My friend and I ordered the sea bass and scallops ---Every single detail was spot on, from the warm welcome to the chef's masterpieces on a plate. Best restaurant in Springfield for fine dining-- ambience ,service , and delicious food! read more

Surprised not to see this as one of the top 10 Springfield restaurants. Maldaner's is outstanding for downtown fine dining - it was a popular lunch place, but now is open only for dinner. I heartily recommend the Beef Wellington, a specialty of the house - and if you're there when morels are in season, the Chef makes some excellent dishes with them. read more

I attended an Amvets dinner there last evening. Much to my surprise there was terrible service no condiments on the table. We asked for butter and were told the potatoes had enough butter, there were not rolls. We were one of the lucky tables to get food as it was a buffet and the last 2 tables did not get any. They were told they ran out. Our program was over and never got our dessert served. It was a horrible experience and we'll never go back again. read more

Great food and service. I loved the ambiance of this place! The bruschetta was really great, and my chicken, tomato and capers dinner was great! read more

I simply stole a picture of a horseshoe from another review as it is literally pick a meat (chicken, Turkey, hamburger) place it on Texas toast, top with French fries and smother in cheese. I was hungry- This is a local delicacy of Springfield IL I went with the recommendation. I am glad I tried it and can say I did it but I would never order this again. I imagine maybe the cheese might switch from place to place but the concept remains. This is pub food no more and at a fine Italian restaurant like this there are simply better choices for my pallet. I am just as tough and have the same thoughts on 5 way chili in Cincinnati... ok you grew up with it. Let's mash up spaghetti and chili and make a 5 way monstrosity. The horseshoe is a Springfield mash up that is just meh. As for the ambiance and drinks (home made lemonade is 5 star) desserts and more this is a 4.5 restaurant just no luck on the horseshoe! read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - Just another Horseshoe - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Had a really wonderful visit here. The chef, Michael Higgins, was very personable and spoke with multiple patrons while I was there. He was kind enough to explain to me what Beef Wellington is, and that is what I had. The cook on the steak was perfect and it was really delicious. I started with the French Onion soup, which was also quite tasty. As great as the beginning of the meal was, the dessert was the Chef's kiss! The bread putting was hands down the best I have ever had. It was warm and melted in your mouth in the best possible way! He stopped by my table to see how everything was, and this is a rare example of a very high customer service experience. The staff were all friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend a visit when you are in town! read more

For our one special evening while visiting Springfield, IL, we chose Maldaner's for our meal. In fairness, the prices were a bit high for the area and that may have to do more with their history than their food or service. We had reservations for the dining room but they sat us at the bar. No seats were available where we reserved. The hostess left us with menus but no one acknowledged us for about 15 more minutes. We ordered drinks, a Pinot Grigio and their house Old Fashioned. These were fine. For our meals, we ordered their Filet (which was also one of their specials) and the Pork Chops. The same comments go for both so I won't split them out. While the meals were of high quality, they arrived barely Luke warm. The asparagus was very good. Also, they make their mashed potatoes with oil rather than butter to avoid problems with allergies. I honestly couldn't tell the difference. If the food arrived hot and if we were not made to wait, this review may have been better. I am not saying this was a bad experience. but there were a few things (mentioned) that I don't expect from a restaurant of this caliber. read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - 6 Ounce Filet of Beef - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Just started our Chicken and Beef Wellington. It will be delicious so a long time tradition since 1886 - it was good and really enjoyed their tradition 120 plus years lemon sherbet. I would come back and just ask for that and leave :) read more

See all

Wonderful restaurant in Springfield with a long history of. Welcoming staff. Lovely ambience. Everything was enjoyable start to finish. Had a nice glass of Chardonnay. Bread service was great. Tasted homemade. I had a butternut squash soup and a wedge salad. Tasted so good. Delicious bread pudding for dessert. Love the setting in a vintage downtown building. Easy parking. read more

Old-world ambiance, fresh food, friendly service. Oldest restaurant on Rt. 66. An institution in Springfield.

Beef Wellington is the best.Servers were top notch.Atmosphere is very nice.We have lived in Springfield for years and have never been able to go there.We will have to order steak for our next visit. read more

We showed up in jeans and t-shirts a bit worried we'd be turned away. Nope! Our server was super nice and thorough! I didn't catch his name but he was great. I had never had a rack of lamb before and I came here specifically for that and omg! It was delicious! With everything that came with it, including a red wine reduction, it may be the most perfect bite I have ever tasted. The fillet had a beautiful crust and was cooked perfectly! Highly recommend and when they say "for everyone", they truly mean it. read more

See all

Great food and service. It was less expensive than other nice restaurants but now is about equal on price. Relaxed atmosphere with possible outdoor seating when weather is nice. Bathroom is up a flight of stairs and requires a code you will want to get so you are not locked out needing to go downstairs to get code. read more

This was a nice dining experience. The place is well known to locals and surrounding areas. The food is always first class and the servers are well trained. The dining room is well maintained and cozy without being crowded. Tables only and the bar is separate from the dining area. We had the staples steak and pork chops. They were cooked perfectly and presented well. I especially enjoyed the southern style baked beans which is very different for this area. More on the high end for this area but worth the price. Treat yourself. read more

The atmosphere here is great. Nice jazz playing over the speakers, lots of wood paneling, leather banquettes and a beautiful bar, makes for a club feel, just what you would expect for a restaurant that has been here since the late 1800s. The bread and glasses of water showed up promptly and our waitress wasn't far behind. She was a little 'rough' but ended up doing a nice job giving us the nightly specials and taking our drink orders. Neither of us waves a heavy meal. RRR got their lobster risotto special, a small plate, and said it was wonderful. I got the warm goat cheese salad that i really loved although the beets should have been sliced instead of cubed. Golden beets would have been even better, just sayin'! I also got the crab cake small plate, and it was also very good. Will still had a bit of space not filled so we had to have dessert. Their homemade vanilla ice cream for me, the Queen of Sheba for him (flourless chocolate cake with raspberry coulis and chocolate sauce). read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - In the bar, Wednesday night with no reservation. All good! - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Celebrating our 25th anniversary we booked a 7 o'clock appointment and everything was great. The food was pretty good. Our waitress was wonderful. We ate 3 small plates, of a wedge salad, a mushroom pie slice, and French onion soup. Which all were delicious. The pork wraps were also excellent. In fact, my husband said they were 10 times better than the ribeye steak. My husband's steak dinner , which was a ribeye medium rare, with all the trimmings of vegetables and mashed potatoes and mushrooms. He has difficulty cutting his steak, which normally it's not that big of a problem so I had to try to cut it for him which I couldn't even cut it. I almost felt like I was cutting through strings, cause it was so tough. We didn't ask for our money back. We just wanted our waitress to have the chef aware that the steak was extremely tough. They gave us a small discount of approximately $13 off of $55 steak. But when I got my food home and I looked, they took all of our sides and threw them out. My husband barely touched the sides because he was pretty full from the appetizers. They were no mushrooms, mashed potatoes, veggies, and they just threw the steak in a container. Clearly the chef doesn't take criticism very well because he said nobody's ever complained about his steaks so I think he was a bit salty. read more

Classic menu, classic ambience. Some of the paint is pealing off the ceiling, could use a touch-up but otherwise, nice setting with excellent food! read more

Celebrated my friend's rehearsal dinner here and it was amazing! We had the whole upstairs for our party. We probably had 50 guests and sat upstairs comfortably. The staff was very friendly. We had a preset menu and I chose the ribeye as my entree. It was phenomenal! One of the best rehearsal dinner meals I've had. Bonus we opened up the bar area for welcome drinks and the space worked incredibly! Plenty of room and drinks were great. I would recommend planning your next party here! read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

This was our first time. Very pricey but a fabulous experience. They are known for their beef Wellington. I had that with roasted veggies and mashed potatoes. It was all very very good. The potatoes could use a bit more flavor. Warm bread with olive oil and fresh parmigiana are served to the table. The bread pudding is some of the best I have ever had. My husband's steak was cooked to perfection read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - Beef Wellington - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

You aren't going here because of your budget. You are going here to experience a legendary time tested legendary establishment offering one of the best culinary experiences in town. Have been here before, yet not often enough. Someone in our 6 person group mentioned it, such a great idea. Enjoyed it so much it didn't occur to me to get photos. Prime Rib on special Friday night. Has to reflect if I have ever had better...? Can't say for SURE. Was OUTSTANDING. Loved the very perfect creamy horseradish sauce- and perfectly cooked, great thick cut of medium Prime Rib. One of us ordered the Fillet- delicious but was jealous over the beauty of the Prime Rib. Another had the Ribeye, was very pleased. Another had Salmon and assured us all was as great as it looked. All had a drink or two, we decided on a variety of different deserts that yielded smiles all around. Our server was outstanding. She has been there 8 years- another testament to an outstanding, quality local business. Really looking forward to going back again- sooner than later. read more

While in town for work, I found myself hungry and happy to spend some company money on a good meal. I asked the hotel employees what they would recommend in the area, and they pointed me in this direction. It's an older establishment, which to me is usually a good sign. If they can survive this tumultuous industry's twists and turns, they must be great, right?! It's dark and has an old speakeasy feel to it. You almost have to order a martini when you're here. And maybe I should take my own advice because I went with my tried and true Old Fashioned and wow, was I disappointed. I could barely drink it. Honestly, I don't know what was used in it, but it tasted so bitter. Okay, live and learn...now onto the food. My coworker and I each ordered a French Onion Soup; very yummy! But I don't know if any form of French onion soup could be anything but yummy. So that was a win. Then, my coworker ordered a filet minion rare, and I ordered the Beef Wellington, which was advertised everywhere in and around the restaurant as the house specialty. My companion's steak came out and it was far from rare - more like well done. I'm not one to send things back so I tried to talk him out of it, but the table next to us witnessed the whole thing and interjected, stating that he needed to bring the server over and show her. So he did and she was very nice about it, took it back and apologized. Meanwhile, I didn't want to start eating with him just staring at me as he waited for his food. So I waited too, and waited, and waited until I was like, "my food is getting cold and if they are cooking this steak to rare, why is it taking so darn long?" I don't know if it was the time that it sat while I waited for him to get his food back, but the Beef Wellington was dry and completely lacking in flavor. The puff pastry was mushy. It just was not nearly as good as any other Beef Wellingtons I've ever had. My mashed potatoes tasted like they were from a box or some form of instant potato. I hope I'm wrong here because that would be completely disheartening; however, whatever they were, they weren't great in my opinion. Overall, our bill was what you would expect from a nice steakhouse with drinks, appetizers and entrees. However, my experience did not live up to the price tag. Complements to the server, she was very nice and accommodating and that might be my biggest compliment of the place unfortunately. read more

The best meal we had in Springfield. Great service and the bar tender knew what she was doing. I highly recommend this place.

I LOVE eating at Maldaner's restaurant! Everything on the menu is a gastronomical delight! My personal favorite is the salmon dish, but everything is delicious. read more

Best Caesar salad I think I've ever had. My filet of beef was cooked perfectly. My daughter had the halibut special and said it was delicious. My hubby had duck and enjoyed it plus it was a good portion size. My other daughter loved her lamb chops. Fresh warm bread was also lovely. Ambiance and service was great. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we finished just around 9pm. I had the posset for dessert and it was delicious. My daughter and hubby shared the Savannah cake I think it was called. They enjoyed it. Our waitress was terrific. The only downside was the dirty martini. It was just ok. They did have a nice selection or Oregon Pinot noir. read more

We were down in Springfield for a conference, and picked this place kind of on a whim while looking at the menu online. I got the beef Wellington, which was possibly one of the best meals I've ever had. It was prepared to absolute perfection, and melted in your mouth. The crabcakes were incredible, and they even had ice cream Brandy Alexanders for dessert. Combined with the great ambiance and attentive service, it was all-in-all a fantastic experience. Can't wait to go back. read more

The Beef Wellington was perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious! Our server was so attentive, filling water, bringing bread, clearing dishes and bringing drinks! Great place for a leisurely dinner for a date night or catching up with friends! read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - Beef Wellington - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

I really enjoyed my experience here. I'm only in town for two days for a business trip, but I felt as if it were the only restaurant with above 3 stars. The main reason why this place gets 5 stars is the service. Upon entry, the hostess was very gracious. The bartender Freddy provided a hospitable, attentive service. I was the only person at the bar and he effortlessly made conversation with me, I couldn't believe I'd spent almost two hours there. I ordered the French onion soup, CHEFS KISS. I also ordered the mesculin salad with chicken because I was so full from the soup. That was a subpar salad. Could have used more acidity and a whole chicken breast instead of diced chicken. Their other menu items looked incredible, I definitely should have ordered one of the entrees. Definitely not a "young" vibe, which is totally fine. Would return again for the soup and the service :) read more

Solid place. I like old restaurants in old buildings. It's not a particular interesting or attractive building or room - but I like it anyway. I got the filet and it was good - well prepared and thick. Wife wasn't very hungry and just got a salad. Dessert was SUPERB - simple apple crisp, but truly delightful. The ice cream on top (I think made in house) was really great too. I forget what wine I got, but the markup wasn't bad and they got me my bucket of ice to chill it slightly, so I was content. Recommended if you are downtown in Springfield and want a good sit-down meal. read more

One of the top restaurants in town. Food is always perfectly cooked with layers of flavor. Leave room for Dessert. read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - Dessert - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

What a cool restaurant! I love the atmosphere! It's timeless with great dark wood everywhere. Just beautiful! And a beautiful bar as well! The food was delicious! We had a rack of lamb and the Beef Wellington. Both very good! The service was really good too! Save room for the dessert; that bread pudding was awesome! read more

See all

We had a terrific dinner here. We had the Beef Wellington. It was delicious. Loved the bread also. The service was great and the restaurant was very cozy. . I would highly recommend it. read more

Oh wow. Honestly, I was not expecting much, here in the middle of nowhere Illinois, but this was an egregiously terrible experience. Let's go through it! They had two seafood specials which sounded great but tasted like trash. Soft shell crab is delicious unto itself, just asking for a lightly (tempura-style) fry with some seasoning and a light sauce. Instead, you could go for thick taste-less breading, "cajun" butter that has never met spices, and mashed potatoes that haven't met salt. Salt is essentially free, why are we being stingy with it?? Overall, it was edible enough I didn't want to send it back. The halibut cheeks. No. Hard no. Overcooked like it was blitzed in the microwave to FDA-SAFE levels. And the lentils it came with were under cooked and tough at the same time. Genuine terrible combo. I "wised" up and went with something more in their wheelhouse, a ribeye with veggies. If your thick steak has hash marks, it means you are cooking it poorly, and the lack of salt was obvious again. Those green beans had never met salt. Thankfully they weren't cooked to oblivion. But back to the steak, a medium rare steak should have its fat perfectly rendered, instead, we had tough meat and chewy fat. Bleak. I was also asked if I wanted a drink WHILE waiting for a sample of two wines to decide which one I wanted for dinner. That's not good, if anybody is keeping track. So. With dessert, I requested a single malt. The bartender had to come out to clarify which one I wanted (embarrassing). Then they brought it out on the rocks, when I wanted it neat. Then, my neat whiskey was cool & diluted. The bartender claimed twice they poured it neat (to the server and manager), but honestly that makes me wonder who's diluting their Scotch because something was awry. Oh! And I asked for my bill to be split, $X on one card and the rest on another. Instead, the waitress charged $X on one card and the WHOLE amount on the rest. While I waited for the manager (sorry, had to pull that card at some point), I noticed that at every other table, the waiter(ess) poured a portion of their carafe, but I got to do that for myself. Fun? Is the food & drink & service always this terrible? I can't say. What I can say, is that, I would never, ever, step through these doors while anybody currently involved worked here. I still tipped 40% because I know that it might be difficult to hire competent staff during this difficult economic climate. But seriously. Salt is (practically) free. Use it! But also, this wine list is actual trash. Jeez. Edit: I bet the reused the same glass for the Scotch. That would explain the temp & slight dilution. read more

Beautifully authentic, amazing food, great service. Definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. I've gone alone and sat at the bar with a book and I've taken business associates out for a nice working dinner. read more

Maldaner's is a decent, cozy place that is on the pricier side. Food options are limited and it is a good place to go for on a date. If you are looking for a quiet place for dinner that is a little more intimate, this place is for you. The tables are also on the smaller side, so be prepared to be packed tightly if you go in a big group of more than 4 people. Our waitress was okay at best. While she did a good job recommending some dishes, she did have a bit of attitude and seemed a little standoff-ish. We never got water refills and she seemed to be visibly upset when we decided to not get any dessert. Food-wise, I would argue that it is good, but pricey, depending on what you get. The French Onion soup is delicious! So is the porkchop dinner that comes with mashed potatoes and mini green beans, with an apple gravy. I would NOT recommend that crab cakes. While those were cooked perfectly, the sauce they were served with was not all that. Overall, this place is a bit overhyped for a regular sit-down dinner. read more

Great food selections and creative cuisine. Try the seasonal specials for an excellent dining experience. Save room for desserts like the Queen of Sheba flourless chocolate cake. Chef will create vegan dishes on request. Spend time exploring Specialty dishes and enjoy the new ones. read more

Had a spectacular dinner here this weekend. Steaks and fish special were amazing and their pasta with bolognese sauce was super good (not a huge serving, but just right for me!). Service was very good - very attentive but never pushy. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, the cocktails, the service and the vibe. Great historic venue with excellent food! read more

The place looks nice and old traditional. The food was under seasoned and done OK. I had the French onion soup, which was nicely flavored with sherry and the cheese was gooey and good. The lamb was surprisingly under seasoned and a bit too cheesy from the parmesan crust. The mashed potatoes tasted like they came out of a box - and the side of arugula -who thinks that just a mound of plain arugula is an acceptable side dish? Nothing wrong with arugula but no dressing or other seasoning. My husband had the pork chop which was very good, however, the vegetable sides were again unseasoned and underdone. The Tuscan bean soup wasn't much better. To make matters worse, the salt and pepper shakers on the table didn't work because both of them were caked solid and blocked. I kept looking for the waiter to stop by the table to ask for working S&P shakers but they didn't show. So I just kept hitting the salt shaker on the side of the table to try and free up the salt. You would think an attentive staff might have noticed this. The top opening was too narrow to try and stick a utensil in to try and free up the salt. I was going to get up and try other shakers on other tables but thought - this isn't my job. The kitchen needs to rethink the seasoning especially for the side vegetables, they also could remind the waiters to pay attention to the tables in the first 10 minutes of when the food comes out. Our waiter was pleasant enough but obviously was working other areas. A white tablecloth place like this should be able to do better. I can't recommend it based on this visit given the price point we expected much better. read more

Summary: This has to be one of the best restaurants I've ever had. The French onion soup & Duck Confit we're absolutely to die for. One of the best meals I have ever had! Parking: na -we walked from the double tree hotel Service: 10/10 - from calling and allowing us to make a phone reservation from the airport and the hostess being so kind & understanding to our amazing waitress crystal!! Pricing: $$ great prices here with quality ingredients and flavors. All local grown food and made in the best way possible Trend level: so authentic and quaint here. Simply one of the best restaurants Springfield has to offer Waitress: Crystal - 100% spot on with recommendations & service read more

See all

Wonderful I got crab cakes that were just perfect. Cocktails are scrumptious too! And the decor is old and classy. Nice...

Beef Wellington... average at best. I think a little overrated. Staff ok. I really prefer less involved staff. quiet, but there when you need them. read more