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| - My new grad student friend, Liz, and I were confused and hungry on a Saturday evening. We decided to embrace a restaurant with a ridiculous, punny title, and a cartoon picture of a man with a wonky, paintbrush mustache. Great decision.
The Great Impasta is a half block east of Neil Street in downtown Champaign and despite teh fact that their outside tables were covered in construction worker dust, the staff was friendly and self-effacing enough to jokingly clean them off for us so we could enjoy the balmy Saturday evening (on nights like these, if I close my eyes, I can pretend I'm back home in San Diego, sigh).
The stuffed mushrooms were good, although not the highest quality, but the bartender was ON POINT. I asked him on a whim to make me something "silly and dangerous, with a hint of vanilla" (because i'm an ass and I can ask things like this. Don't try it at home).
He came back with a mix of kahlua, grand marnier, vanilla vodka, bailey's, and a chocolate liquor. He then apologized for putting a bit more vodka than he planned, but it was fantastical. We named it a "Cow of Color," since brown cow sounded too...cliche.
Our server, Lara, was funny, outgoing, friendly and helpful with charm and a great attitude. She helped us choose some delicious pasta dishes that weren't too heavy and just flavorful enough, and I admit I went for a cream/chicken dish. Whatevs. I'll run tomorrow while hating my new waist size.
More important, however, was the slightly hilarious decor provided by one of the staff, who paints pictures, including watercolors of her fellow employees. Imagine our surprise when Liz and I saw the busboy's painted visage staring prominently at us from a main wall. It was more fun to pretend to be interested in buying the painting just to make him uncomfortable.
The Great Impasta lost their lease on that corner so they're only in business on Church Street until December 31. Then the spot becomes a bank (WTF), while they hunt for a new location. Go while you can. The food is good, the bartenders amenable, the staff fantastic. Go now. Log off the damn computer, hop a flight if you have to. I'll even pick you up from Willard airport if I have to. I have a feeling Champaign will be missing something when our large mustachioed friend is gone.
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