good places to avoid crowds forming…still picking Missy at Gabs…
But just moved to Navoo…opps meant Nu Voh
Servers…whole crew at Magic Kitchen on Lewis

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:18 pm
Political restaurant- Augie’s is really the main place for the legislative dinner crowd. Every night during session your bound to see at least 5-6 legislators having dinner. Lukinens is second, doesn’t have the amount of legislators and lobbyists yet but food is really good and the view of the newly done mansion should look great in Spring.

Best political bar- the Globe always has someone in it. A legislator with an issue willing to talk, a lobbyist looking to hire more folks on their contract, a local elected up for the night getting their Springfield business done.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:30 pm
Saputo’s to both.

Comment by A 400lb. Guy on a bed Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:17 pm
Butternut is still my favorite political bar. Maybe it is the late nights or perhaps the popcorn that does it for me but the place is a no frills bar that many politicals end up at once most of the others close. Runner up Boones - the beer garden is perfect for end of session cold ones and many lobbyists and staffers can be found there at any time of day it seems.

Best restaurant - I like Boones for the reasons listed above but am going to go with Sangamo Club if that counts. Plenty of functions always going on, respectful discourse among attendees and good location. Not sure if that counts as a restaurant but they serve food and plenty of politicos there during session.

Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:37 pm
===Here’s what I’ve never been sure of, is the Sangamo Club “members only” or can any schmoe off the street go it for a drink?===

You have to be a member, but the out-of-town membership rate is super-reasonable, and you get reciprocal benefits at some Chicago clubs that are way swankier and way pricer

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:53 pm
To the question-

Bar: JPK - you get a pretty diverse crowd there for happy hour, and we always got tipped off when the Gov was coming so we could leave.

Restaurant: Still has to be Saputo’s, right? I mean, it ain’t gourmet, but you will be seen.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:55 pm
Political Bar: I like the patio area at Obeds. When political people arrive I like watching how they divide into separate areas/camps. I like to try and get a bocce game and talk smack to get them going. But, it is fun and good too.

Best Restaurant: I like Alexanders for many of the reasons as Obeds was for the bar. And it fun how you see two people grilling a hunk of meat can talk civil to one another no matter how much they disagree.

Comment by I Miss Bentohs Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:16 pm
===You have to be a member===

Or with one.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:19 pm
= Does he cook his own steak? =
No.

Comment by I Miss Bentohs Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:21 pm
Tony and Dennis at Sangamo is always my quite place for the last 40 years. Consistent and a great new Chef. Quiet class and quiet to discuss anything. Especially with my attorney of just under 40 years

Comment by bear3 Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:24 pm
Best Political Bar: JP Kelly’s, of course.

Best Political Restaurant: I’m kinda digging the change by the additions of Loukenkin’s of 4th, Vele and NuVoh.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:30 pm
Like Cynic, I really love Kelly’s, but it’s hard to beat The Globe for overall accessibility to folks on any given night. Plus Kathleen . . . because, well, Kathleen.

If you want to eat and talk I pick Augie’s. Great food, nice atmosphere, and a “How YOU doin’” or two.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 6:42 pm
Augies became the “it” place, followed by Alexanders The food at Augies is superb these days and they have a great wine list.

Comment by Credit Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 8:46 pm