The 80's belonged to the Illini and the Ribeye belongs to the 80's. This is one of those traditional joints that dot Champaign-Urbana that has a homey, comfortable feel to it, like an old leather chair. The dark decor hasn't changed in thirty years with its mirrored wall tiles and Tiffany lamps in orange and blue adorning the dining room.
Don't expect an experience like you'd get at Morton's or the Capital Grille or Smith and Wollensky's. Bone marrow truffles or creamed spinach will not be found on the menu. What you will get though is a hearty meal delivered with friendly, attentive service.
You need to be hungry for beef though as that's what the Ribeye offers best from its kitchen. Ribeye steaks are ordered by the ounce in two-ounce increments starting at 8 ounces and heading up to 2 lbs. Your meal will be cooked in special broilers to take advantage of the Maillard reaction that occurs in this environment. That's how steakhouses get the unique flavors that form when proteins and sugars react deliciously under high heat conditions. There are a few other choices on the menu if you're not a carnivore but you're missing half the fun if you don't pick the beef. Your steak arrives sizzling hot atop a heated cast-iron skillet along with your choice of potato or other starch.
While waiting for your main course, you'll receive a loaf of freshly baked bread at your table, and you'll be invited to partake in the very well-stocked salad bar. This has to be one of the best bars anywhere. You can assemble a nice dinner salad with a variety of greens and condiments such as pepperoncini or pickled beets, as well as sample the home-made carrot-raisin salad, Spanish rice, and several other regular, tasty creations. You'll have to take care not to fill up on these although you may be tempted to do so. The salad bar is a major part of the whole home-cooked vibe this restaurant puts forward.
Brian is my favorite server as he always takes good care of his guests, but I've never had a bad service experience in all the years I've visited. It's not a flashy place like your typical modern steakhouses but the food is excellent at a reasonable price. Recommended.