Tony’s Restaurant Reviews

Our second dinner (and later lunch and brunch – couldn’t get enough of this place) during the Ebert Overlooked Film Festival brought us to this cutely named place – our first impression of the name wasn’t very positive. Well, well – what a pleasant surprise. Sitting at the bar for dinner on a Friday night couldn’t have been more fun – Champaign locals are interesting and low key, and proud of their town.

My Chicken Gordon Bleu, with lots of extra sauteed vegetables, was nicely prepared in the Milanese style. My guest’s fish entree with vegetables was also delicious. All entrees are really large enough to share. The lunch menu was also varied but had few protein-only items. Brunch offered exceptional omelettes.
This is our favorite place in Champaign.

Wines by the glass were well priced, and the wine list adequate, though we didn’t really peruse the entire list.

$$

114 West Church
Champaign, IL 61820
near the Amtrak Station
(217) 359-7377

opened in 1983

During our first visit to Roger Ebert’s Overlooked Film Festival, our first dinner experience was at this tin ceiling spot on a corner in Champaign. It’s located in the “old town” section of Champaign and is wife-and-husband owned and operated; support your local merchants, especially if they do a good job. The decor is inviting, with Day of the Dead (and other) icons hanging about.

The entrees combine Asian, European and South American ingredients – and all looked interesting; Thai black rice was one of the side dishes. We chose the Tapas route – 2 salads, a sausage and pat� plate, portobello mushroom, cheese plate, and olives marinated in oil and citrus. All were well presented and prepared.

Wines by the glass are reasonable, and wine list looked adequate.

$$

119 North Walnut
Champaign, IL
near the Amtrak Station
(217)398-7729

www.radio-maria.net