Went here for brunch to celebrate my brother’s graduation. Service was fine based on how busy they were, but the food was not worth it. My father’s bacon and eggs came out 15 minutes before his pancakes (which we had to remind the server about) came out. My sausage omelette with cheese (a $1.50 upcharge) appeared to be a sausage omelette that they put a piece of cheese on top of. The hasbrowns were cold and raw so at least they came included because they were inedible.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Patricia D
Scrambled eggs and bacon were fine - typical for a family restaurant. Steak was not good. French toast was not good. Service was poor. And my meal was overpriced for the quality and quantity.Disappointing. I’d love for them to be successful but it’s just not good food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Tykiecia- Shavell
Getting off work at9am and eating a meal that I didn't cook was the goal. The host has a broken foot, which I didn't need to know. I just wanted coffee or mimosa while i waited on my food to-go and she claimed she couldn't help me because of her foot, but a server could help me. She didn't even tell a server that I was interested in a beverage. I waited for my food to go and vowed to never go back.
Food: 2
Service: 1
Ryan Roark
UPDATE. Updating my review to one star. I had this place at five stars for years. New owners can rot. You jack up the prices astronomically, especially on the salad bar. Now you take away unlimited trips for the salad bar when you eat in for the salad bar, the plates are tiny or it, nah you can rot. and when I went in today for the first time in a while, the salad bar was absolutely tiny and had very few options. Won't be back ever unless you get it together back to the way it was. At least the salad bar. Way to lose a years long loyal customer.
Steve Seaney
We were pleasantly surprised to find The Courier Cafe is still serving a great breakfast. We used to visit as students in almost 40 years ago.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pancakes
Mireya Hernandez
Honestly it’s very cute but the food is just regular diner food nothing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Dina Seifert
With all the varied dining options in the Champaign Urbana area with wait staff who at least appear to enjoy their job I can honestly say I will not be returning to this establishment. The food was mediocre at best. Had the Dagwood sandwich which had an off taste to it so didn’t eat it. the salad bar—nothing note worthy. The basic lettuce and a couple of additional items. The server didn’t crack a smile once while taking out order and never came back to check to see if everything was ok. Had to wave to ask for the check.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Casey Taylor
Menu is smaller than it used to be. Not bad but not my favorite breakfast.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Edward
UPDATE: It saddens me to have to write this. As a pre-pandemic regular, I've given new ownership numerous opportunities over these months to prove itself and it has not. The food has been substandard at best. I tried all the items that were once on the menu and they just did not taste right. Food being the focus of a restaurant, this is a major failing. Service is the next measure of a restaurant. Once again, Courier failed miserably. Servers scurried all over the place but rarely looked at customers. My coffee cup sat empty and my server never looked my way. I finally had to flag down a different server to get coffee. None of the servers I observed attempted to make any connection with their customers. No rapport. The feeling was that they were working there until something better came along. As a one-time trucker and a biker, you can tell the professional server from the temporaries. It's not just being called "Honey" or "Sweetheart", it is the ease with which they navigate their section and their patter, all noticeably absent now at Courier. The decor remains the same but the atmosphere is different. Basically, it's not the Courier of old. For me, it is the end of an era. I shall miss the place and the people who I had come to know. My thanks go to Nancy and Allen Strong for the years of great food and service and wish them well in whatever they do.----------------------------------Before the pandemic hit, for many years I was a three- or four-times a week breakfast regular. Knew all the then staff and the then owners and they knew me. Even had my own special server. Food was great as were the prices and the service was excellent. Never had an empty cup of coffee. Finally returned recently after a requisite COVID hiatus. New owners, no familiar faces, higher prices. Ordered my favorite menu item on three separate occasions and was disappointed each time. The hash tasted like it came straight out of the can. In the past, I was never disappointed whether choosing from the breakfast or lunch menu. The only other food "disappointment" was their Reuban sandwich. My fault for expecting one like they serve at Katz's Deli in New York. BIG difference but understandable. Anyway, to make a long story longer, I intend to continue to frequent Courier. I just like the place. Get to know the new staff and find a new favorite breakfast order. They have gone to breakfast all day, so there are many opportunities. I say give it a try.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Bonifacia Rivera
Cute place, breakfast was great! Coffee sucks!!! Sorry, I'm a coffee lover and it was weak.
Fall from grace. Sat down at 1 pm. No one acknowledged me. Left at 1:20 pm. Sad.
Luke Alpe
50 dollars for two lukewarm sandwiches with no side is criminal, service was fine. Will not be coming back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Liz C.
I have family out this way and during our last visit, we came here for breakfast. We were seated quickly and our server was on top of things. I loved the buffalo chicken wrap, and everyone else was happy with their meal too. I really enjoyed looking at the decor, especially the antique cash register up front. It's quite a piece.
William Harrison
Careful of one of the waiters. Incredibly rude to my co worker and I. Super sarcastic and made us uncomfortable. We got up and left. Only go for breakfast.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Hvob Train
Absolutely horrible. order 2 blts, both came with 2 peices of bacon each, mega tomatoes, and a skimpy peice of lettuce. I ordered "fries". i recieved 10 potato wedges. i ordered a "side Cesar salad". i received a tiny container of a few pieces of lettuce, cucumbers, carrot shavings, and get this, it was completely dry! not a single speck of cesar dressing. i go back inside and ask for cesar dressing, they confess they do not have any dressing. mind you, i would not have ordered it had they let me know beforehand. i spent a grand total of 35$, 30 minutes, and the cost of my dignity. I will not even comment on the attire worn, although it felt a little unprofessional. do not go here. I am deeply disappointed.
Went here for brunch to celebrate my brother’s graduation. Service was fine based on how busy they were, but the food was not worth it. My father’s bacon and eggs came out 15 minutes before his pancakes (which we had to remind the server about) came out. My sausage omelette with cheese (a $1.50 upcharge) appeared to be a sausage omelette that they put a piece of cheese on top of. The hasbrowns were cold and raw so at least they came included because they were inedible.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Scrambled eggs and bacon were fine - typical for a family restaurant. Steak was not good. French toast was not good. Service was poor. And my meal was overpriced for the quality and quantity.Disappointing. I’d love for them to be successful but it’s just not good food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Getting off work at9am and eating a meal that I didn't cook was the goal. The host has a broken foot, which I didn't need to know. I just wanted coffee or mimosa while i waited on my food to-go and she claimed she couldn't help me because of her foot, but a server could help me. She didn't even tell a server that I was interested in a beverage. I waited for my food to go and vowed to never go back.
Food: 2
Service: 1
UPDATE. Updating my review to one star. I had this place at five stars for years. New owners can rot. You jack up the prices astronomically, especially on the salad bar. Now you take away unlimited trips for the salad bar when you eat in for the salad bar, the plates are tiny or it, nah you can rot. and when I went in today for the first time in a while, the salad bar was absolutely tiny and had very few options. Won't be back ever unless you get it together back to the way it was. At least the salad bar. Way to lose a years long loyal customer.
We were pleasantly surprised to find The Courier Cafe is still serving a great breakfast. We used to visit as students in almost 40 years ago.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pancakes
Honestly it’s very cute but the food is just regular diner food nothing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
With all the varied dining options in the Champaign Urbana area with wait staff who at least appear to enjoy their job I can honestly say I will not be returning to this establishment. The food was mediocre at best. Had the Dagwood sandwich which had an off taste to it so didn’t eat it. the salad bar—nothing note worthy. The basic lettuce and a couple of additional items. The server didn’t crack a smile once while taking out order and never came back to check to see if everything was ok. Had to wave to ask for the check.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Menu is smaller than it used to be. Not bad but not my favorite breakfast.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
UPDATE: It saddens me to have to write this. As a pre-pandemic regular, I've given new ownership numerous opportunities over these months to prove itself and it has not. The food has been substandard at best. I tried all the items that were once on the menu and they just did not taste right. Food being the focus of a restaurant, this is a major failing. Service is the next measure of a restaurant. Once again, Courier failed miserably. Servers scurried all over the place but rarely looked at customers. My coffee cup sat empty and my server never looked my way. I finally had to flag down a different server to get coffee. None of the servers I observed attempted to make any connection with their customers. No rapport. The feeling was that they were working there until something better came along. As a one-time trucker and a biker, you can tell the professional server from the temporaries. It's not just being called "Honey" or "Sweetheart", it is the ease with which they navigate their section and their patter, all noticeably absent now at Courier. The decor remains the same but the atmosphere is different. Basically, it's not the Courier of old. For me, it is the end of an era. I shall miss the place and the people who I had come to know. My thanks go to Nancy and Allen Strong for the years of great food and service and wish them well in whatever they do.----------------------------------Before the pandemic hit, for many years I was a three- or four-times a week breakfast regular. Knew all the then staff and the then owners and they knew me. Even had my own special server. Food was great as were the prices and the service was excellent. Never had an empty cup of coffee. Finally returned recently after a requisite COVID hiatus. New owners, no familiar faces, higher prices. Ordered my favorite menu item on three separate occasions and was disappointed each time. The hash tasted like it came straight out of the can. In the past, I was never disappointed whether choosing from the breakfast or lunch menu. The only other food "disappointment" was their Reuban sandwich. My fault for expecting one like they serve at Katz's Deli in New York. BIG difference but understandable. Anyway, to make a long story longer, I intend to continue to frequent Courier. I just like the place. Get to know the new staff and find a new favorite breakfast order. They have gone to breakfast all day, so there are many opportunities. I say give it a try.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cute place, breakfast was great! Coffee sucks!!! Sorry, I'm a coffee lover and it was weak.
Restaurantji Recommends
Fall from grace. Sat down at 1 pm. No one acknowledged me. Left at 1:20 pm. Sad.
50 dollars for two lukewarm sandwiches with no side is criminal, service was fine. Will not be coming back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
I have family out this way and during our last visit, we came here for breakfast. We were seated quickly and our server was on top of things. I loved the buffalo chicken wrap, and everyone else was happy with their meal too. I really enjoyed looking at the decor, especially the antique cash register up front. It's quite a piece.
Careful of one of the waiters. Incredibly rude to my co worker and I. Super sarcastic and made us uncomfortable. We got up and left. Only go for breakfast.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Absolutely horrible. order 2 blts, both came with 2 peices of bacon each, mega tomatoes, and a skimpy peice of lettuce. I ordered "fries". i recieved 10 potato wedges. i ordered a "side Cesar salad". i received a tiny container of a few pieces of lettuce, cucumbers, carrot shavings, and get this, it was completely dry! not a single speck of cesar dressing. i go back inside and ask for cesar dressing, they confess they do not have any dressing. mind you, i would not have ordered it had they let me know beforehand. i spent a grand total of 35$, 30 minutes, and the cost of my dignity. I will not even comment on the attire worn, although it felt a little unprofessional. do not go here. I am deeply disappointed.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1