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Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – There are only a few days left for diners at Legacy Pointe Eatery to enjoy creative vegan dishes as part of the Vegan Chef Challenge. Owner Dustin Coons and his team have crafted unique dishes to celebrate plant-based dining, including Beyond Sausage and Mushroom Flatbread, Grilled Tofu with Mushroom Ragout, and a Caramel Apple Sorbet dessert. The flatbread, especially, has been popular among customers, according to Coons.
Photos courtesy of Legacy Pointe Eatery
Guests who love the challenge dishes at Legacy Pointe and more than 20 other area restaurants are encouraged to vote for their favorites on the official website at veganchefchallenge.org.
Alongside the challenge offerings, Coons notes that Legacy Pointe also serves a vegetarian chili that’s a crowd favorite. “A lot of folks can’t even tell it’s vegetarian,” Coons said. The chili uses a black bean veggie burger in place of ground beef and a vegetable-based stock. “It’s fantastic,” he said.
For Coons, creating a well-rounded menu is essential in the competitive Springfield restaurant market. “We try to find different ways to do some things and make as much as possible from scratch,” he said. With dishes to suit vegan, vegetarian, and meat-eating diners, Legacy Pointe Eatery offers a menu that’s both inclusive and diverse.
For those seeking traditional options, Coons highlights hand-cut New York strip steaks and the spicy goat burger topped with jalapeño bacon and goat cheese, which he said will “knock your socks off.” In a city full of chicken sandwich options, Coons said you need to try the Legacy Chicken Sandwich and the Nashville version of the sandwich. He said they’ve been told more than a few times that they are the best chicken sandwiches in town. Oh, and of course, you’ll find a ponyshoes on the menu. It is Springfield, after all.
Coons’ approach prioritizes from-scratch preparation and providing options for all dietary needs. “When we design dishes and menus, we try to be inclusive and consider folks with different needs,” he explains, adding that gluten-free options are also available. Coons’ philosophy is simple yet heartfelt: “I like when everyone has options to eat, and everyone is treated fairly.”
Whether for a special vegan meal or a hearty steak, Legacy Pointe Eatery at 1130 W. Legacy Pointe Dr. in Springfield is sure to please every palate.