Awful food!!!! I stopped in one weekday morning around 10am on my way to champaign, IL and it was loud and smoke filled!! Even with the smoking ban in Illinois they smoke in there (I'm pretty sure I saw the cook smoking as well). There was a group of people in the back that were talking loud and laughing loudly. Not to mention the building smells like a sewer!!! Â
If your desperately hungry then I'd stop there. Otherwise. Keep going
Stopped at The Loft hungry for late lunch -- the solid serving of walleye was just fine, and my son's pork tenderloin sandwich very good, with good slices of tomato and onion  The salad bar looked unpreposessing, but the greens were fresh and sweet, and the cook who makes their prepared salads knows her business :  I sampled the ham salad, the potato salad, the coleslaw, the egg salad, the bean salad, and all were wonderfully tasty, as in homemade delicious.  French fries were just average; hash browns very good.
 I think next time I'd get the perch, or maybe the chicken dinner.
There's a tiny liquor bar ehind the cash register.
I wish I had discovered this place prior to my senior year at the University of Illinois. It's not the most scenic ride from Chicago to Champaign, and this restaurant makes for a great place to stretch your legs and catch a bite off of I-57. You get a TON of food for the price, they have homemade pies, and a little antique shop connected to the restaurant. If you are attending U of I or are the parent of a student, definitely keep The Loft in the back of your mind for a casual dining experience that offers great service and tasty comfort food.
Review Source: