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| - While it is a chain, they do a fairly good job of hiding it. Having heard a lot about this place from friends, I finally decided to give it a try. My friend and I made a reservation for 5 in accordance to the warnings from friends that this place can get really busy.
When we arrived though, there were only a handful of businessmen at the bar, and the dining area was completely vacant. By the time we left though, barely an hour later, this place was completely packed so I would definitely recommend a reservation unless you plan on eating an early dinner.
They have a nice selection of breads for you to munch on while waiting for your entree, but despite the fact there were only a few other diners, the food came out rather slowly and my dish was lukewarm (I had the Chicken Cannelloni). It was pretty good, but would've been better if I had gotten it hot.
The ambiance could be romantic I suppose, if that's what you're looking for, but if you really want to impress your date, I suggest going somewhere downtown Champaign/Urbana. There's a mixture of people who go there, from casual college students out for a nicer meal with their parents to businessmen and women grabbing a drink after work.
Overall, not a bad place to have dinner. The service was very good (nice, attentive waiters), the food's pretty good, and it still allows for easy conversation despite the fact that it gets very busy. 3-1/2 stars.
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