Engrained Brewing Company
1120 W Lincolnshire Blvd, Springfield, IL, 62711
Engrained Brewing Company Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Springfield for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1120 W Lincolnshire Blvd
Springfield, IL, 62711 - Phone (217) 546-3054
- Website https://www.engrainedbrewing.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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Brian S.
So I was writing the review to this place as I was sitting there, however I waited overnight to think about things and am sticking with how I feel. So... Wintery day in some parts knocked out the credit card machines, so for a saturday night it was really dead in the place. Unsure of if it does business on a saturday night or not. Went owing to what was promised on the menu. Was greeted warmly by staff. After that, it went down hill. My party was sat in the major dining room as I didnt want to watch tv and eat. There seemed to be a section of booths that would have been a better option, however we sat by ourselves in an empty area. Owing to this we were then entertained by the conversations of the kitchen staff about their day, and desire to be elsewhere. We also got to listen to their pumping some form of guitar rock out of the kitchen which was loud enough that it somewhat masked the country station over the speakers, however sometimes we got to listen to both stations at the same time. What I am guessing was one of the managers (very tall man) had a number of animated conversations with staff in our sight line and members would walk in and out of a party room to fold linens and clean silver, sometimes leaving the door open, sometimes shut and sometimes partially open. The tall man would usually leave it half way open and was walking around with a cash drawer for a while. The server was a very nice guy. However couldnt answer questions about things that we were eating. This is on front of house as well, as I dont see that front of house has their servers taste things which I so dont understand. If you are positioning yourself as farm to table rather than a burger/beer joint, then take some extra steps. Charcuturie plate - totally skip it. Could have been a deli platter from the local market as far as I was concerned. Plated on a large white plate, (I would use wood) it had three cheeses that were sliced thin, and had little taste. The pickled vegetables were okay on their own, however I would use a different acid with the carrots. The ham was inedible, reeked of an anise smell. It was served with ritz and townhouse crackers which I was perplexed about. The main was ribs and fish and chips. The fish was decent. A little dark and the batter was a little thin, however it seemed somewhat fresh. The chips were house cut thin and served with a bland tarter sauce. No veg, (ie peas or slaw) came with the plate. The fries were okay, a little dark, and I am guessing it was the oil. The ribs were bad. Some silver skin was on the rib backing. They came to the table at best room temp and doused in a overly sweet sauce. Served with slaw that was more dressing than slaw and a sweet potato hash were the potatoes were a little past their prime and once again luke warm. (I am guessing I got a plate that was already done and under a heat lamp for a while owing to the way the sauce held on to the ribs). Desert - okay chocolate stout cake. Whipped cream had way too much powdered sugar in it for my tastes. On a couple of these areas I told the server. He said he would mention it to the kitchen. No one came out to speak with me about it, I did however get to hear an even louder conversation with their staff in the back. Not once did a manager come by to talk to us, even just to introduce themselves. While leaving I noticed a number of people who seemed to be managers and kitchen staff eating and talking. There was also a small patch of ice in front of the place. I mention this as it had been in the 40's and went down to freezing. A little salt would have taken care of this. So, I get that it was a slow night and usually people seem to let down on those days, however after a $60.00 meal that included a small flight of beer. We were treated like an after thought. It might have been an better idea for the place to have been shut down or offer pub grub in the bar and call it a snow day. I would personally change the room i was in as it seems that most diners get a straight shot in to the kitchen area. I viewed some habits of some of the workers and really wasnt thrilled. The pub area has a number of TVs so it may be a decent place to watch a game and have a burger. Seems like I havent found my local yet in this area.
(1)Kent W.
We traveled 50 miles to check out the Octobetfest celebration. Nice atmosphere with the polka band and staff dressed in Octoberfest attire. We were excited about the Octoberfest beer release and was not disappointed. Took home two 64 0z Growlers. We also really like the Oatmeal Stout and the abilty to buy a paddle sampler. We did not order one of the Octoberfest food specials but ordered off the menu. We had the pulled pork nachos for an appetizer. For entrees we had the Buffalo Chicken sandwich and a Black and Blue Burger. Pub style food but at a higher level. Buns are carmelized and several sides to choose from. Real silverware with cloth napkins. We sat in the bar but plenty of booth seating and an outdoor patio. The Owner Brett came over and talked to us. This was our second visit in the last 3 months. A visit to Scheels afterwards makes for a nice date. They have a rewards program. We used a $15 off coupon we received for our 24th anniversary.
(5)Sarah T.
We decided to have a quick lunch here on our way back home from a meeting in Springfield. I'm almost dumbfounded at how amazing it was! My 5 year old son had kids cheese pizza, my husband had the ruben and I had the fish and chips. The Fish and Chip was really good! not over cooked, hot and the fish was flaky. The fries that it came with were surprisingly good too. THE RUBEN! HOLY FREAKING CRAP! Best thing I may have ever tasted. I would drive an hour and a half just for that. It was juicy, full of flavor, and practically melted in your mouth. #magic. Even the kids pizza was shockingly good. My son ate the whole thing in record time. The beer was deserving of an award also. All of them that I tried were very well crafted. We will be back for sure!
(5)Rebecca A.
Our experience at Engrained was sub-par at best. First off it was freezing. I actually had to use all of our napkins to cover my arms because I was shivering the entire time. We were seated at one of the tall tables in the first room of the restaurant. The place looked empty b/c everyone else was seated back in the booth section. So we sat for a good 10 minutes before a server came over and said he was just informed he had a new table. Not the best of starts! We ordered drinks and an app while we had him there to get the show on the road finally. The cheese curds were good. Crispy, cheesy, and a great spicy ranch sauce. I then ordered the breakfast horseshoe. I've never ordered a breakfast version of this Springfield delicacy so I had high hopes b/c I love eggs, cheese, bread, and potatoes. Unfortunately it was not a winning dish. Their cheese sauce was terrible. You can tell from the pic I posted how lumpy it was. And I really couldn't even figure out what cheese they use. All you taste is beer. The dish was also cold. The eggs were cold and over cooked. The Texas toast wasn't toasted, and the potatoes were burnt. I probably ate 10 bites at best. With so many great local restaurants in SPI, this place will not be on my hit list during any future visits...
(2)Darin C.
Have been here twice. First time I had the Engrained Burger and the second time I had the Creole pizza. Both were wonderful. All the beers that match my favorite style of beers were also very good. I will definitely stop here when I am back in Springfield.
(5)Aaron M.
The food is fresh and the craft beer is also great. I've been coming here since they opened, always for dinner, and it just keeps getting better and better from the food to the beer. I highly recommend doing a flight of beer and trying a few different ones. You won't be disappointed!
(4)Alison S.
My fiancé and I were considering a few different venues for our rehearsal dinner, but after eating a meal here, my stomach says we have no choice but to go with Engrained. The cheese curds are phenomenal and the beer is top notch. We ordered a paddle to sample from since it was our first time there and we loved all four, can't beat the $5 price tag either! Everyone that we worked with, the host, our waitress, and the manager who gave us information on our rehearsal dinner options was very friendly, attentive, and personable. We will definitely be coming back and look forward to our event here.
(5)Veronica N.
Sat at the bar for a quid drink and a bite to eat. My fiancé had the oatmeal stout which he said was good and I had the only cider which was good. They have gluten fee options on the menu. He had the grilled ham and cheese which was a crowd ham and was yumy. I had their engrained rice which was to die for and their sauted spinich. Fries were delish as well. Friendly service but the food was a little slow. Would come back here for sure.
(4)Duane A.
Just another pedestrian brewpub, like the hundreds of others you pass on the endless journeys through the byways of American suburbia. Food is nothing special (locally grown zucchini in February?) Beer is nothing special. Nothing more to say than that.
(2)Troy R.
I've eaten at Engrained numerous times. Very often it's lunch, but I've eaten there a variety of evenings and weekends. And, I don't work there. This is an honest review. First their food: I've had many things on the menu, all being excellent. They have a Burger of the Week that I've ordered several times. It's always very good. My favorite thing on the menu are the pizzas. Handmade crust, great ingredients. Their beer: I think this is where they really excel. In a world of IPA's, Engrained does a wonderful job of keeping a good variety of in-house brews on tap. From their Kolsch to their Oatmeal Stout, all of their beers are top notch. They are continually tapping seasonal brews, while keeping their more popular beer continuously tapped. If you are having trouble choosing a beer, you MUST try their Irish Red. It is truly the best Red I've ever had. They also have a few guest taps where they feature some really nice brews from other breweries, very often limited edition. The Staff: Now, I normally sit at the bar to eat. I always feel like you get the best service wherever you eat at the bar. The guys and girls working behind the bar KNOW THEIR STUFF! Friendly, knowledgable about the menu and all of the beers. For that matter, they are knowledgable about all kinds of beers. If you want to talk beer, these people are a great source. For lunch I can get in and out in much less than an hour, but I often find myself having a great conservation, and rushing back to work :) Obviously, I highly recommend Engrained. Give it a shot. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Bob B.
Springfield restaurants try so hard to pretend they are something original. This place is a dime a dozen rip off from bigger urban markets, making an attempt to try capture the local sourcing movement. Nothing is really original or appealing. Knowing that this food local is even scarier, considering the amount of inbred hill billies in this area. It's cute that the people behind this are trying. This place is over priced for what it offers mainly due to the lack of quality and consistency in its offered items. I've been forced to eat here three times. Never again, servers think they are some elite commodity and their smug attitude is sad too observe. None of the beers are even Aldis kitsch cool, once again the consistency is an issue. I won't be returning here again too appease people I know. I give this place 18 months before its out of business, horrible location too.
(1)Kim B.
Stopped by for a late breakfast on Sunday, sat at the bar. Had a delicious Bloody Mary, omelet and potatoes. Bartender was super nice and took good care of us! Will definitely be back!
(5)Lawrence B.
Their new Grapefruit IPA is unique and very tasty. Enjoy!
(5)Naya H.
Beer was good. Burgers were okay. Why the 1-star review? Sad, cold, dead french fries. After getting a couple of lukewarm appetizers, we waited a bit too long for our entrees. Once they arrived, I tested the fries right away, but they were cold. :( My husband's portobello sandwich was ice cold, as well. He actually sent it back, it was so bad, and received a new one once the rest of us were nearly done. Back to the fries, they actually tasted like they had been previously fried, refrigerated, then popped into a microwave for 10 seconds, then forgotten about for another 10 minutes. Are you feeling my pain? We're talking FRIES here, people! This was my first time getting to try the place. Probably the last. The cold, poorly-fried food will likely last long in my memory; sorry, local eatery.
(1)Kelly S.
Ate there last night. I'm torn with the rating. The beer was 5 star. The food was a 2. I would order differently next time perhaps with a better result. The beer was all great and a nice selection from light kolsch to stout and nothing I had was overly hoppy - which I like. I ordered the short rib pizza and was disappointed. It looked great, the crust was nice BUT it was seriously overpowered with BBQ sauce and there was very little short rib involved. By the time I had the last piece, I was seriously icked out with the BBQ sauce. My boyfriend had the meatloaf which I tried and it was just meh as well.
(3)Jennifer W.
Nice place to stop for house brewed beer after biking the trails near by. Kitchen was way backed up when we got there and they were out if homemade pretzels so we skipped it. I got the beer paddle sampler - 4 x 4oz tasting of whatever house brewed beers you choose. I tried 1) Kona lager which was OK but too fruity for my taste (even though I knew it would be it just sounded good on a hot day) 2) oatmeal stout which really did taste like coffee and chocolate - yum! 3). Dunkelweizen which was true to form. 4) EPA (ESB) which wasn't as hoppy as I wanted (I like Fullers). Still worth checking out if you are on the trail or at Scheel's.
(3)Ray B.
Stopped in for lunch on the weekend- nice atmosphere and good staff. My salad was fresh yet nothing inspirational and my guests felt the same. They have a reward program, but for me, and I am north of 50, it was very complex and not worthwhile.
(3)Al K.
Whole Foods! Sausage is homemade in their Jambalaya. Yummm! Kölsch is wonderful, a great lighter beer, especially in the Summer and for those of us whose affair with the IPA has run its course.
(5)Don S.
Love their EPA. Great beer of you're not a fan of a traditional IPA. BTW, the reuben went great with it.
(5)Courtney K.
I really can't even write a review on the food so this is on the service. My boyfriend and I waited 15 minutes at our table and several servers walked past and never said anything to us! There was one worker that closed the blinds for us but that was it! We're from out of town and we enjoy going to local breweries and we were excited for this place but we ended up leaving very frustrated and hungry.
(1)Eric E.
Located in what looks to be a very new area near the highway, we made our final Springfield stop of the day here. Came in with a heavy appetite after seeing the sites, and left with a fuzzy feeling. The service was great. Greeted at the door, we were seated immediately and our waiter was well informed about the food and beer. The food was the best part. I had the Hot Ham & Cheese which was a tad small, but one of the best I'd ever had. Since I breezed through my plate with ease I helped my wife with some of her huge plate of nacho's, which were also very tasty. My son had cheese pizza off the kids menu and even that was really good! Beer - They had 8 or 9 styles on tap which are labeled for the type of beer they are, instead of given name. Had to drive three hours home so I only had the Oatmeal Stout, which was really good. Nice and smooth, delightful aftertaste. Glad we had a chance to stop in, I'm probably at 4.5 stars here. Great food, great beer! Cheers!
(4)Sarah N.
Great food! We stop in often, and the Oatmeal Stout beer is the best! Their nachos are simply amazing as well. Can't wait to see their menu change for the summer soon enough!
(4)Matt C.
I went on a very slow Thursday afternoon and had a great time. Sat at the bar and tried a flight. I liked each beer on the flight. Didn't order food, but it was a standard bar menu. Clean pub interior, and good location if you're coming from Chatham, America like we were. Springfield could use more places like this. I found their beers to be far superior to Obed and Isaacs. In fact I found their beers better than the established breweries located here in Houston. Cheers.
(5)Ben N.
Staff was courteous. The beer was excellent. Complex and flavorful. I got the IPA and the Belgian Tripel. My kids got the cheeseburgers, and hoovered them up in what seemed like seconds. My wife got her first horseshoe....apparently it's difficult to chew with a smile on your face. I got the buffalo chicken pizza. Homemade thin crust.....flavor explosion, from plate to face. Final verdict: This is an excellent example of a local, non-chain restaurant/brewery doing it right. Local ingredients, simple delicious recipes and good service make this a "must visit". And while you're there, fill up your growler with your favorite brew for just $12.
(5)David R.
Visited Engrained for St Patrick's Day weekend. Glad to see shepherds pie back on the menu. Need to keep it all year round not just for St. Patrick's Day
(4)Charles S.
Two thumbs down on food. Bland, room temp Mediterranean wrap. Definitely should have listened to the person who said tge cheese was grainy. No one in our party of four could eat the barbecued pork and cheese nachos. Service was apathetic at best. Might return for a drink with friends but not a family meal.
(1)Steve J.
My out of town co-workers had dinner 2 different nights last week. I had a tenderloin which they said they made in house, Ill buy that, but no seasoning at all in the breading or meat. It was ok. My friend had the Rueben. We both travel across the mid-west for work and we both seek out the best Ruebens. His had a couple chunks of meat, may have added up to 1/4 lb which is probably scaled in the kitchen. Could have been nice and sliced. Second night visit, two days later with a large group. Wanted to keep it simple and had pony shoe. Sauce was good but fries shattered when I TRIED to put a fork in them. That was the consensus from all in my group, (20 people) that had fries. Beer is always awesome and I know and appreciate using local, just need to do execute better. Staff is great and all knew the beers. The paddle is a great deal.
(3)Rachel B.
Passing through town my husband and I stopped here for dinner and drinks. Great farm to table food! Nice atmosphere with great beer made on sight. Had the pony with a veggie burger and it was superb. My hubs had the brisket sandwich and loved it. Service was great. We will back next time we are passing through.
(5)Emily H.
Food and beer are fine. Been here twice. Had a ponyshoe the first time. It was ok. I had hoped for better considering it's a local favorite and isn't a hard dish to make. The second time, I had a buffalo chicken pizza. It was good. Husband likes the beer and has taken home a growler or two full of it. Service was pretty good the first time(somewhat busy), but painfully slow (and not busy) the second time. We will give it another shot.
(3)Tony U.
Excellent environment and great craft beer selection! Staff is always friendly and the bartenders are top notch!
(5)Jim O.
My wife and I tried Engrained for the first time a few days ago. It wasn't bad, but it was far from great. The Good: Very pleasant staff, nice building and atmosphere, great food selection. I didn't try any of their beer as I was originally planning because they offer mead from Wild Blossom Meadery in Chicago, which is something I've always wanted to try. Turns out mead is one of the most delicious drinks ever. I tried a flight of the 4 types of mead Engrained offers. One wasn't good at all to me (turns out I really don't like chili peppers in my drinks), but the other three were fantastic. The Bad: The food really just wasn't that good. I ordered a horseshoe, which had an angus hamburger, fries, beer cheese sauce, scallions, and bacon. How could that possibly taste bad you ask? No salt. None. It was the most bland thing I've tasted in a while. Plus, the beer cheese sauce was way too thick and grainy, which is usually the result of a roux being used, but not prepared properly. I'm not saying I'm a pro at making cheese sauce, but I'm not trying to sell any to people either. This is a solid, middle of the road 3/5. Next time I'll probably only go for the beer.
(3)Sheri L.
I really liked the ambiance of this restaurant, ambit it lacked in a few places. First let me say the staff was real friendly, it was super clean and we got a table right away. My fiancé and I ordered the cheese curds, recommended by our waiter, and they were AWESOME! Seriously, so good. But then it kids went downhill. My fiancé had to wait an actually ask for a refill, I had to wait a period for my refill as well. But that's just knitpicking. Our food came and looked delicious!! However, it was just ok. I don't think the cooks/chef used salt at all in either of our dishes. I had the fish n chips, the chips were yummy, but the batter for my fish had little or no salt. I received malt vinegar and it helped a lot, my fiance got the drunkin' shrimp pasta and it was a bit too drunk, if you know what I mean! Too boozy for me, but he didn't mind it. He said it was "alright." Maybe our dishes just aren't the ideal dishes to have here so please don't let my review deter you from visiting Engrained! We'll come back, but probably will try the steaks since they are grass fed beef.
(3)Erin L.
I loved the menu and fresh apple cider ale. Honestly the best juicy burger I've had in a long time. There are so many chain restaurants in Springfield that I jumped at the chance to go here while in town on business. The staff was super friendly.
(4)Erika F.
I was super excited about this place opening, as most of Springfield's restaurants offer greasy American. I'm into the organic lifestyle and farm-to-table movement, so this place sounded like a dream. I've been 3 times to eat and once just for drinks, and I won't go back. It's simply not worth it. The Shepard's pie was tasty, but a bit pricy for the portion size at $12 , given this area. Another time I ordered the pork chop, which was tough and overcooked, and the macaroni side was cold and bland. The food is just bland and pricy, despite their efforts to hand-make items with fresh, local ingredients. The beer, again, is not worth it. They're standard beers with no unique ingredients, names, or stories. And they're usually out of at least one beer, not that there is a ton to pick from anyway. So far, the service has never been an issue. I really wanted to like this place, but I simply can't.
(2)Margie C.
The first problem is that the waiter started his introduction with the fact that he is short on cash and needs money to pay bills so he hopes that we order a lot and tip well. Ooookkkkkk. I order the beer sampler. And they were out of two. The server gave me doubles of some to round it out. That was frustrating. Don't offer it if you are out. I ordered the smoked mozzarella stuffed meatloaf and Caesar salad. The dressing was really oily. The meatloaf was ok but not great. The cheese had pooled onto the plate by the time it was served. I would have liked it in my meatloaf instead of a big mess of cheese. It was also expensive for the type of restautant.
(2)Ami H.
I came in here with a group for our Christmas party. We were seated immediately, which was very nice. As soon as we sat down, the servers asked for our drink orders. Although the service was perfect, the food and home made beer was subpar. The atmosphere was great and relaxing. We all loved the decor! I just wish the food was better. I'll possibly try it again to make sure it was just what I had.
(3)Ben R.
Ok let's be honest. The food was good.... Here's the issue. Service. We waited over an hour and a half for appetizers. Now when I say service I'm talking about the cook staff being poorly managed. We arrived at 7:30 which was not very busy and the cooks were backed up. Look I understand you "just opened" but an hour and half for appetizers? Come on! I can't sit here and bash completely as the beer was tasty. With that said stop brinsheep Springfield and blindly accepting poor service because its new. I know we are starved for some sort of culture but we deserve better. After all of this not even a sorry from the manager.
(1)Alicia C.
I think this place has a lot of potential for the future. We have had dinner here maybe eight times; my husband enjoys the ambiance and the novelty of the beer sampler. Therefore, we've had the chance to try a variety of their dishes, and had a few experiences with the wait times and service, etc. They have a principle of using natural, hormone-free, locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients, which I love. However, I ran into an issue with this... When I was training for a race this summer, trying to eat more healthfully, and agreed to go to Engrained with hubby for a grilled chicken salad, they were "out of chicken." We returned in a couple weeks... "out of chicken." We started calling ahead to see if they had chicken that day. Sticking to principles is great, but you should never, ever, run out of something so basic and turn customers away. You should take a hit on your profit that day, and run to the grocery store for organic chicken if necessary. The appetizer menu is very greasy and doesn't seem as fresh as the rest of the menu, which is something that has caused me to go back and forth rating this place. On a recent visit, we waited at least 30 minutes for the nacho appetizer, and when it arrived, luke-warm, the melted cheese had re-solidified, oozing the grease out of the cheese. We admired that they had actual tender, pulled-chicken, but they were not something we'd order again (lost the taste for it after having it greasy & cold). The southwest wontons arrived luke-warm and greasy, and the flavor was not a home-run. The cheese curds were dripping grease but hot and with tasty sauce. Finally, we decided their app menu isn't for us, but their dinner menu definitely is. (Please redo the app menu!) From the dinner menu, the portabella sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, and barbecue chicken sandwich were each delicious. The seasoning on the grilled chicken sandwich was finessed and yummy, and it was carefully cooked, high-quality chicken, and hot upon arrival. The sandwich buns were even delicate and wonderful. If you order a sandwich here, the accompanying lettuce and onion are sure to be fresh & crisp. I had vegetable soup here once that was delicious. My husband craves the pizza. The salads are exceptionally fresh with high-quality, freshly grilled chicken (when available!). We had satisfying & simple bread-pudding, cooked in an ingenious mini brioche pan to create more surface area for scrumptious, crusty edges... but served with standard restaurant ice cream. I'd like to see homemade ice cream if there is a pastry chef on staff (which there is). While weekday visits have been smooth, the weekends we've been here have included long wait times for (luke-warm) food, long wait times between courses, and under-trained servers largely ignoring us. It was painful to watch the bartenders fulfill beer sampler orders, because they take so long to pour... Each one means the bar patrons get ignored for about 60 seconds. To their credit, the staff were indeed friendly! Also, we returned on a weekend recently, and things were humming along. We had an exceptional server who got everything to us piping hot and fresh, and checked on us at appropriate intervals. I think this place has made improvements since its inception, and enjoy eating here.
(4)Jen I.
Four stars for the beer, three stars for food. If I was a local, I wouldn't mind hanging out here sometimes. During our visit, my husband and I enjoyed two flights - the first had samples of oatmeal stout, maibock, india pale ale, and blackberry lager while the second consisted of kolsch, English pale ale, Belgian trippel and Belgian dubbel. All of the beers were good - nothing to complain about. My favorite was the Kolsch while my husband's favorite was the Belgian trippel. As for the food, we had the smoked corn dip appetizer which came with some thin baguette slices. The baguette slices were perfect - thin, crunchy, but not hard. The dip itself definitely has smokiness, but it mostly reminded me of pimiento cheese spread with some corn added in. Tasted fine, but felt like what could have been a uniquely delicious dish fell short. The addition of some green chiles and less of the filler spread might improve it, in my opinion. We then split a four cheese pizza that had cheddar, smoked Gouda, provolone, and Mozzerella with a goat cheese bechamel sauce. This pizza was good but the crust was superb. Light and crispy, not too crunchy. Made me wish I had ordered the sausage pizza to taste how good it would have been with some meat and red sauce. All in all, this restaurant has a lot of potential, just needs to perfect some of the food aspects, though that opinion is based solely on the two dishes we had. Again, the beer was great, though I worry about the future of this restaurant since we were there at 11:30 on a Thursday and there were only a few other people there. There was also very little nearby to draw people to the area, though the sporting goods superstore next door probably helps.
(4)Jayson J.
I do not get down to our state's Capitol often, but on this trip some colleagues decided to take me for lunch to try a famous Horseshoe. I have seen these on Food Network before and they looked delicious, albeit slightly less healthy than a Paula Deen recipe. I am pleased to report that this concoction of Texas toast, a hamburger, fries, homemade cheese sauce, bacon and green onions was delicious. It is definitely something that will only enhance my male physique. By that I mean my belly. I was able to eat about a third of it before I started sweating and decided that I had just taken down the better part of 2000 calories. My colleagues had pizzas, sandwiches and fish. Every liked their meals and this seems like it would be an awesome place to get some microbrews. Very clean and spacious spot with a friendly staff. They make it a point to source everything locally (Though I don't really care too much about all that jazz). If in the area I would stop in again, but would probably steer clear of the horseshoe.
(4)Ann R.
Oh Engrained, how I want you to be a raging success. Your space? Awesome. I'll take off a few points for how awkwardly close your high tops seem to sit next to one another but for the most part, you've really done a great job of bringing a cool, industrial brewery vibe to SPI. The problem? How 'bout you offer your servers additional training, find a flavor profile other than "cheese", and when you serve fries, serve them warm. A few improvements here and there can really turn this into a five star must when on that end of town. But like some other reviewers, my table experienced lots of greasy cheese, cold food, and aloof service. I will be back though; going to keep the faith that this place shows improvements over time!
(3)Jason L.
Everything was delicious starting with the beers (we tasted them all) and ending with the lemon cake. We ate at the bar and they were a little busy and slow, but the service was still good. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Bill E.
We had a great time and a wonderful meal at Engrained. Our family is not from Springfield but visit it often and regularly go to Scheels sporting goods. Last night we decided to make another trip there and eat nearby. From a distance we saw the Engrained logo, and were joking that due to all of our bad eyesight it reminded us of the "Ehrmygerd" meme. So, our interest piqued, we decided to check it out. Very glad that we did! While waiting(a short wait) for a table I went to the bar and ordered the lightest and the darkest beers on the menu. Both were out. I was a bit worried at that point. However, we then went to the blackberry and the Novemberfest on the menu, and they were great. Our server was outstanding, and took great care of us. We ordered the cheese curds for an appetizer. They were tasty(awesome Sriracha Ranch sauce), but I did wish that the serving was slightly bigger. After our entrees came I wasn't worried anymore. We ordered a wide variety of dishes and shared. Our kids got the slider meal with fries, and quite honestly I could have made a meal out of that alone. Delicious beef burgers and fresh cut fries. I had the short rib sandwich and Gouda mac and cheese. If you like a smoky cheese sauce, you will enjoy the M&C. The short rib sandwich was great, basically a big pile of meat and romaine on a tasty roll. My wife got the Angus Burger, and it was delicious. I grew up on a farm and their hamburger is obviously fresh and locally grown because it reminds me of what we used to get from our cattle. My sister chose the build your own pizza. Another great choice. Fresh, tasty ingredients on a crispy thin crust. Stop in "Ehrmagerds" for a great time and some tasty beer and food. You wont regret it!
(4)Warren W.
Their beer is quite good. I generally, find a greater variety of better options at Obed's, but I am a fan of their oatmeal stout. Until recently, I found their menu to be somewhat constrainted to mostly cheesy and heavy food options. However, their menu has been recently revamped and several new tasty and lighter options have been added. The revamped menu bumped my review from three to four stars. I recommend that everyone living the the Springfield give this place a shot as an alternative to their regular barfood choices.
(4)Randy D.
The layout is solid, and the food is pretty tasty. The fresh beef carries the menu options. Definitely go with something that features the beef. Their beers were rather disappointing. The stout was particularly bad as it has a chewed tobacco flavor - specifically, Skoal straight. It leaves an after taste as though you swallowed a little bit of chew spit. Their November fest was OK - nothing special. Same goes for the other 6 beers on tap, leaving you indifferent as to whether or not you tasted them again. The IPA has a very piney flavor - almost as though you're gnawing on a pine cone. The Irish Red was their best of the 7 I tried - relatively smooth and full-flavored. This was the one that I could drink again. Overall I'd recommend to go for their food, atmosphere and the other beers they had on tap (e.g. Lauganitas IPA is something hard to find in Springfield). Hopefully they hang round long enough to brew a solid beer of their own.
(3)Kimberly W.
I kept seeing Engrained pop up on my Facebook feed via high school friends, so my parents and I decided to give it a try when I was visiting on Sunday. We were seated right away in the bar and had a very nice server (Sam, I believe). I was disappointed that they only had 4 of their own beers on tap (Kolsch, APA, IPA and one other I can't recall) as I really wanted a Wheat, but I understand that they're new and don't have a huge brewing capacity. I'd suggest maybe printing a smaller beer menu that lists what is currently on tap so people don't get their hopes up. My APA was tasty and on par with the microbreweries I frequent in STL. The IPA was a bit hoppy for my taste, and my dad's as well, but he enjoyed the Kolsch. The food was good and we didn't have any problems with having to wait on it too long. I had the horseshoe and the homemade fries were great and the cheese sauce had a nice flavor. My burger had a bit of a charred flavor, but that's by bad for ordering medium-well (pink meat freaks me out, I don't care if it has more flavor!) My parents had the burger and the pork chop, and both were enjoyed. They did seem to be out of several items, but we were there later on a Sunday so I'm sure the weekend wiped them out. My biggest complaint honestly is the decor, or lack thereof. It's a hard space full of TVs and I can only imagine how loud it must get in there on a Saturday night. There really isn't much else going on besides the TVs, but this seems to be a Springfield thing and I think I'm spoiled by St. Louis restaurants that really take care in the ambiance department. Every time a new place opens in Springfield they all look the same! Maybe I'm the only one who minds?
(3)Leigh W.
Try a beer sampler paddle, you get to choose four of their micro brews to try for $5. I enjoyed their lightest German beer & the wheat beer. Food was really good, servers where very kind & informative. I will definitely being going back. There where a couple of us & we all got something different so we could try different things. On this trip we had the roasted red pepper hummus with pita & the cheese curds both delicious. Then the burger if the day which was a party melt & the Reuben. I was impressed by the Reuben & steamed vegetable.
(5)Raymond L.
As an update after having been to Engrained for two lunches and two dinners, I have enjoyed every menu item I've tried. Not all of them were home runs, but all were good quality ingredients and good execution. I've tried all of the beers that were on tap at the times of our visits, and each one was a good example of its variety. If you don't normally like stout, you probably won't like this stout either. If you normally like red ales, this one will probably strike you as better than many. Etc. The pulled pork potato skins were perfectly envisioned and executed; the right sauce, the right cheese, the right proportions. The short rib sandwich with horseradish creme fraiche was spot on. It was moist, tender, flavorful beef with a good compliment of sandwich fixin's. The BBQ chicken sliders were top-notch, but the sauce was as-described, a mustard BBQ, and so not for everyone. The beer cheese soup was more beer and less cheese than many others I've tried, and while the flavor was good I personally would have added more of a thickening agent (flour, arrowroot, xanthan gum...) in order to aid in the cheese fully incorporating into the broth. The pretzel breads with mustard-cheese dipping sauce were tasty, but I would have preferred a more prominent pretzel flavor that one can achieve by simmering the dough in water laced with a hearty portion of baking soda. The Meatloaf in BBQ sauce with mashed potatoes was flawless. The BBQ sauce had good body without being one note or overly sweet. The potatoes had a lot of added flavor, and avoided the common misstep of becoming sticky glue-like. The mac n cheese was well made and had a perfect balance of smoky cheesiness and moisture and didn't have any of the characteristics I think of as appealing only to a certain segment of the mac n cheese fan base: things like a crumb top or mix-in items. A friend ordered the Engrained Shoe, and enjoyed it, but keep in mind that you are getting a premium product, and so the portion size may not be as large as a place down the street that uses canned cheese, frozen fries and preformed frozen burger patties. If that's what you want go somewhere else.
(5)Kathi G.
I was very pleased to find this farm to table restaurant brewery. Our server, Jeff, was new, but was nice and fun. The black bean burger was a little soft for my liking but they are hard to cook to firm. The oatmeal stout was outstanding. I would definitely come back.
(4)Melissa C.
The food is not all that great, I really wish that it was. Go for the beer, don't bother with the food.
(3)Jason D.
My bartender was Ramey and she was very nice. I was in for lunch so she had a lot of time to talk. She filled me in on the story of the owner's, sourcing of food and did a great job recommending their menu. She also recommended some places to try around town and Chicago. Try the sampler for beer, I tried them all and liked about 2/3 (nine brews available when I was there). I am far from a beer expert but I am a red blooded American male and I suggest The Oatmeal Stout, Kolsch, Belgium Dubbel, and APA (they didn't have the IPA when I was in). (If it helps I normally drink Canoe Paddler, Summer Shandy, Ten-Fidy, and Coors light when I want cheap)The only thing I ate was the Butternut Squash side, it was good but I would suggest a light sprinkling of brown sugar to make it even better, if the cook is reading I would have liked a tad bit longer cooking time for a softer texture. I left with a Growler of the Oatmeal Stout, the Belgium Dubbel was my favorite but I love me some Stout. I will be back, next time I plan to sample some Mead and try a lunch item. The menu looked very good.
(4)Leah H.
I heard mixed reviews about this place. The decor is great. I was impressed. My husband and I split the pretzel stick and a short rib pizza. The pretzel sticks were mediocre. They definitely weren't fresh. They had clearly been reheated. I enjoyed the mustard cheese sauce. The pizza was just okay. The crust was cracker thin (yummy). But the pizza lacked enough toppings. It was $13!! We left and I was still a little hungry to be honest. My son's grilled cheese and fries were barely warm. My husband raves about their beer though! And service was quick and friendly! I might give it another chance.
(3)Heidi M.
They did not have a lot of things because it is a local restaurant so they had run out of things, The beer was excellent though and the service was outstanding! When you go expect things not to be filled, Just be patient and go back again
(3)Matt T.
Good food made from local ingredients. The micro-brew beer is also great. The decor looks like a chain sports bar but don't let that scare you away.
(4)Michele S.
Awesome food!! Service was a little slow but not bad. A little pricier than I expected, but I still really enjoyed my meal!!!
(4)Greg Z.
I really like the number of employees that Engrained paid to write positive reviews. When I visited there with a neighbor; we were told a ten minute wait, just to be able to sit down at the bar. After we stood there with another couple behind us, and stated to the kid at the stand, that all we wanted was to sit down and have beers, suddenly we were allowed past this "Gatekeeper". Tried the Plank sampler, and told that they were out of two of the micro brews, that we wanted to try. Looking around at the crowd and wait staff, there were a lot of people seated, but very little staff for a establishment with as much seating as they have in there. Food prices are very high for what I would consider a three star restaurant, with two star service. Not going back again for the food, nor the brews, when I can find better service and better tasting beer at other places in town.
(2)Percy M.
Was really looking forward to this place. The service was questionable, but since it was new, I will let that one pass. The real reason for the one star is the food and poor management. The food is bland and tasteless. Dont listen to the other reviews. Nothing here is homemade. Just processed and re-heated food. The food is just plain bad. Regarding management, how can you run out of several of the beers that you are producing? Do you not have storage for more kegs? Did you really not think this place was going to be super busy when it first opened? They ran out of basic food items at lunch time. There are way too many grocery stores in Springfield for a restaurant to run out of any type of vegetable or meat. Bottom line this place is an embarassment.
(1)David E.
Was OK. Service was good but took a long time to get food. Beer was excellent and served quickly. Had the 4 variety pour and all of the ones I drank were good. Trouble was 3 of the beers I wanted to try they were out of. You would think that a newly opened gastropub would make sure they had plenty of their own signature beers! Food was Ok. Shepherds pie had a slight metallic taste. Fish and chips were pretty good. Fish was piping hot while rest of food was lukewarm. Can't understand how $22 for a 6oz steak is "special" when I can go across the road to Quaker Steak and get a huge chunk of meat for the same price and still get good beer. A+ for concept. C- for execution.
(2)Jereme S.
-A special place for Springfield & all of central IL. Great food & brew!.. Also, love the 'green' philosophy w/ their building & menu.
(5)Josh T.
Locally sourced food & craft brew! Respectable beers, some typical, some above average. All better than your chain restaurants. The food is locally sourced and made from scratch. We had an excellent burger. No smoking outdoor seating for diners. And motivated wait staff. Definitely an above average Springfield location.
(5)Sarah S.
I've been meaning to review Engrained for awhile. I first ate there on their opening night and I had a great time. The flight of beers was fun and I especially liked the Blackberry Lager. The staff were all great and it seemed that they all felt an ownership in this new establishment (ie: they weren't 'just working there'). One even opened a few of the brewing areas when he saw my husband and I looking thru the window. I love their philosophy of locally grown, natural food. Even the building promotes eco-materials. I had the margarita pizza, some ridiculous cheese curds and a yummy chocolate dessert. Also, I bought one of their t-shirts and it's probably the shirt I wear around at home the most - it's so comfortable! Overall, I can't wait to go back (and buy a shirt in another color)!
(5)Patrick J.
Don't think of it as a microbrewery, think of it as a full menu restaurant. The waitress was knowledgeable and helpful. Her advice on the stuffed green pepper soup was right on. The cheese stuffed meatloaf was well worth eating but the authentic pumpkin pie was the crown. It was not over spiced although as deep dish it was a little large but I managed to eat it all and the crust. The garlic mashed potatoes was fine also.
(5)Michael C.
I ordered their special , 6 oz fillet. Was excited because grass fed is usually better than most and in my experience fresh! I have a big mouth and after about four nice size bites I realize that something wasn't right and have to spit out the fourth. The meat was going bad. It smelled old and tasted it, my girlfriends strip steak was perfect. I told our waitress and she first said grass fed tastes different, rrrr no it's bad and smells bad. She took it. Manager comes over and asks if I'm ok (was very polite) I said yes I'm ok but the steak was bad. He said sorry,then said waitress and cook smelled it and said it was ok. Done!!!!! I'm sorry but it was bad, everyone at table could smell that it was bad (bad etiquette on my part) . I can see how mistakes are made and I didn't ask for a refund and I didn't want to eat anything else. How stupid are you to tell me your staff said it was fine!!!! I would have tried the place again but not now that I know your cook can't even tell when meat has gone bad. They gave me a partial refund for the bad steak.
(1)Henry S.
I've been to Engrained twice; only tried the food once. I had a BBQ pork flatbread and it was delicious. The beer isn't as good in my opinion. Their pale ale is my favorite of the bunch, and the oatmeal stout is decent as well. But they seem to lack the complexity and rich flavors that attract most to microbrews.
(3)Sarah Q.
I have been to Engrained 4 times and every time have had great service and good beer. I haven't had a chance to try the IPA due to high demand. I have had the salads and LOVE the dressing ! Only giving 4 stars because I reserve it for out of this world places and I haven't had the chance to try a variety of foods
(4)Jennifer S.
We came here for the beer and were pleasantly surprised. I had the sampler of the APA, Red, Brown and Stout. The APA was hoppier (good) than expected, and the Stout was well balanced with a smoky aroma. If you come here expecting flavorless beer (Miller lite or Bud) then you may be disappointed, but come anyway and enjoy how beer should taste. I'm looking forward to the IPA for my next visit. Our server, Bill, was very knowledgeable about the beers, was very prompt and brought us water without asking.
(4)Mary Kay S.
My husband and I went there after they had only been open 2 weeks..The staff seemed friendly. They were already out of the 3 mildest beers, so we opted for a sampler of beers. most we could not consume as they were too strong and too bitter. My husband tried to order a chicken dish, and was told they were out as they only buy fresh, local and will not substitute with frozen. Okay , SO he ordered stew, and I ordered Italian beef..The Italian beef tasted like Roast with NO seasoning whatsoever and the price was high.I could teach them how to make that. My husbands stew was all meat cubes, one sliver of carrot with NO potatoes or other veggies..Altho the meat was fine in it ..that is NOT stew...I assume they were out of veggies, too.No condiments are on the table and we had to wait for those. I assume these were things they will straighten out in the future,,but I will not be finding out.. In the first 2 weeks of being open they are already out of many items, that is poor planning and management. We dine out frequently . but for the price and the value we know where can do better.
(1)Kate S.
I've been here 4 times now, and each experience has been better than the last. It's especially important to me to know that the food I eat has been locally and green-ly sourced, and Engrained offers that. I don't drink beer, but the people I have been here with frequently leave with a growler to take home. Definitely the best casual meal you can get in Springfield, both in terms of the quality of the food and the environmental/ health consciousness that Engrained offers. If you like updated classic fare and care about its origins, give it a shot!
(5)Lindsay B.
I really enjoyed our meal at the Engrained Brewing Company. I am a little worried for this location, as it is huge but was not very crowded. However, our service was good- and the food was great. We started with the corn dip, which was delicious. Everyone ate something different- Shepherd's pie, squash ravioli, meat & cheese plate- and everyone enjoyed their dishes and had leftovers for lunch the next day. Of course, the draw here is the beer. We really enjoyed all 3 of the beers we tried as a group, and would probably try the mini-flights on our next trip if we lived in the area. If I lived in Springfield, this would definitely be a location where I would head back to try some of the other dishes, or to catch the latest sports event.
(4)Nancy W.
Seek out if in Springfield. A new gem with friendly and helpful staff. Locally sourced delicious food. Their crafted beers were as good as I've had anywhere. They also have locally made mead, which we tried for the first time. A nice finish to an excellent meal.
(4)