Small Plates, Big Flavor and Great Service Define Queen City Wine Dive

It is rare that I enjoy a dining experience as much as I enjoyed dinner at Queen City Wine Dive. Located off of the square in downtown Springfield, the Wine Dive embodies all the features that, in my opinion, elevate a restaurant above a run-of-the-mill establishment. Stylish but comfortable ambiance? Check. Relaxed but knowledgeable service? Check. A curated but unpretentious booze selection? Check. And then let’s talk about the food. Although I didn’t get to try everything, what I tried was delicious, a feat that is accomplished by far too few restaurants. The bulk of the menu is composed of small plates and sides, which is by far my favorite way to dine. It’s also Owner Micah Pope’s favorite way to dine. 

Pope has spent almost two decades in the local restaurant industry. He cut his teeth at Riverside Inn, a now-shuttered but past local favorite fine dining restaurant in Ozark. He then spent almost a decade at Flame, eventually becoming the restaurant’s wine director and bar manager. Most recently he spent a few years slinging cocktails at Scotch & Soda, and it was while working there that Pope started writing the business plan for Wine Dive. He knew from the beginning he wanted the concept of the restaurant to be centered on wine, and he knew he wanted the menu to reflect the way he enjoyed eating, which is why he decided to craft a menu of small plates and shareables. He likes being able to try a lot of different things when he dines out. “You can have multiple plates without ordering $1,000 worth of food,” he says. 

A couple of weeks ago, 417 Magazine’s Creative Director Heather Kane and I stopped by for a late dinner on a Wednesday night. I arrived first and was immediately charmed by the decor and atmosphere. The decor is industrial without feeling cold, and the low lighting and candles create a warm and inviting ambience—the Wine Dive would make a great date spot, FYI. Heather arrived a few minutes later, and once we were settled in at our table, we turned our attention to the wine menu. The Wine Dive operates a draft wine system with 18 taps, so there are plenty of wine-by-the-glass options. Heather opted for the Boedecker pinot noir, and I chose the Wither Hills sauvignon blanc. Both were excellent. Glasses of wine on the menu run from $5 to $12. There are also two taps of rotating featured wine that are reserved for specialty wines. While we were enjoying our wine and perusing the menu, a small bowl of complimentary corn fritters appeared at our table. 

Crispy on the outside, warm and salty-sweet on the inside, they were delicious. They would also set the tone for the rest of the evening. One thing I came to appreciate throughout our meal was that none of the food felt like a throw-away dish. Everything, including the sides and sauces, was good. The food wasn’t fancy, but it was all delicious. For our entrees, we decided to order four small plates and split them. The menu is a delightful mix of healthyish food and comfort food, and we ordered a little bit of both.