This is one of the oldest restaurants in the state of Illinois, and the oldest in Springfield. This place is another opportunity to experience the history of Springfield. Maldaner's is consistently one of the best restaurants in Downtown Springfield. The chef shops at the local farmer's market and uses many local products on his menu. Their Beef Wellington is hands down my favorite meal in Springfield. The steak is covered in a delicious pastry crust and always perfectly cooked. They also have an affordable lunch menu including excellent daily specials. The service is always professional and prompt. On top of all of this, Maldaner's is a green business using rooftop solar panels, garden, and bee hives. read more

Ate at Maldaner's this weekend on our first ever visit to Springfield. Luckily we had made a reservation 'cause this place was packed with plenty of people willing to wait. Pretty impressive considering it has been in business since 1886. The atmosphere at Maldaner's feels deep and rich. Just the sort of place you could easily imagine that statesmen and lobbyists would sit over a long dinner with drinks and debate the issues of the day. I don't think that they even make places like this anymore. The menu also reads like it is from another era, with items like beef wellington and seared calves liver. But don't let that fool you, the classic items on the menu are made to perfection and up to date in their flavor profiles. We had one order of the beef wellington and one order of rack of lamb. My husband and I split the orders. I can happily report that both items were fantastic. The homemade lamb sausage served with the rack of lamb was a great addition to the dish and delicious and a bit spicy. For dessert we spit an order of the chocolate banana cream pie, a house specialty, I think. What a surprise! It did not come in the form a pie but a neat round form, all banany and creamy with chocolate center. The second best I have ever had! The service good and we have no complaints what so ever. This is a place I feel I need to share with friends! Hope I have the opportunity to go back sometime. read more

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

Welp, it's Springfield. Ponyshoe and a side salad were a good lunch. Ponyshoe was really covered in cheese sauce abd fries, but meat was nicely seasoned. Salmon salad requested medium rare came out more well, but it was a decent piece of salmon, and the noodles and greens were nice. Salmon or pistachios and the sauce holding the pistachios on were pretty salty. Server was excellent, didn't make us wait but didn't rush us, and was very accommodating and prompt with drink refills. Lost a star because of the rude hostess--perhaps it was because we didn't look biz cas like most of the other people, but it's Springfield, for Pete's sake, and I'm not working, so I'll look casual and eat where I want, and, if that was the issue, I don't expected to be snubbed for it. read more

Springfield, IL is the culinary gem of Illinois........is what I would like to say. Unfortunately it is not. However, Maldaner's is the exception. The atmosphere is standard, but charming. White table cloths (rare in Springfield), decent wine selection, and friendly service. I had the beef wellington, which was well prepared and flavorful, as well as the chocolate sundae which was the perfect dessert. In downtown Springfield you will not find a restaurant that pays more attention to detail when it comes to delivering delicious food. I can see this place getting a B on its midterms in Chicago, but thankfully its in Springfield, among the underachieving restaurants, where it will forever be on the honor roll.....(?) read more

My family has been going to Maldaner's for years. Michael is a excellent chef and will accommodate most diets. They have a good selection of vegetarian food. Try their hearty white bean minestrone soup. Salads are superb. Service is also excellent. Owner is not just about money,but beautifying Springfield. read more

Stepping into Maldaner's is like stepping back in time. In fact, most of downtown Springfield is from time long gone. In that time, a stop at Maldaner's must have been much like it is today. Housed in an old building with an awning above the door, Maldaner's is just a block away from other historical attractions. Upon stepping inside, you turn left through an old wood and glass door and are greeted by an old timey wood bar, a dimly lit dining room, and even old pressed tin ceilings. Service was solid, but not fast. Years ago meal time must have been a sojourn in the midst of a long day. Likewise, there is no reason to rush once you step across the threshold of Maldaner's. I don't often see Beef Wellington on the menu, so I chose to indulge. It arrived played comfortably atop a homey pile of mashed potatoes. The filet, encased in its blanket of pastry, was halved and ready for me. While this wasn't the best steak of my trip, this was a proper and lovely Wellington. I dove in and had no trouble finishing it off. Washing it down with a glass of cab made it that much better. Dining alone, even in a time warp, can be tiresome. In the interest of heading back for the hotel but also indulging, I asked for the bread pudding to go. What a surprise I had when I got to my room. This was a simple yet elegant, old style bread pudding with actual slice of bread laying gently on the top. There were no nuts or fruit. None revere needed. The simple bread, custard-like texture, and warm spices made this a treat worth the splurge. As I write this, I am sitting in an airport, very much grounded in today. However, memories of relaxing in a time past, sitting and enjoying a comfortable meal at Maldaner's, will follow me home. read more

I was at Maldaner's for a wedding reception - we were upstairs where they have an open room with a hardwood floor and a bar in it - adjacent to that is a longer room that makes the combined rooms into an "L". Most of the tables were located in the long room. This was an appetizer wedding - not a dinner - those were served in a mid-sized room across from the room the bar was in. The food service was well kept and maintained. I didn't really order much to drink, but the party overall did (there were about 150 people) and I will tell you that from what I observed, the bartender worked his duff off. It was a nice place for such an occasion. The only reason I'm giving the place four stars rather than five is because the main room where the bar is located was really pretty warm. What was odd about that was it was the only room with a high ceiling and if the properties of physics are aligned, all that warmth should have been high near the ceiling. Many of us sat or went back to the longer room with the low ceiling as it was much cooler there. Other than the thermostat issue - a great place for a party. read more

We wanted a nice lunch - We noticed white tablecloths and figured that it would be a good spot. The decor is nice - that old vibe feeling - and it was neat that the restaurant has been opened more than 100 years in the same spot. The service was excellent - always bringing refills of diet coke. For the adventurous you can try Springfield's horseshoe (or the smaller ponyshoe) sandwhich - it is open faced burger (or any meat choice), topped with french fries, and then their beer-cheddar sauce. Just hearing the description, my Heart was pleading with me not to do it to myself. Instead, I ordered their cheeseburger and my boyfriend got the club sandwich (which was HUGE and the veggies were fresh). Both were very good and I was impressed with the homemade chips. Plus, it was a cheap lunch (under $30 w/ a very good tip) but SO tasty. read more

Go get this Beef Wellington right now....I'll wait for you so we can compare this mouthwatering treat they do so well :-) I've been patronizing Maldaner's for years. A few things keep bringing me back... 1. A well know Springfield restaurant that is locally owned. 2. Pretty good service. 3. Nice menu w/ different choices than you find from the "normal". I appreciate that. I like the environment, locally owned, good service, unique menu, and food has been very good. Give it a try! read more

This was our first stop after arriving to Springfield for a work conference and I had an awesome mushroom pasta, full of mushrooms and they give you just enough, I had no leftovers, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Krystle, our server seemed a little distant, but she was polite and I did she her crack a smile a few times. You also get OpenTable points!!! read more

If I told you it was the best meal in Springfield, it's the truth. I love all the organic, farm to table dishes on this menu. The wine list has Californian wines and the bartender makes negroni's and tasty manhattans. read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - Wonderful evening. We had to pate, French onion soup, and a beautiful swordfish. - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

By far the best restaurant in Springfield. We were lucky enough to grab the last outdoor table on a Friday night without reservation. The service was impeccable without being overwhelming. The place is not cheap: $16 to $30 for an entree but it's absolutely worth it based on the quality of food being served. Wines by the glass are in the $7 to $14 but portions are generous: a quartino or 250 mL or 8 fl. Oz if I'm not mistaken. This was my lucky night: fish special was halibut and it was really outstanding. Well cooked, flaky, flavorful served on a bed of ratatouille and mashed potatoes that were also excellent. To top it all the dessert of the night was pana cotta, another one of my favorites served with raspberries. Absolutely not deceiving. Overall experience: perfect! read more

Very delicious food and excellent service. Would highly recommend for a date night. Came here for a NYE dinner, party of 2. read more

Maldaner's Restaurant - Ribeye Steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables - American Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

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Great place in the middle of Springfield- totally unexpected quality of food and service. Very dedicated to hitting the high notes and doing things differently in a good way - being creative and making the best of what they have to work with. Impressive and worthy of going if you're in Springfield and need a place to have an old school quality paired with a modern atmosphere and service experience. Which is the weird desire space that I live in :). read more

Where can we just rate horrible service? because the food was delicious, specials were seasonal, and cocktails/wine list on point. But holy cow it took FOREVER to find our server. We saw tables be seated, order drinks appetizers and entrees before we got anything besides a cocktail and a piece of bread. Bottom line.....don't come famished, you may die waiting for your food. But if you're feeling leisurely (like 2+ hours, no joke) come on down to Maldaners! read more

Great spot in a great spot. It's a short walk from the Lincoln museum and library to here. Great old building and tables with cloth tablecloths. I had to get a horseshoe (with a burger). The meat was done very nicely, huge portion! One son had a penne pasta, which was also huge. Parents and my other son had personal pizzas, which they all raved about. Nice little homemade crust with fresh ingredients. Economical as well. Highly recommended! read more

Great food, great atmosphere, great service. I enjoyed the salmon salad and my colleague enjoyed the smoked trout plate. I can't wait to come back for dinner! read more

Starting this review as we wait for our food... our experience has not been stellar. The host wasn't cognizant of our arrival, not bothering to ask who had arrived first, in the vestibule. Had I known being polite wasn't expected, we would have chosen our table (the exact one they chose) and started our experience just a few minutes earlier. After being seated, being asked what we wanted to drink was the next delay. It was announced the person taking our drink order was not our waiter. But, drinks arrived and we had plenty (and I do mean, PLENTY) of time to peruse the lunch menu. This is not an extensive menu, by any stretch. We decided what we wanted and waited.... and waited... and waited... we had been in the restaurant for 15 minutes before we placed a food order. Now, ordinarily, if it were busy, I'd be more forgiving. This was AFTER the lunch hour and the restaurant did not look overly busy. The staff however, did look very inefficient and rather harried. We were asked if we'd had our order taken yet ("nope, a roast beef with fries and chicken salad with chips, please."), and then we thought we were done with the exorbitant waiting. We were wrong. Nearly 35 minutes after placing our order and 3 "it'll be out soon" statements, our food arrived. The ladies at the table next to us felt so badly, they wanted to share their 2 serving of bread with us (we'd been offered none). The food was NOT worth the wait, it was ordinary. Although, the helping of roast beef was substantial and tender. That's the absolute most that can be complimented. As out of towners, we prefer to eat where the locals do. This time, not s great choice. You may want to consider somewhere else.. PS: the wait staff could not locate management... odd. read more

Whatever you do, don't go underdressed. You'll ruin your own night being self-conscious. Went in late May of last year (yes, I know I'm late) for our anniversary dinner. Most definitely did not dress up quite enough. Everyone was very suit & tie/dress...khaki pants felt so out of place. Don't make the same mistake. That being said, our waitstaff was professional and superb. Not only because she never made us feel awkward for being clearly underdressed, but because I didn't feel like I was in a Springfield restaurant anymore. I felt like I was in a real restaurant, in a bigger city. Good work, Maldaner's. We shared a bisque with caviar, which had great flavor. Olive appetizer was nice, though they weren't pitted. I get that whole olives are more "upscale" but there's something weird about picking olive pits out of your mouth in a nice restaurant that feels wrong. I had the beef wellington, as is so often suggested. The reason was clear as soon as I took my first bite. They clearly know what they're doing. Girlfriend had salmon and it was cooked perfectly, which has been difficult to get in Springfield. No complaints from either one of us re: service or food. The only drawback in my opinion is that it could really use a facelift inside. read more

After living in Springfield for 13 years, Maldaner's was one of the few restaurants I'd never been to. I'd always been told that it was super-upscale and crazy-expensive. Well, I'll tell ya... Upscale? You bet. Excellently upscale menu, bar and service, but the place has the feel of an old, family restaurant that has been there for ages. Very cozy. As for the price, I've paid as much if not more for meals at Pao, Indigo or Ross Isaac. So for a great meal and dining experience, don't be frightened off by the hype of Maldaner's prices. I look forward to going back before long. read more

Springfield is in trouble if this rates as one of the best restaurants in town. Several colleagues and I had an incredibly lackluster lunch here. Service was friendly and attentive, but all of our dishes arrived with something wrong. Lunch salads were nothing more than a large pile of lettuce peppered by one or two other ingredients. The white bean minestrone was more like a stew. Other dishes at the table were equally as uninspired. read more

My mother and I ate dinner here tonight and loved it! My only two complaints are 1) I only had time to eat here once this trip, and 2) I don't live close enough to be a regular! The food was amazing, the atmosphere classy but relaxed, the waitstaff was extremely friendly and attentive, and the portions and quality of the food was outstanding. We got there around 6pm (on a Saturday); not too many people at that time but it was packed by 7. The experience started out well with our waiter (tall guy). He was great; one concern I had was that the place would be snobby (given the prices...) but he was very attentive and his recommendations were execelt. We stayed for two hours total and never once did I feel like we were being push to level to free up the table. We started out with the special appetizer: Duck Confit ($10) - it was served with sweet potatoes and a cranberry reduction; very tasty and creative. My mom ordered the Seared Tuna Loin - outstanding! The plate was covered in tuna and it was cooked perfectly. The tartare was nice, not overly spicy but it added a great flavor; the seaweed and greens were also a great compliment to the tuna. I took a few bites - I definitely want to come back for this dish! I ordered the Beef Wellington and it was melt in your mouth tender. The veggies were nice -simple- and the mashed potatoes were very flavorful without overpowering the meat. Overall really great dinner choice - I understand why it's their specialty! For desert we were between several choices and asked the waiter what the most popular choice was, without hesitation he said the Queen of Sheba. Seriously, they need should have an option to purchase a Queen of Sheba cake. If you love chocolate - get this! If you think you might be too full to order desert after dinner, get this before! It's outstanding! Rich, velvety, delicious. I also ordered a glass of wine; reasonably priced and a large serving. Nice. The bread was also amazing and endless -we devoured three and a half baskets.... the olive oil and cheese were also wonderful. Overall, a wonderful relaxed dining experience. Attire can be casual (many people were in jeans but you won't be uncomfortable in more formal clothing). Prices are also very reasonable given the quality and quantity of the food. The only real downside is that they are closed on Sundays (is there a law in Springfield which prevents restaurants from operating on Sunday?!?!). I'm looking forward to visiting Springfield again and coming back for dinner and stopping in for lunch. read more

It took them an hour to tell us that they had lost our ticket. They promised us dessert for an inconvenience but there was three of us and they gave us one dessert. read more

Adequate historic restaurant, with dark wood and such. Service was good, food was good - nothing Great. I felt like the prices reflected the setting, rather than quality of the food. read more

I'm pretty impressed. Springfield isn't really a restaurant town (in my opinion) and this place is an easy stand-out. We ordered the potato crusted walleye, pistachio crusted salmon and for our kids we had them split a dish called lasagna noodles but had them make it with penne pasta instead. Everything was excellent with the exception of our appetizer. It was supposed to be fresh artichoke hearts with a garlic aoli but the artichokes tasted like refrigerator and the aoli was way too bland. We had a bite and didn't finish it. read more

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The ambience is somewhat upscale although you don't need to dress up. The building shows its age a little. The restroom is up a steep flight of stairs, clean, but not fancy. Clientele was mostly older folk. The greeter was the most polite person I met in recent memory. Service was friendly but very slow. Goat cheese salad was perfectly dressed and the cheese itself was mild but flavorful. The quail was perfectly cooked, very juicy. The pork chop was large and had the right amount of fat on it. The gooseberry sauce went very well with it. Creme Brulee was also spot on. This with a bottle of Malbec came to less than $100. One star off due slow service and somewhat unimaginative menu. read more

Success with food allergy! Old-fashioned restaurants like this aren't always a good match for someone with a food allergy. But the staff was well aware of food allergies (ours is dairy), how to not cross-contaminate, and patient and careful with our order. Downtown Springfield location, was open (and half-full) on a very quiet August day for lunch. read more

My husband and I were traveling to the Land of Lincoln, visiting Chicago and Springfield. Maldaner's was an exception restaurant with superb service and entrees. We went there based on former reviews, and we are happy to say it was as good as any five star restaurant we visited elsewhere. It is a must to visit when traveling to Springfield. read more

Maldaner's is fantastic food, with beautiful ambience, anIved a varied menu. The service is not top notch as they often talk at the hostess desk and servers are not often visible. I've never had enough to complain about...just been slightly irritated. I still highly recommend! read more

Service was slow and meal tempo was off. Sitting way too long between courses and initial greeting. Ordered beef Wellington and it was only okay. Was hoping for something more after being described as their signature dish. A little bland. Wine list is decent and okay atmosphere. read more

Our family gathered for a baby shower in one of their party rooms. Steve and his crew were amazing. We had food served buffet style it was hot and delicious. They took care of our family very well. I would highly recommend this place!! read more

Wow, singularly bad experience. Frazzled hostess, new bartender, inexperienced waitress and exceptional busboys. We received the wrong drinks and entree in a painful 2 hour dining experience. Get it together or don't take as many reservations. Mediocre food. read more

Good if you're in the area, but not worth a hour drive. Today night, 730pm, service was just ok for the two of us, the food, beef Wellington was just ok and the my son's steak was fair. Maybe we are spoiled, but the place was just ok. read more

Love the salmon here, service is great, cozy atmosphere, parking can be tough depending on what's going on downtown

The dining room is very crowded and my chair was continually bumped during my meal. We had reservations for 6pm but had to wait to be seated 10 minutes while the hostess talked with a woman who wanted a table and had no reservation. All of us in the party had ribeyes and they were perfect. Vegetables were good. The lobster bisque was not good! I would come back with knowledge of where not to sit and what to order. Very noisy! read more

Good place for dinner. I came with a large group and staff was very accommodating. We sat out on the sidewalk where there was good lighting at night time and even a little parklet extending out into the street with more seating. The interior of the restaurant and the food itself has a very classic feel and it is the kind of place that has a level of sophistication without being garish. read more

On February 1, 2019 we held our son's rehearsal dinner at Maldaner's upstairs venue. Steve Bowers, the catering coordinator , made our event planning seamless. Chef Higgins prepared a fabulous meal for our guests and the staff could not have been more accommodating to anything we may have needed. The venue upstairs has character, warmth and a great view of downtown Springfield. Our guests are still talking about how wonderful their experience was at this fine establishment in downtown Springfield. Thank you Steve and Chef Higgins for a night we will always remember!! Karen and Kevin Johnson read more

I had just returned to the area after a very long time away, and was pleased to find Maldaner's still alive and well. My family decided to have a get together at the restaurant, as my sister was also in town, and my niece and her baby. We made reservations and explained that we would have an infant, and the host responded that it would be no problem. When we arrived, and some of us were quite lost and late, the service was so understanding, and catered to our needs. The host did not rush us, and was accommodating to our infant needs. He also made sure our table was not in the way of others, and we felt like we were very much welcome, even with an infant. The dinner was wonderful, the staff attentive, and the food was delicious. Not one complaint from anyone. We all had a wonderful time, and certainly would have another family gathering there again. (Babies are welcome, but it's not a restaurant for children, really.). All in all, Springfield is blessed to have such a warm, inviting establishment, and it was great to see an old friend. read more

Terrific lunch here, in our first visit to the state capital since a grade school field trip. The Horseshoe (with turkey) nearly had me in tears of joy. The havarti dill sandwich really pleased the wifey. Portions were generous and prices were very reasonable, especially for food of this quality and so well prepared. Service was excellent -- friendly and professional. My iced tea was never less than half full. Even though they were getting ready to close at 2:30. The atmosphere is old time and a little bare bones. It may give a newcomer pause, but we left really happy. read more

Managed to go several years living in Springfield without trying this place. However, recently on visit back to the patch I set up a dinner on the patio and I was very impressed with the overall quality and presentation. The food was adequately priced, the portions were decent sized, and the drinks were great. Being able to eat outside in downtown Springfield was very nice and I would gladly recommend this place to anyone seeking a fine dining experience in DT Springfield. read more