417foodist

417foodist Read my blog posts on Springfieldmo.org! Read my past articles, “Eat Local” in Springfield Fit Life magazine.

Food writer showcasing & celebrating local restaurants•Writer for Visit Springfield•Friend on Fotsch & Friends•Reservations with Billy Dove📍417• DM/Email for collaborations•Find all my blogs on Springfieldmo.org! https://www.springfieldfitlife.com/magazine

I have also written for the Murney Blog over at Murney & Associates! https://www.murney.com/blog/417foodist/

Or some of my past articles with

Longitude Branding! https://longitudedesign.com/best-desserts-springfield-mo/

https://longitudedesign.com/417-land-taco-tuesday-in-springfield-mo/

Chef Tiny at Retro Metro has blessed me for a THIRD TIME, naming a menu item after me! This time, we’re going to the wor...
15/07/2025

Chef Tiny at Retro Metro has blessed me for a THIRD TIME, naming a menu item after me! This time, we’re going to the world of salads!

✨Billy’s Buffalo Chicken Salad: fresh Romaine, lettuce with homemade ranch then you get to choose between fried buffalo chicken or grilled buffalo chicken, shredded cheddar, onions, croutons, tomatoes, carrots, red peppers,  finished with hot codigo agave and candied jalapeños.

This is a MONSTER of a salad! I thought I was gonna be a side salad portion in about order a steak to go with it, but I am glad I held off because this is a full meal. The candied jalapeños bring a touch of heat, and that crispy buffalo chicken just makes this an impressive salad, if I do say so myself!

✨Ryan & Jess Calamari: Baby Squid Freshly Cut and Flour dusted. Fried with Peppers, Bacon, and Artichokes. Tossed with Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, and parsley. Marinara, Bourbon General for Dipping. This has become my default appetizer when I visit Retro, just a big old plate of calamari that you can either share with friends or keep all to yourself, you do you!

Retro has brought back happy hour, Tuesday through Friday 2 PM until 5:30 PM. You can get anything from sliders, wings, flatbreads and even lettuce cups! So grab the friends and family and go have a great meal!
📍 2150 W. Republic Rd., Springfield Mo 

Welcome to Monday, July 14th which also happens to be National Mac & Cheese Day! Now, I have put back my fair share of c...
14/07/2025

Welcome to Monday, July 14th which also happens to be National Mac & Cheese Day! Now, I have put back my fair share of creamy Mac & cheese, but I want to hear about YOUR favorite spot to get the creamy, delicious dish!

These our some of my favs here in the 417!
✨Lobster Mac & Cheese from Char Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

✨Classic Mac & cheese from Mama G’s Kitchen Downtown

✨Buffalo Cauliflower Mac & cheese from BrewCo

✨Mac & Cheese Bowl from Georgia Mac's

✨Brisket Mac & cheese from Campfire Barbecue

Let me know in the comments where you get the best Mac & Cheese in the 417!

Gather ‘round my food loving friends, let dear old Billy tell you about Old 76 Smokehouse! When my dear old friend Mike ...
12/07/2025

Gather ‘round my food loving friends, let dear old Billy tell you about Old 76 Smokehouse! When my dear old friend Mike from Queen City Barbeque Co told me he had a spot I needed to check out, well we cleared the schedule, invited our newest food friend, Petty Eddie Eats and headed to Branson West.

Let’s tackle the meats first, as we ordered the two meat plates that came with two sides, we just had it all piled on one tray! The ribs were tender, yet still ha a good pull to each bite, and the smoke sausage, even sliced still had s great snap to the casing!

They are smoking 12-18 brisket daily, and are selling out 👏🏽EVERY👏🏽DAY! If you are a smoked bologna fan, then you have to come check theirs out! 
✨Pulled Pork
✨Brisket
✨Chicken
✨Smoked Sausage made in-house
✨Ribs
✨Smoked Bologna

Now, let’s dig into the sides, that were all fabulous but the one that I really LOVED, the corn casserole! They said it has been nicknamed “Corn Crack”, and I can understand why! Plus, that mac & cheese is super cheesy and the pit beans are fulled loaded!
✨Coleslaw
✨Corn Casserole
✨Potato Salad
✨Mac & Cheese
✨Pit Beans

Now, just when we were wrapping this meal up, we were made aware that they have a three tiered Keylime pie! They are having Keylime juice shipped in from Florida and they are making these homemade every day. It was the perfect combination of tangy, tart, creamy, and sweet, I want more right now!

Head to Branson West check out their awesome outdoor seating because honestly from the road you can’t even tell her that’s there. It’s like a treehouse deck! Visit with Robert and his family and try their excellent food!
📍 9273 State Highway 76 Branson West, Mo
www.old76smokehouse.com

I have had my eyes on these sandwiches for a while now, and I finally got my hands on some! Let me introduce you to La M...
11/07/2025

I have had my eyes on these sandwiches for a while now, and I finally got my hands on some! Let me introduce you to La Mère Bakery, located in the Rountree Neighborhood! La Mère is a bakery that creates wonderful loaves of sourdough, focaccia, cookies, granola, and even pizza dough.

✨The Matthew: Italian cold cuts, provolone, greens, olives, pickled onions, and mustard, all on homemade focaccia. The tangy, sweet pickled onions, with the slightly salty olives, and the fatty cold cuts make this an over the top delicous sandwich! It’s rich in flavor, the focaccia is elegantly savory, such a beautiful sandwich.

✨The Abbe: Roasted squash, provolone, greens, pesto, garlic, olive oil, and lemon all on focaccia. The Abbe had a great nutty, sweetness to it that wasn’t over the top. The roasted squash with the lemon was an excellent pairing, and that pesto was so bright and herby!

Two perfectly executed sandwiches on glorious focaccia, plus they are quite large! I was able to share with friends. La Mère is open on Tuesday 7:30-2pm & Wednesday 7:30-1:30pm. Sandwiches are not available until 10:30 am. Watch their Instagram page to see what sandwiches will be available, and preorder bread or join their Bread Club to get notified on their weekly menus! www.lamerebakery.com
📍1458 E Cherry St., Springfield, Mo

This BBQ better get real scared, because myself, Petty Eddie Eats & Mike from Queen City Barbeque Co are about to tear ...
10/07/2025

This BBQ better get real scared, because myself, Petty Eddie Eats & Mike from Queen City Barbeque Co are about to tear it up at Old 76 Smokehouse in Branson West!

I need to make my way back to Best Of Luck Beer Hall asap!
10/07/2025

I need to make my way back to Best Of Luck Beer Hall asap!

Tell me what your favorite restaurant is in the 417, wait I already know the answer, it’s Mama G’s Kitchen Downtown , d...
10/07/2025

Tell me what your favorite restaurant is in the 417, wait I already know the answer, it’s Mama G’s Kitchen Downtown , duh!

✨Catfish Filets: 2 hand breaded catfish filets, with two sides and choice of bread. I went with collard greens and macaroni and cheese. But I didn't stop there, oh no, no, no! I also ordered a side of quiet dogs, and spicy cabbage! The catfish was super crispy, light, and flaky, there was no need for any dippage of the fish, great the way it is! Plus, those greens were earthy, meaty, with a touch of vinegar.

✨Stuffed Turkey Leg: a smoked turkey leg literally stuffed with collard greens, sweet potatoes, Mac & cheese, then topped with corn bread crumbles, and we ordered another side of corn bread. This, THIS! It's the ultimate comfort meal, you literally need a nap after this dish! That tender turkey leg, with all of those great sides piled on top, chefs kiss!

✨Chicken Wings: they offer a great selection of both sauced wings and dry rub. We ordered 6 chipotle peach wings, and 6 dry rub sriracha wings. Both had great flavor, neither were very spicy, which was still a great wing!

✨Mama G's Trio: we chose three items from the appetizer menu; crawfish bites, garlic cheese curds, and the fried pickles. Our server told us that they have a slicer that they load up with whole pickle spears and slice like French fries and fry to order!

I absolutely love every bite of glorious food I consume from Mama G’s! From the meatloaf, rolls, banana pudding, and so much more!
📍210 S Market Ave., Springfield Mo
http://mamagkitchen.com

When you are craving a meal that will stick to your ribs and brings deep flavors, well you head on over to Big Easy Gril...
09/07/2025

When you are craving a meal that will stick to your ribs and brings deep flavors, well you head on over to Big Easy Grill!

✨Red Beans & Andouille Sausage: you haven’t tried the red beans and andouille sausage at Big Easy Grill you are truly doing yourself a disservice! It’s a wonderful world of savory, slightly spicy, smoky, hearty goodness!

✨Sausage & Chicken Gumbo: Now, if you are a fan of a meal that preps you for a nap, pay attention. That dark roux paired with the holy trinity of onions, peppers, and celery, then the tender chicken and savory sauage, Ooooooooo its sooooo gooood!

✨Fried Green Tomatoes: The perfect appetizer, tart, juicy, green tomatoes, perfectly fried and dippable. We order them everytime we visit!

I always tell myself I am going to try something new when I arrive to Big Easy Grill, buuuuuut it’s hard to get away from your favs! What is your go to dish when visiting?
📍3641 E Sunshine St., Springfield Mo

Joy Robertson I do believe we are well over due for a visit to New Oriental for some Singapore Mei Fun!
08/07/2025

Joy Robertson I do believe we are well over due for a visit to New Oriental for some Singapore Mei Fun!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! The weather cannot figure out if it’s going to rain or be full of sunshine, but I am able to fig...
07/07/2025

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! The weather cannot figure out if it’s going to rain or be full of sunshine, but I am able to figure out that Slap Box Pizza & Wings is a must for dinner!

✨ Royale with Cheese: Seasoned hamburger, American bacon, Sharp Tillamook cheddar cheese & Red onion, and we chose to add the pickles and mustard. This pizza has quickly become a household favorite! It’s savory, cheesy, salty, with a touch of briny and tangy mustard!

✨Street Taco Wings: The wings smelt like tacos the moment you opened the box. They were the perfect blend of warm spices, salty, and crispy!

We have loved every pizza we have tried from Slap Box, plus the staff is always so friendly when I stop by! What is your go to order when you visit?
📍2932 S Lone Pine Ave., Springfield Mo

Today is a great day to enjoy awesome food, atmosphere, and celebrate the 7th anniversary of Greek Belly in Downtown Spr...
06/07/2025

Today is a great day to enjoy awesome food, atmosphere, and celebrate the 7th anniversary of Greek Belly in Downtown Springfield!

✨The City Greek Salad: Sliced to order tomato, cucumber, red onion, romaine, imported Greek Feta, Kalamata olives, parsley, oregano, pita, extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. This is one of my favorite dishes in the 417! The fact that it’s all sliced and chopped to order, and you can add souvlaki, falafel, or gyro to the salad, which for me just takes it to a whole ‘notha level!

✨Saganaki Opa: Pan fried Greek cheese served with lemon and pita. When you order the Saganaki Opa, they bring it to the table, light it on fire and yell OPA! Top the cheese with a squeeze of lemon, and pair it with the pita for a salty, citrusy, treat!

Congrats to John and crew for 7 years of Legendary Pitas, Fresh Falafel, and delicious rotisserie gyro meats in the 417!
📍320 E Walnut St., Springfield, Mo

Lunch on this glorious Saturday is at Greek Belly!
05/07/2025

Lunch on this glorious Saturday is at Greek Belly!

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All things local

When I was a kid, i remember we would drive past this building in Ozark, Mo that sat on a lot at the corner of Jackson St. that turned into 3rd St. It seemed like every 12 months or so it would be a new business; a coffee shop, a doughnut shop, a small sandwich shop and so on.

Every time we would drive by the business, it was never busy; no matter what it might have been at that time. After a few years of watching this unfold, I began to wonder about the people who were running the business. Trying to wrap my head around the amount of time and effort everyone put into opening the shop.

Thinking that the business they were running was a dream of theirs and they were achieving those dreams! But alas another year would go by and another business would open up. I started to feel bad for these people that I never knew, that those dreams of a business had come and gone.

Flash forward many years later and as a teen I was working for a local restaurant in my home town. Over the course of about 4 years I got to see the ins and outs of running a small business and what it took to keep it going. It was very eye opening to say the least!