Tavern on Main — Restaurant in Springfield

I’ve been to Tavern on Main (TOM) four times now, and my initial excitement about it has waned significantly since my first visit. On the initial trip I had the burger because it sounded somewhat unique. It was, but not in a good way. While the fat in a burger is what gives it flavor, this particular burger was over-the-top greasy such that it was difficult to finish it, and the would-be flavors of the other components were completely drowned out by the overabundance of fat. I LOVE the burger next door at Planktown, but will pass on a second at TOM. The good part of this particular visit was the Up A Notch cocktail; more on that later.

I never judge a place by the first trip, and I liked the atmosphere, so we planned a return trip with my in-laws. On this trip I chose the Steelhead, which was EXCELLENT! However, the portions of both fish and grits was quite small, and spending $35 on a meal and leaving hungry never sits well with me. If you’re someone who enjoys smaller portions of seafood for dinner at $23 ($35 included the cocktail), then I highly recommend the Steelhead. My father-in-law chose the Fish and Chips which filled his plate and his belly, and I left with envy. I don’t recall the cocktail I had on that trip, or the next, as there was nothing memorable about them, but I learned my lesson by the fourth visit and ordered the Up A Notch again. Between the three different drinks I ordered and those I tasted from others in my party, the Up A Notch is one of a select few of their signature cocktails worth ordering.

By my third visit I had become educated regarding the menu, so I ordered the Fish and Chips. They were both well made and plentiful, and the only thing on the menu that I’ve ordered which checks both the quality box AND the quantity box. They were perfectly fried to a crispy golden brown without being greasy, and in my opinion are the best Fish and Chips in town. If that’s what I’m in the mood for, I’m coming back to TOM.

Last night was my fourth visit, and I decided to try the Steak Frites given that our server on the first visit admitted they are Marche-inspired. I’ve had the Steak Frites at Marche, and nothing compares, so I was excited to say the least. However, that excitement turned to sorrow following the first bite which clearly indicated that the quality of beef chosen is not the same standard as that served by Marche. The quantity was also sorely lacking, and I went home hungry again… The highlight of the meal was that I wisened up enough to order the Up A Notch cocktail a second time, which was excellent!

Overall, the food is reasonable quality and the atmosphere is nice, but I feel TOM is relying too heavily on that atmosphere and attractive employees instead of doing what restaurants should and serving up acceptable portions of good food. I should mention that service is not great, but it is good, and was only disappointing last night when everything seemed to take significantly longer than on previous trips even though they seemed to be less busy. In the future, when my family is asking each other “Where do you want to go for dinner tonight?”, it’s highly unlikely that I will suggest Tavern on Main…unless I’m hungry for...

This is a lovely restaurant, beautiful interior and the menu will get your mouth watering. Unfortunately, the execution is just not acceptable. The staff was very friendly and checked in appropriately. The table we were seated at was again beautiful, but it was extremely wobbly. It was very clear that the loose table top is an ongoing issue that the staff is very well aware of yet it has not been permanently fixed. We ordered two non-alcoholic drinks, two starters, a soup of the day, a salad and two dinner entrees and the total was $123. The reason we ordered two starters is that they do not provide complimentary bread/rolls with dinner which I feel is a bit cheap when you are paying $50+ per person. The rolls and herb compound butter were good but should not have cost $7. The calamari was the star of the meal with excellent pickled peppers, onions, and carrots that were a surprisingly delightful combination. For some reason this appetizer was also served with a dish of tangy marinara sauce which was a dreadful addition. The seasonal soup, duck chowder, was okay but under seasoned, which is also a running theme for this meal. I was excited to try the Cesar salad with house made dressing but was sadly disappointed to find that the dressing was so bland I could not tell that anchovies were used. After liberal salt and pepper application it was edible but nothing more than slightly creamy romaine lettuce with some croutons and a sprinkle of cheese. The grilled shrimp risotto was an interesting flavor combination that I was excited to try. Made with queso fresco, sweet corn, chorizo, cherry tomatoes and green beans. Unfortunately, while the rice was cooked nicely the shrimp, chorizo, and green beans were all exceedingly over cooked. The market price wagyu steak served with cross cut bone marrow filled with au poivre, hasselback potatoes and green beans was an exceptional disappointment. We should have known better when the cut and origin of the meat was not disclosed. The steak was accurately cooked to medium rare but it was gristly and lacked the tender well marbled texture you expect from wagyu. The potatoes were delicious, with a crisp exterior and creamy interior however they were not hasselback. The bone marrow was good and as in the other dish the green beans were severely overcooked. If you are dining with someone who prefers presentation over quality, overcooked food and has a bland palate this is the place for you. The beverages were good and I would consider coming back with a friend for drinks but if you are looking for dinner try...

Was so excited to go here. I made a reservation over a month in advance for Valentine’s Day. They texted saying our reservation was delayed 20 mins. No big deal, we waited. Showed up and got our table waited another 10 mins for a server to come over and pour us water, before we could get a word out she left (at this point it’s 8pm, our reservation was at 715pm) she finally comes back and I ask for wine menu, nearly another 10 mins have to ask and remind her of it, she finally bring it, another 10 mins before I get the wine after asking another server. The tuna was good, the oysters were briny, the salad was good, the fish I literally got sick halfway through eating cause it was undercooked, I showed my boyfriend and he was shocked, it clearly was raw in the middle (the part that was cooked was great flavor), I asked for a white wine before my meal came out to pair with the fish and she came over 10 mins later into eating and asked how things were, I inquired about the wine again and she left, by the time she came back I had finished my meal so pairing my meal with the white wine was over. The dessert was really good. We had ordered truffles, they were never on either of meals (btw never asked which to be on) she took them after telling us they were (they were not), then she added and extra $11 for a salad and when we mentioned it she just said it was a mistake. I have worked in service, it is hard (I still do) I am understanding when you are slammed but when you pay $200 for a meal and get treated nonchalantly, no apology and forgetful… well it ruined what I had planned for over a month to be a...