The Hill Italian Restaurant
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I will preface this review by saying that I normally dislike buffet restaurants. While this one was above average I would still say it was only "Okay". The decor was very nice and the place was very clean. Similarly the seating areas were comfortable and the staff was very courteous and helpful. Once I got in line for food (I hate the line ride!) I noticed that many of the dishes were with a similar sauce, a thin garlic cream sauce. I'm normally a fan of a creamy pasta but there was much lacking from these options. There didn't seem to be as much garlic as I would have liked and possibly a little Parmesan cheese or something for a nutty flavor to brighten it up. Other options were available like Chicken Marsala and Chicken Parmesan and both were delicious. The toasted ravioli were not consistently done, either a little chewy or crispy. The marinara sauce was bright, tangy and quite tasty. So in general stick to the red sauce items. They also had some mac and cheese and some pizzas which I did not try but looked pretty good. The desert options were great and that is what saved the day. Tiramisu, creme brulee, and fresh crepes were all delicious. Ice cream and cannolis were also available but I had run out of room. Lastly, the price for a good buffet always gets me. I would rather order one item and pay just for that. The Saturday lunch price was $14.95 not including a beverage which is reasonable by buffet standards but far more than I would have spent if I ordered a single dish elsewhere. Instead I always feel I must eat more to justify the spend. This results in me leaving with a full belly and eventually regret in over-eating and spending more than I wanted. While I was not surprised by some bland and under/over cooked food as everything was prepared in bulk and left to sit under warming lamps. Some of the items were quite tasty and the variety was good not to mention that the dessert was excellent. Overall I would give it 3/5 stars. If you enjoy a buffet for variety then this may be for you. Otherwise I think there are better options to dine at in Springfield.
John EmkeJohn Emke
00
The Hill is a play on the famed Saint Louis neighborhood known for its amazing Italian food, but unfortunately, this restaurant falls short of the promise the name implies. I had a family meal there and actually photographed my food as I found it. One picture is of what they tout as risotto, which is actually plain white rice with a few mushrooms and soup stirred in, not risotto at all (which made with risotto rice, hence the name) , and the second is their "lasagna roll ups," which is actually a lasagna noodle with a half teaspoon or so of cheese rolled up more or less empty then covered with sauce and sprinkled with cheese. This is not Italian food. The cakes certainly appear to be mass produced and have all the flavor of a Walmart bakery, however they will happily make you sweet crepes on demand, and they do have spumoni which in my opinion, is the greatest ice cream in the world and not very common in Springfield, so kudos for that. Unfortunately, the rest of the food is entry level, akin to eating in a senior citizens cafeteria on " Italian day" : bland with nothing demanding your attention when you sit down to eat. Also, I really question the strategy of hiring an all young female staff to wait tables, ( no men ) and an all male staff for boh, (back of house). There's not a single employee in view looks over 25 including management, so I wonder why that is. If you go I'm expecting Fazolis quality then you'll be fine, but The Hill?? I don't think so.
Marcus TMarcus T
00
As a person who lives a mere 20 minutes from the actual namesake neighborhood of this restaurant, I can honestly say that calling this place "The Hill" may be a stretch. I will start with the good: the price is amazing for a buffet in this economy! The restaurant was mostly very tidy. The ice cream was a hand scooped option with a person serving you. The bread and toasted ravs were great. There was a wide variety of food options available. Staff was friendly! The reason for three stars: The food lacked flavor. Most of it tasted like something I get from Sysco and I felt like it was boiled in a bag or was defrosted/fried and stuck straight out to the buffet. Lacked any type of discernable flavor. Pizza looked skimpy in toppings and variety and they had difficulty keeping it on the buffet, although I can only speak to it's physical appearance as we didn't eat it. The make your own pasta bar had sat unattended for too long and noodles were stuck together and sauces separated. Meats on that bar were dried out and chewy for the same reason. The dessert bar desserts were obviously mass produced offerings similar to any Asian buffet and the cookies, while on a warmer, were not warm at all. The salad bar was lacking and was mostly just lettuce, dressing and sliced pickles(?) with fruit. I will likely never be back but I could see why people wouldn't mind eating here.
Jamie KleinJamie Klein
00
I had a wonderful conversation with the owner. The owner also prepares the food. My pictures do not do this place justice. Everything is fresh, from scratch Italian food. And it's a buffet! This was a nice find while visiting Springfield MO. My favorite was the chicken and mushroom sauce over pasta. Second favorite was the Korean style chicken parmesan. The chicken is fried slightly differently than most restaurants and it really peaked the flavors. I don't usually do buffets, but I was hungry for Italian and The Hill hit a homerun. The staff was kind and polite. The food was fresh and flavorful. The restaurant was clean. We were seated immediately. Our server was very polite, helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. You may find some decor outdated, but this place focuses on it's customers and it's fresh menu. Stop in, you'll be glad you did.
Donald P.Donald P.
00
Nearby Attractions Of The Hill Italian Restaurant
ALDI
Wand's Jewelry "Your Friendly Family Jeweler."
Food 4 Less
Asian World Market
Seoul Oriental Market
Battlefield Marketplace
McLoud Plaza
Hometown Furniture & Mattress Springfield, MO
Soundsmart
Endless Time & Jewelry

ALDI
4.5
(1.1K)Click for details

Wand's Jewelry "Your Friendly Family Jeweler."
5.0
(739)Click for details

Food 4 Less
4.3
(644)Click for details

Asian World Market
4.5
(564)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of The Hill Italian Restaurant
Springfield Incredible Pizza Company
Mexican Villa South
Fuji Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse
Cedars South
Everyday Thai
PaPPo's Pizzeria South Springfield
O'Hana Japanese Steakhouse
The Grotto West Coast Grill
The Chicago Cheesesteak Company South
Umi Japanese Restaurant

Springfield Incredible Pizza Company
4.3
(2K)Click for details

Mexican Villa South
4.0
(1.5K)Click for details

Fuji Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse
4.6
(937)Click for details

Cedars South
4.5
(933)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
600 E Battlefield Rd, Springfield, MO 65807
Map
Phone
(417) 920-8850
Call
Website
thehillitalian.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.3
(1.4K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Relaxed spot offering Italian staples like pastas & seafood in sophisticated surrounds.
attractions: ALDI, Wand's Jewelry "Your Friendly Family Jeweler.", Food 4 Less, Asian World Market, Seoul Oriental Market, Battlefield Marketplace, McLoud Plaza, Hometown Furniture & Mattress Springfield, MO, Soundsmart, Endless Time & Jewelry, restaurants: Springfield Incredible Pizza Company, Mexican Villa South, Fuji Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse, Cedars South, Everyday Thai, PaPPo's Pizzeria South Springfield, O'Hana Japanese Steakhouse, The Grotto West Coast Grill, The Chicago Cheesesteak Company South, Umi Japanese Restaurant
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