7 Good Things: October 2009
These seven dishes or drinks have passed our taste buds and made us rave. They are ranked by level of yumminess.
1. We found a decadent dessert for $3.74 at a little greasy spoon in Springfield. A staffer describes the peanut butter pie at Lili’s Diner (431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 172, Springfield, 417-873-9311) as “light and creamy and crowned with whipped topping and drizzled with peanut butter… Good Lord, I’m hungry now,” she says. “Not many places serve this kind, and it happens to be my husband’s favorite, so we will be going there again soon.”
2. Garbo’s (3014-A Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-887-9010; 2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Building C, Springfield, 417-883-9010) serves up one heck of a Italian beef sandwich ($6.25), according to a staffer who tried it recently at the East Sunshine location. She says: “The toasted bread was great, and it had melted cheese and sautéed onions with a cup of au jus for dipping.”
3. Bob Nicol is back at the Pier Restaurant (11863 Hwy. 13, Kimberling City, 417-739-4311) in the Kimberling Inn, and one fan’s pick for his best dish is the fresh halibut ($22.95). It’s flown in from the Pacific Northwest, oven-broiled, dusted with seasoned breadcrumbs and served with fresh pineapple salsa. “All three of my dining mates tasted it and wished they had ordered it,” he says.
4. We love the Gibby pizza ($16.95 for a large) at Ebbets Field (1027 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-865-5050). It’s a thin-crust pizza topped with beef, pepperoni and chicken and brushed with hot sauce. “The waitress said it wasn’t too hot, but I was chugging my beer by the time I was halfway through,” he says. “I had to order water! It was delicious.”
5. One staffer left her regular order by the wayside one day and instead tried the yellow curry ($9.95) at Tong’s. (3454 S. Campbell Avel, Springfield, 417-889-5280) “I got it with fresh tofu instead of fried tofu,” she says. “It was great! Incredibly rich with a kick, but not too spicy. It had plenty of veggies: zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions. It also had pineapple, which was a fun touch.”
6. “The veggie burger at Grad School is my favorite veggie burger anywhere,” says a fan. It’s made with Grad School’s (434 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, 417-866-8163) falafel as well as tofu and portobello mushrooms. It’s served with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, a pickle and fries for $7.50.
7. During 417 Restaurant Week, a staffer tried the coconut and curry fish cakes at Touch (1620 E. Republic Rd., Springfield, 417-823-8383). “Served with the lobster risotto (which is worthy of being ordered by itself), it’s a delicious combo.” The fish cakes are regularly $6.50 each.
7 Good Things is chosen by the editors of 417 Magazine as a service to readers. We’ve tried everything on this list, and we like it. To send us your 7 Good Things suggestions, click Contact on 417mag.com and then submit a letter to the editor.
