We visited Saputo's based on its long-standing reputation, but unfortunately the experience didn't live up to our expectations. The atmosphere felt dated, with dark wood-paneled walls and a dining room that seemed geared toward an older crowd. That's not necessarily a negative, but the food was the bigger disappointment. We started with the bruschetta ($14.50), which was not what we expected. Instead of a traditional bruschetta, it was essentially sesame-seed bread topped with olive tapenade, red onions, tomatoes, and olives. It lacked freshness and balance. I ordered the Shrimp Alfredo ($26.00), and it was simply bland. The baby shrimp, fettuccine, and Alfredo sauce came together in a dish that was forgettable and lacked flavor. My husband and son were similarly underwhelmed by their meals. The baked ravioli was probably the best thing we ordered, but even that wasn't particularly memorable. The house salads arrived swimming in Italian dressing, and the house cabernet did nothing to improve the meal. Overall, the food felt dated, heavy, and uninspired. We left wondering how a restaurant with such a strong reputation could serve food that seemed stuck decades in the past. Unfortunately, this is not a place we'll be returning to. read more

Stopped in while on the job Great food Great staff Great service Great price If you want to do your tummy a flavor favor then stop in. You'll be glad you did read more

Nice place near the BOS Center. Our waitress was Payton and she was fantastic: her demeanor, her attentiveness, and overall service. The food was delicious and prices were fair. I had the baked lasagna and there was so much cheese - loved it. Our table also ordered the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and the Spinach Alfredo. Both delicious and plentiful. I would recommend this place if you ever visit Springfield. read more

See all

A local establishment. Service was good. Honestly, we really didn't have the house specials to give a fair review. I had a Chefs Salad and my wife had Baked Ravioli. The food was good. We walked around town and honestly, there are not a lot of food choices. read more

Saputo's - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

We loved Saputo's!! I'm SO glad we didn't heed Mary K's lame review. I don't think she ate at the same restaurant we did. They do have a basket of crackers, but that wasn't the bread basket we were brought. We were served bread twice in a basket that resembled the basket, the crackers were in. Some people are just never happy with anything. On to our fantastic experience at Saputo's. Our wonderful server was Vanessa. I hope you have the pleasure of meeting her. I asked for a salad with extra dressing and I got it! Wow! This most certainly was not a dry salad. We enjoyed some complementary bread and butter before our entrées arrived. My wife ordered the spinach Alfredo with chicken. I had the lasagna with two meatballs on top. Vanessa suggested that I mix the meat sauce and spicy marinara. That was an unbelievably excellent combination! There's a reason this place has been a local favorite since 1948. It was one of the most enjoyable Italian restaurants we have ever experienced. Food and service are five stars all the way. We cannot wait to return. We do not have an Italian place this good at home, in Kansas City. read more

See all

Saputo's is an old school Italian restaurant located in downtown Springfield. I had the veal parmigiana and it was delicious. Staff were really friendly and knowledgeable. Give this place a try you will not be disappointed! read more

Saputo's - Veal parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

During our recent stay at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel for a convention, we decided to try Saputo's Italian Restaurant, which is just a short walk away. You really can't miss it, the brick building with a large neon sign stands out nicely. We arrived on a Saturday evening just before the dinner rush without a reservation. While we were seated right away, I'd definitely recommend making reservations if you plan to come on a weekend night, as it fills up quickly. The interior has that classic old-school Italian vibe, exactly what we were hoping for on a cozy Saturday dinner. My husband ordered the baked lasagna with Italian sausage, and I had the baked ravioli made in-house, served with Italian meatballs. We started with bruschetta, which was a great choice to kick off the meal. Our meals came with a simple house salad of lettuce and tomatoes with a choice of dressing. When the main courses arrived, fresh sliced bread and butter were served....a lovely, authentic touch. Our server was extremely friendly and attentive throughout our visit. The food reminded us of classic "Ma and Pa" Italian cooking, hearty, comforting, and satisfying. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and would happily return if we're in Springfield again. read more

See all

Nice clean restaurant but food is below average.No oil or cheese for the luck warm bread. I ordered fettuccine I could still taste the flour in the sauce. I added cheese it didn't help. I won't go back in order that again. read more

Like going back in time. Vintage dark ambiance and decor Be sure to make a reservation because it's a favorite They make the ravioli in house. The cheese is my favorite but the meat is good too You get fresh bread with real butter for the table Full bar. The martini is shaken table side The fried chicken is very good if you don't want to go full Italian read more

I ordered the lobster the other day and it was not only extremely disappointing to eat but the cost was absolutely absurd. $85 for a frozen lobster tail is the biggest rip off I have ever experienced, especially for a mediocre restaurant. Normally if it says market price you are told what the cost is instead of being blindsided with a check. read more

Great takeout experience. Food was delicious, fresh and packaged really well. Servers were prompt and made sure that our order was stable and ready for the trip. Extremely delicious house Italian dressing, and top notch food. Highly recommend! read more

Good (not great) local Italian spot. Service good. Limited wine list. Had the olive salad. House dressing fantastic by the way. Basic red sauce joint serving standard fare. read more

Great service and AMAZING FOOD in a wonderful old school Italian restaurant atmosphere. You can't go wrong stopping in at Saputo's read more

See all

Service was good. Pizza was great thin crust. My hubby loved the meatball sandwich. Motz sticks were perfectly cooked.

Wife gets lobster from here every birthday dinner. Usually great. This time the lobster was mushy... lobster tail not attached to anything and was jammed into mushy lobster. No big deal call and they say they can replace. 30 minutes later arrive to swap out lobster star and they refused and treated us like trash. Said all lobster is mushy?!? Super crappy they told us to come there again and they hadn't even started the replacement. If you get carry out inspect your order read more

ok food with ok service. Fettucine Alfredo, sauce is decent but not great, the noodles have the texture of a frozen dinner. Salad is fresh with lots of dressing which is nice. read more

See all

Lasagna doesn't have meat so order with mushrooms or meatballs. Salad is awesome. The staff have been great for forever and some of them have been there forever. The table bread and butter is amazing. read more

Our pizza was amazing! Our server, Kristy was friendly was very personable and quick. When we first arrived we were seated by a friendly gentleman and our experience was exceptional! read more

About all we can say about Saputos is that the air conditioning was a welcome relief from the staggering 100 degree heat. My pizza was greasy and overwhelmingly salty. Her spaghetti sauce didn't really taste like spaghetti sauce, more like tomato paste with a little sugar in it. And her salad was iceberg lettuce and, well, more iceberg lettuce. Even the bread was just plain dry...not the vibrant homemade style of most home-style Italian joints. A major fail. read more

Great family owned restaurant awesome lasagna and the bread rolls are awesome will be back

I'm fan of real old school Italian cuisine, like Tufano's Vernon Park Tap and Saputo's reminds me of Tufano's. Frankly I prefer Saputo's. I had the ala carte meat platter that included savory Italian beef, 4 Italian meatballs made the correct Italian way and two delicious pieces of Italian sausage. I also ordered a side of spaghetti. The sauce at Saputo's is as close to perfect as you will find, not too bitter and not too sweet. My wife had the baked Mostaccioli and it's as good or better than you will find anywhere. Generous portions as well, I couldn't finish my meal and I shared a meatball with my wife. Additionally, homemade bread is also provided. The ambiance is dark, it reminds me of a place the "Good Fellas" would eat. Service was excellent as well, precise and attentive. Highly recommended! read more

What do you say about a restaurant that presents itself as a local institution but so utterly lacks charm, ambience, or passable Italian food? (The first clue: bread basket filled with wrapped saltines and bread sticks.) This was a Chef Boyardee experience for sure, accompanied by the worst loud music played through a ratty sound system. Overcooked pasta smothered in a foothill of metallic tasting tomato sauce without even the finessing touch of Parmesan cheese. Or olive oil. Or decent bread. Our waitress was pleasant, but most other staff including bartender, surly. A must to avoid. read more

Old-school but elegant Italian restaurant. All their menu options look and smell wonderful. I myself am a sucker for a baked pasta dish, and their baked ravioli was fan-freakin-tastic! read more

You half expect Tony Soprano to walk through the place with Carm & the kids, and the history of the Saputo brothers on the wall echoes that Italian family vibe. All that's missing are red & white checkered tablecloths, but this place is further up the scale. For a place that stretches back into the late 1940's, Saputo's is still churning out sensational Italian favorites. A full bar & a solid wine list will kick off your dining experience with 'house' wines available for those with less sophisticated palates (me). I felt like a Chianti was in order because I was set on eating anything that was awash in the house gravy. Sweet Chianti never lets me down when balanced against the acidic San Marzano tomatoes and this time was no different. Eyeballing others' portions allowed me to gauge both my appetite and willingness to get a certain meal size (I was traveling, so to go was no option). Enter the a'la carte menu, with single-serve options from ravioli to lasagna and lots in between. "The marinara is a touch spicy, sir" I was told, but I was all in on a hot dish of manicotti (in July) and my foodie daughter upped my ante with a baked ravioli of her own. Both were fabulous, smothered in marinara and pasta done *just* right with the cheese bubbling and slightly browned. And our server was totally correct, the marinara did have some kick, but the sauce's sweetness punched above its weight class for a wonderful gravy! These are the kinds of dishes that scream for crusty bread so one can mop up alllll of the goodness and Saputo's came through with warm house bread (maybe a hair late) allowing us to clean out our dinner dishes. "Did you leave room for dessert?" Pfft, like I need a reason for tiramisu. Light and layered, drizzled with chocolate and topped with cream, the tiramisu did not come up short. It was the proper ending to a great Italian meal. Park on the street or in any of the garages around the downtown core. Value far outstrips price and if you order off of the big kids' menu, you are guaranteed to take some with as you leave. Great service, smashing food, and great atmosphere! read more

See all

What a wonderful dinner we had 10/3/25! Our waiter was Zach - one of the best servers we've ever had. He was friendly, funny, very personable and gave us great service. We had baked lasagna with meatballs, baked mostaccioli with Italian sausage, salads with house dressing, bread & cocktails. Prices were very reasonable, the food was delicious (except the Italian sausage my husband thought was bland and the bread was just okay). Our reservations were at 6 pm, and it really filled up by 6:30 pm. read more

Oof. Look I get that it's Springfield but damn. If you want Food here get chicken fingers because you might have a better chance. Everything is saltier than the ocean. Service is actually very good and the aura of the location seems old Italian. The problem is that whoever is cooking has never had Italian food. My Italian salad tasted like olive juice. I got the veal Parmesan. A mess of a meal. It's salty Ragu with a mix of soggy beef. The pasta must be from the dollar store. This place has opportunity. But please bring Gordon Ramsey here for kitchen nightmares and let him witness this mess. This food is as trash as Illinois politics. read more

Saputo's - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

We came to Springfield to tour the Lincoln Library and found Saputo's close by. When you walk in you know you are in an old, original Italian eatery. There hasn't been much updates in the last 30 years or so and it was perfect. All the regulars eating at the bar added a nice touch. The servers knew their food, they had been working there for some time. We started with the anchovy salad, something I have never seen on a menu and it was excellent - lots of anchovy's. I then had the ravioli and I loved every bite. The red sauce was perfect and the ravioli's were large and stuffed full of goodness. One of our favorite stops on vacation this week. read more

See all

This place has been here for years and still serves quality food with good service. It has an Italian motif and quaint setting. We had the baked cheese ravioli, one with a meatball and one with sausage. Both were delicious and filling. The house salads were quite filling and tasty. If there were a drawback it would be the bread. Really not much taste for a quality Italian restaurant. They serve quality food at reasonable prices so treat yourself. read more

Loved the vibe of this place. I went there on a Monday and it was packed. I started with a manhattan, which was delicious. Toasted ravioli and chicken Parm were excellent. I tried a bit of a friend's lasagna, and it was average, so i wouldn't get that. Overall great experience. read more

The pork chop was delicious, cooked perfectly! The salmon was just ok, kind of bland. I did not get a picture of the bread because I was so excited to eat it I totally forgot! It is the very best Italian bread served warm with butter! AMAZING!!! The service was fabulous, everything is reasonably priced. read more

Saputo's - Salmon & green beans - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

We came here for dinner as a party of 6. We called about 15 minutes before heading over to see if we needed to make a reservation, and they were very quickly able to accommodate us. We were seated as soon as we walked in the door. The service was fantastic. Everyone we interacted with was so pleasant and helpful. The food was great. The bread was so soft and fresh. The bruschetta was so flavorful. We were in the sun all day, so I didn't want to eat anything hot, but the pizzas looked incredible. I went with the grilled chicken salad with the house-made Italian dressing for my entree. I HIGHLY recommend trying at least a side salad with that dressing. It was the star of the show for me. Even better news- they sell bottles of that dressing, and it doesn't have to be refrigerated! We had a really great experience here, and should I ever find myself back in Springfield, I wouldn't hesitate to come back! read more

I almost didn't come here because the overall stars are low. Hope that changes with all the new 5 star reviews though because this place is definitely worth coming to! Service was exceptional and you can tell how much the servers care about their customers, both new and old. While waiting for my food, I witnessed one of the servers leading a gentleman who was blind out to the front of the restaurant. She was so caring and compassionate. A true demonstration of human kindness. The food is also to die for! I ordered the Baked Rigatoni, which was covered in a delicious amount of cheese and a homemade meatball. Definitely recommend coming here as soon as you can! read more

Sapputos is a must try if you are visiting the land of Lincoln. It's a tiny hole in the wall Italian restaraunt. Some of the best lasagna I've ever eaten! I absolutely love this place! The service was great the food fresh and piping hot. For the price you definitely get your moneys worth. It may not look like a lot but as your eating you'll feel like you're not even making a dent in it. read more

Saputo's - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Too mainstream. They are stingy with the sauce. It's literally offensive how little they gave. Cost me $2 for an extra 6oz. The salad looked stale and pre-packaged from the night before. read more

Saputo's - Spaghetti with meatballs. (Dinner meal portion) - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

If I could I would rate it a 0-5 stars.It was my mom's 49th birthday, we did a Cary out so we could all eat dinner together at home. We picked it up and the service was good when we got it. But as soon as we got home my Mom took one or two bites of her Lobster. The lobster was mushy, she described it as mashed potatoes. We told her to call, and that's what she did she called the manager offered to replace the food with new lobster and all we had to do was bring the old food. And she said nothing about how much she ate or anything.My mom of course said yes, we waited about 30 minutes for the food to be ready. Me and my Brother went to go pick up the food and give the old food back. When we got in we waited for someone to help us. She came over and took it to the back room and was back there for about 2-3 minutes. When she came back she talked about how she could not refund us or trade out the food. When she was telling us this she was very rude. We didn't get her name but she was a little bit on the older side and had black hair. My brother continued to tell her that it was mushy and that we should get a refund.She kept saying no and how it was not mushy, my brother picked up a piece of lobster and it just mushed in his hand without squeezing it. She picked it up and said it was not mushy but it was literally mushy in her hand. She also said that my mom ate about half of the lobster, my mom only took 1-2 bites to realize it was mushy.My brother picked up the lobster and said what do you mean this is half of a lobster it is the whole thing. She said sorry I can't do anything she asked us if you want it after she put her hands in the food.We said no you can keep it. Overall 1 stars out of 5. I would give 0 stars if I could. read more

Convenient to Doubletree downtown; solid food; very good prices. Not the most modern of restaurants but it's historic! I had the baked ravioli and it was quite good. read more

Saputo's - Sign - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

So every time I come to town, I go to Saputo's. Consistently I get either the lasagna or the simple spaghetti and meatballs. Seriously, those meatballs are a portal to another dimension of time and space. Just plain spaghetti and meatballs with red sauce...all I need to find bliss. The waitstaff is so kind and attentive. Locals who remember your name and catch up a bit with you while ordering. It's the finest of Italian American culture. You're truly treated like family here. Go here a few times and walk in, I bet you'll see your favorite staff throw up their arms and exclaim " Hey! You're back! Come right over here where I've got a table for you!" It's the feeling of family and Americana I can't get enough of. read more

Saputo's - a sign for italian foods - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Went on Saturday night. 80%full. Pretty busy. Dark and small space inside. Ordered spinach fettuccine with chicken. Chicken was juicy. Fettuccine was al dente? I say it was very chewy. The waitress said they don't know if there is dairy in a complementary bread. What?!?! Are they serving something not sure what is made of? It looked so good, but I couldn't have ....: ( read more

We always stop in Saputo's every time we're in Springfield. It is our favorite place to eat and drink when we're in town. They have the best food, great drinks, and the best atmosphere. The regular bartender is great, personable, and friendly. We love to sit at the bar to eat and meet the best people. One of our all-time favorites that we will always come back to! read more

See all

We love this place I had the eggplant Parmesan, which was perfect and we also had an anchovy bread and antipasto plate. A big hit was the handmade ravioli and their house dressing on my salad was really good too read more

Saputo's - Outside! - Italian Near Me - Springfield, Illinois