Tasting dinners are having a moment at restaurants in Champaign-Urbana right now, and I love to see it. Little tastes of special dishes are fun with little sips of special drinks. Food and drink were …
August is the most wonderful time of the year to visit a farmers’ market. In previous months of this column, I’ve covered baked goods and food trucks — and without a doubt, you can find those …
How can it possibly be August already? Impending fall schedules will come at some point in August, but to that I say, lalala-I-can’t-hear-you. I am hungry for summer eats and summer sips, and I want …
Eating at the Three Ravens in Monticello is a pleasant experience because the wait staff is helpful, there’s a nice patio, and they serve good takes on simple pub food. As a friend and I sat …
I love everything about breakfast: cooking it, eating it, going out for it, and having breakfast for dinner. My doctor says it is the most important meal of the day. Of course, I’m sure he …
“We serve you the same authentic cuisine that we would serve at home.” That’s what’s written on San Maru’s website. San Maru feels just like this: a warm, home-cooked meal full of flavor and heart. …
The slogan for Mama Duke’s Food Truck is: “Get you a taste!” and I got a taste. Opened in May of this year, the Black-owned business began as a catering company in 2018 and serves …
Opened in March this year, NAYA Indian Cuisine offers delicious Indian food in a modern artistic atmosphere on campus. I enjoyed the warm aroma and aesthetic colors that welcomed me once I entered. The restaurant has …
Do you like green beans? I, for one, am keen for the green bean, and though no one asked, I have taken it upon myself to write about the green bean cuisine scene of Champaign-Urbana. …
If you live in Champaign-Urbana, you probably know about La Paloma food truck. If you’ve been to the farmers’ market this summer, you’ve definitely seen the truck. It’s been the only truck at the Champaign …
I’ve been to Casa del Mar just once before to meet a friend for lunch. This time my partner and I went for an early dinner during the week. Located at the Pines in Southeast …
First off, today is a market day in Downtown Champaign — in case you want to see some of these goods in real life. Also I want to point out the perseverance of our C-U …
Lately, it’s been so dang hot outside, and it’s got me craving all the things that taste good on a sticky July day in Champaign-Urbana. Bet that this month’s list includes delicious midsummer musts like …
It’s not bragging if you can back it up. –Muhammad Ali Sooie Bros. calls their BBQ the “Best Damn BBQ Ever!!” Barbecue is like chili, gumbo, or your mom’s potato salad: everyone thinks they make …
To say I’m impressed by Katie Carrillo is an understatement. Born and raised in Champaign-Urbana, she’s worked at more than 20 different Champaign-Urbana restaurants, bars, and a brewery — and she’s not done yet. Carrillo knows …
Started in 2017 by Heidi Leuszler, Berries & Flour specializes in products with locally foraged ingredients. Though they started with just the Champaign farmers’ market, they now make trips to the Urbana and Mahomet farmers’ …
I love fish, and I love pretty much any seafood. I myself am not a pescatarian, but I totally get why someone would be. If you don’t, this article probably won’t strike your fancy (and …
I might be the worst person to write an article about vegan food. Not that I don’t see the appeal of veganism. I want to eat more vegetables and less meat. I get it, but …
A couple months ago, I made a bet with my daughter around finishing homework and going to a waterpark. My husband called it incentivizing, but given my dislike for waterparks, the situation was absolutely a …
Today is National Old-Fashioned Day. In my drinky opinion, there’s no better whiskey cocktail than the old-fashioned. It’s simple: whiskey, sugar, bitters, and orange — and a cherry, pretty please. Since the cocktail is a …
After attempting to visit on a Monday (is it my first day in Champaign?) with a group of friends, my partner and I finally visited Martinelli’s Market on a Tuesday evening. Located at the north …
Brunch is definitely my favorite meal of the day. It brings together breakfast food, the choice to eat sweet and savory foods at the same time, and mimosas. Need I say more? But, my biggest …
From a whole freaking cake to sweet-and-spicy coffee, this month’s picks are all delicious, treat-yourself food and drinks of Champaign-Urbana. There are a lot of holidays in June, but it’s also my birthday this month. …
The Champaign-Urbana farmers markets are fun outdoor shopping spots for fresh produce, delicious baked goods, and all kinds of drinks from kombucha to cold brew to fresh-pressed juices. The Saturday market is a busy, bustling …
Dancing the night away fueled by appetizing small bites, two Smile Politely writers — one dance writer and one food writer — attended the inaugural event of Monarch Event Center’s Musical Food Tour. This past …
Located right across the street from Alma Mater on the University of Illinois Quad, Cocomero has been a steady presence of Campustown for a long time. Initially offering mostly self-serve frozen yogurt, they now serve …
If we have a craving for tarts in Champaign-Urbana, we’ll be able to find a bakery or two with tarts on the menu, but Tasty Tart bakery’s whole thing is tarts. It’s the only place …
Finding a satisfying restaurant lunch that costs less than $10 is hard — especially in this economy. But, dear hungry readers, here are five delicious cheap lunches in Champaign-Urbana. For more inexpensive mid-day eating possibilities …
A few years ago, Smile Politely’s Editorial Board published an article about five cuisines we need in Champaign-Urbana. Five is the tip of the iceberg; there are many cuisines that are not well represented in …
Until last week, I’d never been to Jerusalem Restaurant Middle Eastern Cuisine on the corner of Wright Street and Healey, but I’d heard a lot of things about the Campustown restaurant. Having now dined at …
When I walked into the 2023 Edible Book Festival at Martinelli’s Market, I was immediately struck by the beautiful four-foot-tall cake submitted by Field of Sweets. For April’s edible book competition, Tiara Winfield, the owner …
You need to know that tacos are my second favorite food, right after chicken wings. I have written about sit-down restaurant tacos (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here), but taco truck tacos …
It’s the last week to visit Red Herring before the restaurant closes for the summer, and there is something about walking downstairs to get to a restaurant that has always felt cool to me. Like, …
I love to brunch it up, and in my opinion, there are a few things that make a good brunchy brunch: excellent eggs, a list of adult beverages, and at least one delicious menu item …
This Saturday is the return of one of Urbana’s most glorious recurring events: the Saturday morning farmers’ market. Champaign-Urbana has two farmers’ markets: Urbana Market at the Square in the parking lot of Lincoln Square …
Food trucks may be a hip and new fad, but the food at Mo’s Burritos Food Truck is definitely no fad; it is here to stay. My family of six has frequented Mo’s Food Truck …
On Saturday, May 6th before heading to Toast to Taylor Street‘s awesome line-up of live music, help decide which Downtown Champaign bar wins bragging rights in Malört Fest’s cocktail competition. From 3 to 7 p.m., …
Happy first day of May! The trees are all out there trying to get our attention with flowering spring blooms and whatnot. Maybe May will be marvelous or maybe May will be crummy, but either …
I’ve been a regular at the Urbana farmers’ market for at least a decade, and late last fall, I stumbled upon a small business that I fell in love with immediately. RiPoppedIt is a local …
The award-winning cheese by Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a staple for cheeselovers in Champaign-Urbana and nationwide. Owned by married couple Wes Jarrell and Leslie Cooperband, Prairie Fruits Farm is more than very cute …
There are certain people I know who won’t steer me wrong when it comes to food. Two at the top are truck drivers and my son. When there is a restaurant that turns hardworking, grown-ass …
La Michoacana Express is home to a variety of (mostly) cold Mexican sweets. Run by a local family, they make their own ice cream, drinks, and ice cream bars. The ice cream treats have water-based …
Happy 4/20 to all who celebrate the high holiday of April 20th, a day marked by relaxing with cannabis. If you’re looking to join in the chillest of celebrations, here in Champaign-Urbana, we can choose …
I frequently rank Thai cuisine among my top three favorite cuisines because of its vegetarian-friendly options, a diverse range of dishes, and ability to accommodate those new to Thai cuisine or who have had it …
I love hot pot so much, whether it’s organizing a hot pot with friends at home or enjoying a well-prepared one in a restaurant. There are only two hot pot places in Champaign right now. …
The diner on Main Street in Downtown Champaign is open once again, now as The Space restaurant owned by Ian Nutting and Doug Hodge, the pair behind Weird Meat Boyz craft hot sauce. Inside the …
The popular phrase “sharing is caring” is something that fits very well into the food traditions of many cultures, especially those of collectivistic societies. When shared plates are served on the table, it brings people …
Someone told me that Y Thai had really good pho. I love pho, so I was down to check out the little restaurant inside the University YMCA building on the University of Illinois campus. Y …
El Rancho Grande II is one of a handful of non-national-chain dinner spots in Savoy along with iWok, Old Orchard, Smoky’s House BBQ, Star BBQ, and Star Karaoke. Located beside Industrial Donut in a little …
