Looking for a cozy fall date night in downtown Springfield? The Order at Hotel Vandivort just rolled out its new fall menu, and Josh and I were invited to an exclusive tasting event. We've been to several of these seasonal tastings at The Order, and this one was hands down our favorite so far.
The new menu leans into fall in the best way, with sunchokes, parsnips, brussels sprouts and carrots on the food side, and baked apple, pawpaw, chai and star anise on the cocktail side.
Every time we come to one of these tastings, we're blown away by the wide variety of dishes the chefs at The Order can create, and this menu was no exception.
The Cocktails
We got to try four of the new seasonal cocktails, and they were all so unique!
The Quiet Season $18
Toasted bourbon, roasted hojicha, cherry blossom, star anise
An elevated, fall-themed old fashioned. Josh ordered this one and said it was good. I took a sip, and it was too strong for my taste.
Last Light in the Orchard $14
Baked apple, pawpaw, sherry, lemon
Apple pie in a glass, with a kick of cinnamon and booze.
The Golden Hour $16
Chai gin, carrot, orgeat, lemon
This one gave a healthy vibe while still being light and refreshing.
Afterglow $15
Rum, coconut, roasted coffee, lime
Not what we expected with coffee on the menu. It tasted like a fall-themed Mai Tai!
The Food
Our tasting included a dish from each part of the menu, from first bites all the way through dessert.
Grilled CarrotsOur Fave
Kimchi vinaigrette, fried mustard greens, pistachio · Vegetarian, gluten free
Our favorite dish of the night! On paper it didn't quite make sense to us, but holy flavor. Don't skip this one just because it's carrots.
Buttonwood Chicken
Brown butter parsnip puree, brussels sprouts, carrot-chicken jus · Gluten free
A close second for us. The chicken was perfectly juicy and so flavorful, especially with the carrot-chicken jus on the plate.
Scallops
Sunchoke puree, turnip greens, agrumato vinaigrette · Gluten free
Two big scallops with a beautiful golden sear, sitting in a pool of silky sunchoke puree. I'm personally not a fan of scallops because of the texture, but Josh loved them!
Smoked Angus Culotte
Shoestring sunchoke, grilled broccolini, salsa macha, bone marrow hollandaise · Gluten free
The showstopper of the night, sliced and topped with a pile of crispy shoestring sunchokes.
Dessert
Banana Pudding $14
Brown butter caramel, vanilla wafer, bruléed banana, fried banana peel
We'd tried this banana pudding before, so we were thrilled to see it officially make the fall menu! It comes in a little cast iron skillet with bruléed bananas on top and a crispy fried banana peel garnish.
I'll admit I still miss the s'mores dessert from last year's fall menu, but this is a pretty great replacement.
Our Tasting Menu
Here's the menu we got to try. It isn't the full fall menu. It was created just for our tasting event and features a selection of the new fall dishes and cocktails. You can see the full dinner menu on Hotel Vandivort's website.
Final Thoughts
This was our favorite tasting at The Order yet! We're always so impressed by the range of dishes the team creates, and this menu is full of cozy fall flavors.
If you go, you have to order the grilled carrots. Trust me on this one. The Buttonwood Chicken is another must, and save room for the banana pudding.
If you're looking for a fall date night or a special dinner out in downtown Springfield, grab a reservation and try the new fall menu at The Order.
Hotel Vandivort & Vantage Rooftop
Part of what makes The Order extra special is where it lives. It's located inside Hotel Vandivort in downtown Springfield. Josh and I have stayed at Hotel V several times and love its unique, upscale vibe. It's the perfect spot for a staycation or a special night away.
Before or after dinner, head up to Vantage, the hotel's rooftop bar. It's such a fun spot, with incredible sunset and city views. Dinner at The Order followed by drinks at Vantage makes for the ultimate date night!
Hi, I'm Anne Mueller
I love reviewing restaurants, hotels, pop-ups, bars and experiences of all kinds, usually with my husband Josh along for the ride. I'll always give you the honest scoop on what we loved and what to order.
Have a restaurant, hotel or experience you'd like reviewed? Email me at andrea@socialontheside.com.