Neighbor's Mill Bakery & Café

Neighbor's Mill is a eatery with an identity crisis. They can't decide if they are a hip trendy spot with an upscale retro vibe with fresh original homemade options, or are they a more upscale Panera/Chiptole/Starbucks that's not done well, with a bakery. Walking in, the decor has a mid century mad men retro feel. Your hopes and expectations are hightened. Then, it all kinda falls apart from there. Its unclear from the start is this a fully sit down full service? No, no one is there to seat you. Head in further and the obvious lunch menu with wonderful sounding items are prominently on the wall. But where are the breakfast choices? Well, maybe on the right with the delicious looking bakery items. Ahh, the coffee menu. Hope springs up again. Breakfast? Unclear. People standing in an unclear line direction. Let's find the end?? of the line. Ahhh, there's a menu of breakfast items on a small handheld menu. Breakfast sandwiches pretty much, but those baked items, muffins, crossiants, scones, and cinnamon rolls thick with cream cheese icing stand in that case just begging to go with you on whatever journey you're on. Promising again. Finally, the line idea gets worked out. "We'll we kinda do two lines." As clientele in confusion voice, "I'm still not sure how this works, or if I'm in a line." Never a good sign. *shrug* Allright time to order. Hubby and daughter breakfast sammies, pastries, and a coffee (black, because of course) and an apple juice. They are handed their pastry and the coffee cup to self fill and a number for the table. Ok, my order a sammie, a lemon blueberry muffin, and a vanilla cappuccino with almond milk (good sign). Hubby pays and they head to table with coffee cup and pastries. Staff steps away and begins to wait on other customers? Um, may I get my muffin? Oh sure. It's there not an arm's length from the cash register. Ok, she's young and it's busy. Find a nice booth near the live music guitar and two singers. Mix of low key but fun 40's,- 70's songs. Think "Bye-bye Blackbird". Should I stay and wait for my cappuccino? Decide that may be best. Standing with others who look confused like me. This is opposite end from where we ordered. Observe a coffee and OJ being taken to a table. Ok that's how we do it. Head to table. Family have started on the pastries, those are nearly done. Its been about 10 min by now. Seated and waiting. Sammie arrive. No juice, no cappuccino. Eating and after 20 minute wait time the drinks, apple juice and cappuccino finally arrive. Good because after half the sammie, I need a drink desperately. Food is good. The whole grain bread made on site is really nice. Crossiant - good, cinnamon roll- cold light on the cinnamon heavy on the icing, it's ok. Probably would be better warmed up some. Lemon blueberry muffin - very nice. Back to that decor. Walls are beat up paint chipping, walls damaged severely in some places. Overall, know what you are getting into. Half self-serve, half served. Grab a pastry. Barista coffee? Maybe well, but there are better places. (This is better than Starbucks so there's that.) Grab the speciality breads, they looked amazing. If we run through Springfield, MO again, or if our kiddo chooses the college there, I'm coming back in for some specialty breads and a pastry for the drive home. This place has some great potential, if they can get some clarity with the flow, or have clientele support for directions, with a little spruce and surface fix here and there (that attention to detail speaks volumes), this could be an amazing place for a unique brunch experience. I wish them well.

This place is what Panera bread used to be fantastic sandwiches. I got the Queen city sandwich and it was phenomenal. Also, the French dip was a good too. All kinds of treats to choose from plenty of seating. Parking lot was a little tight because of lunchtime so be prepared to park away If you have to. Highly recommend this place. A little on the expensive side, but well worth Quality

The high ceiling gives an immediate sense of spaciousness as you walk in. Very nice. But then the aroma of the baking takes you in. Smells amazing. I just wanted a sandwich, though. Had never eaten there before. Asked the girl at the register what she thought about their Reuben. She said it was good, that I wouldn't be sorry for ordering it. It was outstanding. So good, in fact, that I wanted to know who cooked it. Trust me, if Kaiden cooks it you won't be sorry you ordered it. Selena, the girl at the register, turned out to be one of the managers. You won't be sorry you went here. And like me, you'll plan to go back.

This is a great place for breakfast or lunch. The only negative is you have to stand in line to order which takes away from some of the ambience. But the food is high-quality and the ingredients are fresh. The sandwiches and salads are great for lunch and of course, their breads and muffins are amazing I highly recommend it.

After months of searching I finally found a decent and not pricey bakery and coffee place! It is cozy, tasty and unique for Springfield. Best cappuccino I bought and it’s only 3 dollars! Bread , Cinnabons and sandwiches are yummy! As an European in USA I was always lacking good backed goods, and finally! Highly recommend visiting!