5 Best Restaurants in Springfield, Sturbridge and The Pioneer Valley

Impressive beer-stein and corkscrew collections at the bar and dark-wood paneling lend this restaurant the feel of a convivial hunting lodge, which the antlers and stained-glass windows in the side dining room accentuate. The menu is decidedly meat-centric—beef, chicken, veal, lamb, pork, and delectable homemade sausages—focused on German dishes with some must-have sauerkraut.

This family-run business has been making doughnuts since 1957. Doughnut purists go there for the Old Fashioned Sour Cream, Apple Cider, and Honey Dip, but if you're feeling more adventurous there's plenty to choose from in the jelly, frosting, and sprinkles department, including a decadent bacon-topped creation.

Springfield's South End is home to a lively Little Italy, including this full bakery that has doled out a wide variety of heavenly pastries (and coffee) since the 1940s.

A little out of the way, this understated eatery serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine at wallet-pleasing prices. Whether you enjoy the eponymous made-from-scratch soups, fried dishes with meat, or plentiful vegetarian options, the menu has you covered.

Featuring massive chandeliers, an open kitchen, and a large dining area, this half-century-old family restaurant is a big, brassy eatery where everyone from canoodling couples to huge parties can feel right at home. The menu features the usual gamut of Italian favorites such as the exquisite eggplant dishes, as well as a variety of pizzas made from a half-century-old recipe.