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Raised on the Oregon coast, Liz Jackson wandered all over the Americas, Europe, and North Africa before moving to Urbana. She is currently writing her dissertation on how Islam is represented by U.S. media and public schools and applying for tenure-track positions in educational policy and global studies. By writing for Smile Politely she can avoid this work while also rationalizing her fear of grocery shopping and food preparation. When not hovered over her Macbook you can find her running or at the Brass Rail.
Sometimes my friends and I try to expand our horizons beyond the usual haunts, downtown bars and fine dining options. Sometimes we’re delighted by our experimenting, and other times, regretful.
Twice in the last few weeks I’ve visited Farren’s, an ever-so-slightly upscale restaurant and pub behind Nitaya Thai at Church and Hill streets. People love Farren’s for the burgers, including The Russell, which comes loaded with mushrooms, bacon, blue cheese sauce and jalapeno cheese. The Green Chili Cheeseburger, which is topped with jalapeno cheese and green chili sauce is just as highly regarded. Even those who avoid red meat can do just fine subbing a black bean burger, which comes with a side of Cajun remoulade. The fries, which cost extra, aren’t anything to write home about, but they do the job.
The atmosphere is pleasant enough for an underground space, and the service is not terrible. They provide you with plenty to drink, and the full menu includes many appetizers, salads, and sandwiches, most of which only cost 7 or 8 bucks.
However, if you don’t want a burger, there is really no need to go. For one, the higher-priced specials can be odd, such as salmon out of season, or an over-sized grouper with a bizarre mash of foods the restaurant regards as a “slaw.”
Those who enjoy good salads might also be disappointed. The majority of them are prepared around meats (beef, chicken, bacon, scallops), which vegetarians will find irritating, and they smother (but do not mix) the greens with thick and strong-tasting dressings before serving them.
Some things on the menu are unavailable, such as the pate part of the cheese and pate plate. The cheese and fruit plate would be better described as the “brie plate,” as you’re not necessarily going to get fresh fruit and the only cheese offered is brie (which is strange, considering the many cheeses they have). If you like brie, you get some bang for your buck (some 2-3 wedges), but then again, who wants dried apricots, Craisins and olives with their cheese? Where jam and honey might be reasonably expected with the baguette bread, diners receive strawberry vinaigrette salad dressing plopped unceremoniously about the plate. It had my friends and I scratching our heads.
The sandwiches are hit-or-miss. My friend enjoyed her mushroom and cheese sandwich on baguette bread, but I was less content with my pesto and cheese sandwich with cucumbers, onions, and lettuce. While I confess that the menu didn’t say “grilled cheese,” I still wasn’t expecting cold slices on baguette bread. Experiences like these increased our head-scratching.
I don’t plan on visiting again soon. It’s this diner’s opinion that Farren’s needs some serious revamping and rethinking if it intends to compete with other restaurant-pubs in the area.
Otherwise it’s burgers-only at Farren’s.
Comments (14)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:04 PM
Boo! Hiss!!
While some of the other sandwiches can be hit or miss (same with the salads) compared to the spectacular burgers, I've found Farren's to be consistently a notch above their competition -- especially similar joints in downtown Champaign.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:14 PM
What restaurant-pubs are you referring to in your last paragraph? Admittedly, the Scallop Salad and Kobe burger are all I need to validate a few monthly visits to Farren's, but, all things considered, for the restaurant-pub selection of C-U, I don’t see any other dining options that are clearly better?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:15 PM
Their meatloaf is killer. I could eat it all day, everyday. And it's one of their more affordable specials.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:16 PM
thanks for the feedback!
is there something about farren's that's really great that i'm missing (besides the burgers)?
if you aren't looking for a burger, i just haven't found anything else farren's has, food-wise, over say, guido's or esquire...maybe a different sort of clientèle or atmosphere, but that's about it. you can get a proper cheese plate at boltini, your expensive specials are done better at nice restaurants, and sides and sandwiches and salads are far more decent at seven saints or esquire or any pub depending on what you crave.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:18 PM
Is this review a joke to rile up all of the Farren's loyalists? I don't necessarily think all of the non-burger menu items are spectacular but I agree with the other two commenters; Farren's offers a well-priced variety of items, most of which is actually good.
A few disagreements with the review: 1. Farren's fries are awesome. I honestly don't know if there are better ones in town; 2. You can ask for dressing on the side or even a different dressing and they'll happily oblige; and 3. Olives and cheese are very common accompaniments to a cheese plate (and I've had many both inside and outside of Champaign).
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:54 PM
The tacos are great. And you can make them with the black bean veggies for us vegetarians. Really good.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:16 PM
different strokes for different folks, i guess. i'm glad to be enlightened about why the place is still in business, because until today i didn't really know any fans of farren's...like i said, it's not for a lack of trying on my part, i just haven't had a meal there myself where
ANY of us left with any feeling resembling the sort of satisfaction of which you guys seem to speak. hmmm i guess food reviews aren't rocket science after all...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:25 PM
Liz, I'm with you on Farren's as not that great. Recently also posted this on Little Blog on the Prairie where everyone had already drunk the koolaid. But here's where we part ways: I don't think their BURGERS are good. Nor do my two main dining companions (who also hate their fries). The burgers are always way overcooked and way underseasoned. Try one without any sauce on it. It's dry, it's got no salt and pepper, it's overly mashed down on the grill. (I used to cook grill, and you don't press on the dang burgers) I will take Crane Alley any day over Farren's.
Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:39 AM
Bottom line for me is that the burger's at Crane Alley actually have a recipe, that is so good that a certain downtown Champaign restaurant decided to snake it from them and Farren's are pre-packaged. At least, the Kobe beef burger is. I give the award for best burger to Crane Alley, hands down. But the topping at Farren's are so good that the "plain" tasting burger is almost an asset: it serves as the perfect clean canvas for them to create marvelous concoctions upon.
I have had hit or miss experiences with their non-burger menu and specials: the meatloaf was awesome; the stew - fabulous. The sandwiches? Not so much really.
The fries though?! Really great. And fresh. Love the fries. Can't eat them. Thanks for reminding me.
All in all, I still say that C-U doesn't have a truly GREAT burger joint. BUt, I'll take a Med. Rare Green Chili any day and not bat an eye: though I miss Steve U at the grill. Fella knew how to make it just right.
Monday, March 31, 2008 11:07 AM
Well...I was at Farren's this past Friday night and every table was filled and there was a line of almost 20 people waiting to eat.
We all had burgers and fries and the specials came with salad as well. I've never had a bad meal there, but, you know, I *like* burgers.
My guess is that sending someone who prefers vegetarian entrees to a burger joint really wasn't the best choice....
Monday, March 31, 2008 11:25 AM
gee, thanks, anonymous person. it's so sad that people only come on here to hate. in the last week i've had dozens of people tell me the burgers have come out to them green, have given them diarrhea, etc., and that there is nothing redeeming about the place--unfortunately they do not feel compelled to argue about it with people who are probably just going on the internet to be mean anonymously anyway.
Monday, March 31, 2008 3:08 PM
Get used to it, Liz.
That said - I think Lurker makes a fair point, and isn't necessarily being "mean".
And for the record - Smile Politely doesn't really hand out assignments, especially for food reviews. Liz decided to review Farren's of her own volition.
Word.
s
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 2:34 PM
I keep hearing raves about Farren's burgers, and I've gone there perhaps a half-dozen times over the last few years.
I'm confused.
What is it that people like about them? I love a good burger, but what I've had at Farren's (even the one time I shelled out for the Kobe burger) was uninspiring. The fries are really good, and the waitstaff is friendly, but the burgers have been boring (and actually on the dry side).
Last time I went there, I had the tacos (which I'd also been told were good). They were OK, but not great.
I wish there was a place to get really good burgers in this town...
Monday, April 21, 2008 1:28 PM
i think the same thing can be said for farren's as for crane. they both have a few stellar menu items, but the service at both is deplorable.
i've definitely had good food both places, but like i posted on the crane review; i have never had good service at either.