Let's talk restaurants.. (Springfield, Campbell, Rea: home, moving, bill)

[20yrsinBranson]

Well, speaking personally, I absolutely HATE restaurants that are full of themselves. Frankly, good old-fashioned, home cooking is what appeals to me so I pass most of the "lah-de-dah" restaurants by.

Here in Springfield (hold on to your hats), I really love George's Steak House on Glenstone. I has good food at reasonable prices. Ambience? Well, not really, although some of the locals/regulars are *very* colorful, but I'd rather go to a restaurant with good food and not much atmosphere.

My other favorite place to go is the restaurant at the T&A Truck Stop in Mt. Vernon. (It has it's own name, Country Basket or something like that), but I can't recall what it is exactly. The buffet is great and the menu has a good selection of stick-to-your-ribs food that is just wonderful. Their pot roast is to die for! LOL

Another place here in Springfield that we go to often is Golden Corral. Personally, I am not big on chain restaurants. You won't ever catch me in an Applebees or TGIFridays or any of those places. But I will make the exception for Golden Corral (only). The food is consistently good and the price is reasonable. I've never had a bad experience or poor meal there. Just don't go on Clown Night if clowns give you the creeps (they do me).

20yrsinBranson

ETA: Hee hee, when a thread is around long enough, you forget you already answered it. Getting old, I guess. LOL

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by FrenchHen

We would love to treat you at French Hen:

Visit Us at French Hen Cafe & CoffeeHouse
Hours: 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday


French Hen Café & Coffeehouse, located at 1015 Highway 248, Suite D in the Offices at CastleRock, is a very special place to connect with friends, family or clients over coffee, breakfast and lunch. The cozy décor creates a warm and rustic atmosphere to lure friends, converse and relax amid the tempting aroma of freshly roasted coffee.

For breakfast, visit French Hen and choose between fresh rolls, French pastries, scones and breakfast croissants. For lunch, French Hen has a full menu with choices ranging from hearty “grinder-style” sandwiches, grilled panini gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, baked goods and custom desserts.

French Hen brews its coffee fresh with espresso drinks, hot and cold lattes, cappuccinos, a tasty house coffee blend, flavored coffee blends, organic/fair trade coffee blends and a variety of delicious cold drinks. For those who want coffee or food while they work or surf the web on their laptop, French Hen offers free high speed WiFi internet connection.

In between bites or sips of your coffee, you can browse the eclectic retail shop in French Hen which merchandise includes everything from handbags to uniquely exquisite gifts just for men; from gourmet foods to bath accessories. The French Hen even offers merchandise from candles to books. What a great combination to help you relax during your down time.

If you are looking for an escape from your same daily routine, you are guaranteed to find it at the French Hen Café & Coffee House. You won’t find another place in Branson like this.

FRENCH HEN
Café & Coffeehouse
1015 Highway 248, Suite D - The Offices at CastleRock
Branson, Missouri - Ph. 417.336.4436

What a coincidence! MrG and I went there last month and it was everything she says! I told them that I was shopping for a place for our OTFCC group but life has gotten in the way of me sharing it with you, MrsC, and the gang. I'm sorry!

MrG and I sampled all sorts of things and enjoyed every one of them. As French Hen says, it's pretty eclectic and you will probably need time to think of what you want. They have great soups, too! It's casual and their lunch specials are very reasonably priced. I had one of their iced coffees and trust me, it was wonderful! I was able to get extra pumps of my favorite chocolate but to be honest, the daily special (something with vanilla) was delicious "as is".

It's a little hard to find because the shopping center they are located in is down lower than the street but if you're coming from Hwy. 65, go west and look for an office center on the left side that looks like a castle, you'll find it. If you get to James F. Epps Road (McDonald's is on the corner), you've gone too far.

I vote to go there with the OTFCC some time in the future! Oh! And did I tell you they have a wonderful "library" section with a bunch of tables pushed together into one long one and it would be perfect for our group!

Okay, I'm off to read the rest of this thread now.

[mrschilicook]

The OTFCC had lunch at the Wild Horse Tea Room in Ozark. Great pies and the chicken salad got rave reviews from us and from others I've talked to since. But if you want to try it, hurry....They have the place up for sale for health reasons.

[NOLA2SGF]

Originally Posted by mrschilicook

Tried Macaroni Grill (Springfield) last week and may I say the Lasagne was wonderful. I usually stay away from national chain restaurants but this one is a keeper. I also heard they are/have opened one on the Landing.

We were in Springfield during the first week of this month (had a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Gustav, and thought we'd make a vacation out of it).

Anyway, we went to Macaroni Grill and like you, I really thought it was very nice. I would recommend it. I got the chicken sorrentino and it was absolutely delicious. The wait staff was good and everything was perfect.

Can't wait to retire and move to Springfield a year from November.

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by NOLA2SGF

We were in Springfield during the first week of this month (had a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Gustav, and thought we'd make a vacation out of it).

Anyway, we went to Macaroni Grill and like you, I really thought it was very nice. I would recommend it. I got the chicken sorrentino and it was absolutely delicious. The wait staff was good and everything was perfect.

Can't wait to retire and move to Springfield a year from November.

Wow! Sure wish we knew you were here! Were you at Remingtons in the shelter or just here on your own?

Wanna hear something funny? I've never been to the Macaroni Grill. I knowwwww! I'm gonna have to go there now. I have no idea what Chicken Sorrentino consists of but I'd like to find out! Thanks for the heads-up! I still think it's kinda funny to get a local recommendation from an out-of-town-er.

When you get a chance, would you share about your Gustov experience? And while you're at it, maybe you can tell us how your visit in Springfield went.

[NOLA2SGF]

Hi, Mrs. G! We were just there on our own. We drove up there with both cars. Our cars were filled with so much stuff that we probably looked like the Beverly Hillbillies, but after Katrina we didn't want to leave anything we cared about behind. Our favorite motel gave us a substantial discount when we told them we were Gustav evacuees this time, which was a tremendous help and so nice.

Here is the menu to your local Macaroni Grill, so that you can read about chicken sorrentino and the other great dishes.

http://www.macaronigrill.com/Menu/Me...d=725.826.0001

Our visit to Springfield was wonderful, once we found out that Gustav was no "Katrina II" for New Orleans. We spent lots of time driving around neighborhoods in south Springfield to become more familiar with them (so that we will have a better idea of exactly where we want to live when we move up there). We went to Republic for the first time and drove all around, which was an adventure although we decided that south Springfield itself is still our favorite area. We went to Lambert's again, and drove through the older parts of Ozark this time. And, we drove up to Ash Grove, which seemed much farther out in the country than we had envisioned! Again, we decided that we prefer Springfield. But we feel better that we have checked out these places. Naturally we went to Bass Pro (can't go to Springfield without going there!).

When we got back to New Orleans, we were ecstatic to see that things were pretty much as we left them. We didn't go back until the Friday after the storm, because the sewage system wasn't working well until then and I refuse to live without indoor plumbing. When we got in on Friday night, streetlights and traffic lights were working as were all the neon signs, and there was no visible damage. Restaurants were open so we even had dinner out that evening. This was a huge relief as it was a great contrast compared with Katrina.

My yard had more damage than most, for some reason. A huge branch fell off of my tree, and knocked down and splintered my back fence in the back yard. The wind also blew off my shutters on the front of the house, and flying debris apparently punctured a pencil-thin gas line to my front porch gas lamp (of course we turned off the gas valve so that it is no longer leaking). But, I have everything cleaned up by now so all is well.

[mrsgenealogy]

O'm'gosh! There are so many things I want to order! Thanks for sending the link!

It sounds like you had a great visit here and you got some serious narrowing-down of your choices accomplished. Whew!

I'm so happy to know that New Orleans was basically the same when you got home, at least, for the most part. Bummer about your tree and fence, though...and your shutters. Are those functional shutters or just for cosmetic purpose? I've never seen a gas lamp. What a trip! What a miracle that it didn't blow up!

Will your homeowners insurance cover it all? I bet as "small" as the damage is, it will still cost "a pretty penny" to get it all fixed.

I hear ya 'bout Bass Pro...it's always an adventure. Have you eaten at the restaurant there? Here's the view I took from the walkway just below our table window:



How cool is THAT?!

[NOLA2SGF]

Wow, Mrs. G!!! That is definitely cool!!! No, we haven't eaten at the restaurant in Bass Pro although I suggested it when we were there. It is definitely on "the list".

Hope you enjoy going back to Macaroni Grill!! I know, that menu is really tempting.

I am one of the lucky few down here that has any "wind and hail" hurricane coverage at all, since many policies were dropped after Katrina. Allstate has a mandatory deductible for each individual storm of 5% of your house's worth, so my Gustav damage didn't meet the deductible. That sounds like "poor me", but actually I am happy that my damage wasn't that bad.

Yesterday I signed a $1500 contract to have the large tree in my back yard removed (the one on the right in the photo below), so that no more branches can fall on my house, fence, or yard, or the houses, fences, or yards of my neighbors. That, plus getting the gas line fixed should mean I'm in great shape. The tree was weakened by Katrina so it really has to go. The tree in my backyard on the left in the photo below fell down during Katrina.

The shutters are just decorative. If I am doing this right, here's a photo of the front of my little house. It was taken in 2002 just before I bought my house, but it shows the shutters and gas lamp just to the right of the front door. The house looks pretty much the same now as it did then (except no "for sale sign" right now!).

[mrsgenealogy]

Yeah, I guess that's the good news and the bad news, huh? "Mrs. NOLA2SGF, I'm happy to tell you that your damage wasn't that extensive. The bad news is that your damage doesn't meet the deductible, either, so we won't be able to help you."

Your home looks lovely and I'm sure you're grateful you don't have to hassle with any more work than you do...and that there's no rain damage!!! I bet you miss that tree, though...or you WILL once it's GONE, huh? I can't see a chimney so I guess you won't be able to save money for firewood this winter. Darn! Will you at least be able to sell it and recoup some of your money?

We almost went to Macaroni Grill today but wound up going shopping and had perishables in our car and had to go home. We'll get there one day soon, I hope! I'll let you know how it goes.

[8 SNAKE]

I enjoyed another outstanding meal at Kai this weekend. This time I tried a new appetizer that I highly recommend! The Kobe beef hot rock was absolutely delicious!!! They bring raw marinated strips of Kobe beef and a very hot round stone in a bowl. You literally cook the strips of beef on the rock at your table.

In addition to the appetizers, our table enjoyed the Sea Bass, beef filet and an assortment of sushi and sashimi. We ended with creme brule and a chocolate banana spring roll. Our meals and service were outstanding, as usual. Kai is easily one of my favorite local restaurants, and I always look forward to going back.