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2 | I wish I could give Bacaro five stars. To be fair, there's a lot to like about it. The quality of the ingredients is high. The ambience is great too. The servers are among the most professional in the C-U area. The food is genuinely sophisticated. However Bacaro's commitment to local, seasonal ingredients, while being ... | en | 383 | wish could give bacaro five stars fair lot like quality ingredients high ambience great servers among professional area food genuinely sophisticated however bacaro commitment local seasonal ingredients one strengths also one greatest weaknesses menu bacaro constantly changing based ingredients stock tends result incons... | 198 |
1 | Went here for 1-year anniversary. Over-priced food where 50 and 60 year old townies and professors eat.\n\nYou've been warned. | en | 19 | went anniversary food year old townies professors warned | 8 |
1 | Overpriced. The atmosphere is great, but the food is too buttery and overpriced. I went there twice last year. I forget exactly what I ordered, but I definitely remember the food being greasy and overpriced. | en | 35 | overpriced atmosphere great food buttery overpriced went twice last year forget exactly ordered definitely remember food greasy overpriced | 18 |
0 | I felt decidedly underwhelmed and overcharged.\n\nThe chocolate cake was the only item that I consumed that lived up to the expectation or the quality implied by the pricing. The soup was merely OK and the spaghetti completely underwhelming (bland, in a runny sauce) and a huge disappointment. I also felt that I was m... | en | 137 | felt decidedly underwhelmed chocolate cake item consumed lived expectation quality implied pricing soup merely ok spaghetti completely underwhelming bland runny sauce huge disappointment also felt missing spoon easier roll spaghetti really see point given knife instead finally malbec ordered glass simply menu fine dini... | 66 |
1 | Second trip to Bacaro.\n\nPrix fixe dinner for two with the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu.\n\n$145\n\nWe left hungry, and shaking our heads.\n\nWalked across the street to Esquire and had dinner again.\n\nWhen McDonalds could have profitably sold me 145 hot hamburgers, don't let me actually leave hungry. | en | 47 | second trip fixe dinner two cheapest bottle wine left hungry shaking across street esquire dinner mcdonalds could profitably sold hot hamburgers let actually leave hungry | 25 |
4 | Best chef, wait staff and ambience in town, topped off by a menu with ample flexibility. | en | 16 | best chef wait staff ambience town topped menu ample flexibility | 10 |
2 | The steak was excellent . But I ordered artichokes for the table and they were scrawny and there were only 2 Not much taste. I had had them the night before at Radio Maria's and they were delish. Also the price was way too high for this type of Italian food in downstate Illinois. | en | 54 | steak excellent ordered artichokes table scrawny much taste night radio maria delish also price way high type italian food downstate illinois | 21 |
1 | Food was excellent but did not have a great experience with waitress. Table of 8, we all ordered tasting menu with wine pairings. Wine came out about 10 min after our food on a few courses which left us unable to experience the \"pairing\" as you should. We politely and discreetly asked her to bring wine out with or r... | en | 226 | food excellent great experience waitress table ordered tasting menu wine pairings wine came min food courses left us unable experience politely discreetly asked bring wine right food think ticked aloof barely explained wine dishes served water slow refilled real kicker automatic gratuity added tax bill asked speak mana... | 96 |
3 | I had a lovely anniversary dinner here a few years back. I remember the pumpkin ravioli being delicious and the waiter service being great. Portions are relatively small, though. I love that they use local ingredients and keep their menu small and creative. They are very active on FB as well, so follow them if you are... | en | 91 | lovely anniversary dinner years back remember pumpkin ravioli delicious waiter service great portions relatively small though love use local ingredients keep menu small creative active fb well follow interested seeing weekly specials photo form prices go back made money definitely gone back least times | 44 |
1 | Food was excellent but did not have a great experience with waitress. Table of 8, we all ordered tasting menu with wine pairings. Wine came out about 10 min after our food on a few courses which left us unable to experience the \"pairing\" as you should. We politely and discreetly asked her to bring wine out with or r... | en | 274 | food excellent great experience waitress table ordered tasting menu wine pairings wine came min food courses left us unable experience politely discreetly asked bring wine right food think ticked aloof barely explained wine dishes served water slow refilled real kicker automatic gratuity added tax bill asked speak mana... | 119 |
0 | If you want to be treated like garbage at a pretentious overpriced \"whatever\" of a restaurant then go. My recommendation is avoid because there is way too much attitude here. We were greeted rudely when they learned we did not have a reservation.... On a freaking Thursday.... In a college town! We walked out, so t... | en | 72 | want treated like garbage pretentious overpriced restaurant go recommendation avoid way much attitude greeted rudely learned reservation freaking thursday college town walked thankfully get money wonderful meal two doors away | 30 |
2 | Had dinner for the first time at Bacaro. Waitress (Daisy) did a great job but assumed that because we had not eaten at Bacaro before we wouldn't know what a \"tasting menu\" was about (not necessarily her fault - could be the result of patrons she deals with in this neck of the woods). We ordered the Roasted Beets and... | en | 187 | dinner first time bacaro waitress daisy great job assumed eaten bacaro would know tasting necessarily fault could result patrons deals neck woods ordered roasted beets scallops mousseline starters sturgeon yellow fin dinner tuna really good sturgeon excellent till penultimate bite ran big chunk salt eliminated last bit... | 88 |
4 | I've had my second experience at this C-U gem and so far we are 2 for 2. Another comfortable street side table was provided for my daughter and I. A terrific wine by the glass accompanied our appetizer of flat bread with chorizo and cheese. She had a medallion if beef and I had scallops, cockles and | en | 57 | second experience gem far another comfortable street side table provided daughter terrific wine glass accompanied appetizer flat bread chorizo cheese medallion beef scallops cockles | 24 |
3 | A wonderful place to take a date. Romantic, quiet, and a wonderful wine selection. Over the weekend I took a date here for dinner. We both had the filet. It was wonderful! Cooked to perfection, and melted in our mouths. Not to mention, we washed it down with a great Cabernet. I would recommend this place to anyone who... | en | 63 | wonderful place take date romantic quiet wonderful wine selection weekend took date dinner filet wonderful cooked perfection melted mouths mention washed great cabernet would recommend place anyone enjoys upscale experience | 30 |
1 | Meh. The bread was cold, the bean dip it's served with was cold, the mushroom dish that was described as served over risotto was served over cold orzo. Didn't knock my socks off. | en | 33 | meh bread cold bean dip served cold mushroom dish described served risotto served cold orzo knock socks | 17 |
2 | Good food from a wide selection of ethnicities - cajun, indian, latin american, but not fusion. Just all on the same menu. Kind of hard to explain. They have just about everything - seafood, duck, lamb, plus the standards. They try to be inventive but usually are not too adventurous - still, the meal satisfies. I ... | en | 84 | good food wide selection ethnicities cajun indian latin american fusion menu kind hard explain everything seafood duck lamb plus standards try inventive usually adventurous still meal satisfies think could let hair little putting riskier things menu good selection wines beers plus margarias sangria | 43 |
4 | Radio Maria has great and unique food! I went on a date here and absolutely loved it! Every dish is most likely something you would never think of creating but it will be soo good! The selection of wines is excellent as well! | en | 43 | radio maria great unique food went date absolutely loved every dish likely something would never think creating soo good selection wines excellent well | 23 |
2 | Nice restaurant in downtown Champaign. Has a really nice atmosphere. Good selection of wines. I really wanted to like this place but in the end, their food is just forgettable. I had the lamb once and that was a bit rough, not tender. Also tried the salmon (or some other fish) once, also a bit overcooked. Dessert... | en | 61 | nice restaurant downtown champaign really nice atmosphere good selection wines really wanted like place end food forgettable lamb bit rough tender also tried salmon fish also bit overcooked dessert menu standard | 31 |
2 | did lunch in their new tapas bar today. had to sit at a bar table with those dreadful high chairs because there were no booths available. i'm not a big fan of being uncomfortable...ever.\nour waiter was great, in fact he added to my experience. the interior is very well done for that particular genre.\nthe food, eh, ... | en | 132 | lunch new tapas bar today sit bar table dreadful high chairs booths available big fan uncomfortable waiter great fact added experience interior well done particular food eh nothing write home small salad standard blue cheese grapes apples average shared tapas friend pita triangles hummus tuna salad sandwich portions ac... | 66 |
2 | I went here for Valentine's Day and was slightly disappointed. While the soft lighting and tiled ceiling lends a lovely ambiance, the food and service did not stand up. \n\nIt was a very busy night, but our waitress was obviously assigned to too many tables. It too a long time for her to take our order and she forgot t... | en | 269 | went valentine day slightly disappointed soft lighting tiled ceiling lends lovely ambiance food service stand busy night waitress obviously assigned many tables long time take order forgot bring basket chips initially also seated window heating poor lucky wearing warm dress saw people near us wear jackets dining enjoye... | 136 |
2 | I loved the decor in the new Radio Maria Tapas bar, but I was NOT crazy about the tapas. The olives in our manchego baked olive dish had a bizarre citrus note that was rather offputting, and were way short on manchego. Our apple blue cheese spread appeared to be apple-free, and the blue cheese spread itself was runny... | en | 85 | loved decor new radio maria tapas bar crazy tapas olives manchego baked olive dish bizarre citrus note rather offputting way short manchego apple blue cheese spread appeared blue cheese spread runny bloody mary top notch serious research figure whether surpasses guido best bloody mary town | 45 |
2 | I don't even know what I'm supposed to review here. Is it a restaurant? A tapas bar? And what's with this sunday comfort food menu? Do they even know anymore?\n\nI almost feel bad giving this jack of all trades only three stars. It's not that there's anything outright bad here: the dining rooms are nicely decorat... | en | 212 | even know supposed review restaurant tapas bar sunday comfort food menu even know anymore almost feel bad giving jack trades three stars anything outright bad dining rooms nicely decorated service okay food wine beer selection thorough amazing probably wo nothing place outright great maria first restaurant downtown fab... | 97 |
3 | Radio Maria was one of the first restaurants in the current resurgence of downtown. When it opened around 1996, two upscale restaurants had come and gone in the Mike n' Molly's space, and other than Great Impasta, in its old location, there was nary a place to eat downtown except in bars/ short-order cafes. RM made q... | en | 174 | radio maria one first restaurants current resurgence downtown opened around two upscale restaurants come gone mike n molly space great impasta old location nary place eat downtown except cafes rm made quite splash thought pretty good first several years nice space creative menu cu good servers things starting going sou... | 94 |
4 | This is probably the best place to take your parents/family out for Sunday brunch, especially if your family is full of food snobs who don't believe small college towns have anything worth eating. C-U does a good job of disproving this (and at times, an amazingly disgusting job of proving it correct) but Radio Maria is... | en | 215 | probably best place take sunday brunch especially family full food snobs believe small college towns anything worth eating good job disproving times amazingly disgusting job proving correct radio maria number one brunch menu features typical items omelettes lots options fillings egg creations sandwiches etc mom big fan... | 110 |
1 | Every time the convo about restaurants in Champaign starts, the mom-in-law mentions Radio Maria. Her praise hits often and reaches far. Tonight, we finally had dinner at the infamous Champaign culinary sensation.\n\nThe food offering was a mish-mash of cuisines - South American, Asian, Mediterranean, Spanish - and seem... | en | 298 | every time convo restaurants champaign starts mentions radio maria praise hits often reaches far tonight finally dinner infamous champaign culinary food offering cuisines south american asian mediterranean spanish seemed lack consistent unifying types menus generally red flags say breadth styles good one style started ... | 156 |
3 | Radio Maria makes me feel good. There, I said it. Any restaurant has its flaws, but RM is about as close as it comes to perfect in Chambana. RM is situated in the bustling Downtown, and sports an eclectic modern decor with latin touches. The Tapas Lounge is all-modern, with changing exhibitions for wall-art, and a Euro... | en | 284 | radio maria makes feel good said restaurant flaws rm close comes perfect chambana rm situated bustling downtown sports eclectic modern decor latin touches tapas lounge changing exhibitions cleanliness typically found talk awesome tapas later date blog devoted last night dining exceptional dinner rm always begins ends w... | 150 |
2 | Radio Maria is a great off campus place to go because it has a different atmosphere than other places on campus. The food is pretty good, but the tapas I was not impressed by. They were missing alot of key tapas meals, and the waitress we had the last time we went was very ditzy. None of our drinks were refilled, and ... | en | 89 | radio maria great campus place go different atmosphere places campus food pretty good tapas impressed missing alot key tapas meals waitress last time went ditzy none drinks refilled took forever order prolly go back hope little better really like atmosphere food potential | 42 |
4 | LOVE this place, always have. One of the few restaurants that is consistently different. Having lived in and round C-U for waaay too long its easy to see that many places are often derivative, dull, and lack character (a good example is the bar across from RM). I make a point of going any time i pass through town an... | en | 71 | love place always one restaurants consistently different lived round waaay long easy see many places often derivative dull lack character good example bar across rm make point going time pass town find craving radio food away long | 37 |
1 | I am not impressed with this place. \n\nMy friend and I walk into the bar side for tapas. I had read the reviews on yelp before I went, but my friend really wanted to check this place out. \n\nMy first impression: There are at least 7 empty tables and a totally empty bar. The hostess asks us how many, and are we h... | en | 555 | impressed place friend walk bar side tapas read reviews yelp went friend really wanted check place first impression least empty tables totally empty bar hostess asks us many drinks tapas full meal tell tapas tells us going minutes would like drink bar sure walk past several empty tables sit empty bar impressed blue lig... | 258 |
4 | I've moved back to Champaign-Urbana after living here briefly 8 years ago and sooo much has changed. I feel like either the town finally realized that it would be wise to start spiffing its image up a bit to attract more students' $$ by spending some $$ or else maybe in the last 8 years, CU's been adopted by a million... | en | 331 | moved back living briefly years ago sooo much changed feel like either town finally realized would wise start spiffing image bit attract students spending else maybe last years cu adopted millionaire benefactor desire see small town emulate big bad city gastric offerings restaurant scene improved phenomenally boyfriend... | 164 |
1 | The Good:\n-I liked the decor. It was very pretty.\n-The \"Soup of the Day\" was Red Pepper-Goat Cheese. I could eat that every single day forever and be very happy.\n-Extensive beer, wine, and cocktail list.\n-The boy said that his Curried Shrimp was light and pretty good.\n\nThe Bad:\n-The waiter was not friendly. ... | en | 244 | good liked decor soup red cheese could eat every single day forever beer wine cocktail boy said curried shrimp light pretty bad waiter friendly mean bad job smile place separated two parts area area two sides allegedly communicate ca get anything tapas menu dinner side suspicions confirmed heard waiter telling customer... | 112 |
1 | I'm a huge fan of Radio Maria, but their Valentine's Day Dinner left a very bad taste in my mouth and it wasn't the food. Radio Maria is my favorite restaurant in Champaign. The food is top-notch and the atmosphere is one of a kind. But my wife and I had their Valentine's day menu this past weekend. The food was gr... | en | 127 | huge fan radio maria valentine day dinner left bad taste mouth food radio maria favorite restaurant champaign food atmosphere one kind wife valentine day menu past weekend food great outrageous cost plus drinks menu would filled mouse normally ratio excellent always felt like food worth cost valentine day fixed menu hi... | 61 |
3 | Awesome decor - heard that the owner customized everything himself.\n\nThe food was very good, not amazing but definitely among the better culinary experiences available in the Urbana-Champaign area. One caveat is that the portions are rather small. | en | 37 | awesome decor heard owner customized everything food good amazing definitely among better culinary experiences available area one caveat portions rather small | 21 |
1 | first drink: arcadia porter. pretty good. decent price.\n\nsecond drink: kilt lifter. menu advertises: \"tastes like a cookie\". ok i'm in the mood for sweet. \n\nwhen i got it and tasted it: EWWUCK. completely flat. and tasted like syrup. not the you-put-on-your-pancakes-good-kind, but the high-fructose-corn-s... | en | 220 | first drink arcadia porter pretty good decent drink kilt lifter menu advertises tastes like ok mood sweet got tasted ewwuck completely flat tasted like syrup trade something else really mean going tastes like corn menu says tastes like tastes like robitussin tried walks away never ca like serve someone else would diffe... | 113 |
2 | i would give this place 3.5 stars. we had reservations here for sat night at 745 and weren't seated for about 15-20 minutes. it was graduation wknd, so there were a ton of people. when we were finally seated, we could only get seats at the bar, which was super loud.\n\nthe menu here is not big. we started w/ the pa... | en | 197 | would give place stars reservations sat night seated minutes graduation wknd ton people finally seated could get seats bar super menu big started patatas bulgogi summer roll thought weird korean items menu also korean hot pot dish looked bit like bibimbap patatas really good entree snapper shitake mushrooms edamame cel... | 87 |
2 | This place is a paradox. I was there over Memorial Day weekend, on Saturday night, and had none of the issues with staff \"coolness\" that others reported. We were treated well and served professionally as we stayed all evening (7-11 PM). The drinks were good, though I'd say the beer was a bit small for the otherwise f... | en | 225 | place paradox memorial day weekend saturday night none issues staff others reported treated well served professionally stayed evening pm drinks good though say beer bit small otherwise fair price odd thing food irrationally high priced least entrees group ordered specials menu item specials priced board simple plates e... | 96 |
3 | Brunch!\n\nOK, first, we have to discuss the breakfast potatoes. As a daughter of Irish stock, I thought I was pretty much over any potato-creation. Wrong. These were baked to perfection (crispy skin, soft middles) and impeccably seasoned. I ate every last morsel. Seriously, I love when things look so simple (they... | en | 116 | brunch first discuss breakfast potatoes daughter irish stock thought pretty much wrong baked perfection crispy skin soft middles impeccably seasoned ate every last morsel seriously love things look simple potatoes unreasonably option could made vegetarian bonus points maria enormous cleaned plates yeah good pick lovely... | 58 |
3 | Great food, not overly pricey, and thoroughly enjoyable. Their menu is unusually limited for a place of this nature, but they rotate items frequently, ensuring that Radio Maria is a place you can come to more than once a month.\n\nThe best part about Radio Maria is at night; not content with being just a cultured resta... | en | 75 | great food overly pricey thoroughly enjoyable menu unusually limited place nature rotate items frequently ensuring radio maria place come best part radio maria night content cultured restaurant become dance night gets least one star land | 35 |
1 | Had the chance to visit this restaurant on a Sunday night. Despite having seated most of the tables in the bar side of the restaurant, they seemed to have only one person actively waiting the tables. It took 10-15 minutes to get our drinks...not cocktails, but diet coke and iced tea. The waitress was friendly enough... | en | 160 | chance visit restaurant sunday night despite seated tables bar side restaurant seemed one person actively waiting tables took minutes get drinks cocktails diet coke iced tea waitress friendly enough showed table seemed relatively uninterested ordered several items tapas menu entrees tables seated us received food agree... | 69 |
0 | Oh Radio Maria, how I wish we could be in love.\n\nRadio Maria is like the girl your friends try to set you up with. You hear how beautiful, how wonderful she is. Then you meet her, only to find out she bites her fingernails during dinner.\n\nThis restaurant has all the makings of a high class experience. It has a p... | en | 254 | oh radio maria wish could maria like girl friends try set hear beautiful wonderful meet find bites fingernails restaurant makings high class experience pretty bar liquor especially love ginger vodka large tapas menu full service restaurant even hostess magical journy ends enter restaurant told wait may like point empty... | 114 |
1 | The sangria here is awful. I think it was a tequila sunrise. The food is greasy and not in a good way. The only thing good was the goat cheese. But it is goat cheese. How can you mess that up? | en | 41 | sangria awful think tequila sunrise food greasy good way thing good goat cheese goat cheese mess | 16 |
3 | We usually sit at the bar and order up tapas and drinks. The bartender never missed a chance to mix us up a mean cocktail of his own creation. The food is good and priced right. The atmosphere is also wonderful, and very unique. They also serve brunch, which is great! | en | 51 | usually sit bar order tapas drinks bartender never missed chance mix us mean cocktail creation food good priced right atmosphere also wonderful unique also serve brunch great | 27 |
1 | Eh. I have some issues with this place. It has really good potential but I definitely have mood swings about it. The main restaurant is decent. The food isn't necessarily anything I couldn't make myself but it is good, especially for me-- a vegetarian, who has had trouble finding interesting vegetarian food at many... | en | 204 | eh issues place really good potential definitely mood swings main restaurant decent food necessarily anything could make good especially vegetarian trouble finding interesting vegetarian food many places cu also wine selection pretty decent think tapas side terrible eaten part one time believe tuesday night essentially... | 91 |
1 | I am straight up in LOVE with the fried goat cheese balls at radio maria. i was super excited to go and enjoy some of the deliciousness that is the food, however, last week i went in with a friend and we were seated and then literally sat there for 7 minutes before someone came over to us. I was just the hostess, who s... | en | 134 | straight love fried goat cheese balls radio maria super excited go enjoy deliciousness food however last week went friend seated literally sat minutes someone came us hostess said waiter would minute minute another minutes even drink order got leave super hungry hostess shrugged totally unapologetic terrible service we... | 55 |
3 | I like Radio Maria. The ambience is nice, the waiters/owners are friendly, and I like their drinks and food. I recently went this past week, and snacked on hummus with roasted veggies and pita, patatas, and cheescake. The hummus is sooo good- and they serve it with toasted pita. The patatas were just okay, but I'm pret... | en | 124 | like radio maria ambience nice friendly like drinks food recently went past week snacked hummus roasted veggies pita patatas cheescake hummus sooo serve toasted pita patatas okay pretty sure burnt tastebuds tried may ca give decent description cheesecake delicious drank orange frescas lemon drop shot group people servi... | 56 |
1 | Good atmosphere but the food is overpriced and midiocre. I had a collection of appetizers at the bar that were not large enough portions. We were ignored by the bartender for quite a long time as well; and the place was almost empty. | en | 43 | good atmosphere food overpriced midiocre collection appetizers bar large enough portions ignored bartender quite long time well place almost empty | 20 |
3 | Nice upscale-casual place in the heart of downtown Champaign. Their menu varies, but just tonight I tried a couple of tapas (fried mozzarella and calamari) and the mushroom ravioli. All were delicious and well presented.\n\nMy warm chocolate cake dessert, however, tasted soggy and generally unpleasant. It came with a s... | en | 236 | nice place heart downtown champaign menu varies tonight tried couple tapas fried mozzarella calamari mushroom ravioli delicious well warm chocolate cake dessert however tasted soggy generally unpleasant came scoop oddly flavored ice cream think meant mint tasted like horseradish best way end dinner fortunately rest mea... | 121 |
1 | As I waited over 15 minutes for the waitress to return with my initial drink order on a slow night, I hoped the tonic wasn't as flat and flavorless as the last time. It was. I ordered a Bell's HopSlam the next moment I saw the waitress, and it came only 5 minutes after I pained through the flat gin and tonic. When the ... | en | 128 | waited minutes waitress return initial drink order slow night hoped tonic flat flavorless last time ordered bell hopslam next moment saw waitress came minutes pained flat gin tonic tapas came wife arrived enjoyed mussel miso broth special rainbow trout aoili spanish tortilla burnt luckily harissa helped cover carcinoge... | 60 |
3 | Radio Maria is trying a little too hard to be trendy, d\u00e9cor-wise--it's the kind of place you walk into and expect to be treated with a bit of a condescending attitude by the staff. But thankfully this was not the case! We made our way to the bar where we were greeted by a friendly barman who presented us with a ve... | en | 168 | radio maria trying little hard trendy kind place walk expect treated bit condescending attitude staff thankfully case made way bar greeted friendly barman presented us nice cocktail list waited table chose dark stormy ridiculously delicious fresh ginger grated ended another really need refreshingly awesome unfortunatel... | 71 |
2 | Great Tapas. I want to go back for more. Wish they had better hours though. \n\nThe parking lot attendant was rude. Couldn't wait in my car to wait for my friend to arrive. Made me not want to go into the restaurant, so I didn't. They're so worried someone might park there that isn't going to Radio Marias. | en | 58 | great tapas want go back wish better hours though parking lot attendant rude could wait car wait friend arrive made want go restaurant worried someone might park going radio marias | 30 |
1 | Nothing at this restaurant warrants the cost. The tapas servings are tiny (for tapas); brunch is inventive but disappoints. The staff always act like you're wasting their time. This place sells an image of Euro-trendiness, but it's nothing more than that image. Go to Escobar if you want expensive food WORTH the cost. | en | 53 | nothing restaurant warrants cost tapas servings tiny tapas brunch inventive disappoints staff always act like wasting time place sells image nothing image go escobar want expensive food worth cost | 29 |
1 | I just finished dinner here about an hour ago, and I'm still wondering how Radio Maria managed to get all of this attention. I guess their HUGE wine/beer/drink list was pretty impressive, but the food...was not. My first disappointment was in the size of the menu. I looked it up online and they seemed to have a wide... | en | 223 | finished dinner hour ago still wondering radio maria managed get attention guess huge list pretty impressive food first disappointment size menu looked online seemed wide array choices saw actual menu think entree choices addition wide variety tapas top one dish wanted sold went smoked duck brie pizza mean ok good amou... | 101 |
1 | Overpriced. I ordered steak. Nothing to write home about. Better, cheaper choices abound. | en | 13 | overpriced ordered steak nothing write home better cheaper choices abound | 10 |
2 | If you want good cocktails that are overpriced this is your place! Seriously, they had some interesting concoctions on the menu and I tried two of them. They were both fine. Very heavy on mixer. I am one of those weirdos who actually likes to taste the alcohol, the ratio was a bit off. \n\nThe food is decent as well. I... | en | 168 | want good cocktails overpriced place seriously interesting concoctions menu tried two fine heavy mixer one weirdos actually likes taste alcohol ratio bit food decent well feel though odd thing going honey menu right though fried eggplant balsamic vinegar honey friend loved tried yuck waaaay sweet lots dishes honey clea... | 74 |
1 | The food was overpriced, the service was disappointing, and the portions were small. I feel like that summarizes this restaurant adequately. Better places out there. ESPECIALLY for mexican food. | en | 29 | food overpriced service disappointing portions small feel like summarizes restaurant adequately better places especially mexican food | 16 |
2 | Always a good place to go with friends/family from out of town for it's vegetarian friendly menu. | en | 17 | always good place go town vegetarian friendly menu | 8 |
1 | Falling Fast. \n\nI've been going to Radio Maria since it opened and have likely gone for dinner for the last time. The menu, once a delightful mix of cultures and influences, and the sort of place where there was nothing bad on the menu, has been getting progressively smaller and less capable as the years have gone ... | en | 144 | falling fast going radio maria since opened likely gone dinner last time menu delightful mix cultures influences sort place nothing bad menu getting progressively smaller less capable years gone good tapas pricey dinner pricey went last week ordered salmon arrived sweet potato chips huge fried egg top fish okay best od... | 72 |
4 | This is one of those restaurants that makes me wish I lived in Champaign/Urbana again. Even though it's been open for years, I didn't go until recently. We went for a brunch, and the food was amazing!\n\nMy wife had the french toast and something eggy. Probably an omelet. The french toast was fabulous. I don't know wha... | en | 147 | one restaurants makes wish lived even though open years go recently went brunch food amazing wife french toast something eggy probably omelet french toast fabulous know kind bread use perfect able taste egg used tasted lovely golden syrup cuban served fresh baguette meat terrific bread american fries think got meal per... | 68 |
1 | I enjoyed the atmosphere and the selection on the menu, as it offers food you cant really find anywhere else in the C-U. I thought the menu items were decently priced, maybe a bit overpriced for the quantity and quality of the food. \n\nI ordered three tapas dishes - the grilled plantains, the goat cheese, and the be... | en | 237 | enjoyed atmosphere selection menu offers food cant really find anywhere else thought menu items decently priced maybe bit overpriced quantity quality food ordered three tapas dishes grilled plantains goat cheese beef tacos goat cheese fried served honey bread absolutely delicious plantains pretty plain still nice chang... | 113 |
1 | My husband and I recently ate at Radio Maria for dinner. We'd had Sunday brunch and loved it at that time. In all fairness, it started out wrong. The employee seating us went to get us a table and was sidetracked by another employee at the entrance to the dining room and let us wait for at least 7 min. while he carr... | en | 226 | husband recently ate radio maria dinner sunday brunch loved time fairness started wrong employee seating us went get us table sidetracked another employee entrance dining room let us wait least min carried obvious conversation employee finally looked away saw us standing front door reminded still waiting relatively pat... | 106 |
3 | Service was a little slow but great food and an interesting atmosphere. | en | 12 | service little slow great food interesting atmosphere | 7 |
4 | I went with a friend and sat outside. It was a beautiful night and our server was very personable and helpful. \n\nShe helped us order some things that she thought we would like based on savory and sweet and she didn't mind repeating specials and such for us.\n\nWe got three tapas and an entree and it was all great.\n\... | en | 158 | went friend sat outside beautiful night server personable helpful helped us order things thought would like based savory sweet mind repeating specials got three tapas entree bunch people told us try plantains least favorite bad also got fried goat cheese served honey sauce bread arancini risotto excellent gnocchi speci... | 73 |
4 | AGHHHH This place is GREAT! I'm not as big of a fan on their Sunday brunch though, but everything is great, especially their TAPAS!!!\n\nLast time I went there, I re-orgasmed over and over again. You have to try their steak tips tapas dish. Hopefully it's still there. As the steak tips met my lips, my heart began to si... | en | 198 | aghhhh place great big fan sunday brunch though everything great especially tapas time went try steak tips tapas dish hopefully still steak tips met lips heart began sing fairies sparkles started falling sky beautiful sexy delicious array love good wanted regurgitate bite could taste deliciousness also smoked bacon fet... | 92 |
1 | Food was not so good, scallops very good, the sauce ok, calamaris were spicy, mushroom was spicy too, overall pricey and small portions, the place is ok the server was GREAT! | en | 31 | food good scallops good sauce ok calamaris spicy mushroom spicy overall pricey small portions place ok server great | 18 |
1 | After being a loyal patron for seven years, I am done with this place. While they still have some great drink selections, the service has gotten so bad. On a Friday afternoon, I was one of six sitting at the bar. Two bartenders and 1-2 servers were working and it still took them 20 minutes to take my order. With the do... | en | 71 | loyal patron seven years done place still great drink selections service gotten bad friday afternoon one six sitting bar two bartenders servers working still took minutes take order downtown champaign scene evolving kind situation unacceptable | 35 |
2 | The brunch was very tasty and a good value. The dinner, however, was nothing special. They had a lot of great choices on the menu, but everything just sort of tasted average. \n\nThe service was good. I would suggest going here for brunch. Dinner is also good, but not amazing. | en | 50 | brunch tasty good value dinner however nothing special lot great choices menu everything sort tasted average service good would suggest going brunch dinner also good amazing | 26 |
1 | I use to go to Radio much more often, but lately it seems to have fallen off the wagon. Ok so half off wine night is nice, but other than that I try to steer clear of RM and either go to Carmons for food or Quality to drink. The food seems uninspired and the quality of ingredients is average. I do like the decor of the... | en | 73 | use go radio much often lately seems fallen wagon ok half wine night nice try steer clear rm either go carmons food quality drink food seems uninspired quality ingredients average like decor bar happened place | 35 |
0 | I am giving this restaurant 0 stars. \nI don't want anyone else wasting their money at this establishment. Here goes:\n\nMy fellow students and I had organized a fundraiser to be held at R.M. We were raffling off some of our artwork and had ordered a substantial amount of food because we were expecting 50+ guests. Aro... | en | 306 | giving restaurant stars want anyone else wasting money establishment goes fellow students organized fundraiser held raffling artwork ordered substantial amount food expecting guests around awful stench filled bar area followed watery mist began fall ceiling along west wall tables number people sitting area included cov... | 140 |
3 | Went there for brunch , hot cinnamon rolls were fantastic all three in our party had the same thing which was the radio Maria stack. Which had everything you want In a big breakfast By the way it was delicious. Waiter was very friendly also\nForgot to mention the interior design of this place was very attractive an... | en | 58 | went brunch hot cinnamon rolls fantastic three party thing radio maria stack everything want big breakfast way delicious waiter friendly mention interior design place attractive comfortable | 26 |
2 | I visited Radio Maria nearly 4 years ago with some friends after a Salsa dance lesson, and I could not remember the name of this place for the life of me. I am from Danville/Champaign area, and I drove by this place all the time in the daylight, and I never even noticed it. It's definitely for \"friends\" after hours... | en | 129 | visited radio maria nearly years ago friends salsa dance lesson could remember name place life area drove place time daylight never even noticed definitely remember arancini holy crap delicious vibe chill trendy bit upscale liking eh personally believe restaurant needs food advertisement think thing either friends acqu... | 56 |
3 | On a return trip from the mid west, we were lucky to walk into Radio Maria. From the outside it wasn't very impressive. Once inside, we took a seat a the bar. The bartender was really knowledgeable and there was a great selection of beer, wine and spirits. The menu runs from an inventive tapas list to unique entree... | en | 97 | return trip mid west lucky walk radio maria outside impressive inside took seat bar bartender really knowledgeable great selection beer wine spirits menu runs inventive tapas list unique entrees blown away house smoked pork tacos duck breast salad wonderful bar outstanding food stopping back next time able come champai... | 49 |
4 | Love this place! Went there for a late dinner. Love the bar, love the atmosphere. Ate off the Tapas Menu....Food was the best!!! The Scallops melted in your mouth! Wine was great...service was great! Can't wait to go back! | en | 39 | love place went late dinner love bar love atmosphere ate tapas menu food best scallops melted mouth wine great service great ca wait go back | 25 |
0 | I went to Radio Maria for lunch on my birthday with my parents, who drove in from out of town. It turned out to be the worst dinning experience I have ever had. Our waiter William ignored us during the entire time. He completely forgot our appetizer. When I tried to ask about it with the other servers they ignored me ... | en | 222 | went radio maria lunch birthday parents drove town turned worst dinning experience ever waiter william ignored us entire time completely forgot appetizer tried ask servers ignored well appetizer finally came done meals waiter even bother apologize food horrible mothers mahi mahi driest piece fish ever seen portions ext... | 101 |
2 | I am having a hard time deciding between giving Radio Maria two and three stars. Ultimately I decided on three stars because the service is decent. The food is nothing to write home about. We had a couple of appetizers that took a long time to bring to our table. Our server was pleasant but seemed bored and/or dist... | en | 91 | hard time deciding giving radio maria two three stars ultimately decided three stars service decent food nothing write home couple appetizers took long time bring table server pleasant seemed bored distracted plan going back time soon several places downtown much better big grove bacarro bad place great either | 48 |
2 | Came here one evening for tapas with friends. I was the only one that ordered for the four of us and our waiter just starred at us for awhile asking if we were sure that's all we wanted. You could tell he hadn't been working there long as he had to ask the kitchen twice about what was in some of the different sauces an... | en | 206 | came one evening tapas friends one ordered four us waiter starred us awhile asking sure wanted could tell working long ask kitchen twice different sauces repeat order twice could remember ordered wild mushroom crostini smoked pork tacos sauteed calamari favorite wild mushroom crostini mixture cheese fried egg mushrooms... | 91 |
1 | We came here for Sunday brunch, and ordered 3 things.\n\nLeroy's buttermilk skillet cornbread @ $4 - just one slice. [Chicago downtown's Bandera Restaurant used to have a whole mini skillet for this price 5x the portion of this, the price has since gone up.] With the word \"skillet\", we assumed it would came in a fu... | en | 179 | came sunday brunch ordered buttermilk skillet cornbread one slice chicago downtown bandera restaurant used whole mini skillet price portion price since gone word assumed would came full skillet even small one nope nothing write home bread marmalade added nice kick pulled pork eggs benedict bad came small side house pot... | 86 |
2 | A great lunch and brunch place, but I'm less impressed by their dinner fare.\n\nI mostly go here for brunch and the food rarely disappoints. The torta Maria and smoked port torta are unusual and always good. Each week the brunch specials usually include a special omelette, scrambler, and a sandwich. The omelettes are o... | en | 307 | great lunch brunch place less impressed dinner mostly go brunch food rarely disappoints torta maria smoked port torta unusual always good week brunch specials usually include special omelette scrambler sandwich omelettes ok somehow seem bit dry main complaint brunch coffee past several visits quite weak hard get refill... | 152 |
0 | Just felt like adding the fact that I have traveld extensively through all of southern Spain and am very familiar with tapas. The food at this place does not remotely resemble anything I have had in Spain or any other good tapas restaurants in the US (New York, DC, SF, etc.). Everything lacks in flavor and freshness. B... | en | 61 | felt like adding fact traveld extensively southern spain familiar tapas food place remotely resemble anything spain good tapas restaurants us new york dc sf everything lacks flavor freshness bottom line hate | 31 |
1 | I have been to Radio Maria before and had good experiences, but it has been a few years. I took my family there for dinner during graduation weekend since I had just graduated from law school.\n\nI understand that graduation weekend in Chambana can be really crazy. However, the service we got was unacceptable. We at... | en | 333 | radio maria good experiences years took family dinner graduation weekend since graduated law understand graduation weekend chambana really crazy however service got unacceptable ate dinner different restaurant downtown champaign night earlier anywhere near problems radio maria water glasses constantly empty waiter woul... | 160 |
3 | My friend and I went here for brunch. Everything was delicious! I got the caprese omelet, and my friend got the lobster omelet. The beer bread and potatoes that come with the omelet were so good! We also tried the mexican coffee. It doesn't taste that good with the food. It tastes better on its own. It's something you ... | en | 104 | friend went brunch everything delicious got caprese omelet friend got lobster omelet beer bread potatoes come omelet good also tried mexican coffee taste good food tastes better something wo regret trying sweet strong cinnamon flavor service pretty slow okay time highly recommend going radio maria brunch would love try... | 53 |
3 | Enjoy the brunch here on Sundays but that is usually the only time we eat here. The Lloyds omelet is great and you can sub grits or a biscuit for beer bread if you ask. Good draft beer selection. | en | 39 | enjoy brunch sundays usually time eat lloyds omelet great sub grits biscuit beer bread ask good draft beer selection | 19 |
2 | Came here for dinner and would probably go back now that I've picked a few items that I like. We did tapas, so here' s rundown.\n\nLikes\nFried artichoke hearts\nArancini (favorite!)\nCharcuterie\n\n\nSo-so\nGrilled hanger steak\nSalmon\nRaw and roasted apple salad\n\nIt was very cold where we were sitting (not near th... | en | 83 | came dinner would probably go back picked items like tapas artichoke favorite hanger roasted apple cold sitting near main door kept feeling draft staff friendly memorable items felt yet felt others overpriced basically four bites salmon | 36 |
3 | My SO and I made our Valentine's Reservations here, and were extremely happy.\n\nThe Good:\n-The goat cheese, the goat cheese, the goat cheese!! We had several tapas and one appetizer, and the fried goat cheese was our favorite, so delicious and creamy, and it is served with a light jam that makes a wonderful combinati... | en | 155 | made valentine reservations extremely good goat cheese goat cheese goat cheese several tapas one appetizer fried goat cheese favorite delicious creamy served light jam makes wonderful pork tacos also delicious obviously slow cooked service excellent especially busy everything tripled booked valentine homemade ricotta g... | 82 |
4 | Great, unique food. Awesome atmosphere. The hummus is fantastic, as is the goat cheese with honey. | en | 16 | great unique food awesome atmosphere hummus fantastic goat cheese honey | 10 |
2 | Food was good, not excellent. Prices seem high for the quantity and quality you get. The bar and wait staff could all really use a lesson on wine - I believe I overheard 4 staff persons who could not respond on their own to questions about wine. Fun atmosphere and decor. | en | 51 | food good excellent prices seem high quantity quality get bar wait staff could really use lesson wine believe overheard staff persons could respond questions wine fun atmosphere decor | 28 |
4 | Brunch was delicious! I enjoyed the scrambler - all components were cooked perfectly. Loved the beer bread. Others in the party recommended the omelets as well. Generous portions, reasonably priced and fun atmosphere. | en | 33 | brunch delicious enjoyed scrambler components cooked perfectly loved beer bread others party recommended omelets well generous portions reasonably priced fun atmosphere | 21 |
4 | Order the coffee rubbed filet - you will not be disappointed. I have had it 3 times in the past 5 years and it continues to be outstanding. 3 of our 4 diners ordered it - all had spotless plates. | en | 40 | order coffee rubbed filet disappointed times past years continues outstanding diners ordered spotless plates | 14 |
3 | Radio Maria has the best Cubans in Champaign. The bad news is that you can't get it unless you go during brunch on the weekend. The tapas, however, are pretty good. I generally get the roasted garlic and one of the various meat dishes, though sometimes I add in or replace it with the cheese and jelly plate.\n\nRadio Ma... | en | 76 | radio maria best cubans champaign bad news ca get unless go brunch weekend tapas however pretty good generally get roasted garlic one various meat dishes though sometimes add replace cheese jelly maria get expensive often crowded decor great service generally strong | 41 |
3 | Addicting Brunch. MANY veggie options | en | 5 | addicting brunch many veggie options | 5 |
1 | When we first moved here everyone kept recommending Radio Maria and I have no idea why. We went there a few times. The service was fine, the atmosphere was okay. The food was awful. Everything contained way too much garlic. You could smell and taste the garlic in everything. I think it's an okay place to grab drinks a... | en | 74 | first moved everyone kept recommending radio maria idea went times service fine atmosphere okay food awful everything contained way much garlic could smell taste garlic everything think okay place grab drinks sit outside nice evening would try tapas everyone raves | 40 |
1 | Made the mistake of coming here for brunch Homecoming weekend. The service was incredibly slow. Took over an hour to get two breakfast dishes. I didn't get drinks but it did seem like people were enjoying their drinks orders. \n\nI ordered huevos rancheros with chorizo which is something I thought was hard to mess up. ... | en | 84 | made mistake coming brunch homecoming weekend service incredibly slow took hour get two breakfast dishes get drinks seem like people enjoying drinks orders ordered huevos rancheros chorizo something thought hard mess wait expecting greatness restaurant deliver eggs salted presentation appealing think back | 42 |
2 | Food was creative but a bit off the mark: 4/5. Service was super slow and less than stellar: 2/5\n\nWe arrived around 11:30 on a Sunday morning and were told we would have to wait 20-30 minutes since we hadn't made a reservation. Ok, fine that seemed reasonable enough and maybe would be a testament to the quality of th... | en | 535 | food creative bit mark service super slow less stellar arrived around sunday morning told would wait minutes since made reservation ok fine seemed reasonable enough maybe would testament quality restaurant figured time easily killed walk around downtown hostess said could leave phone number would call us turn seated ni... | 256 |
1 | We used to love the place because it is one of the few places that you can get paella in Champaign. However, last night when we were there, the rice of the paella we ordered is not fully cooked. It was stiff and hard to chew. Although they sent it back to re-cook, the rice still comes back partially done. We ended up c... | en | 105 | used love place one places get paella champaign however last night rice paella ordered fully cooked stiff hard chew although sent back rice still comes back partially done ended canceling order unbelievable seems manage get rice cooked chef failed solve problem disappointed paella definitely come back restaurant | 47 |
3 | Love this restaurant! They have a great Tapas menu if you just want to come in for some drinks and snack, but their dinner menu is awesome too. Definitely a favorite! | en | 31 | love restaurant great tapas menu want come drinks snack dinner menu awesome definitely favorite | 14 |
1 | I always walk past this place but never thought of trying it because it looks kinda shady. It is usually pretty empty, lunch or dinner time. So, I have no clue how this place survives. One day, my friend ordered some falafel and grape leaves wrap for takeout just for the heck of it. She was a little unsure if she wante... | en | 132 | always walk past place never thought trying looks kinda shady usually pretty empty lunch dinner time clue place survives one day friend ordered falafel grape leaves wrap takeout heck little unsure wanted try ended scapegoat food fresh friend saw guy reheating food microwave instead preparing scratch falafel ended littl... | 64 |
1 | The quality of the food is inconsistent. I used to love their falafel, but the last time I had it, it was so bitter it wasn't edible. The guy who works there seems very stressed and angry. He doesn't ever smile. The prices are good and when the food is good, it is decent. | en | 54 | quality food inconsistent used love falafel last time bitter edible guy works seems stressed angry ever smile prices good food good decent | 22 |
1 | Pros: Shawarma sandwich was decent. Kefta Kabob meat was not bad (ordered Kefta Kabob plate).\n \nCons: Ambiance. Plate of the day was not that great (the day I went in at least). Rest of food being mediocre. \n\nPassed by this place every day, went in to check it out at the suggestion of a friend. Though I had ... | en | 72 | pros shawarma sandwich decent kefta kabob meat bad ordered kefta kabob plate ambiance plate day great day went least rest food mediocre place every day went check suggestion friend though friends went often go back really plan | 37 |
2 | Ordered the grape leaves appetizer + lamb/beef shawarma plate with rice and vegetables (the other option was pita/hummus). The plate came with a side choice of soup or salad - we went with lentil soup. After tax the total was $16 something. A bit on the pricey side compared to places like this in the northern suburbs o... | en | 102 | ordered grape leaves appetizer shawarma plate rice vegetables option plate came side choice soup salad went lentil soup tax total something bit pricey side compared places like northern suburbs chicago food tasty crowd diverse would preferred everything little less salty people enough food left full satisfied thirsty w... | 52 |
4 | Just awesome.... vegetarian plate is great,cheap and healthy | en | 8 | awesome vegetarian plate great cheap healthy | 6 |
2 | Restaurant review\nDo you remember that episode in Seinfeld at the soup restaurant. I won't refer to the name given to the owner of that restaurant but this experience is very similar. You go up to the counter to order from a surly man who is cooking and running the register. He will ignore you for a few minutes and fi... | en | 210 | restaurant remember episode seinfeld soup restaurant wo refer name given owner restaurant experience similar go counter order surly man cooking running register ignore minutes finally come take order sit minutes yell food ready bare minimum words best customer service digress upside food inexpensive compared chicago da... | 98 |
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