The food was very good. Huge portions. The thing I downgraded them for is service. It took the guy forever to get our order once our drinks were served. He never came back to refill our glasses. I could see him hanging out with the other servers in the back. The place was hardly busy when we got there. But, the food was really good. read more

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Came here for a quick lunch when I wanted a burger. Service was pretty good , other than I asked for multiple limes for my water and only got one. Also I needed napkins and my server wasn't around but I was able to get the attention of someone else who helped me. I did ask for regular fries and got sweet potato , though I enjoyed those fries instead. Bathrooms were pretty clean even though it was busy as well as bar and dining area. Food was good and came out hot and fresh even the fries. Only problem was shortly after eating I had bad heartburn. That only happens when food quality is low. Overall I enjoyed myself. Though not a first choice to go back to. read more

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I came in alone, and about 10 minutes after I was here a four top came in. Guess who got to order first? Guess who got drinks first and guess who got their food first? Here's a hint: not the person writing this. I ordered a ribeye sandwich with a side of mashed potatoes. The ribeye is a little small on the bun, one more probably the bun is oversized. The mashed potatoes are cold and need salt desperately. The au jus is unremarkable but then again, this is a chain restaurant isn't it? I used to love the pulled pork sandwich that was on the menu here but it's gone. Now it's mostly burgers. Disappointing. No vegetables aside from potatoes. The bullet old-fashioned is OK but unremarkable. This place is not particularly good. This place is certainly not bad. This place simply is, but at least it's clean, well lit, and safe. read more

Good food good beer good service unique and tasty cocktails and our favorite appetizer, potato skins.

There are many bars in Champaign (duh, a college town) but this is further from campus and is out of the way enough that you're not necessarily going to get the college crowd coming in. Though, this is a very packed place during a parent (dads or moms) weekend. It's a sizable place with a large bar in the middle of the main room. Their are hightop tables, standard seating, and booths. We had been to Billy Barooz a few times times over the last couple of years. The service has always been good. Our servers have always been attentive, frequently stopping by the table with refills on drinks, checking in to see if the food was okay and if we needed anything. The menu is pretty nice too. We've had many different items and all have been good. The wings are really good and I'm a fan of their jerk sauce. Their salads are quite large and the vegetables are fresh. They were very accommodating to my many changes to their California Cobb salad (ick avocado!). They have 12 different burgers, three of which are options (salmon burger, black bean burger, and a turkey burger). My wife has said the turkey burger is good and I'm sure she's right, but meat works for me and the Barooz, BBQ Bacon Cheddar, and Nacho burgers are my personal faves. Their fried chicken sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, fiery chicken sandwich, and NY Strip sandwich are all tasty options as well. It's a sports bar, so I stick with the starters, salads, and handhelds, but they do have steak, seafood, and pasta, too. I'm always admonished about ordering dessert, so I haven't, but they're the typical desserts you can get anywhere. They do have a nice beer list for those that indulge. I'm not a beer guy, so I'm happy that they have a few ciders and hard seltzers not just one or two. We've gone with other students and their families, just our family, and then, just the two of us when visiting our son at University of Illinois. It's a staple of our visits there as they are consistently good, not overly packed all the time with students and their families, but is more a neighborhood place. He's got a couple more years at school, so we'll definitely be returning. read more

I love this place! They have great food and a great atmosphere. My sister and I started going regularly and we have some favorites there! Bailey the bartender makes some great drinks and she's very inviting. We go just to see her Try the Peach BBQ Grilled Salmon read more

Billy Barooz - Red potato skins - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Not impressed with the food at all. Fettuccine Alfredo was too cheesy it grossed me out. The patty melt was greasy and undercooked. Staff was friendly, and the vibe was nice inside, but the food was just not good... read more

Love this place and the staff is amazing!!! The food is way good!!! They have some pretty awesome drinks!! Lots of tvs for your favorite sports!! Will definitely be back!!! read more

Billy Barooz - Salmon and fruit - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Billy Barooz is a go to when I'm out with my family and we can't decide on anything. They have a wide variety of different food on the menu. Staff has always been kind to me and my family. I love sitting on the patio when the weather is nice. Never disappoints! read more

Very good food, excellent service and lively, fun atmosphere. The only downfall was that their reservation "system" had some issues so we had to wait longer than expected for the low top table we had requested when we made our reservation. The staff managed the glitch very well. read more

I was seated promptly even though it was hopping! Very good service and my wings were pretty awesome. I will return again.

I went there by myself, and ordered a typical Nachos and a special chicken sandwich. The taste was good, and it was really easy to park nearby. But one lady seemed to be a little angry, which made me somewhat nervous and uncomfortable to enjoy my lunch and got something I wanted like tissues and take-out boxes. Btw, the Nachos was served in a huge quantity, so I would not recommend it as an appetizer for only one person read more

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Great sports bar! Big enough to accommodate large parties! Service was good (as expected) Roast beef with aged cheddar handheld is a MUST! Piled high and delicious. I could only eat half of it. Sweet potato fries are good as well. We live out of town but will return next time we are in Champaign! read more

Food was subpar at best and service wasn't any better. Servers sitting at tables in the main dining area eating during dinner. Food was definitely left under the heat lamp long enough to turn queso back to hard cheese. Server was clearly annoyed we were waiting on someone and not a fast flip table. read more

I have been coming to this restaurant for a few years. Am mostly happy with the food, service and atmosphere. Yesterday was an exception. When my husband's meal came out the waiter spilled his entire cup of ranch dressing all over the table. He did bring my husband another cup of dressing. However I asked him to clean up the dressing. Five minutes later he brought us extra napkins. I guess we are expected to clean up after their messes. When the main courses were brought out the broccoli was undercooked and not edible and the prime rib was cold. The positives were that our actual waitress was quite nice and my chicken was cooked quitnicely. I guess all restaurants can have off nights. I gave this review three stars instead of two based on my more positive prior experiences there. 1-26-25. Update. First return trip since I wrote the above review. Not much change. The service we received from our waitress was horrible. She pretty much ignored our table, preferring to chat with her friends at the check in desk. We had two simple requests during our visit, lemon slices for our water and extra sauce for sandwich. She forgot to fill either request. Our food was fine for three of us. My husband and nephew both ordered prime rib. My nephews was half the size of my husband's and charred badly. He sent it back and waited for replacement which was only slightly better. I have never written a negative review before but boy has this restaurant gone downhill. read more

Billy Barooz is a hidden gem. Menu was excellent and we especially loved the loaded potato and snap pea sides. So good! Our server made our meal even better, she was fantastic! Before leaving, we checked out the patio, which we look forward to spending some "UIUC Fun Crew" times during summer and football weekends. read more

Good food and nice service The wait staff was friendly and efficient and the food was served quickly and well prepared read more

After doing a bit of research and looking for safe places to eat during COVID, I came across Billy Barooz and saw they had built outdoor heated cabins/pods for diners. I haven't dined in (or I guess more like dined out) for months so this was an exciting adventure for me. I came on a Friday night and they were packed! I was glad I made a reservation ahead of time to secure a cabin. I was surprised there were so many people dining inside the restaurant. The cabin was cozy and very warm. Large cabins can fit up to 6 and smaller cabins fit 2. I appreciated they had these options. Now.. for the food. It was kind of lackluster at best. I wanted to go with the healthy options and decided to go for the kale&quinoa salad. I ordered with an addition of grilled chicken, which was forgotten to be included in the order. The waitress did apologize about it though. She was very sweet. My salad was just meh.. I couldn't finish even half of it. Not sure what to say about the taste except for the fact that the dressing was not really for me. read more

Billy Barooz - Kale and quinoa salad - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Great food and the service was excellent. We really enjoyed eating on the patio. They were very busy and we revived our food quickly.

Found this restaurant as we were traveling through IL. Great food and service! The staff were friendly and helpful

Stopped in here for a quick lunch with my boyfriend one day. He got a Cheeseburger with Swiss cheese, Mayo, and caramelized onions with fries as his side. I ended up getting the Panko-Crusted Cod Sandwich also with fries. The Panko breading on my fish was perfect, crispy and crunchy. The fish itself didn't have that fishy taste it was mild and buttery. I had got my tartar sauce on the side,as sometimes I don't like it, and it was a really great addition to the fish. The sauce was creamy and they didn't add a bunch of pickles or anything so it didn't have a lot of texture. The bun was buttery and perfectly toasted, paired very nice with the crispy fish. The fries, my boyfriend and I agreed, were some of the best we've had. They were really crispy on the outside but maintained that fluffy potato inside, they were also seasoned very nicely. This may sound like a weird way to describe them but they were almost funnel cake tasting, sweet but not overly sweet. Still a good savory fry but they tasted almost battered. So good! Definitely recommend the fries! My boyfriend liked his cheeseburger. He usually sticks to what he likes and whenever there isn't a complaint that's a good sign. They cooked it perfectly just the way he liked it and while we did have to ask again for some Mayo, he eventually got it. I didn't take any pictures of this meal (I know boo at me now) but sometimes even though I love sharing my meals via here and instagram (@thatfoodiewithglasses.) I think it's just as important to sometimes just be in the moment with people you love and enjoy that meal together. Just know that everything looked good and tasted even better! read more

Four out of five stars because the food is a little overpriced but is very good. I usually order their ribeye steak sandwich which is delicious. Staff are friendly and attentive. I've eaten at the restaurant a few times and it can get a bit noisy which is one of the reasons I order to go. read more

Great place to watch a game, pre game or post game. Best wings around and a lively atmosphere.

Starting with the good...the service we experienced was fantastic. Our server was very attentive and helpful. Staff also brought our dogs water bowls without our asking. And, yes, they are dog friendly on the patio! The patio was a nice space, walled off from the parking lot so you don't feel like you're sitting in a mall. It probably needed more umbrellas, though, as the sun was intense and not all of the tables actually had coverage. The food, on the other hand...looked really good. Portions were huge. The food tasted good, too. I had a reuben with fries, and we had chicken wings to start. I think the food, overall, was just really greasy and maybe over-salted as we were all feeling the effects of that heavy meal well into the next day. read more

I've just never understood why so many people like this place. Decent but just mediocre food. Horrible ambience! Loud and open dining room. No privacy. Impossible to hear yourself talk. It's like a rowdy boisterous sports bar. I guess if that's what you're looking for this is the place. But as a place to go eat dinner with your wife, this place totally blows. read more

Overall really good! Great service. Never even a half empty glass. Plates cleared quickly. Giant portions for the price. Some were greasy as some other reviewers have shared. Acoustics are horrible - we could barely talk on a Thursday late dinner evening. Very much a sports bar scene with lots of high tops and TVs with few families. Rib special was amazing. Better than average fries. Very fresh and diverse fruit cup. Tasty salmon but greasy rice. Roast beef philly served on a good bun required a knife and fork. Shrimp and crab dip was heavy on the dill but served with (way too many) good stiff chips. Mozzarella sticks seemed fresh and enough to share between three people. Would definitely go back. Take your appetite and don't expect to chat much. read more

Billy Barooz - Outside - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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We dined here for the first time at about 6pm on Saturday evening. Three of us were seated right away by the friendly host and our waitress was very friendly and prompt. We didn't waste anytime ordering and our drinks and appetizer came out super fast. I highly recommend the spinach & lobster dip, as well as the salmon burger. Delicious! Big menu and it was pretty hard to choose what to eat. We'll have to come back to try some of the other items. We all really enjoyed our food. Our waitress paid just enough attention to us and we always had what we needed. Nice Big 10 atmosphere. We were seated under the flag of my husband's alma mater, Indiana. Our bill came out to be just under $80; this included 2 beers, an iced tea, 1 appetizer and 3 entrees. Pretty expense dinner out for us, but it was a special occasion. Ample parking. We'll likely return again. Great atmosphere for big groups, family friendly, etc. read more

It was okay. I loved the large outdoor tent. Perfect for pandemic purposes. Our waitress was extremely sweet and friendly. The food on the other hand was just okay imo. I ordered a steak burger. I was really excited by the concept of it. I ordered it medium rare. The menu said they are cooked medium, unless otherwise stated. The burger was extremely well done. Very dry. My mom ordered the same thing and experienced something similar. Otherwise, it was bar food, greasy, heavy, and delicious. Little bit low in salt overall. read more

Came here on a Sunday for some lunch and to watch the Bears. Was pleasantly surprised with my experiencing considering some of the reviews! We sat at the bar. It took awhile for the bartender to come by and take our drink orders. From then on though we received prompt service (food orders, refills, removal of plates, etc...). I ordered the ribeye steak sandwich. It was delicious! Great grill marks, tender meat, and flavorful! The side of au jus was a nice touch. The sweet potato fries were crispy with a hint of cinnamon sugar. My husband had the pork loin sandwich with buffalo sauce and enjoyed his meal, too. Overall, we had a good experience at Billy Barooz and will likely go back in the future. read more

Billy Barooz - Pork loin sandwich (with buffalo sauce) and sweet potato fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Very. Good food. Very noisy environment. Friday night fish is excellent. Outdoor seating in the summer

This place is tucked away in a shopping center. There can be difficulty finding parking up close. The menu is is varied so everyone should be able to find something they'll like. The bar will is large with plenty of seating. The place is wide open, not much on ambiance, but not my thing anyway. The food was good and good portions for the price. More attentive service would have earned 5 stars. Wasn't packed but still couldn't get a refill. read more

My favorite place to eat, love the whole menu. Service is great. Lots of tv's. Great sports bar. Our go to place! Glad they opened again during the Covid-19 shutdown, had the prime rib today for Mother's Day, outstanding as usual! Can't wait till they open again for good. read more

The shrimp scampi was awful. The shrimp tasted like it was thrown in lukewarm water and put on that plate.

Thanks for letting us sit on the patio with our 2 dogs! They were so nice to greet them and bring a big dish of water. Wait staff was great to the people too. Always had a full glass of ice tea and they even brought to extra glasses of just ice. Food was better than the chains. Lots of Cajun spice on the daily special of lobster tacos and plenty of wasabi mayo for the sesame tuna. The grilled pea pods introduced me to a new way to enjoy this veggie. read more

Always a great atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food. Typically pretty busy inside, carry out never disappoints. Live in the area and come frequently! read more

This is a really nice looking sports bar with TV's galore! The burgers are fairly good, but the cocktails here suck. read more

Billy Barooz - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Restaurant review Every single time I come to Billy Barooz I am surprised by how many people come here. On a Friday night you can find a lot of young professionals enjoying dinner and socializing. Other days are very busy depending on which sports are on TV. We ended up coming on a day when the Cubs were in the playoff hunt. I was pleasantly surprised that we did not have to wait long for a table of 3. I have been here previously and went with the steak dish which was so so. I decided to try the basic of basic bar foods, which was the burger. There was some special burger on the menu with BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheese. I ordered it with a side of sweet potato fries. The burger itself was good, but not very memorable. I can't say that it was exceptional, but there was nothing that was bad with it. If you like sports, bar food, and lots of TVs then you should give Billy Barooz a try, however the food is very pedestrian. Pros: lots of TV, inexpensive depending on what you order, the menu constantly changes (check the menu insert for new items) Cons: can get very busy and a very small waiting area Hidden deals: None Health code rating: B. The ratings are so so with a lot of issues revolving around restaurant cleanliness. http://champaign.il.gegov.com/champaign/estab.cfm?facilityID=491 read more

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Such a great experience! The heated shacks were so creative for this pandemic! Our family enjoyed the meal so much and our waitress was great! Our kids loved their food! They had great kids menu. My five year old kept going on about how good his cheeseburger and fries were. We will definitely be back! read more

On March 18 I purchased 2 Panko Crusted COD Sandwiches for takeout. Upon returning to the hotel the sandwiches were so salty that we could not eat them. I drove back to the restaurant and tried to talk to a manager but one could not be located.I was sent next door where I was told the manager was located but no one there knew anything. I returned the next day and still no manager. I left my name and number with Shantell bur never received a call back. We have had this sandwich many times but did not know what went wrong this time. Very poor customer interaction and no one had any authority to resolve the issue. read more

I ordered takeout and the service was pretty decent, but my pasta didn't have much flavor. It was pretty bland. However, my cousin got the Shrimp Scampi and said hers tasted good. read more

Billy Barooz - Salmon & Penne in Creamy Garlic Sauce - Sports Bars Near Me - Champaign, Illinois