Smile Politely

Farren’s has a killer app menu

A row of three appetizers: nachos, toasted ravioli, and deep fried avocado slices.
Alyssa Buckley

Look, when I go to Farren’s, I know that I am about to put myself in a food coma with my burger order (all my love to the Motherlode). Therefore, I’ve never been terribly well-versed in the appetizer options, beyond those amazing house made chips and occasional portabello mushroom app.

However, a little Smile Politely team gathering at Farren’s was a fantastic opportunity to dive into the extensive appetizer list. More than a dozen! I didn’t try them all, but there were a few highlights.

A tray of nachos with multi-colored chips, cheese sauce, lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese.
Alyssa Buckley

Alyssa has included the pork nachos ($12) in her Five Things column before, but this was the first time I’ve tried them myself. I really liked the barbeque flavor on the pork. These are also available with a variety of other types of meat and faux meat, or they can be ordered without.

A white rectangulr plate with two rows of toasted ravioli, topped with shredded parmesan.
Alyssa Buckley

One of my favorites was the toasted ravioli ($10). It was so crispy, and had lots of gooey cheese on the inside.

I missed out on snagging a photo of the fried roasted corn and cheese nuggets ($9), but they were a tasty bite for sure. They had a nice little kick to them, with the sweetness of the corn and more gooey cheese.

Overhead view of four baskets of appetizers: French fries, house made chips, fried cauliflower, and fried cheese curds.
Alyssa Buckley

Anyways, I highly recommend gathering a bunch of friends for an appetizer dinner at Farren’s. There’s truly something for everyone, from all the fried things (even cauliflower if that’s your thing) and corresponding dips, to grilled scallops and a hummus plate. If you need a little balance in your life, you can’t go wrong with a house salad.

Farren’s Pub & Eatery
117 N Walnut
Champaign
M-Th 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
F-Sa 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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