Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in the Champaign Area by Diners

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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Champaign area by diners

Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.

Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.

Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.

With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Champaign area using data from . Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.

Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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#24. Buffalo Wild Wings

- Rating: 2.5/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1335 Savoy Plaza Drive Savoy, Illinois
- Categories: American, Sports Bars, Chicken Wings
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#23. Spicy Tang

- Rating: 2.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 607 South 6th St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
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#22. Szechuan China

- Rating: 2.6/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 401 South 1st St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Szechuan
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#21. Evo Cafe

- Rating: 2.7/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 711 South 6th St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
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#20. Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

- Rating: 2.9/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1214 West University Ave. Urbana, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, American
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#19. Houlihan's

- Rating: 2.9/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1900 South 1st St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Bars
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#18. Rainbow Garden Champaign

- Rating: 3.3/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1402 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
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#17. Ko Fusion

- Rating: 3.3/5 (425 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 30 East Main St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
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#16. Big Grove Tavern

- Rating: 3.4/5 (527 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 East Main St. Ste 101 Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
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#15. Billy Barooz

- Rating: 3.5/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2521 Village Green Place Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Sports Bars, American
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#14. Hamilton Walker's

- Rating: 3.6/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 201 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Bars
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#13. Timpone's

- Rating: 3.6/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 710 South Goodwin Ave. Urbana, Illinois
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses
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#12. Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano

- Rating: 3.6/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2235 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
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#11. The Ribeye

- Rating: 3.7/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1701 South Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Steakhouses, Salad
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#10. Silvercreek

- Rating: 3.8/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 402 North Race St. Urbana, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Tapas/Small Plates
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#9. Nando Milano Trattoria

- Rating: 3.8/5 (406 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 204 North Neil St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
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#8. The Courier Cafe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (494 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 North Race St. Urbana, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Burgers
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#7. The Himalayan Chimney

- Rating: 4.0/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 134 West Church St. Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Indian, Bars
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#6. Sun Singer Wine and Spirits

- Rating: 4.1/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1115 West Windsor Road Champaign, Illinois
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Delis, Wine Bars
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