It's been awhile since I was down at the area around the museum, but the must have food in Springfield is called a horseshoe, or a ponyshoe for the smaller portion. It is a piece of toast, then a hamburger pattie, fries and lastly cheese sauce over the top of it all. It is the best meal you will have! The best place to get it is at D'Arcy's, but I am sure their is a place closer to downtown.

Norb Andy's is right downtown and has good horseshoes but D'arcy's is worth the trip because they are that good. It's also kind of on the way out of town toward STL. You can get other meat than a hamburger too. My favorite is the buffalo chicken horseshoe. My favorite place to eat downtown is Cafe Brio if you want to stay close to the museum.