Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Having lunch at Incredibly Delicious is a test of willpower. You try to focus on the menu posted on the wall near the counter, telling you about the soup, salad and sandwich specials of the day. It shouldn’t be that difficult to order — there are just a few choices. How hard could it be? […]

Frankly, it’s hard to differentiate one Mexican restaurant from another. The basics — tortilla chips, tacos, and beans and rice — usually taste the same. Springfield boasts at least one notable exception, but it’s what La Mex doesn’t have that makes it special. First of all, there are no piñatas at La Mex. That’s right, […]

Lonzerotti’s Italia Restaurant is best known for two signature items: salad dressing and breadsticks. OK, you may be asking, just how special can a simple salad and stick of bread be? Very special, if the two items in question are the sweet Italian dressing and lighter-than-air rolls served in this renovated circa-1910 train station near […]

St. Patrick’s Day can be celebrated by donning a “Kiss me, I’m Irish” pin, watching the downtown parade and eating some cooked cabbage washed down with green beer. That may be fun for some, but others know March 17 is the day when slow-roasted corned beef, colcannon (mashed potatoes and cabbage), and homemade Irish soda […]

A few years ago, Springfield chef Stephane Perrin considered moving back to his native Normandy, France. Lucky for us, he decided to stay. After moving to the United States, Perrin worked in restaurants in Champaign and Galena before arriving in Springfield 10 years ago. After stints at the Illinois Country Club, the Sangamo Club and […]

When the late Rev. Peter Mascari built The Grotto in Sherman, he envisioned a gathering place for the senior citizens who were living in the adjacent apartment building and nursing home complex. Although the building has operated as a restaurant since opening several years ago, in some ways his vision was realized. Some local residents […]

At McCormick’s Deli, it’s all about the bread. Baked daily, it’s the foundation on which a variety of meat, cheese and condiments are added. And as we all know, it’s the secret to a good sandwich. Bread makes McCormick’s stand out from the crop of sandwich shops, not the atmosphere or service. Located in a […]

La Sorella Ristorante is the perfect place to cheat on your low-carb diet — and not just a little bit. Really throw caution to the wind and indulge in pasta, cheese gnocchi, homemade bread and wood-fired pizza. It’s easy to do here. In fact, one of the highlights of dining at La Sorella arrives at […]

Valentine’s Day is all about love. The love of creamy chocolate dessert. Prime rib dinners for two. Fresh strawberries and cream. In honor of Cupid’s big day, several area restaurants are offering special menu items. Here’s a sampling of dining options sure to warm your heart: Norb Andy’s Tabarin. Special menu items include a chicken […]

On the Chinese calendar, we’re now in year 4702, the Year of the Monkey. Fifteen days of celebration kicked off on Jan. 22. Of course, naming it a “monkey” year isn’t a commentary on current fashion trends or the fact that we’re in an election year. Chinese lunar years are named for animals; the next […]

Deborah Denney learned how to cook while serving her country. The chef, who once fed a former president and Navy admirals, now serves up fried chicken livers in a small café. But it’s all the same for Denney. “I enjoy it,” says the owner and chef of Marcia’s Grand Café in Mt. Pulaski. Denney recently […]

As I’ve been a life-long fan of the Magic Kitchen restaurant, I have to admit it’s been the primary source of my Thai food cravings for as long as I’ve been a Springfield resident. But I have discovered there are several other options in town that can toss tofu and spice up chicken with coconut […]