Saputo's

We loved our fantastic experience at Saputo's. Our wonderful server was Vanessa. I hope you have the pleasure of meeting her. I asked for a salad with extra dressing and I got it! Wow! This most certainly was not a dry salad. We enjoyed some complementary bread and butter before our entrées arrived. My wife ordered the spinach Alfredo with chicken. I had the lasagna with two meatballs on top. Vanessa suggested that I mix the meat sauce and spicy marinara. That was an unbelievably excellent combination! There's a reason this place has been a local favorite since 1948. It was one of the most enjoyable Italian restaurants we have ever experienced. Food and service are five stars all the way. We cannot wait to return. We do not have an Italian place this good at home, in Kansas City.

Great place for food and drinks! The atmosphere is very mature and warm. The waitress I had was fantastic! I forgot her name, so sorry! We ordered different things from the menu, and all were great! I ordered a tender and delicious beef fillet —you must put the garlic sauce on every bite! The bread was amazing, with toasted sesame seeds, and the butter was great. I will return and recommend it!

EXCEPTIONAL!! Great atmosphere, food, and service! Grabbed dinner here two nights in a row and it was delicious. I had salmon the first night and it was cooked perfectly. The second night I had the lasagna and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. Get the meatball side with the lasagna. You’ll thank me for it. Jenn was a great bartender and served everyone with a friendly smile. The place has been here since like 1948 and you’d swear it was your grandparent’s joint it’s so down to earth.

Men have to wear sleeves or you'll be denied entry. Paid 90 dollars for food and service that should've been maybe 50. High school lunchroom quality food. Waiter didn't give us our bread until after our butter was set out for fifteen minutes because he forgot. Bread was almost two inches thick and we got two slices. Inside the restaurant was old, dark and smelled of baby powder. 40$ breaded veal was soggy and the flavor was not anything out of the box. Salad was the buttcut of lettuce and tomato swimming in dressing. Lasagna had an aftertaste of broccoli and had essentially no meat in it. Absolutely not worth 90 bucks and absolutely not 10-20 per person that we saw on here. We regret coming here.

Saputo's has a lovely, welcoming atmosphere that makes it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The food was excellent—I started with the olive salad, which was fresh and tasty, followed by the chicken parmigiana. The chicken was tender, and the marinara sauce really stood out with its rich, flavorful taste. However, the service was slower than I'd hoped, which took away from the experience a bit. If you're not in a hurry, the great food and cozy ambiance make it worth the wait.

The service is excellent. The employees are attentive. But the taste is terrible. I like Italian restaurants. But it is the worst Italian restaurant I have tried. Pasta sauces are bad. Meat is not fresh.We didn't like anything and didn't take it home.

i don’t even make reviews like i used to but THIS PIZZA HAS MY STOMACH HURTING. i’m gluten free ordered a gluten free pepperoni pizza & i ate a few slices & went straight to the toilet. i then gave it a day & the next day the same thing happened! they said this was a gluten free crust. there’s no way my stomach would of rejected it that fast if it was. they also have on there website it’s a gluten free crust but once you get it it’s actually cauliflower do not sell gluten-free pizza. If you don’t know how to do it right that is messing with people insides!!!! $21 for a pizza i can’t even hold.

Saputo's has been around since the 1950s and is worth the visit. It has a family feel; good for gatherings of close friends and couples. They offer homemade entrées and sufficient wine & bar selections. There's low lighting, increasing the feeling of exclusivity. There's a sign on the door instructing gentlemen to wear shirts with sleeves. Only a few followed the suggestion, but it would be very fitting for a more upscale place like this. Reservations aren't a bad idea, especially for parties larger than 4!

It's all about the attention to detail: like whipped butter on thick fresh bread... like checking to ensure all items in a takeout order are provided, including all those needed accessories when eating on the go... and like going the extra step to make certain your "to go" drink (that you have been sipping on while waiting on your order to be meticulously prepared) is topped off before you leave. These details when accompanied by lively banter and some absolutely delicious main courses and appetizers - make an excellent restaurant worthy of recollection and warranting a return visit because it delivers an exceptional overall experience. Jennifer at Saputo's was in command of ALL the details for me and others around me. The kitchen's creations were outstanding - flavor profiles on a different level and a cutlet pounded by someone in full understanding of their craft. So amazingly good. Thank you again to Jennifer and the extended team who put Springfield, IL on the map for Italian Food - coming from someone who frequents the North End in Boston, Federal Hill in Providence, and Wooster St in New Haven, CT. Saputo's is both memorable and exceptional and I can't wait to return. #highquality #yelp #soldierswelcome #italian #patriotic #love

During our recent stay at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel for a convention, we decided to try Saputo's Italian Restaurant, which is just a short walk away. You really can't miss it, the brick building with a large neon sign stands out nicely. We arrived on a Saturday evening just before the dinner rush without a reservation. While we were seated right away, I'd definitely recommend making reservations if you plan to come on a weekend night, as it fills up quickly. The interior has that classic old-school Italian vibe, exactly what we were hoping for on a cozy Saturday dinner. My husband ordered the baked lasagna with Italian sausage, and I had the baked ravioli made in-house, served with Italian meatballs. We started with bruschetta, which was a great choice to kick off the meal. Our meals came with a simple house salad of lettuce and tomatoes with a choice of dressing. When the main courses arrived, fresh sliced bread and butter were served....a lovely, authentic touch. Our server was extremely friendly and attentive throughout our visit. The food reminded us of classic "Ma and Pa" Italian cooking, hearty, comforting, and satisfying. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and would happily return if we're in Springfield again.

We loved Saputo's!! I'm SO glad we didn't heed Mary K's lame review. I don't think she ate at the same restaurant we did. They do have a basket of crackers, but that wasn't the bread basket we were brought. We were served bread twice in a basket that resembled the basket, the crackers were in. Some people are just never happy with anything. On to our fantastic experience at Saputo's. Our wonderful server was Vanessa. I hope you have the pleasure of meeting her. I asked for a salad with extra dressing and I got it! Wow! This most certainly was not a dry salad. We enjoyed some complementary bread and butter before our entrées arrived. My wife ordered the spinach Alfredo with chicken. I had the lasagna with two meatballs on top. Vanessa suggested that I mix the meat sauce and spicy marinara. That was an unbelievably excellent combination! There's a reason this place has been a local favorite since 1948. It was one of the most enjoyable Italian restaurants we have ever experienced. Food and service are five stars all the way. We cannot wait to return. We do not have an Italian place this good at home, in Kansas City.

I think old school is cool. And if you like old school you'll enjoy Saputos. I stopped in on a work related event and just had the pleasure of sitting at the bar. The employees were so friendly and the smells that filled the place took me back to my younger days with grandma serving up Sunday dinner to the family. I will definitely jump into a dish of food next time I'm in the area but this place has been around a long time so I think it goes without saying. The food must be amazing

Great service and AMAZING FOOD in a wonderful old school Italian restaurant atmosphere. You can't go wrong stopping in at Saputo's

Like going back in time. Vintage dark ambiance and decor Be sure to make a reservation because it's a favorite They make the ravioli in house. The cheese is my favorite but the meat is good too You get fresh bread with real butter for the table Full bar. The martini is shaken table side The fried chicken is very good if you don't want to go full Italian

Our pizza was amazing! Our server, Kristy was friendly was very personable and quick. When we first arrived we were seated by a friendly gentleman and our experience was exceptional!

About all we can say about Saputos is that the air conditioning was a welcome relief from the staggering 100 degree heat. My pizza was greasy and overwhelmingly salty. Her spaghetti sauce didn't really taste like spaghetti sauce, more like tomato paste with a little sugar in it. And her salad was iceberg lettuce and, well, more iceberg lettuce. Even the bread was just plain dry...not the vibrant homemade style of most home-style Italian joints. A major fail.

Lasagna doesn't have meat so order with mushrooms or meatballs. Salad is awesome. The staff have been great for forever and some of them have been there forever. The table bread and butter is amazing.

I'm fan of real old school Italian cuisine, like Tufano's Vernon Park Tap and Saputo's reminds me of Tufano's. Frankly I prefer Saputo's. I had the ala carte meat platter that included savory Italian beef, 4 Italian meatballs made the correct Italian way and two delicious pieces of Italian sausage. I also ordered a side of spaghetti. The sauce at Saputo's is as close to perfect as you will find, not too bitter and not too sweet. My wife had the baked Mostaccioli and it's as good or better than you will find anywhere. Generous portions as well, I couldn't finish my meal and I shared a meatball with my wife. Additionally, homemade bread is also provided. The ambiance is dark, it reminds me of a place the "Good Fellas" would eat. Service was excellent as well, precise and attentive. Highly recommended!

This place has been here for years and still serves quality food with good service. It has an Italian motif and quaint setting. We had the baked cheese ravioli, one with a meatball and one with sausage. Both were delicious and filling. The house salads were quite filling and tasty. If there were a drawback it would be the bread. Really not much taste for a quality Italian restaurant. They serve quality food at reasonable prices so treat yourself.

What do you say about a restaurant that presents itself as a local institution but so utterly lacks charm, ambience, or passable Italian food? (The first clue: bread basket filled with wrapped saltines and bread sticks.) This was a Chef Boyardee experience for sure, accompanied by the worst loud music played through a ratty sound system. Overcooked pasta smothered in a foothill of metallic tasting tomato sauce without even the finessing touch of Parmesan cheese. Or olive oil. Or decent bread. Our waitress was pleasant, but most other staff including bartender, surly. A must to avoid.

ok food with ok service. Fettucine Alfredo, sauce is decent but not great, the noodles have the texture of a frozen dinner. Salad is fresh with lots of dressing which is nice.

Old-school but elegant Italian restaurant. All their menu options look and smell wonderful. I myself am a sucker for a baked pasta dish, and their baked ravioli was fan-freakin-tastic!

Loved the vibe of this place. I went there on a Monday and it was packed. I started with a manhattan, which was delicious. Toasted ravioli and chicken Parm were excellent. I tried a bit of a friend's lasagna, and it was average, so i wouldn't get that. Overall great experience.

You half expect Tony Soprano to walk through the place with Carm & the kids, and the history of the Saputo brothers on the wall echoes that Italian family vibe. All that's missing are red & white checkered tablecloths, but this place is further up the scale. For a place that stretches back into the late 1940's, Saputo's is still churning out sensational Italian favorites. A full bar & a solid wine list will kick off your dining experience with 'house' wines available for those with less sophisticated palates (me). I felt like a Chianti was in order because I was set on eating anything that was awash in the house gravy. Sweet Chianti never lets me down when balanced against the acidic San Marzano tomatoes and this time was no different. Eyeballing others' portions allowed me to gauge both my appetite and willingness to get a certain meal size (I was traveling, so to go was no option). Enter the a'la carte menu, with single-serve options from ravioli to lasagna and lots in between. "The marinara is a touch spicy, sir" I was told, but I was all in on a hot dish of manicotti (in July) and my foodie daughter upped my ante with a baked ravioli of her own. Both were fabulous, smothered in marinara and pasta done *just* right with the cheese bubbling and slightly browned. And our server was totally correct, the marinara did have some kick, but the sauce's sweetness punched above its weight class for a wonderful gravy! These are the kinds of dishes that scream for crusty bread so one can mop up alllll of the goodness and Saputo's came through with warm house bread (maybe a hair late) allowing us to clean out our dinner dishes. "Did you leave room for dessert?" Pfft, like I need a reason for tiramisu. Light and layered, drizzled with chocolate and topped with cream, the tiramisu did not come up short. It was the proper ending to a great Italian meal. Park on the street or in any of the garages around the downtown core. Value far outstrips price and if you order off of the big kids' menu, you are guaranteed to take some with as you leave. Great service, smashing food, and great atmosphere!

The pork chop was delicious, cooked perfectly! The salmon was just ok, kind of bland. I did not get a picture of the bread because I was so excited to eat it I totally forgot! It is the very best Italian bread served warm with butter! AMAZING!!! The service was fabulous, everything is reasonably priced.

Oof. Look I get that it's Springfield but damn. If you want Food here get chicken fingers because you might have a better chance. Everything is saltier than the ocean. Service is actually very good and the aura of the location seems old Italian. The problem is that whoever is cooking has never had Italian food. My Italian salad tasted like olive juice. I got the veal Parmesan. A mess of a meal. It's salty Ragu with a mix of soggy beef. The pasta must be from the dollar store. This place has opportunity. But please bring Gordon Ramsey here for kitchen nightmares and let him witness this mess. This food is as trash as Illinois politics.

We came to Springfield to tour the Lincoln Library and found Saputo's close by. When you walk in you know you are in an old, original Italian eatery. There hasn't been much updates in the last 30 years or so and it was perfect. All the regulars eating at the bar added a nice touch. The servers knew their food, they had been working there for some time. We started with the anchovy salad, something I have never seen on a menu and it was excellent - lots of anchovy's. I then had the ravioli and I loved every bite. The red sauce was perfect and the ravioli's were large and stuffed full of goodness. One of our favorite stops on vacation this week.

We always stop in Saputo's every time we're in Springfield. It is our favorite place to eat and drink when we're in town. They have the best food, great drinks, and the best atmosphere. The regular bartender is great, personable, and friendly. We love to sit at the bar to eat and meet the best people. One of our all-time favorites that we will always come back to!

Went on Saturday night. 80%full. Pretty busy. Dark and small space inside. Ordered spinach fettuccine with chicken. Chicken was juicy. Fettuccine was al dente? I say it was very chewy. The waitress said they don't know if there is dairy in a complementary bread. What?!?! Are they serving something not sure what is made of? It looked so good, but I couldn't have ....: (

First of all, this place is a downtown Springfield icon. It hasn't changed its appearance in my memory, so it's a combination of kitch, retro and casual fine dining. Over the last 50 years of coming here there may have been a miss or two, but come on, now. I think Jennifer Coolidge was our waitress and she was quite entertaining. I don't think she was trying. The food was great, and lots of it. The usual, pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna. It is always sad when a place doesn't get the basics right, but Saputo's hits the mark.

We came here for dinner as a party of 6. We called about 15 minutes before heading over to see if we needed to make a reservation, and they were very quickly able to accommodate us. We were seated as soon as we walked in the door. The service was fantastic. Everyone we interacted with was so pleasant and helpful. The food was great. The bread was so soft and fresh. The bruschetta was so flavorful. We were in the sun all day, so I didn't want to eat anything hot, but the pizzas looked incredible. I went with the grilled chicken salad with the house-made Italian dressing for my entree. I HIGHLY recommend trying at least a side salad with that dressing. It was the star of the show for me. Even better news- they sell bottles of that dressing, and it doesn't have to be refrigerated! We had a really great experience here, and should I ever find myself back in Springfield, I wouldn't hesitate to come back!

I almost didn't come here because the overall stars are low. Hope that changes with all the new 5 star reviews though because this place is definitely worth coming to! Service was exceptional and you can tell how much the servers care about their customers, both new and old. While waiting for my food, I witnessed one of the servers leading a gentleman who was blind out to the front of the restaurant. She was so caring and compassionate. A true demonstration of human kindness. The food is also to die for! I ordered the Baked Rigatoni, which was covered in a delicious amount of cheese and a homemade meatball. Definitely recommend coming here as soon as you can!

OMG... growing up my mother's specialty was manicotti so I really looked forward to celebrating her birthday today.... in her honor. she always made a garlic bread with anchovies so I ordered the anchovy bread. The bread was soaked in grease. I was very much looking forward to that bread because I have never seen anyone except my mother make it. The server came to the table, I told her that I wasn't going to be able to eat it. And I asked her what she thought of the meatballs because I thought they were really salty. She said don't worry I'll take care of you. The owner came into the middle of the restaurant and in front of the entire restaurant told me to leave or he would kick my effing ass and that he's been open for years and never had anybody complain about his anchovy bread. I cannot believe that an older man is that offended because my stomach couldn't tolerate that type of grease. I think that there's something wrong with him and that he is completely unhinged and unwell. Obviously that's why the food quality is suffering terribly. I feel sorry for him because he needs help. Its unfortunate that he threatened me in front of the restaurant.

Sapputos is a must try if you are visiting the land of Lincoln. It's a tiny hole in the wall Italian restaraunt. Some of the best lasagna I've ever eaten! I absolutely love this place! The service was great the food fresh and piping hot. For the price you definitely get your moneys worth. It may not look like a lot but as your eating you'll feel like you're not even making a dent in it.

Too mainstream. They are stingy with the sauce. It's literally offensive how little they gave. Cost me $2 for an extra 6oz. The salad looked stale and pre-packaged from the night before.

Convenient to Doubletree downtown; solid food; very good prices. Not the most modern of restaurants but it's historic! I had the baked ravioli and it was quite good.

Terrible service. The waitress never asked us what we wanted to drink just dropped off waters then left. After taking our order we never saw her again even though there was only 1 other table. We could see and hear her being very friendly and helpful to the other table which she obviously thought would give her a bigger tip (she's right I have her a terrible tip because she sucked). The food didn't help matters either. The chicken Parmesan was very clearly a Sysco frozen chicken patty with red sauce and cheese, and the Italian "fries" were just soggy potato rounds covered in olive oil and Italian seasoning they were also cold. There is no music playing so when there are very few people in there it's awkward to have a conversation since it is dead quiet. Would never recommend

A magnificent Italian restaurant. The problem with, um, previous reviewers is that they have "never had Italian food" and don't know great Italian food when they taste it. Oh, well. Those of us who know great Italian food can ignore the previous reviewers - or, really, just one reviewer - who has "never had Italian food." Chicken fingers? Are you kidding me?

So every time I come to town, I go to Saputo's. Consistently I get either the lasagna or the simple spaghetti and meatballs. Seriously, those meatballs are a portal to another dimension of time and space. Just plain spaghetti and meatballs with red sauce...all I need to find bliss. The waitstaff is so kind and attentive. Locals who remember your name and catch up a bit with you while ordering. It's the finest of Italian American culture. You're truly treated like family here. Go here a few times and walk in, I bet you'll see your favorite staff throw up their arms and exclaim " Hey! You're back! Come right over here where I've got a table for you!" It's the feeling of family and Americana I can't get enough of.

We love this place I had the eggplant Parmesan, which was perfect and we also had an anchovy bread and antipasto plate. A big hit was the handmade ravioli and their house dressing on my salad was really good too

I was in Springfield for a conference and had dinner here with a client. This is a classic Italian restaurant with all the classic dishes. Old school decor and menu but you can't go wrong no matter what you order. They could shoot an episode of The Saprano's in there it's so authentic.

Service was friendly, sat us down fast. ambiance was old fashioned a little too dim for me. I understand the whole classic Italian thing but our food came out on what looked like ww2 era mess plates. Food was a little lacking. I got the chicken parm with fettuccine Alfredo. Presentation was 2 pieces of chicken with sauce and cheese. A little soggy our noodles were pretty good. our waiter grabbed our bread with their bare hands probably shouldn't do that. Was very friendly though we liked their personality. Feel like this spot was once awesome. Could use some slight improvements imo

Visited Saputo's for the first time and instantly upon entering I knew the food was going to be good. It smelled amazing as soon as the door opened. Upon entering we were greeted promptly and took to our table. The space is much bigger than it appears too. I had the chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and it's a very generous portion. There were two chicken breast seasoned, covers and cheese and a really yummy tomato sauce. I requested marina. The spaghetti came separate and on the side. I also chose the Cesar salad for the meal and it was yummy. It even had the fish in their per traditional Cesar salad. I would definitely come back for some Italian food and recommend them.

The food was great, but are server was never around. She forgot a few things in that we ordered. The place was friendly and decor old school, but very nice. Definitely go there for the food. Hopefully you get a decent waitress.

Great service and Food. Old school Italian with a delicious breaded filet. Give them a try

Good Italian food, friendly waiters and waitresses. The bread was wonderful and my ravioli was excellent!

Positives: 1. Conveniently located walking distance from the Wyndham and Double tree hotels 2. Great customer service - while waiting a few minutes for the host to find us a table, we were asked by at least 2 other people if we were being helped. Our server was friendly and attentive. We were visited during our meal by the someone other than our server to ensure all was well. 3. Food was good - I ordered eggplant parm; hubby ordered linguini in clam sauce. Fair sized portions. Negatives: 1. Could use an update/remodel. 2. Tables were too close for comfort.

Excellent food! The best sausage sandwich I have eaten. I highly recommend. Service was quick and courteous.

Love the ambience, feels like it's been here a long time. The lasagna and meatballs were unbelievable. Thank you for an outstanding meal, friendly service and speed.

This is a family friendly, old-school Italian restaurant, close to the convention center and the two hotels. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the food was good. I would definitely recommend this place for someone staying or attending the convention center.

I ate at the bar last visit. Truly a Springfield tradition. Food is traditional Italian.

The best steak I've ever had. The little pot of flavor they set on the plate is pure heaven. I would have given 5 stars, but we were greeted rather rudely by the man at the door. We were dressed to go to a concert at a local bar. Everyone else seemed pretty casually dressed, so I'm unsure why he was so cold to us. It set us off on a bad foot. Glad we stayed and gave it a chance. I would return, in hopes of a better, more welcoming greeting next time.

Delicious and authentic....just what we wanted! From the bread to the salad to our entrees-all of it was wonderful!

Absolutely delicious, though the lactose intolerant need not sit down! Started with the house salad with Italian dressing and crumbled blue cheese. It was very good. The wife had eggplant Parmesan and loved it, though she said it wasn't crisp under the sauce and cheese, but still very good. I had the lasagna which they self describe is not your typical lasagna. Instead of using ricotta, they bury the stuff in their homemade mozzarella. And this isn't just a sprinkle of cheese, it is a mountain of cheese! I get the meat sweats when digging into a big 'ol steak, but have never gotten the cheese sweats until I dug into this lasagna! The noodles are a bit different, too. Rather than using full size lasagna noodles, they are cutting them into fettuccini width which allows the cheese and sauce to be more prevalent in every fork full. Also had a couple of home made meat balls on top which were very good. Sauce was plentiful and a bit on the sweet side. Service was friendly and fast. Would come back again in a heart beat.

A must if you are in town. I was in town for 3 weeks for work so I came in a couple of times. OLD SCHOOL Italian place. Food is not the best Italian I've ever had but was way above average and you will want to go back. The experience is worth the trip. VERY reasonable prices. Fantastic service.

We absolutely love coming here! It's such a warm, comforting environment. Our service is always wonderful and the food is excellent.

Service was fantastic. Food was good but not as much as we paid. Ambience? Old School look which we love. I'd give it a 4 1/2 overall.