Legacy Pointe Eatery — Restaurant in Illinois

First time here. We started with onion rings. Normally we're not fans of the beer-battered style, but these were crisp and hot. I had a small garden salad with the house vinaigrette, and then the crispy chicken sesame dish, a large portion that I took about half home. My wife had the soup of the day, a mushroom and vegetable mix in a rich broth resembling, somewhat, the flavor of Chinese hot and sour soup. It was truly delicious. She followed with the legacy bowl and also took about half home. I finished with a slice of what I consider to be a French gateau chocolate - thin, flourless, and intensely rich on a bed of chocolate sauce. I had no trouble finishing it.

LPE's menu is unique to Springfield. My wife is a vegetarian, and had ample choices. There are also vegan and gluten free offerings, and quite few with Thai accents throughout. The restaurant was busy, and the initial service was a bit slow but then picked up the pace. Our server was excellent. Someone (the chef?) visited our table and discussed the soup with my wife, explaining how it was made. This is not a fancy restaurant with a lush ambience, but it a truly excellent one to which we'll return regularly. Rating = 5*

11/21/2023: Returned for dinner. My vegetarian wife had a veggie wrap with sweet potato tots which she said was really excellent. However, the menu in the restaurant has changed but the online menu has not, so the short rib entree I looked forward to is no longer available. I had the white asparagus soup with bacon and green onions. I ordered a bowl, but our server brought me a cup; we were charged for the cup. It was tasty but had a strange, almost grainy texture. Then I had the grilled chicken sesame salad. It was a large portion on the spicy side that was just a smidgen less than too spicy. The place was not crowded but very noisy, especially a nearby table of four , all of whom were exceptionally loud, so much so that my wife and I couldn't carry on our dinner...

My friends and I were visiting Springfield from Hannibal, MO and we chose this restaurant for their gluten free options(we do not have any). There were many gf options or there were modifications to make most gf. Our server Dana was very friendly and helpful with menu questions. We started with the spinach artichoke dip with gf pita chips (they’re wonderful). The pita was not dry or crumbly as many gf items are. One friend had the grilled chicken hoarse shoe and the other had the Caesar salad, both enjoyed their dishes. I ordered the spicy goat cheese burger and it was wonderful. It wasn’t too spicy and the hot honey was a nice addition. The beer(they carry four Berliner-Weisse), wine and cocktail lister were nice. The manager or owner came out to check on us at the end of our meal and see how things went. We asked him about the pita bread brand and we were told it was homemade. It was the best gf options we have tried and the only gf pita we have found. The staff and manager/owner we talked to her all very friendly. Also, the restaurant and bathrooms...

We will be back! Super friendly and attentive staff. Our server was energized about her job and seemed very dedicated to the restaurant. She was knowledgeable about both the bar and food menus and provided fantastic recommendations. The menu overall appeared to be unique and more elevated than most ”bar-restaraunts” in town (homemade pickles, grouper, goat cheese, kimchi slaw, specialty pastas, etc.). To my knowledge everything was homemade, which is something we always look for and will choose over a commercial place every time. I had cornmeal crusted grouper with chips, it was fantastic and my boyfriend had a spicy burger with goat cheese that he said was great. Homemade pickles were awesome (I asked for more). Wide variety drink selection (liquor, beer, wine, cider, several local offerings too). Would love to see this spot become busier and more lively on the weekends as they become more established. Hope this one sticks around and that we will be able to enjoy lunches and dinners out on the patio next season! Don’t hesitate to try it and...