C&C Kitchen is the quintessential American success story of a man who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps through hard work and a sense of great food and customer service. Chef Curtis has created a wonderful eatery that consistently produces high quality food and is a bright spot for the evolving scene in downtown Rantoul.
The menu is inspired by Southern favorites and each dish is freshly prepared from scratch. Portions are generous and affordably priced. My favorite dish is the catfish platter, served with your choice of red beans and rice or fries, and a side of cole slaw and cornbread. The breaded version is feather light with a judicious sprinkling of cayenne to give it just the right kick, and the fish is cooked to a tender and moist perfection that just melts in your mouth. Blackened salmon was also cooked nicely and served with yellow rice and char-grilled asparagus. The shrimp po'boy sandwich is highly recommended as is the gumbo and chili. I've sampled the chicken wings, also cooked with the spicy breading, and they are quite wonderful too. They have me thinking about trying the chicken and waffles on my next visit. I've also enjoyed the pineapple upside-down cake, cooked in its own tin. The cake was flavorful and rich and the fruit at the bottom had caramelized in places to create delightful strands of candied fruit and sugar.
Service is prompt and friendly, although I understand that the weekend brunches often draw a crowd so you may have to wait for a table. It's well worth a trip but beware-you may find yourself becoming addicted to this wonderful cafe.