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| - I have had more consistently amazing and memorable meals at Bacaro than any other restaurant in Illinois. Bacaro continues to define the Italian aesthetic of minimalism while utilizing local fresh farm products with a midwestern voice that speaks of regional agricultural values more than any other modern middle American restaurant.
Bacaro has been a pioneer of local cooking in Illinois for nine years and has also supported local farmers long before farmers market culture was cool and "local" was a marketing term and Chili's featured "organic" produce.
One might be inclined to draw similarities between Bacaro in Champaign and regional French cooking in Burgundy, Basque restaurants in Northern Spain and Italian restaurants in rural Marche. What do all of these places have in common?
Each are located in rural farming communities featuring creative Chefs who are utilizing traditional techniques along with a bounty of fresh, healthy, locally available ingredients in an inspired and innovative way that showcases the soul and terrior of the region.
Bacaro may be one of the most relevant regional restaurants in the middle of America along with Michael Symon's Lola in Cleveland and Proof on Main in Louisville.
Bacaro is a restaurant that goes the extra mile for their guests utilizing locally raised organic meats, house made cured proscuitto, fruit and vegetable marmelatta, as well as a plethora of the seasonal vegetables.
The emphasis here is simple: clean, pure flavors features some of the best ingredients available in 2009. From imported fish from Browne Trading Company www.brownetrading.com to fresh produce from Spence Farms www.thespencefarm.com, Bacaro utilizes only the finest ingredients.
Bacaro does not cut corners where quality is concerned.
The same cannot be said if most restaurants in the wolrd; especially in college towns.
I have read reviews that proclaim Bacaro to be expensive, yet I'm not sure that I understand the complaint, as I just see an amazing value in regional gastronomy amid a sea of indifference and corporate foodstuff.
Prices here are quite low compared to the same ingredients served at restaurants of the same quality just two hours North.
If you want cheap industrial food, Steak n' Shake is CU's preferred restaurant of choice and is open 24/7. Enjoy.
On to the wine, which is my favorite subject.
Along with Farren's and Timpone's, Bacaro is a pioneer in CU for quality wine presented in a smart and innovative manner.
Where else can you find a selection of quality artisan wines served in beautiful glassware in Champaign?
Bravo to Bacaro for towing the quality line with regards to beverage service and not succumbing to the pressure to dumb down their creative selection for the masses! CU deserves more than Jameson and PBR.
Some of my favorite Bacaro dishes have included fresh morels (hand foraged from woods near Springfield) with new olive oil, Sicilian sea salt and chili flakes on bruschetta; organic hangar steak with 80 year old balsamic (transcendental); and a fresh Spanish baby glass eel salad. If any of the other Yelpers out there know of any other restaurants in North America serving fresh (live) baby glass eels from Spain, please educate me.
Overall, I recommend coming to this restaurant if you are ready to have a great time and relax while celebrating the beauty of the sweet life. La Dolce Vita.
If you are a parent of a U of I student and hail from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Tokyo, Moscow, Seville, Paris or Montreal, you will feel right at home in one of the premier regional US restaurants.
Yes, you will pay for the high quality ingredients; yet one will certainly appreciate the sophistication of the presentation, sex appeal of the ambience and attention to conviviality of service as well as the value of the menu.
As a Chicago restaurateur, I can safely say that Bacaro is a culinary beacon in an otherwise dimly lit universe of Midwestern restaurants.
If you are a fan of www.lolabistro.com or www.blackbirdrestaurant.com or www.sorellanyc.com or www.proofonmain.com, then check out Bacaro.
If not, I recommend you head straight to www.steaknshake.com
It is very inexpensive and has very large portions.
Enjoy!
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