23 Best American Restaurants in Champaign

“Food was really good. Had the wings Jerry style. The server was friendly and prompt. Nice little place tucked away in the heartland. It's definitely worth the money. Only complaint, they ran out of 3 beers I wanted server said weekend was crazy. Guess it was bad luck on my part.”

“Absolutely AMAZING. Steaks were cooked perfectly. The drinks, appetizer, and sides were probably the best I’ve ever had. And all of this awesomeness happened on a slammed Friday. Jaci did an excellent job and I couldn’t recommend her enough. 10000/10”

“When me and my date arrived, the Hostess Abby was an absolute delight. She informed us of the wait and seated us promptly. The initial server we were seated with was in no way pleasant or what we expected at such a beautiful place.The server was an older woman with pink and blonde hair and glasses. She had a young brunette shadowing her as well. When she approached our table, there was NO introduction. Rather, she grabbed our water glasses roughly as if she was already annoyed. Then she curtly asked “Will either of you be drinking anything other than water?” So right from the start, we both were not in a positive spirit. I politely gave my drink order. She walked away with nothing said. A table was then sat directly beside us of 3 older men. When she approached THAT table, her name was given, she was polite, attentive, gave a brief explanation of the menu and the drink menu. Now my partner and I are two young people and the men seated were much older.I don’t know if she was judging her possible tip on that, however it doesn’t excuse a bad impression. As soon as I spotted Abby, I humbly requested we be seated in a different section. At that moment, the pink haired lady came out, very huffed up and asked “what’s the problem?”. Abby kindly explained we wished to move. The pink hair lady then shoves the plate of lemons I had requested at Abby and said “well , here’s there lemons, if they wanna move, that’s fine I guess” She then proceeds to look me in the eye and with a smart tone , tilts her head and says “it was a pleasure meeting you”. Like, what in the world was her issue.Abby sat us in the section of a server named Kenny. Kenny was prompt, kind spoken, and had an air of positivity. When our orders were placed he was very thorough when answering our questions. Abby came back to check on us during our meal and was a further joy to the experience. At one point a gentleman, whom I assume was the FOH manager did a table touch and we were all smiles. Me especially with that delicious tuna tartare! Our meal went off without a hitch. Glasses never empty, and our table was pre bussed efficiently and with little disturbance.We may not be the wealthiest people, but like to treat ourselves and will always tip well for great service. Our bill with two apps, two entrees, 1 cocktail (my date doesn’t drink) and dessert, was about $100. We tipped $50, and gave an additional tip of $20 to the lovely hostess.To Kenny and Abby! Thank you for creating a welcoming and warm atmosphere! May both sides of your pillows always be cool and dry. As for the other lady, I hope she steps in a wet spot in her favorite socks.We will surely be back to Baxters, thanks to those two and the tab will definitely be higher!”

“Delicious food and a wonderful experience. This restaurant is the only one in the US serving Zambian food and that bums me out! I want more and can't drive to Champaign every week. I would if I could. Definitely try the nshima, the beans and the ginger juice!”

“This restaurant has won my heart! The quality of both food and drinks is truly exceptional. What sets it apart is the ability to customize your meal with a tantalizing array of options - from salads to sliders, it's a culinary playground!Mixing and matching allows for a dining experience tailored to your exact taste. It's become one of our cherished go-to spots. The prices are more than fair for the outstanding fare and the cocktails are a treat in themselves.For a meal that's not only delicious but uniquely yours, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. I can't recommend it highly enough!”

“Loved this place. The service is spot on with a team approach that makes sure you are never wanting. And a great selection of beers and well drinks. They even know how to make the obscure (rare to find a place that knows how to make a black lily...)”

“First time here with my wife. We had the Shrimp and Grits and jambalaya. Fairly busy on a Friday night, but after a short wait got a table. Server was very attentive. My wife loved her Shrimp and Grits and stated that the Peach Gobbler was legit and made from scratch the correct southern way. :-)I liked the Jambalaya but felt it was just missing something, maybe a better "kick" compared to others in my past in the south. I had to try the local Blind Pig U IPA beer on draft which was great. We used the 15% discount from the Yelp checkin. Definitely will return next time in town!”

“Delicious food, good atmosphere and nice servers. We were party of three, tried egg benedicts, stuffed french toast and crepes. All were delicious. There is 7% surcharge because of the uncontrollable grocery prices but it is acceptable. We will be back.”

“Our visit to Curtis was a perfect fit into our get away day agenda. We arrived early an shopped the store before the pumpkin patch was open the crowds were just building. Bought our cider, donuts, and apple fritters (all delicious) and place them in our vehicles and resumed exploring the farm. This place looks perfect for children 1-15yo a ton of activities and it doesn't really break the bank. We concluded our visit at the Flying Minkey Cafe. I had the Chicken dumpling soup, Mac N Cheese, chili, and a biscuit. I over ate it was all so tasty. The food ordering process was a bit confusing but they really move the people and products through, an enjoyable 2 hours was had by all.”

“I have never had a bad experience here at Aspen Tap. The pow wow shrimp is amazing and the chicken wings are the best in the local area. Plump and delicious! Tap beer is also from local breweries as well as your common lagers.TVs galore for you sports fans, with NFL Sunday ticket with every game available.Dinner for dates is a cozy atmosphere with back rooms available for big parties on special occasions/events. 5 out of 5 would recommend.Kid-friendliness: Family friendly atmosphere”

“The food was really good, and the reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars was that the chicken arrived at room temperature and hot. If I was at home, I would have reheated it. The chicken was juicy with good flavor. My server was busy taking inventory on the items behind the bar, which was the only reason for the 3 stars. He was very nice but I had to ask other staff for a refill of soda, then a to go box and someone else for my receipt.”

“service here is incredible. i get the same waitress every time and i swear the girl deserves a raise. wish i knew her name. but she is the best waitress i've ever had. i see how busy she is and she still gives amazingly attentive service with a cheerful smile on her face. this is one of the only places in champaign where you can find customer service like that.”

“our professionalism, genuine kindness and bluntness at times when I needed to face reality are what made me progress. I invested $550 with Miss Kelly Robert, and got $7200 in a week. I only wish I had known about her earlier from the first moment I decided to trade. Nevertheless, I am grateful! contact her via Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +1 (925) 414 5596”

“Great selections of pizza and cheap beers - a perfect combination for a local bar. It is a small town bar but it was hard to believe how much cheaper everything was compared to even other places nearby. Nothing fancy and great place to hang out with people.”

“Great food and great service. The cod filet sandwich is great with cheese curds or onion rings.- UPDATE - they switched to Coke products and are now almost perfect.- They screwed up a large carry-out order for my family and a bunch of friends. When we got home we realized they had given us the wrong order. At the same time, the manager called to inform us about the mistake. They let us keep the wrong order, remade our correct order, and delivered it to our house in about 30 min. They even brought extra drinks. Mistakes happen, but the way they are dealt with really shows who you are dealing with. Culver's is an awesome chain, and this location is one of the best!”

“The food was absolutely delicious the service was outstanding and the restaurant was very clean the food was fresh and it was quick to get a food out and I will be coming back more and more again. It's a little expensive but the food was worth it and I will be coming back soon. The order was right Culver's is always been my favorite place and I love their ice cream also! Thank you for your hard work and thank you for all you do for us customers!”

“Fat City is the place for entertainment! From the Boat Drunks to Candy Foster & Shades of Blue, this place covers it all! The cocktails are a tad pricey, but it's one of the only places in CU with a dance floor ... guaranteed good times here!”

“JJ’s was an on the road stop that did not disappoint. The catfish was lightly battered and perfectly fried as grandma used to fry hers. The fries were the best I have ever eaten. Large portions. Everything was scrumptious! *Note, it’s the perfect hole in the wall local place that only does carry out. Worth the stop!”

“As many others have said... the best burgers in the Greater Champaign-Urbana Metroplex Metropolitan area. I started going here right after they opened and have been happy to patronize their establishment at least once every couple weeks since. Price be damned. This is not McDonald's, and I am not a broke college student.I've sampled widely from the "default" menu, and it's all great... but I keep coming back to Sr Smashface, PhD, Esq. He is truly a marvel of modern culinary engineering. The steak and fries are also wonderful, and yes, you should spring for the tallow fries as a side. Beef tallow makes everything better.These guys make hot sauce, and it shows. Every sauce I've tried here--conveniently available for you to dollop on your food--has been awesome. As a Chicagoan™ and a ketchup hater, the ketchup here is... it's amazing. Smoky, savory, absolutely nothing like the supermarket sludge. Coffee barbecue sauce? Hell yeah. Even my despised Malort can be converted into palatable sauce by the Boyz. Top marks.Watch their specials too. Fried chicken pop-up? You're crazy. I'll take a half bird. A bulgogi burger? Fully loaded poutine? A peanut butter and hot sauce jelly burger with thick cut bacon?! You've lost your minds; I'll take one of each.”

“Great food at a a good price. My colleague and I ate breakfast at the Farmhouse Restaurant because we were in search of an alternative to the breakfast options at the hotel at which we were staying. She’s vegetarian and was able to select from a variety of options on the breakfast menu. Both of our meals were made with fresh ingredients and was tasty. The service was good although a little slow. I think we came a a busy time.Vegetarian options: Avocado toast”

“There were quite a few customers because there were quite a few facilities nearby for children to play. The donuts sold as the main product were disappointing for my taste, which is accustomed to crispy snacks. Since they had apple tea, I thought they would add apple syrup, so I ordered it, but it was tea bag tea haha.”

“We went after an Illinois football game. The place was packed, but our server was still very attentive and I had the best southwest salad ever. The chicken was freshly grilled and the dressing delicious. We all loved the atmosphere, great place to eat.”

“First time here on our visit to the University of Illinois. Located right off the Quad on Green street. Nice bar inside with excellent food. Their Reuben sandwich was excellent along with great onion rings. Waffle fries were excellent, as well. They also have pool tables downstairs. Very enjoyable experience. Enjoy!”