Alright, this one is for my late, older brother, Matt, who rolled his bones in NYC for the…read morelongest and was a restauranteur out there. This place is a gastropub that exceeds the expectations of any other restaurant concept of 217. Been here countless times and you walk in to this old diner energy and then your senses go on tilt from the smells and the look and if you aren't pulled in by that, something is seriously wrong with you cuz this place screams Manhattan 2000's when the culinary scene and celebrity chefs were on ! So super chill vibe with old 50's neon and the menu tonight and specials are beyond amazing! So let us begin... Give me a Chicago handshake to start.... Malort on tap and tall boys of Old Style that tells you the owner is Chicago all the way! This place was nothing like what was popping up in Chicago of the super late 90's and early 2000's with Trotters and Tramoto, been to both, battling the culinary scene and this newer guy, Grant Achatz, of Trio, comes onto the playground and changes everything... This place is special because it's what Keith McNally was successful with on restaurant concepts of this time in NYC and soon to follow nationwide. Menu specials shown and the Chef in command, Conner, definitely showcased his abilities o the end. Start with the morels and they were little bites of spring with the spritz of lemon balancing the bitterness of the garlic that makes you wanting to grab another! The salad and duck fat fries are next... Salad has a great vinaigrette that will cleanse your palate with the pickled red onions and some fresh greens. Duck fat fries: if you never experienced these, highly recommend. They will be the best French fries you ever tasted.... Anyone knows will tell you that Duck fat is a game changer. Then Conner brings out the main course- this 25oz strip steak aged for 45 days and at this point I'm transported back to David Burke and Jose Garcias restaurants that featured dry aged steaks: my kyptonite. Service by Aliyah was superb and this place never misses! Thank you for transporting me back to a memory of my late brother who completely opened my eyes to much more in the culinary world! Great meals=lasting memories

Gastropub with a punk rock ethos: the menu draws freely from fine cuisine and street foods, and it…read moreupsets the rules about how those categories are supposed to work. We went in on the street food parts of the menu tonight, with the burger (Smashy McSmashface), Tandoori Lamb Kofta, and Sumac Slaw Sando with the falafel patty. Charring is the technique that elevates their street offerings. The smashburger was circled with a lace of crisped beef. The lamb kofta was fully blackened around its surface. (The kitchen perhaps overdid it here and with the grilled pita. The bitter carbonization distracted from other flavors and textures in the ground lamb.) The falafel's fry was perfection, both delicate on the tongue and essential to the thick patty's structure. Conversely, the potent blends of herbs from various cuisines signals the sophistication of their menu. The parsley and other green herbs (did I detect mint?) in the tabbouleh got a bite from the pickled garlic. But even better was setting it atop the sourness of the peppers in the lutenitsa. My choices tonight leaned middle eastern, but the menu effortlessly spans French, East Asian, and American southern. The most provocative aspects of the menu though are the ones that mix high and low cuisine, or that mix elaborate and commercial preparations. I had to laugh that the curried labneh (on the falafel sando) had been thoughtfully spiced with grains of mustard and it also was spread across a generic potato bun. As if to say, "Yeah we made an elevated version of French's mustard but don't take your veggie burger so seriously." There are other routes through the menu that produce the same effect. You want Oysters? Sure, they can be your appetizer before the meatloaf. This place is playful and not afraid to break the rules. Come here for something you didn't expect!

There's was no cover here for moms week. They check ID…read moreSo we came here instead Liz was our waitress for the drinks and then we order food up in front. She was super helpful in getting us what style of drinks were on the menu and mentioned the seasonal drinks so my sister ordered one and I had the green street tea whisky one. It's there local drink because of the whisky being fr here. We had fries as appetizers. They were so fresh and good. The ambience is chill and the lights are welcoming and the vibes is awesome.

A staple bar on Green St., Legends is a reliable spot to enjoy a drink in a spacious location with…read morefriendly (though not always the fastest) service. Prices are fair and they offer food -- though I've never tried it here. One of the better spots to visit if you're looking for a spot that isn't super crowded, in a cozy atmosphere.

The food was very good. Huge portions. The thing I downgraded them for is service. It took the guy…read moreforever 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.

I ordered the Ruben with no bread and fruit cups yes at lunch. the fruit was delicious. the…read moreRueben meat was so tough. it was like jerky. I dipped a couple pieces into the sauce that came on the side. I couldn't eat it. too bad $13.50 for a cup of fruit. do better Billy Barooz waitresses was very helpful and friendly. I expect my main mea eatable. overpriced for four the quality. can get better food at other restaurants.

Looking for a spot to chill on a Friday night with great food! I just had the most fantastic fish!…read moreGreat place with a great vibe! The owner is super friendly and the staff is great!

1 employee cooking, tending bar, waiting table!? On a Saturday at 12:30 pm. Off duty employee…read moretried helping. After 35 minutes, order not taken.....paid for our 2 beers and went to Culver's! 2nd time in a row....1 employee..... won't be a third ti for me! Sorry

I love the Esquire Lounge. The staff know all their regulars, and the regulars know one another…read more You always have a friend at Esquire. The drinks and food are priced perfectly for the quality and quantity. It definitely won't break the bank. It's very roomy and very clean. If there is a "Cheers " bar, this is it. Great place to hang!

Had a quick to go snack from Esquire and opted for the bacon cheese tater tots! The tots were a…read moreperfect amount of crispy and cooked perfectly! Though the cheese/bacon/tot ratio was optimal, the cheese definitely tasted like the slightly worse version of the fake cheese you get at concessions stand and the bacon was not crispy. I think next time I would just get the plain tots! Would love to come back and have a full meal here. Very old timey vibes! Pool costs $1 every 10 minute.

Getting information about this venue is lacking to say the least. The staff is not friendly or…read morehelpful.

We been coming to fat city for a few years now every time we are in town . It's always a hidden…read moreplace , this year it had been remodeled and seems to be new owners . Wow we are very impressed , chef took his time out to explain it all to us and gave us suggestions . He was spot on !! Wings are delicious, chicken tower sandwich was yummy , the red beans are a must ! There was 13 of us and they got us in and out in no time . Everything was fresh and cooked to perfection ! If your ever in the Champaign area, look this place up , don't let the outside or the alley parking throw you off . Stop in and give them a try you won't be disappointed!!

The smaller bar area is the first thing you see as you enter; it looks fun with all the decor and…read morethe bar stocked full of various liquor and beer selections. Walking in you'll either be greeted and asked how many to be seated and taken to a table OR immediately and blatantly be told they aren't seating any more people for the remainder of the evening despite it being well over an hour or two before closing time. Most of the staff are otherwise friendly, but attentive service seems to be hit or miss; they can easily and obviously become overwhelmed or agitated, even despite not having a big crowd. We've seen the cooks and other staff out front of the establishment smoking, which isn't a great look in and of itself, especially having witnessed the staff telling incomers that they can't be seated or that food orders will take a significant amount of time to be prepared. Otherwise the food is very good and decently priced, the eating areas and bathrooms are clean.

Ate here about a month ago. Interesting experience and eclectic staff. Food was good but nothing…read morespecial - just a burger bar. In my opinion, the fixtures up higher could use a good dusting - as long as you don't look up, you'll be fine.

Called a take out order for Mother's Day. As usual the burgers were huge but just as delicious!…read moreSuper friendly owner! Priced higher than most burger places but keep in mind as big as 2 or 3 regular burgers but also absolutely delicious Angus beef! He also included fresh lettuce and tomatoes from his garden! Will be returning often!

Iconic is the best way to describe this place. Been in business for 64 years. Burgers are amazing…read moreas well as prices. Service is great and friendly. Highly recommend you stop here for a late lunch (avoid the rush)