Farren's at The Inman

Jason Kras 2 months ago

I went to U of I about 10 years ago, and I still remember my first trip to Ferrens like it was yesterday. First, you had to find it. Walking down that sketchy back alley, I genuinely wondered if I was about to get a burger or become the subject of a true crime podcast. Then I opened the door. Love at first sniff. I was told, “Get the Russell.” No explanation. No menu analysis. Just blind faith. I took my first bite, blue cheese sauce dripping down my chin, and I swear a choir of angels started singing. It was, without question, the best burger I had ever eaten. I probably went back a dozen times before graduating, and for the last decade I’ve proclaimed Ferrens to anyone who would listen as the greatest burger on Earth. Fast forward to this year. I return for the reunion tour. Except Ferrens isn’t a hole-in-the-wall anymore. It’s in a hotel. I thought, “Okay, they’ve made it. Good for them. As long as the burger is the same.” Friends… the burger was not the same. I took one bite and, in the immortal words of Reviewbrah: “My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.” Dry. Lifeless. No magic. No blue cheese-induced spiritual awakening. The king has officially b

Chicago Local Edited 11 months ago

LOVE. When a Champaign classic closes its doors, when a small town loses it’s matriarch, you have to wonder why. In this case you find that she’s just changed castles. With that, Madi must be the princess. Obviously. She runs the show As someone who passes through town almost weekly, I find the restaurant scene to be impressive yet finite. We walked in, obviously underdressed, (even though they told us we were just fine), and stumbled in on a delightful menu. The ambience immediately caught our eye as formality set the scene. Local beef burgers slathered in saturated mushrooms, sandwiches, soup, salads all adorn to the menu yet the nightly special Twisted my tits, lol I had to. The cod was a beautiful four piece fried served well with Sauvignon Blanc. My fiancé enjoyed the massive burger with an incredible Cabernet, Napa, of course. Throughout the winding cocktail selection, throughout the food being decided upon, we met some lovely characters. Sydney and Madi were truly two of a kind. The quality conversation that these women were kind enough to bestow on us made our evening. If you haven’t been to the new location, go. If you’ve never been, like myself, what are you waiting f

P (K) a year ago

A very nice place for having meals, drinks, hanging out with friends and family. This new location looks upscale than the previous one. The menus looks the same. Maybe they have more drinks options, I guess. The food is very tasty as usual. There is nothing changed for the price. That's good!!!. The staff here are very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is very nice and comfy. This is a good restaurant!!!

Asif Rehmani a year ago

Tried the Italian beef, steak and cheese, and Santa Fe chicken—everything was solid. The food was flavorful and well-prepared, with portions that hit the spot. The atmosphere is welcoming, with plenty of seating, making it great for groups or just hanging out. It’s in a super central location in Champaign, so it’s really convenient for students, faculty, and visiting parents. The staff were friendly and added to the positive experience. Overall, a great spot! Definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

Drew Tschirki 3 years ago

We were in the mood for good burgers for lunch and heard this place had the best. They did not disappoint. I had the spicy one with the ghost pepper cheese and it was great. My wife had one with mushrooms that looked very tasty. She enjoyed it a lot. Interestingly the table next to us came in and ordered the exact same burgers, so I think we may have made the right choice! My kid loved her chicken strips as well and the cheese curds were great. Awesome food experience.