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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
By Liam Rinehart
Staff Writer
In the depths of a depression or in the striking madness of a cruel winter, one thing, more than any other has the ability to lift the spirits – comfort food. A good dose of the sun or a stiff drink could also work wonders for those previously mentioned ills, but good dining simply cannot be replaced. Now it seems as though a new restaurant is taking that belief in the simple pleasures of life to new heights.
Caitie Girl's is a new restaurant and bar located on 4th and Jefferson in the heart of downtown Springfield. While it is barely a couple months old, the word of mouth for this eatery has shown that it could be the next big thing for the area. Although I visited it a couple weeks ago, I decided to wait for another go around before writing a proper review. And in the time between the two visits, friends and family have been mentioning it, much in the same way I hear about PAO a couple years ago.
The cuisine is what 22 year old restaurant owner, Caitie Barker, calls "gourmet comfort food." The menu is populated by an eclectic mix of entrees, sandwiches and everything in between. Dishes that you could easily scrounge up in a hurry, like grilled cheese and tomato soup lie next to food that is a little out of the ordinary for Springfield, such as the lobster parfait salad.
As any good local would do, I had the horseshoe. But this wasn't the normal concoction of high cholesterol and diabetes that we are used to. Oh no, it is a change from the normality of capital city life. Jalapeno corn bread has taken the place of normal toast. Pulled pork barbecue is the new meat of choice. The fries are spicy and colored. And the sauce? Well, it is a blend of pepper jack and bacon suspended in a red pepper cheese sauce. At the end of the meal, I felt as though I had enjoyed a refreshing twist on an old standby.
The menu also has some other interesting foods, like meatballs and mac-n-cheese, and chianti braised short ribs. Although all of the items mentioned here do not seem at first glance to work together, it fits. But this probably because of the restaurant's quirky ambiance.
The restaurant is decorated in bright colors and is awash in light because of the large windows. But whatever the reason, I would highly suggest Caitie Girl's. It might be out of your way, but it well worth it.
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