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

Very wonderful experience, great food, great service. Neat classic American diner restaurant that's…read morevery worth a stop off the nearby interstate. 5/5 stars.

Went here for breakfast while visiting a friend in the area. Place looked a bit different than the…read morephotos a little more run down. Service was fine but nothing extraordinary. Food was average and prices were decent. Not a place I'd come again unless it was out of connivence.

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

Ice cream is more like an icy milk than a creamy ice cream kinda dissapointed thought when new…read morepeople took over it would have been different but they must have kept the old ice cream recipe which is no good If business is slow this could be why!!!!

Food is great. But…read morethe ice cream is the worst I've ever had. Tried it twice, will never order their Ice cream again

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!

Ordered a $10 chicken salad on white bread....i got chicken salad on two pieces of white…read morebread....no lettuce, no tomatoes no nothing. I should have known as I was the only one in the place at lunchtime today, July 16, 2024. I should've gone to Subway.

This place is mid. We stopped coming back from Chicago since it had good reviews…read more The lady at the counter was nice. Our food took a pretty long time to come out considering we got sandwiches. When we did get our sandwiches, one was completely wrong. We decided it wasn't worth waiting another 15-20 minutes for a new one. The sandwiches themselves were fine. Nothing amazing, nothing terrible. Personally I didn't love the environment. If you don't like nonstop Christian music and groups of women loudly cackling in the corner, this probably isn't your place. They did have cool snacks in their store and the desserts looked good but we didn't try any. Edit to add the bathrooms were really clean and they also had Narcan in both the men and women's which I think is a really cool way to keep an eye out for your neighbors.

Great get away from town to the Park. Pretty big menu with good food and friendly service…read moreoverlooking Dawson Lake! Casual dining. Recommended!!

The food is consistently good! I have tried several different entrees here and would highly…read morerecommend each of them! Always friendly service, this is a family run business. When you walk in they seem happy to see you. Love the ambiance at this restaurant, whether you sit inside or outside you can look out over the lake. My favorite is to sit on the back deck. Highly recommend this restaurant! Come out to the lake!!

Best homemade food around Logan county The place is clean…read moreand friendly Best soups you've ever tasted Definitely a must try

I stopped in for coffee and gooey butter cake after running errands in Lincoln. It's a beautiful…read morewell lit space. The coffee is hot, strong and fresh. The gooey butter cake was the perfect mid morning treat, the corner piece had the right contrast of edge sugary crunch and gooey middle. The staff behind the counter was friendly and welcoming. As I sat and worked, they offered me more coffee and asked if I needed anything else. It was lovely. I'll be back.