Lake Springfield Tavern
A couple nights ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Lake Springfield Tavern for the first time in my life ever. For the record, the Lake Springfield Tavern is a good mile or more from Lake Springfield.
I remember as a very small wondering how the Lake Springfield Tavern got its name since it's no where near the lake. As I got older, for lack of a proper explanation, I developed a little legend I would tell to out of towners who might ask me about the place. It went like...
At one time the shores of Lake Springfield gently lapped at the bricks of the tavern. And, instead of cars in a parking lot, boats would pull up to a long since dismantled boat dock. And, when they opened the dam to create Lake Decatur, the shores of Lake Springfield receded greatly, leaving the Lake Springfield Tavern standing far, far away from the lake.
But, no out of towners ever asked me about it. And so, I never did tell that story.
We were two of five patrons in the joint on a late Tuesday night. But, I have to believe the super fine service we got from the bartendress would have been at least the same had there been 50 patrons.
The Lake Springfield Tavern has everything anyone could want in neighborhood bar, including a bar, TV, cashew machine, modern juke box, semi-knotty pine paneling, tables with black vinyl tablecloths. Friendly customer base, what little there was present. Menu consisting of hamburgers, double hamburgers, cheese burgers, and double cheeseburgers. Beer, wine, liquor.
Recommending the Lake Springfield Tavern, at about 13th and Stevenson, to out of towners and in towners, alike.