I guess this is the fancy Italian chain restaurant. Â While it is better than say Olive Garden or Carrabbas, that is not saying much. Â On top of that it is just to expensive for what you get. Â That fake, country rustic vibe is prevalent throughout. Â
Service is cheerful and peppy. Â For a large group they did fine. Â Everything from the kitchen came out at the same time. Â Which is professional, though some things were cold. Â Understandable, but I wish places like this would just bring the food out when it is hot. Â Maybe I am alone in that regard, because most places will do this. Â Anyway, that really is not a big deal.
They shout from the highest high top table that everything is freshly made or sourced here. Â If that is true, they need better sources or they need to make better pasta. Â Just the typical over stuffed pasta dishes that are found in most Italian places. Â The scallops are bad. Â Rubbery, chewy, and flavorless. Â The salads are not that good...the dreaded and bland Caesar, house, and wedge. Â Calamari is dry, rubbery, and flavorless. Â Average wine list, and a crappy beer list. Â Both pretty typical for such a place. Â
There are not a lot of great options for Italian in Champaign/Urbana/Savoy. Â This place certainly has that faux chain look that draws people in by the masses. Â Which is probably why they have been open for so many years. Â Though just an upscale Olive Garden. Â Manzella's is about the same, with a much friendlier, welcoming vibe (if a bit dated), and better bang for your buck IMO.
I am in town on business and I have eaten here twice in the last two weeks. The food is really good and the staff is very attentive. I like the atmosphere. The food isn't just the normal "Italian" food offerings. They have a few unusual things which make this place better in my book.
The bread they serve is great because they serve both a normal Italian bread and a focaccia.
The first night I ordered the Chicken Pietro which was amazing. It was really one of the better chicken dishes I have ever ordered. I didn't want the vegetables that came with the dish and they had no problems substituting then for a different vegetable medley. Â
The second night I ordered the Salmon and Shrimp Milanese. Again, it was very tasty, and the risotto it came with was truly delicious.
I was very pleased with both of my meals and if I am every around a Biaggi's again, I will try to eat dinner there.
Nice place and great service, but the scallops were terrible (tiny, dry, and chewy little things). The scallops were served with an undercooked, starchy risotto. Â The filet mignon was cooked well but could've had a better flavor. Also, it was annoying to eat asparagus that was cut up into tiny pieces, instead of just whole spears. Â
The best part of the whole meal was the bottle of Moscato we shared and the dessert, a Nutella skillet cookie.
My husband and I ate here on our first date, so it holds a special place in my heart. Â We continue to eat here occasionally when we aren't worried about calories or spending a bit more than usual. Â Their soft bread and parmesan/olive oil to dip in is the best! Â I particularly like the pasta dishes. Â The tirimasu is also delectable. Â I haven't tried everything on the menu, but I will say I've never been disappointed in my food. Â
Elegant Italian eating without being crazy expensive. Â The only negative I can say is that, when it is crowded it can get very loud in there and difficult to have a conversation. Â Overall, miles better than Olive Garden or Minneci's (sorry local restaurant I wish I liked you!)
We've been regulars since Biaggi's opened their Champaign location. Always enjoyed the food and received outstanding service. Nice wine list and the bartenders are terrific. Great for date night as well as family time. On a winter night, you can't beat the tall bar tables and cozy atmosphere. One aspect of Biaggi's that I don't think other reviewers covered is their attentiveness to food allergies. My daughter has an anyaphylactic food allergy and Biaggis' is one her favorite restaurants because she knows they will take good care of her.
Review Source:Made a reservation and they seated us on time. Â Great service, prices were medium plus relative to value, the restaurant was very well tabled and organized and the menu was large and varied. Â The food was petty good for a small chain but not five stars. Â Â Our amily of four was pleased with the outing. Â Recommended.
Review Source:My family and I have gotten hooked on Biaggi's great half and half special for $8.99...you get a half portion of any pasta entree plus unlimited salad. Pair that with the wonderful bread dipped in olive oil and pepper and you have a gorgeous lunch almost at fast-food prices. Sometimes I splurge and go for one of the larger entrees. Last time I was there I got the salmon on a bed of saffron cream risotto that was unbelievably good! Biaggi's doesn't feel like a chain restaurant at all  The atmosphere is elegant but casual and family-friendly. Servers are very nice and attentive. One of the best restaurants in Champaign!
Review Source:Came here for my graduation lunch and I gotta say more restaurants need to be modeled after this establishment. The food and service were impeccable. I made reservations and arrived early and they were able to accommodate us. After warmly greeting us, we made our way to the table. Throughout our meal, the staff were very attentive and checked in on us very often for refills and making sure we were enjoying the food.
Here's what we had:
-warm baguette and focaccia rolls: freeeeee!
-calamari
-toasted ravioli
-shrimp and salmon milanese served with risotto (fish was cooked very well and shrimp was succulent)
-sea bass with cauliflower purée
-cheese and prosciutto stuffed pork chop with asparagus
-lobster pizza (my fav - crust was buttery and lobster was so tender)
Overall, I had an amazing experience! Highly recommend this place!
I try to enjoy this place, but every time I think about giving them another chance...*sigh* major disappointment. Â But what do you expect, it's definitely NOT homemade Italian food, which I guess no chain can compare to. Â And if that is what you're expecting, this is not the place to go. Â
I guess I can start with things that I have found enjoyable in the past when not given the choice of places to go with a big group. Â I had on occasion gotten the capellini di mare and found it acceptable for what it is. Â A spicy seadfoodie tomatoey veggie sauce with a few scallops and shrimp and some squid. And a mound of pasta... mostly pasta very little seafood and for I think it was $17... yikes. (Not that you would expect fresh seafood but the shrimp were salty as if they had been but in a brine to take away their old seafood taste) Â I also have gotten the wedge salad which tasted fine but was nothing special. Â The lobster squid ink pasta is something I regularly got as well. Â The kids menu was $7 for a bland "pizza".
Honestly, I would just recommend to avoid the place completely.
I would say the last 5 times (4 too many) throughout the past 2 years the service has been AWFUL. Â I've encountered a very rude waitress who insulted the person paying for the meal as she was handing him the check. Â
Another time, when they were dead and we had been waiting a very long time for our food, I ran to the bathroom with my 3 year old and found her sitting in the back party room with her phone out texting/something who knows! Â When I got back to the table our food still hadn't arrived. Â Which this doesn't make sense to me because usually there are runners, but maybe not during the day when they are slow? Â Anyway.. she finally came out with our food which had clearly been sitting under a heat lamp for a VERY long time. Â I had gotten a half and half pasta/salad. Â My pasta had a film over the sauce from sitting and the salad was hot and wilted from sitting on the same plate under the lamp. Â
Again recently I ended up here when someone else was taking us out. Â Two servers came up to us and claimed the other was being trained so they would both be helping us. Â I thought great!.. with two we may get semi decent service. Â We ordered our food, and when it came out, the pasta the person to my side had ordered came out not as it is supposed to be. Â She had ordered the black pasta, which I must say has a texture to it and appeal that a normal boxed linguine does not. Â The runner said "oh.. your server didn't tell you" and we said no and that the pasta was one of the main components of the dish. Â She said nothing more, didn't offer to change it or see if she wanted something else and just kind of wandered away. Â Maybe she should have been more up front about how disappointed she was when the server came back to ask how everything was, but oh well, just another nail in the coffin.
Bread and pasta are cheap! Â I could make any of the dishes they serve, in my own home, for a few dollars and with a lot more taste!
I am done with you Biaggis.
Definitely a chain Italian place. Â I've asked people who have tried Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill and Carraba's and they put Biaggi's up there near the top.
My party of 9 dined there on a Saturday afternoon and due to the large size of our party we had to dine fairly early. Â We were seated in a large private room where more of the bigger parties were situated.
Service was fast and accurate.
I ordered the Messina salad which was basically a "Greek" with olives, feta, onion and olive oil. Â Very nice and very ample. Â My entree was a stromboli which was just okay. Â
Everyone else had a pasta dish and everybody was very pleased. Â Most had "half-orders" which I definitely recommend for females but if you're a man with an appetite you can definitely handle the "whole."
My only real complaint is that the temperature in our area was set to "freeze" which was fine during the salad phase but the entrees didn't stay warm for long once they arrived. Â At some point in the meal one of the other tables must have commented because the A/C went idle for a few minutes and it made an immediate difference.
Prices were very fair and they gladly packaged leftovers.
We dined at 4 p.m. and there was staff galore to handle about 50% capacity. Â I would expect they could easily handle an evening setting.
Being Italian-American and cooking my own Italian food, I don't often dine in Italian restaurants. Â This occasion was a luncheon to honor my staff for their continued efforts and they wanted Biaggi's. Â We were a party of ten and the service was prompt and courteous and friendly. Â The bread placed on the table was okay and the olive oil and cheese was of modest quality. Â I started with the Bacon Wrapped Dates (who can resist bacon) and they were quite good. Â Nice blend of salty and sweet and the bacon perfectly done. Â Followed that with the Stuffed Pork Loin that was served with asparagus spears and garlic mashed potatoes. Â All were nicely done. Â Everyone at the table had something different and all enjoyed their meals. Â One person ordered a half size order of Spaghetti Marinara which was ample. Â Can't imagine a full sized one. Â All the portions were of good size. Â I opted for Bananas Foster for dessert and it was just okay, nothing remarkable. Â Prices were reasonable, the ambiance comfortable and inviting, noise level was moderate.
Second Visit:
Went to dinner here tonight and it didn't start off well. I was seated and then ignored. Â I finally asked the hostess if they intended to provide me with a server. Â One was provided, a very capable and sweet young woman named Cara who took good care of me the rest of the evening. I started with the Bacon Wrapped Dates that made such an impression on me during my first visit. Â The bacon was a bit underdone this time but still tasty. Â I ordered the Chicken Piemontese and it was okay, lacking seasoning. Â The asparagus again nicely done and the roasted potatoes done well. Â Treated myself to dessert tonight. Â Ordered some espresso and a glass of Sambuca, which surprisingly came in the traditional Italian way with three coffee beans (Sambuca con la mosca = Sambuca with the flies). Â It is said that the beans represent health, happiness, and prosperity. Nice touch. Â Had planned to have the Lemon Tower Cake but had a mental lapse and instead ordered the cannoli, which had a nice, crisp shell and nice garnish, but the filling was now what I am accustomed to. Â As I finished, Jamie, a managing partner, came over and engaged me in conversation about the food, etc. Â He was very pleasant and courteous, gave me his card, and told me to let him know of my next visit and we'd talk food and wine. Â I don't think he knew of my "connections" so I assume the gesture was genuine. Â I will take him up on the offer. Â He showed rispetto.
Hmmm where do I start. Â I guess I could give them FIVE stars alone just for taking on the daunting task of feeding 35 young, LOUD track stars and their parents. You see, we were in Bloomington for the Track Tournament at Wesleyan University. Â We were tired, the kids were sweaty (I'm being nice) and HUNGRY and did I mention we were loud? Â Well, we were given a private room, I presume in hopes of keeping the noise level down for the other patrons. Hahahaha well, it was worth the try. Â Anyway, I digress, on to the service.
We were assigned 5 waiters/waitresses. Â They moved seamlessly throughout the private dining area, taking orders, filling and refilling beverage requests, bringing bread and conversing with us. HOW they managed to do all that AND get us in and out of there in under two hours is beyond me!
The FOOD. The food was DELICIOUS! Â Maybe it had something to do with the fact that we were on day two of eating food out of a cooler, but I sincerely doubt that. My husband ordered the Chicken Pimietro (I know I spelled that wrong). It was melt in your mouth good. Yes, I stole some off his plate (don't judge me). Hmmm, I hope he never reads my yelps and discovers my dirty little secret. Â I, on the other hand, opted for the Chicken Pietra (succulent chicken breast stuffed with Smoked Gouda and Ham). This was served with asparagus and I asked for Herb Roasted Potatoes instead of the garlic mashed listed on the menu. Don't worry, I didn't actually eat them, I traded my potatoes for my hubby's zucchini and squash. All I can say is.....Why isn't there one of these in MD? Oh wait, I think another yelper said it was along the lines of Maggianos, but I can't say I agree. The atmosphere was different (better), the menu was less overwhelming in regards to choices and the customer service was spectacular.
If I ever find myself back in Bloomington (read that as see you next year), I will definitely be stopping by WITHOUT the track entourage!
The hype is real. Best sit down place for Italian ive found in champaign. I got taken here for a pre interview dinner. We we were served family style and I polished off almost all the dishes since no one wanted to be that guy that ate everything. I really didn't want the job so I just came to eat all the food.
Needless to say I didn't get the job but I found a great restaurant. Its reasonably priced for italian food but I couldn't eat there very much cause I was a poor college student. I wished I could have ate there more though. Honestly its actually pretty cheap for the quality but my student loans barred me from eating there too much. Don't be like me and regret eating at this fine restaurant people
Biaggi's is good. The service is fine. The decor is nice. But... I'm just not enthralled. Given a choice, I'd pick a different restaurant. I'm not really even sure why, other than the overall experience feels a little pretentious and I think the price/value relationship is a bit off.
Maybe it's the lighting?
I wasn't aware this was a chain until I saw Ramya K's review. Â Biaggi's quality and look is a step above Olive Garden. Â Ambience is similar to Macaroni Grill (open space, higher ceilings).
Nice warm bread served right away, to be dipped in olive oil. Â My fellow diners loaded up their olive oil with grated parm, also on the table, before dipping.
I went with the Lobster Corn Chowder to start - large bowl of sweet, creamy soup with chunks of lobster and vegetables. Â My main was the Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad. Â Beautiful presentation and a decent size for an entree if you aren't starving (or you've already eaten a big bowl of soup and two pieces of bread). Â In addition to the beets and arugula, this salad also had avocado chunks and dried cherries plus three rounds of Montchevre goat cheese coated with spicy ground walnuts. Â I went with our waitress's recommendation and subbed the Honey Balsamic dressing that was supposed to accompany my salad with a creamy Italian-type. Â Very nice all around.
My fellow diners chose the Chicken Piemontese (her favorite - chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese in a lemon butter sauce, with potatoes and veg), the Filet Mignon (which was a decent 8oz size and looked well prepared, served with potatoes and veg), and the Rigatoni alla Toscana (pasta in red sauce with sausage, onions and peppers). Â
I wish I could have tempted them to try an appetizer or two because this part of the menu looked very nice. Â I may have to go back alone and try one - Bacon Wrapped Dates or Tomato Mozzarella Caprese - with a glass of wine, at the bar.
While this place is a chain, it feels local to me (having grown up in Bloomington where it all started). While, I love this place, I feel that there is better Italian restaurants out there, but this is far superior to Olive Garden.
The decor and setting is lovely and the noise levels are never an issue. I have never had poor service, but during the rush times, I feel that one could be neglected at times.
They do have a nice selection on their menu, with various entrees, salads, appetizer, and grill items. They typically have a daily fresh fish also. They serve bread to each table which is real nice if not wanting to order an appetizer.
One of my favorite dishes is the Ziti Al Forno, which upon ordering several times, has proven to be consistently amazing. Additionally, I recommend the Greek Salad. Overall dishes are well prepared, but at times, they have come over-seasoned from the grill.
I'd give them a zero if I could.
Is the food good? Â Yes. Â
So why the low rating? Â Dishonesty and abysmal customer service.
My wife and I hosted a party for 40 of our closest friends and family. Â We pre-arranged for each guest to be able to order whatever they wanted off the menu. Â This included appetizers, entrees and desserts. Â Dinner went off well up until the dessert part.
The guests were all given dessert menus and as they began to order desserts, I was pulled aside and told that they ran out of most of the desserts. Â Strange, I thought. Â How they heck do you run out of creme brulee?! The manager explained that they had been very busy the night before and simply ran out of most everything. Â However, they still had cheesecake, chocolate cake, and lemon tower cake.
Again, strange. Â So they ran out of everything OTHER than the stuff that could be easily sliced and flopped on a plate for the least amount of effort.
Bullshit.
Indeed, we were informed by one of the kinder and more empathetic waitresses that this was a complete and utter lie. Â Not only did they not run out of desserts, but they were serving them to other patrons at the restaurant. Â Heck, one of our guests was even able to score the bread pudding before we were unceremoniously cut off like a drunk at closing time.
I would love for somebody to explain to me why the $1,200 I spent was not good enough to: A) get what I specifically arranged for IN ADVANCE; and B) at least get the common courtesy of an honest explanation.
Would I have been upset if they had told me they simply could not do the volume of desserts we were asking for? Â Of course, but I would have understood, and they would not have lost me as a customer.
The real problem is that this could have been dealt with when we arranged the party. Â We were promised one thing, and they refused to deliver on that promise. Â As it stood, we told our guests to make sure they saved room SPECIFICALLY FOR the wonderful array of desserts that would be available. Â I cannot explain the disappointment on the guests faces who were given dessert menus and had wanted to order tiramisu or bread pudding, but were then told that they could not have it. Â Of course, we look like the cheapskates who wouldn't spring for the good stuff. Â It wrecked what should have been a special occasion. Â My wife and I spent more time farting around with the dishonest manager and chef than we did with our guests. Â Pathetic.
I have had two parties there and countless dinners and lunches. Â I will never go back.
I was in town from the West Coast visiting family and friends and delighted to see a menu where the food wasn't fried and the food portions weren't the size of a platter. Â The menu was varied and I loved the food and was pleased to be able to have a half order of any pasta of my choosing.
We went with a large group and were seated in the back dining room. Â It was rather loud, because they put all the big groups together and we were sandwiched between a wedding party and a group of students celebrating their return to campus.
Still, I have to say that I really liked the food at Biaggi's on this Saturday evening. Â The wine list for Pinot Noir was great and my wine selection was very nice. Â I had a wonderful half order of butternut squash ravioli and their amazing beet, goat cheese and arugula salad, which comes on a long platter. Â However, this is the kind of food I can enjoy in large quantities and I did manage to share it at the table, although some didn't quite seem to know what to do with the arugula. Â That was fine, as there were a few of us who were happy to finish it. Â Wish I could have some of that salad right now. Â I would definitely eat at Biaggi's again and perhaps ask for the first dining room as it may be a bit less noisy, although I can't say this for sure since I didn't eat in main dining room.
The wait staff was very helpful, friendly and managed our large group exceptionally well.
So I went back for lunch yesterday. Â Again, I was not impressed. Â The food was ok. Â I can't point out anything that was wrong with it. Â The olive oil they use for bread dipping has changed. Â It has an orange tinge to it and a little spice (but I liked it). Â I got half a sandwich and soup. Â I could probably find the same deal elswhere for cheaper.
My husband and I got there well after the lunch crowd, but the service was a little lacking. Â We sat in front of our empty plates for about five minutes before our server removed them. Â There were other employees that were sweeping or cleaning near our table, and none of them offered to remove our plates.
The employees were all friendly, and the restaurant was clean.
If their goal is mediocrity, then they are well on their way.
Not bad! It's actually relatively cheap for the size of the portions, compared to other Italian places in San Francisco and New York, and the entrees can be easily split.
During lunch, they have this option where you can select two items and have unlimited refills of soup or salad with a sandwich. For just $8.00, it's a good idea and delicious! I tried their chicken marsala for dinner and found the chicken kind of dry.
We went in for dinner and lunch the next day - the waiters remembered us, probably because we were the only asians there the previous evening. It's not too far from UIUC campus!
We made reservations here for a dinner on a Saturday night- it looks like the reservations were a good idea, since the place looked pretty crowded!
For those who haven't been here before, they bring out a few different types of bread and put together olive oil, parmesan, and pepper for dipping- very good!
We were seated right away, and our waiter came over with bread very quickly (always a plus!!). Our one minor complaint with this dinner was that the waiter talked a LOT about the specials when we were clearly uninterested, but he was friendly so it didn't bother us too much.
We got a calamari appetizer and some bottles of wine- all very good.
Meals: I got a Caesar salad and a half order of crab/lobster cannelloni, and the others got veal  parmesan and some chicken dishes. We all really enjoyed our food- and I was really happy with my choice to get the half order (the full order was 3 cannellonis, and the half order was 2- apparently math is not their strong point :) ).
I highly recommend this place- very nice atmosphere, you can get dolled up or come in jeans and a hoodie and you'll fit in.
Long wait for bill, and with my 4 year old appraching meltdown status, I caught the eye of the manager, who swooped in and saved the day. Â We love to eat here because my son loves the mac and cheese with a scoop of ice cream, and I get to eat some real food- so it's a good compromise. But, when a large party was being seated in our section as our server was just delivering drinks to the table nearby, my son started wondering loudly if he would ever get the promised ice cream. Â The manager was wonderful- He jumped in and within a minute we had the ice cream, take out box, and bill. Â
We come here a couple of times of month. The strawberry lemonade is delicious, and there are lots of healthy options on the menu- Great salads and they willingly substitute marinara sauce for the fettuccini alfredo that accompanies many dishes. Â
I am a fan of a louder, busy atmosphere, which this restaurant has- It's always busy. It is a great way for families to get out to a nice dinner where the white tablecloths are covered with paper for coloring on.
The service on this visit was not as good as usual, but it was just a timinig issue and not at all the server's fault. The manager saved the experience by jumping in and getting us taken care of like he did.
The curbside take out is fast and easy too. Much appreciated!
I realize this place is a chain, but still, I love it. I just went back here last weekend and had to update my review and give it a fifth star.
Their bread is just so yummy and I could honestly make a meal out of it. I also found that their lasagna (all 8 layers of it) is reallllly good. I usually try to order something new every time I go to a restaurant, but this lasagna has me hooked. But, if I can tear myself away from the lasagna, or rather, any of the pasta dishes, I've found the salads are pretty great and they're HUGE. The wedge is one of my favorites, but any of them are really good, actually.
The iced tea is also suuuper good, and so is the strawberry lemonade. There are mashed strawberries in it and it's perfectly sweet and tart. I love it.
Also, the nuttela skillet cookie with ice cream, holy cow. Make sure you order it, but do it early because it takes about 10 minutes to make. It's worth the wait though. It's phenomenal!
I also can't review this place without saying how nice the staff has always been here. Everyone is very polite, very proper, and you feel comfortable here wether you're in jeans and a shirt for a lunchbreak or here for a fancy dinner. It's just good for any occasion.
Basically yeah, I feel kind of stupid ranting and raving about a chain restaurant, but it really is one of my favorite places in Champaign and I'm reminded of that every time I go here.
I genuinely like Biaggi's. Â It is, by far, one of the better restaurants in the Champaign/Urbana area. Â It has a dark and romantic atmosphere that is nice for date night, but casual enough to bring your family after that U of I special occasion. Â
The food and prices are where it loses some stars for me. Â The entrees are a little pricey and on top of that, all the sides are a la carte. Even though the food is good, I do not think it is good enough to justify the prices. Â I think this restaurant gets away with charging so much because it is located in a college town that does not have many high quality restaurants. Â
The entrees I would recommend and that are worth the money are: the ravioli quattro formaggi, the lamb chops, and (I believe this is only on special) the quarter duck.
I know, I know, this is 4 stars for a chain Italian restaurant in Champaign, Illinois? Â Well, when you go with little expectation and those expectations are exceeded on nearly every point, it's worth an extra star or two!
I won't belabor all the details, but the place was bustling and our server was conscientious and helpful. Â The wine list was surprisingly extensive and we enjoyed a little-known (to me) "Lemberger" red wine from Austria. Â Light, almost pinot noir-like. Â Very nice. Â The appetizers were pretty good - fried calamari was crisp and tender but a very small portion. Â The seafood arancini were not very good. Â I had the spinach salad which was a bit oily but delicious. Â For my main course, I had the special Tuscan cassoulet which was a hearty and savory braise of beans, rabbit sausage, chicken and duck confit. Â It was simply delicious, not something I would expect at a chain Italian restaurant. Â Such an unexpected treat - I think I can still taste it!
My dinner companions generally enjoyed their food as well. Â Our desserts were competently executed including tiramisu, chocolate cake, and bananas foster (no flambe though).
This is my favorite full service restaurant in C-U. Incredible waitstaff, nice decor, and a wonderful variety of food (at reasonable prices) that's a step above most chain restaurants. I've never had a negative experience after eating here dozens upon dozens of times over the years with family, friends, family friends, and even once with my entire high school class. (Small school, of course---60 kids per grade---but the restaurant nonetheless did a tremendous job accommodating all of us, and our graduation dinner was flawless from start to finish.)
Somehow I've yet to dine outdoors here, but the people who do always appear to have be having a great time.
I always seem to want to go back to a restaurant when the service is exceptional. Every visit at Biaggi's I always find the staff very friendly from the first minute you step into the restaurant to the last minute you step out.
Biaggi has an extensive wine menu to compliment your entree. Some of the entrees are a hit or a miss however, the desserts are delicious. My friend ordered a scallion special off the menu which was came in a delicious sauce and I had the penne sardi which was alright (there was too much going on with the bread crumbs and the caramelized onions). I would recommend getting the white chocolate banana pudding for the dessert.
Overall, I would recommend going to place again for their great staff even though the food is a little pricey.
This restaurant is OK, not great. Â Pretty much what you'd expect of an Italian restaurant chain. Â The menu had the normal selection of pastas, chicken, and antipasti. Â They also had a few off the menu specials. Â I wasn't too blown away by anything. Â I ordered the chicken parmesan and it was a good size (too big really) that came with two chicken breasts and a side of pasta.
I can't really speak too much of the interior because for some reason we got seated in a semi-private room away from the main dining room. Â There was one other large party in our room and they were quite noisy so I sort of felt like we were crashing in on their private area. Â It was weird and I'm not sure why we were seated in there. Â Our waiter was very friendly and the prices were moderate - around $15 for a pasta entree.
I love this place. Being from California, i found this place very reasonable and upscale
the server definitely deserves 5 stars for outstanding services. he was attentive, got our drink and bread refills right away, kept us abreast of our order status, shared tons of friendly conversations and made  recommendation from the menu.
I hope they open a restaurant in California as i can't wait to try out there Chilean Sea bass again. Other people on my table ordered Shrimp Milanese and Fettuccine with Lobster. Everyone left with happy tummies and big smiles which is expected out of any excellent dining experience
We went here for a graduation dinner. The wait staff here is great, everyone is so friendly and accommodating. One thing I love at any restaurant is when the server brings over a drink refill before you even ask for one. I know it's a small thing, but it's that kind of attention that makes all the difference. The food was amazing! I had the black fettuccine with lobster and a bit of a chicken salad dish as well. Everything was yummy and came out fast even with a full house on what I assume is a very busy business day.
I definitely recommend it here for a nice dinner whenever you're in Champaign!
I had an ex-girlfriend going to school at U of I who used to always talk about this place, but I never got a chance to go. But I went there with my girlfriend (now wife) around October/November of 2007.
First, the wait staff: These people are always great to deal with. They're nice and friendly and always seem so upbeat. Makes the whole dining experience that much better.
The drinks: I'm a Jameson fan, so there's really not much you can mess up on there, but my wife seems to love the wine so I'll take her word for it. Haven't tried anytihng else though.
The food: One word, GREAT. Obviously, being an italian restaurant, I expected the food to be bland, but oh my god, was it good! Its got flavor and they'll go out of their way to change the dishes to your tastes (in my case, SPICY).
Great place overall, but what makes it so good is the wait staff. I can't tell you how important this small thing is for me because it can seriously make or break a lot of restaurants.
I believe there is a Biaggi's in Naperville also, although I haven't tried them out yet so I really can't say much, but one day (I mean hell, it is a lot closer than Champaign!).
While it is a chain, they do a fairly good job of hiding it. Â Having heard a lot about this place from friends, I finally decided to give it a try. Â My friend and I made a reservation for 5 in accordance to the warnings from friends that this place can get really busy.
When we arrived though, there were only a handful of businessmen at the bar, and the dining area was completely vacant. Â By the time we left though, barely an hour later, this place was completely packed so I would definitely recommend a reservation unless you plan on eating an early dinner.
They have a nice selection of breads for you to munch on while waiting for your entree, but despite the fact there were only a few other diners, the food came out rather slowly and my dish was lukewarm (I had the Chicken Cannelloni). Â It was pretty good, but would've been better if I had gotten it hot.
The ambiance could be romantic I suppose, if that's what you're looking for, but if you really want to impress your date, I suggest going somewhere downtown Champaign/Urbana. Â There's a mixture of people who go there, from casual college students out for a nicer meal with their parents to businessmen and women grabbing a drink after work.
Overall, not a bad place to have dinner. Â The service was very good (nice, attentive waiters), the food's pretty good, and it still allows for easy conversation despite the fact that it gets very busy. Â 3-1/2 stars.
This is a nice chain you can go to if you want something similar to Maggiano's. Â It's cheap (for ~$10/entree).. it's okay.. but it's not anything special. Â It's not really awesome Italian or anything. Â In fact, the tiramisu is the same as the one they use at Olive Garden. Â I also heard that this place doesn't cook any of their food.. it's just frozen food heated up. Â I'm not sure if it's true though.
Sometimes the place is so packed so I would really recommend a reservation. Â It's on Open Table.
If you must eat here.. I would recommend the duck confit and perhaps the chocolate bread pudding. Â What is horrible would be the mussel appetizer. Â Disgusting and not fresh at all!
I'm actually not a fan of Biaggi's. I think it's a great place to feel like you're better than you really are, or just different from any other family restaurant, but that's only because of the dress code and presentation. The food is fine. Their steaks are high-grade, but usually tough unless they are smothered in some strange sauce that smells, looks, and tastes funky. So you're stuck if you go with or without the sauce. I did enjoy their pork chops, though. Garlic mashed potatoes are tasty, too. Appreciate the bread baskets, but whether or not the bread actually tastes fresh is a touch-and-go issue. I dig the Champaign bartenders, though. Props to those charming folks. Strawberry daquiris are magnificent... They know how to get the tips flowing.
Best way to go with Biaggi's is only use it for gift certificates or spoiling someone else on a birthday. I would never go with a group of friends "just for fun," but I regularly give out their gift cards as thank you gifts.
I really like biaggi's; the atmosphere in there is kind of a salving balm to the grody campus or slut-tacular downtown vibe. Â It's clean and more refined than most other places you'll find in champaign, with good service and a lot of edible dishes.
It's true what everyone else is saying; there's nothing impressive about the food. Â I've never had anything bad though, and I actually think the prices are highly reasonable given the amount and quality of food and the atmosphere in which it is presented.
You NEED a reservation for dinner if you are going to wait for less than an hour on the weekend.
Bruschetta = delicious
service = excellent
The rest was nothing to write home about. Tasty, but average as Italian goes. Why aren't there any pasta dishes with vegetables? Most dishes use cream sauce. You can get better quality at Buca di Beppo where you get more for your money.
Then again, it was this or Apple Bee's, and I'd make the same choice again.
It's delicious, sure. Â And, whoa, are those cloth napkins?
Just because every student, sick of dorm food, brings the parents here for "something special" doesn't make it exceptional. It lacks character, as most chain's do. What's so great about the place?
Try some real local flavor - go to downtown Champaign or Urbana and support your local businesses.
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