bacaroDate Night Success StoryMy husband and I rarely get a date night. A rare night out, perfect weather + amazing food and you've got yourself one happy couple. Thanks for being so awesome. P.S. The two of us ate 1/2 the menu and everything we tried was superb. You really can't go wrong.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing, Amazing, AmazingHow we could have overlooked Bacaro before is beyond me. We've eaten at several of the restaurants in Downtown Champaign with many enjoyable results. Bacaro popped up in Open Table and my husband was quick to grab a reservation (very good to have one, from what I understand) for our anniversary dinner last night. The wine list was superb and the food was (if I can use a cliche) one flavor explosion after another. We thoroughly enjoyed the pork loin which was so very tender, but cooked all of the way through. Desserts were to die for and our server, April, was exceptional. An experience we won't soon forget!!6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGemBacaro is one of those restaurants/wine bars that would stand out pretty much anywhere.
The food is of the highest quality and always interesting.
The establishment started out as a wine bar and the wine list is accordingly impressive.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA Gem in ChambanaBacaro has become a favorite place for my wife and I to visit and enjoy some of Chambana's best food, in a perfect setting with great service. The wine list is fantastic, and the liquor list follows. I highly recommend a visit with that special someone.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMBig city taste in a college town!We had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was excellent! The fried morels were extra spectacular. Great place, great food... highly recommended! For a college town, Bacaro brings big city tastes plus all the conveniences of easy parking, no traffic, etc.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat for groups6 person b-day party- could not have been better. While this is a very small place- perfect for romantic dinner for two, I was impressed with how well they accomodated a larger table. Great service, wonderful food.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMArrived 10 minutes early forArrived 10 minutes early for our 8 pm dinner. Owner treated us to free drinks at the bar. Seated by 8. Did the tasting menu, with wine pairing, as usual. Absolutely delightful, wonderful meal and service. Bacaro is the BEST!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMUsually ExcellentGreat local menu utilizing local farms. Service is always excellent. Disappointing usage of farm raised salmon. I've noted that the meal quality's consistency may suffer when the restaurant is busy.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb meal.Absolutely delicious meal. If you are in Champaign, this is the place to be.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary spot of choiceWe always come to bacaro for the most special occasions. We get the tasting menu, which has a sample of various dishes for many courses. It's perfect for not completely stuffing yourself as there is plenty of time between courses. Not a dine-and-dash sort of thing at all. The food is always gourmet excellence, managing to make some relatively simple dishes taste complex and new as well as making some things I've never tried before and can now say with certainty that I enjoy. I got along well with our server as well.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my mom here for herI took my mom here for her Mother's Day and birthday celebration. It was the first time we had been here and it was well worth the trip. The food and service were very good. I would definitely go back and recommend to others.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was excellent, the menuFood was excellent, the menu offered unique items,
however, somewhat pricey for the amount of food on your plate. Ambiance was nice and service was good. Due to the prices, I would recommend this place for special occasions.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceWe shared two entrees, pasta carbonara and then salmon. Both were very good, with fresh flavors. The wine list is very international which made it harder for me to choose wine, that's the only reason I gave it 4 starts and not 5. That's probably more my issue than theirs.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBest food in town by a mile.Never disappointed. Every meal is a joy. The wine list is superb.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDining ExperienceDelicious, unique menu! We tried four different entrees and all of them were outstanding.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant in Champaign UrbanaThe title says it all. It is easily the best restaurant. The menu features ingredients from local farms and changes regularly. The wine list is excellent and has a good mix of price points. Reservations are a good idea.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great meal at Bacaro!Bacaro is a real gem in downtown champaign. The food is always delicious and I've tried many different thing son their various menus. Portions are small but you leave full and not bloated, every dish has an incredible amount of flavor to it, and the wine list is long and varied! Although on the pricier side for the Champaign-Urbana area, this place is well worth the money. I've had spotty service once but every other time the staff was very attentive, friendly, and helpful. Treat yourselves to this great little place to eat!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMStill the best of the best.If you're looking for an exquisite dining experience, this is the place. Everything is perfection.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMUnexpected pleasureWe hadn't visited this restaurant in a long time and were pleasantly surprised at the ambience, food choices and quality. Menu reflects local food availability with interesting choices and imaginative preparation. Items on menu included sauteed morels (small servin but delicious), rabbit in the risotto, goat with gnochi. Caution--lots of pork products (locally raised) and not much for vegetarians. Servings are We went on a Sunday night and the restaurant was full--so reservations are wise. Interesting wine list and half price on some wines on Sunday, I think.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThis resturant is a gem inThis resturant is a gem in central illinois. Our waiter was helpful and knew the menu.
Friendly wait satff and attentive without being overbearing. Food was a delight, well prepared and creative.
We would definatly go back.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWere expecting me and hadWere expecting me and had a great table waiting. Dining partner described the food as 'palate friendly'. Server was sophisticated, pleasant and knowledgeable about food and wine/drinks.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOnce again Bacaro confirmedOnce again Bacaro confirmed itself as the best place to eat in central Illinois. The current menu is loaded with wonderful choices. We had one of the best assortment of cheese I have ever had in a restaurant. We shared a risotto with rabbit and for entrees had pork tenderloin wrapped with spicy coppa and spaghetti carbonnara with pork belly and english peas. Everything was wonderful.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOur experience was great asOur experience was great as was the food. Waitress Breanne was wonderful4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBacaro is one of the greatestBacaro is one of the greatest assets of Champaign Urbana. Small towns with great gastronomic value.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFriday Night Energy!Loved the Friday night energy at the bar! The scallops we ordered were prepared to perfection and the grouper had amazing flavor. Our server, April, did a superb job of making the evening a first class experience and I would recommend this hot spot to anyone that appreciates great food and amazing wine choices.
Thank you to Thad and his team for a great night!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply the BestI have never had a bad meal at this gem. The Monday tasting menu is a favorite-excellent quality, perfect portions, great presentation. I truly believe this might be the best downstate restaurant-definitely East Central Illinois's best.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good food but small portionsVery good food but small portions and way overpriced! Not sure we would go back because it is just too expensive.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOur meal was fabulous! GreatOur meal was fabulous! Great food and our waitress Brie was excellent! One complaint. Too dark. A small light over each table would be great!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMHappy Anniversary!Again Bacaro continues to impress me. My wife and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary here--as we have every year since our first date. The Tasting Menu and Paired Wine selections were fantastic--well portioned, excellent flavor and thematic. The ambiance is perfect for that special occasion and a romantic dinner... as well as a trendy night out of food with friends. Service is excellent. Just the right amount of interaction and communication. My wife and I commented that the service is excellent.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMBig Thumbs Up for Market MondaysI'd been wanting to try the Vegetarian Market Monday menu for a while, so when Monday fell on my birthday, and it was a veggie Monday at that, I was excited. I was not disappointed. All courses were brilliant [loved the Cauliflower "steak"] and the wine pairings were superb. Thad has a knowledgeable staff, and they work well together on these menus and wine accompaniments. Always my go-to restaurant for special, and not-so-special, occasions.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWine list was extensive, butWine list was extensive, but not a lot of options by the glass. Soup and dessert (Pumpkin cake) were good, but not great. Entree's were fabulous and service attentive. Our first visit, we will go back.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMPiedmont in Champaign. GreatPiedmont in Champaign. Great Italian wine and food.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love Bacaro. We went onWe love Bacaro. We went on a Market Monday. It was excellent, but of course, the difference between 4 or 5 Stars is strictly how the fixed menu hits your particular palette. Most of this particular menu was fantastic, but it is no reflection if some items are not your normal sweet spot. That being said, Bacaro is a fantastic place and the experience is always a wonderful respite from the wear & tear of daily life. Go and go now and go often!3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and wine are wonderful.Food and wine are wonderful. If there were a bit more light in the dining room it would not be a bad thing. The food is well presente buy difficult to see.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMBacaro continues to be ourBacaro continues to be our favorite place to dine in Champaign. The food is consistently delicious and interesting, the wines are beautiful, the service impeccable. They also have a fun cocktail menu and extensive selection of spirits. For a nice evening out, or a special occasion, it's an excellent choice if you want high quality food with the special touch the servers always bring to each meal.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, great atmosphereThe food was original, delicious, well presented and with appropriately sized portions. We felt full after our meal, but not stuffed, which is a rare but welcome compromise to find. If anything, the cheese plate was a bit lacking in taste diversity. The service was very good: knowledgable, helpful, and friendly, although a bit slow. This wasn't a problem for most of the meal when paired with the romantic atmosphere as it gave us time to talk and enjoy ourselves, however having to wait almost 15 minutes for the check once we asked for it was somewhat irritating. Bacaro was the place I've enjoyed most out of all Champaign-Urbana restaurants and is perfect for a special occasion, especially a romantic one.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific food!! This wouldTerrific food!! This would be a fantastic restaurant in ANY city...all the more special that it's in Chambana. Elegant ambiance, the best service I have had in my four visits there. First time did not do the tasting menu.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AM