As diehard coffee drinkers from Seattle we were shocked at the tasty black coffee and peppermint…read moremocha while visiting the area. My mom said she loved the tuxedo (?) coffee - she's a frequent visitor but we were skeptical as we pulled up to the drive thru. I should have remembered that you often find little gems in the most unexpected places. We'll done We'll definitely be back on our next visit.

Such a sweet little corner store for coffee. Absolutely wonderful. Flavored coffee is delicious,…read moreand the avocado toast with an egg on top was perfect. Great and cozy stop!

Over the last 15 years or more I've been to this establishment maybe 4-5 times; each time I go, I…read moreremember why it's been years since my last visit and I tell myself it wasn't worth it to return when there are so many other options available. This place is incredibly expensive for what you get with regard to the food and the service (or essentially lack thereof). At this time, full simple sandwiches are $12-14 with no sides included (think typical ham and turkey with cheese, tomato, and lettuce with mayo on it that you can make at home), and soups are nearly $8 for a cup and $9 for a bowl. The sandwiches (and "Mexican" fare) have fresh ingredients, but are very mediocre and bland tasting given their simplicity--not remotely worth that price. The high pricing isn't to cover wait staff/cleaning staff or maintaining the facility itself. Orders are taken at the counter and you await to hear your name called to get your food yourself, then rid of all your waste yourself before leaving. The entire dining room was dirty with crumbs on all tables, chairs, and the floor. The trash was full, and the bathroom toilet and urinal both had unflushed waste in them. The place was not busy as it was later afternoon; there were plenty of staff available to keep an eye on the dining room to ensure, at the very least, that the tables and chairs were clean and the trash wasn't full. The building itself is old with a lot(!) of unfinished and inaccessible areas, basic/old tables with cheap "decor". So for over $52 today my spouse and I had two very basic sandwiches, two bowls of semi-warm soup, and two large drinks in a dirty basic dining room after ordering and retrieving the food ourselves. With that price, you'd think the place would be minutely updated and certainly should be cleaner, there would be wait staff, and the food would have much more flavor with much more to it. There are several other places in Monticello to get great tasting food with included sides, cleaner facilities and wait staff, all for less than the price of a basic sandwich that you get here. I love to support small businesses and the staff were certainly friendly so I feel a bit guilty for this review, but this needs to be said about this incredibly overhyped place. This time I won't forget why I infrequent this establishment and won't be back.

Thanks to Yelp, I found the Brown Bag Deli in Monticello while there for visit to Allerton Park one…read moreSaturday, and enjoyed our lunch there. First off, there is a bit of a wait for your order, but trust me, it's worth it. We were there at a prime Saturday lunch hour and the wait was a bit long but I have to tell you, these are REAL 'sandwich artists' that work for this great little place, and they take great care with your order. Plenty of sides to choose from, drinks and homemade pie for dessert, too! I do not order Tuna Salad out bcz I'm always disappointed but I took a chance here at the BBD, and wow did I enjoy my meal. White bread, Tuna Salad, onion and pickle...SO DELICIOUS!!! I was very full after eating the sandwich too. Hubs had the Dagwood Special and totally enjoyed it. Bypass the fast food across the street and visit this great little diner in downtown Monticello. You will be happy you did!

Pop up chicken is the place we take our family and friends when they come to BloNo!!! Always our…read morefirst pick. The BEST chicken I have ever had. The cheese curds are to die for!!! My other half enjoys the chicken snack wraps the best, or the chicken and waffles. Cute little restaurant with good service!

We came here for fish on a Saturday and they said they sold out Friday which is ok. The person at…read morethe door that takes your order and gives you your table number was very friendly and helpful. Daughter got a burger and fries and bf and I got the OG sandwiches, hot and medium respectively and we split a truffle fry. It's a cool little place with a good selection of top shelf bourbon, but unfortunately I don't get the hype about the food. The chicken was tough, literally had pieces as tough as cardboard I could barely chew. The first 3 or 4 bites of my sandwich were just breading. I didn't think the spice level was even as hot as Franks which I would consider mild and bf said his was barely spicy either. The fries weren't very good, not very crispy mostly limp. My daughter said the burger was good. I may go back and try something else because I really want to like it but it won't be any time soon.

Excellent meal, a true experience with the wood skewer meal. We ordered family style and it was a…read moreperfect mix for us. We also started with the hummus which was excellent and previewed the wonderful tastes to come! Noza provided excellent service too!!! Worth the time to exit from the interstate and drive a few miles!!!

Amazing server! Great food. Try duck wonton and Philly Cheesesteak with chimichurri aoli served…read morein paratha bread. Chef's kiss!

First of all, the quality and variety of the baked goods, as well as the hand made sammiches that…read moreemploy those baked goods are the bomb and probly worth the trip. I've had occasion to make it over to this large bakery/cafe just north of downtown C-U for lunch a couple times and never been disappointed. Granted the food (including a couple fantastic side salad options) isn't cheap, but everything is made properly with high quality ingredients and well worth the occasional splurge. Although we have only tried some samples, there's even a fancy coffee cafe within.5 Factor in that all the employees we've met (including the delivery people out in the Central IL grocery stores) have been pleasantly passionate about their products, and you start to understand how they've come to stand out in what seems like a fading industry. That said, it also seems like the shelves with high end grocery items like exotic olive oils, Momofuku noodles, hard to find jams and other condiments, have dwindled in the last year or two, likely due to tariff-based cost models, but you are still likely to find a new favorite 'something' just browsing while they craft your sammy. Even if it's just a 'cronut' or a loaf of that amazing olive ciabatta or sourdough, it is becoming a mandatory C-U stop for us.

The Reuben at Martinelli's Market sets the bar. House-roasted Angus beef brisket arrives tender,…read morejuicy, and generously stacked, layered with Grand Cru Alpine Swiss, sauerkraut, and a house-made Russian dressing that ties everything together. Served on their rye, the sandwich is rich yet balanced, showcasing the quality and care behind every ingredient. Quite simply, the top sandwich in Champaign.

Hands down the best Italian Beef in region. Staff is the best and new spot always has seating…read more Sandwiches aren't cheap but huge. Very happy this place is around. Miss their pizza.

Meat sandos make me happy!…read more Glad we stopped by to try this spot! Literally everything was so delish! We were greeted upon entry and although I briefly looked at the menu online, there's so much other randomness that's available! Be sure to follow their socials for specials and limited menu items that aren't on the paper menus at the counter. We ordered the Baldarotta, Italian Beef, and Turkey Pesto-Hot. Also got an order of fries and the Sicilian Potato Salad. Then ran away with 2 pistachio cannolis! There are quite a few tables in the dining area. I really enjoyed that each table was different with a different set of chairs for each table. There are restrooms available...which was great because I definitely got messy! The namesake Baldarotta had a combination of the porketta and sausage and it made me smile from ear to ear! Such a comforting sandwich. The Italian Beef came with a a whole wide container of au jus for optimal dipping and was so flavorful! The Turkey pesto ordered hot (vs. cold) is a game changer! The pesto Mayo was DELISH! Fries were well seasoned. The potato salad had olives in it and I enjoyed that as well! The cannolis we took to go and enjoyed them later that evening! I loved how it wasn't too sweet at all! Parking was easy as there are spaces in the back. They are next to a brewery so could see pairing these tasty eats with a drink or two next door. Will definitely be back!

Always enjoy their food and relaxed friendly atmosphere. Have eaten here many times and have not…read morebeen disappointed.

Nice place with fun ambiance great food. There is a good selection of sandwiches and beverages.read more

What a delightful stop along Route 66 this has been - so good we've made it a point to return…read more Country Aire is a spotless spot with solid food and incredible desserts. It seems that the whole operation is a positive place to be as the staff are both very friendly but willing to suggest great places to visit in the area. The kitchen is on point with food coming out quickly and fresh. I had a club sandwich which includes bacon and that bacon could have starred in its own show - very flavorful and plenty of it. This wasn't your ordinary club sandwich. We also had a chicken salad sandwich which was first-rate as well. Very flavorful and plenty of chicken salad on the sandwich. Fortunately we planned ahead as I saved room for cheesecake which was, no exception, the best restaurant cheesecake I have ever had. We also had a slice of peach pie and it was outstanding. Apparently Lumi, who is the co-owner and pie queen, has won a bunch of awards for her pies and I would give her an award if I had one to give. Just a positive experience and we even got to see the new American Giant Lumi out front!

The food here is good overall. However the last 2 times I have eaten breakfast here I have not even…read morebeen offered a single refill on my coffee. This is unacceptable during normal breakfast hours. As a result I did not tip either time. If you can't refill my coffee then you did not do the basics let alone go above and beyond.

Good atmosphere. Wonderful service. Down home cooking. Family style. Small town atmosphere. Nice…read moreSpacious. Good seating.

very slow service! Waitress entered wrong menu item when ordering special. waited 40 minutes left…read morewithout food

Jimmy John's is approaching Subway status. They have stores everywhere and they are all offering…read morethe same product. The difference between Subway and JJ's is huge. The service is "freaky fast". They are making the sandwich as soon as you order it. As for the bread and meats, a much higher quality than subway. Especially the cheese. Subway uses a high oil cheese and is almost not dairy. Not here at JJ's What did I learn today? Still my go to for a quick lunch that is an alternative the burgers.

Good sandwiches fast service fresh bread and fresh meat good soda/not flat it sells reasonable…read morepriced ice that is pretty good!