Galloway Grill

At Galloway Grill, the Trail Burger is loaded with crispy bacon, smoky barbecue sauce and melty cheddar cheese. 

Galloway Grill
4211 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, 417-882-5300, gallowaygrill.com

April is one of my favorite months for patio dining in 417-land. The air is starting to warm up, and some of the early flowering trees are starting to bud. But we haven’t entered the heavy, hot, humid summer months. Warm patio-friendly weather still feels new, and I always jump at the chance to take advantage of it.

Galloway Grill is the perfect spot to do just that. Its spacious patio backs up to the Galloway Creek Greenway trail and has the perfect blend of shade and bright sun, plus it’s just private enough to make you forget you’re sitting right next to Lone Pine Avenue. The inside of the restaurant also boasts a relaxed atmosphere, and the food goes right along with it. The casual-but-delicious bar and grill food is the perfect accompaniment to a happy hour beer. On my first visit with a friend, I opted for a salad simply named The Salad, which can be turned into a wrap on request. The tortilla was filled with mixed greens, ham, egg, grilled chicken, onions, toasted almonds, apple and ranch dressing. I wasn’t sure about apples and ranch in one bite, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was quite a tasty salad combo, but I found myself drooling over the massive burgers being eaten at the next table. 

So next time I went to Galloway Grill, I ordered the Trail Burger. This huge chargrilled burger comes topped with two slices of thick, crispy bacon and a slice of melty cheddar cheese. It’s all doused in sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, with some crunchy veggies on the side. (I added the pickles and red onions to mine.) It was hearty and super-filling. In fact, I could barely finish half of it. You get a choice of fries on the side (fresh-cut, beer-battered or sweet potato), and I opted for the fresh cut. They are thick, crispy and perfect for dunking in ketchup. 

Or perfect as the base for the Monster Chili Cheese Fries. Yep, I tried those on the same gluttonous visit. This appetizer comes with a pile of those crispy fries topped with a generous scoop of meaty, beany homemade chili, plenty of melted cheddar-jack cheese and a bit of cool sour cream. Toss on some spicy pickled jalapeños as the perfect kicker to this app. These fries are addictive, so you might want to order them when you’re dining with a hungry crowd of friends who can help you devour every cheesy bite. You know, as portion control.

If this sounds like quite a meaty menu, you’re right. But vegetarians can find a hearty meal here, too. On my salad wrap visit, my friend ordered the restaurant’s veggie burger. It’s vegan, actually. The patty is made from brown rice, quinoa, bulgar, roasted corn, black beans and roasted red peppers, all topped with some tasty hummus. 

Whether you go for a lighter option like a salad wrap or a veggie burger, or dig into something artery-clogging like that monstrous burger, make sure you snag a seat outside, so you can take in the spring sunshine when you pop into this yummy little spot.

Galloway Grill has a prime location next to the Galloway Creek Greenway Trail. If you eat on the restaurant’s patio on a warm sunny day, you’re almost guaranteed to see people exercising.

Galloway Grill’s casual atmosphere provides the perfect setting for enjoying a beer or chowing down on a thick, meaty burger.