Location: Champaign
Top Restaurants in Champaign
Most Popular Bar food in Champaign, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Reviews on Bar food in Champaign, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Champaign (English: /ˌʃæmˈpeɪn/) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The city is 135 miles (217 km) south of Chicago, 124 miles (200 km) west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 mi (286 km) northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The United States Census Bureau estimates the city was home to 84,513 people as of July 1, 2014. Champaign is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois, and the state's fourth-most populous city outside the Chicago metropolitan area. It is included in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area.
Things to do in Champaign
10. Baxter's American Grille
Overall Ratings
4 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By Karen M
Went here on Christmas eve in afternoon. Server did not offer us any bread - we had to ask for it, and then it was only Sister Shubert's rolls. Salads looked good, but were $2 extra. Wanted a well done filet mignon. What I got was red in the center, so I had to send it back. What I ended up with was a tough piece of meat that didn't even taste like a filet mignon. Suspect it was sirloin made to look like filet. The rest of the group I was with liked their food, and I have eaten here before and liked it, but this time was very disappointing.
9. Houlihan's
Overall Ratings
3 based on 180 reviews
Houlihan's Provides Tender Grilled Center-Cut Steaks , Artisan Salads and Sandwiches, Wine & Cocktail Selections, Contemporary American and Ethnic-Inspired to the Champaign, IL Area.
Reviewed By 156cherylb
Excellent service in a lovely, upscale environment. Waiter was more than accommodating. The food was delicious, served hot and promptly. You should go. Thanks for your review, Cheryl! We're glad that you enjoyed your experience. It's our goal to provide excellent service that doesn't sacrifice promptness, so we're glad to hear that your experience encompassed both. We hope to see you at Houlihan's again soon!
8. Old Chicago
Overall Ratings
4 based on 112 reviews
Reviewed By Rick H
While traveling, which we do a lot, we will always go to Old Chicago if possible. As usual this one did not disappoint. Had jalapeño pretzels and thick crust pizza both very good.We keep going back because itâs always good. Simple.Thanks for the kind review, Rick! We hope you'll stop by again next time you're in town!
7. Watson's Shack & Rail
Overall Ratings
4 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By megmhintz
Loved the music/vibe in this place. Young and fun. We had flights of Mezcals and hot chicken. The people next to us had chicken and waffles and I immediately regretted not getting it. Everything was delicious. Service was good too. Would go back!
6. Billy Barooz Bar & Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 88 reviews
Reviewed By Speckul8r
A very nice Sports Bar. Good atmosphere. Friendly staff.The wife had the Reuben. She liked it but said it wasn't the best she ever had. I had the chopped brisket jerk. It was different than any other Jerk I've had. Seemed to have a overabundance of Cumin in it.They probably would have a better review if we had ordered something else.
5. Black Dog Smoke & Ale House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 606 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor B
My wife and I don't relish the thought of eating barbecue in a restaurant. It's messy enough at home, two or three napkins, sometimes more. But we have heard so many good things about Black Dog Smoke & Ale House that when we had an opportunity to see if it's as good as advertised, we couldn't pass it up. According to most restaurant critics, Black Dog produces the best tasting barbecue in Illinois, maybe the entire country. They opened their first location at 201 North Broadway Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, in 2009. It was so successful that they opened another location, installing a wood-fired smoker in an old train depot at the corner of Chestnut and Main Street in Champaign in 2015. We visited the Urbana location and agreed the barbecue was unlike anything we've ever tasted. We started with smoked chicken wings tossed with Carolina red BBQ sauce and served with celery and smoked bleu cheese dressing. Then we couldn't resist Blackdog cornbread, two cornbread muffins baked with green chiles, pit beans, cheddar cheese and pulled pork. Then we shared a full slab platter of St. Louis style pork spareribs smothered in BBQ sauce with French fries, potato salad and slaw. And we washed it all down with mugs of strawberry lemonade and Goose Island root beer. No wonder everyone in Champaign-Urbana is talking about Black Dog Smoke & Ale House.
4. Big Grove Tavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 321 reviews
At Big Grove Tavern, we celebrate the true sense of the word tavern. The heart and soul of a community, the tavern is a warm and welcoming place bringing together both visitors and locals. Our mission is to source local and farm fresh ingredients whenever
Reviewed By comfytravel
This choice location is unlucky - never had a decent eatery. We went to Big Grove for a lunch. They have decent choice of draft beer at half price during "happy hour" (3-5), but the food was really bad. Burger was small, way too salty, the bun - typical "wonderbread," fries stale and awfully salty. Do not come close to fast food fries from McDonalds or "Five guys." Risotto with mushrooms was also salty and just below average taste. The good things were service and sitting outside in perfect weather.
3. Farren's Pub & Eatery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 294 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor B
While researching our trip to Champaign-Urbana, home of the University of Illinois, my alma mater, I happened across a survey that declared Farren's Pub & Eatery produced the best burgers in Illinois. So how could my wife and I pass up a chance to sample the merchandise? Once located at 308 North Randolph in Champaign, Farren's moved to a larger location at 117 North Walnut in July. The new site, near the intersection of Neil Street and University Avenue, also has room for a separate bar. Open at 11 am. daily, Farren's is a popular hangout for college students after classes and after late-night studying, the kind of place my fraternity brothers and I used to frequent while cramming for final exams. But what about the burgers? Are they as good as advertised. Farren's offers 10 varieties. I sampled two, the Russell with sauteed mushrooms, bacon, blue cheese sauce and pepperjack cheese and the Spicoli with bacon, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions and American cheese. I washed them down with a 32-ounce glass of lemonade. Burgers, like pizza and hot dogs, are a personal preference, what pleases you most. Farren's burgers may not be the best I've ever tasted but they are in the conversation. The survey wasn't lying.
2. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works
Overall Ratings
4 based on 785 reviews
DESTIHL(R) Restaurant - Champaign is two amazing worlds merged into one: the fusion of craft beer and artisan foods. We are a growing gastrobrewpubTM concept which creatively combines and reinvents craft beer and full-flavored dishes from America's meltin
Reviewed By scottn639
We went to Destihi's for a late dinner for our daughters birthday. The service was great, even had two wait staff. The drinks before the meal were just what was needed along with the bacon wrapped dates and the Crap Rangoon dip. My daughter and I shared one of their special pizzas that included Brie and Blueberries. WOW was it good. Her "birthday cake" not really was their Carrot cake, with a big piece going home with her. Remember to get your parking ticket validated before leaving.Thank you for celebrating your daughter's birthday with us! We hope we'll see you again very soon.Cheers!
Best American food near Champaign, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
1. Seven Saints
Overall Ratings
4 based on 376 reviews
Reviewed By Gabriel B
First time here and I will preface this review with, I will be going back. With that said there is one item I won't be getting and not because it wasn't good but because it was removed from a package and deep fried, the onion rings. If you're looking for run of the mill onion rings that taste like onion rings you could buy from "INSERT STORE CHAIN NAME HERE" and make at home, then you're in luck. Otherwise, I would just pass on them and ask the waitress/waiter if any of their appetizers are house made. The southwestern ranch dip that came with them was good however and had a smokey flavor to it which I appreciated. The same can also be said about their waffle fries that came with my wife's slider which may as well of been purchased from a grocery store that day and fried that night. Onto the real reason I have found to return here, the sliders. Holy cow they were good as together we had the following - Bacon & Cheese Slider, Smokey BBQ Slider, Black Jack Slider and the Chicago Style Hot Dog Slider. All were very good and next time I plan on getting all new sliders except for the Smokey BBQ, that I will eat every time. As for drinks my wife ordered the unsweet tea (it tasted like Raspberry tea) so we sent that back and opted for a Diet Pepsi. I drank the Paulaner Octoberfest Marzen on tap which was phenomenal.We didn't wait to be seated but our waitress was very busy and because of that our stay in the establishment lasted for 75 minutes. For a Friday night in downtown Champaign this was to be expected but if you're looking for a quicker place to eat on a busy night, it may not be the best option.
Top 10 Mexican food in Champaign, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
