I recently had the pleasure of trying this speak easy style restaurant and I was not disappointed.
I never heard of the Writers Room before I came. The reason I ended up here was because this lady me and my friend helped move offered us dinner with her family as an addition to our tip.
It was such a long day so I can’t fully remember what we all ordered but I do know that everything was prepared perfectly & the food was delicious. I also loved the cool books that were lined up on each part of the wall which complimented the ambiance in the room.
I would like to thank the male waiter we had, he didn’t miss a beat and really did an exceptional job to make sure we were both comfortable and happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephanie Sorenson
I travel to Champaign for work and recently stayed at Hotel Royer-Urbana, and it’s by far the best hotel in the area because of The Writer’s Room. The aesthetic is charming and authentic, and the staff is very friendly. I had a horrible travel experience prior to arrival, and the staff definitely aimed to change my experience. The bartender, Ashley, is exceptional. She’s so friendly, personable, and her customer service is outstanding. The chef is also of exceptional talent - the pasta I had was AMAZING! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mitch McPhee
an attempt at class in an environment completely devoid of it. we had our reservations; not the kind u make in advance, the kind you get when the first thing you see is a HEALTH CODE VIOLATION they received 2 days prior for FAILURE TO COMPLY to a previous inspection. none the less, this was where my wife and i were directed to wait when we first spoke with the “hostess”. we also reconfirmed that we were there to eat to make sure we weren’t just loitering in a really odd spot. after 15 minutes another couple walked in and are immediately met with a totally different vibe and seated immediately. we could have just walked out then and there, but i felt need to point out the shortcomings of their service, especially whilst under the cloud of a very recent HARLTH CODE VIOLATION. just do urself a solid and just skip this place, let them join the long line of failed attempts to find any sort of success making this fetid place any thing but what it is…totally unremarkable.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Andy Sikich
The food was outstanding and the staff were very attentive. The chef visited our table several times to ensure we were enjoying our meal and it was obvious she really cared a lot about our experience. My only critique is that the lighting was a bit bright for my taste, but that’s probably something that everyone will feel differently about. Very cool restaurant with great food and service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tara Kisacanin
The place was beautiful and the menu looked promising. We made a reservation, showed up on time. Got seated in a side room where there was no one else. Proceeded to wait about 20 min before the server and host realized we hadn't been helped, apologized and promising to come help us ASAP. Proceeded to wait another 15 min and was forgotten again. They were not busy and even though there was 1 server, there were 2 hosts also helping out, so you'd think someone would come take our order before doing a task that could have waited. After 4 months being open this could have been figured out by now.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Alejandro Lleras
A new favorite place! The food was incredible! We even got to meet chef Terrell when she presented the Napoléon dessert! Oh we will be back! Oh, our cocktail was delightful, the presentation of the dishes was simply superb. See pictures (though I forgot to take a pic of the Napoléon). Absolutely worth the trip. Worth the detour!
Update: we have now tried all their desserts and they are all 5 stars! The have the best crème brûlée in town, hands down (I used to think Hamilton Walkers had the best, but this is a noticeable step up). And we loved their basque cheesecake! I love the Art Mart one, but again, this one is a noticeable step up! Worth the detour for sure!
And chef Terrell made us feel super special during our anniversary dinner! Thank you! It is always such a pleasure to eat your food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Antoinette Erkerd
Great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garden Salad, Ravioli
Jake Kreider
Food was delicious and unique. Cocktails well-made. Cool atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Todd Reddy
Service was top notch, and the food was great! I was hoping for more accompaniments with my entrée, and I don't remember seeing separate sides on the menu. The room was chilly, so bring a jacket.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elizabeth Eagen-Jones
Fantastic meal and experience. We went early in the evening and it was very quiet, so we got to fully enjoy the atmosphere. The dining room has the ambience of an old library reading room without feeling too crowded. Our server was very attentive and happy to help make recommendations. All of the food was delightful - well cooked, elegantly plated, interesting flavor combinations. I suggest getting several items to share. We especially liked the silk and smoke entree, and the writer's muse cocktail, but really everything we tried was excellent. The whole experience was fun, and the food felt playful while still being delicious. We'll definitely be back - highly recommended.
Really disappointed. We were so excited to support this new space. We were sat and never served, we waited 20 minutes and watched tables around us get served. I even asked a waitress for a drink menu hoping it might cue that we needed help. The chef came by our table and gave us an appetizer that was delicious, but still no one else helped us. Multiple servers and even managers made eye contact with us but no one was aware enough to see empty glassware and a couple trying to get someone’s attention. My husband and I both worked in the service industry for 10 years so we have empathy for short staffing, busy nights, ect. Communication is a key and would’ve gone a long way. Would’ve rather been told it was a wait for a table and had a cocktail at the bar than be sat by a manager who offered to bring us drink menus and never returned.
Atmosphere: 5
Jaime Olson
The renovations are gorgeous! Our hostess and manager visited the table to make sure we had a lovely experience. Our server was attentive without hovering. The food was delicious - we ordered the Editor's Roulade and the Ink & Quill. The portions were smaller than we hoped, but everything was perfectly prepared and plated. The elevated library and posh decor gave a warm and sophisticated atmosphere. Order the apple cheesecake. It was perfection.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
waleed syed
Great food and friendly service. Highly recommend the steak and cacio e pepe. We will definitely be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Faheem Qadir
The Writer’s Room in Champaign-Urbana offers an extraordinary dining experience that blends creativity and culinary excellence. From the moment you step in, the ambiance sets the tone with its literary-inspired decor and intimate atmosphere. The menu is a masterpiece, featuring innovative dishes crafted with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The service is impeccable, with staff who are not only attentive but genuinely passionate about ensuring your experience is memorable. Whether you’re there for a special occasion or just a night out, The Writer’s Room leaves you with the perfect balance of sophistication and comfort. A true gem in the Champaign-Urbana area—highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nikki Roberts
Let me begin by saying they were seriously short staffed for the number of tables they were trying to service. I had to go to the bar and order a second round of drinks because our server was busy with many other tables and wasn't able to come back over to us to fill water glasses or ask if we needed anything else. We weren't offered a dessert menu before our check was brought. Our server was phenomenal despite obviously being pulled in many directions.
I hope they figure these things out soon. I want to see them succeed but this, at this moment, isn't running as a fine dining establishment as advertised.
I recently had the pleasure of trying this speak easy style restaurant and I was not disappointed.
I never heard of the Writers Room before I came. The reason I ended up here was because this lady me and my friend helped move offered us dinner with her family as an addition to our tip.
It was such a long day so I can’t fully remember what we all ordered but I do know that everything was prepared perfectly & the food was delicious. I also loved the cool books that were lined up on each part of the wall which complimented the ambiance in the room.
I would like to thank the male waiter we had, he didn’t miss a beat and really did an exceptional job to make sure we were both comfortable and happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I travel to Champaign for work and recently stayed at Hotel Royer-Urbana, and it’s by far the best hotel in the area because of The Writer’s Room. The aesthetic is charming and authentic, and the staff is very friendly. I had a horrible travel experience prior to arrival, and the staff definitely aimed to change my experience. The bartender, Ashley, is exceptional. She’s so friendly, personable, and her customer service is outstanding. The chef is also of exceptional talent - the pasta I had was AMAZING! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
an attempt at class in an environment completely devoid of it. we had our reservations; not the kind u make in advance, the kind you get when the first thing you see is a HEALTH CODE VIOLATION they received 2 days prior for FAILURE TO COMPLY to a previous inspection. none the less, this was where my wife and i were directed to wait when we first spoke with the “hostess”. we also reconfirmed that we were there to eat to make sure we weren’t just loitering in a really odd spot. after 15 minutes another couple walked in and are immediately met with a totally different vibe and seated immediately. we could have just walked out then and there, but i felt need to point out the shortcomings of their service, especially whilst under the cloud of a very recent HARLTH CODE VIOLATION. just do urself a solid and just skip this place, let them join the long line of failed attempts to find any sort of success making this fetid place any thing but what it is…totally unremarkable.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
The food was outstanding and the staff were very attentive. The chef visited our table several times to ensure we were enjoying our meal and it was obvious she really cared a lot about our experience. My only critique is that the lighting was a bit bright for my taste, but that’s probably something that everyone will feel differently about. Very cool restaurant with great food and service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The place was beautiful and the menu looked promising. We made a reservation, showed up on time. Got seated in a side room where there was no one else. Proceeded to wait about 20 min before the server and host realized we hadn't been helped, apologized and promising to come help us ASAP. Proceeded to wait another 15 min and was forgotten again. They were not busy and even though there was 1 server, there were 2 hosts also helping out, so you'd think someone would come take our order before doing a task that could have waited. After 4 months being open this could have been figured out by now.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
A new favorite place! The food was incredible! We even got to meet chef Terrell when she presented the Napoléon dessert! Oh we will be back!
Oh, our cocktail was delightful, the presentation of the dishes was simply superb. See pictures (though I forgot to take a pic of the Napoléon). Absolutely worth the trip. Worth the detour!
Update: we have now tried all their desserts and they are all 5 stars! The have the best crème brûlée in town, hands down (I used to think Hamilton Walkers had the best, but this is a noticeable step up). And we loved their basque cheesecake! I love the Art Mart one, but again, this one is a noticeable step up! Worth the detour for sure!
And chef Terrell made us feel super special during our anniversary dinner! Thank you! It is always such a pleasure to eat your food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garden Salad, Ravioli
Food was delicious and unique. Cocktails well-made. Cool atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service was top notch, and the food was great! I was hoping for more accompaniments with my entrée, and I don't remember seeing separate sides on the menu. The room was chilly, so bring a jacket.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic meal and experience. We went early in the evening and it was very quiet, so we got to fully enjoy the atmosphere. The dining room has the ambience of an old library reading room without feeling too crowded. Our server was very attentive and happy to help make recommendations. All of the food was delightful - well cooked, elegantly plated, interesting flavor combinations. I suggest getting several items to share. We especially liked the silk and smoke entree, and the writer's muse cocktail, but really everything we tried was excellent. The whole experience was fun, and the food felt playful while still being delicious. We'll definitely be back - highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Really disappointed. We were so excited to support this new space. We were sat and never served, we waited 20 minutes and watched tables around us get served. I even asked a waitress for a drink menu hoping it might cue that we needed help. The chef came by our table and gave us an appetizer that was delicious, but still no one else helped us. Multiple servers and even managers made eye contact with us but no one was aware enough to see empty glassware and a couple trying to get someone’s attention. My husband and I both worked in the service industry for 10 years so we have empathy for short staffing, busy nights, ect. Communication is a key and would’ve gone a long way. Would’ve rather been told it was a wait for a table and had a cocktail at the bar than be sat by a manager who offered to bring us drink menus and never returned.
Atmosphere: 5
The renovations are gorgeous! Our hostess and manager visited the table to make sure we had a lovely experience. Our server was attentive without hovering. The food was delicious - we ordered the Editor's Roulade and the Ink & Quill. The portions were smaller than we hoped, but everything was perfectly prepared and plated. The elevated library and posh decor gave a warm and sophisticated atmosphere.
Order the apple cheesecake. It was perfection.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food and friendly service. Highly recommend the steak and cacio e pepe. We will definitely be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Writer’s Room in Champaign-Urbana offers an extraordinary dining experience that blends creativity and culinary excellence. From the moment you step in, the ambiance sets the tone with its literary-inspired decor and intimate atmosphere. The menu is a masterpiece, featuring innovative dishes crafted with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The service is impeccable, with staff who are not only attentive but genuinely passionate about ensuring your experience is memorable. Whether you’re there for a special occasion or just a night out, The Writer’s Room leaves you with the perfect balance of sophistication and comfort. A true gem in the Champaign-Urbana area—highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let me begin by saying they were seriously short staffed for the number of tables they were trying to service. I had to go to the bar and order a second round of drinks because our server was busy with many other tables and wasn't able to come back over to us to fill water glasses or ask if we needed anything else. We weren't offered a dessert menu before our check was brought. Our server was phenomenal despite obviously being pulled in many directions.
I hope they figure these things out soon. I want to see them succeed but this, at this moment, isn't running as a fine dining establishment as advertised.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
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