I did not eat at the restaurant but instead parked in front and ate around the corner. I parked in a spot that I wasn't suppose to park in and someone with the restaurant told me he stopped the police from towing it. I appreciate it; he was clearly aggravated and didn't have to stop them. That being said, I wanted to make certain to whomever he was, the manager or a bartender/server, why I thought it was ok to park in that spot. There are two spaces that are in front of the restaurant. I saw the clearly marked tow zone in front of the space I parked in and thought the space behind it was for customer pickup. What made me think the spot I parked in was acceptable was the sign directly over the tow zone marking that said, "tow zone 3am-5am". I literally sat in my truck thinking if 3am-5am included the day because I thought those are odd hours. But I came to the conclusion that it meant after the bar closes so I was good! I had just driver for four days straight for a family emergency and I am exhausted, that's no excuse but I just want the person to understand I didn't just ignore the situation and do what I wanted. Had my truck been towed, that would have been the final straw in the breaking of my stable mental state. Maybe someone needs to cover up the sign that gives towing hrs....IDK....I know had that sign not been there I likely would have understood to move along. read more

Kind of underwhelming place overall. Average beer selection and limited food selection (their pizza is probably the best thing I've had). Feels like a 90's bar that hasn't done a great job of staying with the times. That being said, there is a nice energy throughout. Staff is great and service is prompt and friendly. The News Gazette has an Illini-based sports talk radio show there on mondays that is always a good time. read more

Big, bright space so you won't feel closed in by others. The pool tables can be a major draw if you're into that thing. The free peanuts feel like a premium, which is nice, and I even enjoy crunching shells underfoot. The food is good though not for anyone watching their diet, of course. Years ago, I had the best black bean burger I've ever eaten there, and even though I've reupped with the carnivore crew ever since, I still miss that burger. Oh, and you've got to try the pineapple tequila. These are the positives. Negatives: their mixed drinks can be odd. I once ordered a whiskey and ginger ale, and I swear their ginger ale was Coke and Sprite. The place is often under the sway of the regulars, which is fine in general, but it sometimes created an in-crowd feel that affected service. There were times where friends and I felt straight up unwelcome, like a burden to certain staff. Not sure if he's there anymore, but the old bearded guy was the prime example of that. Since I usually don't eat when I'm out drinking, the Esquire never felt like a must go sort of place, and a snooty staff only made it more passable. Easter egg: seek out the secret bathrooms. read more

A crew of us were looking for a couple of drinks after an event at nearby Destihl. We started wandering in the direction of activity, and wound up at Esquire Lounge. They were showing the NFL game for the sports fans in tow, and had pool tables for the sports haters in the group, so it was a win. The tap selection is extensive enough to not offend anyone, and pitchers are a solid deal. We grabbed a picture of Blind Pig's U of IPA and started the clock on a pool table. Our group wound up staying for a couple of hours. The chill atmosphere, well-maintained pool tables (seriously, some bars just do not take care of them!), and reasonable pitcher prices definitely made us stay here instead of continuing the night elsewhere. I have no clue how the food is, but I'd certainly recommend this as a place to grab a few drinks. It seemed popular with both locals and visitors, which is always a good sign! read more

For all generations. Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, baby boomers you name it. Good pizza reasonable prices on all menu items. And most of all a great place to sit down and have a beer friends read more

A good bar to hang out, watch some sports, and to eat late-night food. I really like their chicken wings and Asian dumplings, and I'm looking forward to trying some of their other food. The customer service is pretty good even when the bar is crowded. read more

Esquire Lounge - Chicken wings and dumplings - Pizza Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

This place gets no stars because two staff members are very rude. Will not ever go to it. Would not recommend it. The bathrooms are gross too. All I can say is YUCK!!! The dumplings are made out of tofu... The drinks are pricey If you like being treated disrespectfully and approached by strangers demanding you give them cigarettes or husseling you to buy them drinks then darling this is your bar! read more

Gluten-free beer! Two Brothers Prarie Path. Vegan/vegetarian options for food: black bean burger and Portobello mushroom sandwich. Double check the bread situation if you're gluten-free. I celebrated New Year 2018 here. It was a happening scene with a great local band playing... I wish I could remember their name! Any place where you can get free peanuts and toss the shells on the floor is alright by me. Great spot for a quick drink, billards, or just watching a game. I'm sure I'll be here a few times while I'm in Champaign. read more

The quintessential neighborhood bar. I was able to stop by for lunch one day on a brief visit back to town. Same faces, same food, same friendly atmosphere. Not a gastropub, not an elite bar, just a solid dive bar. Love this place. Service B Parking C Cleanliness B Restrooms C Host Staff NA Lighting B Noise C Food B Drinks B read more

Love Esquire! I have to go every time I come home. The pineapple margs and contusion shots are a must and the Asian dumplings are perfect for an app for the table. read more

Love their chicken wings, fries, and potstickers. Employees are nice and manage the busy times really well.

I think of it as a neighborhood bar. Lots of regulars drinking PBR. The food is really good bar food. The pot stickers are my favorite. I like sitting on the sidewalk in the summer season. Good choice of beers. read more

Esquire is the perfect place to stop for an after work beer, an evening out, or any occasion really. It's one of those places that makes you feel welcome right when you walk in the door. They always have a solid rotation of different beers on draft featuring the typical staples along with local brews. I really like that you can get a pint for yourself or a pitcher to share (or not, if that's your thing). The food never disappoints. It's just really good bar food, nothing fancy. I'm partial to their burgers, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Come in with an appetite and want something to snack on before you get your food? They have peanuts, and you can just crack them and throw the shells on the floor. If you're downtown looking for a great bar with a welcoming atmosphere and friendly service, look no further. Esquire has got you covered. Cheers! read more

I really don't understand how this place can be held in such high regard. There isn't a particularly good drink selection, the food is terribly mediocre (the burgers are just terrible), and the bar itself has not a remarkable characteristic in sight. While all that is bad enough, I've always felt that the employees here are tremendously standoffish with anyone under 40, and this is the only place I've been to downtown where they'll chase your party down after you walk in the door. With so many fantastic places in downtown Champaign, the only reason this one hasn't gone out of business has to be the location. read more

This used to be my favorite bar, and pretty much the flagship of downtown drinking. Not sure exactly what has happened, but rumor has it the original owners are transitioning out and are not involved in management much anymore. Prices have gone up (especially on food), and many of the regular staff seemed to have moved on. Spent over $10 on a fish sandwich lunch a couple weeks ago, something unheard of a little under a year ago. Still a great place to go, with a diverse crowd and all around friendly environment, just not my default stop like it once was. read more

Cheap beer, dive bar, great company, and holy crap--did everyone just eat a hojillion peanuts and dump their shells on the floor? Really? What the hell, it's a great dive bar. I cant' even hate on it. The booths are big and comfy, the setting is as nonpretentious as it gets, and the peeps are chill as hell--and most likely you're not gonna run into many undergrads ;) read more

Solid, affordable, delicious food. Favorite item is the grilled salmon salad but it's a great casual restaurant offering stick-to-your-ribs selections. I've never been disappointed. read more

I came back here with a friend on a random Thursday night as we both felt it was too early to call it a night, but weren't looking for a venue with dance music blaring in our ears nor were we interested in having to shove through the crowds to get a drink. At Esquire, we managed to secure a pool table (only $6 an hour!!), got cheap drinks, and just had a relaxing low-key night. Plus, I got to work on honing my pool-skills (or lack thereof =P). read more

Holy hell. What have I been doing with my life? My grad program loves to party here, but for whatever reason I had never come. I am regretting all the times I went to campus bars. I'm not a grown up by any stretch of the imagination, but this place had no undergrads in sight. Plus, the deals! 18 Asian dumplings for around 5-6 dollars? Delicious black bean burger for about 5 bucks? Gin and tonic (my standard drink) for less than 4 bucks? What is not to love? Add in the great service, the nice sized televisions for sporting events, pool tables that I am dying to try, and quiet music so we can actually talk to each other and hear ourselves think, and I'm still kicking myself for only checking this place out now. Plus free peanuts! I LOVE FREE PEANUTS. Now, granted, this was a rather quiet Thursday, so we'll have to see what happens if/when it gets busy. But so far, all systems go. read more

Always a fan. Been here several times in the PM, have always wanted to try and get in for the salad bar at lunch. Have done so a couple of times in the last couple of months, and it is great. Wonderful fresh ingredients. $8ish for salad bar and a bowl of the WONDERFUL clam chowder - that's a good lunch. read more

Best bar in Champaign (IMHO) and the closest thing to "Cheers" in Champaign. Decent beer selection. Peanuts in the shell, eat them and throw the shells on the floor. 4 pool tables. Relaxed and laid back. Used to be a townie bar, then they expanded it and all types hang out there. Just your basic, no frills, hang out with your buddies, BAR. read more

This is a great place for quick cheap bar food and drinks.The ambiance can be a little trashy at times but whenever we find ourselves downtown and craving some quick food, this is our go to. The menu is surprisingly diverse and high quality for the prices and you can't beat the free peanuts. Their drink specials are pretty great and they have a pretty impressive selection of beer. I wouldn't make a special trip for it but if you want a cheap place to meet up with friends or find yourself hungry in downtown champaign, it's worth checking out. read more

This will be a review down memory lane. I grew up in this bar, much like Jackie H's review. One of the bartenders was my little league baseball coach, then I played on the bars soft ball team. Even though I have not lived in Chamaign for about 10 years, I can still find people I know, and bartenders that remember me. When I was little I would order kiddy cocktails from the bar, then get change to play on the only pinball machine. Then stomp on all the peanut shells on the floor. I have seen expansion many times. Originally from one bar and a few booths, to a wrap around bar, then finally to the pool hall and extra bar area that you see now. I have met U of I basketball coaches here, there are pictures of former Cubs players kissing my Mom (wait, what). My parents originally met here. It is safe to say my family has a mullti generational history here. Anyway, beyond the nostalgia, it is one of the best pubs to visit in the downtown area. Just a great place to relax and have a few drinks. Along with the evolution of the bar, so has the menu. Now there is a mix of pub grub like burgers, fish sandwiches, etc. Which I don't think are that great. Though the various pizzas are very good. As are the wings, which I am not typically a fan of. Though these are baked, not fried and battered like most. The Asian Dumplings are great as well. The service can be hit or miss. Depending on the time you come, and where you order. Bar service is pretty good, but the waitresses can be a bit confused when trying to find you after you place the order. Though they work hard, and always take care of anything that might be wrong. Drinks are pretty standard. There are a handful of good micros on tap. Usually something from Two Brothers or Dark Horse as the main micros available on tap. A bit more extensive selection in bottles. The rest is typical drinks for a neighborhood bar. Overall, not perfect. Though the goods far out way the bad. An institution in the downtown Champaign area, and a place I will always love. read more

I only put one star because it will not allow me to write a review without it- otherwise 0 stars. Will not return or recommend anyone else visits this establishment. Service was horrible on a night that was no more busy than the average, the place was filthy (not just peanuts on the ground) and the employees were RUDE! We asked for 2 waters and one server said "sorry I'm too busy for that right now". The food was average, nothing like what the other reviews here say. We visited due to the outstanding Yelp reviews, but were extremely disappointed. read more

You know you're going to have an interesting night when some random dude swipes some of your fries while you're playing pool. ha! Needless to say the first time I went to Esquire there was a bachelor party and it was hilarious to watch the crazy activities. The selection of booze is fine, there is even a batch of peanuts to grab and munch on while you're hanging out. I tried their fried broccoli recently, it's soooo addicting. The place can be a tad messy, obviously because of the peanuts, and it definitely has a mix of townies and college kids, but it's a pretty fun place to go to for a hang out with friends. read more

This place is the most laid-back, chill, bar that I have ever been to. The people here are mostly an older crowd, but they make you feel right at home. I like this place because their burgers are cheap and you can get the side stuff (lettuce, tomato, etc.) yourself at a different table and can therefore get allllll the pickles that your heart desires. Not to mention, unlimited peanuts! read more

Good atmosphere but horrible service. Drinks and food (typical bar food) are good for the price and the crowd is diverse, but the unnecessary rudeness of the staff make Esquire a no-go. read more

Esquire is like a second home to me. Some nights when I get off work early, I find myself sitting at a table at Esquire instead of watching Batman cartoons at my house. I get confused sometimes, but don't we all? I'm not going to fiddle faddle around- the cheese sticks here are the best got-dang cheese sticks I've ever had. Trust me, as a cheese enthusiast, I've eaten my fair share. Burgers? Great Plochman's? You know it. Malt vinegar for my fries? Hells yeah. Pitchers of craft brews? Tight read more

I'm liking this spot! Not quite a dive; you can eat free peanuts and toss shells on the floor, so almost. Most reasonable damn drink prices in town. Cheap good noms: black bean burger, daily soups, fried brocco, and best of all asian dumplings. Larger inside than seems it'd be- there are many pool tables, 2 bars, lots of booths. Music low enough to hold conversation if so inclined. Not a shit-ton of kids (undergrads) around to annoy. Good spot to get your grown-folks drink on. Did I mention the most reasonable drink prices around? Three pints of PBR under 5 bucks for the win! read more

I used to be a regular here, and this place used to be a nice place to go... I called ahead at 11:21 pm to inquire as to the time the kitchen would be closing. The very friendly employee that answered the phone told me that it would be "at least an hour". I said, "great, I will see you in a few". So I adjusted my travel plans and missed the opportunity to catch about a half dozen other places before they closed and I headed down to Esquire. Upon arriving at 11:38, I was told by the bartender when I asked for a menu that the kitchen is closed and usually closes at 11:30. Despite the fact that the cook was in their cooking and food was being taken to people in front of me. I told him I had called ahead, and he told me that "it is what it is" and walked off to point, laugh, and talk about me to another staff member. At the point I was here, I thought I would at least have something to drink, and 18 minutes later, no one has been back to ask me if I would like anything. This used to be a great place with friendly and efficient staff and a "Cheers-like atmosphere"... now it has worst service than a campus bar and staff that is indifferent at best and more accurately rude. Avoid this place at all costs... the crowd in here presently seems more like what I would've found on the south side of Chicago, not the place I used to frequent in downstate Illinois. I will not be back. read more

New to town, I got in with a group of Masters students that meet up here every Friday, and so far, this place is awesome. Lots of room outside and in, cheap drinks and good food at a good price. Its great to have veggie food at a bar that isn't cheese and/or deep fried! The portobello mushroom sandwich is delicious. The staff is always available to take more orders, don't mind splitting checks for groups, and there is a wide selection of drinks available. read more

Definitely a casual place with decent service. However during the food experience, the appetizer quantity for Asian dumplings was 16, but I only got 8... read more

See all

My last visit to Champaign treated me to some wonderful places to spend some quality time with friends. Murphy's Pub, The Blind Pig, and others. I would not put Esquire on that list. The decor is uninteresting at best. There is no personality. It's designed to appeal to a crowd that just wants a nice bright place to hang out and drink. Not being a drinker, I can't rate the Esquire on that, but I can rate them on the food, and the food is so forgettable, I forgot to review it. Our group had a couple of burgers, some wings, and a chicken sandwich. I was told the burgers were good. The chicken must be avoided at all costs. The sandwich is one of those strange creations that takes chicken strips and puts them on a bun. I'm not entirely sure why, as this makes an awkward eating experience. The strips were nearly tasteless. Thank goodness for mayonaise. My wife had the wings. After one or two, she was trying to figure out why they didn't seem right. I was going to eat them, but I couldn't, and I LOVE wings. These things had enough salt to turn Lake Michigan into a salt lake. They were awful. I would not go back at all. I'll eat diner food, fast food, and other kinds of food, but not Esquire Food. Meh. read more

Coming from California, these are the cheapest drinks I've ever encountered! We called ahead of time to ask them to play the niners game, even though the bears / packers were the favored game of the day (and time). They had a TV set up all ready with the niners game when I got there. There are peanut shells all over the ground, which I find a little tacky and dangerous. The Pizza was pretty decent - thin crust. We ordered the Hawaiian although we substituted BBQ sauce for regular pizza tomato sauce. There are fun pool tables and other arcade games. A jukebox for your favorite tunes can be found near the bar, i think. This place seems to be a staple of downtown champaign. read more

First off let me say that I am definitely a city girl so restaurants like Esquire are not really my type. I have dietary restrictions and I need to be picky. I came here with my mom and sister to grab some food on Sunday. It seemed to be the only place open. I ordered the portabella mushroom sandwich (super bland), my sister got the chicken salad (she said it was pretty good), and my mom ordered the salmon. Overall the food was nothing special to me however coming from the city to this little suburb area the price for the food was pretty amazing. The salmon only cost $7 and it was a fairly big portion. The servers were nice but the atmosphere was too load. I wont be back here but that mostly has to do with the lack of food options. read more

Synopsis: This place is a dive which alot of people find happen to find sentimentally appealing. ..........MMM OK- it's actually more of a watering hole. You know, an acceptable environment within which to get your drank on. It's just impersonal enough that townies, transplants, and recent grads can tolerate one another- and low enough on the ego scale that they may let their guard down enough to interact with one another for a moment. The food and the men's bathroom share some compelling similarities- they are both occasionally necessary, routinely "less-than-fresh", and exist in the same realm between offensive and forgettable. read more

This place is chill and that's chill - but last time I was there I went into the men's room and saw the managers "special review". I then used a roll of teepee to relax and release da demons. All my friends said to meet them there but something must've come up with everyone of them cuz they never showed up. While I was waiting, I enjoyed the peanuts, workers and Chardonnay. Anyway, atmosphere was chill - neat ambiance - I stepped in dog poop under our booth. At this point of the night I had a few too many drinks and wanted to just shimmi and dance, unfortunately there were not any hot guys or girls to house. It's chill tho. read more

Aaron is the best bartender I've ever had. This man should be promoted immediately. We are probably horrible customers and the dude is pure class. read more

I don't remember my first visit to the Esquire. I suspect I'm not alone, but my reasons probably differ. See, I was less than a year old at the time, and I likely wasn't into doing much more than staring out the window at the buses or blinking up at the moving Hamm's sign. Luckily for me, I have been to Esquire many more times since. You could say I grew up throwing peanut shells on the floor and stomping on them. (For the record, I still throw the shells on the floor, but I no longer do the accompanying dance--that stopped being cute around age eight.) Before my family moved away from Champaign, this was the number one place we would take out of town relatives visiting. Even as objectively yummier, cooler places opened up around town, Aunt So-and-so and Uncle Whatshisface would always demand to be taken back to Esquire, and we were always happy to oblige. It's a comfortable, unpretentious bar, and that's what you needs sometimes. It's all about the ambiance, really. There are better burgers in town, but at Esquire it's the whole package that keeps me coming back. That and those peanuts. For real. read more

My husband and I moved to champaign last Thursday and after unpacking we needed a bite to eat. It was pretty late, so we were very sceptical about the quality of places that would be open around midnight. We chose Esquire lounge secondary to their variety of food options and full bar. We arrive and it wasn't very busy inside about 4 other tables besides us. Our waiter came over promptly and took our drink orders while we looked over the menu. Drinks: I ordered a absolute cosmo and the hubby ordered a Blue Moon. I have to say my Cosmo was amazing. The flavors went together well and there was a strong kick to the drink. The bartender was a older gentlemen with a beard and he a was handling almost the entire restaurant; kudos to the bartender. When the waiter brought over our drink orders he also took our food order. We ordered the mozzarella sticks and a sausage and pepperoni pizza. We started drinking our drinks and waited for our food, and waited, and waited, and waited.......... We finally asked our waiter what was the hold up???? He went back into the kitchen to inquire but when he came out still no food, saying "its coming". So we waited some more...by this time we were almost finished with our drinks and getting annoyed. At a couple of minutes, we notice the waiter talking to someone from the kitchen, they come over and tell us that it will a little while longer due the the chef burning the pizza :/ I reply, "well what about the moz sticks" and they inform us they were trying to time the food together. Still annoyed but knowing there was nothing we could do if we wanted food, we were like "well could we at least get the sticks"?. They said yes and was very apologetic about the food. The manager told us secondary to the inconvenience they would comp everything. We were super surprised at their great customer service. Most places, even though it was their mistake about the food, would not be as accommodating as the Esquire staff! We were very impressed with their level of professionalism! Food: The moz stick came out first and they were so delicious. They were the hard batter kind and had loads of cheese inside:) The dish came with about 6-7 sticks and marinara sauce. After eating about 3 I was totally kinda full (they were so big)! Then they came the pizza, it was loaded with sausage and pepperoni, it looked very tasty. However, it tasted even better! We moved from Buffalo, NY and we literally hated the pizza there. So this was so refreshing, we ate the crap out of the pizza. We were so very surprised of the quality food secondary to us thinking it was only a college bar but the food and their service surprised us. Due to both of those things, although the food and drinks were comped, we could not help but leave a $20 tip! They totally earned it! We definitely will be visiting Esquire again, the food was wonderful, the drinks were great, and service AMAZING. See you soon Esquire! read more

See all