Table Talk

Table Talk: June 2–9

Plus new food from a familiar chef, old favorites open up again, blackberry-sage ice cream, the Route 66 Food Truck Park and more in this week's Table Talk.

by Katie Pollock Estes

Jun 02 2020 at 8 a.m.

Nightfall cocktail at Vantage downtown Springfield, MO
Photo by Sara GenslerSip on a Nightfall at sunset now that Vantage is opening up again. Purchase Photo

Costco For Really Real?

There have been rumblings for some time now about Springfield getting a Costco, the Sam’s Club-esque membership warehouse chain, sometime in the near future. Biz 417 editor Jenna deJong has been following the news and updating our blog as she learns new news. Last week, the City of Springfield sent out a press release confirming that Costco is considering a local store, to be located near Chestnut Expressway and Highway 65, that would hire at least 125 people and help the rest of us stock up on our favorite bulk everythings.

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New Food, Familiar Chef

You may have noticed a sign outside the former Cesar’s Old Mexico spot on East Sunshine for SPLIT Social Kitchen. We’ve been peeping that sign for a while now, wondering what kind of tasty goodness would eventually be served up inside. Well, a recent Facebook post from the restaurant hinted that an opening an inching closer. The restaurant, which has an open kitchen and some shareable eats, announced that it had hired Chef Aaron Brown to lead the kitchen. Do you recognize that name? Brown was the chef at Branson’s defunct Table 22, a spot that offered exciting and modern fine dining dishes in unexpected (and beautiful) presentations. We loved Table 22 and are jazzed to see Brown taking up residence at this new Springfield restaurant. Now… all we need is an opening date...

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Old Favorites Opening Anew

This week we’re seeing another round of restaurant re-openings for some spots that have been very, very missed. Team Taco opened up yesterday after a hiatus since March 17—and they sold out! For now, they are offering to-go only orders, and all orders are taken at the new walk-up window while the indoor area remains closed. And due to the recent beef price hike, the menu has seen a bit of a change as the TOFU-king Good tacos finds a permanent home on the menu and the beefy B.A. Baracus becomes one of the rotating Ringer specials. Now. Go get a taco.

Yesterday, City Butcher reopened with service at both its original South Campbell location and it’s new East Sunshine location in the Southern Hills Shopping Center. Orders for the time being are to-go only. Now. Go get some brisket.

Also this week, Hotel Vandivort’s Vantage Rooftop Lounge & Conservatory announced that it would be reopening to guests on June 10 with new cleaning measures to ensure diner safety. Now, go enjoy that view.

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Brunch Again at Brew Co.

Over the weekend, Springfield Brew Co. announced that they had brought back their weekend brunch menu, and we couldn’t be more ready to place an order. The keto-curious part of me is eyeing the cauliflower crust pizza topped with a luscious egg. The glutton in me just wants to dive mouth-first into the Honeycomb Chicken & Biscuit dish. And the lush in me in just wants a bloody mary, please.