2 days in Champaign, Ill

Have to be at a wedding june 23rd, really looking forward to it, NOT! Any breakfast/lunch suggestions for the area?

I'll be interested to see the responses.  We recently started going down to Champaign as our youngest will begin school in the fall.  To date, all of our our trips have been in and outs with little time for meals.  In asking friends, no good suggestions have come up so far.  The main drag, Green Street has a large selection of chain and semi-chain stops.  We've tried a few but nothing stands out yet.  Hope we both get some good places recommended.
 

ChiTownDiner

To date, all of our our trips have been in and outs with little time for meals.

Hey CTD, you should probably change your password.  It looks like some stranger is hacking into your account!

I have long time friends in the area but they don't eat out. I did find this guide that might help you.
 
http://www.eatcu.com/Restaurant-Directory.aspx

chewingthefat


Have to be at a wedding june 23rd, really looking forward to it, NOT! Any breakfast/lunch suggestions for the area?

What are your travel plans?  Are you flying directly into Chambana?

ScreamingChicken

chewingthefat


Have to be at a wedding june 23rd, really looking forward to it, NOT! Any breakfast/lunch suggestions for the area?

What are your travel plans?  Are you flying directly into Chambana?

Don't know yet, flying from DC area, either Dulles, Reagan, or BWI, direct if I can otherwise Chicago to Chambana!

You probably need to check out Li'l Porgy's Bar-B-Q that advertises "Incredibly GOOD 'cause we cook on WOOD!" to see if they are doing false advertising. 

Hmmm...maybe I could work in a stop at Li'l Porgy's when I'm on the road in August.  My current plan calls for a visit to South Street Smokehouse in Lafayette, Indiana but I suppose I could try for a barbecue doubleheader.

A few months ago, I visited a new bbq restaurant five minutes from my house.  There was a guy across the room who talked so loud, I could clearly hear him. He was complimenting the waitress on how good the food was (I thought it bad) and then started bragging how he travels around the country eating bbq.  He told her he has been to all the great bbq cities like Kansas City (yup), Memphis (absolutely) and Cincinnati (what?).  What caught my attention was then he started telling her that Urbana, Illinois has some of the best bbq in the country and that they have their own unique style.  Is this true?  I meant to do some research into this, but frankly, I forgot.  Does anyone know about this?
 
Sorry for the long story, but if I was going to Champaign/Urbana, I would be looking for bbq.

"Urbana barbecue" is a new one on me.
 
Yelpers really seem to love a place called Black Dog Smoke & Ale House (no website but it does have a Facebook page).  Maybe Buddy Roadhouse or Dr. of BBQ have some insight.

buffetbuster

ChiTownDiner

To date, all of our our trips have been in and outs with little time for meals.

Hey CTD, you should probably change your password.  It looks like some stranger is hacking into your account!

I can't stop laughing...best of the week!
 

I've heard of Black Dog, but don't know anything about it.
 
Although a large number of my fellow Chicago area high school graduates went to U of I, I went to college here in the big city.  I don't think I've ever been to Champaign, so can't make any recommendations.  Can't speak for the Dr., but I suspect his answer would be similar.
 
ChickenDude, I have been to South Street Smokehouse a couple of times and found it to be pretty good, but not a top tier Greasehouse.  Food was good, sauce was a weak point for me.  They offer five or six varieties, most of which tasted like a doctored variation of KC Masterpiece.  Still, worth a stop, the next best joint in West Lafayette is Chick-Fil-A.
 
Buddy

In Champaign I would recommend a few places:  Papa Del's for pizza.  The Flat Top Grill for stir fry (a chain of maybe ten or so places in Illinois.) or the Bombay Indian Grill (the one on First Street).

Here's a few I tried and my take on 'em...
 
Fat Sandwich - C- - a late night, drunk and it tastes great kinda place.  Sandwiches have combinations on them like a cheesesteak with chicken fingers, mozerella sticks and fries...lots of these combos give rise to the name.
Papa Del's - C - referred to us often as best pizza in area.  Doesn't say much for area.  Three crust choices and thin is really a medium thin cooked to the point of dryness.  The sausage had a really strong spice aftertaste.
Legends - C- - sports bar on Green Street.  The club sandwich has a bread to all in ratio of 3:1, never a good sign.  Three slices of bread and 1 slcie of boiled ham plus extra stuff.  Saving grace was the kettle chips with a garlic dipping sauce.
We'll try out the bbq next time. 
 

CTD-
Well, you should have plenty of chances to find better food options in the next four years.  And if anyone can sniff them out, you can!

We had friends who lived in Champaign for several years, but they moved about 5 years ago.  When we'd visit them there, we'd go to Radio Maria, whose breakfast burrito is still one of my favorites, especially with a mug of Mexican hot chocolate.  Pretty much ANY meal we had there was a good one.
 
Also, they LOVED a Thai restaurant there, called Thara Thai.  Our friends like their food spicy, and they had to convince the owner over several visits that they could handle it as spicy as they do in Thailand, but once they got to that point, they were good.

Thanks Lucy...we saw Radio Maria and have it on our to try list.  Will keep Thara Thai in mind also!  Thanks again!