I decided on Big Grove after driving around Champaign for a few minutes, and I wasn't disappointed.
It was a really nice day out, and since I parked in a nearby lot, I had to decide between here and Destihl. I looked at both menus, and frankly, because big grove was second, I stayed there. I opted to sit outside, in the sun. It was not bad at all.
Onto the  experience... first of all, my waitress was great and very attentive. Each table gets a little bowl of popcorn to start, which is cool.
Anyways, their menu is locally sourced, and quite small. They have a few appetizers, and I indulged in two of them. I had a deviled egg (dollar per), and I also ordered the pickled vegetables (radish, onion, fennel, and carrot). The deviled egg came with a rye crisp and sauteed red onions. It was okay, and I'm glad I only ordered one. On the other hand, the pickled vegetables were fantastic! A little pricey at 3 dollars, but definitely the highlight of my meal.
For my main course, I ordered the pork, bison, and beef burger. I had the aioli and red onion marmelade on the side. I like my burgers medium. I also ordered mine on whole grain bread instead of the standard bun.
The burger was average. It was not cooked medium well, and there was some yellow sauce (not the aioli, but possibly a mustard) that ended up on my burger, even though I asked for my burger plain.
My mixed greens salad with the vinagrette was good. My second favorite part, and I'm not a salad fan at all.
Overall, a decent place. Nothing special. My bill was 17 dollars, and I did not order a drink or anything. I like the feel of the restaurant, but honestly, I'll probably go somewhere else in the area before I head back here.
Updating to note that I have come to love the Big Grove even more over the past bunch of months. It's become one of our date-night regulars as their menus have started to incorporate many more veggie and fish options. I would recommend going at a less-busy time since they have been known to run out of things on, say, Saturday nights at 7.30, but it's all delicious. Totally enamored of their new brunch selection, too! Go. Here. Now.
Review Source:Good local source food and good menu. Â We popped in on a Friday night and sat in the bar area. Â Devil eggs and chicken liver pate was rich and delicious. Â Burger and mushroom farro for entrees and then moved on to the apple crisp for dessert. Â The food will not knock your socks off, but sometimes you just need a easy going chill place to eat some good food. Â Nice spacious restaurant vibe with good service too!
Review Source:I have never been to the MIdwest--except 3 days in Chicago in heat and humidity so intense I remember almost nothing--but can say without question that this restaurant would be a hit even in NYC or LA.
I ate here twice on a visit, once for lunch and once for dinner, and was initially struck by the sheer beauty--and size--of the restaurant. It gets crazy busy on a Friday night and appears to be the only upscale bar in the area.
Recommended dishes:
1) Veggie mac and cheese
2) Chili: cup or bowl, cornbread on the side
3) Lake Trout (I don't even like trout--it's my least favorite fish, likely because I have only had river trout with the bones and almonds and butter, but this was sublime with horseradish sauce)
4) Pate which rivals the best I've eaten and is my personal favorite because it's mousse-like and light and not too heavy/strong but still exquisitely flavorful: it's better than the chicken livers at the Public Kitchen at Hollywood and served almost identically at a far lower price
5) Fried grits--I know, this doesn't sound good at all but it has a chipotle aioli and for a decadent fried treat, you can't do better. I didn't know much about grits, as an LA girl, but apparently you can cook them without much fat and then unceremoniously dump a big hunk of butter on top so that it's like cream of wheat with butter, or you can do it more like the French with butter and cream, in which case it's far worse for you but tastes infinitely better. Executive chef Jessica Gorin subscribes to the second school of grit preparation and I wholly approve.
5) Beets: they were as good as the Purple Pig in Chicago but this is a "bar bite" (see below) so if you want a large portion, order two.
6) Chocolate bread pudding: this dessert rivals the Olio e Limone chocolate bread pudding with bananas which Julia Child cited as among her favorite desserts in Santa Barbara
7) Pork belly: this has become trendy of late and some restaurants are pulling it from menus in big cities as people seem to be over it to some extent but Big Grove Tavern hits it out of the park with this appetizer.
8) Burger: some people in the area carped about the price of the burger here, not realizing that this is standard in LA and NYC (actually, their burger is cheaper than most fine dining burgers in cities I travel or live) and it's sheer perfection with the onions and cheese.
The prices are reasonable and they offer a sort of mini-appetizer they call a "bar bite," for 3 to 5 dollars. This is a nice option as you can try all sorts of sides for not a lot of money.
The watercress soup was beautiful and subtle but the only dish on the menu that didn't send me into another galaxy.
I truly believe Big Grove Tavern would be a hit in a city. In Champaign, which is a college town that feels infinitely smaller than it really is, with very few fine dining options, I see why the place is booming and if I lived in this tiny place, I'd eat here three times a week.
My wife and I had lunch with friends from SoCal here yesterday. Â Two of us had the Tavern Burger and two had the Mac N Cheese. Â Three of us opted for the bison chili with cornbread for apps and one chose the watercress soup. Â We also shared an app of deep fried grits. Â I thought the cornbread was tasty but a bit on the dry side. Â The chili was great! Â Tavern burgers were a blend of beef, pork and bison and were cooked to perfection. Â The Mac n cheese was coated with bread crumbs and baked just right and the portions were quite large. Â I also had a side of sweet potato chips. Â They came out just a bit soft but finished with a nice crunch. Â The wine and beer lists were both substantial with great local and regional brews and lots of interesting choices on wines. Â Looked like lots of great sounding house cocktails and specialty drinks offered as well. Â We will definitely return for an evening dinner and sample some of those as well as some more great entrees with local ingredients finished to perfection! Â The one area that might just surpass the food is the service which is outstanding. Â Our server's name escapes my memory but he had an interesting tattoo on his left forearm. Â He was truly on top of his game for so early in the day.
Review Source:Last time I reviewed Big Grove, I gave it 4 stars because it was a pretty heavy meal. There just wasn't much on the menu for a gal trying to - oh, I don't know - wear a bikini in her lifetime. But the food, ambience, and bar were/are SO good, that I kept going back. Happily. Frequently.
Well I am here to report that the food gods must have heard me, because BGT has added some lighter fare. That is the reason for my update and the star increase. They've added some fish dishes and a couple more vegetarian dishes. Whether the fish is a special or the regular entree, it has consistently come out moist and not overcooked. (That's a real bugaboo with me. I have been known to send a fish dish back 3-4 times - in Chicago, no less - because the fish came out overcooked. Bratty, probably, but seriously: overcooking fish and then trying to charge me a small fortune for the privilege of eating dry fish??? I don't think so, Fancy-Schmancy Chicago Restaurant.) Anyway, I'm delighted that BGT doesn't do that. I still like their fried brussels sprouts. Ok - I still LOVE their fried brussels sprouts. I'm sure they aren't nearly as healthy or non-fattening as I like to hope (nothing that good could be), but I'm going with it. And their sweet pea risotto is another solid addition (although not quite as consistently creamy as I would hope.)
I have read that other reviewers don't like the lights or decor. Â I still do. Â That must be a taste thing - one I share with a lot of folk, I guess. I've noticed that BGT seems to attract a lot of people - and that they tend to be a younger, more creative, more stylish crowd. I mean, even the guys seem to dress up a little at BGT. They actually wear button-down shirts with their wrinkled cargo shorts instead of "least dirty and faded to a possible blue but maybe gray" illini t-shirts. (What is it with guys not wanting to dress for girls these days?) Â I like that about BGT. I wish more restaurants in Champaign aspired to bringing out the cool in people rather than to being yet another variation on Guidos/Destihl/Esquire/Billy Barooze/Jupiters. But given that the last two restaurants that opened were Five Guys and Prairie Fire, I don't hold out much hope. Until then -yay for BGT!
I love this place. Â I now visit at least, once a week. Â The dishes are excellently prepared, plated and served. Â The flavours to everything from the Appetizers to the Main Courses to the Dessert continue to impress. Â I have too many favorites to enumerate, but I'd recommend Big Grove Tavern to anyone who loves food. Â All local, always fresh. Â The Tuesday fried chicken & waffles are amazing. Â I have only tried the brunch once, but it was delicious and my whole family had a great time. Â Loved the bloody mary's too. Â
The staff are incredible, possibly the best in town. Â The servers know what they are doing and they do with elan, charm and a ready smile. Â And everyone cares so deeply that the guests are having a great time.
Lastly, I have been hanging out at Big Grove's beautiful bar (and I have learned that even the bar is "local" made by a local artisan) and it is becoming a truly cool after work watering hole.
One word of advice, if you are planning on a Friday or Saturday dinner visit, you probably would be wise to make a reservation(which I did from their website via <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FOpentable.com&s=e2215de09505b8fbf3a047b68af38708cbc8b52c843ab34faaecc46b3704d557" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Opentable.com</a>). Â Easy to do.
Try it. Â You'll love it too.
I went here with my parents one night. Â I love downtown Champaign, there are plenty of interesting and very good restaurants around. Â Not to mention lots of very good beer bars. Â This place tries to combine the two with a small but well constructed tap list and a small locally sourced menu. Â My parents have been here a few times, and warned me of the downfalls (slow service, running out of menu items). Â Well, I always have to check a new place out and see for myself. Â After our visit, I had to apologize and thank them for humoring me.
Anyway, a large open room with an island bar. Â The light fixtures look like Christmas lights bought at Farm & Fleet. Â The sticks on the ceiling look like they were bought at Hobby Lobby.
We were seated right away, which was a good sign. Â Though besides the fancy popcorn we were ignored for a long time. Â I hate to be the person to say service was slow, cause it was a busy night. Â I can deal with slow, but no acknowledgement what so ever was not good. Â Incredibly slow kitchen times as well.
We finally put our drink and food orders in at the same time. Â We were not sure when we would get another chance. Â I liked their beer selection. Â 8 taps of good micros. Â Though they were out of four taps. Â Half of their selection was out. Â I like it when a place can go through kegs and rotate the selection, though no. Â They would rather just not have half the selection. Â Out of Great Lakes, out of Founders, out of Dark Horse, out of Victory. Â I ended up with a Sculpin, and my Dad a Goose Island 312. Â If you are going to have a small selection, you need to keep it stocked.
The menu was similarly small, but looked good. Â My Dad ended up with the last burger, which is a mix of beef, bison, and pork. Â Sounds great. Â He has tried to eat here before, twice actually. Â Both times out of the burger, so it was good that he finally got to try it. Â Again, it is good that they can go through the menu like that. Â Though it is tiring when they keep running out. Â I had the pork sausage, my Mom Mac & Cheese. Â It is a tiny menu for dinner, about 5 main courses. Â I love when a place can do that. Â Just not enough here to pull that off. Â Especially when they run out of stuff.
On top of that, not much here was that great. Â The burger was decent, Mac & Cheese cold, and the sausage was poorly executed with little flavor. Â They shout from every corner that everything is fresh and local. Â Fine, but make it good.
This is one of my longest reviews, and I guess it is this way because I had very high hopes and little was as expected. Â Though I was told before hand that everything was slow, over priced, pretentious, not that good, and often out. Â This place just left me wanting so much more.
Big Grove Tavern is a SUPER addition to the Champaign food landscape. From the first step inside the door, I love the atmosphere that is set by the hanging string lights, twisted wood light fixtures, and basic (but neat) hanging 2x4's. The food is fantastic, and as much as possible locally sourced. I love the Big Grove burger with fried egg on top, as well as the mac and cheese and tater tots appetizer. Because of the local aspect of the ingredients, expect to pay $2-3 more than you would at a local chain, but the improved atmosphere and deliciousness definitely make it worth it!
Review Source:Me and a group of friends went to this place last night. Â We were all skeptical since we live in Chicago and never had a really good meal in Champaign - always average to below average. Â This place surprised all 6 of us and we all ordered different things - the appetizers were great - deviled eggs and fried brussel sprouts - both great and I usually don't like deviled eggs. Â I got the burger and it was real good - they forgot to put the egg on it like i ordered but brought me out an egg minutes later. Â the drinks were really good too - had a bullet old fahioned. Â All in all, definitely glad we went there and will definitely go back on the next visit.
Review Source:Living in Cincinnati, Ohio, it is all the rage to be a farm-to-table, in-season menu, locally-sourced restaurant. I love that scene so I was excited to try Big Grove Tavern for a nice dinner. I love that we could get a reservation at 8 p.m. and the service was wonderful. The menu looked very unique, flavorful and fun. However, none of the dishes blew me or my friends away. Everything was good and I appreciate how fresh the food was, but it all needed a little something more. The deviled eggs were awesome and so fun to order one at a time. Our wine was delicious and I appreciated their drink menu. The ambiance was cool as well. If I lived in Champaign I would go back, I just have a feeling that their meals are hit or miss.
Review Source:We decided to give this a try on Valentine's Day...and overall I would say it was very enjoyable. Â This is the third time I've eaten here, so I feel qualified at this point to pass judgement. My impressions so far:
The food is great...although the dinner portions tend to weigh in on the "smaller" side. Â I had the filet, and what it lacked in size it made up for in taste. It was well cooked and tasted excellent. However, the side that came with it (a mixture of small carrots and potatoes) left something to be desired. This isn't a place you'll go for dinner and take home any leftovers. Â The Risotto also tasted great, and while it also wasn't a huge portion, it seemed to be enough to suffice. Â The prices were also fairly reasonable for a medium-to-upper scale restaurant, except for the $8 cocktail which seemed on the skimpy side, size-wise.
Two other standouts at this place for me are the deviled eggs appetizers ($1 a piece, and delicious!) and the Tavern Burger, which is a mixture of beef, pork, and bison and is the reason I will keep going back. Â For my money, it's one of the best burgers in town.
I felt like I was in Chicago - a huge compliment to this downtown Champaign spot with it's locally sourced food and beer list. Â We started with a truffle popcorn amuse, both savory and sweet, served in adorable mini tin buckets. Â Having a bite of each of my friend's dishes - from butternut squash/goat cheese sandwich, burger and my own pulled pork (a bit dry and lacking on the slaw, but still quite tasty), I left satiated and ready to come back. Â The beers come in small 10 ounce juice glasses if you just want a few sips, or you can go with a tall boy if you've designated a driver for the evening. Â The artwork is mostly local, minus the large birch sculpture hanging over the bar. Â It was such a great statement piece, that I might have to borrow the design aesthetic once I get my dream house. Â Well done, Big Grove, I'll see you again soon.
Review Source:Everything But the Bun!
Everything at this restaurant was excellent - except the hamburger bun.
I enjoyed the open space, the furnishings, the art on the walls, the overall feel of the place. Â The staff was excellent - friendly, helpful with menu selections, and accommodating.
The menu itself is charming - and the attention to the farm-to-table detail is commendable. There's seasoned popcorn on the table - a nice touch.
I tried the very economical "If It's From The Vine It's Fine" daily wine special, which was quite a brilliant surprise for the price. I would recommend this to anyone.
The take on a wedge salad - using bibb lettuce - was inspired. I was surprised there was no bread served with the salad. And, while I realize this is the chef's preference, I wanted some to sop up a little of the salad's very tasty creamy herb vinaigrette. And so I asked for some bread. And received some lovely bread to accompany the salad.
For a main I ordered the Tavern Burger - a monster of beef, bison & pork, red onion marmalade, cornichon aioli - and served with house-cut fries. The fries were great! A bit less greasy version of those fantastic greasy kind of fries you get from a hot dog stand. Super good. As was the burger - the marmalade - and the cornichon aioli. Everything was perfect except...the bun! - Which was so bland and tough and flavorless, I tossed it to the side and knife and forked the burger.
I'm sure, if I brought this detail to the staffs attention, they would have somehow taken care of things - they were nice that way. So I can only fault myself for not making an issue of it then. But man - compared to everything else - that was so great - that bun was a letdown. Regardless, I highly recommend Big Grove Tavern.
What a great place for a nice dinner out. Four of us recently made an Open Table reservation on a Friday night before catching a movie at the Art. The staff were quite friendly and efficient, and the food was very good. Probably the highlight of the meal was the popcorn instead of bread or rolls; the night we went it was flavored with roasted fennel seed and lemon zest. I usually don't like the taste of anise, but this was really good, and we got free refills without asking.
We ordered a vegetarian ragout (creamy with a hint of spiciness), the burger (it's big burger a unique taste from the mix of beef, pork, and bison), the pork shoulder (cooked perfectly), and the pork sausage (after the waitress checked on us, we discovered the root vegetables weren't cooked well enough; the dinner is on a low-carb diet and wasn't going to eat them anyway, but the waitress was very receptive when we mentioned it later). Also two beers--I can't remember which. We didn't have room for dessert, but if it's still on the menu, I want to try the spiced pumpkin bread pudding. Hello? Heaven is calling...
Pros: good, local food; great staff; reasonable prices at the "expensive for a college student" level (c. $15 per entree)
Cons: dim lighting + aging eyes + small print on the drink menu = squinting
noise level --All too often it seems that chic decor and sound-proofing are non-intersecting circles of restaurant interior design. Would it be possible to put some fabric or panels on the ceiling to absorb some of the sound?
Ate there this weekend with my hubby and had an awesome time.
2 things important to me: beer list, ambiance.
The beer list was awesome and the waiter had great knowledge of their different offerings. Even offered us a sample or two.
Ambiance was super cool. Romantic enough for hubs and I, but I feel I could easily bring my friends there or even coworkers. I guess I'm saying that it is for versatile parties! Oh, and I appreciated the good music. Mellow but not boring, no elevator music here :)
Okay, should probably talk about food:
My husband was amazed that I put away the entire Tavern Burger (i'm normally a light eater..) I basically blacked out and it was gone because it was so tasty. Plus, it came with fancy red onion marmalade which blew my mind.
We also tried the tots: AWESOME! i do wish you could get like 6 or 8 instead of 5, we had to duel over the last tot.
If you want cheap frozen food, stay at home. If you want a meal that's worth it, you know where to go!
Big Grove is a ditz. Nice to look at, but there's nothing really there.
Take the menu for example. It's the size of the bill, just more upsetting. All six inches of it, beautifully fastened to the silver rings of a time-worn clipboard, boast an incredible twelve total items - including appetizers and drinks. Or something like that.
What about the food, you say? Good question. The portions are tiny. There is one steak on the menu - a hanger steak. You just always leave feeling let down.
My coworker and I came for an early evening dinner. We both enjoyed the atmosphere and a few drinks. Extremely friendly service.
The popcorn that you start off with was tasty. I loved my blackberry rum infusion. For dinner, the roasted chicken was amazing. Would definitely return if in the area again.
This came very well reviewed on Yelp and Open table. Hey! Its a Tavern! How bad could it be?
I was wrong...
I was down in the U of I area during homecoming and made a reservation just in case it was packed for an early dinner. When we arrived, the place was empty. We were taken to our table and given this small one page menu. I thought it was the drink menu, but no, it was the dinner menu. A bit suprised, I asked my father if he would rather go to DESTIL across the street, but he wanted to try this new local joint.
We decided that I was going to get the "famous" burger and my dad was going to get the Mac and Cheese. Our server came over and my dad started by ordering the Mac and Cheese, but he asked if he could get it without the onions (shallots and leeks). He was told NO because they already have it premixed. Premixed? She assured him that there was not alot of onions so we continued. For $12 on the burger and $14 for the Mac and Cheese, we were expecting something spectacular.
My burger came out. It was a mix of bison, beef, and pork. I was expecting something very flavorful. It was bland as could be. Also, it was about 1/8 of a pound. One of the smallest burgers I have ever eaten. The fries that came with this was good, but the dish was not worth it.
My dad's Mac and Cheese came out in a small bowl and half of it was made up of shallots and leeks. I tasted it and thought that it was good, but he HATED it. We had the manager called over and he took it away and took it off of the bill without us asking. He asked if we wanted something else, but my dad complained that the menu was too small for him to go with anything else. Instead of apologizing, the manager told him "well its all local" and he walked away.
Our server was nice, but I could overhear the hostess and the manager talking about future reservations for the night with an attitude and snarky responses to each other. People can hear you folks! Â It was as if they were doing us a favor by being open.
In short, skip this place and go to other places within a block of this place. They know how to treat their customers and not to overcharge. I would suggest Guido's!
A welcome addition to downtown Champaign. The menu is unique and changes often. They strive to use locally-sourced ingredients and the wait-staff has been nothing but friendly and helpful. Every dish that I've eaten there has been absolutely melt-in-you-mouth fantastic. Seriously, try the roast chicken. They also offer a selection of house cocktails that are very tasty. Prices are about on par with the other "fancier" restaurants downtown which is to say that you can easily get an entrée and a drink for between $15 and $25. You can certainly spend more and if you try, you can get out for under $10 a head.
The atmosphere feels relaxed and trendy, the decor is pretty awesome, and I have to say that I love their music selection. It's current and recognizable without being overplayed or desperately obscure. Big Grove is high on my list if I feel like having a nice dinner.
Warm popcorn in galvanized micro-buckets greeted us with a wonderful crunch and delightful nibble while our beers arrived, the deviled eggs were a true highlight. Â Service was wonderful, and there was an understated elegance and relaxation in the staff and the atmosphere.
Tiny smelt breaded and fried with lemon mayo were a hit; the wonderfully seasoned pork-belly with grits melted like chocolate as it entered my mouth. Â
However, the special pork shank and beans seemed a bit of a miss, and the mac and cheese, although quite tasty, was so large and rich and hot that it was difficult to enjoy-maybe it could be a small appetizer, side? Â
The chef at Big Grove definitely puts out quality, tasty food that re-imagines the standard Midwestern menu. Â I applaud that. However, some of the details were slightly troubling: out of draw item (burger) at 7:00 PM; slight gaffe on menu 'These beers?'; one dish that didn't quite work.
3.5
Ok, I had some low expectations coming in, considering Jim Gould's old restaurant was here, and that was a VERY big disappointment, i wasn't expecting a ton from Big Grove Tavern. Â Tonight was my 3rd visit, but first for dinner and i was very pleased!
I had the Tavern Burger which is a beef, bison & pork burger, red onion marmalade, cornichon aioli, house-cut fries and added the Fried Egg. Â I did not get the Aioli on my burger. Â It was DELICIOUS! Â for me the fried egg made this burger one of, if not THE best in Champaign/Urbana. Â And i've had what is considered to be in the top 5 in america at Kuma's Corner in Chicago, its not that good, or that big, but its plenty excellent. Â the house cut fries were very good too, i loved the seasoning.
my wife raved about the Beer Brined Pork Loin, saying it was "delicious". Â The place is a little pricy, but they also have very close attention to detail and the food is all from local area suppliers, which is a nice touch and compliment to the local growers.
I will be back again at this restaurant, i can't wait to try the BLT with the egg at lunch next!
Thank god for this place. That's really all I can say. Well no, I can say more. But before I get to the meat of my review, no pun intended, let me say that Big Grove Tavern is exactly what this town needed. When Jim Gould's closed I was sad to see it go but what has come in it's place is something really fantastic. From the food to the interior to the crowd, the energy Big Grove gives off is infectious and demonstrates that the confluence of intellect and small-town charm in Champaign can really lead to something amazing.
Now on to the food:
Popcorn: Come for free as a starter. While I was hoping for bread, I was even happier with this. The popcorn really whets your appetite without being too filling. I hear the flavor changes; it was definitely some kind of lime (think the hint of lime you find certain Mexican foods) flavor when I was there.
Tavern Burger: There are so many things I can say about the Tavern Burger. First and most simply, it's delicious. The blend of bison was for me, the most prominent of the three meats that make up the burger but overall I found it to be rich, meaty and just the right amount of gamey given the bison. The onion marmalade, and petite crusty bun complimented the burger without overpowering the taste of the meat. I opted to add the fried egg which led to messy experience given the soft yolk, but a certainly more delicious one. At this point, if I did this right, you are so convinced about the deliciousness of the burger you won't even care to hear about the fries. But hey, if you're still interested: they're completely well-executed- crisp yet still potatoey.
Now... onto my other comment on the Tavern Burger. There was some review on here about how the burger is in limited quantities. That's how you know it's fresh and locally sourced! If I wanted something from a freezer I'd head down by the mall and swallow some hormone-laced, bacon-cheese-blue cheese-fried onion-black forest-ham-ranch dressing-heart attack in a bun. If you want a burger that satisfies your burger craving while still being an appreciable entree and cut of meat, come enjoy the Tavern Burger. And if you've missed it, just come back and try again! And frankly, at 12 bucks, it's not that bad. The downtown Champaign restaurant scene generally errs on the more expensive side. Given what Jim Gould's prices used to be like, Big Grove is far more reasonable price-wise in comparison.
In sum, ignore the hate, embrace the love, Big Grove will have you leaving full, happy and pleasantly surprised by what Champaign has to offer food-wise.
I know the whole local concept is hip right now, but Big Grove does it right. Â Plus the interior is cool, with open space and interesting visual detail (the branches on the ceiling). Â And our waiter was on his game with recommendations and satisfying our motley crew's numerous requests.
Our group started with deviled eggs all around. Â I tried to take a couple bites, but dang, it was good! Â I would have ordered another but our food came pretty quickly after. Â Deviled egg doggy bag anyone... or just me?
I had the turkey sandwich, which had so much flavor for a turkey sandwich! Â Loved the bread, the cheese, the spreads. Â Also ordered at our table was the Tavern Burger (which looked like a big, juicy meatball) and the chicken sandwich.
Their menu looks different now, which means rotating sandwich toppings and mains = never gets boring. Â Their salads, bar snacks and starters all look amazing this time around too.
I plan to make this a regular lunch spot when I'm in the area. Â Maybe dinner too, so I can try one of their fun sounding cocktails!
Solid. For sure.
First of all, the decor is great. The place is open, airy, and has this beautiful ceiling with old branches. It's very modern but still cozy. I loved it. It totally went with their idea that food should be natural and local, it fit.
Our drinks were pretty great. I had the Frasca and my boyfriend had a bourbon drink and both were great. The wine list is kind of sweet too.
Then of course, the food! I had the steak which was really really great, especially rare, yum! The potatoes were creamy and everything was just super tasty. My boyfriend absolutely loved his pork tenderloin. The friends we were with had the steak and chicken and loved it too. The portions were also great, I was stuffed when I was done! Next time though, I definitely want to try the appetizers and small plates. Let me also just say that  our server was awesome. Everyone there is super nice and I have a friend that works there. It's just a great crew!
After dinner, we had a couple of coffee drinks (with some special stuff in it) and it was a perfect end to a really nice meal. Basically, I'm giving this place four stars because I finally don't have to keep going to Bacaro or Radio Maria for a really nice meal in this town. After being a townie and moving to Chicago, I've come to realize that it's about time that  we get more places like this in Champaign!
I wouldn't call it a Tavern... I'd put it more in the upscale gastropub category. Â Tavern implies dark, cozy, slightly antiqued. Â Big Grove is open, airy and modern.
The food was good but not phenomenal, but the drinks were great -- and thoughtfully recommended by our waitress, who was nothing short of fantastic. Â Seriously. Â I so often wish I'd kept track of servers' names, but this one I seriously regret because she deserves a wonderful review directly to her manager.
I'm sure I'll be back next time I'm in town.
Great new option in downtown Champaign. Â Everything about this place has a light touch--both casual and selective. Â The welcome snack is a daily-fresh made popcorn with a rotating seasoning. Â Ours was crazy good, but we had to ask the server to place the flavor: Â cumin & orange zest! Â Apparently the chef regularly changes it.
The tap and bottle list is craft beer lover's friend. Not trying to outdo a number-of-taps contest, but all the right choices were there. Especially loved the slightly sarcastic "These Beers?" bottom of section of the menu for those who want a Bud Light instead.
Tater tots are like nothing you've seen: homemade and tasty with an apple sauce. The smoked bacon practically jumped off the deviled eggs.
The menu feels relatively small when you're used to the pages and pages on your typical chain. Â And I wouldn't mind if they expanded it a bit, but there were so many good looking items, I think it will take several visits without any boredom. That most of the ingredients are locally bought makes it worth it.
Service was exactly what you expect from a place like this: a whole step above any chain restaurant. Constant attention, knowledgeable about the food, funny and warm, but never over-intrusive. Perfect!
Nice job, Big Grove Tavern. Â We'll be back.
On Wednesday, July 11th a group of seven of us went for dinner. After a week of oppressive heat we were happy to be able to enjoy the weather and sit outside. It was great.
We started with the tater tots and deviled eggs for appetizers. I loved the tater tots. They're not your typical frozen tots. They had some kind of apple puree sauce on the plate. Initially, I was skeptical, potato and apple together? It was delicious though. Holy cow. I really enjoyed that. I wish more than 4 came in an order though. The deviled eggs were nice, also. I really got a lot of the sweet pea flavor. It sounds odd but it was great and added a freshness to the egg.
For dinner, several of us got the burger. Ohhhh my gosh. It was great. Cooked to the perfect temperature. It was a combo of bison, pork, and beef. The red onion marmalade on top was awesome. It added a sweetness and a lot of great flavor. A couple other people had the fried egg on top and they enjoyed it. The bun wasn't store bought and tasted homemade, very similar to what my husband bakes. It was nice to have a bun that doesn't disintegrate. The hand cut fries that came with the burger were the best fries I have had in years. Another friend INHALED the white fish. I didn't taste it but he said it was great. Someone else got the pork belly and kohlrabi gratin. She said it was great and was really happy with her choice. I wish I hadn't been at the opposite end of the table so I could have stolen a bite. It looked good.
For a cocktail I had the Tavern Infusion. It was great and refreshing. There was a good selection of beer and wine, too. I stuck with one cocktail and water though.
It was a nice touch when the owner came around to the tables and said hi and checked on us and other tables. She seemed really nice.
Everyone at our table enjoyed the meal. We will definitely be back again, hopefully sooner than later.
Thanks to Big Grove we have a fine dining establishment that bases their menu on fresh and local ingredients. Â I went there with my husband for our anniversary, but I can easily see going back for a more casual meal, or even for drinks and bar snacks. Â
Every table starts with slightly sweet popcorn and we were promptly visited by our friendly and helpful wait staff. Â We had the chicken liver pate, bistro filet, house made sausage, and the tater tots. Â Everything we tasted was delicious! Â I can't wait to go back and work my way through the menu.
I have yet to have a bad meal at Big Grove after six visits. Â I visit Champaign frequently on business and I was continually disappointed with local food which tends to be chains or local places serving poor quality, low-cost processed food right off the truck (which seems very ironic for a sophisticated college town surrounded by great farm land). Â Now, however, that's changed thanks to Big Grove Tavern and the arrival of a real chef.
Big Grove is every bit as good as a great gastro-pub in California, Chicago or New York. Â The roasted chicken is delicious, the deviled eggs are amazing and the fish is sublime. Â The deserts are stunning. Â This food is creative and delicious. Â It's a fun, lively place with a casual atmosphere - probably the coolest interior in town by far.
It's so strange that a few people who have reviewed this place on Yelp think that the fresh, local and delicious food at Big Grove is expensive or not worth it. Â It's amazingly well-priced for the quality you get. Â It's just plain good here all the way around and that's probably a shock to their system. Â The portions and flavors are perfect and well-balanced. Â The waiters actually care and know the menu. Â
Warning: If you are used to low-end corporate food straight out of a box, microwaved by a careless "cook" and sold at a bargain basement prices in big heaping mounds like most places in Champaign-Urbana, then this place is definitely not for you. Â And if you love corporate chains and hate supporting your local economy and farms or you don't like the idea of the fresh and delicious food revolution finally reaching Champaign-Urbana, then please stay away. Â
Big Grove is a culinary breakthrough for CU and I hope it brings more foodie talent to the area. Â I wish it continued success for years to come. Â Who can argue with local, fresh, delicious and well-priced food?
Big Grove is fine, but that's all it is. Â Unfortunately it just doesn't make sense to pay $15 for just a good hamburger. Â If it were less expensive; maybe more in line with Blackdog or Dublin O'Neils prices it may have gotten 4 stars (whereas those other restaurants get 5 stars and 4 stars respectively).
We started off with some deviled eggs that were good, and a fresh baked pretzel that had an unappealing mustard sauce. Â I'll take Gulden's over that mustard sauce any day. Â I ordered the burger and my girlfriend ordered a chicken salad sandwich.
The burger was actually pretty good, cooked medium, with an egg and some onion maramalade on it. Â The fries were decent but nothing to write about.
The chicken salad was just a terrible sandwich. Â Maybe one small scoop of flavorless chicken salad on hard toast for $9? Â Get that thing off the menu. Â Seriously. Â People who order that sandwich will not come back. Â The sweet potato chips on the side were pretty tasty though.
Overall, not as great as I had hear, though maybe the chicken salad ruined the experience. Â You want a burger, go to Blackdog or Farrens for a comparable one that costs half the price. Â Want chicken salad better than this, go to your local gas station and buy a pre-made chicken salad.
All that said, I'll give it another try.
Good food. Â Were facinated by the bar bits and starters, so decided to go with a nosh dinner had smelts, pickeled veggies, pate, parsnip and celery root soup, deviled eggs, chopped salad, and mac cheese. Â All the food was good and for a newly opened restaurant the service was amazingly together. Â We even had a wine by the glass which was corked and they fixed it without problem. Â The wine list was not deep, but what they had was reasonably priced.
All in all if you were looking for a gastro-pub in Champaign, this fits the bill.
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