Civil Kitchen in Springfield in Missouri is owned and operated by a family since it first opened on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. The menu was inspired by both the civil engineering background of the owner and a genuine love for delicious comforting meals that are made from scratch.
Civil Kitchen in Springfield in Missouri. Restaurant Review.
Located on the historic Park Central Square in downtown Springfield, the team at Civil Kitchen believe in listening to their customers. Their “What The People Want” philosophy drives the team to evolve the menu of the restaurant based on the feedback and cravings of customers. Many of the specialty featured menu items have been born from the enthusiastic suggestions of guests, which results in every visit as a chance to try something new and exciting. The menu had already changed slightly since we visited Civil Kitchen not all that long ago.
We arrived at the restaurant without a reservation; but we were seated at the table in the foreground in the above photograph. The restaurant eventually became crowded — including with the long table on the extreme left side of the photograph occupied by a large group of students who were celebrating earning their Master of Business Administration degrees. I absolutely related to that, as I remembered when I earned my Master of Business Administration degree.
We started with the Truffle Shuffle Straws, which were house fries topped with white truffle oil, bleu cheese, bacon, and chives — and was eventually polished off with but a few crumbs to prove that something once occupied the metal tray. $12.50
Fish Tacos were comprised of panko-breaded white fish with fresh cabbage and pickled carrots tossed in avocado ranch on flour tortillas. It is served with hot honey. The textures of the crisp cabbage and the slightly crunchy fried fish complemented the softness of the tacos. $17.00
Crisp Brussels Sprouts was ordered as a side dish that was included with a meal. They did indeed live up to its name; and they were full of flavor.
The Panko Fish Sandwich contained panko-breaded white fish on a bun with a slice of tomato and rings of raw red onion. This dish was accompanied by a spring mix tossed in orange vinaigrette — as well as lemon tartar sauce. I chose not to choose a choice of cheese which was included with this meal. The subtle zing of the orange vinaigrette was quite refreshing; and the lemon tartar sauce elevated the flavor of the sandwich. $17.00
I did not order the Ooey Gooey Buttercake Ice Cream Sandwich — which was two slices of house ooey gooey buttercake folded over two scoops of vanilla bean ice cream — but I did try it. This dessert was true to its name, as it was way too buttery for my taste — but I did like the ice cream. The plate was eventually empty — but not by me.
Final Boarding Call
We did not order any alcoholic beverages, as none of us were interested in them.
The dining experience of Civil Kitchen was casual, with prompt, friendly, and attentive service. The ambiance reasonably comfortable — although the ambient noise was a little loud. The food was freshly prepared. Although the prices are reasonable, they did increase moderately for most of the items on the menu not long after we dined at Civil Kitchen — so the current prices of menu items are displayed in this article instead of what we actually paid. I recommend dining here if you want a meal that is leisurely, filling, and delicious.
Although waiting for a table is possible during busy times, I never saw a line for a table; but reservations are recommended — especially if you are accompanied by a large group of people.
Civil Kitchen
107 Park Central Square
Springfield, Missouri 65806
1-417-501-8456
civilsgf@gmail.com
Operating Hours
- Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday: 11:00 in the morning through 9:00 in the evening
- Friday through Saturday: 11:00 in the morning through midnight
- Monday: Closed
Paid parking is located on the street and in nearby parking lots; but free parking is available on the street after 5:00 in the afternoon and on Saturdays and Sundays.
All photographs ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
