The Golden Girl Rum Club — Restaurant in Springfield

My wife and I stopped by The Golden Girl Rum Club to finally see what owner Rogan Howitt and crew were offering to those Ozark denizens longing for a tropical escape from the 9 to 5. And let me say, this visit was long overdue. The operation is stellar from an impressive drink menu to some delicious food offerings from a tiny back kitchen. The vibe during the daylight hours is bright and airy while at night, cozy and inviting. You can tell there is some real passion at work here. Several friends shared stories on how Rogan makes a pretty damn close Ray's Mistake (of LA's Tiki Ti fame) and his take on a Dark and Stormy was one of the best. The drink menu consists of several classics that you might not usually see such as the Astro Aku and the Jungle Bird, but also their take on a Zombie, The Monkey's Paw...but then you get some more of the Caribbean style potions like the Brazilian Caipirinha and Trini Dat Boi. They have an extensive rum listing as well and do several paired rum flights. The food menu wasn't large, but what they had was unique and filling, from a house ramen bowl with pork belly and duck egg to street tacos with Korean BBQ style pork to a tiki massala taco that was mouth watering. The music heavily featured mostly Latin rhythms with a bit of exotica and hapa haole and just really filled the space with the right amount of ambience. Overall, I suggest a trip to see what Golden Girl has to offer and you won't be...

This is a really unique and fantastic bar; it’s like bringing a Tiki hut or a taste of the Caribbean to Springfield! The friendly staff creates and serves an amazing selection of imaginative concoctions, coming with unique blends of rum-based cocktails. Additionally, Golden Girl features an impressive selection of premium rums meant for sipping, many of them from the Caribbean.

So why four stars instead of five? Well, the only drawback to this bar is the acoustics: they suck. You literally have to shout to be heard by the people at your own table, particularly when Golden Girl is busy. That said, however, this is a fantastic bar, a unique watering hole that is a refreshing change of pace from the typical bars in town. We will definitely be coming back, this time when it’s...

The drinks were amazing but did not feel welcome or comfortable in there. My wife and I came in for a drink and we felt like an inconvenience. It was 7:00 on a Wednesday night so nowhere close to closing. The bartenders were more interested in talking to each other than anything else. We had to try and get their attention multiple times before they noticed and took our order. Once we ordered they immediately asked if we wanted the check, like they could not wait to get us out of there. There were other guests but not so busy that we were taking up space for other patrons. I’ve never been treat this way at an establishment before, I would definitely go back if it weren’t for the bad...