Where to eat dinner in Joplin or Springfield and breakfast in St Louis

[cyalexa]

I'm driving from Stillwater to St. Louis. I am leaving Thursday afternoon and am spending the night in Joplin or Springfield. Purina is taking care of my meals beginning with dinner Friday (no, not dog food; in fact I hear they put on quite a spread). I'm reading my way through old posts but most are very old. Any new ideas? BTW, taking a different route home to visit friends in Manhattan KS.

[joiei]

Sorry I missed this.  I don't hang out here as much as I used to.  Joplin - Eagle Drive In, just up the hill from the freeway at the hospital exit, great burgers.  Couple of local guys who went away to culinary school and returned home.  Another is Instant Karma in old downtown.  Gourmet hot dogs and an interesting craft beer selection.  

 

In Springfield, there are a lot of intersting dining places in downtown.  Something to not miss here is Askinoise Chocolates,  they are a chocolate maker, they take the product from the raw beans to the finished product.  You might enjoy the Aviary, I think that is how its spelled it is a little french place.  

[cyalexa]

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably be going that way again so the info is still useful.

[cyalexa]

Similar route (Stillwater, Springfield/Osage Beach, STL, Manhattan KS, Wichita KS, Stillwater), new request for ideas. I've eaten at Cafe Cusco. Hoping to get into Bulrush while in STL.