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!

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.

We often get a pizza at Padano's on Friday nights. It is always fresh and tasty. We get a large…read moresausage and mushroom pizza and it is a real treat

It's a shame when you try to support your local pizza restaurant but the owner is rude when you…read moretry to order then he hangs up on you. I decided to go into the pizza shop to ask him why he told me "I don't understand I can't make that" in an agitated tone and then hung up when all I asked was for a sausage pizza and cheese pizza. He looked startled that I questioned him in person and he stated that the phones weren't working (he always uses this as an excuse for being rude to customers over the phone). Even if your phones aren't working, then you need to tell me that instead of being rude and hanging up. We have lived in this town for a long time and the town has always talked about how the owner is very kind or very very rude to his customers. Padano's, we will never order from you again. I will always pay more for professional service with kindness. Monicals it is!

Strange hours. Never see open when I drive through. The one time I did see the place open the staff…read moreseem pleasant.

Love the Italian beef. Yummy. Lots of mozzarella. Order the hand cut fries for a real treat.read more

Our first time there and we would go back. Our party creates some challenges with a party of 10, 6…read moreof whom are kids 10 or less. I believe the only thing keeping them from a higher ranking is staffing. The young woman who was our waitress was taking mobile orders over a mobile phone as well. If you ever go to a restaurant with six kids of this age group (youngest is 2) you want food and drink in front of them as quickly as possible. So I ordered two appetizers of chips and cheese as soon as I could. I believe it could have been delivered sooner if they weren't so short staffed. I was also surprised that the bar has no setups, so essentially if you want a drink, it is straight booze. As for the food, everyone enjoyed their meals, I had the Reuben sandwich and it didn't blow my socks off, but it was a good representation of a Reuben. As for ambiance, they recently reopened after a fire, I can only suggest it is stark.

Ate there for the first time since the fire. Inside is awesome and the food was great as always!read more

Great local BBQ joint just off the highway. I always prefer a local joint to a chain which can be…read morehard to find when you're on a road thrip. Service was fantastic. Food was great. The guy that waited on us even brought out a sample of the BBQ turkey - just cuz he wanted us to try it. Brisket outstanding and the pulled pork pretty good. If you're passing by St Joseph and are hungry check this place out. PS - huge bourbon menu.

For a change , I decided to forgo the ribs in favor of a lighter meal…read moreI choose the single barbecue bacon burger with a side of jalapeno , macaroni and cheese The food lived up to what I have learned to expect from here, top notch The beef is ground in house, giving it a great flavor The jalapenos add just the right amount of spice to the mac and cheese , along with giving it a smoky flavor As usual, the staff was on top of things, checking back toake sure everything was okay for me I'll be back time and again

Food was exceptional quality, with portion size to match. Atmosphere is a vaulted high ceiling…read morespace with the bustle of a hard working kitchen and an attentive waitstaff. The menu is limited to signature offering of various dishes eliminating the tough choices between offerings. The daily special was a nice addition to the menu. All food was plated on various china which added to the fun of it all. My wife and I shared 2 separate meals and both were 10/10 in our opinion. This place will be on our very short list of great food, great folks, and great experience.

What an incredible discovery! We were driving from Iowa to Ohio, which is mostly a culinary…read morewasteland. My copilot found this gem. It sounded too good to be true, but it's true! Though it looks unremarkable from the outside, inside, you'll find a wonderful restaurant where the staff is highly invested in making sure you have a great meal. My companion enjoyed a lovely Old Fashioned to start. I ordered the Turkey stroganoff, while he had the shrimp and grits. When the plates came out, I thought the veil was finally about to slip. They were well-plated, but huge. And yet...the veil didn't slip. It was haute-cuisine comfort food goodness in what looked like a converted warehouse space. Unreal! Though turkey is often too dry, my stroganoff was moist and succulent. The sauce was much more than just cream of mushroom -- lots of flavor and not too much salt. We had a time of it. I'd happily come back here again and again.

Monical's has delicious Pizza's too. We like different ingredients on Our Pizza's, so We order 2…read moreIndividual size and then have Them use ingredients We like. It's a Win Win...

Anyways. We loved our waitress Holly! She need a big raise! She was so friendly and kind! Speedy…read moreservice and lots of warm welcome! Will be back tomorrow lol!

Old fashioned espresso and eatery in the tiny city downtown, found easy parking right off the…read moreinterstate, love ordering on the Joe app tho sadly few places use it. They had my latte ready to go as I dashed in a minute before closing. Could have enjoyed the country store vibes for an hour and more but onward and westward I headed, banana bread latte fueling the way! It's probably better hot since ice and almond milk don't maintain a rich texture but I enjoyed the fresh fruit and cozy balanced flavors with my drink.

Most amazing place best coffee, best, pastries, even even has a a gift shop on half of the store…read more It's Malaysian doodle cute shop you have to go there.

There was quite a wait on a Sunday morning, however, the food made up for the wait. The decor and…read morevibe are really cool. The location is a little unusual, being part of an old mall turned into an artsy shopping hub. There is a door outside of the mall to access the restaurant directly. Two notable dishes from our visit were the breakfast quesadilla (soooo good!) and the biscuits with mushroom gravy. The service was slow, however, it was a Sunday. We loved the place so much we booked a reservation for our next visit down to see our son at U of I. The restaurant also has a coffee bar where you can get special coffee drinks, and some random handheld foods. The seating area is eclectic and inviting. As you can tell, I think this place is pretty great!

The biggest pancake I've ever seen! I loved the ambiance and service of this restaurant, which I…read moreonly went to for the signature large pancake. I wish I had more of an appetite to try some of their other dishes! The pancake was what you would expect. It was pretty good! I don't know if I would get it again just because of how big it is, but it's a fun novelty that groups of friends should try.