We had dinner at Hamilton Walker's as a family following a business trip to Urbana-Champaign and were pleasantly surprised by how lively the dining room was for a weekday evening just before the Christmas holiday. Securing a reservation was easy, and the overall experience felt polished and well-run. We skipped appetizers after enjoying pre-dinner cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres elsewhere. I ordered the 7-oz center-cut filet mignon with red wine demi-glace, my father had the ribeye, and my mother chose the red wine BBQ chicken. While my filet arrived closer to medium than the medium-rare I requested (very little pink), the quality of the cut and presentation were excellent. Next time, I'd simply order it rare. The ribeye was well-received, and the Old Fashioned was commendable. Service throughout the evening was excellent--attentive without being intrusive. Hamilton Walker's is very much a traditional steakhouse, and while Champaign doesn't have the depth of competition you'd find in a city like Chicago, this restaurant is absolutely worth a visit when you keep the market size in mind. A strong, reliable option for a classic steakhouse dinner in central Illinois. read more

Hamilton Walker's - 7 OZ Filet Red Wine Demi Glace - Seafood Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Upscale steakhouse that masquerades as a throwback to 1920s Chicago. You almost expect a server in costume as Al Capone to circulate among tables to playfully menace the patrons. To some the masquerade will come off as silly -- and not worth the added price -- but many seem to enjoy being swept up in the art deco interiors and old school dishes. The food is like the theme park version of a steak dinner. We ordered from the Restaurant Week menu: a pair of salads, and the beef tenderloin tails and Parmesan crust chicken as entrees. All of the flavors were cranked up to a level that would stand up against a steak. Both entrees came with mashed potatoes and green beans that were heavy on the garlic. It was hard to taste the underlying vegetables, with all of the seasoning. The preparation makes some sense if you think of a steak with demi-glace as the centerpiece, but they overpowered the chicken handily. The salad dressings were equally strong. In particular, the spinach salad had a dressing like sweet-and-sour sauce that was jelly-like with rendered bacon fat. The entrees themselves were competent but not remarkable. The tenderloin was cooked medium rare, and two thirds had a creamy interior with crisp char on the outside. The last third, however, was tough and required some sawing with the dull steak knife. The chicken had either brined or sat on the heater for too long. It had some juice left but was also tough. Perhaps the best item we ordered was the kids cheeseburger. Well-done with oversized steak fries on the side -- simple enough that you could taste both the ground beef and the potato. The food itself warrants three stars. And here is a tip: the local Costco sells gift cards to the restaurant with a 20% discount. Where a meal can easily run $50 here, knocking the tab down to $40 might be worth it for a special occasion. The service, however, knocks the review down by a star. The kitchen lost our ticket and, as a result, our party waited forty minutes following the salad for the first entree to arrive to the table, plus another fifteen for the second and third. The chef was very gracious and apologetic when he brought the final dishes out personally. However, the fact that his arrival was the first time the staff acknowledged a problem to us -- long after they had discovered the issue and begun addressing it -- suggests that there is a larger breakdown between the back and front of house. I had thought that a 6 pm reservation would get our family home early on a school night but I was quite mistaken. Probably they won't lose your ticket when you dine in, but I will think twice before getting back in line for the theme park ride. read more

Took the whole family here for dinner we came early around 5pm with our reservations and I quickly saw all the tables in the dining room full up :-) Food was great, wife and split the 14oz bone in and they were awesome to reheat her cut off to more well done than my medium :-) Fresh bread and great sides. Everyone left happy. Expensive as you will find in the fancy Chicago steakhouses but top notch service and catering to your needs. read more

Hamilton Walker's - Side Caesar Salad - perfect size - Seafood Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Great upscale steakhouse, I sat at the bar, which had a few TVs and ample seating. I had a perfectly cooked, medium, rare ribeye, and Caesar salad. The barkeep and bar back were very attentive, always with fresh ice, water, and quick to check in on me. read more

I was here for Ebertfest for the weekend and while my time in downtown Champaign was great, Hamilton Walker's was the low point. I have been coming to Hamilton Walker's for years when coming down for Ebertfest and Football games. Its a more upscale steakhouse, but they have now gotten much too snooty and the customer service has fallen off. I was planning on coming to Hamilton Walkers during Ebertfest regardless. I was going solo to this festival this year and checked to see if I could make a reservation for one. I could not, but it suggested I walk up for a table. No problem. When I arrive, the place is packed so I went up to the stand and asked for one. They said that only the bar area was available and if that was ok. Being by myself, I did not have a problem with that. I saw that there were multiple tables in the bar area open. I asked if I could sit in one of them, but instead was told "bar top only" which was still ok, but none of those tables were filled when I was there. As for the service, it was pretty bad. They seemed annoyed that I had the audacity to sit there and I felt incredibly rushed out. I got the seared steak tips which sounded better than they were. They were a little too well done and the potato was massive. However, compared to other things on the menu, I guess it was a good deal! The program for Ebertfest stated that they were offering 15% off. The server/bartender said he hadn't heard of it. I forgot it was in the program so I didn't push hard, but I asked him if he could check. He asked another bartender and said "NO". Whatever man, I didn't come there because of the discount, but since finding the coupon in the program that I assume Hamilton Walker's paid for, I am a little disappointed in not getting the discount. I will be sure to tell Ebertfest that they should drop Hamilton Walker's as they seemed annoyed that I would have the audacity to frequent their place. There are so many better options in a block of this place. I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more

We came here for our second date because the first time we ate here was amazing. We came and got the exact same thing as the first time. The steak for starters was asked to be cooked medium on the rare side, and we got a medium well cooked steak, which they gladly redid for us and although cooked the right way, the second time was shoe leather. Also, the sides were old, the corn side which we loved the first time was made with canned corn, and you could tell that the corn had never seen the life of day, and the potato casserole was overcooked and dry. The only good thing that we can say that was good still was the bread- it is amazing. The wait staff was beyond kind. Even the gentleman that sat next to us got up and left, upset that it took 20 minutes to get a drink and a side of bruschetta however, despite that the wait staff worked really hard to accommodate unhappy people. One thing - our server, Liz made a wonderful cocktail, i appreciated her as it was our nightcap and redeemed the place slightly. Won't go back . read more

I just tried Hamilton walkers for the first time during restaurant week and omg, not only is the general ambiance so fun, but the list of reasons I would definitely be back is long! Starting off strong, our waitress (Dani I believe) was AMAZING she was so funny and personable and was so helpful when deciding what to eat! She was attentive to our table even though it was definitely busy! We got an appetizer that was a chef special and it was to die for! We then chose our tasting menu options and it was so good! I got a ceaser salad, which was good for a ceaser but not mind blowing. The salmon was cooked PERFECTLY, and the cocktails were also amazing! I will definitely be back soon! This is a Champaign MUST visit! read more

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This spot is the perfect blend of approachable neighborhood charm and elevated dining. As someone who spends a lot of time in Chicago steakhouses, I was thrilled to find exactly what I'd been looking for here. We brought my mother-in-law for Mother's Day weekend and loved it so much, we came back the following weekend for my father-in-law's birthday. The food is fantastic. I love splitting entrees at steakhouses--especially since the sides are served family-style--and this setup made it easy. We shared a large filet and ribeye, and the kitchen even sliced everything for us, which made sharing effortless. The green beans were a standout, and the smashed potatoes were... well, potatoes. Cocktails were excellent. The classic Cosmo and Aviation were spot on. The Army Navy had a fun, popsicle-like sweetness--delicious, though a bit too sweet for a second round. They also have a solid wine list. One thoughtful touch: they brought warm bread to the table and freshly toasted gluten-free bread for the allergy at our table--it felt incredibly considerate. Most entrees include a soup or salad. I went with the salad and was completely obsessed with the homemade ranch dressing. It was the lightest, most flavorful ranch I've ever had. Dessert exceeded our expectations. The key lime pie and flourless chocolate cake were both rich and decadent, and the accompanying sauces were a 10/10. Like most steakhouses, it's on the pricier side--but if you're used to dining in Chicago, this place is a steal. One last note--Kyle is an absolute gem. He took the time to chat with us and somehow figured out it was my father-in-law's birthday, even though we forgot to mention it. Truly thoughtful service. read more

Hamilton Walker's - Seafood Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Love this place. Service and food was amazing. My friend and I went here for my birthday and we had the best time. It has a little grown-up crowd compared to the on-campus places, and it was quite nice. Recommended wine was great, so were the cocktails and the food. I got the crab cakes, they were so good!! read more

Wonderful restaurant with quality service! Coming from downtown Chicago to Champaign for fine dining this is the place to go! Food is delicious, ambiance is Gatsby & Nathan knows how to run this restaurant! Great experience and I will be dreaming about the bread pudding until next time! read more

Hamilton Walker's - The bar - Seafood Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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It's good food. Not $50 for a steak good. When you order medium rare it needs to melt in your mouth. Two different cuts of steak did not meet this criteria. At this price point I'm expecting to be absolutely floored with flavor and tenderness. Not so much. Sides are good. Drinks strong and well made. Service was great until one of our party ordered a second draft beer and it did not arrive until towards end of meal after a reminder to our server. I'd skip here and head elsewhere for the money. read more

Firstly the price tag is nothing to sneer at, and I would have given one star less if this meal wasn't utter perfection. That being said I was wowed from the very beginning. What is a Bruschetta? Well certainly I have not had any bruschetta with steak on it before today, and I am surprised to say that I love the twist. It has all the freshness of classic bruschetta housed in a carnivore's dream. The scallops were cooked perfectly, and although I usually look for a larger serving it seems standard in this area to see 4 scallops as a normal serving. The asparagus was excellent as well, perfectly charred with a kick. We also purchased a massive serving of green beans coated healthily in garlic and olive oil. The drinks were decorated neatly and tasted perfect. The server was hilarious, and numerous people on the wait staff checked in on us. The place was packed and I can see why. I chose this restaurant due to its decoration, an art deco themed restaurant! I will say down to the intricate touches in the food and the wait staff's uniforms, this place captured fine dining. read more

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Had dinner after the Illinois Race Weekend as they provided a $20 off per $40 order discount! Food was not bad at all but it could be better. I ordered bacon dates for app and chef's catch (ruby snapper on that day) for entree. There was also some bread before the app. The bread could be warmer -- I mean among the 5 pieces, 3 pieces were warm while the other two were cold. Kinda strange. The dates and the sweet balsamic sauce were very delicious, plus, it was a huge serving; but some pieces of bacon were burnt. The entree was a real hit. The fish was cooked to perfection; the meat was tender and fresh. My waitress told me that it was caught less than 2 days before. I tried to smash the sauce on bread and top with some fish and it was awesome! The fish was served with corn and farro, as well as some pulled crab meat. At first I thought this combination was weird, but surprisingly they went very well. An impressive mixture of the nutty flavor from farro, sweetness from the corns, and savour from crab meat! Service was very good. My waitress was welcoming and knowledgabe about the food. described the special menu for me in detail, asked my experience for each dish, and explains how they prepare the dishes to me. So in general this was a good experience, though not perfect. Will take my fiends there next time. If the food is all pleasant I will change it to 5 stars. read more

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Pompous, presumptuous, and poorly decorated space deigns to cater to upper crust clientele with inadequately trained staff. Example: my sister ordered a dirty martini and the server asked if she wanted olives. We asked to be seated in a warm area due to health issues and hostess seated us (in an entirely empty room) right by the door that was immediately thrown open by exiting guests. Then, when my sister stepped away to request a different table a clumsy server poured a pitcher of cold water down her back. I'd said before I'd never go back and shame on me because I did. But I won't make that mistake again. I cannot tolerate the far-too-loud music, the ridiculous interior, or the laughable prices on menu items that are truly not that special. I'll make a point of staying safe and frequenting Nando instead. read more

My friends recommended me this place and I went in with no expectations. For the appetizer, we ordered the shrimp cocktail and it was not mind blowing per se but reasonable for the price. The main entrees and sides took around 1 hour to arrive and I was told that the limited prime rib was only available to be cooked "medium" which could mean it was already precooked. Apparently reviewing afterwards they cook it one stage further meaning medium is actually medium well, medium rare is medium, etc. The veggies in the $31 salmon dish tasted frozen as well. I felt the only redeeming dishes were the chef special seafood soup which tasted creamy and the green beans because you can't really mess up cooking that. Apparently this place (the kitchen) closes at 8 pm but our reservation was at 8 pm. So the ordering process felt rushed but the cook time did not. Let's just say for one of the places to be super hyped up, the price was not on par with the service level required. read more

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The waiter checked on us way to often and he also seemed really stressed out. But otherwise, the food was very good. Very very expensive! comfortable seating. We were able to find street parking right across the street. My husband and I split the "Twin Petites," which was two 3-oz filets. We asked for it medium rare, which ended up being literally perfect. We also split a salad, which was pretty big, and we also split some red potatoes, which were very good. read more

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Nope. We had been here one time previously and weren't thrilled, but decided to give it another shot. Never again. Especially never again for what it cost. Due to the noise level of the dining room (maybe there was a large party), we picked a table in the bar area, which was nice. I do like the feel of the place. Our server was very nice, but seemed to disappear for long periods of time. The food, ugh. We started w/ an order of crab cakes for an appetizer. They were fine, but the outside wasn't close to crispy/crunchy and a little lacking in crab. Our entrees came with soup or salad. I chose the spinach salad, and that was totally the highlight of the meal. I ordered the boneless 14 oz ribeye, medium cooked for my entree. It came out of the kitchen still mooing, so I had to send it back. The server agreed it was way under cooked, and had them cook it to the correct level of doneness. When it returned from the kitchen and I tried it, I discovered that it was insanely greasy. Additionally it was 25%-33% fat. I have reasonable expectations for what a ribeye should be, and THIS WASN'T IT! My wife ordered the snapper special for her entree and it was greasy as well. She was very disappointed!!! For a restaurant of this calibre, it should do better. read more

Service was good. The restaurant was nice. It was very noisy but it was packed. The only reason for the 4 star is they over cooked my steak. I ordered it rare and it came close to medium. All the sides were very good as well. read more

Super classic bar, amazing food, and friendly company! Classy atmosphere with great prices on appetizers and an awesome well old fashioned for $9. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. Great place talk to locals or chill and do work w free wifi. read more

Hamilton Walker's - Scallops and a well old fashioned - Seafood Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Sent steak back twice because it was supposed to be medium rare but came medium well both times. Was told it was our fault because we got a crust on it. Did not comp us at all and server became absent after sent first one back . Didn't even offer a dessert menu they just wanted us out with no resolution. Didn't even offer anything to make up for it. read more

Came on from out of town to meet family for dinner. I searched around for any halal spots and Hamilton Walker's surprisingly serve halal steak! As you can see from our dinner only I got the steak. All the meals were delectable and I thoroughly enjoyed the food, service and company! We got the twin petites, grilled salmon and the seafood penne. Very delish and will definitely be coming back especially for that bread and butter they serve for an appetizer!!! read more

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I went there during this restaurant week. Prior, I've heard that Hamilton Walker's is a kind of luxurious restaurant in town, but had no idea about the taste of the food here. This evening I ordered the special menu listed in their restaurant week's menu. I chose the Bisque as my soup, the Beef Tenderloin as my entree, and Chocolate Torte as my dessert. For the Bisque, it was in such a small bowl, but it tasted great. The tenderloin was served with potatoes and green beans as the side. I really liked the garlic seasoning smell of the beans, and the potatoes were well seasoned as well, but I thought the beef could be more soft and better cooked with the sauce. The torte was definitely impressive, and I really liked the combination of the chocolate flavor and the blueberry sauce at the bottom. Besides, their service was excellent, their environment was clean and neat. Overall, it conforms with my previous impression about this restaurant, which is expensive while some dishes may be not so fantastic as they are expected. As a kind of representative restaurant downtown, Hamilton Walker's may be a good choice to sit in for dinner celebration with a small group. read more

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Excellent staff and server. Very decent food. I don't know why there are some terrible reviews. Little pricy but worth it. read more

Hamilton Walker's - Seafood Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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The ambiance is classy and food was good. The bar and table area wasn't very busy but there was a group in the function room. The bartender appeared very annoyed with his bar back assistant and was barking requests at him and slamming things which wasn't pleasant. The bartender was pleasant to me but it wasn't fun to watch the drama. read more

my partner and I visited Hamilton Walker's on the night of Valentine's Day. We didn't call in early for reservations, and we only got seated luckily because there was a canceled reservation. The restaurant is actually much bigger than you expect when you first walk in, as there are many subsections and rooms that you can't see from the front. Overall, we had a fantastic experience dining here! While it was packed, our waitress was very attentive Crab cake appetizer: This is a very delicious appetizers to start the night with! Crabcake should be all about the crab, and you really get the thick crab meat in every bite. It's crispy on the outside, creamy and moist and the inside and it's packed with the fresh fish flavor all around New York strip: Our steak is very tender and leave. It has the right amount of marbling and the flavors are very rich evenly. The steak is beautifully seared and we have absolutely no complaints. Grilled Atlantic salmon fillet: I have to say that this is a very delicious dish, but I was a little disappointed with the portions. I was expecting a little more fish but nevertheless it was still really delicious. Nice time if I visit again, I would definitely order something else on the menu. We ended the night with a rootbeer float, and the waitress handed us two chocolate truffles as a small dessert for Valentine's Day. The restaurant is really classy and I am over at impressed with my dining experience read more

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This is a review for a planned small group event, namely, graduation. They were very supportive and helpful with menu planning and working through a few iterations of the menu to get it to what we needed for our small group dinner. Prices were more than reasonable and they offer private dining if you choose. We decided to opt for a large table for our party of 11 and it was perfect without needing to meet any minimum food and beverage fee for a weekend date. The service was impeccable and the staff was friendly and fun. I knocked a star because the steaks were decent but not the best I've had. Our party had the option for either a 14oz ribeye or 7oz fillet mignon. Side were fabulous -- highly recommend their wedge fries and their mushrooms. Salad offerings were good and portioned perfectly. The crab cakes were cooked just right and full of flavor as an appetizer. They were kind to allow us to bring a graduation cake for dessert and it was served along with some ice cream. I can't say enough about how accommodating they were. It really made graduation special. Highly recommend for your special event. Professional and really well-organized. read more

First, this is a great place for gluten free dining. Have eaten here many times without issue. This time we had a small issue of gluten contamination on the steak plates with the popovers they serve along side the steaks. They recognized the problem immediately and remade the plates as quickly as possible. The manager came over and did everything to make it right. Well done. Server -Kyle? I think, - was great. And Nick in the bar is exceptional. read more

We had our anniversary dinner last night at the HW, which was our first time at this establishment. We had made reservations about a week prior with a specific table request and they followed through on that to the T. The only gripes we had about the entire experience were the temperature of my father-in-law's filet mignon (not as hot as he would have liked, but still tasty) and the degree of rareness of my wife's bone-in ribeye steak (a bit undercooked, but still tasty). Of course, these are minor and subjective quibbles. All of the waitstaff and their service, side dishes, and bread and butter were fantastic. Their fries in particular almost brought tears to our eyes. We used to live in the Boston, MA area and have tried quite a number of well-known and reputable steakhouses, and although the Ham Walk is not on par with them, it is close. We were quite pleased and will certainly go back. Huge bonus points for the swing music they had playing throughout the evening. Their cocktail list is quite impressive and their Penicillin was incredible, which certainly cured what ailed me yesterday. read more

Perfect in every way. Warmly greeted, seated quickly, friendly, attentive service. Nice menu selections, delicious food! Great to have a more upscale dining option in Champaign that keeps class and service at the forefront. Every employee we interacted with had a smile and seemed appreciative of us choosing their business. Our server was Brittany L., (excellent job!) but really, every person who assisted with the meal and ensuring a wonderful dining experience deserves high marks. The food and experience were fantastic and we'll definitely be returning. read more

My husband and I went here this weekend for date night. I absolutely love the atmosphere of the restaurant. From the decor, to the music, it feels so classic. We didn't make a reservation but they had availability for bar seating. The bartender was nice, and I had a lemon drop cocktail. He seemed knowledgeable and intuitive to our drink preferences, and gave good menu recommendations. The staff was all very professional, and frequently refilled our waters and offered more bread. My husband was a fan of the compound butter. We have the scallops as an appetizer, and they were tender, but overall a little underwhelming the price. The Caesar salad dressing was great, it definitely tasted fresh. We split the steak, lobster, and cream sauce for a main course. Overall, it was quite tasty. My husband felt that the quality of the steak was pretty average. It was cooked well, but there was quite a bit of fat and gristle. Overall we were pleased, and I would go back again. read more

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Unfortunately my photos do not do just to the service or excellent meal. The place has great atmosphere and very attentive staff. While I was traveling and hoping for a larger steak, this was perfectly prepared and every bite was sensational. If you find yourself in the area and want a great steakhouse experience head straight to Hamilton Walkers. read more

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Excellent food, service and ambiance. Cannot wait to go back! Appetizers are so creative and meals were delicious

Came here for a celebratory with some close friends. The ambience is really great and feels warm and welcoming. Good steak house vibe, comfortable place to sit for hours and talk with your friends. The food was excellent as well. We stared with the Lamb chops and the bacon wrapped dates. I am normally not a fan of bacon wrapped dates but these were delicious. They had a balsamic glaze that brought the flavor the dish to the next level. The lamb chops were absolutely delicious. I think they were my favorite bit of the whole dinner. I had the ribeye as my main and it was perfectly cooked. We finished with the crème brûlée which had a great vanilla flavor. You could see they use real vanilla as there were flecks of vanilla bean in the custard. Great place for a nice dinner would recommend. read more

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Went last Thursday for dinner. It was LOUD and became crowded quickly. The food was fair. Meat was OK. ??Potato? pancake was sloppy, salty and I took 1 bite. Green beans were delicious. I will not be going back there to eat. Service was quite good . read more

We love this place! The staff are always pleasant and attentive. The food is fantastic and the cocktails are delicious. Lovely atmosphere, I really enjoy the art deco vibe, as it adds to the whole experience. read more

This place never disappoints! We celebrated our wedding anniversary there again because it's simply the best place in the city for a great meal. The servers are friendly and well trained. You can choose to sit in the bar area or the large dining area away from the noise. The food is always hot and fresh. I'm told the crab cakes are the best anywhere. If you want a great experience at an affordable price give them a try. read more

Had a fabulous relaxed first date last night. Great service, great food and atmosphere . read more

Excellent service. Food was amazing. Filet was cooked perfectly, seasoning was spot on. Sides are large enough to share either between 2 or 4. We went for my SO birthday and the host took the cake and presented it in a platter to the table when we were finished with dinner. Excellent touch!!!! Highly recommend. read more

Great food and the drinks are always amazing. Attentive service, just a great place to go for great steaks and more.

I came to Hamilton Walker's for a large group dinner (~20 people) and had a great experience! We were seated in a private room in the back at two long tables and received attentive service all night. I ordered the truffle-crusted filet and would definitely recommend! The menu noted food allergies, and a member of our party who is gluten-free was able to order with no issues. read more