Champaign-Urbana restaurants & bars

#51      
Guido's has great food for a sports bar, Maize is one of our favorite spots, and we try to stay at the Hyatt whenever we can because Punch! (their bar) has fantastic seasonal cocktails. Big Grove is a little fancier (more like what DESTIHL was) but also has solid food for a date night vibe.

To just hang out, I like Pour Brothers, too, but I also love a self-pour place where I can have as much or as little of a new beer as I want.
I lived less than a block away from the green st Maize when it first opened and I ate that every week. Some of the best Mexican food I have had
 
#52      
We were down at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital last week and snuck out to Papa Dels for a quick lunch, salad and a slice. It was excellent, just as I recall from the ‘70’s. It’s a unique style and recipe but not to everyone;s taste.

We’ve been to Big Grove a couple times and like it a lot. We’ve good experience with Destihl at their “mother ship” in Normal. Their food is better than the beer they brew, although their beer has improved in recent years.

Good ideas on this thread.
 
#57      
Papa del's pizza is way overrated to me. I just don't think it's good.
Watsons chicken is awesome.
Jupiter's has good pizza.
Big grove downtown is great.
Philo tavern. Short drive but cheap delicious food.
Fernando's has the best tacos IMO. It's out by Menards or they have a food truck.
Have to disagree. I go to Papa Del’s every time I am within 90 minutes of champaign.

I live in Chicago. It ranks up there with the best deep dish in chitown.
 
#58      

Mr. Tibbs

southeast DuPage
I have lived in Chicago every year of my life except for the 4 I lived in in C-U

if you have to eat it with a knife and fork , its not pizza. Its something else pretending to be pizza

the best ? Vito and Nicks or Barracos, by far, until the day I die
 
#61      
My wife and her friend like Sun Singer on Windsor, sort of a California-ish farm-to-table place with a wine bar.

Sub-question here: among all the Chinese and Indian restaurants near campus now, which are the best, food wise? I care less about ambiance.
 
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#63      
Have to disagree. I go to Papa Del’s every time I am within 90 minutes of champaign.

I live in Chicago. It ranks up there with the best deep dish in chitown.
Deep dish I'll give you. It's pretty good. But the regular pizza just doesn't cut it for me.
 
#65      
I have lived in Chicago every year of my life except for the 4 I lived in in C-U

if you have to eat it with a knife and fork , its not pizza. Its something else pretending to be pizza

the best ? Vito and Nicks or Barracos, by far, until the day I die
Piece. New Haven all the way.
 
#66      

blackdog

Champaign
My wife and her friend like Sun Singer on Windsor, sort of a California-ish farm-to-table place with a wine bar.

Sub-question here: among all the Chinese and Indian restaurants near campus now, which are the best, food wise? I care less about ambiance.

Golden Harbor is by far the #1 for Chinese and it's real Chinese not Americanised. Ambar was always a good option for Indian food but there are a number of of newer options that are also solid.
 
#68      
I have lived in Chicago every year of my life except for the 4 I lived in in C-U

if you have to eat it with a knife and fork , its not pizza. Its something else pretending to be pizza

the best ? Vito and Nicks or Barracos, by far, until the day I die
I live in Chicago, and I’ve yet to try those two. Best I’ve had is D’Agostino’s and Salerno’s. I’ll agree I prefer thin/tavern to deep dish for sure … but I’ll also say if you’re in the mood for deep dish, Papa Dels (at least as of 2019 or so) is as good as and probably better than anywhere in the city.
 
#69      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
I live in Chicago, and I’ve yet to try those two. Best I’ve had is D’Agostino’s and Salerno’s. I’ll agree I prefer thin/tavern to deep dish for sure … but I’ll also say if you’re in the mood for deep dish, Papa Dels (at least as of 2019 or so) is as good as and probably better than anywhere in the city.

Michael's Original in Uptown is the best tavern style my husband and I have had in the city. I was raised on Salerno's, but Michael's has a better cracker crust and topping ratio in my opinion.
 
#71      

Mr. Tibbs

southeast DuPage
Michael's Original in Uptown is the best tavern style my husband and I have had in the city. I was raised on Salerno's, but Michael's has a better cracker crust and topping ratio in my opinion.
I’ve never had Michael’s
as posted earlier , Vito & Nicks at 85th & Pulaski, or any of the 5-6 Barracos ( first cousins to Vito & Nicks ) or the unrelated Palermo’s on 95th & Cicero are the best imo

the key is the thin cracker crust , sweet sauce & right amount of fennel in the sausage . it’s just old fashioned 1960’s style pizza . nothing fancy on it
 
#73      

DReq

Always Illini
Central Illinois
My wife and her friend like Sun Singer on Windsor, sort of a California-ish farm-to-table place with a wine bar.

Sub-question here: among all the Chinese and Indian restaurants near campus now, which are the best, food wise? I care less about ambiance.
I haven't seen Koohinoor mentioned yet and it has good Indian food. It is at Columbia and Neil just north of downtown Champaign so not on campus. There are all sorts of campus places but as an area resident it is much harder to get to campus places that to enjoy being just outside of campus. And yes, I am old.
 
#75      
1970’s-1980’s was it’s hey day
1976 - 1980 on campus and I spent most of my time between classes wandering around Green Street. Also, I remember when they closed down the block between Wright and 6th during new student week with bands playing.