Valentine’s help from Best of Springfield: Use our dining winners to plan your next meal

Stella Bleu Bistro. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Stella Bleu Bistro. BILL LACKEY/STAFF
News
Updated Feb 6, 2024
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Consider this your cheat sheet for local dining options, useful any time of the year, but particularly now around Valentine’s Day, which might be celebrated for a couple of weeks this year with a mid-week holiday.

For Valentine’s, you might pay particular attention to categories of best chocolates, cookies and desserts. Others might make note of best cocktails or top dine-in restaurants.

We have pulled out the food and drink winners and placers in the 2023 Best of Springfield contest brought to you by the Greater Springfield Partnership and the Springfield News-Sun. Results were announced after more than 123,000 votes from the community.

>> PHOTOS: The 2023 Best of Springfield celebration

Here are the winners and placers:

Best Appetizers

First place: Station1

325 N. Fountain Ave.

937-324-3354

Second place: Texas Roadhouse

1750 N. Bechtle Ave.

937-322-6500

Third place: Charlo’s Provisions & Eatery

45 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-1066

Speakeasy Ramen in Springfield is among the winners of the Best of Springfield contest for 2023. FILE

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Best Asian Food

First place: Speakeasy Ramen

365 Ludlow Ave.

937-324-3722

Second place: Golden Chopsticks

2973 Derr Road

937-390-7818

Third place: Tasty Wok

1986 N. Bechtle Ave.

937-505-3613

Le Torte Dolci Bakery in downtown Springfield earned awards in the 2023 Best of Springfield contest. FILE

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Best Bakery

First place: Le Torte Dolci

36B, N. Fountain Ave.

937-617-2253

Second place: D. Sweets, Cookies & Gifts, LLC

1605 E. Main St.

937-450-3502

Third place: Schuler’s Bakery

2968 Derr Road

937-323-4900

Best Bar/Brewpub

First place: Mother Stewart’s Brewing

102 W. Columbia St.

937-717-0618

Second place: Station 1

325 N. Fountain Ave.

937-324-3354

Third place: Mug & Jug Tavern

1213 Mitchell Blvd.

937-399-7859

Best BBQ

First place: Rudy’s Smokehouse

2222 S Limestone St.

937-324-0884

Second place: Christian Brothers Meat Company

1818 Fairway Dr.

937-604-9943

Third place: Poppy’s Smokehouse

937-207-4431

Best Breakfast

First place: Olympic Coney Island

2039 N. Bechtle Ave.

937-505-6377

Second place: Ironworks Waffle Cafe

101 S Fountain Ave.

937-342-3667

Third place: Mundy’s Diner

920 Selma Road

937-717-1726

The dinning room at The Hickory Inn. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

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Best Burger

First place: The Ridgewood Cafe

1647 N. Plum St.

937-390-1119

Second place: The Hickory Inn

652 N. Limestone St.

937-323-1779

Third place: Charlo’s Provisions & Eatery

45 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-1066

Chef Troy Wheat in front of his restaurant, All Seasons, on Mitchell Blvd in Springfield Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Best Caterer

First place: Carmae Catering

124 E. College Ave.

937-717-9788

Second place: All Seasons Catering by Chef Troy

1928 Mitchell Blvd.

937-505-1452

Third place: Seasons Kitchen

16 N. Fountain Ave.

937-521-1200

Best Chocolates

First place: Winans Chocolates & Coffees

32 North Fountain Ave.

937-717-0268

Second place: The Peanut Shoppe

1576 E. Main St.

937-323-2591

Third place: Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop

101 W. High St.

937-717-0169

Best Cocktails

First place: The Market Bar

101 S Fountain Ave.

Second place: Stella Bleu Bistro

20 N. Fountain Ave.

937-717-0478

Third place: Speakeasy Ramen

365 Ludlow Ave.

937-324-3722

Best Coffeehouse

First place: Scout’s Café

1399 Moorefield Road

937-505-0660

Second place: Coffee Expressions, LLC

1111 N. Plum St. Suite 1

937-323-5282

Third place: Winans Chocolates & Coffees

32 North Fountain Ave.

937-717-0268

Donyale and Lailah Hill stand behind the counter at D Sweets Cookies and Gifts, 1605 E. Main St. on its first anniversary. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

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Best Cookies

First place: D. Sweets, Cookies & Gifts

1605 E. Main St.

937-450-3502

Second place: Schuler’s Bakery, Inc.

2968 Derr Road

937-323-4900

Third place: Le Torte Dolci

36B, N. Fountain Ave.

937-617-2253

Best Desserts

First place: Le Torte Dolci

36B, N. Fountain Ave.

937-617-2253

Second place: D. Sweets, Cookies & Gifts, LLC

1605 E. Main St.

937-450-3502

Third place: Champion City Pops, Sweets, & Treats

25 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-3740

The famous chimichanga at Casa del Sabor. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

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Best Dine-In Restaurant

First place: Casa Del Sabor

1200 Vester Ave.

937-342-9441

Second place: Stella Bleu Bistro

20 N. Fountain Ave.

937-717-0478

Third place: Cecil and Lime

227 E. Cecil St.

937-322-7950

Best Donuts

First place: Schuler’s Bakery Inc.

2968 Derr Road

937-323-4900

Second place: Le Torte Dolci

36B, N. Fountain Ave.

937-617-2253

Third place: Dunkin’

1931 S Limestone St.

937-505-3949

Best Farmers Market Vendor

First place: Gracie Bakes Cakes and More

Graciebakesspringfield@gmail.com

Second place: On the Rise

937-926-0165

Third place: Honey Creek Beef

937-504-1817

Best Food Truck

First place: The Painted Pepper Food Truck

www.facebook.com/paintedpepper

937-969-0877

Second place: Chido’s Tacos

www.facebook.com/chidowonstacos

937-521-9280

Third place: Blended by J

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092620654568

937-925-6830

Young's Jersey Dairy is the Best Ice Cream winner again in the Best of Springfield contest.

Credit: Staff

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Credit: Staff

Best Ice Cream

First place: Young’s Jersey Dairy

6880 Springfield Xenia Road, Yellow Springs

937-325-0629

Second place: Kone Korner

3709 St. Paris Pike

937-390-2663

Third place: Champion City Pops, Sweets, & Treats

25 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-3740

Best Italian Food

First place: Eatly

601 N. Fountain Ave.

937-450-3337

Second place: Mic’s Italian Restaurant, now closed

2384 Mechanicsburg Road

937-399-5074

Third place: Fratelli’s, now closed

42 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-9387

A plate from Sushi Hikari in COhatch the Market is shown in downtown Springfield. COhatch won the Best Lunch Spot with its variety of offerings. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Best Lunch Spot

First place: COhatch Springfield

101 S Fountain Ave.

937-741-2529

Second place: The Ridgewood Cafe

1647 N. Plum St.

937-390-1119

Third place: Charlo’s Provisions & Eatery

45 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-1066

Best Mexican Food

First place: Casa Del Sabor

1200 Vester Ave.

937-342-9441

Second place: Los Mariachis

1815 E. Main St.

937-324-2066

Third place: El Toro

1781 N. Bechtle Ave.

937-342-9015

Best New Business

First place: Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop

101 W. High St.

937-717-0169

Second place: Champion City Pops, Sweets, & Treats

25 N. Fountain Ave.

937-505-3740

Third place: Blended by J

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092620654568

937-925-6830

Best Patio for Dining and Drinks

First place: Mother Stewart’s Brewing

102 W. Columbia St.

937-717-0618

Second place: Stella Bleu Bistro

20 N. Fountain Ave.

937-717-0478

Third place: The Ridgewood Cafe

1647 N. Plum St.

937-390-1119

Best Pizza

First place: The Hickory Inn

652 N. Limestone St.

937-323-1779

Second place: Catanzaro’s Pizza & Subs

433 Dayton Ave.

937-322-3791

Third place: Station 1

325 N. Fountain Ave.

937-324-3354

Best Place to Take Visitors

First place: Young’s Jersey Dairy

6880 Springfield Xenia Road, Yellow Springs

937-325-0629

Second place: COhatch Springfield

101 S Fountain Ave.

937-741-2529

Third place: Mother Stewart’s Brewing

102 W. Columbia St.

937-717-0618

Best Restaurant to take an Out-of-Towner

First place: Speakeasy Ramen

365 Ludlow Ave.

937-324-3722

Second place: Stella Bleu Bistro

20 N. Fountain Ave.

937-717-0478

Third place: The Hickory Inn

652 N. Limestone St.

937-323-1779

Chido’s Tacos, a popular Springfield food truck, opened a brick-and-mortar operation in COhatch The Market in downtown Springfield (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO).

Credit: Submitted Photo

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Credit: Submitted Photo

Best Tacos

First place: Casa Del Sabor

1200 Vester Ave.

937-342-9441

Second place: Chido’s Tacos

101 S Fountain Ave.

937-521-9280

Third place: Mariana’s Tacos Y Paletas

1706 E. Main St.

937-717-0379

Best Wings/Chicken

First place: Station 1

325 N. Fountain Ave.

937-324-3354

Second place: Roosters

1720 N. Bechtle Ave.

937-717-5409

Third place: Buffalo Wild Wings

1960 N. Bechtle Ave.

937-390-9464

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