417foodist

08/11/2024

I have made a return trip to Lolli's in Ozark, as I knew I needed to try more items from their fabulous lunch menu!

✨Smoked Salmon Dip: you can get this in a small, medium, or large. Since it was just me, I ordered the small, and let me tell you, they packed that cup full! Served with saltine crackers, the dip is creamy, and has that perfect smoked salmon flavor in each bite. This is a must try for salmon lovers!

✨Loaded Baked Potato: I love a good loaded spud, and Lolli’s understands how to load ‘em up! I’m taking butter, their Kelly Beans, bacon, shredded cheese, sour cream, slaw, and your choice of meat. I went with the burnt ends, which are tender, juicy, straight up delicious!

If you haven’t been yet, and are looking for a great bbq spot in downtown Ozark, look no further. The staff are always friendly, they run specials each day, plus they have a case filled with awesome desserts!
📍206 N 1st St., Ozark

08/11/2024

Cashew Confidential was super fun to record! Can’t wait for y’all to see my episode!

07/11/2024

Oh how it’s been too long since I have had Zayka Indian Cuisine in Downtown Springfield! I love Indian food, and trying as many new things from the menu as I can. But sometimes, just a classic lamb curry with naan is what the soul needs!

✨Lamb Curry: the bowl is filled with a spiced gravy and large tender cubes of lamb. The dish itself has just a bit of heat to it, it’s very rich, and pairs perfectly with a spoon full of rice, all tucked into a piece of naan!

✨Butter Chicken: tandoori chicken that is cooked with onions, tomatoes, and butter. All packed into a sweet and tangy cream sauce. The tandoori chicken that is in the cream sauce, has a smoky, slightly spicy flavor.

I am always so overwhelmed when I visit Zayka, due to having so many delicious options to choose from! I need more people to join me so that we can order more food! What is your favorite dish when visiting Zayka?
📍313 S Jefferson Ave., Springfield

05/11/2024

Let me be your guide to eating A-Z in good ol SGF!

There is no better way to brush up on the alphabet than explore some of the great dining spots in the Springfield-area from A to Z! Whether you are craving sushi, pizza or something more unique, this guide will help you find your next meal based on the alphabet!

05/11/2024

I’m going to let yall in on a little secret. Up until last week, I had never been to the MudLounge Coffee & Cocktails, but that has all changed now!

I have been told many times that I needed to go and check out the fondue. So while shooting some content with I Love Springfield, MO! We stopped in and ordered some fondue!

✨Stout & Cheddar Fondue: served with a variety of fresh veggies, tortilla chips, and toasted baguette. Just like the menu states, this fondue is rich, smoky, peppery, and of course creamy! We had everything from broccoli, tomatoes, olives, and carrots. All of which dip perfectly into that melty bowl of delicious cheese!

We all know that cheese elevates all food, but who knew that I was missing out on some great fondue?! I can’t wait to try the other fondue that they offer, as well as the rest of the menu! So, do you fondue?
📍321 E Walnut St., Springfield

03/11/2024

Beef, it’s what’s for dinner. It had been forever since I have had dinner at Avanzare Italian Dining , but when that has been rectified!

✨The Bistecca Rosemarino: A Ribeye, hand-cut by Chef Tony, topped with a white wine and gorgonzola cheese sauce. Served with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. I love Gorgonzola on a steak, even more than any type of steak sauce, seafood, etc garnish!

The ribeye was juicy, tender, seasoned well, just all around a great cut of beef! Plus with the buttery mashed potatoes, and al dente veggies, makes this a great meal for $46 as I had leftovers for another meal!
📍3240 S Fremont St., Springfield

02/11/2024

It’s Wingapalooza day folks! Come out and try TONS of wings, live music, beverages, and an all around good time!

01/11/2024

Welcome to Friday my food loving friends! May I present to you, a meal that pushed the limits of the Togo container that it was in. A meal that I was able to turn into multiple meals because there was so much food. Yes, I am talking about the food truck named, The.Hibachi.Experience!

The Hibachi Experince is offering a pretty straight forward menu. Choose between steak, chicken, shrimp, or all three proteins. Choose which sides you want, from rice, noodles, and veggies, or all three! Then you can add a ball of butter or a fried egg on top, as well as choose your sauces. Yum yum, chipotle (spicy yum yum), and teriyaki.

I chose to go all out, and ordered all meats, all sides, a fried egg, and all of the sauces, and this was an EPIC meal! Breaking that egg yoke on top, with drizzles of the chipotle sauce and teriyaki for a sweet and spicy delight. Tender steak and chicken, perfectly cooked shrimp, and well seasoned rice, and veggies.

Watch their social media page to see where they will pop up next, and plan accordingly, because you’re going to want to check them out!

31/10/2024

Welcome to your new lunch spot! The Royal is officially open for lunch, Tuesday-Saturday, 11am to 2pm! We stopped by and tried a few items from the new menu, while enjoying the beautiful weather out on their patio!

✨Brie, Honey, Pistachio: Baked Brie topped with Honey and crumbled Pistachios served with Herb de Provence Toast Points. Brie is already a very rich in flavor cheese to me, so adding a drizzle of honey, and the crunchy pistachios on top, made for a great starter to this lunch!

✨Lemon-Parsley Hummus: Classic Hummus topped with Olive Oil, Toasted Pine Nuts, Lemon Zest, Parsley, and Paprika. Served with Herb de Provence Toast Points. Whenever you can get a hummus that looks as good as it taste, it’s a true win. This had citrus, savory, creamy, texture from the pine nuts. It is perfection in a bowl, served with a side of toast points.

✨Jambon Fromage: Ham, Gruyère, Butter, Spring Mix, Shallots. I ordered this delicious sandwich with their side salad and an iced tea! Pro tip, request that they add the raspberry jam to the sandwich! It makes for a perfect, sweet and savory dish!

✨Salade de Thon: French Style Tuna Salad, Spring Mix, Boiled Egg, Shallots. I love a good tuna salad sandwich, and of course this didn’t disappoint! Fresh veggies on top, a light mix of mayo and boiled eggs. 👏🏽

✨Leek and Potato Soup: Leek, Potato, Cream, Spices. It is indeed soup season, and for all you potato soup lovers, this is where you need to be! Creamy potato, with a mild hint of onion from the leeks.
📍1427 E Cherry St. Springfield

28/10/2024

Over the weekend, we gathered all the fam and headed over to check out Crave Mediterranean cafe, Springfields newest restaurant to open its doors!
Located inside the old spot where Hurts Donut was on republic road, Crave Mediterranean Café has a menu filled with just about any Mediterranean dish you could possibly think of!

✨ Mediterranean combination appetizer: Hummus, baba ganoush, three falafel, two stuffed grape leaves, tabouli salad, feta cheese, and kalamata olives. Served with pita bread and house zesty tahini sauce. If you are a dipper and a sampler, you MUST order the combination appetizer! It didn’t last long, as I devoured the dolma pretty quick, and the falafel was gone right afterwards!

✨ Crave combination kabob plate: this dish came with your choice of any two combination kebobs. It was also served with vegetables, herb spiced rice, pita pickles, and tzatziki.

✨ Shawarma dinner plate: your choice of either grilled chicken or beef marinated in our special sauce placed over hot pita, topped with onion parsley and tomato sauce, served with tzatziki. This was a mountain of beef shawarma! The rice mixed with the veggies, and tzatziki sauce, plus the beef was very flavorful and tender!

✨ Falafel Pita: A mix of falafel and hummus stuffed in a pita and topped with tahini sauce. This was a crowd favorite at our table. The falafel is crispy, yet delicate on the inside, plus the hummus and tahini finish it off great!

✨Beef shawarma bowl, and the falafel bowl: you get to choose your protein and it’s on saffron rice, with cooked veggies, balsamic glaze, and your choice of tahini, tzatziki, or garlic sauce. These were popular at the table as well. A great mixture of your choice of protein plus the rice and veggies!

Crave is a great addition to the food scene in the 417, offering such a wide variety of dishes that some may already know and love, and some that are new to us! Please keep in mind that they are relatively new to open, so there will be minor hiccups along the way, so have grace as they welcome customers through their doors!
📍1111 E Republic Rd., Springfield

27/10/2024

Soup & sandwich, that is what we shall call this post. Because this pairing is a must try next time you find yourself over at the 14 Mill Market!

The Gochu Handcrafted Korean BBQ Bowl has a menu that I absolutely love, Leo and his staff know how to create a beautifully plated dish, even when it’s boxed up to go and travels for 10-20 mins!

✨Sticky Pork Belly Burger: Pork belly Gochujang cilantro, jalapeno, carrots, onion, pickles with a hint of lime. I’m a sucker for all things pork belly, and have been eyeballing this sandwich for a while. The crispy, yet fatty pork belly, covered in slightly sweet, little bit spicy, salty, gochujang and then all the fresh veggies on top 👏🏽! If you are a lover of Banh Mi, you gotta check it out!

✨Back Rib Pho Soup: we all know that pho is the ultimate warm you up with great flavors soup. This one was just that, packed with jalapeño, onion, cilantro, sprouts, green onion, Vietnamese rice noodles, and you guessed it, a big ol bone in rib tossed right on! It’s super savory, with a very aromatic broth, fall off the bone rib, and a nice crunch from the fresh veggies.

Bottom line is, if you’re going to order a sandwich, you might as well order the soup! Drive yourself to Nixa, check out their menu, if you haven’t been, and treat yourself to something good!
📍203 E Mt Vernon St., Nixa

25/10/2024

Checking out The.Hibachi.Experience tonight! They are at Nixa Walmart from 4-8pm tonight!

25/10/2024

When you get a hankering for some curry, well you just head over to Thailand Station and indulge on some good food!

✨Mango Curry: Red curry paste with coconut milk, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and mango. I absolutely love mango curry. I switch off between either shrimp or chicken for the protein. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, creamy and heat, with a scoop of rice with each bite. Absolute heaven in a bowl!

✨Panang Curry: Panang curry paste with coconut milk, peas and carrots, bell peppers, broccoli and basil. This is my dads favorite curry, and he orders it spicer than I order mine 😅 . It’s rich, sweet, and of course plenty of heat!

✨ Dumplings: Minced chicken dumplings. Choose between steamed or fried, served with house made ginger vinaigrette. We always start with their steamed dumplings, come out piping hot, and dip perfectly into the ginger sauce!

Whatever it is you order from Thailand Station, it’s always a great meal. Their staff are super friendly, always remember my go to order, and make just all around great food!
📍 1730 E Republic Rd., Springfield

22/10/2024

22/10/2024

It has been entirely too long since I have dined at the food truck SOAL Kitchen, literally since back around January! But when I seen they were set up at 4 By 4 Brewing - Fremont Hills Sunday, I knew what was for lunch!

✨Beef Salad or Tiger Tears: this was a traditional Laotian dish they had for special! Thin shaved beef, with onion, cilantro, and peppers. There is a reason they nicknamed it Tiger Tears, because it brings the HEAT! The beef is super tender, but the flavor is packs a punch! It’s savory, it’s slightly sweet, and super spicy! It is served cold, and you eat it with sticky rice, so👏🏽dang👏🏽good👏🏽!

✨Shrimp Pad Thai: this is a monster portion of the classic Thai dish. Loaded with tail on shrimp, green onions, a squeeze of lime, and of course topped with crushed peanuts. It’s nutty, a little bit sweet, and always a favorite of mine!

✨Crab Rangoons & Eggrolls: the Rangoons are stuffed with cream cheese, imitation crab meat, and green onion. These are a savory Rangoon, and they are packed full of cream cheese! The pork egg rolls are deep fried spring roll shells, and they are over the top crispy! Audible crunch with every bite, and filled with pork, cabbage, glass noodles, and carrots.

✨Shrimp Spring Rolls: Fresh spring rolls filled with shrimp, rice noodles, cilantro, bean sprout, green onions & lettuce. Served with peanut sauce. I love fresh spring rolls, dip each bite into the peanut sauce, and enjoy the mix of veggies and shrimp!

Getting to visit with Nok and to hear about how much their family loves getting to share their creations with people, makes you really appreciate the food they are serving! I encourage you to try some of the more traditional Laos dishes that they offer, they are excellent!
📍2336 S Campbell Ave.-home base, but they do travel so watch their page for location updates.

20/10/2024

Fall Menus are active in the 417! Where are you headed first?

Silver Dollar City
Lindsay’s Kitchen SGF
Finley Farms
SPLIT Social Kitchen
Retro Metro

From seafood and meatloaf to pumpkin spice and fried pickle fries, there is some new fall menu items for everyone to enjoy this fall in Springfield, Missouri!

19/10/2024

When it’s a Friday night, the temps are in the low 70’s, and you want a hearty, stick to your ribs meal, you head to Farmers Gastropub and enjoy dinner on their patio!

✨Kale Caesar: red onions, radish, parmesan, croutons, black pepper Caesar dressing. I had been craving a kale salad for weeks, and this cured that craving! I vote that kale be used for all Caesar’s, as it holds that dressing so well!

✨Bangers & Mash: local pork & sage sausages, champ mashed potatoes, buttered peas, caramelized onion brown gravy. This was truly a stick to your ribs meal! The sausage is savory, with a nice touch of herbs, that pair well with the creamy potatoes, and the brightness of the peas!

✨Blackened Shrimp Tacos: flour tortilla, red
and white cabbage, sweet onion jam, cilantro lime, and sour cream. Who doesn’t love a good shrimp taco? Plus, adding sweet onion jam just elevates these to a whole new level!

Still one of my favorite spots in Springfield for lunch and or dinner. Chef Andy and team always knock it out of the park each time. The new menu has a ton of gluten free items, butter chicken curry, the Korean fried chicken sandwich, plus so much more!
📍2620 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield

18/10/2024

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, call me Ben Wyatt because I’m on the 🎵I’m on the highway to the Calzone, zone🎵!
Where might I be enjoying this delicate dough pocket filled with tomato sauce, cheese, and seasoned meats… at The Big Slice that’s where!

My go to order at Big Slice, besides the Burt Reynolds, is a calzone filled with mushrooms and pepperoni, and I gots to have at least 2-3 sides of their ranch for dipping! The calzone is the perfect balance of saucy, cheesy, meaty, goodness that I deserve in my life.

Plus, one can’t go wrong with orders of the toasted ravioli, and pinwheels as appetizers! What is your go to order at Big Slice?
📍4126 S Kansas Expy
📍1454 E Sunshine St.