We loved the sister restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, and wanted to try the original. The menu looked amazing and I'm a sucker for a good lobster bisque. Augie's did not disappoint. Granted, the typical clientele are all dressed up in suits and the lighting is a little too much on the dim side, but the staff was very professional and pleasant and the food...my god the food. Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp. With. Jalapeno. Jam. My mouth is still watering, and that was just the appetizer. My wife had the best sangria she's ever had and I had the best old fashioned I've ever had, so the bartender knows exactly what he's doing. The drink price was also very reasonable compared to the price of the food. The lobster bisque didn't actually have lobster in it, but that didn't bother me. It was delicious. My wife had the tomato parmesan soup and said it was great. I'm not a huge fan of tomato soup myself, so we're going to have to take her word for it. My wife had the pork cheeks and I had the Amish jerked chicken, both exceedingly good and prepared perfectly. We ended the meal with peach bread pudding, which was a nice, light-feeling dessert as we were pretty stuffed by then. If you can drop $50-$60 per person and haven't been here, get on it. Our restaurant tour of central Illinois continues, but we'll be back.
(5)
Daisy P.
I had a terrific lunch here today. House salad: 3 stars. Peppery greens were a little too much and needed some sweeter leaves in there to balance. Not enough dressing. Lovely presentation, though, and high-quality greens. Veggie quesadilla: 4.5 stars. This was a custom dish since I'm vegetarian and all of their specials had meat. Delicious roasted flavor on tortilla and veggies, and totally enough cheese, which can be hard to find. Asian veggies were an interesting choice that paid off. Cilantro sour cream dip was delicious. The half star off is for the inclusion of peapods, which were too chewy/fibrous for good quesadilla consistency, and for how the veggies didn't always stick to the tortilla so it was a little messy to eat. Bread pudding: 5 stars. Perfect portion and served hot with an apricot-whiskey sauce and licorice ice cream. Heavenly. I wanted to lick the plate. Service: 5 stars easy. I wish I got my waiter's name; he was charming but not fake, attentive but not intrusive, answered annoying vegetarian questions with a smile, recommended the right things for me to eat....loved him.
We went here while on vacation because my husband was in the mood for a steak. The food was good, but it wasn't worth it for the cost in my opinion...we actually were debating about picking up something extra on the way back to our hotel because of how small the portion sizes were. You're looking at $20-$35 per person. And while the staff was friendly and didn't care that my husband and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, the attire is DEFINITELY NOT casual. 90% of the people in there were in suits/business clothes.
(2)
Chippy S.
The food here was phenomenal and the wait service was spot on. I ordered the sausage and asiago stuffed chicken which came with asparagus on the side. I'm always leary about ordering chicken and asparagus because typically the chicken is dry and the asparagus isn't cooked enough or cooked to much. They were both cooked PERFECTLY! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Garnet, they must have screwed up on the recipe for your rolls, because mine were sweet and delicious. I didn't mind the cold butter because I typically cut off a square and put it on my plate, instead of spreading it directly onto the roll. I didn't get any dessert, but my chardonnay was tasty. I do have to agree on the decor. Pretty random and quirky, but I'm not there for the decor, I'm there for the food. I'll definitely be going back here on my next business trip.
(4)
Duncan S.
Augie's is an interesting beast that has the look and feel of 70's steak house/bar with a fine dining menu and fine dining prices. Budget style tables and chairs, paper table cloths and a feeling of nostalgia with the decor and pictures. Kind of expected to hear "The Entertainer" playing in the background, but it was some subtle pop. Crowd early on a Friday night mainly 40's to 50's in pairs and one group, very casual and not overly stuffy. For the food we started with the blackened shrimp and grits, which were pretty good and a large serving of grits. For mains we broke one of our dining rules on never to have Asian food outside an Asian restaurant and had the Schezuan duck, (a Chinese dish not a Thai dish). The spice was really quite good, though the duck overcooked . Along with a rib-eye special which was just OK and expecting a lot better on the flavor side for $32, it was a little rarer than the medium-rare requested, but not a game changer. The accompanying purple asparagus was really good and the smash potato nothing special. Found it strange no fresh bread was served with the meal, yet there were some bread-sticks/crackers in plastic wrappers stuffed in a wire cone on the table? Beer range pretty good with support for local breweries which is great to see, chiller buckets for the 40's is a nice touch. Wine fairly decent, though not sure I need to have a tacky advertising card promoting Bocelli wines on my table. Service enthusiastic and good, if a little rehearsed on the selling. If a restaurant receives new wine they should ensure the servers have tried the wine. Rarely a waiters assistant stands out, but our guy was a gun in making sure we had water, glasses filled and clearing plates. A-OK is just where this restaurant scrapes in.
(3)
Chris M.
Another meal alone while on business travel. Although the server and hostess were a little awkward, the food was great. I had a pumpkin soup which was amazing and a delicious salad.
(4)
Jason N.
I have eaten here twice and loved both times. I usually get a pasta dish. Both times the pasta was cooked spot on and the sauce was put together well. The atmosphere is relaxed and the wait staff are attentive. Lunch time can be a little crazy but when you are down town that is expected. I would recommend this place to just about anyone.
(5)
Lauren B.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. In a few words: Good, not awesome. We went here last weekend. On a Friday night, the noise level was very pleasant -- not QUIET but not loud. Drinks: Good but not outstanding. They had some nice specials, and they were reasonably priced. Food: We had the crab cakes - very good. Hubs had the petit filet, which was good, but forgettable. I had the special - lobster tails with a sweet potato sauce. Good, but not fabulous. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but weren't blown away (and shouldn't you be blown away by lobster tails?!). Service: Again good but not outstanding.
(3)
John B.
This place impressed the pants off of me. I ordered the mussels and a salmon steak, which happened to be the special for the night. Both dishes were exceptionally flavorful. The mussels came in a curry sauce that had just the right amount of kick for someone like myself with low spice tolerance to enjoy. The salmon came with a great rub that I couldn't quite pinpoint except for the paprika. Throwing in a scoop of gelato for dessert was an unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious gesture on the part of Kim behind the bar. You can tell pretty easily that this place is run by a chef that painstakingly cultivates his craft. The menu here changes fairly often so I'll plan to return every time I'm in town to see what additions they've made.
(5)
Jim C.
Visited Augies during a visit to Springfield in May 2015. Beautiful night so I choose to sit outside. Nice view over looking the old Capital building. Big mistake! Numerous guests who were eating inside continually come outside to smoke cigarettes roughly 10 feet from my table. They should set a minimum of 50 feet from front door. Gross. Food was ok. Had lobster bisque which tasted good but had Zero pieces of lobster in it. My catfish entree tasted pretty good. Service was ok. The waiter seemed truly excited by each and every menu choice I made. I'm like take it easy, it's just a Bass Beer. Choices in Springfield are limited but I would try another spot next time.
(3)
Ryan K.
Came here after finding a link to them on a Springfield-related website. The wife and I really liked this place. Good food (more on this later), our 6 and 10 year olds enjoyed their kid's meals, and the services was excellent (more on this later, too). Re: the food: - I got the Lobster Bisque and Dena got the Butternut Squash Bisque to start. My Lobster was good, not great. Didn't have any lobster chunks in it, but flavor was good. Dena's Butternut Squash was great, though. Good flavor, good heat at the end. - I got a Butter salad next, and Dena got the Crispy Goat cheese salad. Both were good and adequately (e.g. not overly massive and wasteful) sized. The bacon on both was fab. - We rounded out with a series of appetizers. There was so much goodness on the menu, that we wanted to go with variety in smaller chunks than a single big entree. I got the Bean Cakes and Wontons, Dena got Meatball Skewers. All in all, the prices were a bit higher for smaller portions, but I'd rather get good food at a higher price point than a buttload of average food at cheaper prices. Would I come back? Absolutely. I might want to experiment a bit more in town just to see what else is out there, but I would (and will) recommend them to anyone I know who is visiting Springfield. Re: Service - Gabe was AWESOME. Did I mention awesome? He was attentive, knowledgeable, was great with our kids, checked in on us enough but not too much, gave good recommendations, all good. Really...he enhanced the entire experience. I hope management reads this so they can see it. This is a classic case of where a 4.5 would be appropriate. In the absence of that, I gave them a 4 rather than a 5 because: - The decor was a bit dated, or just off a bit. Not bad, but just felt a bit disjointed. - The Lobster Bisque could have benefited from some chunks of lobster. Yes. I'm being picky, but I'm trying to be more diligent in who I give 5 stars out to. I probably would have given them 5 stars 12 months ago. Did I mention Gabe was awesome?
(4)
Robin R.
Wonderful choice for a special occasion. Great array of choices on the menu. So hard to decide what I wanted. Full wine list. Very professional waitstaff.
(4)
Chris B.
Not sure why I gave it one star. Cold food big bill bad stop. Some kind of sauce over Rib eye should have indicated trouble but downhill from there. Limited choices in Springpatch make people go here I am sure. Better off getting a burger at a sports bar. Never seeing this place again.
(1)
Jessie H.
Great food and classy staff. I have been to several places in Springfield so far--this is my favorite. The catfish was great and the coffee was just what I needed.
(5)
Buddy B.
The food was excellent. The service was even better. The menu had standard choices with enough unusual and different selections to make it very interesting. Visited Springfield from Chicago and Augie's was recommended by someone at the Lincoln library. Pricey but worth every penny.
(5)
Brian K.
Great food. Really creative presentation. Wine list is a decent size with good variability. Specials were interesting (they have a steak and a pasta) Atmosphere would be my only knock. It's a bit eclectic but trying to be fancy. If you drink up you won't notice it :-)
(4)
Mark G.
Outstanding food and server. A party of 7 for my spouse's birthday. Our table was near the back so it offered a bit of privacy. Everything was delicious and presented superbly. Jacob, our server, was equally great. From the drinks to small plates to salads and entrees, everyone enjoyed. You can't go wrong dining at Augie's.
(5)
Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. First the cons: This is pricey by even big city standards and al a carte. I felt so squished into the table. There is little more than 6 inches between tables it seems. I don't like having to slide my butt along someone's plate to get to my seat. The ceiling tiles kind of grossed me out - stained & dirty. Plusses; I liked the art work around. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Just OK: Service is fine nothing outstanding, Menu is fine, nothing outstanding. I had the poached pear & blue cheese salad to start and the Mediterranean sea scallops on couscous with raisin chutney. It was nice.
(3)
Dan P.
Great seafood dish: clams and pasta. Bread was warm with a great honey butter. Service was warm andknowledgeable. Finally the lobster bisque was rich and creamy.
(5)
Norm S.
One word describes the food - AWFUL I had the seared tuna which was served overcooked, not pink, and even though cooked it was cold. The place is a joke. I have had 4 meals there in the past 6 month and each one has been awful. Save your money and just go to McDonalds. STAY AWAY!
(1)
Bryan W.
It's a nice place trying real hard to be fancy. This is a nice sit-down place to bring a date. The food is good they use quality fresh ingredients. Average plate is around $20 and appetizers $8 to $15.
(4)
Rich E.
We went here for date night and it was amazing. Everything we had was delicious. We tried the lobster bisque was very good and so was the clam chowder. We split the goat cheese salad and it was one of the best salads we have had. The bacon wrapped shrimp apps were divine. Our entrees were on point. I had the filet which was cooked perfect and my wife had the duck which was so tender and delicious. Wife ordered an appletini and loved it. I had a red wine that was very smooth, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our server Ross did a tremendous job taking care of us! He was the best! We will definitely be back.
(4)
Lisa L.
I went here for dinner (I am from out of state). The Salmon dish with wild mushrooms was honestly the best salmon I have had in years. Just PERFECT! The sauce with it was divine and unique.....I have never seen a similar creation on any menu, anywhere, to date with the combination of ingredients that made it a wonderful treat from the first to last bite. Dave, our server, was also excellent! He recommended a great bottle of Pinot noir and was the right amount of courteous, professional, and yet light-hearted. I am a road warrior and this was the first memorable meal of this calibre in a while! If I get back to Springfield, I am definitely returning!
(5)
Brianne G.
Augie's. Way to go guys. Went for birthday dinner a week ago and it was a great experience. Augie's was one of those downtown staples that I always meant to visit, but for some reason it just never happened. In hindsight, it was pure tragedy. I ordered the filet and my girlfriend ordered the potato crusted cod. Both of us were beyond pleased. My filet was a perfect medium rare and the quality was superb. Mashed potatoes and veggies were delicious. I cleaned the plate. The girlfriend's dinner disappeared in approximately five minutes. I barely got my traditional sample. Service was really great. Our waiter was very professional, pleasant, and attentive. Good man. I was actually surprised after dinner--someone slipped them the news that it was my birthday and they offered me my choice of dessert. I chose the bread pudding. The bread pudding itself was pretty good, but the sadface of the night was the strange cinnamon sauce on top of it. Tasted like liquified red hots. :( Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely return.
(4)
Dave C.
This is more expensive than the other restaurants in the immediate vicinity, yet worth it. Why? Well... a lot of the others have a bar scene and bar food. This place has nicely presented choices that have a mix of vegetables, meat/fish, and sauces. In a way, things are presented as if it was a high end French restaurant. The atmosphere is great for couples; but also works well for non-romantic. We were a family of 4 - kids that were 11 and 16 - and it worked great. It is also reasonably quiet. You don't need to whisper, I don't mean that. Yet... you don't need to yell over others to be heard. The location is great in that it is close to a lot of highly rated attractions in the heart of Springfield.
(5)
Leah H.
Love this place! I cannot get over their goat cheese salad! It is fried goat cheese that bursts with creamy warm goodness when you cut into it! It has a sweet Vinegarette on it... Perfect appetizer. I have eaten here 3 times, and my favorite dish is the potato crusted fish. Fantastic! A definite go to restaurant! It really isn't priced too high either for the top quality chef!
(5)
Jimmy L.
The hotel had recommended a bar and grill type place, and I was totally not into that right now, so saw this place here on Yelp. I didn't have a car here, so I was looking for something in walking distance from The State House Hotel where I could actually have a private/quiet dinner all to myself. The key was to it had to have been a short walk since the weather was at 15 degrees or so! You can't beat the location downtown across from the old State Capitol. You walk into a dark and long narrow space with the bar up-front. Once you get in towards the back, though, there is much more space that you can't see from the outside. They sat me in the secondary portion of the dining room where there was perhaps one other party. Private, but still open to the front dining room to where you don't necessarily feel completely isolated. The wait staff was super pleasant, and super responsive when I ordered coffee from the get-go and kept asking for refills. I ordered the following - Braised Bunn Farm Chuck Short Ribs aged white cheddar pave potato/winter root vegetable/natural jus The price point was $19.00, which I thought was reasonable for a beef entree. So, one of my pain points, though, is if I'm ordering ribs, I really do want the ribs - as in the BONZ. More often than not - at not only this place, but most places I have ordered it - I order short ribs, and they arrived BONELESS. Sorry, but if it ain't got the bones, you gotta say something like, "Boneless Short Ribs". Otherwise, my expectations are shot! Secondly, I'm not so sure that they were really braised, or if they were, not sure if they were braised for a long time. Though I thought it was good, the meat was tender enough, but not tender enough for it to taste like it was braised. The portions were big, and was too full for dessert, so I promised I'd come back the next night and JUST have dessert. So, the next evening, I ordered their signature dish, which was a "peach bread pudding with whisky sauce and ice cream". It was GREAT. They sat me at the bar this time, and reserved a whole carafe of coffee for me, and kept serving me up with it. The waiter was nice enough to bring me back an extra dollop of ice cream - and I didn't even ask for it! He gave me really personal service. For this last experience alone, I give this place a 4-star rating when it otherwise would have been three.
(4)
Michael N.
Great dinner once more. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella app was quite fresh and good. The duck was crispy with an oriental sauce which I loved. The bread pudding desert was ok. We had a very nice reasonably priced red wine. Everyone liked their meal and the service was great!
(5)
Paul W.
Decent lunch spot. Nothing special as far as food, service, or decor.
(3)
Jan L.
Nice place and service. Our entrees were disappointing- the pork cheeks tasted like pot roast and the salmon strong. We enjoyed our sangria and lobster bisque. The place was pretty full maybe we made bad choices.
(3)
Damian S.
Recommended by the bar down the street that didn't serve food, I was hesitant at first when I walked in. The tables, waiters, other guests, and wine cellar entryway gave me the idea I might be in too ritzy an establishment for my current state of dress and sobriety--I'd been sightseeing all day in 95 degree heat, and probably looked like I'd just stepped out of a swimming pool. However, the wall decor led me to believe I might be ok if I stayed, as it is very garish. I'm not quite sure if there was a theme going there, or not. I stayed anyway, and ordered the rainbow trout with a beer and a Coke. That was truly one of the best fish meals I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked superbly, but not to the point where it totally fell apart before reaching your mouth. That was one tasty fish--why more restaurants don't serve this is currently a mystery to me. The cost was well within the range of normalcy, and the waiter treated me just like any of the "suits" and "ball gowns" at the nearby tables. A very pleasant experience and a good meal--though I quickly went back to the dive bar for the rest of the evening. If I'm ever in Springfield again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)
Matt R.
This place is a joke. Went here for lunch with 3 family members. The elk burger came out 15 minutes after ordering, followed by sandwiches 5 minutes later, and then 5 minutes after that a salad. Who runs a restaurant where food is served like that? Management should be embarrassed. Lastly, the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go elsewhere in Springfield.
(1)
Matthew G.
We have eaten at Augie's a few times. The food is always good and the service is very pleasant. The narrow dining area is at first off putting, but the ambiance was well assembled and the feel of the space is comfortable. I don't see the manager in the dining room, but I haven't needed a manager.
(4)
Sara B.
going in we thought it was a burger joint. I would say we werepleasently surprised. Large portions, great for sharing. Enjoyed the warm goat cheese salad, black bean cakes, manhattan seafood chowder, and shared the "pasta of the day." The Salad was amazing! The best part of the meal. The food all- together wasn't amazing, but it was good. The decor is a little off but I really liked the small pieces of art on the tables. One criticism, there were SO many specials. The menu is small and select to begin with, so when there are 5-6 specials of the day that are intricate and intense it confuses things a bit.
(4)
Barnabas H.
I give this place 3 stars based solely on the the quality of food. If one were blind, the taste of the food would give any review a 4, maybe 5, star review. This place is gaudy, right down to the garnish. The art is so loud an annoying, but I respect the owner's ambition to recognize local artists. Here's a hint - treat the visual aspect as seriously as the culinary, otherwise this place will make serious palettes nauseous before they order. Once the food arrives, it's great. Nothing to complain about at all apart from presentation. I've had some really wonderful food here - my favorite of which was the pork tasting menu with local beer pairings.
(3)
Angela P.
How much can you judge a place based on eating there once? Im not sure, but I know that Augie's lived up to most of the hype I had heard about it. Dining alone, especially as a young(ish) female, can be a strange beast. The odd looks, questions i.e. "Are you waiting for someone?", servers avoiding you at all costs thinking youll be a bad tipper. When I walked into Augie's it was a weekday afternoon and the rest of the clientele appeared to be business lunch meetings or 'ladies-who-lunch'. I was just looking for a good place to sit and have some lunch, a glass of wine and to read a book. I remembered that I was around the corner from Augie's and decided to try it. I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I couldnt figure out if it was because they didnt see me (or didnt want to see me) or they thought I was waiting for someone else to come in the door with me, or what. Anyhow, after I was seated there was a tinge of awkwardness with the server, but after that it was smooth sailing. My server explained the specials and showed me the wine specials. I know people mention Augie's can be on the more expensive side, but at $7 the wine specials were really reasonable and the white wine blend I had was really good. For lunch I ordered the crab cake entree ($11). I have to say that I cant remember having better crab cakes in recent memory. They can tend to be too heavy on the non-crab filling or too soft and falling apart. These were heavy on the crab, easy on the 'breadiness'. The outsides were breaded with a very light crumb, almost panko-like and they were perfectly crispy. I was enjoying them and the nice lemon aioli that came with them so much a woman passed by me and said, "Those are good, huh?". They were! I dont know how much you can tell by a restaurant by one visit, but this visit certainly convinced me to come back. Yes, the decor is a bit odd. Like a yoga studio mixed with some new-age club, but I can forgive that.
(4)
Warren W.
One of the best higher-end restaurants in Springfield. The ecclectic ambiance and menu is very accomodating. If you are looking for creative twists on standard fare then look no further.
(4)
Sinh M.
We went here on our 3rd year anniversary, the restaurant is very nice and has a pleasing atmosphere. The food and the service was also very excellent, I would definitely come back.
(5)
Lindsey F.
I had an excellent lunch here today! The crispy goat cheese salad (I added chicken) was really delicious. The goat cheese was a fried disc situated atop the greens, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter Aaron was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Carri C.
Filet and NY strip were high quality and comparable to the good steakhouses in Chicago. Others in my group had the pork chop and the cod-everyone enjoyed their meals. Apps were a little skimpy in size, but the entrees were fine. Outstanding service. Overall, great experience and I would return.
(5)
Julie H.
Ok, everyone always raves about Augie's here in the 'patch. I see on yelp, no different. All I can say is really??? The food I had last night was ok but nothing extraordinary. Also, while our waitress was sufficient, the bar service while I was waiting for my table was pretty slow and snotty. The hostesses also seemed to be out of sorts, no eye contact, etc. Oh and the presentation on some of their dishes, really really over the top to the point of being almost comical. Ok kids, let's review....good points, my risotto - yum: the price of dinner was more than reasonable; free parking with a back entrance in the lot behind the restaurant and last but not least, they are trying in a city that really doesn't have a clue about good food. Bad points, food had by others in my group was just meh and my monkfish was overcooked, over the top presentations of food, not much wine by the glass to choose from and the service could use some serious work.
(2)
Heather L.
I had heard tell of the Horsehoe aka The Shut up and Eat special of the day as they call it here. I was told by the friendly bar keep that it originated at the nearby Leland Hotel in the 1920's. It can take many forms but is essentially an open faced sandwich, smothered in meat, in this case, slow roasted pulled pork with carmelized onion and pears, then smothered with a very yummy cheese sauce and I don't mean ballpark nacho, good cheese and then you top it off with a pile of sweet potato fries on top. It resembles a horseshoe in that the bread is the shoe, the cheese is the glue and the fries are the nails. Loved the blues music they had going and lots of tables of one making it much less uncomfortable for this lone travelling salesman to e. Very nice atmosphere. $12 for a very yummy, very filling meal plus $2 for a coke. Not bad, not bad at all. I will be back.
(5)
J. C.
We at at Augie's for lunch one day and it was pretty good. My lady friend had the pot roast, which we both thought was very good. We decided after that visit that we would try the dinner menu. About two months later we went back. I had the short ribs and she had the duck. The duck was ok, nothing special. The portion of duck to noodles was almost too generous. I wish there was a sign of generosity with my order. My short ribs were awful. They were bone dry. I've had roast from unskilled cooks that was much more flavorful and moist. The potatoes were good. The vegetables, however, were raw. I like a little bite to vegetables but these were hardly cooked. I was shocked by how poor the short ribs were. We both left significant amounts on the plate and we were never asked how our food was. Not wanting to be rude on a rare night out we kept to ourselves. We spent $70 on crab cakes that tasted like fish sticks, short ribs that were bone dry, and duck that was on par with a Chinese buffet. I would say save your money and try another place in town that prides itself on quality service and product. I don't have a go to place in Springfield for that yet...
(2)
Rachel A.
I like to try to give a restaurant more than 1 try before reviewing, unless we are traveling...then of course - they get 1 shot to WOW :-) We have now been to Augie's numerous times, and this place kicks ass every single time! I do not feel the same about he enviroment as some of the others - The eclectic environment is obvious - good for them for not being like the rest! It is definately clean, and love a linen napkin! The fresh local ingredients, and the impecible service we always receive is top notch & is what makes this 5 stars for me. This night our server was Matt. From the second we walk in the door we are greeted and the service didn't stop! Although it was Saturday, they were busy, he kept us informed and the food coming & tabled cleared w/ each course. We ordered from the bar - Skyy & cranberry... right on.... Appetizer: white bean hummus & grilled naan flatbread - DELICIOUS! Bread was nicely toasted on the outside, and warm & soft on the inside. Salad: I had the Red wine poached bosc pear w/ bleu cheese & candied walnuts w/ vanilla bean vinaigrette - I could turn vegitarian if someone would make me this salad everyday....it was FABULOUS, seriously...slap your Momma fabulous! Rolls were served warm, butter served on a cold stone, (I'm never a huge fan of the hard, cold butter), and it did taste as if it was REAL butter...nice. Entree: I had one of their specials, which was Scallops w/ a veggie risotto. The scallops were grilled perfectly, and so moist in the center. The risotto was creamy & full of nice firm veggies. OH, yeah! Right on Augie's! We had no room for dessert, but thanks for the after dinner chocolate mint! An evening at a local restaurant, great service, and unique culinary creations by great chefs that you don't find at any other Springfield restaurant! We will continue to return! KUDOS!!
(5)
Chuck B.
I've been to this place twice, and it is wonderful place to have some truly unique food good drinks. The chef is vested in the success of the restaurant. Last week I had the elk loin on grits and a Caesar salad. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar. I was offered, and accepted, a wine tasting to pair with my meal. Great service and a superb chef. Hard to go wrong.
(5)
Bunny S.
Extremely attentive waitstaff and a flavorful menu to boot. Our waitress Rhiannon was very knowledgable about the menu and the flavors in each dish making her able to suggest an alternative salad dressing to pair with the first course when the dressing that came with the plate was an impossibility. The meals themselves (we had the duck and the locally farmed porkchop) were done to perfection and married the flavors extremely well. The duck was spicy and true to the szechwan style. The pork was made perfectly with a tangy sauce and collared greens that were edible as opposed to boggy. We ate early (before 7 on a Saturday) so we didn't need a reservation but if you come in at 7 or later you should probably call ahead. Overall a great place to eat if you're in town visiting from a big city or looking for a touch of class in downtown Springfield. Ask for Rihannon, she's a treat to speak with.
(5)
J N.
Discovered this great little restaurant on Yelp. We chose it mostly because it was a short walk from the hotel. Great choice. Our server was exceptional. The food was very good. Over all, a warm welcoming environment and an enjoyable evening.
(5)
Andrew W.
Holy smokes this place was a surprise. Not much else in Springfield compares in my findings in the last 3 months.
(4)
Dave A.
My wife and I enjoyed a top-quality dinner there after a long day of Lincolning. Our waiter, Matt, was the perfect balance of helpfulness and restraint. The ribeye was excellent. The only "meh" moment was the fried cheese Napoleon appetizer, which was Sam's Club cheese sticks covered in marinara sauce from a jar. Not a cheap place...the $120 including tip bill would have paid for a lot of pizza, but it was a nice treat.
(5)
Jim M.
Go here every time I'm in town. The food and service is always excellent.
(5)
Michelle H.
My husband and I dined here last night. We were in town for one night, so I'm glad we found Augie's. We were lucky enough to score 1/2 price bottle of wine night too. They had a great selection to choose from. My husband had the crispy duck. It was awesome. Crispy skin, sauce with heat, not just hot for the sake of hot. I had the NY strip steak. Cooked perfectly and a great cheese crust. A nice surprise of red cabbage as a side. The dessert was bread pudding and spice ice cream. Phenomenal. Service was top notch. The water glasses were topped off frequently. The server was informative and attentive without being obtrusive. Great find.
(4)
Michael S.
I'm not as effusive about this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was damn good but not to rave over, and given that it's Springfield, I have no quarrel with the hodge podge decor. My lobster bisque soup was very good enough. My rack of lamb was excellent. I'd be happy to come back. This place kicks the crap out of some other very over-rated crappy Springfield restaurants.
(4)
AJ J.
Just okay. Carl, our server was good but the wine selection was limited. Lobster bisque was good but pork chops just okay. I always give any resturant an extra star for providing linen.
(3)
Mathew P.
So I ordered an elk burger. I ordered it medium rare. With shallots and bacon. It came well done. With no bacon. It was taken back with a promise to do better. It returned medium and still with no bacon. They denied me bacon. Look at my profile. What is the one food I love above all others? Waitstaff were alerted. Two overly crisp slices of bacon were brought to me on a separate plate. Waiter then took back our ketchup when we still desire ketchup and promptly disappeared. So I hear that Augie's is Springfield's top restaurant. So I hear.
(2)
Cara B.
We went for our anniversary and it was horrible! We were served a very dry white wine when we asked for a suggestion of a sweet, the food was pretty, but not very tasty. There is a dish called potato pave- it was hard like pavement and tasted like paste- eww. We will NEVER come back! Just go to Sebastian's Food is much better, and the staff more knowledgable.
(1)
Peggy T.
This is a great spot where they are clearly trying hard to be the best. We were there on the night when there was a tasting menu, which was an exceptional value. Six courses cost $45. One of the four of us had the tasting menu and the rest of us ordered off the usual menu. The vegetables were very fresh and used appropriately. Portions were on the large side. Our service was outstanding.
(4)
The Big Babboon I.
I live very close to this place and feel bad giving it three stars, but that's what it deserves. My latest meal there was the elk burger ordered medium which came out raw in the center, had borscht, of which the broth was good, but lacked any real amount of beets / food in it. My friend had the seafood soup which tasted like nothing but fish sauce, and his grilled cheese was good, but thinking about it, its pretty hard to mess up girlled cheese. I would give this place two stars but for its 32 oz ribeye...this cut of meat alone got it up a star. If you want prime beef also, this place is the only place (and only sometimes - and only one cut) in town that has it. However, overall Springfield is known for its mediocre dining downtown, and this place lives up to that reputation. OK...new chef...moves up to 4 stars!
(4)
Josh T.
Nothing I love more than a place with excellent food that incorporates local meats & produce. This place does all of that. The food is prepared artfully by a chef who is aware of flavors and presentation. Many of the entrees are listed with the farms where the meats and cheeses and from. Great place for a fancy date, or dinner as this place can be expensive for everyday dining. Portions are appropriate but not supersized. This is a place you want to slow down eating and appreciate the flavors being created. A true chef treat!
(4)
Peter H.
We really enjoyed our trip to Augie's The food was excellent, and well presented. The salads were delicious, the steak was good (made better by the accompanying mashed potato and asparagus) and the salmon was great. The service was top notch, the ambiance was very "New York"; overall an excellent dining experience.
(4)
Sandy C.
We had a wonderful meal. The food was great and Matt was a great waiter. We will be back. Sandy and Bart from Decatur, Illinois
(5)
Brad W.
Great food and excellent atmosphere, prices were a touch high. The lobster bisque was good, but compared to the Union League club in Chicago, it didn't have much lobster to it. We will definitely come back.
(4)
Rachel K.
My fiance and I went here last night and I have to say that it was kind of a strange experience. First, lets talk about the food. Oh My Lord it was amazing. I ordered the New York Strip and she ordered the lamb. That was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had. Granted I haven't had a ton of experience eating steak, but this thing was amazing. Normally I like my steak to be somewhere between medium and medium rare. I feel like when I order medium rare at a steakhouse they always give it to me too rare, but this was pretty damn rare and still fantastic! It was seasoned so perfectly and just sooo good. I think I remember seeing that the menu said something about the steak being seasoned in a french onion soup type deal and then covered in gruyere. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It also came with mashed potatoes and a mixture of veggies. The mashed potatoes were also very yummy. The veggies were on the tasteless side, which was disappointing, but I've also been spoiled lately from eating fresh veggies from my garden. The fiance said that her lamb was not as good as the steak, but that it was still really good. She seemed to enjoy the entire meal, just not as much as I enjoyed mine. Lets back up a little and talk about before dinner. First we were served hot rolls and cold butter. I'm not really sure who eats cold butter. The idea is cool especially since the butter was actually on a coldstone, but it was impossible to spread and made the hot rolls cold almost instantly. I normally love a good roll, but these weren't all that great. I say skip the bread and fill up on the steak. For drinks I ordered a basic flavored vodka and juice cocktail, but it came in this ridiculously fancy glass. I thought that was pretty odd. The fiance ordered an oatmeal stout which she was a big fan of. They offered her a glass to pour it into, but oddly enough it was the same glass that I had gotten my cocktail in. We also ordered dessert. We weren't really sure we wanted any since we were pretty full from our entrees, but I told the waiter we'd look at the dessert menu. Oh persuasive bastards! There was no dessert menu. He actually brought out a plate of desserts and told us about each one. That is just pure evil. You can't say no to that! We had the chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was very rich and super dense and oh so good. I wish they would've given us a bit of a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance off the richness of the cake, but they seemed to be going more for presentation on that one. I was glad that the dessert portions weren't enormous like they often are at chain restaurants. I really don't need an enormous dessert, nor do I want one. So this all sounds fantastic, right? So why was the experience weird and why after all that gushing about how fantastic the food is does this place only get 4 stars? With a menu like this restaurant has and the prices you're paying (not super expensive, but $30 for a meal in Springfield where I can get a pizza for like $7 is not a cheap place) the decor should really be nice and classy. I understand that they're trying to go for a casual dining environment, but you can still pull that off and look classy. The ambiance of the restaurant really needs to match the food, the wait service (which was very good), and the prices. You can still wear casual clothes and visit a classy establishment. The decor was absolutely atrocious! It was a hodge podge of different styles that clashed when put all together in a room. From the greek murals on the wall (some of them of extremely naked large breasted women) to the almost cartoonish framed pictures of buildings and abe lincoln, to the canyon painting, to the flowered carpet, to the different room dividers, to the tiled ceiling (high school anyone?), to the track lighting, to the paper cone holding breadsticks on each table, to the painted spoon sculptures of flowers. This was just a mess of different types of design that did not go well together at all. And some of it was so bad that it shouldn't be anywhere near this restaurant. I expect this type of decor from a kitschy restaurant, but not from a place with fantastic steaks. And then what really made the experience strange, but I wouldn't actually take into consideration when rating the place was the extremely loud woman conversing with two older people that I guessed were her parents. She bitched and moaned about her personal life very loudly the entire time, but the topper was when she started talking about her incurable foot fungus. That is not appropriate restaurant conversation! I don't care if you're done with your meal, I wasn't done with mine and I don't need to be picturing your foot fungus while I'm eating. That is disgusting and you need to get some manners. I will definitely be returning to this place for their fantastic food and I will hope that they change the decor by the time I return.
(4)
Janee M.
The crispy goat salad is a culinary experience. Fresh, flavorful and delightful. The lobster bisque was rich and creamy however it was missing those chunks of lobster that can make a bisque unforgettable. The service was great. I highly recommend you try this place.
(4)
Lisa C.
Always a wonderful dining experience! Awesome food & service! Augies goes above & beyond in every area! Excellent! Every time we have been there it is Always good! Yes, we Will be back!
Good service in a nice, relaxing environment, but the food is overpriced, in my opinion. Entrees are $20 on the low end of the menu. They do offer a $12.95 meal on Thursdays only, which is reasonable. The Caesar salad was great, as were the side dishes. The pork chop, however, wasn't anything special. I've made better at home. My daughter's chicken-fried chicken was merely okay. She didn't like it, so I ate half of it. If it were more reasonably priced, I'd try this restaurant again.
(4)
Ryan K.
Came here after finding a link to them on a Springfield-related website. The wife and I really liked this place. Good food (more on this later), our 6 and 10 year olds enjoyed their kid's meals, and the services was excellent (more on this later, too). Re: the food: - I got the Lobster Bisque and Dena got the Butternut Squash Bisque to start. My Lobster was good, not great. Didn't have any lobster chunks in it, but flavor was good. Dena's Butternut Squash was great, though. Good flavor, good heat at the end. - I got a Butter salad next, and Dena got the Crispy Goat cheese salad. Both were good and adequately (e.g. not overly massive and wasteful) sized. The bacon on both was fab. - We rounded out with a series of appetizers. There was so much goodness on the menu, that we wanted to go with variety in smaller chunks than a single big entree. I got the Bean Cakes and Wontons, Dena got Meatball Skewers. All in all, the prices were a bit higher for smaller portions, but I'd rather get good food at a higher price point than a buttload of average food at cheaper prices. Would I come back? Absolutely. I might want to experiment a bit more in town just to see what else is out there, but I would (and will) recommend them to anyone I know who is visiting Springfield. Re: Service - Gabe was AWESOME. Did I mention awesome? He was attentive, knowledgeable, was great with our kids, checked in on us enough but not too much, gave good recommendations, all good. Really...he enhanced the entire experience. I hope management reads this so they can see it. This is a classic case of where a 4.5 would be appropriate. In the absence of that, I gave them a 4 rather than a 5 because: - The decor was a bit dated, or just off a bit. Not bad, but just felt a bit disjointed. - The Lobster Bisque could have benefited from some chunks of lobster. Yes. I'm being picky, but I'm trying to be more diligent in who I give 5 stars out to. I probably would have given them 5 stars 12 months ago. Did I mention Gabe was awesome?
(4)
Robin R.
Wonderful choice for a special occasion. Great array of choices on the menu. So hard to decide what I wanted. Full wine list. Very professional waitstaff.
(4)
Chris B.
Not sure why I gave it one star. Cold food big bill bad stop. Some kind of sauce over Rib eye should have indicated trouble but downhill from there. Limited choices in Springpatch make people go here I am sure. Better off getting a burger at a sports bar. Never seeing this place again.
(1)
Jessie H.
Great food and classy staff. I have been to several places in Springfield so far--this is my favorite. The catfish was great and the coffee was just what I needed.
(5)
Buddy B.
The food was excellent. The service was even better. The menu had standard choices with enough unusual and different selections to make it very interesting. Visited Springfield from Chicago and Augie's was recommended by someone at the Lincoln library. Pricey but worth every penny.
(5)
Brianne G.
Augie's. Way to go guys. Went for birthday dinner a week ago and it was a great experience. Augie's was one of those downtown staples that I always meant to visit, but for some reason it just never happened. In hindsight, it was pure tragedy. I ordered the filet and my girlfriend ordered the potato crusted cod. Both of us were beyond pleased. My filet was a perfect medium rare and the quality was superb. Mashed potatoes and veggies were delicious. I cleaned the plate. The girlfriend's dinner disappeared in approximately five minutes. I barely got my traditional sample. Service was really great. Our waiter was very professional, pleasant, and attentive. Good man. I was actually surprised after dinner--someone slipped them the news that it was my birthday and they offered me my choice of dessert. I chose the bread pudding. The bread pudding itself was pretty good, but the sadface of the night was the strange cinnamon sauce on top of it. Tasted like liquified red hots. :( Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely return.
(4)
Dave C.
This is more expensive than the other restaurants in the immediate vicinity, yet worth it. Why? Well... a lot of the others have a bar scene and bar food. This place has nicely presented choices that have a mix of vegetables, meat/fish, and sauces. In a way, things are presented as if it was a high end French restaurant. The atmosphere is great for couples; but also works well for non-romantic. We were a family of 4 - kids that were 11 and 16 - and it worked great. It is also reasonably quiet. You don't need to whisper, I don't mean that. Yet... you don't need to yell over others to be heard. The location is great in that it is close to a lot of highly rated attractions in the heart of Springfield.
(5)
Michael N.
Great dinner once more. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella app was quite fresh and good. The duck was crispy with an oriental sauce which I loved. The bread pudding desert was ok. We had a very nice reasonably priced red wine. Everyone liked their meal and the service was great!
(5)
Damian S.
Recommended by the bar down the street that didn't serve food, I was hesitant at first when I walked in. The tables, waiters, other guests, and wine cellar entryway gave me the idea I might be in too ritzy an establishment for my current state of dress and sobriety--I'd been sightseeing all day in 95 degree heat, and probably looked like I'd just stepped out of a swimming pool. However, the wall decor led me to believe I might be ok if I stayed, as it is very garish. I'm not quite sure if there was a theme going there, or not. I stayed anyway, and ordered the rainbow trout with a beer and a Coke. That was truly one of the best fish meals I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked superbly, but not to the point where it totally fell apart before reaching your mouth. That was one tasty fish--why more restaurants don't serve this is currently a mystery to me. The cost was well within the range of normalcy, and the waiter treated me just like any of the "suits" and "ball gowns" at the nearby tables. A very pleasant experience and a good meal--though I quickly went back to the dive bar for the rest of the evening. If I'm ever in Springfield again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)
Barnabas H.
I give this place 3 stars based solely on the the quality of food. If one were blind, the taste of the food would give any review a 4, maybe 5, star review. This place is gaudy, right down to the garnish. The art is so loud an annoying, but I respect the owner's ambition to recognize local artists. Here's a hint - treat the visual aspect as seriously as the culinary, otherwise this place will make serious palettes nauseous before they order. Once the food arrives, it's great. Nothing to complain about at all apart from presentation. I've had some really wonderful food here - my favorite of which was the pork tasting menu with local beer pairings.
(3)
Paul W.
Decent lunch spot. Nothing special as far as food, service, or decor.
(3)
Jan L.
Nice place and service. Our entrees were disappointing- the pork cheeks tasted like pot roast and the salmon strong. We enjoyed our sangria and lobster bisque. The place was pretty full maybe we made bad choices.
(3)
Leah H.
Love this place! I cannot get over their goat cheese salad! It is fried goat cheese that bursts with creamy warm goodness when you cut into it! It has a sweet Vinegarette on it... Perfect appetizer. I have eaten here 3 times, and my favorite dish is the potato crusted fish. Fantastic! A definite go to restaurant! It really isn't priced too high either for the top quality chef!
(5)
J N.
Discovered this great little restaurant on Yelp. We chose it mostly because it was a short walk from the hotel. Great choice. Our server was exceptional. The food was very good. Over all, a warm welcoming environment and an enjoyable evening.
(5)
Jimmy L.
The hotel had recommended a bar and grill type place, and I was totally not into that right now, so saw this place here on Yelp. I didn't have a car here, so I was looking for something in walking distance from The State House Hotel where I could actually have a private/quiet dinner all to myself. The key was to it had to have been a short walk since the weather was at 15 degrees or so! You can't beat the location downtown across from the old State Capitol. You walk into a dark and long narrow space with the bar up-front. Once you get in towards the back, though, there is much more space that you can't see from the outside. They sat me in the secondary portion of the dining room where there was perhaps one other party. Private, but still open to the front dining room to where you don't necessarily feel completely isolated. The wait staff was super pleasant, and super responsive when I ordered coffee from the get-go and kept asking for refills. I ordered the following - Braised Bunn Farm Chuck Short Ribs aged white cheddar pave potato/winter root vegetable/natural jus The price point was $19.00, which I thought was reasonable for a beef entree. So, one of my pain points, though, is if I'm ordering ribs, I really do want the ribs - as in the BONZ. More often than not - at not only this place, but most places I have ordered it - I order short ribs, and they arrived BONELESS. Sorry, but if it ain't got the bones, you gotta say something like, "Boneless Short Ribs". Otherwise, my expectations are shot! Secondly, I'm not so sure that they were really braised, or if they were, not sure if they were braised for a long time. Though I thought it was good, the meat was tender enough, but not tender enough for it to taste like it was braised. The portions were big, and was too full for dessert, so I promised I'd come back the next night and JUST have dessert. So, the next evening, I ordered their signature dish, which was a "peach bread pudding with whisky sauce and ice cream". It was GREAT. They sat me at the bar this time, and reserved a whole carafe of coffee for me, and kept serving me up with it. The waiter was nice enough to bring me back an extra dollop of ice cream - and I didn't even ask for it! He gave me really personal service. For this last experience alone, I give this place a 4-star rating when it otherwise would have been three.
(4)
Matt R.
This place is a joke. Went here for lunch with 3 family members. The elk burger came out 15 minutes after ordering, followed by sandwiches 5 minutes later, and then 5 minutes after that a salad. Who runs a restaurant where food is served like that? Management should be embarrassed. Lastly, the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go elsewhere in Springfield.
(1)
Matthew G.
We have eaten at Augie's a few times. The food is always good and the service is very pleasant. The narrow dining area is at first off putting, but the ambiance was well assembled and the feel of the space is comfortable. I don't see the manager in the dining room, but I haven't needed a manager.
(4)
Sara B.
going in we thought it was a burger joint. I would say we werepleasently surprised. Large portions, great for sharing. Enjoyed the warm goat cheese salad, black bean cakes, manhattan seafood chowder, and shared the "pasta of the day." The Salad was amazing! The best part of the meal. The food all- together wasn't amazing, but it was good. The decor is a little off but I really liked the small pieces of art on the tables. One criticism, there were SO many specials. The menu is small and select to begin with, so when there are 5-6 specials of the day that are intricate and intense it confuses things a bit.
(4)
Warren W.
One of the best higher-end restaurants in Springfield. The ecclectic ambiance and menu is very accomodating. If you are looking for creative twists on standard fare then look no further.
(4)
Lindsey F.
I had an excellent lunch here today! The crispy goat cheese salad (I added chicken) was really delicious. The goat cheese was a fried disc situated atop the greens, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter Aaron was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Angela P.
How much can you judge a place based on eating there once? Im not sure, but I know that Augie's lived up to most of the hype I had heard about it. Dining alone, especially as a young(ish) female, can be a strange beast. The odd looks, questions i.e. "Are you waiting for someone?", servers avoiding you at all costs thinking youll be a bad tipper. When I walked into Augie's it was a weekday afternoon and the rest of the clientele appeared to be business lunch meetings or 'ladies-who-lunch'. I was just looking for a good place to sit and have some lunch, a glass of wine and to read a book. I remembered that I was around the corner from Augie's and decided to try it. I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I couldnt figure out if it was because they didnt see me (or didnt want to see me) or they thought I was waiting for someone else to come in the door with me, or what. Anyhow, after I was seated there was a tinge of awkwardness with the server, but after that it was smooth sailing. My server explained the specials and showed me the wine specials. I know people mention Augie's can be on the more expensive side, but at $7 the wine specials were really reasonable and the white wine blend I had was really good. For lunch I ordered the crab cake entree ($11). I have to say that I cant remember having better crab cakes in recent memory. They can tend to be too heavy on the non-crab filling or too soft and falling apart. These were heavy on the crab, easy on the 'breadiness'. The outsides were breaded with a very light crumb, almost panko-like and they were perfectly crispy. I was enjoying them and the nice lemon aioli that came with them so much a woman passed by me and said, "Those are good, huh?". They were! I dont know how much you can tell by a restaurant by one visit, but this visit certainly convinced me to come back. Yes, the decor is a bit odd. Like a yoga studio mixed with some new-age club, but I can forgive that.
(4)
Sinh M.
We went here on our 3rd year anniversary, the restaurant is very nice and has a pleasing atmosphere. The food and the service was also very excellent, I would definitely come back.
(5)
Daisy P.
I had a terrific lunch here today. House salad: 3 stars. Peppery greens were a little too much and needed some sweeter leaves in there to balance. Not enough dressing. Lovely presentation, though, and high-quality greens. Veggie quesadilla: 4.5 stars. This was a custom dish since I'm vegetarian and all of their specials had meat. Delicious roasted flavor on tortilla and veggies, and totally enough cheese, which can be hard to find. Asian veggies were an interesting choice that paid off. Cilantro sour cream dip was delicious. The half star off is for the inclusion of peapods, which were too chewy/fibrous for good quesadilla consistency, and for how the veggies didn't always stick to the tortilla so it was a little messy to eat. Bread pudding: 5 stars. Perfect portion and served hot with an apricot-whiskey sauce and licorice ice cream. Heavenly. I wanted to lick the plate. Service: 5 stars easy. I wish I got my waiter's name; he was charming but not fake, attentive but not intrusive, answered annoying vegetarian questions with a smile, recommended the right things for me to eat....loved him.
(4)
Beth P.
We went here while on vacation because my husband was in the mood for a steak. The food was good, but it wasn't worth it for the cost in my opinion...we actually were debating about picking up something extra on the way back to our hotel because of how small the portion sizes were. You're looking at $20-$35 per person. And while the staff was friendly and didn't care that my husband and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, the attire is DEFINITELY NOT casual. 90% of the people in there were in suits/business clothes.
(2)
J. C.
We at at Augie's for lunch one day and it was pretty good. My lady friend had the pot roast, which we both thought was very good. We decided after that visit that we would try the dinner menu. About two months later we went back. I had the short ribs and she had the duck. The duck was ok, nothing special. The portion of duck to noodles was almost too generous. I wish there was a sign of generosity with my order. My short ribs were awful. They were bone dry. I've had roast from unskilled cooks that was much more flavorful and moist. The potatoes were good. The vegetables, however, were raw. I like a little bite to vegetables but these were hardly cooked. I was shocked by how poor the short ribs were. We both left significant amounts on the plate and we were never asked how our food was. Not wanting to be rude on a rare night out we kept to ourselves. We spent $70 on crab cakes that tasted like fish sticks, short ribs that were bone dry, and duck that was on par with a Chinese buffet. I would say save your money and try another place in town that prides itself on quality service and product. I don't have a go to place in Springfield for that yet...
(2)
Brian K.
Great food. Really creative presentation. Wine list is a decent size with good variability. Specials were interesting (they have a steak and a pasta) Atmosphere would be my only knock. It's a bit eclectic but trying to be fancy. If you drink up you won't notice it :-)
(4)
Mark G.
Outstanding food and server. A party of 7 for my spouse's birthday. Our table was near the back so it offered a bit of privacy. Everything was delicious and presented superbly. Jacob, our server, was equally great. From the drinks to small plates to salads and entrees, everyone enjoyed. You can't go wrong dining at Augie's.
(5)
Dan P.
Great seafood dish: clams and pasta. Bread was warm with a great honey butter. Service was warm andknowledgeable. Finally the lobster bisque was rich and creamy.
(5)
Rich E.
We went here for date night and it was amazing. Everything we had was delicious. We tried the lobster bisque was very good and so was the clam chowder. We split the goat cheese salad and it was one of the best salads we have had. The bacon wrapped shrimp apps were divine. Our entrees were on point. I had the filet which was cooked perfect and my wife had the duck which was so tender and delicious. Wife ordered an appletini and loved it. I had a red wine that was very smooth, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our server Ross did a tremendous job taking care of us! He was the best! We will definitely be back.
(4)
Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. First the cons: This is pricey by even big city standards and al a carte. I felt so squished into the table. There is little more than 6 inches between tables it seems. I don't like having to slide my butt along someone's plate to get to my seat. The ceiling tiles kind of grossed me out - stained & dirty. Plusses; I liked the art work around. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Just OK: Service is fine nothing outstanding, Menu is fine, nothing outstanding. I had the poached pear & blue cheese salad to start and the Mediterranean sea scallops on couscous with raisin chutney. It was nice.
(3)
Norm S.
One word describes the food - AWFUL I had the seared tuna which was served overcooked, not pink, and even though cooked it was cold. The place is a joke. I have had 4 meals there in the past 6 month and each one has been awful. Save your money and just go to McDonalds. STAY AWAY!
(1)
Bryan W.
It's a nice place trying real hard to be fancy. This is a nice sit-down place to bring a date. The food is good they use quality fresh ingredients. Average plate is around $20 and appetizers $8 to $15.
(4)
Lisa L.
I went here for dinner (I am from out of state). The Salmon dish with wild mushrooms was honestly the best salmon I have had in years. Just PERFECT! The sauce with it was divine and unique.....I have never seen a similar creation on any menu, anywhere, to date with the combination of ingredients that made it a wonderful treat from the first to last bite. Dave, our server, was also excellent! He recommended a great bottle of Pinot noir and was the right amount of courteous, professional, and yet light-hearted. I am a road warrior and this was the first memorable meal of this calibre in a while! If I get back to Springfield, I am definitely returning!
(5)
Jim C.
Visited Augies during a visit to Springfield in May 2015. Beautiful night so I choose to sit outside. Nice view over looking the old Capital building. Big mistake! Numerous guests who were eating inside continually come outside to smoke cigarettes roughly 10 feet from my table. They should set a minimum of 50 feet from front door. Gross. Food was ok. Had lobster bisque which tasted good but had Zero pieces of lobster in it. My catfish entree tasted pretty good. Service was ok. The waiter seemed truly excited by each and every menu choice I made. I'm like take it easy, it's just a Bass Beer. Choices in Springfield are limited but I would try another spot next time.
(3)
John B.
This place impressed the pants off of me. I ordered the mussels and a salmon steak, which happened to be the special for the night. Both dishes were exceptionally flavorful. The mussels came in a curry sauce that had just the right amount of kick for someone like myself with low spice tolerance to enjoy. The salmon came with a great rub that I couldn't quite pinpoint except for the paprika. Throwing in a scoop of gelato for dessert was an unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious gesture on the part of Kim behind the bar. You can tell pretty easily that this place is run by a chef that painstakingly cultivates his craft. The menu here changes fairly often so I'll plan to return every time I'm in town to see what additions they've made.
(5)
Lauren B.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. In a few words: Good, not awesome. We went here last weekend. On a Friday night, the noise level was very pleasant -- not QUIET but not loud. Drinks: Good but not outstanding. They had some nice specials, and they were reasonably priced. Food: We had the crab cakes - very good. Hubs had the petit filet, which was good, but forgettable. I had the special - lobster tails with a sweet potato sauce. Good, but not fabulous. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but weren't blown away (and shouldn't you be blown away by lobster tails?!). Service: Again good but not outstanding.
(3)
Janee M.
The crispy goat salad is a culinary experience. Fresh, flavorful and delightful. The lobster bisque was rich and creamy however it was missing those chunks of lobster that can make a bisque unforgettable. The service was great. I highly recommend you try this place.
(4)
Lisa C.
Always a wonderful dining experience! Awesome food & service! Augies goes above & beyond in every area! Excellent! Every time we have been there it is Always good! Yes, we Will be back!
Good service in a nice, relaxing environment, but the food is overpriced, in my opinion. Entrees are $20 on the low end of the menu. They do offer a $12.95 meal on Thursdays only, which is reasonable. The Caesar salad was great, as were the side dishes. The pork chop, however, wasn't anything special. I've made better at home. My daughter's chicken-fried chicken was merely okay. She didn't like it, so I ate half of it. If it were more reasonably priced, I'd try this restaurant again.
(4)
Jim O.
We loved the sister restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, and wanted to try the original. The menu looked amazing and I'm a sucker for a good lobster bisque. Augie's did not disappoint. Granted, the typical clientele are all dressed up in suits and the lighting is a little too much on the dim side, but the staff was very professional and pleasant and the food...my god the food. Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp. With. Jalapeno. Jam. My mouth is still watering, and that was just the appetizer. My wife had the best sangria she's ever had and I had the best old fashioned I've ever had, so the bartender knows exactly what he's doing. The drink price was also very reasonable compared to the price of the food. The lobster bisque didn't actually have lobster in it, but that didn't bother me. It was delicious. My wife had the tomato parmesan soup and said it was great. I'm not a huge fan of tomato soup myself, so we're going to have to take her word for it. My wife had the pork cheeks and I had the Amish jerked chicken, both exceedingly good and prepared perfectly. We ended the meal with peach bread pudding, which was a nice, light-feeling dessert as we were pretty stuffed by then. If you can drop $50-$60 per person and haven't been here, get on it. Our restaurant tour of central Illinois continues, but we'll be back.
(5)
Carri C.
Filet and NY strip were high quality and comparable to the good steakhouses in Chicago. Others in my group had the pork chop and the cod-everyone enjoyed their meals. Apps were a little skimpy in size, but the entrees were fine. Outstanding service. Overall, great experience and I would return.
(5)
Julie H.
Ok, everyone always raves about Augie's here in the 'patch. I see on yelp, no different. All I can say is really??? The food I had last night was ok but nothing extraordinary. Also, while our waitress was sufficient, the bar service while I was waiting for my table was pretty slow and snotty. The hostesses also seemed to be out of sorts, no eye contact, etc. Oh and the presentation on some of their dishes, really really over the top to the point of being almost comical. Ok kids, let's review....good points, my risotto - yum: the price of dinner was more than reasonable; free parking with a back entrance in the lot behind the restaurant and last but not least, they are trying in a city that really doesn't have a clue about good food. Bad points, food had by others in my group was just meh and my monkfish was overcooked, over the top presentations of food, not much wine by the glass to choose from and the service could use some serious work.
(2)
Heather L.
I had heard tell of the Horsehoe aka The Shut up and Eat special of the day as they call it here. I was told by the friendly bar keep that it originated at the nearby Leland Hotel in the 1920's. It can take many forms but is essentially an open faced sandwich, smothered in meat, in this case, slow roasted pulled pork with carmelized onion and pears, then smothered with a very yummy cheese sauce and I don't mean ballpark nacho, good cheese and then you top it off with a pile of sweet potato fries on top. It resembles a horseshoe in that the bread is the shoe, the cheese is the glue and the fries are the nails. Loved the blues music they had going and lots of tables of one making it much less uncomfortable for this lone travelling salesman to e. Very nice atmosphere. $12 for a very yummy, very filling meal plus $2 for a coke. Not bad, not bad at all. I will be back.
(5)
Michelle H.
My husband and I dined here last night. We were in town for one night, so I'm glad we found Augie's. We were lucky enough to score 1/2 price bottle of wine night too. They had a great selection to choose from. My husband had the crispy duck. It was awesome. Crispy skin, sauce with heat, not just hot for the sake of hot. I had the NY strip steak. Cooked perfectly and a great cheese crust. A nice surprise of red cabbage as a side. The dessert was bread pudding and spice ice cream. Phenomenal. Service was top notch. The water glasses were topped off frequently. The server was informative and attentive without being obtrusive. Great find.
(4)
Andrew W.
Holy smokes this place was a surprise. Not much else in Springfield compares in my findings in the last 3 months.
(4)
Dave A.
My wife and I enjoyed a top-quality dinner there after a long day of Lincolning. Our waiter, Matt, was the perfect balance of helpfulness and restraint. The ribeye was excellent. The only "meh" moment was the fried cheese Napoleon appetizer, which was Sam's Club cheese sticks covered in marinara sauce from a jar. Not a cheap place...the $120 including tip bill would have paid for a lot of pizza, but it was a nice treat.
(5)
Jim M.
Go here every time I'm in town. The food and service is always excellent.
(5)
Michael S.
I'm not as effusive about this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was damn good but not to rave over, and given that it's Springfield, I have no quarrel with the hodge podge decor. My lobster bisque soup was very good enough. My rack of lamb was excellent. I'd be happy to come back. This place kicks the crap out of some other very over-rated crappy Springfield restaurants.
(4)
AJ J.
Just okay. Carl, our server was good but the wine selection was limited. Lobster bisque was good but pork chops just okay. I always give any resturant an extra star for providing linen.
(3)
Mathew P.
So I ordered an elk burger. I ordered it medium rare. With shallots and bacon. It came well done. With no bacon. It was taken back with a promise to do better. It returned medium and still with no bacon. They denied me bacon. Look at my profile. What is the one food I love above all others? Waitstaff were alerted. Two overly crisp slices of bacon were brought to me on a separate plate. Waiter then took back our ketchup when we still desire ketchup and promptly disappeared. So I hear that Augie's is Springfield's top restaurant. So I hear.
(2)
Rachel A.
I like to try to give a restaurant more than 1 try before reviewing, unless we are traveling...then of course - they get 1 shot to WOW :-) We have now been to Augie's numerous times, and this place kicks ass every single time! I do not feel the same about he enviroment as some of the others - The eclectic environment is obvious - good for them for not being like the rest! It is definately clean, and love a linen napkin! The fresh local ingredients, and the impecible service we always receive is top notch & is what makes this 5 stars for me. This night our server was Matt. From the second we walk in the door we are greeted and the service didn't stop! Although it was Saturday, they were busy, he kept us informed and the food coming & tabled cleared w/ each course. We ordered from the bar - Skyy & cranberry... right on.... Appetizer: white bean hummus & grilled naan flatbread - DELICIOUS! Bread was nicely toasted on the outside, and warm & soft on the inside. Salad: I had the Red wine poached bosc pear w/ bleu cheese & candied walnuts w/ vanilla bean vinaigrette - I could turn vegitarian if someone would make me this salad everyday....it was FABULOUS, seriously...slap your Momma fabulous! Rolls were served warm, butter served on a cold stone, (I'm never a huge fan of the hard, cold butter), and it did taste as if it was REAL butter...nice. Entree: I had one of their specials, which was Scallops w/ a veggie risotto. The scallops were grilled perfectly, and so moist in the center. The risotto was creamy & full of nice firm veggies. OH, yeah! Right on Augie's! We had no room for dessert, but thanks for the after dinner chocolate mint! An evening at a local restaurant, great service, and unique culinary creations by great chefs that you don't find at any other Springfield restaurant! We will continue to return! KUDOS!!
(5)
Chuck B.
I've been to this place twice, and it is wonderful place to have some truly unique food good drinks. The chef is vested in the success of the restaurant. Last week I had the elk loin on grits and a Caesar salad. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar. I was offered, and accepted, a wine tasting to pair with my meal. Great service and a superb chef. Hard to go wrong.
(5)
Bunny S.
Extremely attentive waitstaff and a flavorful menu to boot. Our waitress Rhiannon was very knowledgable about the menu and the flavors in each dish making her able to suggest an alternative salad dressing to pair with the first course when the dressing that came with the plate was an impossibility. The meals themselves (we had the duck and the locally farmed porkchop) were done to perfection and married the flavors extremely well. The duck was spicy and true to the szechwan style. The pork was made perfectly with a tangy sauce and collared greens that were edible as opposed to boggy. We ate early (before 7 on a Saturday) so we didn't need a reservation but if you come in at 7 or later you should probably call ahead. Overall a great place to eat if you're in town visiting from a big city or looking for a touch of class in downtown Springfield. Ask for Rihannon, she's a treat to speak with.
(5)
Chippy S.
The food here was phenomenal and the wait service was spot on. I ordered the sausage and asiago stuffed chicken which came with asparagus on the side. I'm always leary about ordering chicken and asparagus because typically the chicken is dry and the asparagus isn't cooked enough or cooked to much. They were both cooked PERFECTLY! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Garnet, they must have screwed up on the recipe for your rolls, because mine were sweet and delicious. I didn't mind the cold butter because I typically cut off a square and put it on my plate, instead of spreading it directly onto the roll. I didn't get any dessert, but my chardonnay was tasty. I do have to agree on the decor. Pretty random and quirky, but I'm not there for the decor, I'm there for the food. I'll definitely be going back here on my next business trip.
(4)
Duncan S.
Augie's is an interesting beast that has the look and feel of 70's steak house/bar with a fine dining menu and fine dining prices. Budget style tables and chairs, paper table cloths and a feeling of nostalgia with the decor and pictures. Kind of expected to hear "The Entertainer" playing in the background, but it was some subtle pop. Crowd early on a Friday night mainly 40's to 50's in pairs and one group, very casual and not overly stuffy. For the food we started with the blackened shrimp and grits, which were pretty good and a large serving of grits. For mains we broke one of our dining rules on never to have Asian food outside an Asian restaurant and had the Schezuan duck, (a Chinese dish not a Thai dish). The spice was really quite good, though the duck overcooked . Along with a rib-eye special which was just OK and expecting a lot better on the flavor side for $32, it was a little rarer than the medium-rare requested, but not a game changer. The accompanying purple asparagus was really good and the smash potato nothing special. Found it strange no fresh bread was served with the meal, yet there were some bread-sticks/crackers in plastic wrappers stuffed in a wire cone on the table? Beer range pretty good with support for local breweries which is great to see, chiller buckets for the 40's is a nice touch. Wine fairly decent, though not sure I need to have a tacky advertising card promoting Bocelli wines on my table. Service enthusiastic and good, if a little rehearsed on the selling. If a restaurant receives new wine they should ensure the servers have tried the wine. Rarely a waiters assistant stands out, but our guy was a gun in making sure we had water, glasses filled and clearing plates. A-OK is just where this restaurant scrapes in.
(3)
Chris M.
Another meal alone while on business travel. Although the server and hostess were a little awkward, the food was great. I had a pumpkin soup which was amazing and a delicious salad.
(4)
Jason N.
I have eaten here twice and loved both times. I usually get a pasta dish. Both times the pasta was cooked spot on and the sauce was put together well. The atmosphere is relaxed and the wait staff are attentive. Lunch time can be a little crazy but when you are down town that is expected. I would recommend this place to just about anyone.
(5)
Cara B.
We went for our anniversary and it was horrible! We were served a very dry white wine when we asked for a suggestion of a sweet, the food was pretty, but not very tasty. There is a dish called potato pave- it was hard like pavement and tasted like paste- eww. We will NEVER come back! Just go to Sebastian's Food is much better, and the staff more knowledgable.
(1)
Peggy T.
This is a great spot where they are clearly trying hard to be the best. We were there on the night when there was a tasting menu, which was an exceptional value. Six courses cost $45. One of the four of us had the tasting menu and the rest of us ordered off the usual menu. The vegetables were very fresh and used appropriately. Portions were on the large side. Our service was outstanding.
(4)
The Big Babboon I.
I live very close to this place and feel bad giving it three stars, but that's what it deserves. My latest meal there was the elk burger ordered medium which came out raw in the center, had borscht, of which the broth was good, but lacked any real amount of beets / food in it. My friend had the seafood soup which tasted like nothing but fish sauce, and his grilled cheese was good, but thinking about it, its pretty hard to mess up girlled cheese. I would give this place two stars but for its 32 oz ribeye...this cut of meat alone got it up a star. If you want prime beef also, this place is the only place (and only sometimes - and only one cut) in town that has it. However, overall Springfield is known for its mediocre dining downtown, and this place lives up to that reputation. OK...new chef...moves up to 4 stars!
(4)
Josh T.
Nothing I love more than a place with excellent food that incorporates local meats & produce. This place does all of that. The food is prepared artfully by a chef who is aware of flavors and presentation. Many of the entrees are listed with the farms where the meats and cheeses and from. Great place for a fancy date, or dinner as this place can be expensive for everyday dining. Portions are appropriate but not supersized. This is a place you want to slow down eating and appreciate the flavors being created. A true chef treat!
(4)
Peter H.
We really enjoyed our trip to Augie's The food was excellent, and well presented. The salads were delicious, the steak was good (made better by the accompanying mashed potato and asparagus) and the salmon was great. The service was top notch, the ambiance was very "New York"; overall an excellent dining experience.
(4)
Sandy C.
We had a wonderful meal. The food was great and Matt was a great waiter. We will be back. Sandy and Bart from Decatur, Illinois
(5)
Rachel K.
My fiance and I went here last night and I have to say that it was kind of a strange experience. First, lets talk about the food. Oh My Lord it was amazing. I ordered the New York Strip and she ordered the lamb. That was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had. Granted I haven't had a ton of experience eating steak, but this thing was amazing. Normally I like my steak to be somewhere between medium and medium rare. I feel like when I order medium rare at a steakhouse they always give it to me too rare, but this was pretty damn rare and still fantastic! It was seasoned so perfectly and just sooo good. I think I remember seeing that the menu said something about the steak being seasoned in a french onion soup type deal and then covered in gruyere. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It also came with mashed potatoes and a mixture of veggies. The mashed potatoes were also very yummy. The veggies were on the tasteless side, which was disappointing, but I've also been spoiled lately from eating fresh veggies from my garden. The fiance said that her lamb was not as good as the steak, but that it was still really good. She seemed to enjoy the entire meal, just not as much as I enjoyed mine. Lets back up a little and talk about before dinner. First we were served hot rolls and cold butter. I'm not really sure who eats cold butter. The idea is cool especially since the butter was actually on a coldstone, but it was impossible to spread and made the hot rolls cold almost instantly. I normally love a good roll, but these weren't all that great. I say skip the bread and fill up on the steak. For drinks I ordered a basic flavored vodka and juice cocktail, but it came in this ridiculously fancy glass. I thought that was pretty odd. The fiance ordered an oatmeal stout which she was a big fan of. They offered her a glass to pour it into, but oddly enough it was the same glass that I had gotten my cocktail in. We also ordered dessert. We weren't really sure we wanted any since we were pretty full from our entrees, but I told the waiter we'd look at the dessert menu. Oh persuasive bastards! There was no dessert menu. He actually brought out a plate of desserts and told us about each one. That is just pure evil. You can't say no to that! We had the chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was very rich and super dense and oh so good. I wish they would've given us a bit of a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance off the richness of the cake, but they seemed to be going more for presentation on that one. I was glad that the dessert portions weren't enormous like they often are at chain restaurants. I really don't need an enormous dessert, nor do I want one. So this all sounds fantastic, right? So why was the experience weird and why after all that gushing about how fantastic the food is does this place only get 4 stars? With a menu like this restaurant has and the prices you're paying (not super expensive, but $30 for a meal in Springfield where I can get a pizza for like $7 is not a cheap place) the decor should really be nice and classy. I understand that they're trying to go for a casual dining environment, but you can still pull that off and look classy. The ambiance of the restaurant really needs to match the food, the wait service (which was very good), and the prices. You can still wear casual clothes and visit a classy establishment. The decor was absolutely atrocious! It was a hodge podge of different styles that clashed when put all together in a room. From the greek murals on the wall (some of them of extremely naked large breasted women) to the almost cartoonish framed pictures of buildings and abe lincoln, to the canyon painting, to the flowered carpet, to the different room dividers, to the tiled ceiling (high school anyone?), to the track lighting, to the paper cone holding breadsticks on each table, to the painted spoon sculptures of flowers. This was just a mess of different types of design that did not go well together at all. And some of it was so bad that it shouldn't be anywhere near this restaurant. I expect this type of decor from a kitschy restaurant, but not from a place with fantastic steaks. And then what really made the experience strange, but I wouldn't actually take into consideration when rating the place was the extremely loud woman conversing with two older people that I guessed were her parents. She bitched and moaned about her personal life very loudly the entire time, but the topper was when she started talking about her incurable foot fungus. That is not appropriate restaurant conversation! I don't care if you're done with your meal, I wasn't done with mine and I don't need to be picturing your foot fungus while I'm eating. That is disgusting and you need to get some manners. I will definitely be returning to this place for their fantastic food and I will hope that they change the decor by the time I return.
(4)
Brad W.
Great food and excellent atmosphere, prices were a touch high. The lobster bisque was good, but compared to the Union League club in Chicago, it didn't have much lobster to it. We will definitely come back.
(4)
Jim O.
We loved the sister restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, and wanted to try the original. The menu looked amazing and I'm a sucker for a good lobster bisque. Augie's did not disappoint. Granted, the typical clientele are all dressed up in suits and the lighting is a little too much on the dim side, but the staff was very professional and pleasant and the food...my god the food. Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp. With. Jalapeno. Jam. My mouth is still watering, and that was just the appetizer. My wife had the best sangria she's ever had and I had the best old fashioned I've ever had, so the bartender knows exactly what he's doing. The drink price was also very reasonable compared to the price of the food. The lobster bisque didn't actually have lobster in it, but that didn't bother me. It was delicious. My wife had the tomato parmesan soup and said it was great. I'm not a huge fan of tomato soup myself, so we're going to have to take her word for it. My wife had the pork cheeks and I had the Amish jerked chicken, both exceedingly good and prepared perfectly. We ended the meal with peach bread pudding, which was a nice, light-feeling dessert as we were pretty stuffed by then. If you can drop $50-$60 per person and haven't been here, get on it. Our restaurant tour of central Illinois continues, but we'll be back.
(5)
Daisy P.
I had a terrific lunch here today. House salad: 3 stars. Peppery greens were a little too much and needed some sweeter leaves in there to balance. Not enough dressing. Lovely presentation, though, and high-quality greens. Veggie quesadilla: 4.5 stars. This was a custom dish since I'm vegetarian and all of their specials had meat. Delicious roasted flavor on tortilla and veggies, and totally enough cheese, which can be hard to find. Asian veggies were an interesting choice that paid off. Cilantro sour cream dip was delicious. The half star off is for the inclusion of peapods, which were too chewy/fibrous for good quesadilla consistency, and for how the veggies didn't always stick to the tortilla so it was a little messy to eat. Bread pudding: 5 stars. Perfect portion and served hot with an apricot-whiskey sauce and licorice ice cream. Heavenly. I wanted to lick the plate. Service: 5 stars easy. I wish I got my waiter's name; he was charming but not fake, attentive but not intrusive, answered annoying vegetarian questions with a smile, recommended the right things for me to eat....loved him.
(4)
Norm S.
One word describes the food - AWFUL I had the seared tuna which was served overcooked, not pink, and even though cooked it was cold. The place is a joke. I have had 4 meals there in the past 6 month and each one has been awful. Save your money and just go to McDonalds. STAY AWAY!
(1)
Bryan W.
It's a nice place trying real hard to be fancy. This is a nice sit-down place to bring a date. The food is good they use quality fresh ingredients. Average plate is around $20 and appetizers $8 to $15.
(4)
Rich E.
We went here for date night and it was amazing. Everything we had was delicious. We tried the lobster bisque was very good and so was the clam chowder. We split the goat cheese salad and it was one of the best salads we have had. The bacon wrapped shrimp apps were divine. Our entrees were on point. I had the filet which was cooked perfect and my wife had the duck which was so tender and delicious. Wife ordered an appletini and loved it. I had a red wine that was very smooth, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our server Ross did a tremendous job taking care of us! He was the best! We will definitely be back.
(4)
Lisa L.
I went here for dinner (I am from out of state). The Salmon dish with wild mushrooms was honestly the best salmon I have had in years. Just PERFECT! The sauce with it was divine and unique.....I have never seen a similar creation on any menu, anywhere, to date with the combination of ingredients that made it a wonderful treat from the first to last bite. Dave, our server, was also excellent! He recommended a great bottle of Pinot noir and was the right amount of courteous, professional, and yet light-hearted. I am a road warrior and this was the first memorable meal of this calibre in a while! If I get back to Springfield, I am definitely returning!
(5)
Brianne G.
Augie's. Way to go guys. Went for birthday dinner a week ago and it was a great experience. Augie's was one of those downtown staples that I always meant to visit, but for some reason it just never happened. In hindsight, it was pure tragedy. I ordered the filet and my girlfriend ordered the potato crusted cod. Both of us were beyond pleased. My filet was a perfect medium rare and the quality was superb. Mashed potatoes and veggies were delicious. I cleaned the plate. The girlfriend's dinner disappeared in approximately five minutes. I barely got my traditional sample. Service was really great. Our waiter was very professional, pleasant, and attentive. Good man. I was actually surprised after dinner--someone slipped them the news that it was my birthday and they offered me my choice of dessert. I chose the bread pudding. The bread pudding itself was pretty good, but the sadface of the night was the strange cinnamon sauce on top of it. Tasted like liquified red hots. :( Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely return.
(4)
Jimmy L.
The hotel had recommended a bar and grill type place, and I was totally not into that right now, so saw this place here on Yelp. I didn't have a car here, so I was looking for something in walking distance from The State House Hotel where I could actually have a private/quiet dinner all to myself. The key was to it had to have been a short walk since the weather was at 15 degrees or so! You can't beat the location downtown across from the old State Capitol. You walk into a dark and long narrow space with the bar up-front. Once you get in towards the back, though, there is much more space that you can't see from the outside. They sat me in the secondary portion of the dining room where there was perhaps one other party. Private, but still open to the front dining room to where you don't necessarily feel completely isolated. The wait staff was super pleasant, and super responsive when I ordered coffee from the get-go and kept asking for refills. I ordered the following - Braised Bunn Farm Chuck Short Ribs aged white cheddar pave potato/winter root vegetable/natural jus The price point was $19.00, which I thought was reasonable for a beef entree. So, one of my pain points, though, is if I'm ordering ribs, I really do want the ribs - as in the BONZ. More often than not - at not only this place, but most places I have ordered it - I order short ribs, and they arrived BONELESS. Sorry, but if it ain't got the bones, you gotta say something like, "Boneless Short Ribs". Otherwise, my expectations are shot! Secondly, I'm not so sure that they were really braised, or if they were, not sure if they were braised for a long time. Though I thought it was good, the meat was tender enough, but not tender enough for it to taste like it was braised. The portions were big, and was too full for dessert, so I promised I'd come back the next night and JUST have dessert. So, the next evening, I ordered their signature dish, which was a "peach bread pudding with whisky sauce and ice cream". It was GREAT. They sat me at the bar this time, and reserved a whole carafe of coffee for me, and kept serving me up with it. The waiter was nice enough to bring me back an extra dollop of ice cream - and I didn't even ask for it! He gave me really personal service. For this last experience alone, I give this place a 4-star rating when it otherwise would have been three.
(4)
Michael N.
Great dinner once more. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella app was quite fresh and good. The duck was crispy with an oriental sauce which I loved. The bread pudding desert was ok. We had a very nice reasonably priced red wine. Everyone liked their meal and the service was great!
(5)
Paul W.
Decent lunch spot. Nothing special as far as food, service, or decor.
(3)
Jan L.
Nice place and service. Our entrees were disappointing- the pork cheeks tasted like pot roast and the salmon strong. We enjoyed our sangria and lobster bisque. The place was pretty full maybe we made bad choices.
(3)
Dave C.
This is more expensive than the other restaurants in the immediate vicinity, yet worth it. Why? Well... a lot of the others have a bar scene and bar food. This place has nicely presented choices that have a mix of vegetables, meat/fish, and sauces. In a way, things are presented as if it was a high end French restaurant. The atmosphere is great for couples; but also works well for non-romantic. We were a family of 4 - kids that were 11 and 16 - and it worked great. It is also reasonably quiet. You don't need to whisper, I don't mean that. Yet... you don't need to yell over others to be heard. The location is great in that it is close to a lot of highly rated attractions in the heart of Springfield.
(5)
Damian S.
Recommended by the bar down the street that didn't serve food, I was hesitant at first when I walked in. The tables, waiters, other guests, and wine cellar entryway gave me the idea I might be in too ritzy an establishment for my current state of dress and sobriety--I'd been sightseeing all day in 95 degree heat, and probably looked like I'd just stepped out of a swimming pool. However, the wall decor led me to believe I might be ok if I stayed, as it is very garish. I'm not quite sure if there was a theme going there, or not. I stayed anyway, and ordered the rainbow trout with a beer and a Coke. That was truly one of the best fish meals I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked superbly, but not to the point where it totally fell apart before reaching your mouth. That was one tasty fish--why more restaurants don't serve this is currently a mystery to me. The cost was well within the range of normalcy, and the waiter treated me just like any of the "suits" and "ball gowns" at the nearby tables. A very pleasant experience and a good meal--though I quickly went back to the dive bar for the rest of the evening. If I'm ever in Springfield again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)
Matt R.
This place is a joke. Went here for lunch with 3 family members. The elk burger came out 15 minutes after ordering, followed by sandwiches 5 minutes later, and then 5 minutes after that a salad. Who runs a restaurant where food is served like that? Management should be embarrassed. Lastly, the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go elsewhere in Springfield.
(1)
Ryan K.
Came here after finding a link to them on a Springfield-related website. The wife and I really liked this place. Good food (more on this later), our 6 and 10 year olds enjoyed their kid's meals, and the services was excellent (more on this later, too). Re: the food: - I got the Lobster Bisque and Dena got the Butternut Squash Bisque to start. My Lobster was good, not great. Didn't have any lobster chunks in it, but flavor was good. Dena's Butternut Squash was great, though. Good flavor, good heat at the end. - I got a Butter salad next, and Dena got the Crispy Goat cheese salad. Both were good and adequately (e.g. not overly massive and wasteful) sized. The bacon on both was fab. - We rounded out with a series of appetizers. There was so much goodness on the menu, that we wanted to go with variety in smaller chunks than a single big entree. I got the Bean Cakes and Wontons, Dena got Meatball Skewers. All in all, the prices were a bit higher for smaller portions, but I'd rather get good food at a higher price point than a buttload of average food at cheaper prices. Would I come back? Absolutely. I might want to experiment a bit more in town just to see what else is out there, but I would (and will) recommend them to anyone I know who is visiting Springfield. Re: Service - Gabe was AWESOME. Did I mention awesome? He was attentive, knowledgeable, was great with our kids, checked in on us enough but not too much, gave good recommendations, all good. Really...he enhanced the entire experience. I hope management reads this so they can see it. This is a classic case of where a 4.5 would be appropriate. In the absence of that, I gave them a 4 rather than a 5 because: - The decor was a bit dated, or just off a bit. Not bad, but just felt a bit disjointed. - The Lobster Bisque could have benefited from some chunks of lobster. Yes. I'm being picky, but I'm trying to be more diligent in who I give 5 stars out to. I probably would have given them 5 stars 12 months ago. Did I mention Gabe was awesome?
(4)
Robin R.
Wonderful choice for a special occasion. Great array of choices on the menu. So hard to decide what I wanted. Full wine list. Very professional waitstaff.
(4)
Chris B.
Not sure why I gave it one star. Cold food big bill bad stop. Some kind of sauce over Rib eye should have indicated trouble but downhill from there. Limited choices in Springpatch make people go here I am sure. Better off getting a burger at a sports bar. Never seeing this place again.
(1)
Jessie H.
Great food and classy staff. I have been to several places in Springfield so far--this is my favorite. The catfish was great and the coffee was just what I needed.
(5)
Buddy B.
The food was excellent. The service was even better. The menu had standard choices with enough unusual and different selections to make it very interesting. Visited Springfield from Chicago and Augie's was recommended by someone at the Lincoln library. Pricey but worth every penny.
(5)
Janee M.
The crispy goat salad is a culinary experience. Fresh, flavorful and delightful. The lobster bisque was rich and creamy however it was missing those chunks of lobster that can make a bisque unforgettable. The service was great. I highly recommend you try this place.
(4)
Lisa C.
Always a wonderful dining experience! Awesome food & service! Augies goes above & beyond in every area! Excellent! Every time we have been there it is Always good! Yes, we Will be back!
Good service in a nice, relaxing environment, but the food is overpriced, in my opinion. Entrees are $20 on the low end of the menu. They do offer a $12.95 meal on Thursdays only, which is reasonable. The Caesar salad was great, as were the side dishes. The pork chop, however, wasn't anything special. I've made better at home. My daughter's chicken-fried chicken was merely okay. She didn't like it, so I ate half of it. If it were more reasonably priced, I'd try this restaurant again.
(4)
Beth P.
We went here while on vacation because my husband was in the mood for a steak. The food was good, but it wasn't worth it for the cost in my opinion...we actually were debating about picking up something extra on the way back to our hotel because of how small the portion sizes were. You're looking at $20-$35 per person. And while the staff was friendly and didn't care that my husband and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, the attire is DEFINITELY NOT casual. 90% of the people in there were in suits/business clothes.
(2)
Matthew G.
We have eaten at Augie's a few times. The food is always good and the service is very pleasant. The narrow dining area is at first off putting, but the ambiance was well assembled and the feel of the space is comfortable. I don't see the manager in the dining room, but I haven't needed a manager.
(4)
Sara B.
going in we thought it was a burger joint. I would say we werepleasently surprised. Large portions, great for sharing. Enjoyed the warm goat cheese salad, black bean cakes, manhattan seafood chowder, and shared the "pasta of the day." The Salad was amazing! The best part of the meal. The food all- together wasn't amazing, but it was good. The decor is a little off but I really liked the small pieces of art on the tables. One criticism, there were SO many specials. The menu is small and select to begin with, so when there are 5-6 specials of the day that are intricate and intense it confuses things a bit.
(4)
Rachel A.
I like to try to give a restaurant more than 1 try before reviewing, unless we are traveling...then of course - they get 1 shot to WOW :-) We have now been to Augie's numerous times, and this place kicks ass every single time! I do not feel the same about he enviroment as some of the others - The eclectic environment is obvious - good for them for not being like the rest! It is definately clean, and love a linen napkin! The fresh local ingredients, and the impecible service we always receive is top notch & is what makes this 5 stars for me. This night our server was Matt. From the second we walk in the door we are greeted and the service didn't stop! Although it was Saturday, they were busy, he kept us informed and the food coming & tabled cleared w/ each course. We ordered from the bar - Skyy & cranberry... right on.... Appetizer: white bean hummus & grilled naan flatbread - DELICIOUS! Bread was nicely toasted on the outside, and warm & soft on the inside. Salad: I had the Red wine poached bosc pear w/ bleu cheese & candied walnuts w/ vanilla bean vinaigrette - I could turn vegitarian if someone would make me this salad everyday....it was FABULOUS, seriously...slap your Momma fabulous! Rolls were served warm, butter served on a cold stone, (I'm never a huge fan of the hard, cold butter), and it did taste as if it was REAL butter...nice. Entree: I had one of their specials, which was Scallops w/ a veggie risotto. The scallops were grilled perfectly, and so moist in the center. The risotto was creamy & full of nice firm veggies. OH, yeah! Right on Augie's! We had no room for dessert, but thanks for the after dinner chocolate mint! An evening at a local restaurant, great service, and unique culinary creations by great chefs that you don't find at any other Springfield restaurant! We will continue to return! KUDOS!!
(5)
Chuck B.
I've been to this place twice, and it is wonderful place to have some truly unique food good drinks. The chef is vested in the success of the restaurant. Last week I had the elk loin on grits and a Caesar salad. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar. I was offered, and accepted, a wine tasting to pair with my meal. Great service and a superb chef. Hard to go wrong.
(5)
Bunny S.
Extremely attentive waitstaff and a flavorful menu to boot. Our waitress Rhiannon was very knowledgable about the menu and the flavors in each dish making her able to suggest an alternative salad dressing to pair with the first course when the dressing that came with the plate was an impossibility. The meals themselves (we had the duck and the locally farmed porkchop) were done to perfection and married the flavors extremely well. The duck was spicy and true to the szechwan style. The pork was made perfectly with a tangy sauce and collared greens that were edible as opposed to boggy. We ate early (before 7 on a Saturday) so we didn't need a reservation but if you come in at 7 or later you should probably call ahead. Overall a great place to eat if you're in town visiting from a big city or looking for a touch of class in downtown Springfield. Ask for Rihannon, she's a treat to speak with.
(5)
Warren W.
One of the best higher-end restaurants in Springfield. The ecclectic ambiance and menu is very accomodating. If you are looking for creative twists on standard fare then look no further.
(4)
Julie H.
Ok, everyone always raves about Augie's here in the 'patch. I see on yelp, no different. All I can say is really??? The food I had last night was ok but nothing extraordinary. Also, while our waitress was sufficient, the bar service while I was waiting for my table was pretty slow and snotty. The hostesses also seemed to be out of sorts, no eye contact, etc. Oh and the presentation on some of their dishes, really really over the top to the point of being almost comical. Ok kids, let's review....good points, my risotto - yum: the price of dinner was more than reasonable; free parking with a back entrance in the lot behind the restaurant and last but not least, they are trying in a city that really doesn't have a clue about good food. Bad points, food had by others in my group was just meh and my monkfish was overcooked, over the top presentations of food, not much wine by the glass to choose from and the service could use some serious work.
(2)
Barnabas H.
I give this place 3 stars based solely on the the quality of food. If one were blind, the taste of the food would give any review a 4, maybe 5, star review. This place is gaudy, right down to the garnish. The art is so loud an annoying, but I respect the owner's ambition to recognize local artists. Here's a hint - treat the visual aspect as seriously as the culinary, otherwise this place will make serious palettes nauseous before they order. Once the food arrives, it's great. Nothing to complain about at all apart from presentation. I've had some really wonderful food here - my favorite of which was the pork tasting menu with local beer pairings.
(3)
Michelle H.
My husband and I dined here last night. We were in town for one night, so I'm glad we found Augie's. We were lucky enough to score 1/2 price bottle of wine night too. They had a great selection to choose from. My husband had the crispy duck. It was awesome. Crispy skin, sauce with heat, not just hot for the sake of hot. I had the NY strip steak. Cooked perfectly and a great cheese crust. A nice surprise of red cabbage as a side. The dessert was bread pudding and spice ice cream. Phenomenal. Service was top notch. The water glasses were topped off frequently. The server was informative and attentive without being obtrusive. Great find.
(4)
The Big Babboon I.
I live very close to this place and feel bad giving it three stars, but that's what it deserves. My latest meal there was the elk burger ordered medium which came out raw in the center, had borscht, of which the broth was good, but lacked any real amount of beets / food in it. My friend had the seafood soup which tasted like nothing but fish sauce, and his grilled cheese was good, but thinking about it, its pretty hard to mess up girlled cheese. I would give this place two stars but for its 32 oz ribeye...this cut of meat alone got it up a star. If you want prime beef also, this place is the only place (and only sometimes - and only one cut) in town that has it. However, overall Springfield is known for its mediocre dining downtown, and this place lives up to that reputation. OK...new chef...moves up to 4 stars!
(4)
Josh T.
Nothing I love more than a place with excellent food that incorporates local meats & produce. This place does all of that. The food is prepared artfully by a chef who is aware of flavors and presentation. Many of the entrees are listed with the farms where the meats and cheeses and from. Great place for a fancy date, or dinner as this place can be expensive for everyday dining. Portions are appropriate but not supersized. This is a place you want to slow down eating and appreciate the flavors being created. A true chef treat!
(4)
Angela P.
How much can you judge a place based on eating there once? Im not sure, but I know that Augie's lived up to most of the hype I had heard about it. Dining alone, especially as a young(ish) female, can be a strange beast. The odd looks, questions i.e. "Are you waiting for someone?", servers avoiding you at all costs thinking youll be a bad tipper. When I walked into Augie's it was a weekday afternoon and the rest of the clientele appeared to be business lunch meetings or 'ladies-who-lunch'. I was just looking for a good place to sit and have some lunch, a glass of wine and to read a book. I remembered that I was around the corner from Augie's and decided to try it. I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I couldnt figure out if it was because they didnt see me (or didnt want to see me) or they thought I was waiting for someone else to come in the door with me, or what. Anyhow, after I was seated there was a tinge of awkwardness with the server, but after that it was smooth sailing. My server explained the specials and showed me the wine specials. I know people mention Augie's can be on the more expensive side, but at $7 the wine specials were really reasonable and the white wine blend I had was really good. For lunch I ordered the crab cake entree ($11). I have to say that I cant remember having better crab cakes in recent memory. They can tend to be too heavy on the non-crab filling or too soft and falling apart. These were heavy on the crab, easy on the 'breadiness'. The outsides were breaded with a very light crumb, almost panko-like and they were perfectly crispy. I was enjoying them and the nice lemon aioli that came with them so much a woman passed by me and said, "Those are good, huh?". They were! I dont know how much you can tell by a restaurant by one visit, but this visit certainly convinced me to come back. Yes, the decor is a bit odd. Like a yoga studio mixed with some new-age club, but I can forgive that.
(4)
Sinh M.
We went here on our 3rd year anniversary, the restaurant is very nice and has a pleasing atmosphere. The food and the service was also very excellent, I would definitely come back.
(5)
Lindsey F.
I had an excellent lunch here today! The crispy goat cheese salad (I added chicken) was really delicious. The goat cheese was a fried disc situated atop the greens, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter Aaron was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Carri C.
Filet and NY strip were high quality and comparable to the good steakhouses in Chicago. Others in my group had the pork chop and the cod-everyone enjoyed their meals. Apps were a little skimpy in size, but the entrees were fine. Outstanding service. Overall, great experience and I would return.
(5)
Heather L.
I had heard tell of the Horsehoe aka The Shut up and Eat special of the day as they call it here. I was told by the friendly bar keep that it originated at the nearby Leland Hotel in the 1920's. It can take many forms but is essentially an open faced sandwich, smothered in meat, in this case, slow roasted pulled pork with carmelized onion and pears, then smothered with a very yummy cheese sauce and I don't mean ballpark nacho, good cheese and then you top it off with a pile of sweet potato fries on top. It resembles a horseshoe in that the bread is the shoe, the cheese is the glue and the fries are the nails. Loved the blues music they had going and lots of tables of one making it much less uncomfortable for this lone travelling salesman to e. Very nice atmosphere. $12 for a very yummy, very filling meal plus $2 for a coke. Not bad, not bad at all. I will be back.
(5)
J. C.
We at at Augie's for lunch one day and it was pretty good. My lady friend had the pot roast, which we both thought was very good. We decided after that visit that we would try the dinner menu. About two months later we went back. I had the short ribs and she had the duck. The duck was ok, nothing special. The portion of duck to noodles was almost too generous. I wish there was a sign of generosity with my order. My short ribs were awful. They were bone dry. I've had roast from unskilled cooks that was much more flavorful and moist. The potatoes were good. The vegetables, however, were raw. I like a little bite to vegetables but these were hardly cooked. I was shocked by how poor the short ribs were. We both left significant amounts on the plate and we were never asked how our food was. Not wanting to be rude on a rare night out we kept to ourselves. We spent $70 on crab cakes that tasted like fish sticks, short ribs that were bone dry, and duck that was on par with a Chinese buffet. I would say save your money and try another place in town that prides itself on quality service and product. I don't have a go to place in Springfield for that yet...
(2)
J N.
Discovered this great little restaurant on Yelp. We chose it mostly because it was a short walk from the hotel. Great choice. Our server was exceptional. The food was very good. Over all, a warm welcoming environment and an enjoyable evening.
(5)
Andrew W.
Holy smokes this place was a surprise. Not much else in Springfield compares in my findings in the last 3 months.
(4)
Dave A.
My wife and I enjoyed a top-quality dinner there after a long day of Lincolning. Our waiter, Matt, was the perfect balance of helpfulness and restraint. The ribeye was excellent. The only "meh" moment was the fried cheese Napoleon appetizer, which was Sam's Club cheese sticks covered in marinara sauce from a jar. Not a cheap place...the $120 including tip bill would have paid for a lot of pizza, but it was a nice treat.
(5)
Jim M.
Go here every time I'm in town. The food and service is always excellent.
(5)
Michael S.
I'm not as effusive about this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was damn good but not to rave over, and given that it's Springfield, I have no quarrel with the hodge podge decor. My lobster bisque soup was very good enough. My rack of lamb was excellent. I'd be happy to come back. This place kicks the crap out of some other very over-rated crappy Springfield restaurants.
(4)
AJ J.
Just okay. Carl, our server was good but the wine selection was limited. Lobster bisque was good but pork chops just okay. I always give any resturant an extra star for providing linen.
(3)
Mathew P.
So I ordered an elk burger. I ordered it medium rare. With shallots and bacon. It came well done. With no bacon. It was taken back with a promise to do better. It returned medium and still with no bacon. They denied me bacon. Look at my profile. What is the one food I love above all others? Waitstaff were alerted. Two overly crisp slices of bacon were brought to me on a separate plate. Waiter then took back our ketchup when we still desire ketchup and promptly disappeared. So I hear that Augie's is Springfield's top restaurant. So I hear.
(2)
Chippy S.
The food here was phenomenal and the wait service was spot on. I ordered the sausage and asiago stuffed chicken which came with asparagus on the side. I'm always leary about ordering chicken and asparagus because typically the chicken is dry and the asparagus isn't cooked enough or cooked to much. They were both cooked PERFECTLY! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Garnet, they must have screwed up on the recipe for your rolls, because mine were sweet and delicious. I didn't mind the cold butter because I typically cut off a square and put it on my plate, instead of spreading it directly onto the roll. I didn't get any dessert, but my chardonnay was tasty. I do have to agree on the decor. Pretty random and quirky, but I'm not there for the decor, I'm there for the food. I'll definitely be going back here on my next business trip.
(4)
Cara B.
We went for our anniversary and it was horrible! We were served a very dry white wine when we asked for a suggestion of a sweet, the food was pretty, but not very tasty. There is a dish called potato pave- it was hard like pavement and tasted like paste- eww. We will NEVER come back! Just go to Sebastian's Food is much better, and the staff more knowledgable.
(1)
Peggy T.
This is a great spot where they are clearly trying hard to be the best. We were there on the night when there was a tasting menu, which was an exceptional value. Six courses cost $45. One of the four of us had the tasting menu and the rest of us ordered off the usual menu. The vegetables were very fresh and used appropriately. Portions were on the large side. Our service was outstanding.
(4)
Duncan S.
Augie's is an interesting beast that has the look and feel of 70's steak house/bar with a fine dining menu and fine dining prices. Budget style tables and chairs, paper table cloths and a feeling of nostalgia with the decor and pictures. Kind of expected to hear "The Entertainer" playing in the background, but it was some subtle pop. Crowd early on a Friday night mainly 40's to 50's in pairs and one group, very casual and not overly stuffy. For the food we started with the blackened shrimp and grits, which were pretty good and a large serving of grits. For mains we broke one of our dining rules on never to have Asian food outside an Asian restaurant and had the Schezuan duck, (a Chinese dish not a Thai dish). The spice was really quite good, though the duck overcooked . Along with a rib-eye special which was just OK and expecting a lot better on the flavor side for $32, it was a little rarer than the medium-rare requested, but not a game changer. The accompanying purple asparagus was really good and the smash potato nothing special. Found it strange no fresh bread was served with the meal, yet there were some bread-sticks/crackers in plastic wrappers stuffed in a wire cone on the table? Beer range pretty good with support for local breweries which is great to see, chiller buckets for the 40's is a nice touch. Wine fairly decent, though not sure I need to have a tacky advertising card promoting Bocelli wines on my table. Service enthusiastic and good, if a little rehearsed on the selling. If a restaurant receives new wine they should ensure the servers have tried the wine. Rarely a waiters assistant stands out, but our guy was a gun in making sure we had water, glasses filled and clearing plates. A-OK is just where this restaurant scrapes in.
(3)
Chris M.
Another meal alone while on business travel. Although the server and hostess were a little awkward, the food was great. I had a pumpkin soup which was amazing and a delicious salad.
(4)
Jason N.
I have eaten here twice and loved both times. I usually get a pasta dish. Both times the pasta was cooked spot on and the sauce was put together well. The atmosphere is relaxed and the wait staff are attentive. Lunch time can be a little crazy but when you are down town that is expected. I would recommend this place to just about anyone.
(5)
Sandy C.
We had a wonderful meal. The food was great and Matt was a great waiter. We will be back. Sandy and Bart from Decatur, Illinois
(5)
Rachel K.
My fiance and I went here last night and I have to say that it was kind of a strange experience. First, lets talk about the food. Oh My Lord it was amazing. I ordered the New York Strip and she ordered the lamb. That was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had. Granted I haven't had a ton of experience eating steak, but this thing was amazing. Normally I like my steak to be somewhere between medium and medium rare. I feel like when I order medium rare at a steakhouse they always give it to me too rare, but this was pretty damn rare and still fantastic! It was seasoned so perfectly and just sooo good. I think I remember seeing that the menu said something about the steak being seasoned in a french onion soup type deal and then covered in gruyere. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It also came with mashed potatoes and a mixture of veggies. The mashed potatoes were also very yummy. The veggies were on the tasteless side, which was disappointing, but I've also been spoiled lately from eating fresh veggies from my garden. The fiance said that her lamb was not as good as the steak, but that it was still really good. She seemed to enjoy the entire meal, just not as much as I enjoyed mine. Lets back up a little and talk about before dinner. First we were served hot rolls and cold butter. I'm not really sure who eats cold butter. The idea is cool especially since the butter was actually on a coldstone, but it was impossible to spread and made the hot rolls cold almost instantly. I normally love a good roll, but these weren't all that great. I say skip the bread and fill up on the steak. For drinks I ordered a basic flavored vodka and juice cocktail, but it came in this ridiculously fancy glass. I thought that was pretty odd. The fiance ordered an oatmeal stout which she was a big fan of. They offered her a glass to pour it into, but oddly enough it was the same glass that I had gotten my cocktail in. We also ordered dessert. We weren't really sure we wanted any since we were pretty full from our entrees, but I told the waiter we'd look at the dessert menu. Oh persuasive bastards! There was no dessert menu. He actually brought out a plate of desserts and told us about each one. That is just pure evil. You can't say no to that! We had the chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was very rich and super dense and oh so good. I wish they would've given us a bit of a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance off the richness of the cake, but they seemed to be going more for presentation on that one. I was glad that the dessert portions weren't enormous like they often are at chain restaurants. I really don't need an enormous dessert, nor do I want one. So this all sounds fantastic, right? So why was the experience weird and why after all that gushing about how fantastic the food is does this place only get 4 stars? With a menu like this restaurant has and the prices you're paying (not super expensive, but $30 for a meal in Springfield where I can get a pizza for like $7 is not a cheap place) the decor should really be nice and classy. I understand that they're trying to go for a casual dining environment, but you can still pull that off and look classy. The ambiance of the restaurant really needs to match the food, the wait service (which was very good), and the prices. You can still wear casual clothes and visit a classy establishment. The decor was absolutely atrocious! It was a hodge podge of different styles that clashed when put all together in a room. From the greek murals on the wall (some of them of extremely naked large breasted women) to the almost cartoonish framed pictures of buildings and abe lincoln, to the canyon painting, to the flowered carpet, to the different room dividers, to the tiled ceiling (high school anyone?), to the track lighting, to the paper cone holding breadsticks on each table, to the painted spoon sculptures of flowers. This was just a mess of different types of design that did not go well together at all. And some of it was so bad that it shouldn't be anywhere near this restaurant. I expect this type of decor from a kitschy restaurant, but not from a place with fantastic steaks. And then what really made the experience strange, but I wouldn't actually take into consideration when rating the place was the extremely loud woman conversing with two older people that I guessed were her parents. She bitched and moaned about her personal life very loudly the entire time, but the topper was when she started talking about her incurable foot fungus. That is not appropriate restaurant conversation! I don't care if you're done with your meal, I wasn't done with mine and I don't need to be picturing your foot fungus while I'm eating. That is disgusting and you need to get some manners. I will definitely be returning to this place for their fantastic food and I will hope that they change the decor by the time I return.
(4)
Peter H.
We really enjoyed our trip to Augie's The food was excellent, and well presented. The salads were delicious, the steak was good (made better by the accompanying mashed potato and asparagus) and the salmon was great. The service was top notch, the ambiance was very "New York"; overall an excellent dining experience.
(4)
Brad W.
Great food and excellent atmosphere, prices were a touch high. The lobster bisque was good, but compared to the Union League club in Chicago, it didn't have much lobster to it. We will definitely come back.
(4)
Brian K.
Great food. Really creative presentation. Wine list is a decent size with good variability. Specials were interesting (they have a steak and a pasta) Atmosphere would be my only knock. It's a bit eclectic but trying to be fancy. If you drink up you won't notice it :-)
(4)
Mark G.
Outstanding food and server. A party of 7 for my spouse's birthday. Our table was near the back so it offered a bit of privacy. Everything was delicious and presented superbly. Jacob, our server, was equally great. From the drinks to small plates to salads and entrees, everyone enjoyed. You can't go wrong dining at Augie's.
(5)
Dan P.
Great seafood dish: clams and pasta. Bread was warm with a great honey butter. Service was warm andknowledgeable. Finally the lobster bisque was rich and creamy.
(5)
Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. First the cons: This is pricey by even big city standards and al a carte. I felt so squished into the table. There is little more than 6 inches between tables it seems. I don't like having to slide my butt along someone's plate to get to my seat. The ceiling tiles kind of grossed me out - stained & dirty. Plusses; I liked the art work around. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Just OK: Service is fine nothing outstanding, Menu is fine, nothing outstanding. I had the poached pear & blue cheese salad to start and the Mediterranean sea scallops on couscous with raisin chutney. It was nice.
(3)
Leah H.
Love this place! I cannot get over their goat cheese salad! It is fried goat cheese that bursts with creamy warm goodness when you cut into it! It has a sweet Vinegarette on it... Perfect appetizer. I have eaten here 3 times, and my favorite dish is the potato crusted fish. Fantastic! A definite go to restaurant! It really isn't priced too high either for the top quality chef!
(5)
John B.
This place impressed the pants off of me. I ordered the mussels and a salmon steak, which happened to be the special for the night. Both dishes were exceptionally flavorful. The mussels came in a curry sauce that had just the right amount of kick for someone like myself with low spice tolerance to enjoy. The salmon came with a great rub that I couldn't quite pinpoint except for the paprika. Throwing in a scoop of gelato for dessert was an unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious gesture on the part of Kim behind the bar. You can tell pretty easily that this place is run by a chef that painstakingly cultivates his craft. The menu here changes fairly often so I'll plan to return every time I'm in town to see what additions they've made.
(5)
Jim C.
Visited Augies during a visit to Springfield in May 2015. Beautiful night so I choose to sit outside. Nice view over looking the old Capital building. Big mistake! Numerous guests who were eating inside continually come outside to smoke cigarettes roughly 10 feet from my table. They should set a minimum of 50 feet from front door. Gross. Food was ok. Had lobster bisque which tasted good but had Zero pieces of lobster in it. My catfish entree tasted pretty good. Service was ok. The waiter seemed truly excited by each and every menu choice I made. I'm like take it easy, it's just a Bass Beer. Choices in Springfield are limited but I would try another spot next time.
(3)
Lauren B.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. In a few words: Good, not awesome. We went here last weekend. On a Friday night, the noise level was very pleasant -- not QUIET but not loud. Drinks: Good but not outstanding. They had some nice specials, and they were reasonably priced. Food: We had the crab cakes - very good. Hubs had the petit filet, which was good, but forgettable. I had the special - lobster tails with a sweet potato sauce. Good, but not fabulous. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but weren't blown away (and shouldn't you be blown away by lobster tails?!). Service: Again good but not outstanding.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jim O.
We loved the sister restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, and wanted to try the original. The menu looked amazing and I'm a sucker for a good lobster bisque. Augie's did not disappoint. Granted, the typical clientele are all dressed up in suits and the lighting is a little too much on the dim side, but the staff was very professional and pleasant and the food...my god the food. Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp. With. Jalapeno. Jam. My mouth is still watering, and that was just the appetizer. My wife had the best sangria she's ever had and I had the best old fashioned I've ever had, so the bartender knows exactly what he's doing. The drink price was also very reasonable compared to the price of the food. The lobster bisque didn't actually have lobster in it, but that didn't bother me. It was delicious. My wife had the tomato parmesan soup and said it was great. I'm not a huge fan of tomato soup myself, so we're going to have to take her word for it. My wife had the pork cheeks and I had the Amish jerked chicken, both exceedingly good and prepared perfectly. We ended the meal with peach bread pudding, which was a nice, light-feeling dessert as we were pretty stuffed by then. If you can drop $50-$60 per person and haven't been here, get on it. Our restaurant tour of central Illinois continues, but we'll be back.
(5)Daisy P.
I had a terrific lunch here today. House salad: 3 stars. Peppery greens were a little too much and needed some sweeter leaves in there to balance. Not enough dressing. Lovely presentation, though, and high-quality greens. Veggie quesadilla: 4.5 stars. This was a custom dish since I'm vegetarian and all of their specials had meat. Delicious roasted flavor on tortilla and veggies, and totally enough cheese, which can be hard to find. Asian veggies were an interesting choice that paid off. Cilantro sour cream dip was delicious. The half star off is for the inclusion of peapods, which were too chewy/fibrous for good quesadilla consistency, and for how the veggies didn't always stick to the tortilla so it was a little messy to eat. Bread pudding: 5 stars. Perfect portion and served hot with an apricot-whiskey sauce and licorice ice cream. Heavenly. I wanted to lick the plate. Service: 5 stars easy. I wish I got my waiter's name; he was charming but not fake, attentive but not intrusive, answered annoying vegetarian questions with a smile, recommended the right things for me to eat....loved him.
(4)Susan C.
We went for Valentine's Day, and the food and service was excellent! I had the salmon which was phenomenal. We started with lobster bisque and ended with creme brûlée, and everything was delicious. The tables were nicely decorated for the holiday, and although it was busy, the service was incredible. It was my first time there, and I will definitely go back.
(5)Beth P.
We went here while on vacation because my husband was in the mood for a steak. The food was good, but it wasn't worth it for the cost in my opinion...we actually were debating about picking up something extra on the way back to our hotel because of how small the portion sizes were. You're looking at $20-$35 per person. And while the staff was friendly and didn't care that my husband and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, the attire is DEFINITELY NOT casual. 90% of the people in there were in suits/business clothes.
(2)Chippy S.
The food here was phenomenal and the wait service was spot on. I ordered the sausage and asiago stuffed chicken which came with asparagus on the side. I'm always leary about ordering chicken and asparagus because typically the chicken is dry and the asparagus isn't cooked enough or cooked to much. They were both cooked PERFECTLY! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Garnet, they must have screwed up on the recipe for your rolls, because mine were sweet and delicious. I didn't mind the cold butter because I typically cut off a square and put it on my plate, instead of spreading it directly onto the roll. I didn't get any dessert, but my chardonnay was tasty. I do have to agree on the decor. Pretty random and quirky, but I'm not there for the decor, I'm there for the food. I'll definitely be going back here on my next business trip.
(4)Duncan S.
Augie's is an interesting beast that has the look and feel of 70's steak house/bar with a fine dining menu and fine dining prices. Budget style tables and chairs, paper table cloths and a feeling of nostalgia with the decor and pictures. Kind of expected to hear "The Entertainer" playing in the background, but it was some subtle pop. Crowd early on a Friday night mainly 40's to 50's in pairs and one group, very casual and not overly stuffy. For the food we started with the blackened shrimp and grits, which were pretty good and a large serving of grits. For mains we broke one of our dining rules on never to have Asian food outside an Asian restaurant and had the Schezuan duck, (a Chinese dish not a Thai dish). The spice was really quite good, though the duck overcooked . Along with a rib-eye special which was just OK and expecting a lot better on the flavor side for $32, it was a little rarer than the medium-rare requested, but not a game changer. The accompanying purple asparagus was really good and the smash potato nothing special. Found it strange no fresh bread was served with the meal, yet there were some bread-sticks/crackers in plastic wrappers stuffed in a wire cone on the table? Beer range pretty good with support for local breweries which is great to see, chiller buckets for the 40's is a nice touch. Wine fairly decent, though not sure I need to have a tacky advertising card promoting Bocelli wines on my table. Service enthusiastic and good, if a little rehearsed on the selling. If a restaurant receives new wine they should ensure the servers have tried the wine. Rarely a waiters assistant stands out, but our guy was a gun in making sure we had water, glasses filled and clearing plates. A-OK is just where this restaurant scrapes in.
(3)Chris M.
Another meal alone while on business travel. Although the server and hostess were a little awkward, the food was great. I had a pumpkin soup which was amazing and a delicious salad.
(4)Jason N.
I have eaten here twice and loved both times. I usually get a pasta dish. Both times the pasta was cooked spot on and the sauce was put together well. The atmosphere is relaxed and the wait staff are attentive. Lunch time can be a little crazy but when you are down town that is expected. I would recommend this place to just about anyone.
(5)Lauren B.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. In a few words: Good, not awesome. We went here last weekend. On a Friday night, the noise level was very pleasant -- not QUIET but not loud. Drinks: Good but not outstanding. They had some nice specials, and they were reasonably priced. Food: We had the crab cakes - very good. Hubs had the petit filet, which was good, but forgettable. I had the special - lobster tails with a sweet potato sauce. Good, but not fabulous. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but weren't blown away (and shouldn't you be blown away by lobster tails?!). Service: Again good but not outstanding.
(3)John B.
This place impressed the pants off of me. I ordered the mussels and a salmon steak, which happened to be the special for the night. Both dishes were exceptionally flavorful. The mussels came in a curry sauce that had just the right amount of kick for someone like myself with low spice tolerance to enjoy. The salmon came with a great rub that I couldn't quite pinpoint except for the paprika. Throwing in a scoop of gelato for dessert was an unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious gesture on the part of Kim behind the bar. You can tell pretty easily that this place is run by a chef that painstakingly cultivates his craft. The menu here changes fairly often so I'll plan to return every time I'm in town to see what additions they've made.
(5)Jim C.
Visited Augies during a visit to Springfield in May 2015. Beautiful night so I choose to sit outside. Nice view over looking the old Capital building. Big mistake! Numerous guests who were eating inside continually come outside to smoke cigarettes roughly 10 feet from my table. They should set a minimum of 50 feet from front door. Gross. Food was ok. Had lobster bisque which tasted good but had Zero pieces of lobster in it. My catfish entree tasted pretty good. Service was ok. The waiter seemed truly excited by each and every menu choice I made. I'm like take it easy, it's just a Bass Beer. Choices in Springfield are limited but I would try another spot next time.
(3)Ryan K.
Came here after finding a link to them on a Springfield-related website. The wife and I really liked this place. Good food (more on this later), our 6 and 10 year olds enjoyed their kid's meals, and the services was excellent (more on this later, too). Re: the food: - I got the Lobster Bisque and Dena got the Butternut Squash Bisque to start. My Lobster was good, not great. Didn't have any lobster chunks in it, but flavor was good. Dena's Butternut Squash was great, though. Good flavor, good heat at the end. - I got a Butter salad next, and Dena got the Crispy Goat cheese salad. Both were good and adequately (e.g. not overly massive and wasteful) sized. The bacon on both was fab. - We rounded out with a series of appetizers. There was so much goodness on the menu, that we wanted to go with variety in smaller chunks than a single big entree. I got the Bean Cakes and Wontons, Dena got Meatball Skewers. All in all, the prices were a bit higher for smaller portions, but I'd rather get good food at a higher price point than a buttload of average food at cheaper prices. Would I come back? Absolutely. I might want to experiment a bit more in town just to see what else is out there, but I would (and will) recommend them to anyone I know who is visiting Springfield. Re: Service - Gabe was AWESOME. Did I mention awesome? He was attentive, knowledgeable, was great with our kids, checked in on us enough but not too much, gave good recommendations, all good. Really...he enhanced the entire experience. I hope management reads this so they can see it. This is a classic case of where a 4.5 would be appropriate. In the absence of that, I gave them a 4 rather than a 5 because: - The decor was a bit dated, or just off a bit. Not bad, but just felt a bit disjointed. - The Lobster Bisque could have benefited from some chunks of lobster. Yes. I'm being picky, but I'm trying to be more diligent in who I give 5 stars out to. I probably would have given them 5 stars 12 months ago. Did I mention Gabe was awesome?
(4)Robin R.
Wonderful choice for a special occasion. Great array of choices on the menu. So hard to decide what I wanted. Full wine list. Very professional waitstaff.
(4)Chris B.
Not sure why I gave it one star. Cold food big bill bad stop. Some kind of sauce over Rib eye should have indicated trouble but downhill from there. Limited choices in Springpatch make people go here I am sure. Better off getting a burger at a sports bar. Never seeing this place again.
(1)Jessie H.
Great food and classy staff. I have been to several places in Springfield so far--this is my favorite. The catfish was great and the coffee was just what I needed.
(5)Buddy B.
The food was excellent. The service was even better. The menu had standard choices with enough unusual and different selections to make it very interesting. Visited Springfield from Chicago and Augie's was recommended by someone at the Lincoln library. Pricey but worth every penny.
(5)Brian K.
Great food. Really creative presentation. Wine list is a decent size with good variability. Specials were interesting (they have a steak and a pasta) Atmosphere would be my only knock. It's a bit eclectic but trying to be fancy. If you drink up you won't notice it :-)
(4)Mark G.
Outstanding food and server. A party of 7 for my spouse's birthday. Our table was near the back so it offered a bit of privacy. Everything was delicious and presented superbly. Jacob, our server, was equally great. From the drinks to small plates to salads and entrees, everyone enjoyed. You can't go wrong dining at Augie's.
(5)Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. First the cons: This is pricey by even big city standards and al a carte. I felt so squished into the table. There is little more than 6 inches between tables it seems. I don't like having to slide my butt along someone's plate to get to my seat. The ceiling tiles kind of grossed me out - stained & dirty. Plusses; I liked the art work around. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Just OK: Service is fine nothing outstanding, Menu is fine, nothing outstanding. I had the poached pear & blue cheese salad to start and the Mediterranean sea scallops on couscous with raisin chutney. It was nice.
(3)Dan P.
Great seafood dish: clams and pasta. Bread was warm with a great honey butter. Service was warm andknowledgeable. Finally the lobster bisque was rich and creamy.
(5)Norm S.
One word describes the food - AWFUL I had the seared tuna which was served overcooked, not pink, and even though cooked it was cold. The place is a joke. I have had 4 meals there in the past 6 month and each one has been awful. Save your money and just go to McDonalds. STAY AWAY!
(1)Bryan W.
It's a nice place trying real hard to be fancy. This is a nice sit-down place to bring a date. The food is good they use quality fresh ingredients. Average plate is around $20 and appetizers $8 to $15.
(4)Rich E.
We went here for date night and it was amazing. Everything we had was delicious. We tried the lobster bisque was very good and so was the clam chowder. We split the goat cheese salad and it was one of the best salads we have had. The bacon wrapped shrimp apps were divine. Our entrees were on point. I had the filet which was cooked perfect and my wife had the duck which was so tender and delicious. Wife ordered an appletini and loved it. I had a red wine that was very smooth, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our server Ross did a tremendous job taking care of us! He was the best! We will definitely be back.
(4)Lisa L.
I went here for dinner (I am from out of state). The Salmon dish with wild mushrooms was honestly the best salmon I have had in years. Just PERFECT! The sauce with it was divine and unique.....I have never seen a similar creation on any menu, anywhere, to date with the combination of ingredients that made it a wonderful treat from the first to last bite. Dave, our server, was also excellent! He recommended a great bottle of Pinot noir and was the right amount of courteous, professional, and yet light-hearted. I am a road warrior and this was the first memorable meal of this calibre in a while! If I get back to Springfield, I am definitely returning!
(5)Brianne G.
Augie's. Way to go guys. Went for birthday dinner a week ago and it was a great experience. Augie's was one of those downtown staples that I always meant to visit, but for some reason it just never happened. In hindsight, it was pure tragedy. I ordered the filet and my girlfriend ordered the potato crusted cod. Both of us were beyond pleased. My filet was a perfect medium rare and the quality was superb. Mashed potatoes and veggies were delicious. I cleaned the plate. The girlfriend's dinner disappeared in approximately five minutes. I barely got my traditional sample. Service was really great. Our waiter was very professional, pleasant, and attentive. Good man. I was actually surprised after dinner--someone slipped them the news that it was my birthday and they offered me my choice of dessert. I chose the bread pudding. The bread pudding itself was pretty good, but the sadface of the night was the strange cinnamon sauce on top of it. Tasted like liquified red hots. :( Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely return.
(4)Dave C.
This is more expensive than the other restaurants in the immediate vicinity, yet worth it. Why? Well... a lot of the others have a bar scene and bar food. This place has nicely presented choices that have a mix of vegetables, meat/fish, and sauces. In a way, things are presented as if it was a high end French restaurant. The atmosphere is great for couples; but also works well for non-romantic. We were a family of 4 - kids that were 11 and 16 - and it worked great. It is also reasonably quiet. You don't need to whisper, I don't mean that. Yet... you don't need to yell over others to be heard. The location is great in that it is close to a lot of highly rated attractions in the heart of Springfield.
(5)Leah H.
Love this place! I cannot get over their goat cheese salad! It is fried goat cheese that bursts with creamy warm goodness when you cut into it! It has a sweet Vinegarette on it... Perfect appetizer. I have eaten here 3 times, and my favorite dish is the potato crusted fish. Fantastic! A definite go to restaurant! It really isn't priced too high either for the top quality chef!
(5)Jimmy L.
The hotel had recommended a bar and grill type place, and I was totally not into that right now, so saw this place here on Yelp. I didn't have a car here, so I was looking for something in walking distance from The State House Hotel where I could actually have a private/quiet dinner all to myself. The key was to it had to have been a short walk since the weather was at 15 degrees or so! You can't beat the location downtown across from the old State Capitol. You walk into a dark and long narrow space with the bar up-front. Once you get in towards the back, though, there is much more space that you can't see from the outside. They sat me in the secondary portion of the dining room where there was perhaps one other party. Private, but still open to the front dining room to where you don't necessarily feel completely isolated. The wait staff was super pleasant, and super responsive when I ordered coffee from the get-go and kept asking for refills. I ordered the following - Braised Bunn Farm Chuck Short Ribs aged white cheddar pave potato/winter root vegetable/natural jus The price point was $19.00, which I thought was reasonable for a beef entree. So, one of my pain points, though, is if I'm ordering ribs, I really do want the ribs - as in the BONZ. More often than not - at not only this place, but most places I have ordered it - I order short ribs, and they arrived BONELESS. Sorry, but if it ain't got the bones, you gotta say something like, "Boneless Short Ribs". Otherwise, my expectations are shot! Secondly, I'm not so sure that they were really braised, or if they were, not sure if they were braised for a long time. Though I thought it was good, the meat was tender enough, but not tender enough for it to taste like it was braised. The portions were big, and was too full for dessert, so I promised I'd come back the next night and JUST have dessert. So, the next evening, I ordered their signature dish, which was a "peach bread pudding with whisky sauce and ice cream". It was GREAT. They sat me at the bar this time, and reserved a whole carafe of coffee for me, and kept serving me up with it. The waiter was nice enough to bring me back an extra dollop of ice cream - and I didn't even ask for it! He gave me really personal service. For this last experience alone, I give this place a 4-star rating when it otherwise would have been three.
(4)Michael N.
Great dinner once more. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella app was quite fresh and good. The duck was crispy with an oriental sauce which I loved. The bread pudding desert was ok. We had a very nice reasonably priced red wine. Everyone liked their meal and the service was great!
(5)Paul W.
Decent lunch spot. Nothing special as far as food, service, or decor.
(3)Jan L.
Nice place and service. Our entrees were disappointing- the pork cheeks tasted like pot roast and the salmon strong. We enjoyed our sangria and lobster bisque. The place was pretty full maybe we made bad choices.
(3)Damian S.
Recommended by the bar down the street that didn't serve food, I was hesitant at first when I walked in. The tables, waiters, other guests, and wine cellar entryway gave me the idea I might be in too ritzy an establishment for my current state of dress and sobriety--I'd been sightseeing all day in 95 degree heat, and probably looked like I'd just stepped out of a swimming pool. However, the wall decor led me to believe I might be ok if I stayed, as it is very garish. I'm not quite sure if there was a theme going there, or not. I stayed anyway, and ordered the rainbow trout with a beer and a Coke. That was truly one of the best fish meals I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked superbly, but not to the point where it totally fell apart before reaching your mouth. That was one tasty fish--why more restaurants don't serve this is currently a mystery to me. The cost was well within the range of normalcy, and the waiter treated me just like any of the "suits" and "ball gowns" at the nearby tables. A very pleasant experience and a good meal--though I quickly went back to the dive bar for the rest of the evening. If I'm ever in Springfield again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Matt R.
This place is a joke. Went here for lunch with 3 family members. The elk burger came out 15 minutes after ordering, followed by sandwiches 5 minutes later, and then 5 minutes after that a salad. Who runs a restaurant where food is served like that? Management should be embarrassed. Lastly, the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go elsewhere in Springfield.
(1)Matthew G.
We have eaten at Augie's a few times. The food is always good and the service is very pleasant. The narrow dining area is at first off putting, but the ambiance was well assembled and the feel of the space is comfortable. I don't see the manager in the dining room, but I haven't needed a manager.
(4)Sara B.
going in we thought it was a burger joint. I would say we werepleasently surprised. Large portions, great for sharing. Enjoyed the warm goat cheese salad, black bean cakes, manhattan seafood chowder, and shared the "pasta of the day." The Salad was amazing! The best part of the meal. The food all- together wasn't amazing, but it was good. The decor is a little off but I really liked the small pieces of art on the tables. One criticism, there were SO many specials. The menu is small and select to begin with, so when there are 5-6 specials of the day that are intricate and intense it confuses things a bit.
(4)Barnabas H.
I give this place 3 stars based solely on the the quality of food. If one were blind, the taste of the food would give any review a 4, maybe 5, star review. This place is gaudy, right down to the garnish. The art is so loud an annoying, but I respect the owner's ambition to recognize local artists. Here's a hint - treat the visual aspect as seriously as the culinary, otherwise this place will make serious palettes nauseous before they order. Once the food arrives, it's great. Nothing to complain about at all apart from presentation. I've had some really wonderful food here - my favorite of which was the pork tasting menu with local beer pairings.
(3)Angela P.
How much can you judge a place based on eating there once? Im not sure, but I know that Augie's lived up to most of the hype I had heard about it. Dining alone, especially as a young(ish) female, can be a strange beast. The odd looks, questions i.e. "Are you waiting for someone?", servers avoiding you at all costs thinking youll be a bad tipper. When I walked into Augie's it was a weekday afternoon and the rest of the clientele appeared to be business lunch meetings or 'ladies-who-lunch'. I was just looking for a good place to sit and have some lunch, a glass of wine and to read a book. I remembered that I was around the corner from Augie's and decided to try it. I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I couldnt figure out if it was because they didnt see me (or didnt want to see me) or they thought I was waiting for someone else to come in the door with me, or what. Anyhow, after I was seated there was a tinge of awkwardness with the server, but after that it was smooth sailing. My server explained the specials and showed me the wine specials. I know people mention Augie's can be on the more expensive side, but at $7 the wine specials were really reasonable and the white wine blend I had was really good. For lunch I ordered the crab cake entree ($11). I have to say that I cant remember having better crab cakes in recent memory. They can tend to be too heavy on the non-crab filling or too soft and falling apart. These were heavy on the crab, easy on the 'breadiness'. The outsides were breaded with a very light crumb, almost panko-like and they were perfectly crispy. I was enjoying them and the nice lemon aioli that came with them so much a woman passed by me and said, "Those are good, huh?". They were! I dont know how much you can tell by a restaurant by one visit, but this visit certainly convinced me to come back. Yes, the decor is a bit odd. Like a yoga studio mixed with some new-age club, but I can forgive that.
(4)Warren W.
One of the best higher-end restaurants in Springfield. The ecclectic ambiance and menu is very accomodating. If you are looking for creative twists on standard fare then look no further.
(4)Sinh M.
We went here on our 3rd year anniversary, the restaurant is very nice and has a pleasing atmosphere. The food and the service was also very excellent, I would definitely come back.
(5)Lindsey F.
I had an excellent lunch here today! The crispy goat cheese salad (I added chicken) was really delicious. The goat cheese was a fried disc situated atop the greens, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter Aaron was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Carri C.
Filet and NY strip were high quality and comparable to the good steakhouses in Chicago. Others in my group had the pork chop and the cod-everyone enjoyed their meals. Apps were a little skimpy in size, but the entrees were fine. Outstanding service. Overall, great experience and I would return.
(5)Julie H.
Ok, everyone always raves about Augie's here in the 'patch. I see on yelp, no different. All I can say is really??? The food I had last night was ok but nothing extraordinary. Also, while our waitress was sufficient, the bar service while I was waiting for my table was pretty slow and snotty. The hostesses also seemed to be out of sorts, no eye contact, etc. Oh and the presentation on some of their dishes, really really over the top to the point of being almost comical. Ok kids, let's review....good points, my risotto - yum: the price of dinner was more than reasonable; free parking with a back entrance in the lot behind the restaurant and last but not least, they are trying in a city that really doesn't have a clue about good food. Bad points, food had by others in my group was just meh and my monkfish was overcooked, over the top presentations of food, not much wine by the glass to choose from and the service could use some serious work.
(2)Heather L.
I had heard tell of the Horsehoe aka The Shut up and Eat special of the day as they call it here. I was told by the friendly bar keep that it originated at the nearby Leland Hotel in the 1920's. It can take many forms but is essentially an open faced sandwich, smothered in meat, in this case, slow roasted pulled pork with carmelized onion and pears, then smothered with a very yummy cheese sauce and I don't mean ballpark nacho, good cheese and then you top it off with a pile of sweet potato fries on top. It resembles a horseshoe in that the bread is the shoe, the cheese is the glue and the fries are the nails. Loved the blues music they had going and lots of tables of one making it much less uncomfortable for this lone travelling salesman to e. Very nice atmosphere. $12 for a very yummy, very filling meal plus $2 for a coke. Not bad, not bad at all. I will be back.
(5)J. C.
We at at Augie's for lunch one day and it was pretty good. My lady friend had the pot roast, which we both thought was very good. We decided after that visit that we would try the dinner menu. About two months later we went back. I had the short ribs and she had the duck. The duck was ok, nothing special. The portion of duck to noodles was almost too generous. I wish there was a sign of generosity with my order. My short ribs were awful. They were bone dry. I've had roast from unskilled cooks that was much more flavorful and moist. The potatoes were good. The vegetables, however, were raw. I like a little bite to vegetables but these were hardly cooked. I was shocked by how poor the short ribs were. We both left significant amounts on the plate and we were never asked how our food was. Not wanting to be rude on a rare night out we kept to ourselves. We spent $70 on crab cakes that tasted like fish sticks, short ribs that were bone dry, and duck that was on par with a Chinese buffet. I would say save your money and try another place in town that prides itself on quality service and product. I don't have a go to place in Springfield for that yet...
(2)Rachel A.
I like to try to give a restaurant more than 1 try before reviewing, unless we are traveling...then of course - they get 1 shot to WOW :-) We have now been to Augie's numerous times, and this place kicks ass every single time! I do not feel the same about he enviroment as some of the others - The eclectic environment is obvious - good for them for not being like the rest! It is definately clean, and love a linen napkin! The fresh local ingredients, and the impecible service we always receive is top notch & is what makes this 5 stars for me. This night our server was Matt. From the second we walk in the door we are greeted and the service didn't stop! Although it was Saturday, they were busy, he kept us informed and the food coming & tabled cleared w/ each course. We ordered from the bar - Skyy & cranberry... right on.... Appetizer: white bean hummus & grilled naan flatbread - DELICIOUS! Bread was nicely toasted on the outside, and warm & soft on the inside. Salad: I had the Red wine poached bosc pear w/ bleu cheese & candied walnuts w/ vanilla bean vinaigrette - I could turn vegitarian if someone would make me this salad everyday....it was FABULOUS, seriously...slap your Momma fabulous! Rolls were served warm, butter served on a cold stone, (I'm never a huge fan of the hard, cold butter), and it did taste as if it was REAL butter...nice. Entree: I had one of their specials, which was Scallops w/ a veggie risotto. The scallops were grilled perfectly, and so moist in the center. The risotto was creamy & full of nice firm veggies. OH, yeah! Right on Augie's! We had no room for dessert, but thanks for the after dinner chocolate mint! An evening at a local restaurant, great service, and unique culinary creations by great chefs that you don't find at any other Springfield restaurant! We will continue to return! KUDOS!!
(5)Chuck B.
I've been to this place twice, and it is wonderful place to have some truly unique food good drinks. The chef is vested in the success of the restaurant. Last week I had the elk loin on grits and a Caesar salad. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar. I was offered, and accepted, a wine tasting to pair with my meal. Great service and a superb chef. Hard to go wrong.
(5)Bunny S.
Extremely attentive waitstaff and a flavorful menu to boot. Our waitress Rhiannon was very knowledgable about the menu and the flavors in each dish making her able to suggest an alternative salad dressing to pair with the first course when the dressing that came with the plate was an impossibility. The meals themselves (we had the duck and the locally farmed porkchop) were done to perfection and married the flavors extremely well. The duck was spicy and true to the szechwan style. The pork was made perfectly with a tangy sauce and collared greens that were edible as opposed to boggy. We ate early (before 7 on a Saturday) so we didn't need a reservation but if you come in at 7 or later you should probably call ahead. Overall a great place to eat if you're in town visiting from a big city or looking for a touch of class in downtown Springfield. Ask for Rihannon, she's a treat to speak with.
(5)J N.
Discovered this great little restaurant on Yelp. We chose it mostly because it was a short walk from the hotel. Great choice. Our server was exceptional. The food was very good. Over all, a warm welcoming environment and an enjoyable evening.
(5)Andrew W.
Holy smokes this place was a surprise. Not much else in Springfield compares in my findings in the last 3 months.
(4)Dave A.
My wife and I enjoyed a top-quality dinner there after a long day of Lincolning. Our waiter, Matt, was the perfect balance of helpfulness and restraint. The ribeye was excellent. The only "meh" moment was the fried cheese Napoleon appetizer, which was Sam's Club cheese sticks covered in marinara sauce from a jar. Not a cheap place...the $120 including tip bill would have paid for a lot of pizza, but it was a nice treat.
(5)Jim M.
Go here every time I'm in town. The food and service is always excellent.
(5)Michelle H.
My husband and I dined here last night. We were in town for one night, so I'm glad we found Augie's. We were lucky enough to score 1/2 price bottle of wine night too. They had a great selection to choose from. My husband had the crispy duck. It was awesome. Crispy skin, sauce with heat, not just hot for the sake of hot. I had the NY strip steak. Cooked perfectly and a great cheese crust. A nice surprise of red cabbage as a side. The dessert was bread pudding and spice ice cream. Phenomenal. Service was top notch. The water glasses were topped off frequently. The server was informative and attentive without being obtrusive. Great find.
(4)Michael S.
I'm not as effusive about this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was damn good but not to rave over, and given that it's Springfield, I have no quarrel with the hodge podge decor. My lobster bisque soup was very good enough. My rack of lamb was excellent. I'd be happy to come back. This place kicks the crap out of some other very over-rated crappy Springfield restaurants.
(4)AJ J.
Just okay. Carl, our server was good but the wine selection was limited. Lobster bisque was good but pork chops just okay. I always give any resturant an extra star for providing linen.
(3)Mathew P.
So I ordered an elk burger. I ordered it medium rare. With shallots and bacon. It came well done. With no bacon. It was taken back with a promise to do better. It returned medium and still with no bacon. They denied me bacon. Look at my profile. What is the one food I love above all others? Waitstaff were alerted. Two overly crisp slices of bacon were brought to me on a separate plate. Waiter then took back our ketchup when we still desire ketchup and promptly disappeared. So I hear that Augie's is Springfield's top restaurant. So I hear.
(2)Cara B.
We went for our anniversary and it was horrible! We were served a very dry white wine when we asked for a suggestion of a sweet, the food was pretty, but not very tasty. There is a dish called potato pave- it was hard like pavement and tasted like paste- eww. We will NEVER come back! Just go to Sebastian's Food is much better, and the staff more knowledgable.
(1)Peggy T.
This is a great spot where they are clearly trying hard to be the best. We were there on the night when there was a tasting menu, which was an exceptional value. Six courses cost $45. One of the four of us had the tasting menu and the rest of us ordered off the usual menu. The vegetables were very fresh and used appropriately. Portions were on the large side. Our service was outstanding.
(4)The Big Babboon I.
I live very close to this place and feel bad giving it three stars, but that's what it deserves. My latest meal there was the elk burger ordered medium which came out raw in the center, had borscht, of which the broth was good, but lacked any real amount of beets / food in it. My friend had the seafood soup which tasted like nothing but fish sauce, and his grilled cheese was good, but thinking about it, its pretty hard to mess up girlled cheese. I would give this place two stars but for its 32 oz ribeye...this cut of meat alone got it up a star. If you want prime beef also, this place is the only place (and only sometimes - and only one cut) in town that has it. However, overall Springfield is known for its mediocre dining downtown, and this place lives up to that reputation. OK...new chef...moves up to 4 stars!
(4)Josh T.
Nothing I love more than a place with excellent food that incorporates local meats & produce. This place does all of that. The food is prepared artfully by a chef who is aware of flavors and presentation. Many of the entrees are listed with the farms where the meats and cheeses and from. Great place for a fancy date, or dinner as this place can be expensive for everyday dining. Portions are appropriate but not supersized. This is a place you want to slow down eating and appreciate the flavors being created. A true chef treat!
(4)Peter H.
We really enjoyed our trip to Augie's The food was excellent, and well presented. The salads were delicious, the steak was good (made better by the accompanying mashed potato and asparagus) and the salmon was great. The service was top notch, the ambiance was very "New York"; overall an excellent dining experience.
(4)Sandy C.
We had a wonderful meal. The food was great and Matt was a great waiter. We will be back. Sandy and Bart from Decatur, Illinois
(5)Brad W.
Great food and excellent atmosphere, prices were a touch high. The lobster bisque was good, but compared to the Union League club in Chicago, it didn't have much lobster to it. We will definitely come back.
(4)Rachel K.
My fiance and I went here last night and I have to say that it was kind of a strange experience. First, lets talk about the food. Oh My Lord it was amazing. I ordered the New York Strip and she ordered the lamb. That was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had. Granted I haven't had a ton of experience eating steak, but this thing was amazing. Normally I like my steak to be somewhere between medium and medium rare. I feel like when I order medium rare at a steakhouse they always give it to me too rare, but this was pretty damn rare and still fantastic! It was seasoned so perfectly and just sooo good. I think I remember seeing that the menu said something about the steak being seasoned in a french onion soup type deal and then covered in gruyere. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It also came with mashed potatoes and a mixture of veggies. The mashed potatoes were also very yummy. The veggies were on the tasteless side, which was disappointing, but I've also been spoiled lately from eating fresh veggies from my garden. The fiance said that her lamb was not as good as the steak, but that it was still really good. She seemed to enjoy the entire meal, just not as much as I enjoyed mine. Lets back up a little and talk about before dinner. First we were served hot rolls and cold butter. I'm not really sure who eats cold butter. The idea is cool especially since the butter was actually on a coldstone, but it was impossible to spread and made the hot rolls cold almost instantly. I normally love a good roll, but these weren't all that great. I say skip the bread and fill up on the steak. For drinks I ordered a basic flavored vodka and juice cocktail, but it came in this ridiculously fancy glass. I thought that was pretty odd. The fiance ordered an oatmeal stout which she was a big fan of. They offered her a glass to pour it into, but oddly enough it was the same glass that I had gotten my cocktail in. We also ordered dessert. We weren't really sure we wanted any since we were pretty full from our entrees, but I told the waiter we'd look at the dessert menu. Oh persuasive bastards! There was no dessert menu. He actually brought out a plate of desserts and told us about each one. That is just pure evil. You can't say no to that! We had the chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was very rich and super dense and oh so good. I wish they would've given us a bit of a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance off the richness of the cake, but they seemed to be going more for presentation on that one. I was glad that the dessert portions weren't enormous like they often are at chain restaurants. I really don't need an enormous dessert, nor do I want one. So this all sounds fantastic, right? So why was the experience weird and why after all that gushing about how fantastic the food is does this place only get 4 stars? With a menu like this restaurant has and the prices you're paying (not super expensive, but $30 for a meal in Springfield where I can get a pizza for like $7 is not a cheap place) the decor should really be nice and classy. I understand that they're trying to go for a casual dining environment, but you can still pull that off and look classy. The ambiance of the restaurant really needs to match the food, the wait service (which was very good), and the prices. You can still wear casual clothes and visit a classy establishment. The decor was absolutely atrocious! It was a hodge podge of different styles that clashed when put all together in a room. From the greek murals on the wall (some of them of extremely naked large breasted women) to the almost cartoonish framed pictures of buildings and abe lincoln, to the canyon painting, to the flowered carpet, to the different room dividers, to the tiled ceiling (high school anyone?), to the track lighting, to the paper cone holding breadsticks on each table, to the painted spoon sculptures of flowers. This was just a mess of different types of design that did not go well together at all. And some of it was so bad that it shouldn't be anywhere near this restaurant. I expect this type of decor from a kitschy restaurant, but not from a place with fantastic steaks. And then what really made the experience strange, but I wouldn't actually take into consideration when rating the place was the extremely loud woman conversing with two older people that I guessed were her parents. She bitched and moaned about her personal life very loudly the entire time, but the topper was when she started talking about her incurable foot fungus. That is not appropriate restaurant conversation! I don't care if you're done with your meal, I wasn't done with mine and I don't need to be picturing your foot fungus while I'm eating. That is disgusting and you need to get some manners. I will definitely be returning to this place for their fantastic food and I will hope that they change the decor by the time I return.
(4)Janee M.
The crispy goat salad is a culinary experience. Fresh, flavorful and delightful. The lobster bisque was rich and creamy however it was missing those chunks of lobster that can make a bisque unforgettable. The service was great. I highly recommend you try this place.
(4)Lisa C.
Always a wonderful dining experience! Awesome food & service! Augies goes above & beyond in every area! Excellent! Every time we have been there it is Always good! Yes, we Will be back!
(5)Amy N.
I visit Springfield every May, and always find time to visit Augies! We often sit out on the sidewalk, but it was too chilly this time around. As a vegan, my menu choices are somewhat limited, but I have found that all I have to do is ask, and I can get something to my liking. My husband and I both enjoyed the roasted kale and beet salad, and others in our dining party had good comments on the morel tart and fried oysters. For my entrée, I asked for the vegetable and pasta dish without the cream sauce or cheese, and it was outstanding! My only gripe was that a friend at my table ordered the same dish in it's original form, and was given a noticeably larger portion. My husband's choice was the black bean cakes, and he loved it, just as in the past. Great staff and a nice drink menu. I'll be back again!
(4)Steve L.
Good service in a nice, relaxing environment, but the food is overpriced, in my opinion. Entrees are $20 on the low end of the menu. They do offer a $12.95 meal on Thursdays only, which is reasonable. The Caesar salad was great, as were the side dishes. The pork chop, however, wasn't anything special. I've made better at home. My daughter's chicken-fried chicken was merely okay. She didn't like it, so I ate half of it. If it were more reasonably priced, I'd try this restaurant again.
(4)Ryan K.
Came here after finding a link to them on a Springfield-related website. The wife and I really liked this place. Good food (more on this later), our 6 and 10 year olds enjoyed their kid's meals, and the services was excellent (more on this later, too). Re: the food: - I got the Lobster Bisque and Dena got the Butternut Squash Bisque to start. My Lobster was good, not great. Didn't have any lobster chunks in it, but flavor was good. Dena's Butternut Squash was great, though. Good flavor, good heat at the end. - I got a Butter salad next, and Dena got the Crispy Goat cheese salad. Both were good and adequately (e.g. not overly massive and wasteful) sized. The bacon on both was fab. - We rounded out with a series of appetizers. There was so much goodness on the menu, that we wanted to go with variety in smaller chunks than a single big entree. I got the Bean Cakes and Wontons, Dena got Meatball Skewers. All in all, the prices were a bit higher for smaller portions, but I'd rather get good food at a higher price point than a buttload of average food at cheaper prices. Would I come back? Absolutely. I might want to experiment a bit more in town just to see what else is out there, but I would (and will) recommend them to anyone I know who is visiting Springfield. Re: Service - Gabe was AWESOME. Did I mention awesome? He was attentive, knowledgeable, was great with our kids, checked in on us enough but not too much, gave good recommendations, all good. Really...he enhanced the entire experience. I hope management reads this so they can see it. This is a classic case of where a 4.5 would be appropriate. In the absence of that, I gave them a 4 rather than a 5 because: - The decor was a bit dated, or just off a bit. Not bad, but just felt a bit disjointed. - The Lobster Bisque could have benefited from some chunks of lobster. Yes. I'm being picky, but I'm trying to be more diligent in who I give 5 stars out to. I probably would have given them 5 stars 12 months ago. Did I mention Gabe was awesome?
(4)Robin R.
Wonderful choice for a special occasion. Great array of choices on the menu. So hard to decide what I wanted. Full wine list. Very professional waitstaff.
(4)Chris B.
Not sure why I gave it one star. Cold food big bill bad stop. Some kind of sauce over Rib eye should have indicated trouble but downhill from there. Limited choices in Springpatch make people go here I am sure. Better off getting a burger at a sports bar. Never seeing this place again.
(1)Jessie H.
Great food and classy staff. I have been to several places in Springfield so far--this is my favorite. The catfish was great and the coffee was just what I needed.
(5)Buddy B.
The food was excellent. The service was even better. The menu had standard choices with enough unusual and different selections to make it very interesting. Visited Springfield from Chicago and Augie's was recommended by someone at the Lincoln library. Pricey but worth every penny.
(5)Brianne G.
Augie's. Way to go guys. Went for birthday dinner a week ago and it was a great experience. Augie's was one of those downtown staples that I always meant to visit, but for some reason it just never happened. In hindsight, it was pure tragedy. I ordered the filet and my girlfriend ordered the potato crusted cod. Both of us were beyond pleased. My filet was a perfect medium rare and the quality was superb. Mashed potatoes and veggies were delicious. I cleaned the plate. The girlfriend's dinner disappeared in approximately five minutes. I barely got my traditional sample. Service was really great. Our waiter was very professional, pleasant, and attentive. Good man. I was actually surprised after dinner--someone slipped them the news that it was my birthday and they offered me my choice of dessert. I chose the bread pudding. The bread pudding itself was pretty good, but the sadface of the night was the strange cinnamon sauce on top of it. Tasted like liquified red hots. :( Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely return.
(4)Dave C.
This is more expensive than the other restaurants in the immediate vicinity, yet worth it. Why? Well... a lot of the others have a bar scene and bar food. This place has nicely presented choices that have a mix of vegetables, meat/fish, and sauces. In a way, things are presented as if it was a high end French restaurant. The atmosphere is great for couples; but also works well for non-romantic. We were a family of 4 - kids that were 11 and 16 - and it worked great. It is also reasonably quiet. You don't need to whisper, I don't mean that. Yet... you don't need to yell over others to be heard. The location is great in that it is close to a lot of highly rated attractions in the heart of Springfield.
(5)Michael N.
Great dinner once more. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella app was quite fresh and good. The duck was crispy with an oriental sauce which I loved. The bread pudding desert was ok. We had a very nice reasonably priced red wine. Everyone liked their meal and the service was great!
(5)Damian S.
Recommended by the bar down the street that didn't serve food, I was hesitant at first when I walked in. The tables, waiters, other guests, and wine cellar entryway gave me the idea I might be in too ritzy an establishment for my current state of dress and sobriety--I'd been sightseeing all day in 95 degree heat, and probably looked like I'd just stepped out of a swimming pool. However, the wall decor led me to believe I might be ok if I stayed, as it is very garish. I'm not quite sure if there was a theme going there, or not. I stayed anyway, and ordered the rainbow trout with a beer and a Coke. That was truly one of the best fish meals I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked superbly, but not to the point where it totally fell apart before reaching your mouth. That was one tasty fish--why more restaurants don't serve this is currently a mystery to me. The cost was well within the range of normalcy, and the waiter treated me just like any of the "suits" and "ball gowns" at the nearby tables. A very pleasant experience and a good meal--though I quickly went back to the dive bar for the rest of the evening. If I'm ever in Springfield again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Barnabas H.
I give this place 3 stars based solely on the the quality of food. If one were blind, the taste of the food would give any review a 4, maybe 5, star review. This place is gaudy, right down to the garnish. The art is so loud an annoying, but I respect the owner's ambition to recognize local artists. Here's a hint - treat the visual aspect as seriously as the culinary, otherwise this place will make serious palettes nauseous before they order. Once the food arrives, it's great. Nothing to complain about at all apart from presentation. I've had some really wonderful food here - my favorite of which was the pork tasting menu with local beer pairings.
(3)Paul W.
Decent lunch spot. Nothing special as far as food, service, or decor.
(3)Jan L.
Nice place and service. Our entrees were disappointing- the pork cheeks tasted like pot roast and the salmon strong. We enjoyed our sangria and lobster bisque. The place was pretty full maybe we made bad choices.
(3)Leah H.
Love this place! I cannot get over their goat cheese salad! It is fried goat cheese that bursts with creamy warm goodness when you cut into it! It has a sweet Vinegarette on it... Perfect appetizer. I have eaten here 3 times, and my favorite dish is the potato crusted fish. Fantastic! A definite go to restaurant! It really isn't priced too high either for the top quality chef!
(5)J N.
Discovered this great little restaurant on Yelp. We chose it mostly because it was a short walk from the hotel. Great choice. Our server was exceptional. The food was very good. Over all, a warm welcoming environment and an enjoyable evening.
(5)Jimmy L.
The hotel had recommended a bar and grill type place, and I was totally not into that right now, so saw this place here on Yelp. I didn't have a car here, so I was looking for something in walking distance from The State House Hotel where I could actually have a private/quiet dinner all to myself. The key was to it had to have been a short walk since the weather was at 15 degrees or so! You can't beat the location downtown across from the old State Capitol. You walk into a dark and long narrow space with the bar up-front. Once you get in towards the back, though, there is much more space that you can't see from the outside. They sat me in the secondary portion of the dining room where there was perhaps one other party. Private, but still open to the front dining room to where you don't necessarily feel completely isolated. The wait staff was super pleasant, and super responsive when I ordered coffee from the get-go and kept asking for refills. I ordered the following - Braised Bunn Farm Chuck Short Ribs aged white cheddar pave potato/winter root vegetable/natural jus The price point was $19.00, which I thought was reasonable for a beef entree. So, one of my pain points, though, is if I'm ordering ribs, I really do want the ribs - as in the BONZ. More often than not - at not only this place, but most places I have ordered it - I order short ribs, and they arrived BONELESS. Sorry, but if it ain't got the bones, you gotta say something like, "Boneless Short Ribs". Otherwise, my expectations are shot! Secondly, I'm not so sure that they were really braised, or if they were, not sure if they were braised for a long time. Though I thought it was good, the meat was tender enough, but not tender enough for it to taste like it was braised. The portions were big, and was too full for dessert, so I promised I'd come back the next night and JUST have dessert. So, the next evening, I ordered their signature dish, which was a "peach bread pudding with whisky sauce and ice cream". It was GREAT. They sat me at the bar this time, and reserved a whole carafe of coffee for me, and kept serving me up with it. The waiter was nice enough to bring me back an extra dollop of ice cream - and I didn't even ask for it! He gave me really personal service. For this last experience alone, I give this place a 4-star rating when it otherwise would have been three.
(4)Matt R.
This place is a joke. Went here for lunch with 3 family members. The elk burger came out 15 minutes after ordering, followed by sandwiches 5 minutes later, and then 5 minutes after that a salad. Who runs a restaurant where food is served like that? Management should be embarrassed. Lastly, the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go elsewhere in Springfield.
(1)Matthew G.
We have eaten at Augie's a few times. The food is always good and the service is very pleasant. The narrow dining area is at first off putting, but the ambiance was well assembled and the feel of the space is comfortable. I don't see the manager in the dining room, but I haven't needed a manager.
(4)Sara B.
going in we thought it was a burger joint. I would say we werepleasently surprised. Large portions, great for sharing. Enjoyed the warm goat cheese salad, black bean cakes, manhattan seafood chowder, and shared the "pasta of the day." The Salad was amazing! The best part of the meal. The food all- together wasn't amazing, but it was good. The decor is a little off but I really liked the small pieces of art on the tables. One criticism, there were SO many specials. The menu is small and select to begin with, so when there are 5-6 specials of the day that are intricate and intense it confuses things a bit.
(4)Warren W.
One of the best higher-end restaurants in Springfield. The ecclectic ambiance and menu is very accomodating. If you are looking for creative twists on standard fare then look no further.
(4)Lindsey F.
I had an excellent lunch here today! The crispy goat cheese salad (I added chicken) was really delicious. The goat cheese was a fried disc situated atop the greens, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter Aaron was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Angela P.
How much can you judge a place based on eating there once? Im not sure, but I know that Augie's lived up to most of the hype I had heard about it. Dining alone, especially as a young(ish) female, can be a strange beast. The odd looks, questions i.e. "Are you waiting for someone?", servers avoiding you at all costs thinking youll be a bad tipper. When I walked into Augie's it was a weekday afternoon and the rest of the clientele appeared to be business lunch meetings or 'ladies-who-lunch'. I was just looking for a good place to sit and have some lunch, a glass of wine and to read a book. I remembered that I was around the corner from Augie's and decided to try it. I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I couldnt figure out if it was because they didnt see me (or didnt want to see me) or they thought I was waiting for someone else to come in the door with me, or what. Anyhow, after I was seated there was a tinge of awkwardness with the server, but after that it was smooth sailing. My server explained the specials and showed me the wine specials. I know people mention Augie's can be on the more expensive side, but at $7 the wine specials were really reasonable and the white wine blend I had was really good. For lunch I ordered the crab cake entree ($11). I have to say that I cant remember having better crab cakes in recent memory. They can tend to be too heavy on the non-crab filling or too soft and falling apart. These were heavy on the crab, easy on the 'breadiness'. The outsides were breaded with a very light crumb, almost panko-like and they were perfectly crispy. I was enjoying them and the nice lemon aioli that came with them so much a woman passed by me and said, "Those are good, huh?". They were! I dont know how much you can tell by a restaurant by one visit, but this visit certainly convinced me to come back. Yes, the decor is a bit odd. Like a yoga studio mixed with some new-age club, but I can forgive that.
(4)Sinh M.
We went here on our 3rd year anniversary, the restaurant is very nice and has a pleasing atmosphere. The food and the service was also very excellent, I would definitely come back.
(5)Daisy P.
I had a terrific lunch here today. House salad: 3 stars. Peppery greens were a little too much and needed some sweeter leaves in there to balance. Not enough dressing. Lovely presentation, though, and high-quality greens. Veggie quesadilla: 4.5 stars. This was a custom dish since I'm vegetarian and all of their specials had meat. Delicious roasted flavor on tortilla and veggies, and totally enough cheese, which can be hard to find. Asian veggies were an interesting choice that paid off. Cilantro sour cream dip was delicious. The half star off is for the inclusion of peapods, which were too chewy/fibrous for good quesadilla consistency, and for how the veggies didn't always stick to the tortilla so it was a little messy to eat. Bread pudding: 5 stars. Perfect portion and served hot with an apricot-whiskey sauce and licorice ice cream. Heavenly. I wanted to lick the plate. Service: 5 stars easy. I wish I got my waiter's name; he was charming but not fake, attentive but not intrusive, answered annoying vegetarian questions with a smile, recommended the right things for me to eat....loved him.
(4)Beth P.
We went here while on vacation because my husband was in the mood for a steak. The food was good, but it wasn't worth it for the cost in my opinion...we actually were debating about picking up something extra on the way back to our hotel because of how small the portion sizes were. You're looking at $20-$35 per person. And while the staff was friendly and didn't care that my husband and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, the attire is DEFINITELY NOT casual. 90% of the people in there were in suits/business clothes.
(2)J. C.
We at at Augie's for lunch one day and it was pretty good. My lady friend had the pot roast, which we both thought was very good. We decided after that visit that we would try the dinner menu. About two months later we went back. I had the short ribs and she had the duck. The duck was ok, nothing special. The portion of duck to noodles was almost too generous. I wish there was a sign of generosity with my order. My short ribs were awful. They were bone dry. I've had roast from unskilled cooks that was much more flavorful and moist. The potatoes were good. The vegetables, however, were raw. I like a little bite to vegetables but these were hardly cooked. I was shocked by how poor the short ribs were. We both left significant amounts on the plate and we were never asked how our food was. Not wanting to be rude on a rare night out we kept to ourselves. We spent $70 on crab cakes that tasted like fish sticks, short ribs that were bone dry, and duck that was on par with a Chinese buffet. I would say save your money and try another place in town that prides itself on quality service and product. I don't have a go to place in Springfield for that yet...
(2)Brian K.
Great food. Really creative presentation. Wine list is a decent size with good variability. Specials were interesting (they have a steak and a pasta) Atmosphere would be my only knock. It's a bit eclectic but trying to be fancy. If you drink up you won't notice it :-)
(4)Mark G.
Outstanding food and server. A party of 7 for my spouse's birthday. Our table was near the back so it offered a bit of privacy. Everything was delicious and presented superbly. Jacob, our server, was equally great. From the drinks to small plates to salads and entrees, everyone enjoyed. You can't go wrong dining at Augie's.
(5)Dan P.
Great seafood dish: clams and pasta. Bread was warm with a great honey butter. Service was warm andknowledgeable. Finally the lobster bisque was rich and creamy.
(5)Rich E.
We went here for date night and it was amazing. Everything we had was delicious. We tried the lobster bisque was very good and so was the clam chowder. We split the goat cheese salad and it was one of the best salads we have had. The bacon wrapped shrimp apps were divine. Our entrees were on point. I had the filet which was cooked perfect and my wife had the duck which was so tender and delicious. Wife ordered an appletini and loved it. I had a red wine that was very smooth, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our server Ross did a tremendous job taking care of us! He was the best! We will definitely be back.
(4)Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. First the cons: This is pricey by even big city standards and al a carte. I felt so squished into the table. There is little more than 6 inches between tables it seems. I don't like having to slide my butt along someone's plate to get to my seat. The ceiling tiles kind of grossed me out - stained & dirty. Plusses; I liked the art work around. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Just OK: Service is fine nothing outstanding, Menu is fine, nothing outstanding. I had the poached pear & blue cheese salad to start and the Mediterranean sea scallops on couscous with raisin chutney. It was nice.
(3)Norm S.
One word describes the food - AWFUL I had the seared tuna which was served overcooked, not pink, and even though cooked it was cold. The place is a joke. I have had 4 meals there in the past 6 month and each one has been awful. Save your money and just go to McDonalds. STAY AWAY!
(1)Bryan W.
It's a nice place trying real hard to be fancy. This is a nice sit-down place to bring a date. The food is good they use quality fresh ingredients. Average plate is around $20 and appetizers $8 to $15.
(4)Lisa L.
I went here for dinner (I am from out of state). The Salmon dish with wild mushrooms was honestly the best salmon I have had in years. Just PERFECT! The sauce with it was divine and unique.....I have never seen a similar creation on any menu, anywhere, to date with the combination of ingredients that made it a wonderful treat from the first to last bite. Dave, our server, was also excellent! He recommended a great bottle of Pinot noir and was the right amount of courteous, professional, and yet light-hearted. I am a road warrior and this was the first memorable meal of this calibre in a while! If I get back to Springfield, I am definitely returning!
(5)Jim C.
Visited Augies during a visit to Springfield in May 2015. Beautiful night so I choose to sit outside. Nice view over looking the old Capital building. Big mistake! Numerous guests who were eating inside continually come outside to smoke cigarettes roughly 10 feet from my table. They should set a minimum of 50 feet from front door. Gross. Food was ok. Had lobster bisque which tasted good but had Zero pieces of lobster in it. My catfish entree tasted pretty good. Service was ok. The waiter seemed truly excited by each and every menu choice I made. I'm like take it easy, it's just a Bass Beer. Choices in Springfield are limited but I would try another spot next time.
(3)John B.
This place impressed the pants off of me. I ordered the mussels and a salmon steak, which happened to be the special for the night. Both dishes were exceptionally flavorful. The mussels came in a curry sauce that had just the right amount of kick for someone like myself with low spice tolerance to enjoy. The salmon came with a great rub that I couldn't quite pinpoint except for the paprika. Throwing in a scoop of gelato for dessert was an unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious gesture on the part of Kim behind the bar. You can tell pretty easily that this place is run by a chef that painstakingly cultivates his craft. The menu here changes fairly often so I'll plan to return every time I'm in town to see what additions they've made.
(5)Lauren B.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. In a few words: Good, not awesome. We went here last weekend. On a Friday night, the noise level was very pleasant -- not QUIET but not loud. Drinks: Good but not outstanding. They had some nice specials, and they were reasonably priced. Food: We had the crab cakes - very good. Hubs had the petit filet, which was good, but forgettable. I had the special - lobster tails with a sweet potato sauce. Good, but not fabulous. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but weren't blown away (and shouldn't you be blown away by lobster tails?!). Service: Again good but not outstanding.
(3)Janee M.
The crispy goat salad is a culinary experience. Fresh, flavorful and delightful. The lobster bisque was rich and creamy however it was missing those chunks of lobster that can make a bisque unforgettable. The service was great. I highly recommend you try this place.
(4)Lisa C.
Always a wonderful dining experience! Awesome food & service! Augies goes above & beyond in every area! Excellent! Every time we have been there it is Always good! Yes, we Will be back!
(5)Amy N.
I visit Springfield every May, and always find time to visit Augies! We often sit out on the sidewalk, but it was too chilly this time around. As a vegan, my menu choices are somewhat limited, but I have found that all I have to do is ask, and I can get something to my liking. My husband and I both enjoyed the roasted kale and beet salad, and others in our dining party had good comments on the morel tart and fried oysters. For my entrée, I asked for the vegetable and pasta dish without the cream sauce or cheese, and it was outstanding! My only gripe was that a friend at my table ordered the same dish in it's original form, and was given a noticeably larger portion. My husband's choice was the black bean cakes, and he loved it, just as in the past. Great staff and a nice drink menu. I'll be back again!
(4)Steve L.
Good service in a nice, relaxing environment, but the food is overpriced, in my opinion. Entrees are $20 on the low end of the menu. They do offer a $12.95 meal on Thursdays only, which is reasonable. The Caesar salad was great, as were the side dishes. The pork chop, however, wasn't anything special. I've made better at home. My daughter's chicken-fried chicken was merely okay. She didn't like it, so I ate half of it. If it were more reasonably priced, I'd try this restaurant again.
(4)Jim O.
We loved the sister restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, and wanted to try the original. The menu looked amazing and I'm a sucker for a good lobster bisque. Augie's did not disappoint. Granted, the typical clientele are all dressed up in suits and the lighting is a little too much on the dim side, but the staff was very professional and pleasant and the food...my god the food. Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp. With. Jalapeno. Jam. My mouth is still watering, and that was just the appetizer. My wife had the best sangria she's ever had and I had the best old fashioned I've ever had, so the bartender knows exactly what he's doing. The drink price was also very reasonable compared to the price of the food. The lobster bisque didn't actually have lobster in it, but that didn't bother me. It was delicious. My wife had the tomato parmesan soup and said it was great. I'm not a huge fan of tomato soup myself, so we're going to have to take her word for it. My wife had the pork cheeks and I had the Amish jerked chicken, both exceedingly good and prepared perfectly. We ended the meal with peach bread pudding, which was a nice, light-feeling dessert as we were pretty stuffed by then. If you can drop $50-$60 per person and haven't been here, get on it. Our restaurant tour of central Illinois continues, but we'll be back.
(5)Carri C.
Filet and NY strip were high quality and comparable to the good steakhouses in Chicago. Others in my group had the pork chop and the cod-everyone enjoyed their meals. Apps were a little skimpy in size, but the entrees were fine. Outstanding service. Overall, great experience and I would return.
(5)Julie H.
Ok, everyone always raves about Augie's here in the 'patch. I see on yelp, no different. All I can say is really??? The food I had last night was ok but nothing extraordinary. Also, while our waitress was sufficient, the bar service while I was waiting for my table was pretty slow and snotty. The hostesses also seemed to be out of sorts, no eye contact, etc. Oh and the presentation on some of their dishes, really really over the top to the point of being almost comical. Ok kids, let's review....good points, my risotto - yum: the price of dinner was more than reasonable; free parking with a back entrance in the lot behind the restaurant and last but not least, they are trying in a city that really doesn't have a clue about good food. Bad points, food had by others in my group was just meh and my monkfish was overcooked, over the top presentations of food, not much wine by the glass to choose from and the service could use some serious work.
(2)Heather L.
I had heard tell of the Horsehoe aka The Shut up and Eat special of the day as they call it here. I was told by the friendly bar keep that it originated at the nearby Leland Hotel in the 1920's. It can take many forms but is essentially an open faced sandwich, smothered in meat, in this case, slow roasted pulled pork with carmelized onion and pears, then smothered with a very yummy cheese sauce and I don't mean ballpark nacho, good cheese and then you top it off with a pile of sweet potato fries on top. It resembles a horseshoe in that the bread is the shoe, the cheese is the glue and the fries are the nails. Loved the blues music they had going and lots of tables of one making it much less uncomfortable for this lone travelling salesman to e. Very nice atmosphere. $12 for a very yummy, very filling meal plus $2 for a coke. Not bad, not bad at all. I will be back.
(5)Michelle H.
My husband and I dined here last night. We were in town for one night, so I'm glad we found Augie's. We were lucky enough to score 1/2 price bottle of wine night too. They had a great selection to choose from. My husband had the crispy duck. It was awesome. Crispy skin, sauce with heat, not just hot for the sake of hot. I had the NY strip steak. Cooked perfectly and a great cheese crust. A nice surprise of red cabbage as a side. The dessert was bread pudding and spice ice cream. Phenomenal. Service was top notch. The water glasses were topped off frequently. The server was informative and attentive without being obtrusive. Great find.
(4)Andrew W.
Holy smokes this place was a surprise. Not much else in Springfield compares in my findings in the last 3 months.
(4)Dave A.
My wife and I enjoyed a top-quality dinner there after a long day of Lincolning. Our waiter, Matt, was the perfect balance of helpfulness and restraint. The ribeye was excellent. The only "meh" moment was the fried cheese Napoleon appetizer, which was Sam's Club cheese sticks covered in marinara sauce from a jar. Not a cheap place...the $120 including tip bill would have paid for a lot of pizza, but it was a nice treat.
(5)Jim M.
Go here every time I'm in town. The food and service is always excellent.
(5)Michael S.
I'm not as effusive about this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was damn good but not to rave over, and given that it's Springfield, I have no quarrel with the hodge podge decor. My lobster bisque soup was very good enough. My rack of lamb was excellent. I'd be happy to come back. This place kicks the crap out of some other very over-rated crappy Springfield restaurants.
(4)AJ J.
Just okay. Carl, our server was good but the wine selection was limited. Lobster bisque was good but pork chops just okay. I always give any resturant an extra star for providing linen.
(3)Mathew P.
So I ordered an elk burger. I ordered it medium rare. With shallots and bacon. It came well done. With no bacon. It was taken back with a promise to do better. It returned medium and still with no bacon. They denied me bacon. Look at my profile. What is the one food I love above all others? Waitstaff were alerted. Two overly crisp slices of bacon were brought to me on a separate plate. Waiter then took back our ketchup when we still desire ketchup and promptly disappeared. So I hear that Augie's is Springfield's top restaurant. So I hear.
(2)Rachel A.
I like to try to give a restaurant more than 1 try before reviewing, unless we are traveling...then of course - they get 1 shot to WOW :-) We have now been to Augie's numerous times, and this place kicks ass every single time! I do not feel the same about he enviroment as some of the others - The eclectic environment is obvious - good for them for not being like the rest! It is definately clean, and love a linen napkin! The fresh local ingredients, and the impecible service we always receive is top notch & is what makes this 5 stars for me. This night our server was Matt. From the second we walk in the door we are greeted and the service didn't stop! Although it was Saturday, they were busy, he kept us informed and the food coming & tabled cleared w/ each course. We ordered from the bar - Skyy & cranberry... right on.... Appetizer: white bean hummus & grilled naan flatbread - DELICIOUS! Bread was nicely toasted on the outside, and warm & soft on the inside. Salad: I had the Red wine poached bosc pear w/ bleu cheese & candied walnuts w/ vanilla bean vinaigrette - I could turn vegitarian if someone would make me this salad everyday....it was FABULOUS, seriously...slap your Momma fabulous! Rolls were served warm, butter served on a cold stone, (I'm never a huge fan of the hard, cold butter), and it did taste as if it was REAL butter...nice. Entree: I had one of their specials, which was Scallops w/ a veggie risotto. The scallops were grilled perfectly, and so moist in the center. The risotto was creamy & full of nice firm veggies. OH, yeah! Right on Augie's! We had no room for dessert, but thanks for the after dinner chocolate mint! An evening at a local restaurant, great service, and unique culinary creations by great chefs that you don't find at any other Springfield restaurant! We will continue to return! KUDOS!!
(5)Chuck B.
I've been to this place twice, and it is wonderful place to have some truly unique food good drinks. The chef is vested in the success of the restaurant. Last week I had the elk loin on grits and a Caesar salad. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar. I was offered, and accepted, a wine tasting to pair with my meal. Great service and a superb chef. Hard to go wrong.
(5)Bunny S.
Extremely attentive waitstaff and a flavorful menu to boot. Our waitress Rhiannon was very knowledgable about the menu and the flavors in each dish making her able to suggest an alternative salad dressing to pair with the first course when the dressing that came with the plate was an impossibility. The meals themselves (we had the duck and the locally farmed porkchop) were done to perfection and married the flavors extremely well. The duck was spicy and true to the szechwan style. The pork was made perfectly with a tangy sauce and collared greens that were edible as opposed to boggy. We ate early (before 7 on a Saturday) so we didn't need a reservation but if you come in at 7 or later you should probably call ahead. Overall a great place to eat if you're in town visiting from a big city or looking for a touch of class in downtown Springfield. Ask for Rihannon, she's a treat to speak with.
(5)Chippy S.
The food here was phenomenal and the wait service was spot on. I ordered the sausage and asiago stuffed chicken which came with asparagus on the side. I'm always leary about ordering chicken and asparagus because typically the chicken is dry and the asparagus isn't cooked enough or cooked to much. They were both cooked PERFECTLY! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Garnet, they must have screwed up on the recipe for your rolls, because mine were sweet and delicious. I didn't mind the cold butter because I typically cut off a square and put it on my plate, instead of spreading it directly onto the roll. I didn't get any dessert, but my chardonnay was tasty. I do have to agree on the decor. Pretty random and quirky, but I'm not there for the decor, I'm there for the food. I'll definitely be going back here on my next business trip.
(4)Duncan S.
Augie's is an interesting beast that has the look and feel of 70's steak house/bar with a fine dining menu and fine dining prices. Budget style tables and chairs, paper table cloths and a feeling of nostalgia with the decor and pictures. Kind of expected to hear "The Entertainer" playing in the background, but it was some subtle pop. Crowd early on a Friday night mainly 40's to 50's in pairs and one group, very casual and not overly stuffy. For the food we started with the blackened shrimp and grits, which were pretty good and a large serving of grits. For mains we broke one of our dining rules on never to have Asian food outside an Asian restaurant and had the Schezuan duck, (a Chinese dish not a Thai dish). The spice was really quite good, though the duck overcooked . Along with a rib-eye special which was just OK and expecting a lot better on the flavor side for $32, it was a little rarer than the medium-rare requested, but not a game changer. The accompanying purple asparagus was really good and the smash potato nothing special. Found it strange no fresh bread was served with the meal, yet there were some bread-sticks/crackers in plastic wrappers stuffed in a wire cone on the table? Beer range pretty good with support for local breweries which is great to see, chiller buckets for the 40's is a nice touch. Wine fairly decent, though not sure I need to have a tacky advertising card promoting Bocelli wines on my table. Service enthusiastic and good, if a little rehearsed on the selling. If a restaurant receives new wine they should ensure the servers have tried the wine. Rarely a waiters assistant stands out, but our guy was a gun in making sure we had water, glasses filled and clearing plates. A-OK is just where this restaurant scrapes in.
(3)Chris M.
Another meal alone while on business travel. Although the server and hostess were a little awkward, the food was great. I had a pumpkin soup which was amazing and a delicious salad.
(4)Jason N.
I have eaten here twice and loved both times. I usually get a pasta dish. Both times the pasta was cooked spot on and the sauce was put together well. The atmosphere is relaxed and the wait staff are attentive. Lunch time can be a little crazy but when you are down town that is expected. I would recommend this place to just about anyone.
(5)Cara B.
We went for our anniversary and it was horrible! We were served a very dry white wine when we asked for a suggestion of a sweet, the food was pretty, but not very tasty. There is a dish called potato pave- it was hard like pavement and tasted like paste- eww. We will NEVER come back! Just go to Sebastian's Food is much better, and the staff more knowledgable.
(1)Peggy T.
This is a great spot where they are clearly trying hard to be the best. We were there on the night when there was a tasting menu, which was an exceptional value. Six courses cost $45. One of the four of us had the tasting menu and the rest of us ordered off the usual menu. The vegetables were very fresh and used appropriately. Portions were on the large side. Our service was outstanding.
(4)The Big Babboon I.
I live very close to this place and feel bad giving it three stars, but that's what it deserves. My latest meal there was the elk burger ordered medium which came out raw in the center, had borscht, of which the broth was good, but lacked any real amount of beets / food in it. My friend had the seafood soup which tasted like nothing but fish sauce, and his grilled cheese was good, but thinking about it, its pretty hard to mess up girlled cheese. I would give this place two stars but for its 32 oz ribeye...this cut of meat alone got it up a star. If you want prime beef also, this place is the only place (and only sometimes - and only one cut) in town that has it. However, overall Springfield is known for its mediocre dining downtown, and this place lives up to that reputation. OK...new chef...moves up to 4 stars!
(4)Josh T.
Nothing I love more than a place with excellent food that incorporates local meats & produce. This place does all of that. The food is prepared artfully by a chef who is aware of flavors and presentation. Many of the entrees are listed with the farms where the meats and cheeses and from. Great place for a fancy date, or dinner as this place can be expensive for everyday dining. Portions are appropriate but not supersized. This is a place you want to slow down eating and appreciate the flavors being created. A true chef treat!
(4)Peter H.
We really enjoyed our trip to Augie's The food was excellent, and well presented. The salads were delicious, the steak was good (made better by the accompanying mashed potato and asparagus) and the salmon was great. The service was top notch, the ambiance was very "New York"; overall an excellent dining experience.
(4)Sandy C.
We had a wonderful meal. The food was great and Matt was a great waiter. We will be back. Sandy and Bart from Decatur, Illinois
(5)Rachel K.
My fiance and I went here last night and I have to say that it was kind of a strange experience. First, lets talk about the food. Oh My Lord it was amazing. I ordered the New York Strip and she ordered the lamb. That was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had. Granted I haven't had a ton of experience eating steak, but this thing was amazing. Normally I like my steak to be somewhere between medium and medium rare. I feel like when I order medium rare at a steakhouse they always give it to me too rare, but this was pretty damn rare and still fantastic! It was seasoned so perfectly and just sooo good. I think I remember seeing that the menu said something about the steak being seasoned in a french onion soup type deal and then covered in gruyere. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It also came with mashed potatoes and a mixture of veggies. The mashed potatoes were also very yummy. The veggies were on the tasteless side, which was disappointing, but I've also been spoiled lately from eating fresh veggies from my garden. The fiance said that her lamb was not as good as the steak, but that it was still really good. She seemed to enjoy the entire meal, just not as much as I enjoyed mine. Lets back up a little and talk about before dinner. First we were served hot rolls and cold butter. I'm not really sure who eats cold butter. The idea is cool especially since the butter was actually on a coldstone, but it was impossible to spread and made the hot rolls cold almost instantly. I normally love a good roll, but these weren't all that great. I say skip the bread and fill up on the steak. For drinks I ordered a basic flavored vodka and juice cocktail, but it came in this ridiculously fancy glass. I thought that was pretty odd. The fiance ordered an oatmeal stout which she was a big fan of. They offered her a glass to pour it into, but oddly enough it was the same glass that I had gotten my cocktail in. We also ordered dessert. We weren't really sure we wanted any since we were pretty full from our entrees, but I told the waiter we'd look at the dessert menu. Oh persuasive bastards! There was no dessert menu. He actually brought out a plate of desserts and told us about each one. That is just pure evil. You can't say no to that! We had the chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was very rich and super dense and oh so good. I wish they would've given us a bit of a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance off the richness of the cake, but they seemed to be going more for presentation on that one. I was glad that the dessert portions weren't enormous like they often are at chain restaurants. I really don't need an enormous dessert, nor do I want one. So this all sounds fantastic, right? So why was the experience weird and why after all that gushing about how fantastic the food is does this place only get 4 stars? With a menu like this restaurant has and the prices you're paying (not super expensive, but $30 for a meal in Springfield where I can get a pizza for like $7 is not a cheap place) the decor should really be nice and classy. I understand that they're trying to go for a casual dining environment, but you can still pull that off and look classy. The ambiance of the restaurant really needs to match the food, the wait service (which was very good), and the prices. You can still wear casual clothes and visit a classy establishment. The decor was absolutely atrocious! It was a hodge podge of different styles that clashed when put all together in a room. From the greek murals on the wall (some of them of extremely naked large breasted women) to the almost cartoonish framed pictures of buildings and abe lincoln, to the canyon painting, to the flowered carpet, to the different room dividers, to the tiled ceiling (high school anyone?), to the track lighting, to the paper cone holding breadsticks on each table, to the painted spoon sculptures of flowers. This was just a mess of different types of design that did not go well together at all. And some of it was so bad that it shouldn't be anywhere near this restaurant. I expect this type of decor from a kitschy restaurant, but not from a place with fantastic steaks. And then what really made the experience strange, but I wouldn't actually take into consideration when rating the place was the extremely loud woman conversing with two older people that I guessed were her parents. She bitched and moaned about her personal life very loudly the entire time, but the topper was when she started talking about her incurable foot fungus. That is not appropriate restaurant conversation! I don't care if you're done with your meal, I wasn't done with mine and I don't need to be picturing your foot fungus while I'm eating. That is disgusting and you need to get some manners. I will definitely be returning to this place for their fantastic food and I will hope that they change the decor by the time I return.
(4)Brad W.
Great food and excellent atmosphere, prices were a touch high. The lobster bisque was good, but compared to the Union League club in Chicago, it didn't have much lobster to it. We will definitely come back.
(4)Jim O.
We loved the sister restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, and wanted to try the original. The menu looked amazing and I'm a sucker for a good lobster bisque. Augie's did not disappoint. Granted, the typical clientele are all dressed up in suits and the lighting is a little too much on the dim side, but the staff was very professional and pleasant and the food...my god the food. Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp. With. Jalapeno. Jam. My mouth is still watering, and that was just the appetizer. My wife had the best sangria she's ever had and I had the best old fashioned I've ever had, so the bartender knows exactly what he's doing. The drink price was also very reasonable compared to the price of the food. The lobster bisque didn't actually have lobster in it, but that didn't bother me. It was delicious. My wife had the tomato parmesan soup and said it was great. I'm not a huge fan of tomato soup myself, so we're going to have to take her word for it. My wife had the pork cheeks and I had the Amish jerked chicken, both exceedingly good and prepared perfectly. We ended the meal with peach bread pudding, which was a nice, light-feeling dessert as we were pretty stuffed by then. If you can drop $50-$60 per person and haven't been here, get on it. Our restaurant tour of central Illinois continues, but we'll be back.
(5)Daisy P.
I had a terrific lunch here today. House salad: 3 stars. Peppery greens were a little too much and needed some sweeter leaves in there to balance. Not enough dressing. Lovely presentation, though, and high-quality greens. Veggie quesadilla: 4.5 stars. This was a custom dish since I'm vegetarian and all of their specials had meat. Delicious roasted flavor on tortilla and veggies, and totally enough cheese, which can be hard to find. Asian veggies were an interesting choice that paid off. Cilantro sour cream dip was delicious. The half star off is for the inclusion of peapods, which were too chewy/fibrous for good quesadilla consistency, and for how the veggies didn't always stick to the tortilla so it was a little messy to eat. Bread pudding: 5 stars. Perfect portion and served hot with an apricot-whiskey sauce and licorice ice cream. Heavenly. I wanted to lick the plate. Service: 5 stars easy. I wish I got my waiter's name; he was charming but not fake, attentive but not intrusive, answered annoying vegetarian questions with a smile, recommended the right things for me to eat....loved him.
(4)Norm S.
One word describes the food - AWFUL I had the seared tuna which was served overcooked, not pink, and even though cooked it was cold. The place is a joke. I have had 4 meals there in the past 6 month and each one has been awful. Save your money and just go to McDonalds. STAY AWAY!
(1)Bryan W.
It's a nice place trying real hard to be fancy. This is a nice sit-down place to bring a date. The food is good they use quality fresh ingredients. Average plate is around $20 and appetizers $8 to $15.
(4)Rich E.
We went here for date night and it was amazing. Everything we had was delicious. We tried the lobster bisque was very good and so was the clam chowder. We split the goat cheese salad and it was one of the best salads we have had. The bacon wrapped shrimp apps were divine. Our entrees were on point. I had the filet which was cooked perfect and my wife had the duck which was so tender and delicious. Wife ordered an appletini and loved it. I had a red wine that was very smooth, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our server Ross did a tremendous job taking care of us! He was the best! We will definitely be back.
(4)Lisa L.
I went here for dinner (I am from out of state). The Salmon dish with wild mushrooms was honestly the best salmon I have had in years. Just PERFECT! The sauce with it was divine and unique.....I have never seen a similar creation on any menu, anywhere, to date with the combination of ingredients that made it a wonderful treat from the first to last bite. Dave, our server, was also excellent! He recommended a great bottle of Pinot noir and was the right amount of courteous, professional, and yet light-hearted. I am a road warrior and this was the first memorable meal of this calibre in a while! If I get back to Springfield, I am definitely returning!
(5)Brianne G.
Augie's. Way to go guys. Went for birthday dinner a week ago and it was a great experience. Augie's was one of those downtown staples that I always meant to visit, but for some reason it just never happened. In hindsight, it was pure tragedy. I ordered the filet and my girlfriend ordered the potato crusted cod. Both of us were beyond pleased. My filet was a perfect medium rare and the quality was superb. Mashed potatoes and veggies were delicious. I cleaned the plate. The girlfriend's dinner disappeared in approximately five minutes. I barely got my traditional sample. Service was really great. Our waiter was very professional, pleasant, and attentive. Good man. I was actually surprised after dinner--someone slipped them the news that it was my birthday and they offered me my choice of dessert. I chose the bread pudding. The bread pudding itself was pretty good, but the sadface of the night was the strange cinnamon sauce on top of it. Tasted like liquified red hots. :( Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely return.
(4)Jimmy L.
The hotel had recommended a bar and grill type place, and I was totally not into that right now, so saw this place here on Yelp. I didn't have a car here, so I was looking for something in walking distance from The State House Hotel where I could actually have a private/quiet dinner all to myself. The key was to it had to have been a short walk since the weather was at 15 degrees or so! You can't beat the location downtown across from the old State Capitol. You walk into a dark and long narrow space with the bar up-front. Once you get in towards the back, though, there is much more space that you can't see from the outside. They sat me in the secondary portion of the dining room where there was perhaps one other party. Private, but still open to the front dining room to where you don't necessarily feel completely isolated. The wait staff was super pleasant, and super responsive when I ordered coffee from the get-go and kept asking for refills. I ordered the following - Braised Bunn Farm Chuck Short Ribs aged white cheddar pave potato/winter root vegetable/natural jus The price point was $19.00, which I thought was reasonable for a beef entree. So, one of my pain points, though, is if I'm ordering ribs, I really do want the ribs - as in the BONZ. More often than not - at not only this place, but most places I have ordered it - I order short ribs, and they arrived BONELESS. Sorry, but if it ain't got the bones, you gotta say something like, "Boneless Short Ribs". Otherwise, my expectations are shot! Secondly, I'm not so sure that they were really braised, or if they were, not sure if they were braised for a long time. Though I thought it was good, the meat was tender enough, but not tender enough for it to taste like it was braised. The portions were big, and was too full for dessert, so I promised I'd come back the next night and JUST have dessert. So, the next evening, I ordered their signature dish, which was a "peach bread pudding with whisky sauce and ice cream". It was GREAT. They sat me at the bar this time, and reserved a whole carafe of coffee for me, and kept serving me up with it. The waiter was nice enough to bring me back an extra dollop of ice cream - and I didn't even ask for it! He gave me really personal service. For this last experience alone, I give this place a 4-star rating when it otherwise would have been three.
(4)Michael N.
Great dinner once more. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella app was quite fresh and good. The duck was crispy with an oriental sauce which I loved. The bread pudding desert was ok. We had a very nice reasonably priced red wine. Everyone liked their meal and the service was great!
(5)Paul W.
Decent lunch spot. Nothing special as far as food, service, or decor.
(3)Jan L.
Nice place and service. Our entrees were disappointing- the pork cheeks tasted like pot roast and the salmon strong. We enjoyed our sangria and lobster bisque. The place was pretty full maybe we made bad choices.
(3)Dave C.
This is more expensive than the other restaurants in the immediate vicinity, yet worth it. Why? Well... a lot of the others have a bar scene and bar food. This place has nicely presented choices that have a mix of vegetables, meat/fish, and sauces. In a way, things are presented as if it was a high end French restaurant. The atmosphere is great for couples; but also works well for non-romantic. We were a family of 4 - kids that were 11 and 16 - and it worked great. It is also reasonably quiet. You don't need to whisper, I don't mean that. Yet... you don't need to yell over others to be heard. The location is great in that it is close to a lot of highly rated attractions in the heart of Springfield.
(5)Damian S.
Recommended by the bar down the street that didn't serve food, I was hesitant at first when I walked in. The tables, waiters, other guests, and wine cellar entryway gave me the idea I might be in too ritzy an establishment for my current state of dress and sobriety--I'd been sightseeing all day in 95 degree heat, and probably looked like I'd just stepped out of a swimming pool. However, the wall decor led me to believe I might be ok if I stayed, as it is very garish. I'm not quite sure if there was a theme going there, or not. I stayed anyway, and ordered the rainbow trout with a beer and a Coke. That was truly one of the best fish meals I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked superbly, but not to the point where it totally fell apart before reaching your mouth. That was one tasty fish--why more restaurants don't serve this is currently a mystery to me. The cost was well within the range of normalcy, and the waiter treated me just like any of the "suits" and "ball gowns" at the nearby tables. A very pleasant experience and a good meal--though I quickly went back to the dive bar for the rest of the evening. If I'm ever in Springfield again, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Matt R.
This place is a joke. Went here for lunch with 3 family members. The elk burger came out 15 minutes after ordering, followed by sandwiches 5 minutes later, and then 5 minutes after that a salad. Who runs a restaurant where food is served like that? Management should be embarrassed. Lastly, the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go elsewhere in Springfield.
(1)Ryan K.
Came here after finding a link to them on a Springfield-related website. The wife and I really liked this place. Good food (more on this later), our 6 and 10 year olds enjoyed their kid's meals, and the services was excellent (more on this later, too). Re: the food: - I got the Lobster Bisque and Dena got the Butternut Squash Bisque to start. My Lobster was good, not great. Didn't have any lobster chunks in it, but flavor was good. Dena's Butternut Squash was great, though. Good flavor, good heat at the end. - I got a Butter salad next, and Dena got the Crispy Goat cheese salad. Both were good and adequately (e.g. not overly massive and wasteful) sized. The bacon on both was fab. - We rounded out with a series of appetizers. There was so much goodness on the menu, that we wanted to go with variety in smaller chunks than a single big entree. I got the Bean Cakes and Wontons, Dena got Meatball Skewers. All in all, the prices were a bit higher for smaller portions, but I'd rather get good food at a higher price point than a buttload of average food at cheaper prices. Would I come back? Absolutely. I might want to experiment a bit more in town just to see what else is out there, but I would (and will) recommend them to anyone I know who is visiting Springfield. Re: Service - Gabe was AWESOME. Did I mention awesome? He was attentive, knowledgeable, was great with our kids, checked in on us enough but not too much, gave good recommendations, all good. Really...he enhanced the entire experience. I hope management reads this so they can see it. This is a classic case of where a 4.5 would be appropriate. In the absence of that, I gave them a 4 rather than a 5 because: - The decor was a bit dated, or just off a bit. Not bad, but just felt a bit disjointed. - The Lobster Bisque could have benefited from some chunks of lobster. Yes. I'm being picky, but I'm trying to be more diligent in who I give 5 stars out to. I probably would have given them 5 stars 12 months ago. Did I mention Gabe was awesome?
(4)Robin R.
Wonderful choice for a special occasion. Great array of choices on the menu. So hard to decide what I wanted. Full wine list. Very professional waitstaff.
(4)Chris B.
Not sure why I gave it one star. Cold food big bill bad stop. Some kind of sauce over Rib eye should have indicated trouble but downhill from there. Limited choices in Springpatch make people go here I am sure. Better off getting a burger at a sports bar. Never seeing this place again.
(1)Jessie H.
Great food and classy staff. I have been to several places in Springfield so far--this is my favorite. The catfish was great and the coffee was just what I needed.
(5)Buddy B.
The food was excellent. The service was even better. The menu had standard choices with enough unusual and different selections to make it very interesting. Visited Springfield from Chicago and Augie's was recommended by someone at the Lincoln library. Pricey but worth every penny.
(5)Janee M.
The crispy goat salad is a culinary experience. Fresh, flavorful and delightful. The lobster bisque was rich and creamy however it was missing those chunks of lobster that can make a bisque unforgettable. The service was great. I highly recommend you try this place.
(4)Lisa C.
Always a wonderful dining experience! Awesome food & service! Augies goes above & beyond in every area! Excellent! Every time we have been there it is Always good! Yes, we Will be back!
(5)Amy N.
I visit Springfield every May, and always find time to visit Augies! We often sit out on the sidewalk, but it was too chilly this time around. As a vegan, my menu choices are somewhat limited, but I have found that all I have to do is ask, and I can get something to my liking. My husband and I both enjoyed the roasted kale and beet salad, and others in our dining party had good comments on the morel tart and fried oysters. For my entrée, I asked for the vegetable and pasta dish without the cream sauce or cheese, and it was outstanding! My only gripe was that a friend at my table ordered the same dish in it's original form, and was given a noticeably larger portion. My husband's choice was the black bean cakes, and he loved it, just as in the past. Great staff and a nice drink menu. I'll be back again!
(4)Steve L.
Good service in a nice, relaxing environment, but the food is overpriced, in my opinion. Entrees are $20 on the low end of the menu. They do offer a $12.95 meal on Thursdays only, which is reasonable. The Caesar salad was great, as were the side dishes. The pork chop, however, wasn't anything special. I've made better at home. My daughter's chicken-fried chicken was merely okay. She didn't like it, so I ate half of it. If it were more reasonably priced, I'd try this restaurant again.
(4)Beth P.
We went here while on vacation because my husband was in the mood for a steak. The food was good, but it wasn't worth it for the cost in my opinion...we actually were debating about picking up something extra on the way back to our hotel because of how small the portion sizes were. You're looking at $20-$35 per person. And while the staff was friendly and didn't care that my husband and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, the attire is DEFINITELY NOT casual. 90% of the people in there were in suits/business clothes.
(2)Matthew G.
We have eaten at Augie's a few times. The food is always good and the service is very pleasant. The narrow dining area is at first off putting, but the ambiance was well assembled and the feel of the space is comfortable. I don't see the manager in the dining room, but I haven't needed a manager.
(4)Sara B.
going in we thought it was a burger joint. I would say we werepleasently surprised. Large portions, great for sharing. Enjoyed the warm goat cheese salad, black bean cakes, manhattan seafood chowder, and shared the "pasta of the day." The Salad was amazing! The best part of the meal. The food all- together wasn't amazing, but it was good. The decor is a little off but I really liked the small pieces of art on the tables. One criticism, there were SO many specials. The menu is small and select to begin with, so when there are 5-6 specials of the day that are intricate and intense it confuses things a bit.
(4)Rachel A.
I like to try to give a restaurant more than 1 try before reviewing, unless we are traveling...then of course - they get 1 shot to WOW :-) We have now been to Augie's numerous times, and this place kicks ass every single time! I do not feel the same about he enviroment as some of the others - The eclectic environment is obvious - good for them for not being like the rest! It is definately clean, and love a linen napkin! The fresh local ingredients, and the impecible service we always receive is top notch & is what makes this 5 stars for me. This night our server was Matt. From the second we walk in the door we are greeted and the service didn't stop! Although it was Saturday, they were busy, he kept us informed and the food coming & tabled cleared w/ each course. We ordered from the bar - Skyy & cranberry... right on.... Appetizer: white bean hummus & grilled naan flatbread - DELICIOUS! Bread was nicely toasted on the outside, and warm & soft on the inside. Salad: I had the Red wine poached bosc pear w/ bleu cheese & candied walnuts w/ vanilla bean vinaigrette - I could turn vegitarian if someone would make me this salad everyday....it was FABULOUS, seriously...slap your Momma fabulous! Rolls were served warm, butter served on a cold stone, (I'm never a huge fan of the hard, cold butter), and it did taste as if it was REAL butter...nice. Entree: I had one of their specials, which was Scallops w/ a veggie risotto. The scallops were grilled perfectly, and so moist in the center. The risotto was creamy & full of nice firm veggies. OH, yeah! Right on Augie's! We had no room for dessert, but thanks for the after dinner chocolate mint! An evening at a local restaurant, great service, and unique culinary creations by great chefs that you don't find at any other Springfield restaurant! We will continue to return! KUDOS!!
(5)Chuck B.
I've been to this place twice, and it is wonderful place to have some truly unique food good drinks. The chef is vested in the success of the restaurant. Last week I had the elk loin on grits and a Caesar salad. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar. I was offered, and accepted, a wine tasting to pair with my meal. Great service and a superb chef. Hard to go wrong.
(5)Bunny S.
Extremely attentive waitstaff and a flavorful menu to boot. Our waitress Rhiannon was very knowledgable about the menu and the flavors in each dish making her able to suggest an alternative salad dressing to pair with the first course when the dressing that came with the plate was an impossibility. The meals themselves (we had the duck and the locally farmed porkchop) were done to perfection and married the flavors extremely well. The duck was spicy and true to the szechwan style. The pork was made perfectly with a tangy sauce and collared greens that were edible as opposed to boggy. We ate early (before 7 on a Saturday) so we didn't need a reservation but if you come in at 7 or later you should probably call ahead. Overall a great place to eat if you're in town visiting from a big city or looking for a touch of class in downtown Springfield. Ask for Rihannon, she's a treat to speak with.
(5)Warren W.
One of the best higher-end restaurants in Springfield. The ecclectic ambiance and menu is very accomodating. If you are looking for creative twists on standard fare then look no further.
(4)Julie H.
Ok, everyone always raves about Augie's here in the 'patch. I see on yelp, no different. All I can say is really??? The food I had last night was ok but nothing extraordinary. Also, while our waitress was sufficient, the bar service while I was waiting for my table was pretty slow and snotty. The hostesses also seemed to be out of sorts, no eye contact, etc. Oh and the presentation on some of their dishes, really really over the top to the point of being almost comical. Ok kids, let's review....good points, my risotto - yum: the price of dinner was more than reasonable; free parking with a back entrance in the lot behind the restaurant and last but not least, they are trying in a city that really doesn't have a clue about good food. Bad points, food had by others in my group was just meh and my monkfish was overcooked, over the top presentations of food, not much wine by the glass to choose from and the service could use some serious work.
(2)Barnabas H.
I give this place 3 stars based solely on the the quality of food. If one were blind, the taste of the food would give any review a 4, maybe 5, star review. This place is gaudy, right down to the garnish. The art is so loud an annoying, but I respect the owner's ambition to recognize local artists. Here's a hint - treat the visual aspect as seriously as the culinary, otherwise this place will make serious palettes nauseous before they order. Once the food arrives, it's great. Nothing to complain about at all apart from presentation. I've had some really wonderful food here - my favorite of which was the pork tasting menu with local beer pairings.
(3)Michelle H.
My husband and I dined here last night. We were in town for one night, so I'm glad we found Augie's. We were lucky enough to score 1/2 price bottle of wine night too. They had a great selection to choose from. My husband had the crispy duck. It was awesome. Crispy skin, sauce with heat, not just hot for the sake of hot. I had the NY strip steak. Cooked perfectly and a great cheese crust. A nice surprise of red cabbage as a side. The dessert was bread pudding and spice ice cream. Phenomenal. Service was top notch. The water glasses were topped off frequently. The server was informative and attentive without being obtrusive. Great find.
(4)The Big Babboon I.
I live very close to this place and feel bad giving it three stars, but that's what it deserves. My latest meal there was the elk burger ordered medium which came out raw in the center, had borscht, of which the broth was good, but lacked any real amount of beets / food in it. My friend had the seafood soup which tasted like nothing but fish sauce, and his grilled cheese was good, but thinking about it, its pretty hard to mess up girlled cheese. I would give this place two stars but for its 32 oz ribeye...this cut of meat alone got it up a star. If you want prime beef also, this place is the only place (and only sometimes - and only one cut) in town that has it. However, overall Springfield is known for its mediocre dining downtown, and this place lives up to that reputation. OK...new chef...moves up to 4 stars!
(4)Josh T.
Nothing I love more than a place with excellent food that incorporates local meats & produce. This place does all of that. The food is prepared artfully by a chef who is aware of flavors and presentation. Many of the entrees are listed with the farms where the meats and cheeses and from. Great place for a fancy date, or dinner as this place can be expensive for everyday dining. Portions are appropriate but not supersized. This is a place you want to slow down eating and appreciate the flavors being created. A true chef treat!
(4)Angela P.
How much can you judge a place based on eating there once? Im not sure, but I know that Augie's lived up to most of the hype I had heard about it. Dining alone, especially as a young(ish) female, can be a strange beast. The odd looks, questions i.e. "Are you waiting for someone?", servers avoiding you at all costs thinking youll be a bad tipper. When I walked into Augie's it was a weekday afternoon and the rest of the clientele appeared to be business lunch meetings or 'ladies-who-lunch'. I was just looking for a good place to sit and have some lunch, a glass of wine and to read a book. I remembered that I was around the corner from Augie's and decided to try it. I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to acknowledge me. I couldnt figure out if it was because they didnt see me (or didnt want to see me) or they thought I was waiting for someone else to come in the door with me, or what. Anyhow, after I was seated there was a tinge of awkwardness with the server, but after that it was smooth sailing. My server explained the specials and showed me the wine specials. I know people mention Augie's can be on the more expensive side, but at $7 the wine specials were really reasonable and the white wine blend I had was really good. For lunch I ordered the crab cake entree ($11). I have to say that I cant remember having better crab cakes in recent memory. They can tend to be too heavy on the non-crab filling or too soft and falling apart. These were heavy on the crab, easy on the 'breadiness'. The outsides were breaded with a very light crumb, almost panko-like and they were perfectly crispy. I was enjoying them and the nice lemon aioli that came with them so much a woman passed by me and said, "Those are good, huh?". They were! I dont know how much you can tell by a restaurant by one visit, but this visit certainly convinced me to come back. Yes, the decor is a bit odd. Like a yoga studio mixed with some new-age club, but I can forgive that.
(4)Sinh M.
We went here on our 3rd year anniversary, the restaurant is very nice and has a pleasing atmosphere. The food and the service was also very excellent, I would definitely come back.
(5)Lindsey F.
I had an excellent lunch here today! The crispy goat cheese salad (I added chicken) was really delicious. The goat cheese was a fried disc situated atop the greens, the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter Aaron was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Carri C.
Filet and NY strip were high quality and comparable to the good steakhouses in Chicago. Others in my group had the pork chop and the cod-everyone enjoyed their meals. Apps were a little skimpy in size, but the entrees were fine. Outstanding service. Overall, great experience and I would return.
(5)Heather L.
I had heard tell of the Horsehoe aka The Shut up and Eat special of the day as they call it here. I was told by the friendly bar keep that it originated at the nearby Leland Hotel in the 1920's. It can take many forms but is essentially an open faced sandwich, smothered in meat, in this case, slow roasted pulled pork with carmelized onion and pears, then smothered with a very yummy cheese sauce and I don't mean ballpark nacho, good cheese and then you top it off with a pile of sweet potato fries on top. It resembles a horseshoe in that the bread is the shoe, the cheese is the glue and the fries are the nails. Loved the blues music they had going and lots of tables of one making it much less uncomfortable for this lone travelling salesman to e. Very nice atmosphere. $12 for a very yummy, very filling meal plus $2 for a coke. Not bad, not bad at all. I will be back.
(5)J. C.
We at at Augie's for lunch one day and it was pretty good. My lady friend had the pot roast, which we both thought was very good. We decided after that visit that we would try the dinner menu. About two months later we went back. I had the short ribs and she had the duck. The duck was ok, nothing special. The portion of duck to noodles was almost too generous. I wish there was a sign of generosity with my order. My short ribs were awful. They were bone dry. I've had roast from unskilled cooks that was much more flavorful and moist. The potatoes were good. The vegetables, however, were raw. I like a little bite to vegetables but these were hardly cooked. I was shocked by how poor the short ribs were. We both left significant amounts on the plate and we were never asked how our food was. Not wanting to be rude on a rare night out we kept to ourselves. We spent $70 on crab cakes that tasted like fish sticks, short ribs that were bone dry, and duck that was on par with a Chinese buffet. I would say save your money and try another place in town that prides itself on quality service and product. I don't have a go to place in Springfield for that yet...
(2)J N.
Discovered this great little restaurant on Yelp. We chose it mostly because it was a short walk from the hotel. Great choice. Our server was exceptional. The food was very good. Over all, a warm welcoming environment and an enjoyable evening.
(5)Andrew W.
Holy smokes this place was a surprise. Not much else in Springfield compares in my findings in the last 3 months.
(4)Dave A.
My wife and I enjoyed a top-quality dinner there after a long day of Lincolning. Our waiter, Matt, was the perfect balance of helpfulness and restraint. The ribeye was excellent. The only "meh" moment was the fried cheese Napoleon appetizer, which was Sam's Club cheese sticks covered in marinara sauce from a jar. Not a cheap place...the $120 including tip bill would have paid for a lot of pizza, but it was a nice treat.
(5)Jim M.
Go here every time I'm in town. The food and service is always excellent.
(5)Michael S.
I'm not as effusive about this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was damn good but not to rave over, and given that it's Springfield, I have no quarrel with the hodge podge decor. My lobster bisque soup was very good enough. My rack of lamb was excellent. I'd be happy to come back. This place kicks the crap out of some other very over-rated crappy Springfield restaurants.
(4)AJ J.
Just okay. Carl, our server was good but the wine selection was limited. Lobster bisque was good but pork chops just okay. I always give any resturant an extra star for providing linen.
(3)Mathew P.
So I ordered an elk burger. I ordered it medium rare. With shallots and bacon. It came well done. With no bacon. It was taken back with a promise to do better. It returned medium and still with no bacon. They denied me bacon. Look at my profile. What is the one food I love above all others? Waitstaff were alerted. Two overly crisp slices of bacon were brought to me on a separate plate. Waiter then took back our ketchup when we still desire ketchup and promptly disappeared. So I hear that Augie's is Springfield's top restaurant. So I hear.
(2)Chippy S.
The food here was phenomenal and the wait service was spot on. I ordered the sausage and asiago stuffed chicken which came with asparagus on the side. I'm always leary about ordering chicken and asparagus because typically the chicken is dry and the asparagus isn't cooked enough or cooked to much. They were both cooked PERFECTLY! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Garnet, they must have screwed up on the recipe for your rolls, because mine were sweet and delicious. I didn't mind the cold butter because I typically cut off a square and put it on my plate, instead of spreading it directly onto the roll. I didn't get any dessert, but my chardonnay was tasty. I do have to agree on the decor. Pretty random and quirky, but I'm not there for the decor, I'm there for the food. I'll definitely be going back here on my next business trip.
(4)Cara B.
We went for our anniversary and it was horrible! We were served a very dry white wine when we asked for a suggestion of a sweet, the food was pretty, but not very tasty. There is a dish called potato pave- it was hard like pavement and tasted like paste- eww. We will NEVER come back! Just go to Sebastian's Food is much better, and the staff more knowledgable.
(1)Peggy T.
This is a great spot where they are clearly trying hard to be the best. We were there on the night when there was a tasting menu, which was an exceptional value. Six courses cost $45. One of the four of us had the tasting menu and the rest of us ordered off the usual menu. The vegetables were very fresh and used appropriately. Portions were on the large side. Our service was outstanding.
(4)Duncan S.
Augie's is an interesting beast that has the look and feel of 70's steak house/bar with a fine dining menu and fine dining prices. Budget style tables and chairs, paper table cloths and a feeling of nostalgia with the decor and pictures. Kind of expected to hear "The Entertainer" playing in the background, but it was some subtle pop. Crowd early on a Friday night mainly 40's to 50's in pairs and one group, very casual and not overly stuffy. For the food we started with the blackened shrimp and grits, which were pretty good and a large serving of grits. For mains we broke one of our dining rules on never to have Asian food outside an Asian restaurant and had the Schezuan duck, (a Chinese dish not a Thai dish). The spice was really quite good, though the duck overcooked . Along with a rib-eye special which was just OK and expecting a lot better on the flavor side for $32, it was a little rarer than the medium-rare requested, but not a game changer. The accompanying purple asparagus was really good and the smash potato nothing special. Found it strange no fresh bread was served with the meal, yet there were some bread-sticks/crackers in plastic wrappers stuffed in a wire cone on the table? Beer range pretty good with support for local breweries which is great to see, chiller buckets for the 40's is a nice touch. Wine fairly decent, though not sure I need to have a tacky advertising card promoting Bocelli wines on my table. Service enthusiastic and good, if a little rehearsed on the selling. If a restaurant receives new wine they should ensure the servers have tried the wine. Rarely a waiters assistant stands out, but our guy was a gun in making sure we had water, glasses filled and clearing plates. A-OK is just where this restaurant scrapes in.
(3)Chris M.
Another meal alone while on business travel. Although the server and hostess were a little awkward, the food was great. I had a pumpkin soup which was amazing and a delicious salad.
(4)Jason N.
I have eaten here twice and loved both times. I usually get a pasta dish. Both times the pasta was cooked spot on and the sauce was put together well. The atmosphere is relaxed and the wait staff are attentive. Lunch time can be a little crazy but when you are down town that is expected. I would recommend this place to just about anyone.
(5)Sandy C.
We had a wonderful meal. The food was great and Matt was a great waiter. We will be back. Sandy and Bart from Decatur, Illinois
(5)Rachel K.
My fiance and I went here last night and I have to say that it was kind of a strange experience. First, lets talk about the food. Oh My Lord it was amazing. I ordered the New York Strip and she ordered the lamb. That was honestly one of the best steaks I've ever had. Granted I haven't had a ton of experience eating steak, but this thing was amazing. Normally I like my steak to be somewhere between medium and medium rare. I feel like when I order medium rare at a steakhouse they always give it to me too rare, but this was pretty damn rare and still fantastic! It was seasoned so perfectly and just sooo good. I think I remember seeing that the menu said something about the steak being seasoned in a french onion soup type deal and then covered in gruyere. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It also came with mashed potatoes and a mixture of veggies. The mashed potatoes were also very yummy. The veggies were on the tasteless side, which was disappointing, but I've also been spoiled lately from eating fresh veggies from my garden. The fiance said that her lamb was not as good as the steak, but that it was still really good. She seemed to enjoy the entire meal, just not as much as I enjoyed mine. Lets back up a little and talk about before dinner. First we were served hot rolls and cold butter. I'm not really sure who eats cold butter. The idea is cool especially since the butter was actually on a coldstone, but it was impossible to spread and made the hot rolls cold almost instantly. I normally love a good roll, but these weren't all that great. I say skip the bread and fill up on the steak. For drinks I ordered a basic flavored vodka and juice cocktail, but it came in this ridiculously fancy glass. I thought that was pretty odd. The fiance ordered an oatmeal stout which she was a big fan of. They offered her a glass to pour it into, but oddly enough it was the same glass that I had gotten my cocktail in. We also ordered dessert. We weren't really sure we wanted any since we were pretty full from our entrees, but I told the waiter we'd look at the dessert menu. Oh persuasive bastards! There was no dessert menu. He actually brought out a plate of desserts and told us about each one. That is just pure evil. You can't say no to that! We had the chocolate lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was very rich and super dense and oh so good. I wish they would've given us a bit of a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance off the richness of the cake, but they seemed to be going more for presentation on that one. I was glad that the dessert portions weren't enormous like they often are at chain restaurants. I really don't need an enormous dessert, nor do I want one. So this all sounds fantastic, right? So why was the experience weird and why after all that gushing about how fantastic the food is does this place only get 4 stars? With a menu like this restaurant has and the prices you're paying (not super expensive, but $30 for a meal in Springfield where I can get a pizza for like $7 is not a cheap place) the decor should really be nice and classy. I understand that they're trying to go for a casual dining environment, but you can still pull that off and look classy. The ambiance of the restaurant really needs to match the food, the wait service (which was very good), and the prices. You can still wear casual clothes and visit a classy establishment. The decor was absolutely atrocious! It was a hodge podge of different styles that clashed when put all together in a room. From the greek murals on the wall (some of them of extremely naked large breasted women) to the almost cartoonish framed pictures of buildings and abe lincoln, to the canyon painting, to the flowered carpet, to the different room dividers, to the tiled ceiling (high school anyone?), to the track lighting, to the paper cone holding breadsticks on each table, to the painted spoon sculptures of flowers. This was just a mess of different types of design that did not go well together at all. And some of it was so bad that it shouldn't be anywhere near this restaurant. I expect this type of decor from a kitschy restaurant, but not from a place with fantastic steaks. And then what really made the experience strange, but I wouldn't actually take into consideration when rating the place was the extremely loud woman conversing with two older people that I guessed were her parents. She bitched and moaned about her personal life very loudly the entire time, but the topper was when she started talking about her incurable foot fungus. That is not appropriate restaurant conversation! I don't care if you're done with your meal, I wasn't done with mine and I don't need to be picturing your foot fungus while I'm eating. That is disgusting and you need to get some manners. I will definitely be returning to this place for their fantastic food and I will hope that they change the decor by the time I return.
(4)Peter H.
We really enjoyed our trip to Augie's The food was excellent, and well presented. The salads were delicious, the steak was good (made better by the accompanying mashed potato and asparagus) and the salmon was great. The service was top notch, the ambiance was very "New York"; overall an excellent dining experience.
(4)Brad W.
Great food and excellent atmosphere, prices were a touch high. The lobster bisque was good, but compared to the Union League club in Chicago, it didn't have much lobster to it. We will definitely come back.
(4)Brian K.
Great food. Really creative presentation. Wine list is a decent size with good variability. Specials were interesting (they have a steak and a pasta) Atmosphere would be my only knock. It's a bit eclectic but trying to be fancy. If you drink up you won't notice it :-)
(4)Mark G.
Outstanding food and server. A party of 7 for my spouse's birthday. Our table was near the back so it offered a bit of privacy. Everything was delicious and presented superbly. Jacob, our server, was equally great. From the drinks to small plates to salads and entrees, everyone enjoyed. You can't go wrong dining at Augie's.
(5)Dan P.
Great seafood dish: clams and pasta. Bread was warm with a great honey butter. Service was warm andknowledgeable. Finally the lobster bisque was rich and creamy.
(5)Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. First the cons: This is pricey by even big city standards and al a carte. I felt so squished into the table. There is little more than 6 inches between tables it seems. I don't like having to slide my butt along someone's plate to get to my seat. The ceiling tiles kind of grossed me out - stained & dirty. Plusses; I liked the art work around. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Just OK: Service is fine nothing outstanding, Menu is fine, nothing outstanding. I had the poached pear & blue cheese salad to start and the Mediterranean sea scallops on couscous with raisin chutney. It was nice.
(3)Leah H.
Love this place! I cannot get over their goat cheese salad! It is fried goat cheese that bursts with creamy warm goodness when you cut into it! It has a sweet Vinegarette on it... Perfect appetizer. I have eaten here 3 times, and my favorite dish is the potato crusted fish. Fantastic! A definite go to restaurant! It really isn't priced too high either for the top quality chef!
(5)John B.
This place impressed the pants off of me. I ordered the mussels and a salmon steak, which happened to be the special for the night. Both dishes were exceptionally flavorful. The mussels came in a curry sauce that had just the right amount of kick for someone like myself with low spice tolerance to enjoy. The salmon came with a great rub that I couldn't quite pinpoint except for the paprika. Throwing in a scoop of gelato for dessert was an unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious gesture on the part of Kim behind the bar. You can tell pretty easily that this place is run by a chef that painstakingly cultivates his craft. The menu here changes fairly often so I'll plan to return every time I'm in town to see what additions they've made.
(5)Jim C.
Visited Augies during a visit to Springfield in May 2015. Beautiful night so I choose to sit outside. Nice view over looking the old Capital building. Big mistake! Numerous guests who were eating inside continually come outside to smoke cigarettes roughly 10 feet from my table. They should set a minimum of 50 feet from front door. Gross. Food was ok. Had lobster bisque which tasted good but had Zero pieces of lobster in it. My catfish entree tasted pretty good. Service was ok. The waiter seemed truly excited by each and every menu choice I made. I'm like take it easy, it's just a Bass Beer. Choices in Springfield are limited but I would try another spot next time.
(3)Lauren B.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. In a few words: Good, not awesome. We went here last weekend. On a Friday night, the noise level was very pleasant -- not QUIET but not loud. Drinks: Good but not outstanding. They had some nice specials, and they were reasonably priced. Food: We had the crab cakes - very good. Hubs had the petit filet, which was good, but forgettable. I had the special - lobster tails with a sweet potato sauce. Good, but not fabulous. In general, we enjoyed our meal, but weren't blown away (and shouldn't you be blown away by lobster tails?!). Service: Again good but not outstanding.
(3)