Solo dining in Springfield, Illinois?

[NCdiner]

1. Saturday night dinner for one in Springfield, Illinois. Trying to figure out the "best" restaurant downtown where I can sit at the bar and have a nice dinner. Any cuisine, nice atmosphere, expensive is OK if it's worth it. I've heard that it's easier for solo diners to just get a table. Do they discourage eating at the bar?

2. Same question for Sunday brunch/lunch. Downtown preferred but I will have a car. Again, prefer to sit at the bar.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[chris in illinois]

I don't know if you can eat at the bar at either place---hell, I'm not sure Augie's has a bar--, but Sebastian's Hideout and Augie's Front Burner are both pretty decent places within 1 block of the Old State Capitol Building. It's been a year or two since I've been to either, but I've had fine meals at both.

If you're willing to venture a mile or two from downtown, there is a new restaurant, Ross Issac's at 1710 S. MacArthur that I'd highly recommend---they have a bar, but I ate in the other room, so I don't know if anyone ate there or not. I'm guessing it wouldn't be an issue. Phone [phone].

Have a good visit and enjoy our moderately decent city.

[NCdiner]

Thanks for the suggestions. I ended up at the bar in the lower level of Sebastian's Hideout. Very good food and service. There was a large group down there that got a little noisy. I think they were in town for the big car show that weekend. By the way, the "Sky Bar" at the top of the Hilton, mentioned in a New York Times article about Springfield a few months ago, was closed. It looks like it has been closed for quite some time.

[chris in illinois]

Glad you liked it. I went there a few years back for an anniversary and had an excellent meal. The Hilton thing doesn't surprise me, it's been about thirty different concepts in 30 years.