Home Plate Bar & Grill, located near the corner of Koke Mill and Ginger Creek on the west side of Springfield, embraces a baseball theme. For outdoor seating there is a lower patio area, along with an "upper deck" rooftop beer garden with seating. The patio area is heated and has several TVs so diners can still enjoy less COVID risk as the weather turns colder. Home Plate features happy hours from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and during football season it also runs food and drink specials all day on Sunday and Monday nights.
Our readers commented that something cool and unique about Home Plate is the old-school scoreboard listing the 24 draft beers currently offered. Plus, there's no shortage of large screen TVs to catch all of the games – it is the ultimate sports bar. Home Plate features central Illinois beers such as those from Destihl Brewery and Lil Beaver Brewery – something readers appreciated.
In keeping with the theme, Home Plate's menu is also a play on baseball terms: "pre-game" for appetizers and "the line-up" for entrees. One dish that has people coming back for more is Home Plate's chili. It is the perfect balance of flavors, a generous helping of meat and just the right amount of beans. The giant Bavarian soft pretzel tops out at a whopping 24 ounces and is served with cheese sauce and honey mustard – it's a home run in terms of flavor and size. It is best shared with a group, or you will definitely need a to-go box.
Home Plate has classic sports bar fare including burgers, brats, hot dogs and don't forget pizza. Pizza is a must. They also have some surprise features such as the charcuterie board and a spinach and roasted beet salad for those looking for something a little different. For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to try one of Home Plate's "extra innings" which include a classic root beer float made with the 1919 root beer that Home Plate keeps on tap. There is literally something for everyone's palette at Home Plate – which is why our readers voted it best new restaurant.
