Photo courtesy ShutterstockDubai strawberry cups are the latest must-try trend, featuring chopped strawberries drizzled with the deconstructed ingredients of a Dubai chocolate bar.
Table Talk
Springfield Food News
Read all about what's happening with the food scene in Springfield in this week's Table Talk.
by Tessa Cooper
Mar 11 2025 at 8 a.m.
THIS WEEK'S TABLE TALK PRESENTED BY
So Close You Can Almost Taste It
Chasing leads is our version of chasing waterfalls, but we just can’t help ourselves. It gives us something delicious to look forward to in the future. While we all know opening timelines are often anyone’s best guess, they get more accurate as progress marches on. Here are some ballpark dates and updates on three of the most anticipated new ventures.
• LaRoux Bistro: We’ve all been very patiently waiting for a restaurant to open in the freshly renovated space at 300 E. Commercial Street. Back in November, we reported that Joseph Gidman, who also owns Café Cusco and Van Gogh's Eeterie, is the restauranteur behind the new concept going in. And now we can officially put a name to the project. Gidman tells us that LaRoux Bistro has a projected opening date of this May and will serve a blend of Parisian, New Orleans and Aux Arcs-inspired classics. If you peer into the windows on your next C-Street stroll, you’ll notice deep green walls and beautiful wallpaper patterned with feathers. We can’t wait to see more.
• Kobe Club Steakhouse: This restaurant coming to 2058 S. Glenstone Ave. is also nearing the finish line. Kobe Club Steakhouse hosted some private dinners earlier this month, but owner Will Neal tells us they are still at least three weeks out from their grand opening. Neal also shared some big news pertaining to the project with us. Zach White is going to be the executive chef, and there’s a good chance you’ve already tasted his work. He previously led the kitchens at The Order, Flame Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Big Cedar Lodge and Springfield Brewing Company. We couldn’t be more excited to try his takes on Wagyu Steaks and Gulf Shore seafood.
• Show Me Chuy: Owners Chuy García and Judith Martínez-García took the time to give us a tour of Show Me Chuy, their soon-to-be Italian-Mexican fusion restaurant at 1410 E. Republic Rd. this past Thursday, and it’s already filled with colorful art by local artists like Jorge Ortiz and lush greenery from Hickory Lane Plants. They’ve got their fingers crossed for an early April opening date.
Let’s Go Pubbing
Speaking of new businesses, here is one you can visit while you wait for those others to open up. Mully’s Pub and Patio (1281 E. Republic Rd.) hosted a soft opening this past week and is now slinging out pub grub and drinks seven days a week. They recently dropped their menu, and it looks like it’s packed with some delicious offerings, like truffle fries, wings in flavors such as honey sriracha and garlic parmesan, five signature burgers and hearty salads. Oh, and not to mention deep-fried cookie dough. And with the word patio in its name, we’re already daydreaming about warm spring evenings sipping draft beer there. The pub occupies the first floor, and the top two floors will house an event center and speakeasy set to open next month.
A Berry Delicious Dessert Trend
Welp folks, TikTok has done it again, and now there’s a new viral dessert we need to try. It all started when the rest of the world discovered Dubai chocolate. These chocolate bars have a pistachio and knafeh (shredded pastry dough with a sweet, creamy cheese) filling. But now, a new creative use of these bars is what’s dominating social feeds. Dubai strawberry cups feature chopped strawberries drizzled with the deconstructed ingredients of a Dubai chocolate bar. Here’s where you can find them around the Ozarks.
MacCheesy's (Springfield location)
MOKapè Brews and Bites (Springfield)
Edible Art (Springfield)
Sweetly Dipped by Brooke (Republic)
Planet Gumball (Marshfield)
Chamba Pan (Monett)
Covéll (Lebanon)
Itty Bitty News Bites
• This is Friday is 3/14, otherwise known as Pi Day, also otherwise known as an excuse to eat pie. Just in case any of you were planning on celebrating at Prairie Pie’s storefront, don’t forget that the business has moved in with Tea Bar & Bites. In celebration, they’ll be slinging out special Frankenpies, which is one pie featuring eight slices of four different flavors.
• If you’ve been wanting to check out Good Spirits & Co.’s new headquarters but can’t seem to time a pop-up right, we’ve got good news for you. They are now hosting bar service every Sunday starting at 1 p.m. until it slows down for the day. No reservations required.
• Brown Derby Wine Center and Marketplace recently spruced up its Tasting Room, and they’ve been offering several neat events there as of late. The next one is a hands-on charcuterie workshop on March 22. Tickets cost $40 each and are available online.
• Springfield Sister Cities Association and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board are teaming up for an event centering around a perfect pairing in an equally perfect atmosphere: Sushi & Sake in the Stroll Garden. Craft Sushi will be supplying the rolls, and there will be live music by Molly Healey and Dallas Jones. The event is on March 29 at Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, and tickets ($50 each) are on sale now.
Table Talk: March 4–10
Pie on the Move
Prairie Pie has announced that its downtown Springfield storefront is closing, and the pie purveyor will now be doing business out of Tea Bar & Bites.
Why Tea Bar? Well, you might remember early this year when Prairie Pie
owner Eleanor Taylor bought longtime Pickwick institution Tea Bar &
Bites. We’ll miss the restaurant’s sweet little downtown storefront, but
we’re excited that we’ll still be able to get our hands on those
incredible pies. Taylor wrote in a Facebook post:
“Pies, cookies, and take n bake pot pies are available at Tea Bar &
Bites Tuesday-Sunday, and pre-order is available on our website.”
Spring Sips
Lots of local coffee shops have been
teasing their spring drinks menus, and we’re loving all the bright and
fresh flavors that have been popping up. Here are a few of our faves:
• Urban Grounds is going all in for Earl Grey (my personal favorite tea) with an Earl Gray Sea Salt Matcha and an Earl Grey Sea Salt Cold Brew. There’s also a strawberry matcha latte—a drink that’s been trending on the coffee and tea side of social media lately.
• Strawberry makes an appearance just down the road at The Workshop at Finley Farms too, this time in the form of the Strawberry Patch Iced Tea. But we’re even more interested in the herbaceous Rosemary Latte and the Lavender Mint Lemonade.
• Spring blooms dominate the seasonal menu at The European too, where they are offering a Cherry Blossom Latte, Rose Matcha and a Lavender London Fog.
• And finally, it’s Strawberry Rose Matcha season at Eurasia Coffee Co., and rumor has this beloved seasonal drink tends to sell out.
