Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, LLC (417)252-2117 1208 E Main off Hwy 60 in Willow Springs Mo is worth the stop.  Friendly staff, great food and the best leftover containers I’ve ever received from a restaurant.  The Reuben was delicious and so big I had to take half home, same with the burger my husband had.  Their happy hour looks fun with drinks like Stump Water, High Faultin, and Rattlesnake Rita; I recommend taking a look if you are ever in the Eastern Ozarks.  They also have a location in Mountain Grove on the square. 

Curly Que BBQ, 507 E. Maupin Bolivar Mo (417)777-0004 curlyquecatering.com  is tucked back down a small hill off Springfield Ave as you travel through Bolivar.  They offer catering and are very popular for their ribs.  If you want a side or two of ribs, it’s recommended you call ahead and pre order.  The staff is super friendly and the restaurant is clean and well decorated.  I love, love, love coleslaw on my BBQ sandwiches and theirs was tasty with my pulled pork sandwich with drink for only $8 (prices subject to change).

Donut Palace 1022 W. US Hwy 54 Camdenton Mo (573)346-8377 was a short, unplanned drive thru stop as my husband and I headed to Eldon Mo.  They had a great selection of donuts and breakfast sandwiches.  One of my friends really likes the biscuits and gravy they serve at their Buffalo location at 204 N. Ash St.  Worth a stop if you’re headed up to any of our famous lakes for the day.

Market House Café and Bake Shop 113 N. 2^nd St. Ozark Mo (417)551-4370 is a cute breakfast and lunch café located on the square in Ozark.  Their cake was awesome and their dessert case looked even better.  They don’t have a website that I could access but their Facebook page was informative especially with their hours of operation.  If you are headed down to Branson, check this place out before 2 p.m.

Lindbergs 318 W. Commercial Springfield Mo (417)868-8900 www.lindbergsbar.com has an excellent bar food menu.  The oldest tavern in Springfield boasts a beautiful original oak and mahogany carved bar.  There are lots of stories about Lindberg’s as it has been around for a long time.  Try the Patty Melt with the special sauce for the fries.  You won’t be disappointed.  Lindberg’s does have a very active music scene if you are looking for more than food, check out their website for the weekly entertainment.  There is a cover charge on some nights and that will be posted as well.

Amore Pizza Kitchen 5492 Hwy H Pleasant Hope Mo (417)267-0147 amorepizzakitchen.com has a very good sandwich selection and I really enjoyed their chicken parmesan sandwich.  We had a hand tossed pizza and side salad this week and I really like their sauce and Italian sausage.  The price was excellent for the pizza and the side salad.  They are open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.  I would definitely call ahead and have my order ready to pick up on my way home from work in Springfield.  Ordering online was easy and you can pay inside.

The Catfish Café 1210 S. Ash Buffalo Mo (417)345-1277 features an all American menu and excellent cobbler with ice cream.  The catfish was good sized and the portions were perfect for the price.  They do a brisk take out business as well and they are generally crowded for dinner whenever I have been there.  Midafternoon is quieter but they are only open until 2 p.m. on Sunday.  Their Facebook page lists their menu, but everything is reasonably priced and delicious.  Check them out on your way up to Pomme de Terre or Lake of the Ozarks soon.

The Healthy Edge located in Kickapoo Corners at 3604 S. Campbell Springfield Mo (417)501-8188 is like no other restaurant on this list.  Their website: https://the-healthy-edge.business.site lists all their current flavors for protein shakes and teas and their Facebook page also gives special flavors like this month’s Shamrock Oreo.  They specialize in meal replacement shakes and teas that give a great pick me up after any workout.  The counter folks make great suggestions if you can let them know what you are after, for example: recovery after a long hike.  Check them out and remember you’re replacing a meal.  Trust me, I have eaten then gotten a shake and it was a mistake!

Carriage House Family Restaurant 1537 N. Glenstone in Springfield Mo (417)720-4487 https://www.springfieldcarriagehouse.com  is our favorite breakfast restaurant.  Located in an older building on Springfield’s north side, it caters to blue collar folks looking for hearty meals at good prices.   They serve breakfast any time.  My husband loves their gyro meat when they’ve got the good chunky stuff in stock.  I love the skillets and I’d eat any one of them on any day.  The wait staff is fun and will take good care of you.  It can get busy on weekend mornings so get there early or wait until a little later in the day to go.  They’ve always got a few specials on the board and their desserts look amazing.  I’m generally too full to order dessert there-ever and my waitress knows to bring me a box as soon as I order my breakfast.

The last year has been especially hard on our local restaurant friends in the Ozarks.  We can all help out by supporting our local eateries and looking for new places to love, so get out there!

Check out the Facebook page How to do the Ozarks and Instagram htdto2020 for more pictures and places to visit!