Champaign Restaurants

Champaign restaurant reviews

View all Champaign restaurant reviews

Bacaro
Mar 30, 2008 by Dominic from Champaign
Overall Rating: 9
Food:[9] • Service:[9] • Atmosphere:[9]

• Amazing food. Fast, courteous service.
• Needs more intimate seating. Cold air vent was right under chair.

“My partner and I were there for the first time and had a lovely dinner and highly recommend this restaurant. It was Saturday night and I was half expecting a long wait between drinks and courses but the waitress was very timely and courteous and answered all my silly questions like "How does one eat stinging nettles?" My starter was a white-bean & stinging nettle soup and it was very delicious but it absolutely paled in comparison to my partner's salmon starter which I cannot recall the exact name of but it was tangy and delicious! I was not as disappointed with my blue prawns and scallops. However, the saffron sauce broth was one of the most subtle and delicious flavors I have ever tasted. For dessert we had banana bread pudding and a chocolate tart get the tart I have never had French press coffee but while I was waiting for some sugar I tasted it with my usual half-a-cow's worth of cream and decided that I didn't need any sugar so it was very good. As for the atmosphere, I felt a little on display but it was kind of fun and I got over it quickly. The restaurant is not a "family" restaurant by any stretch and I hope it remains so. Screaming kids are no fun anywhere. This is some place you should go with someone special to enjoy a meal you will likely remember for a long time. We will definitely be back.”

Bob Evans Restaurant 95
Feb 10, 2008 by PJ from Paxton, IL
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[8] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[8]

• Good food-service-reasonable prices.
• None.

“Bob Evans can always be counted on for good food in a clean and friendly atmosphere. For a quick meal you can't find a better place. Also the customers are of a quality I am not uncomfortable.”

Village Inn Restaurant
Dec 22, 2007 by Jerry from Bloomington
Overall Rating: 9
Food:[8] • Service:[9] • Atmosphere:[7]

• Great food and excellent service.
• When the place is "full" it is hard to move around.

“When I was a kid my dad would take me to Village Inn to play the games in the back. I loved going there. I take my son there now when I am in town. The Nachos are huge and a complete meal. I like the extra crispy pizza. It reminds me of the "original" Monicas Extra crispy before it was corporative. It is locally owned.”

Hinode Japanese Restaurant Inc
Nov 28, 2007 by James from Mahomet
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[7] • Service:[6] • Atmosphere:[9]

• Sushi, Gyoza, authenticity.
• Tempura batter and slow service.

“This restaurant is now called Sushi Kame. It's fairly authentic for the area (Japanese sushi chef). They give you the hot hand towel to wipe your hands. For my appetizer, I had the gyoza, which was fairly light and not greasy at all. They give you a tiny "amuse-bouche" which consisted of cucumbers, noodles and a vinegary sauce. It was pretty good! I had the sushi bento box, which consisted of salad, soup, rice, tempura, California roll and 5 negiri sushi. The tempura batter was a bit too heavy, but the California roll and sushi were fairly fresh. The salad was good, but the lettuce didn't seem green enough. Everything tasted good but I think Kamakura is a better pick. There was only one waitress, and she seemed to forget about us, so service was a little slow. But she did keep our hot tea topped off. I would pick this place over Mika any day.”

Bacaro
Jul 22, 2007 by Em from Champaign
Overall Rating: 9
Food:[9] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[8]

• The freshest, tastiest, highest quality food in Champaign.
• Sometimes the music just doesn't fit the rest of the experience.

“I've eaten at Bacaro many times and it's not because I've got bottomless pockets. It's because the food is outstanding. Sure, on the first visit I was a little intimidated by what seemed like a stark environment. The staff was educated and friendly, quickly alleviated any awkwardness and assisted me in choosing a wine. Once I tasted the food, the minimalist decor made sense. This place is not about distracting your eyes with quirky furnishings -- the food is what you see. And it's beautiful. Presentation, however, is not the food's only outstanding quality. This restaurant has brought an entirely fresh approach to dining in Champaign-Urbana, both literally and figuratively. The ingredients are chosen for their quality and freshness, and then presented to you in ways that compliment their finest attributes. The menu changes frequently enough that a loyal diner cannot possibly get bored. And, if you don't consider yourself an adventurous eater, you can find comfort in the very perfect simplicity of some of the offerings. The risotto of the day, for instance, is always prepared to perfection. This is not an unapproachable menu. And, yet, it can still be exciting and surprising in the way simple ingredients are so tastefully combined. Those who don't give Bacaro a chance because it seems "snooty" are missing out. Sure, it's pricey. But good food, prepared well, is like art. A canvas covered in paint isn't worth much, but if you admire it and enjoy it, you take it home with you. You can spend slightly less at Radio Maria or the Great Impasta, but you are not getting the best food for your money. If you haven't tried this restaurant yet, give it a chance. Go in open-minded and come out very pleased.”