Nandos is one of my favorite places in Champaign. However, this visit was different than most--…read morethey have started doing a set menu with appetizer, entre, and dessert for about $65 per person. The one caveat is that menu items off of the set menu can not just be ordered. For exampl, you cannot just order the arancini balls anymore-- which is one of my faves. This was a smidge disappointing if you don't want to order from the set menu portion. The regular menu has some options but not all that they used to. The food was good per usual just this change up threw us off!

My daughter and I tried this restaurant for the first time this evening (on a Tuesday night around…read more6pm). We were greeted at the door by the host who opened the door and welcomed us inside. He quickly seated us and we were then greeted by one of the waitstaff who offered us tap water or sparkling water while we waited for our server. We ordered sparkling water and our server came right over and greeted us and took care of us throughout our dining experience. The ambiance of the restaurant is very pleasant, dark wood decor, lovely dining music playing. There were only a couple of other tables with customers so it was a pretty relaxed setting, but u can imagine this would be a lovely date night spot or group dinner venue. We enjoyed our dishes (pictures included) and unlike other Italian restaurants that often provide huge portions, these meals were appropriately portioned and filling. We also had the tiramisu for dessert; it was different than what we are accustomed too. Much more creamy and more like a pudding than a cake. Overall we enjoyed our experience and dinner!

One of the fancy and pricier places in CU! I usually get the lobster pasta, it comes with black…read morefettuccine which tastes the same but I do feel like the noodle quality is a little chewier. Pasta portion size was appropriate and filling. PLEASE BE WARNED THAT THE DESSERT POTION SIZES ARE HUGE. I was shocked when they brought out this massive crème brûlée. Definitely should share but also can take extra home. Not pictured but the chocolate cake and the tiramisu are both also huge!

I hate leaving a negative review! I give it a 2. Staff / building were nice…read more Food - Both plates of food were cold. Pasta was not cooked. Lasagna was like rubber! The picture of the food looks nice! But, no steam to be found or tasted!

Food was okay, nothing too special but decent. The bolognese portion size was wayy smaller than the…read morerisotto, but both came out decent. The 1 star review is because I've been here twice, and both times the service was lackluster. The first time, the person taking our order completely ignored my companion and only spoke to me, which I found quite rude. The second time, the person taking our order heard a different item than what we wanted -- not an issue, we took the food that we got and were happy to eat it, but the employee was incredibly aggressive and pushy. They kept aggressively asking us if we wanted to change the order, even though we had said no it's fine a dozen times by then. It was incredibly aggressive and not something I wish to return to.

Tried the penne alla vodka and it was better than I expected. The sauce had a nice little kick and…read morethe pasta was perfectly al dente. I liked that the dish wasn't too oily or overly rich. It felt balanced and satisfying. The portion was just right and came out hot and fresh. Staff was quick and polite. I'll definitely be back to try their lasagna next time.

Such amazing Italian food!! Me and my boyfriend couldn't stop raving about their bread and tiramisuread more

I tried their spaghetti bolognese and it did not disappoint. The meat sauce had depth and wasn't…read moregreasy. I liked how the pasta held up and didn't get mushy. It came with a little garlic bread on the side which was also great. The dining space was small but clean and comfortable. Overall just a really satisfying meal.

It was a busy graduation weekend but the owner was able to accommodate our part of 9 at a large…read moretable out of the main dining area. Our server was super busy but yet prompt and attentive. The pizzas were perfection. Amazing crust. Delicious toppings. We had the Italian salad to share. The basil dressing was incredible. The cheese plate was better than we expected. Delicious cheeses. What I think was soft, warm pizza crust, fig preserves. Soooo good! We thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Apparently I lived in the moment and did not take a single photo!

Tip: the crushed tomatoes bring a classic, delicate flavor to the pizzas. However, they also bring…read morea good deal of moisture. After a slice or two, the pizza crust gets soggy and loses its crisp -- the whole point of Neapolitan pizza! Pizzas with meat mostly sidestep the issue by omitting the tomato. Vegetarians should take particular note of the platters, which serve seasoned slices of bread made from the pizza dough. Also, consider the Bianca pizza, which is just topped with cheese. Also note: the salad dressings are made from a vinaigrette base, including the Caesar. As a result, the salad works better as an amuse bouche -- a few, bright bites to clear the palate before the next course -- rather than a full course in itself.

I ordered a Dee-Dee's Cutlets Sandwich (on the restaurant week's menu) to go. It was delicious! The…read moresandwich contained a big chicken cutlets, and mozzarella (kind of herb seasoned), and was just suitable for feeding me full during dinner. People here were so nice and friendly! I see that it's only open during dinner time through Thursday to Saturday. I think students would be happy if Dee-Dee's Beef could expand its opening hours to lunch throughout the week! Looking forward to that to happen!

Prediction: Dee-Dee's Beef will soon become a Champaign-Urbana institution…read more This place is the real deal. They know what they do extraordinarily well and stick to it. I had never had an authentic Italian beef sandwich before, but after last night, I knew I had had the best in the state, outside of Chicago perhaps. Their menu is straight-forward and harkens back to deli and sandwich shops of old. In fact, I had assumed that Dee-Dee's had been around for decades. My combo sandwich was heavy duty, bursting with beef, juice, and flavor. If you are a more economical eater, unlike myself, then you could certainly get two meals out of it. Customer service was above and beyond. I imagine that I corresponded directly over the phone and counter with one of the Owners when placing and picking up my order. Located in the Cracked restaurant space right on Green Street, they are open three days a week (for now) and accept all major credit cards. We will be back, no question.

The food was plentiful , the pasta cooked to perfection and the neverending salad and bread sticks…read moredelightfully fresh and crisp. The server Miss Edyn did a great job! Welcoming smile , helpful without hovering and light hearted. Even on a weekend holiday shift! I agree with previous review that this is the best Olive Garden we have experienced. My best kudos to the kitchen and server for getting salad out cold and pasta very hot! The Olive Garden decor always makes me smile as I feel like it's coming home to an Italian " Nonna's" kitchen. Abundance is the word . Husband had the creamy chicken gnocchi soup that he said it was just right. Yelper had her own combination of spaghetti with creamy mushroom sauce and a side of meatballs the sauce was excellent !!the meatballs were just ok. Not too well seasoned and a bit dry. I added Parmesan to my plate and lots of fresh pepper from table mill. I'm very full and happy. We would come Back. We are just traveling through. If you're looking to please a family or a crowd this will serve you well.

We were here to visit our college student and stopped for lunch. We were seated promptly, within 2…read moreminutes water was bought out and our server arrived. These are some of the best Olive Garden servers I've ever encountered. The young lady was personable and made sure we had all that was needed. Our food arrived fresh and hot and was very good. The breadsticks were served warm and the salad ice cold ( just like I like it). Overall a great experience.

The price to quality to portion size ratio is perfect. Best pizza in town! There are plenty of…read moreoptions to customize with and the food seems to be made with a lot of care.

Serving sizes were very small. $8 for a very small amount of noodles. Other menu items tasted greatread more