The food is simple, but they add their own flair They also have friendly knowledgeable staff. Many items are made in-house versus having it brought in Two particular favorites are the sausage links and the jalapeno sourdough bread. And the chili , you can't forget the chili. read more

We live in Los Angeles but I come back to see family. We always visit-especially for delectable desserts and the welcoming service and atmosphere. read more

Best fried fish in Springfield. Breading was not salty, with the right amount of crunch. They make small batches of breading, spices for chili and smoked meats. They were sold out of homemade pies, maybe next time! Friendly service and homey atmosphere. read more

Great atmosphere and excellent service! Dawn was very kind and helpful and the food was excellent. Eggs over medium came out perfectly and the Mean Green Chili was perfect! read more

Cook's Spice Rack & Chili - Donna 's Mean Green Chili - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

A Springfield classic! Can never go wrong with a cup of chili and tamale on a cold day. Staff and service are great!

Wonder place to eat! Food is great! I love their chilli! Great breakfast food also! This is a small old house so you're eating close together. They get you in and out pretty quick! Dodi is the host and she is very nice! read more

Food and service was incredible, I highly recommend the breakfast. The egg shoe stole the show!! read more

Cook's Spice Rack & Chili - Egg shoe!! - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Very homey vibe. Nice ambiance and large portions. I love getting the family dinner meals when they have them.

The food is really good, the building is unique and offers smaller rooms that make the environment seem more intimate. The staff is always very nice. read more

I have been here for breakfast lunch and dinner and have never been let down. Awesome chili of all types, and breakfast you will have trouble finishing before you are full. The owner and staff are some of the nicest people around. If in the area I'd definitely recommend stopping by! read more

I'm sure that the very old-fashioned, bland food that we encountered here is very popular with its regular customers, who seem to be on the elderly side. However, we found it disappointing. The "mean green" chili and black bean cake were less spicy than my mother's attempts at similar food in 1959 in Missouri. This was particularly surprising in that posters and memorabilia hinted that someone associated with the restaurant once competed in or at least attended the great Terlingua Chili Cookoff. If you don't mind under seasoned food, you will find good service and nice people there. That wasn't enough for us, but it might be for you. read more

5 star atmosphere and decor, 3 star food and 1 star service. Half the table got their food after a 1/2 hour and two of us took another 15 minutes not acceptable. Out of pecans for waffles. Eggs not cooked properly for over medium. Waffle with walnuts was ok. Also ketchup and jelly has high fructose corn syrup that causes cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. read more

See all

I'm having difficulty trying to find something positive about the place so this will be short. Quite possibly the slowestmost unprofessional restaurant I've ever visited ( and I'm old). I'm sure a lot of people like this place but can't figure out why. read more

Glad it is wheelchair accessible. They have a ramp and a big bathroom. Pretty spacious inside with good sized tables. Shared 1/2 an egg shoe, 1/2 biscuit and gravy, cup of DonnIa's mean green chili, and cup of the red chili. Liked everything. The chili were more like soup with a lot of beans. Not thick. The red was sweeter but I liked how savory and meaty my green chili was. My sister liked the red better. Affordable prices. I'd come back. read more

See all

I'm at a loss as to why I'm the first one to review this place. I came here absolutely starving and left so full and satisfied that I wanted to wait until I was hungry again. It's a small place, it's a house that was converted to a restaurant/store so it seems like you're eating in someone's house. They have four varieties of chili that all sound good but I only had the 'greasy' chili, which it was but was also delicious. Our group split an order of the chili cheese nacho fries and it's the best order of loaded fries I've had and I'm going ahead and adding the word 'ever' at the end of that phrase. On the way out I snagged a cranberry chocolate chip cookie and the mix of cranberry and chocolate was blissful. I can't bad mouth the service either, maybe I'm not used to having friendly servers up north but our waitress was friendly and funny. It was as if we were eating at someone's house and she was the hostess with the mostess. Truly, a great place to go to for a good, made-to-order lunch. read more

Amazing food! I ordered roast beef, buffalo chicken and omelette for me and my parents respectively. Loved every bit and it just was for $22. Definitely recommended read more

Cook's Spice Rack & Chili - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Service, food and atmosphere are all below average. Not only were we ignored (other tables got service) but our food was delivered cold. Cold eggs. Cold bacon. Bacon was not cooked to request. Don't bother asking how I want my bacon cooked if you're not going to do it. They did bring new bacon. It's decorated I guess in a southwest theme? Lots of cowboy boots but also boats. Everything is shoddy shape - ripped tablecloths, chair cushions. Tables are crammed together so if anyone sits in a chair they block pathways. It's a huge fire hazard. read more

This is a good place for chili beans and fried fish, Donna the "Owner" she is very adorable and sweet, let's get to the food, I love their Greasy Pot w/ Black Beans, if feel eating chili beans this is highly recommended but according to Donna all their chili beans are excellent and I agree to that.... Their beans will go very well for a plate of fried blue gill, crapie or walleye, I'm not really a walleye fun but their crapie is excellent and blue gill and if you are wondering about the price, Oh... it's excellent specially with the bad economy they still keep their reasonable pricing for $20.00 you'll have 2 bowl of chili beans, an Eat all you can Crapie or Walleye plus a soda for two person, it's a complete meal for party of two, isn't it excellent... So if you have check out the place, I suggest to give it a try. read more

Absolutely a winner in my travels. I ordered a Bluegill entree (Bluegill delivered from Canadian source) which was excellent both in texture and in taste. I had not eaten Bluegill since my high school days and the flavor brought back fishing memories from Kent, OH in the 1950's. Our server was very proficient at a noontime period when every table was full. Our party of 5 adults and 2 kids were given two tables. All the food orders were delivered correctly, were still hot and not delayed by the noontime rush. The restaurants has several rooms and the noontime crowd is somewhat noisy and plenty of folks moving around the tables. However, in my opinion, the full house did not detract from our eating experience. As we stopped to pay our bill (my brother-in-law picked up the bill) the restaurant owner was at the cash register. She took time to answer our questions about Bluegill rarely found available at any restaurant and how did this location have a fish that is regarded as a Game Fish in Ohio. She said the fish are caught in Canada and delivered fresh to this restaurant which makes them a legal, eatable fish in an Ohio restaurant. In my opinion, Bluegill have a very unique taste and surpass many other fish with bland flavors used in sandwiches. We topped off our Marblehead visit with a stop at the Lighthouse just down the street. read more

Cook's Spice Rack & Chili - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Great little place for soup/chili and sandwiches. They also do smoked meats daily, but haven't tried that yet. Chili made your way - choose the style, type of beans and spice. Great little locally owned spot! Great for lunch on a cold or rainy day! read more

"Freedom Toast" (aka French toast) was great...real blueberries rather than blueberry goop. The veg omelette was also delicious with very fresh ingredients. The sausage links were also above average. The coffee was blah. read more

Cook's Spice Rack & Chili - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

After weathering the storm of COVID shut down they have reopened with a remodeled interior and what appears to be their classic menu. I was there in the midafternoon of Good Friday to enjoy the walleye plate. I was very well prepared and complemented with coleslaw and I substituted a fresh fruit bowl rather than the french fries. The remodeling has raised the comfort level. The wait staff and owner made sure I glad a good experience. Who needs Applebee's? read more

First impressions...love the small quaint feel if the restaurant in a house. The Devore is a mix of hot peppers, Native American and the American west. So, Terlingua Red, Black, Greasy Pot and the Green chili were all fantastic!!! Gray flavor, good combo of ingredients that provide a flavor that just keeps the spoon going. In addition, the grill cheese was excellent with several options for homemade bread to choose from!! The marble rye patty melt did just that...melted in your mouth!! The service was awesome, with one if owners giving a sample of one of the holos to taste! Awesome!!! All in all, great food at a great price !! read more

Had this on my list of places to try - and i was up at lincoln's tomb! I got the tri tip end and a side salad to go - and omg! Chef/Owner helped me decide what to get - i wanted to know what the meat came with - and he said what it was and it was a ton, but said i could also do ala-cart! Win win! Very sweet and friendly man. Amazing menu, so many things look great! I want to eat it all! Definitely a cozy place, friendly staff! Can't wait to enjoy another meal soon!! read more

The chili is pretty decent, but the smoked meats are, as has been said in other reviews, fatty, flavorless, and overpriced for it's quality. The server also carefully watched the pay screen to see what we were going to tip while we did so. I find this quite rude. All in all, it's not a horrible place, but nothing special, and I don't picture myself going back. read more

Fairly healthy chili alternatives are offered. Plus greasy chili if you want. read more

See all

Six variety of chilis including a very tasty and perfectly spiced vegetarian. We both loved it. I also had Spinach Salad made from a large portion of tasty fresh baby spinach leaves, eggs, bacon, onions, tomatoes. Didn't know it was so much or I would have got a cup instead of a bowl of chili. My wife had Black Pot chili, almost a stew with black beans and green peppers, not tomatoey like traditional chili, and a good chicken salad sandwich on tasty homemade whole wheat bread. Very eclectic decor! Check it out! read more

Cook's Spice Rack & Chili - Eclectic decor. - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Every time we come here order breakfast, we love their bfast. Especially the breakfast burrito. They have awesome homemade bread too. I have not been here for lunch but have heard good things. Only downside would be service, a little slow at times. Depends on how busy they are. read more

I love that this place opens up early! Getting off early in the morning after a long night at work and a hot cup of coffee and warm delicious breakfast is nothing to complain about. The small place is great. Try the wheat toast! AMAZING read more

This was our first time at Cook's. The restaurant atmosphere is a bit quirky. The food was EXCELLENT! The service was fantastic! The homemade biscuits are a must-have! I'll definitely be back! I think this is my new favorite breakfast place!! read more

Old, reworked house with tchotchkes, doo dads, gee-gaws and funny signs, etc. on every vertical surface. Huge menu, with breakfast served all day. I am visiting Springfiled for a couple weeks for work and have eaten there for lunch and breakfast, and plan to get another meal in before I leave at this week's end. I ordered the White chili and half an egg salad sandwich for lunch - the chili Blanco was a surprise as it is more like a bean, hominy, vegetable soup (thin broth), but was DELICIOUS and fresh tasting. Egg salad on toasted marbele rye was also quite good, although egg salad was a bit sweet for me preference, the bread was hearty and spot on. Other diners tried the pony shoe - as it is a Springfield "tradition" and while they said it wasnt bad, didn't rave about it. Plus, as an aside - when was the last time you went to a reastaurant that had a sign stating "Their Back - Bluegill and Frog Legs" ? Solid little, locally owned diner. Go and enjoy! read more

Everything we ordered was fabulous! We sampled three different homemade breads as grilled cheese: rye, sourdough, and jalapeno. Also sampled two different chilis: greasy pot and Donna's mean green. All were solid choices and you can really tell it's homemade with care. read more

Quiet little spot on a busy street. Menu is filled with lots of wonderful choices. From burgers and steaks, to breakfast food.

Breakfast is what this place does best. Lunch and dinner can leave a lot to be desired and cause sticker shock at the register. We regularly drive past this place to go to other restaurants we like a lot better. read more

Difficult parking, had to park a block over and walk. Busy on sundays. Lots of locals and regulars. Kind staff, very welcoming. Food was typical diner fare but the perk of 6 different chilis. Was stoked to find a vegetarian chili- and it was pretty good! Kids had hot dogs which were all beef, they said the fries were good. Husband said his burger was pretty good, probably not a frozen patty. Prices were great. With tip our family of 4 with 4 drinks was $32. It's nothing outrageously amazing, but I'd totally go back . read more

Slow slow service. I ate my face before my food arrived, which was biscuits and gravy - basically something that should be ready in 2 minutes flat. After I got it, I was so hungry I could have eaten a grown man's ass so judging taste was irrelevant. Oh, and the I-hate-liberals table decorations should probably go. read more

Sorry that I have to break the mold on this one. Despite all of the signs that said things like "Farm Fresh Eggs" I have to beg to differ. Those eggs were straight out of the 99 cent aisle at Walmart. You know, the kind that come in the styrofoam container. Also, I know that they are proud to represent soldiers but the Native American motif and the chili pepper overload made for a confusing interior. Not to mention the pro-gun magazines on the way out. Yes, I like breakfast and all, but served with a heaping of ideology - save it for a more appropriate place. The biscuits were definitely not homemade. I'm fine with pre-made everything - but don't call yourself "cooks" call yourself "heats" read more

Great breakfast! Awesome chili as well. The service is great, you will most likely be waited on by the owner herself. This is one of those places that 8 years ago renamed their French toast and French fries freedom toast and freedom fries (soak it in). Probably the biggest plus for me, is their shared obsession with things spicy. I can always purchase a rare or extreme hot bottle of hot sauce. Head over on a hungover Sunday and get those hash browns well-done! read more

We go here all the time for breakfast. Their food is wonderful, especially the egg shoe. They offer homemade bread for breakfast, too, which is amazing. We've gone to family night on Sunday evenings twice and there is a nice choice on the menu. Tonight we had turkey and spare ribs which were both really good. It was served with mashed potatoes, homemade mac & cheese, seasoned green beans, corn, beets, and salad. With the exception of the meat entree it was all you can eat. It is served family style. The service was exceptional as it always is. I have never had a bad meal here and will continue to patronize this restaurant. read more

Great atmosphere, great food and friendly staff. They know their customers and treat them well. The brisket was smoky and delicious everyone left full and happy. Highly recommended. read more