There are other responses on these topics in the forum, but my $.02, after having travelled to Springpatch for many years from Champaign:

D'Arcy's Pint is good (local stroke-inducing horseshoe is served there), Cafe Brio downtown is consistently very good, sort of an upscale Mexican-influenced cuisine.

As far as hotels, I have stayed ins everal but by no means all, the best I have found is the Clarion Statehouse, near the Capitol and quite close to the Lincoln sites downtown. I really would avoid the Hilton downtown as well as the Abe Lincoln, the Garden Inn should be fine, but it's out by I-55 and quite some distance from downtown (although there are a bunch of chain places nearby).

Sorry, just saw your caveat about the Clarion, if that's the case and you must stay downtown, saty at the Hilton. I doubt parking at the Hilton Garden Inn would cost anything, it's well away from downtown, and none of the hotels in that area I have stayed in have ever charged for parking.

I don't see any reason to avoid the downtown Hilton myself. I have stayed there and it was nice. Great view from the top. The Clarion is the best but since thats not an option, the Hilton is a fine second choice. Make sure you look on other sites for the Clarion though. Other travel sites may not have sold out of the rooms they have at the Clarion. I have never stayed at the Abe Lincoln but I heard it was just OK.

I am guessing the Italian restaurant is Saputos. Very good food. I can give a huge second to D'arcy's too. Horseshoes are a local artery clogging conglomeration Springfield invented and D'arcy's has the best. WARNING: A HORSESHOE IS NO A LIGHTER CHOICE! Downtown there is Cafe Brio which is very good but might not be the best place for a picky eater. There are some other downtown cafe's, sub shops, pizza places and, if its still there, Weiner Dog where you can get good Chicago Dogs.

The Hilton Garden Inn is on the southeast end of town and it's near the interstate. No parking charges there. I don't know if the downtown Hilton or the "Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center" charge for parking. There are parking ramps (which charge) next to each, but they may validate so you don't have to pay. Good question to ask.

I've not been in the rooms at either hotel for many years (I'm a local) however, the Hilton just had a complete renovation about 4 years ago, and I have been in the Abraham Lincoln twice in the last 6 months or so, and the common areas have been kept up quite nicely. That hotel used to be a Ramada Renaissance until about a year ago.

We dine at D'Arcy's almost every Saturday night and if the horseshoe is too much (I'm a hearty eater and I can't finish one) they have a "pony shoe" which is about half a horseshoe. The Italian restaurant, Saputo's twin's corner, is one block from the Hilton & A. Lincoln.

There is a new Italian restaurant on the southwest end of town called Bella Milano. I don't care for Italian food, but had the chicken Milano last Sunday night and it was wonderful. Superb food, but maybe a little pricey for here...not out of line in a bigger city.

Something to consider, the Hilton and the Lincoln hotels are right in the thick of the downtown Lincoln Sites. Very easy walk to any of them.

When will you be coming to Springfield?

I am curious:What is a horseshoe?

Excellent question. Commonly referred to as a "heart attack on a plate." It was created here in Springfield in the 1930s by the chef at the old Leland hotel who subsequently became the chef at the now (recently closed) NorbAndy's Pub.

It consists of a base of Texas toast with your choice of meat on top, such as ham, hamburger, chicken, or my favorite Buffalo chicken. Top that with a cheesy sauce...technically, Welsh rarebit sauce, but most just use a kind of white cheese...and cover that liberally with french fries.

Without question, in Springfield the place to find the best is D'Arcy's Pint. Nice Irish style pub & grill. Almost any time you arrive there you'll find a wait time from 20 minutes to more than an hour. They have some cocktail tables in a side room with big screen TV's, or you can wait at the bar if there's room. The building where it is now was erected just over 2 years ago and it's clean and nice. Plenty of free, off street parking in their lot.

The ponyshoe is a smaller version of a horseshoe, and I suspect it's adequate for most appetites. To give you an idea of pricing, 4 Miller Lites and two Buffalo ponyshoes comes to $24.01.

D'Arcy's also has Smithwick's which is a dark brew like Guinness but much smoother and more mellow without that stout "bite." Smithwicks (pronounced smiddick's) was the predecessor to Guinness, and is now beginning to catch on here in the states.

Wow. Okay.............I'll have mine with a side of angioplasty please!

Seriously, it sounds great!

In actuality, it's probably no worse than eating a personal sized pizza, it just looks artery clogging. Quite tasty, too.

Genoagirl: Genoa, IL? I have fond memories of being at the Genoa (or was it Kirkland) Veterans' Memorial and watching the trains go through.

I might have to disagree with you there, Lee. At least the buffalo chicken horseshoe (the one I get) is probably worse. Fried chicken breast covered in french fries and cheese sauce. Tough to get worse than that unless you throw in a couple sticks of butter wrapped in bacon.

Like pizza, they are just too tasty not too eat!

Thanks for the advise. We will be there for part of Labor Day weekend. I will book something by tomorrow.