iconLog In  |  Register

Category > BEST 2010

FOOD

BEST Food 2011

featured_post

Posted to BEST 2010 by Smile Politely Writers on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 7:00 am

Around these parts, choosing the Best of anything when it comes to food or drink is going to be a challenge. For every horrible, wretched, poorly-prepared meal, there is a fantastic, and perfectly delicious one to fire back. It reminds us that no matter what people might say about Champaign-Urbana and its food scene (or lack thereof), we have enough to go around and then some. The challenge is finding the right spots. So, without much further ado — …

Continue Reading…  |  Comments Disabled  |  Permalink

FOOD

BEST: Food and Drink

featured_post

Posted to BEST 2010 by Smile Politely Editors on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 6:00 am

As a part of our BEST series, we thought we’d throw a little food your way. Now we’re not saying that the places we’ve listed are the best places in town to eat and drink, but—wait, what’s that?  We are saying they’re the best places to eat and drink? Oh. Okay. Carry on. Here are our last two chapters: ARTS, SPORTS Best place to meet your online flirtation: Carmon's Restaurant So you and that awesome guy or girl you've …

Continue Reading…  |  Comments Disabled  |  Permalink

Most Recent Food Comments

{username}

Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR?  It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.

Posted by Brian to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/06/12.
Mike Ingram avatar

Love CSR.  Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy.  Sticky Bun is pretty nice.

Posted by Mike Ingram to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/04/12.
{username}

HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)

Posted by Mertz to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…

Posted by Kirstin to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…

Posted by LH to the entry 'Tiesta Tea: A local success story on 02/02/12.
{username}

Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…

Posted by C-U Later to the entry 'Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight on 02/02/12.
{username}

The second visit to Meatheads included what tasted like a stale bun. That’s the end of going to Meatheads for a while.

Posted by Q-Tips to the entry 'Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight on 02/01/12.
Mike Ingram avatar

That seems like an odd experience to me.  Basically everything you mentioned, apart from price, is contrary to what I’ve witnessed or heard about.  You ate at the restaurant and the burger was cold?  Seems more like the complaint of someone who took something home.  And if…

Posted by Mike Ingram to the entry 'Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight on 01/31/12.
{username}

Unfortunately i did not have the same experiences that some of you may have had. I went to meatheads the 2nd or 3rd night it was open and I was very disappointed. My burger was cold and soggy. I ordered one of their specialty burgers. A spicy…

Posted by C-U Later to the entry 'Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight on 01/31/12.
Susanna Kline avatar

Ah, I finished it weeks ago—it was figuratively on ice over the holidays… I think each has its own appeal to various consumers, but I hit Buvons/Corkscrew most frequently. The current staff is extremely friendly and has never steered me wrong for a wine pairing, even when…

Posted by Susanna Kline to the entry 'Wine Bar Wars: part trois on 01/30/12.

Most Popular Food Articles (60 days)

  1. Top 10 meatless C-U restaurant meals of 2011 featured_postPosted to Food & Drink by Amelia Bowen on 01/17/12
  2. Radio Maria: Turning “garbage” into art featured_postPosted to Food & Drink by Rachel Buller on 01/10/12
  3. Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight featured_postPosted to Food & Drink by Ryan A. Ross on 01/26/12
  4. Wine Bar Wars: part trois featured_postPosted to Food & Drink by Susanna Kline on 01/19/12
  5. Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best Posted to Food & Drink by Pamela Saunders on 02/03/12
  6. Tiesta Tea: A local success story Posted to Food & Drink by Jeremiah Stanley on 02/02/12

Most Recent Comments

{username}

Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR?  It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.

By Brian to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/06/12.
JPSherrill avatar

Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban     Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com

By JPSherrill to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/06/12.
{username}

Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…

By Q-Tips to the entry 'Illinois bad, MSU worse, Izzo terrible on 02/06/12.
{username}

That’s what she said.

By kiel to the entry 'Illini pull out an ugly one on 02/04/12.
{username}

Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.

By Ryan to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/04/12.
Mike Ingram avatar

Love CSR.  Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy.  Sticky Bun is pretty nice.

By Mike Ingram to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/04/12.
Rob McColley avatar

If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.

By Rob McColley to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/03/12.
{username}

HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)

By Mertz to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…

By Kirstin to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha

By Not_again. to the entry 'LGBTQ participants needed for research study on community involvement on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

just confirmed:  there will be white russians served. the art abides.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
{username}

There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847

By Lindsey to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
{username}

Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…

By Local Yocal to the entry 'An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan on 02/03/12.
{username}

I love the Guitars

By wilsonwasher23 to the entry 'SP Radio Podcast: Drew Phillips, Uncle John and local bluegrass on 02/03/12.
{username}

I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…

By LH to the entry 'Tiesta Tea: A local success story on 02/02/12.
{username}

Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…

By C-U Later to the entry 'Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight on 02/02/12.
isaac arms avatar

Thanks for that, Louis CK.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Pee stains on the Arctic on 02/02/12.
{username}

Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail.  Emotion has no place in hard science.  The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming

By Louis CK to the entry 'Pee stains on the Arctic on 02/02/12.
{username}

Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0.  What is their rationale?

By King Mo Lawal to the entry 'Please don't close the campus post offices on 02/02/12.

Most Popular Articles (14 days)

  1. An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan featured_postPosted to Opinion by Jason Brown on 01/26/12
  2. Meatheads Burgers and Fries: A carnivorous delight featured_postPosted to Food & Drink by Ryan A. Ross on 01/26/12
  3. Please don’t close the campus post offices featured_postPosted to Opinion by William Gillespie on 01/27/12
  4. Spotlight: Drag shows in Champaign-Urbana, Part III featured_postPosted to Arts by Tracy Nectoux on 01/25/12
  5. The Artist is Oscar gold Posted to Arts by Jeremiah Stanley on 01/30/12
  6. The Overture: January 24–30 Posted to Music by Patrick Singer on 01/24/12
  7. No Idiot Child Posted to Music by JoAnne Cammarata on 01/24/12
  8. The Overture: January 31–February 6 Posted to Music by Patrick Singer on 01/31/12
  9. One word: biofuels featured_postPosted to Opinion by Joel Gillespie on 01/30/12
  10. Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best Posted to Food & Drink by Pamela Saunders on 02/03/12

Log In



Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?