It wasn't until last week that I found out.I was missing the best breakfast item on the menu, the french toast. I got the 2 piece order and it was almost more than I needed. It came to me hot off the griddle, with scrambled eggs and plenty of bacon. The flavor was glorious. Again, Amy was at the top of her game, taking care of me in several other tables during a very busy saturday morning. It's definitely something worth returning for. read more

Sam's Cafe - French toast, scrambled eggs, and a large serving of bacon. - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Insanely cheap breakfast prices and is cash only! This cute little diner style breakfast place truly allows you to get your moneys worth. It has limited seating and most people come in groups of 2-4. The best item is the French toast and you can get it as a half order! read more

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Not a big guy in diners... but this diner hit hard as fuck, and was super comfy. Only being cash only was a bit of a bummer, but it does not knock the review points down much. Ambiance was alright. Classic diner. read more

Sam's Cafe - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Iconic "greasy spoon" in downtown Champaign. The one-star reviews are mostly correct about this place: overhearing locals' conversations with the cook, cramped seating, cheap eats, etc. It's all true. You either find it agreeable or you don't. An anecdote from my meal there will illustrate what I mean. One of the street folks from the area stepped inside, without wearing shoes. The staff treated the person with dignity while asserting that he come back with shoes on, and he left quietly. Some diners will worry about the restaurant's proximity to homelessness. Others will value the staff's kindness and force during the interaction. In any case, their French toast is a cut above the usual fare and it is worth seeking out. Not only is the bread soaked with batter but they pour it liberally on the griddle over the toast. As a result, the dish consists of chewy bread embedded in a thin pancake that tastes -- of all things -- like a donut! A slice of French toast, half cup of oatmeal, short stack of pancakes (also very good) and two drinks came to $15. Worth every penny! read more

Great old fashioned food, the way how it should be made. Fantastic service and great atmosphere. Thanks you Sam for this amazing 39 years of your hospitality and great food. read more

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Classic 'greasy spoon' diner with no frills. They are more focused on exceptional cozy food vs modern aesthetics. As an alumni, I look forward to returning to the university to eat at Sam's. I usually get a basic breakfast with eggs, toast, sausage patties that are greasy and perfectly salted and juicy. We always split a pancake that soaks up syrup intuitively. This visit we tried the French toast and it absolutely blew my away. Seasoned with cinnamon and sugar it well exceeded my expectation! Love this family run diner. read more

Food was great and waitress was attentive and on top of asking on our needs. Wish there were more places like this around. Loved the old time pictures and look of the inside and advertiser signs. Will definitely stop in again. read more

A no frills diner, this is the kind of place you wish you'd see more often surviving. There are many imitations, but nothing compares to the original thing. Its quite the bustling scene. I would say that the place is a little smaller than expected, but they seem to be able to get people in and out. While my food was good, the menu is somehow a little bit limited. If you want Eggs and Bacon or Pancakes, you are set, but they have very limited omelettes and "eggs plus side thing...eg steak" . People have also said that its dirt cheap, but I didn't think so. Its not expensive, but it didn't seem cheap to me. The service also seemed a little short. Maybe we caught them at a bad time or that's just the local attitude. Pair that with this being cash only and funky hours, I am not sure when I will be back. If I am in the area, I would have no problem stopping by, but I might stick with Merry Anne's or Sweet Basil for my brunch adventures. read more

What could improve you ask? The food. It's marginal at best. It's all locals. So be prepared to listen to mundane loud conversations. They only take cash. The street dwellers know this and hang outside and ask for cash. The restroom is in the back where they wash the dishes I just ate from - disgusting. How the local health department not know this? Obviously the other yelp stars are from either locals or employees. read more

One of the better diner spots in town. I always love places where you can see them cook your food. The man working the griddle did a stellar job making my omelette. Delicious and satisfying. read more

Sam's Cafe - Western omelette - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Yay Sam's! Saturday morning breakfast. Sam's was full of locals, including most of the Champaign Fire Department, which is always a good sign. The service was super friendly. (Someone else on Yelp said they felt out of place not being regular customers, we did NOT have that experience.) We had eggs, bacon, delicious coffee, and Sam's world-famous French toast. Very happy with our breakfast, the service, and the atmosphere at Sam's. Two thumbs up, look forward to returning next time we are in Champaign. read more

Sam's hit our stomachs' proverbial spot. Absolutely no frills whatsoever, the entire ambiance and setup transporting you back in time. Prices are inexpensive for the amount of food you are given - fantastic greasy spoon diner fare. They have the best home fries I have ever eaten in memory; moist and tasty. Coffee was a bit bland and watered down, so a great pairing for eating breakfast. The pancakes looked perfectly griddled. I walked away with leftovers and feeling stuffed. It was refreshing to see Sam himself managing the cook station behind the counter. Service was prompt, friendly, attentive, and to the point. Tables were wiped clean. Know before you go: Cash only and seat yourself. read more

Dirty to a degree that is almost scary. My eggs were 50% oil, 50% egg. I wish there were a better breakfast spot downtown.

Best breakfast I have had in a long time! French toast was off the hook, it is now the standard that I will hold all other french toast to. The staff were all very nice and attentive. If I lived in Champaign I would have breakfast here every week! read more

Best breakfast I've ever had in any restaurant by far. The French toast was like a religion experience (in a good way). The pancake was a solid second. The service was fast and friendly. Go. Eat. Enjoy. Thank me later. There's nothing I can say about this place which isn't positive except that I wish it were near my home so I could go regularly! read more

Delicious food, nice diner atmosphere, and appropriately priced! The waiter we had was also amazing- super friendly and very attentive. We both got breakfast sandwiches, hashbrowns (some of the best breakfast hashbrowns I've had), and coffee. We didn't leave any scraps left! read more

Sam's Cafe - empty plates and utensils on a table - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Wow! Hidden little gem with the best breakfast! Wasn't expecting too much but there is a reason this place has been opened for almost 40 years and has great reviews! So so good! read more

Ryan (owner's son) cooked me scrambled eggs, yummy hash browns, and a half order of amazing french toast! Every bite was great. Amy served us and was super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend! read more

I always look for good breakfast spots when traveling and Sam's Cafe was the spot to go. Food and service were fantastic.

Don't miss out on this delicious little family joint! The menu is straight forward and perfected. Breakfast is quick, service is on point, coffee is ever-flowing. We stayed walking distance away and enjoyed this 5-star slice of breakfast heaven over the hotel freebie, and were not disappointed. You can tell they cater to locals and regulars, yet treat total strangers with the same care and kindness. Oh! Cash only, so be prepared. And if you're not tipping large, you should be ashamed of yourself. Don't miss Sam's! read more

Good diner breakfast at a good price. Nothing fancy but places like this are hard to find! First time here while passing through town.

First time at Sam's Cafe today and it was one of the best "traditional" breakfasts I have had in a while. Dos: Don't miss out on the French toast. Or be like me and double up with the pancakes. Bring cash - they do not accept credit cards. Dont: Find a seat when you get there, as no will one will seat you. All in all, it was a great experience, especially for a non-boozy brunch. With its location downtown, you're either doing street parking or in one of the lots. read more

Sam's Cafe - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I have searched for the best biscuits and gravy in Central Illinois. Sam's Cafe is the best I have found. The biscuits are real biscuits and the gravy tastes close to homemade. The service is great and friendly. It's an old fashioned looking diner on a busy city street, Try it. read more

Not for folks with dietary concerns. Vegans beware, for sure. And don't bother trying to get something gluten-free. I don't think these folks know what that means, nor do they care. The staff seemed mentally scattered and "out to lunch." This is a standard, maybe even sub-par greasy spoon for carnivores and folks who want to have some classic, crappy American breakfast food. But to be fair, Sam's never claimed to be anything else. This local mainstay is secure in it's identity, and that's just fine. I ordered a salad and a side of hashed browns - which were basically the only things I could order off the non-friendly menu. I asked for oil and vinegar for the salad dressing and was disappointed to learn that they only serve Hidden Valley Ranch, which they set on your table in the huge Costco-sized bottle. Again, it's a good thing this joint never claimed to be anything near classy. The hashed browns were soggy, and I'm afraid to know what food cross-contaminants were migled in there. My husband had the French toast and my mom had the pancakes, both of which were pretty standard diner fare. This restaurant is just not for me, but lots of locals like it. If you want supremely informal service and greasy spoon grub, you might give it a shot. But don't get your hopes up for anything special. read more

Sam's Cafe - Plain, decent coffee. Mom enjoyed it! Not my type of grub, but we had a nice morning here. - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

The biggest flaw of this place is the extremely slow wait times. There seems to be only one cook. I set my parking meter to an hour and twenty minutes and it was expired by the time I returned to my car. That meant that we waited around fifty minutes for our food. The staff is relatively amiable. However, I did catch them complaining about a customer who wanted her order done sooner. They talk about that customer as if she was in the wrong. Another problem are the extremely small tables. Its greatest strength are its really good prices. The breakfast special is $4.75 I believe for two eggs, two pancakes, and two sausages or bacon. It costs $6 if you want to include the misnamed American fries and coffee. Their "American" fries is actually very soft hash browns. read more

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Great home style food with great prices. Nothing fancy just straight up great breakfast

A local favorite! We always get great breakfast and great service whenever we come here. They are cash only!

Sam's Cafe is a beautiful Place to Enjoy a Good and Cheap Breakfast. Only a few seats are a available due to Covid , which is great. Everyone is wearing a mask and respects your personal space read more

Sam's Cafe - the menu for sam's cafe - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and my favorite! Hubby and I went to Sams on a late Saturday afternoon. It's a small diner with not that much room but the place only had a couple of tables full. It's self seated and our we chose a table our waiteress promptly came over. I ordered the all day breakfast special anf added potatoes and coffee. I am not a coffee drinker so I asked the waitress if if could sub it for a hot chocolate. To my surprise she said yes read more

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Food was pretty good. Had sausage and gravy. The meal came out fast. The service was excellent. I like that it open at 6am.

The best French toast I ever had. Great service. I love the mom and pop feel. I'll definitely be back.

This place is old school diner great. It's off the beaten path but easy to find. You can sit at the counter and watch the owner/chef masterfully cook the grill full of orders. All deliciously coordinated to come out hot and ready. The french toast is the best you'll find anywhere. An old family recipe named after the originator Gus. Do not pass this place by. read more

This is a no frills diner. Cash only. The French toast is like a cross between French toast and pancakes. Loved it. I was also a fan of the biscuits and gravy. My bf had the eggs, sausage, and pancakes but it was so simple that there's nothing to rave about. I'd come here for just straight up cheap breakfast. Just wear something you're about to wash because you'll leave smelling like grease. read more

I had read about this place, was passing through , and decided to give it a whirl. Yes sir! Nothing to look at really. It's not "charming", it's a functional downtown diner. No frills, but let me tell you,... the staff is 5 star. The food is very good. The French Toast? It should be it's own food group. read more

This greasy spoon effectively fills its downtown niche: no-frills service, no-frills food, and no-frills decor. I wanted a Denver omelette but their version had onions, tomatoes, and ham instead of the expected onions, peppers, and ham. Oh well, I ordered it anyway. It was very good and PIPING hot. I burned my mouth on the end when I started eating, and on the middle part several minutes later. I also got a short stack of flapjacks for "dessert" and they were okay. Top it all off with a cold glass of OJ and you have yourself a decent breakfast for $10.16. I was here around 9 am on Sunday, and had no trouble getting the seat of my choice. When I left, it was close to filling up, and I don't doubt that the college kids roll in here starting mid-morning. read more

Me and my son visited the small place today. I am not a food critic but wow everything was excellant, to the prices to food amount, to the taste of the food, to the service, go and try yourself and judge yourself very friendly people and will go back again. read more

We were surprisingly pleased with breakfast at Sam's! Dirt cheap prices with tasty food; it almost seemed too good to be true. The girls ordered a 1/2 order of French toast, while the guys got biscuits and gravy. The French toast was delicious; thick, but soft, and perfectly sweet. However, a 1/2 order was one piece of bread. This was much too small as a main meal even when paired with a side. The boys liked the biscuits and gravy, but said it was missing "something," so they doused it in hot sauce. The half order was 2 biscuits, so a much better size to be paired with a side. They lost a star for funky portion sizes. It's cash only, but there are no signs anywhere stating that policy, so they lose another star for that. Overall, definitely stop by, just bring cash and ask about the size/portion of whatever you're ordering. read more

Sometimes getting back to basics can separate the good restaurants from the great restaurants. This place is great. Simple. Breakfast. Food. Sam's Cafe is a small unique diner in downtown Champaign (BTW, Downtown Champaign is winning!) that serves breakfast. It's super fast and I had a great classic breakfast. I ordered eggs, sausage and Gus' Famous French Toast. I of course asked the waitress why it's so famous and she said well, they use cake batter to make it. WORD!?! Yes, word. This was the best tasting panfrench-cake/toast I ever had. The hubby said it taste like French toast and I think it tastes like a pancake. It's soooo buttery with crispy edges, clearly made with buttermilk. They seem to just soak it in butter and then I poured hot maple syrup on it. And then...Yes! Yes! Yeeeeessss! Fireworks! Okay, I'm back...$10 for the meal and the meal was as if your granny cooked it in a skillet. I deducted 1 star for only accepting cash. read more

Sam's Cafe - Gus' Famous French toast! Soooooo delicious! - Diners Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

French toast is amazing! We were told it's better and thicker when Sam is working but it was still extra yummy. Imagine if a pancake mated with french toast and danced in cinnamon... yeah that good. Bacon was fresh and the right balance of crispy without being overdone. Scrambled eggs were made of real eggs and the hashbrowns (American fries) had a buttery taste we loved. Unpretentious, hole in the wall that is worth the drive. Cash only and bring change for the parking meters. read more

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Cheap Delicious Great atmosphere Family business Friendly Cheap Delicious. Only complaint is the coffee. Probably folgers read more