Admittedly, we’ve been pretty hard on Hamilton Walker’s over the past couple years. The restaurant entered the scene here as a much welcomed addition, in that we haven’t had a true BIG CITY steakhouse type restaurant in town for a very long time, and every city should have one, for special occasions, for an upscale hang, for a great place for a first date.
There are still some things I’d like to see improved, but on the whole, the place has come together well and between ownership making changes and Chef Zach Schweig really adapting to the audience, there’s a lot to celebrate and enjoy on their extensive menu.
I’ll get to the Restaurant Week menu in a second here, but can I just state (again) for the record how terrific the burger is at Hamilton Walker’s? Two weeks back, they celebrated their two year anniversary by offering $5 burgers all week (which includes new types of them to go with their classic), and it was a total smash. When I went in for lunch, the place was packed, and that’s how it should be. Truth be told, the lunch burger is $9.99 and for what you get, it’s a steal. Nothing quite beats a Farren’s burger, of course, but this is a deeply rewarding meal, and one that you should consider before you order it. It’s huge, and perfectly prepared, in my experience, each time.
Now, onto the current show. Here’s the Restaurant Week offerings from Hamilton Walker’s:
Of all the great offerings that Restaurant Week has, Hamilton Walker’s might just be the most affordable, relative to what you are getting. A soup or salad to start, and then a choice of twin petite filets or a piece of grilled atlantic salmon, served with green beans and mashed potatoes. And finally, a rich piece of chocolate cake.
That’s all for $19. Which is insane.
Last year, they had some execution problems, but with the way they’ve been improving over the past year, it feels like the time has come for us to really start celebrating what they are offering.
I’m grateful for the joint, and find myself in there more often these days, simply because it’s a good meal, and a fun hang. And as a reminder, they have one of the best bar programs in town. Try the Hemingway Daiquiri. It’s a total delight.
Hamilton Walker’s
201 N Neil St
Champaign
M-W 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Th + F 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Sa 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Su 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Photo by Jessica Hammie