The Best Restaurants in Champaign-Urbana

Local farms bring fresh, vibrant flavors to the restaurants throughout this college town.

The University of Illinois straddles the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. Here, students, alumni, and visitors can find farm-to-table restaurants, old buildings reimagined as restaurants, and classic joints that have been around for decades. Plus, an abundance of global cuisine, farmers markets, and festivals contribute to the rich culinary scene.

Silvercreek opened a decade later in a former wood millwork building for the SE Huff Lumber Company three blocks away. The casual, fine-dining restaurant uses ingredients from local farmers. For example, the Burrata Crostini is an excellent starter featuring house-made pesto, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and micro green sprouts. The main concept of their menu is to feature modern dishes that capture the flavors of each season.

Champaign’s original train depot houses Black Dog Smoke and Ale House. Order a quarter-pound sandwich, platter or combo from this popular barbecue joint, which smokes beef and pork for more than 12 hours. They sell pork spare ribs everyday, but you’ll need to come on Friday for beef ribs and Saturday for baby back ribs.

Papa Del’s Pizza Factory moved into the historic Coca-Cola Bottling Plant in 2015, but it’s been around since 1970. The pizzeria makes three types of pie: the Original Sicilian Pan, the All-American Thin and the Super Stuffed, plus a gluten-free crust. There’s also pastas, sandwiches, and salads. What you won’t find is Coca-Cola products...Papa Del’s only serves Pepsi products, plus beer, wine, and cocktails!

Since 1983, Jarling’s Custard Cup has been making small batches of homemade custard throughout the day to keep up with the high demand. Their staff keeps the menu fresh by featuring a flavor and special of the week. And for patrons who can’t make it into the store, Jarling’s ships to their door.

Pasta noodles made from scratch are the main star on Timpone’s Restaurant menu in Urbana. Raymond Timpone opened the Italian restaurant in 1986, but the pizza recipes date back to 1947, when his parents brought pizza to Champaign with their first restaurant. Besides pizza and pasta, diners can feast on a variety of fish, veal and steak. Their extensive drink menu also allows you to choose from more than 400 bottles of wine, including some hard-to-find brands.

Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch welcomes guests to their Centennial Farm for apple picking in mid-July. Their seasonal Flying Monkey Cafe opens for lunch at the end of August, with homemade soups and sandwiches, such as the mouth-watering smoky pulled pork. The orchard is also known for their delicious house made apple cider –the perfect drink to get in the fall spirit.

In Champaign, Farmhouse Restaurant sits inside the Harvest Market grocery store. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Farmhouse features eggs from Little Farm on the Prairie, milk from Kilgus Farmstead and beef from Niemann Ranch.

Organic Himalayan red rice and quinoa, kale, arugula, and spinach star on the menu at Forage Kitchen. Diners can choose from wraps, bowls and salads in the heart of campus.

Alto Vineyards in Champaign is surrounded by lush trees and wine fields. The Alto Vineyards Tasting Room invites guests to sip on award-winning wine and taste delicious local cheeses all while relaxing in the serene atmosphere that the vineyard provides. Pro tip: Go at sunset to watch beautiful colors paint the sky around you!