Champaign-Urbana may be the Midwest’s best food town, but there’s plenty of good food outside C-U “proper”
One thing we know: If you didn’t grow up in the Champaign-Urbana area, you might not be aware of the wonderful smaller towns that surround the community.
And you probably don’t venture out to them very often, with perhaps the exception of going to Monticello for Allerton Park or to Arthur to visit Amish Country.
We are the type of folks who love to explore our community, and that includes the surrounding areas. And many of these great small towns have unique assets — shops, restaurants and features that make them worth a visit.
In this article, we have listed some of our favorite eateries in small towns surrounding Champaign-Urbana.
Some we go back to again and again. Some of these you may know well; some might be new to you.
The requirement for this list is that they had to be locally owned and in a smaller town within easy driving distance of Champaign-Urbana. And of course, there are plenty more we could add – so stay tuned.
The Brown Bag, Monticello: Located right off the main square in downtown Monticello. Good, homemade, fresh food at a decent price — and healthy options as well as gluten-free breads. Known for sandwiches – but don’t miss the soup. Very kid friendly. If you’re headed to Allerton Park and didn’t have time to pack a picnic, stop here. One last tip: don’t miss Inge’s pie. 212 W. Washington Ave., Monticello. (Closed Sunday and Monday.)
Dewey’s, Farmer City: This is the quintessential “small town place to eat”, as you can get all kinds of fried food with a long list of choices of frozen treats, too. Our recommendation is the classic burger, fries and shake, but you can come up with all kinds of options. Bring cash! No credit cards accepted. MAP IT.
Fillipo’s, Mahomet: Making the short drive to the east side of Mahomet is completely worth it for delicious Italian dishes from family-owned Fillipo’s. Fillipo’s thin crust pizza is a best-seller, but plan ahead; weekend orders need a two-hour lead time for pick-up. Pasta helpings topped with their sweet marinara sauce are large (half orders are available for most). Don’t forget to add an Italian Beef sandwich or two for the larger appetites. Cash only, small dining room (about 10-12 tables) but well worth the wait. Dinner only Wednesday through Sunday and open late. MAP IT.
Fish Wagon, Farmer City: Looking for hand-breaded fish close to C-U? Fish Wagon has the best year-round fish fry style fish around! If you’re bringing people with you that would prefer a burger or a Chicago-style hot dog, you can get those things here, too. MAP IT.
Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, Tuscola: Another chambanamoms favorite, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Flesor’s, whether you want a full meal or a sweet treat. If you want some true comfort food, this is definitely the place. Enjoy hand-dipped chocolate (turtles anyone?) as well as fudge from the candy counter. Or get some delicious ice cream, malts, milkshakes or other yumminess from the old-time soda fountain. Extremely kid friendly, although it can be difficult to manage all the asks for delicious treats. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Inside seating and carry out. MAP IT.
Just Hamburgers, Paxton: “Super good, fast, cheap.” We put this local favorite on our favorite burger list because we hear it offers one of the best burgers around. Spoiler alert: don’t be fooled by the name: they serve other things besides hamburgers. We hear the fried shrimp is pretty delicious. This is a carry out ONLY with outside seating available. Tips: Bring cash; closed on Sundays. Located in downtown Paxton, about 30-35 minutes from Champaign-Urbana. MAP IT.
Krekel’s, Decatur: Get the double hamburger with crinkle fries and some custard, and you are in for a treat! A must-stop after a visit to the Scovill Zoo or Children’s Museum of Illinois.
Market Street Grill, Paxton: We think it is worth the drive, so you should definitely check it out for yourself! Kids eat free on Tuesdays (with purchase of an adult meal). MAP IT.
Moonshine Store, Martinsville: If you are looking for a fun and unique day trip south, check out Moonshine Store. With an old general store feel, picnic tables, and southern Illinois hospitality, you’ll understand why this restaurant has garnered fame and curiosity on the CBS Morning News, Country Living magazine, and Women’s World. You’ll definitely want to plug this destination into your GPS as it will take you on many country roads. They are open Monday-Saturday 6 a.m. until 1 p.m. but they stop grilling burgers at 12:30 sharp! Bring cash as they do not accept debit or credit cards. MAP IT.
Ott’s Drive-In, Rantoul: This place is a step back in time. Old-fashioned diner food awaits and is affordable for almost any budget. The bill for our family of five was less than $25. Known for a dish called the haystack which is “toast, hash browns, choice of bacon, sausage or ham, an egg any way you like it, topped with two ladles of homemade sausage gravy.” Only open for breakfast and lunch, but breakfast is served all day. Closed Mondays, bring cash. 400 N Century Blvd, Rantoul. MAP IT.
Roma Family Restaurant, Danville: Looking for a tasty dinner during your visit to Danville? Offering curbside pickup or dine-in options, you can enjoy your freshly made pasta creations there or on the go back to Champaign-Urbana. If you like spicy pasta dishes, their chicken pikante is worth the trip. They are known for their house made sauces and delicious rolls. We can hardly wait to go back to try their calzones and pizzas. Rest easy knowing that they have a children’s menu featuring pasta and chicken tenders. Dessert offerings include tiramisu, lemoncello, cheesecake, and cannoli. MAP IT.
Sidney Dairy Barn, Sidney: A person who happens to run this website is addicted to Sidney Dairy Barn. Not that that’s a reason for you to go. You can read the review yourself. Open April to November. Outdoor seating and a drive-thru available. MAP IT.
Additional shout-out – worth the drive!
Bobe’s Pizza, Lawrenceville/Mt.Carmel/Olney: A Southern Illinois favorite, the closest to C-U that you can find Bobe’s is in Olney. If you find yourself down that way for sports or otherwise, make sure you stop for their delicious pizza. A particularly popular order is their Farouk pizza (onion, green peppers, mushroom, sausage, and pepperoni). Don’t forget their breadsticks and cheese sauce, as well.
Did we miss a small town food gem? Let us know and send us an email.
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