It is a place with excellent service and excellent food. The quality of the food is better than the price and the place has a classy atmosphere without the pompous attitude.
(4)
bayrox K.
A great variety of beers. very happy to have it in champaign. Food is good too but I always go here for the beer. I wish they improved their appetizers section a bit. Not many appetizers designed for sharing. awesome ambiance. Service depends on how busy they are the wait staff you get. I have been here many times and the experience varied.
(4)
Craig M.
Let me say this: never have I gone to a brew-pub and felt comfortable ordering a burger medium-rare. Destihl has changed all that. Destihl knows what they're doing. Great food, well prepared, attentive and quick service. I would give them 6 stars, but my brother at my leftover half of Kobe burger without asking, and I associate that somewhat traumatic experience with Destihl.
(5)
Rebecca D.
Beer battered asparagus is a many must! I had the yummy scallops and curried mash potatoes and my bf had the bonein rib eye....both were great! Our sever was friendly and knew the menu well.
(5)
Kelly S.
We've been to Destihl maybe six times now, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Most of the food is very good, better conceived and made than a lot of other area restaurants offer. Portions are fairly generous (not so much with brunch items), and the price fits the quality of ingredients and preparation. The staffing is good, service is timely, and the decor is charming. The craft beers made on site are wonderful. Try a series of 4 ouncers to build your own tasting. The flavor profiles given on the brew menu seem so far to have been accurate. For appetizers, I recommend the shrimp ceviche (technically a "small plate") and the stone oven pretzels (you get two, with cheese and spicy honey mustard dips). I've tried one soup, the corn and chicken chowder, which was very good, nice SW pepper flavor without overwhelming the chicken. We've had sandwiches and entrees, from burgers to steak, and it's all been really delicious. The food is in the American Contemporary Casual style -- better than Houlihan's at the i-Hotel in our opinion. The only bad experience we've had with the food has been the cedar plank brie dessert. It was badly prepared (the brie wasn't even room temperature) and either the recipe was off or the honey-chili sauce was made incorrectly, because it was completely unbalanced and unpalatable. The smoke flavor reacted poorly with what was on the plank, too. We took the brie home (a big piece) and cut off the rind to eat the middle later, but it still tasted of rank sauce and smoke. We did not go back to the restaurant for a couple of months because of just how bad this was. I wrote the general manager and he was good about it, offering to review the recipe and preparation with the lead chef. Since returning to Destihl, we've had good experiences again -- the place is consistent, a fun place to socialize, and a nice addition to CU's restaurant scene.
(4)
Marjie T.
I was really excited to try Destihl, but unfortunately the experience fell a little flat. My friend and I arrived a little after 7 on a Friday night and was told the wait would be about 40 minutes since we didn't have reservations. No problem. After only about 20-25 minutes our pager buzzed, so score! So far so good. Our server was really nice and attentive, nothing negative to say about him. However, the food is another story. We started with the cheese curds for an appetizer. And these were awesome, plus they give you a lot. The only part of the meal that really stood out, sadly. I'd had my eye on the strawberry goat cheese salad, so I got that and split the pesto goat cheese pizza. The salad had a lot of potential with all the seemingly good ingredients, but was just off. The spinach tasted wrong and it would have been much better with mixed greens. The "strawberry" part of the salad consisted of maybe three tiny pieces and the goat cheese wasn't even very good. It mainly was made up of mandarin oranges and ill-tasting spinach. I'm not a huge fan of wood-fired pizza (I prefer almost any other type of crust). My friend and I split a pizza, but I saw plenty of people putting one away all by themselves. It is very thin. The toppings were ok, but I didn't like how the goat cheese was in big globs instead of spread over the whole pizza. We left without getting dessert, but I saw a few and they are possibly the biggest desserts I've ever seen anywhere. This isn't a good thing. Probably 3-4 people should be splitting on dessert, but I'm guessing that doesn't happen that often. So just be aware if you do order that piece of cake. Besides the service, the other positive is the price. Everything is fairly cheap. But that coincides with the quality, so just beware.
(3)
Eugene W.
In my opinion a good brewpub has great beer with good food to accompany the beer. Maybe it iwas the fact that we checked it out 4 days after it opened, but of the 5 beer styles we got, 4 of them were "off". One was clearly oxidized (badly), one was infected to lacto and tasted very funy and the other two mildly oxidized. We hoped the manager would come visit with us, but no luck. The bartender indicated that depending on the time of day, the beer tastes different from the yeast. First time I have heard of that. Food was decent, but I have had better pub grub. Maybe the beer just ruined my taste buds. (Positive) The pizza is HUGE . .enough for two to share or one very hungry person. Hopefully they figure things out. Have been frequently brewpubs throughout the US in the last 12 years and can honestly say it was the oxidized beer and infect beer were the worse I have ever had. Even my earliest botched homebrews were not that "off". Gave it two stars since it was the first week it was open and the possibilities it was growing pains.
(2)
Esther S.
The place looks great and I love the beer. The food looks great but it doesnt taste great.... it's usually overly salted. like calm down with the salt shaker. I like that they offer $2 mini beers so that you can try multiple. That's a-okay in my book. one last thing... what's up with the waiters? ALL of them! They've all got the personalities of awkward engineers. I actually was so certain our waiter was an awkward engineer that I asked him if he was a student at U of I. Imagine my surprise when he said he studied library sciences. WAAAAH? Anyways, moderate place for food, good place for beer, awkward but polite service.
(3)
Katrina M.
Went here for dinner with a few colleagues. There was spacious seating, so it was a great place for groups. Had the Dijon chicken with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. I was kind of put off by the dark color of the sauce, but the whole entree was pretty good; chicken was flavorful and tender too. For dessert I had the baked apples, which was good but nothing unique. Our waitress was very attentive, but her attentiveness seemed to taper off as the night went on.
(3)
Elie L.
Four girls squeezed into a booth. Cue a "movie" waiter. My friend named our waiter as someone you would see in a comedy movie or sitcom--talkative, funny-ish, and always popping up at random times for small chat. Needless to say, our server was very attentive (e.g., good at recommending/not recommending dishes, clearing the table). He skated the *annoying* line very closely, never crossed it though so hurrah. Food got thumbs up from us: Med. pizza (really delicious and big for $9), Bison burger (fries were a hit), jambalaya, and dopple chop (it was good, but pricey at $20 for what is received). Drink-wise: Belgian pale ale (ugh, no. a bit of an off-taste), torched cherry caiprissima (too much lime juice for me, but my friend loved it), and don juan (nice). Overall, a good experience. But not a place I would have cravings for or feel the need to re-visit. It felt like a safe night-out dinner. Plus you can wear what you'd like, I saw fashions of all kinds without much judgment.
(3)
Grace T.
The waitress and hostess were super friendly. Waitress recommended lots of options (her favorite salad, pizza, app, sandwich, etc) and beers. I went with a strawberry ale, cheese curds and the greekish salad. The beer was excellent - fruity and light! The cheese curds were great but the more you ate, the more blah you felt...share with someone! The greekish salad was weird...it had a red dressing that I didn't like at all. Bill came to $19. A little pricey for lunch but not outrageous.
(3)
Ricardo S.
I've been in for both lunch and dinner multiple times since they opened. I've heard about their Bloomington-Normal location. The food is quite delicious and very flavorful, however I must say they go overboard with heat at times! (But that us a matter of taste of course !) very clean facilities, comfortable space and very nice selection of beer. I must say that the hard alcohol drinks are not always consistent in flavor or liquid amount.
(4)
MJ E.
We enjoyed this place very much for lunch. We started with the beer battered asparagus - yum! We were happy to see that they offer 4 ounce glasses of beer and sampled several good beers. The menu is varied and inspired. Everything we tried can hold its own with any big city restaurant we've tried. The restaurant is sleek and beautiful and the service was great.
(4)
Eric B.
good food, small portions. Fairly over priced for what you get. A little on the gourmet side as well. All in all, i'd like to try more on the menu, i had the bbq glazed chicken and it was good, not great, thus only 3 stars for Distihl. Would love to see some blackened items added to the menu, like a fish or a chicken.
(3)
George W.
My daughter had heard good things about Destihls, so we decided to give it a try. We went on a Saturday night (12/1/12), so the place was pretty busy. Fortunately, I was able to get a reservation through OpenTable via Yelp, so getting in was no problem. When we arrived, we were seated within 30 seconds. I appreciate that efficiency - we also saw several groups that tried the walk-in route - Lesson Learned - use the Yelp reservation system for fast seating! We ordered the home-made chips for an appetizer, and they were great. Very tasty, and a malt vinegar sauce, as well as a spicy sauce. This place makes and serves it's own beer. if you want a Bud Light, you'll have to go elsewhere. If you want to try their beer, the prices are quite honestly, very low for good beer. We tried their 4 ounce beers (I know, so small, but since you're trying a store brew, do I really want 16 ounces I don't like after one sip?) and for $1 and $1.50 (the price range of a 4 ounce beer), we got 2 beers that were very palatable and very good. On to dinner. The menu ranges from sandwiches to steaks to pizza. I ordered the 8 ounce Sirloin, medium rare. The steak was cooked properly, more importantly, it was seasoned properly, and tasted great. It was more tender than some fillets I have had recently. A+! My wife ordered a pork roast dish, that had pork so tender you didn't need a knife. She really liked the dish. My daughter went with the 8 ounce burger, and was very impressed. She ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to order. She loved it. My son ordered one of the pizzas, and was a little surprised when a large, thin crust pizza arrived (pleasantly surprised - he was expecting a lot less.) The pizza was great. We ordered desert, which included carrot cake (we ordered 1 piece for 2 people, and it was the right choice - very heavy, very good), along with S'mores and a Neopolitan fruit dish, all of which were very good. The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is the noise level - the interior is nicely appointed, and very well done, but the acoustics are not very good. Lots of hard surfaces result in a loud restaurant, where it was hard to hear our server. We'll be back. The entire ticket with tip was less than $110 for four adults.
(4)
Tracey D.
Good food. First time for us. We will be back!
(4)
Joel K.
Excellent food at very reasonable prices, beer was very tasty, environment was pleasant and even upscale, and I would recommend this place to anyone. My family thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Back to the beer, I did a sampler and found the various beers to be very much above average. I tried their hallmark sour beer with trepidation, but enjoyed it. It's like a cider with a sour twist--done right.
(5)
kate c.
I had 2 different beers; they were both pretty good. I ordered the mussels. Over half were not open. I sent them back. Second time about 5 were not open (not acceptable to me). The broth was good, however. I also had the pepperoni pizza. It was decent. My bf got the cod, it was very tasty. Next time, I will probably try an entree. It was very busy when we went, but we sat in the bar. Service was good.
(3)
James C.
Destihl-ness is the move! They've only been open a few weeks but I'm predicting that this place is going to become an institution here in Champaign-Urbana. They're not quite there yet, BUT this four stars is partially based on potential. I don't know if that's acceptable for Yelp, but whatever. I will admit I got a little gluttonous this evening. Ideally, I wouldn't have eaten as much as I did, but it was what it was. I started off with some of the home brews. I did the the little 4 oz guys and out of the four I tried, I liked three enough to drink again (the Belgian ale was a bit too hoppy for my liking). At $1.25 each (or $5 for the 4), I don't mind one I didn't like. Next I went with the beer-cheese soup. WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT. It was amazingly good. Also, at my table were some cheese curds and I will dare say that these curds were the finest curds I have ever eaten (and I've had them in Wisconsin too). For my entree, I went with the bison burger which was flavorful - although I will echo the review who noted that their meat was overcooked - and I appreciated that fries were included. The fries were awesome - shoestring style and were not oversalted, but weren't seasoned improperly either (just right!). For dessert it was baked apples with butter pecan ice cream. It was wildly decadent and irresponsibly delicious. The service is not awful but you can tell that the servers are still getting their feet wet. No worries though. The food was totes worth the wait. I'll be back no doubt and I'm pretty sure I'll be updating with 5 stars.
(4)
Patrick B.
Utterly fantastic food. The chef is a genious on par with any of the best restaurants in town, but at a lower price than some of the more expensive competition. Not as nice of an atmosphere as some of the fine-dining restaruants like Jim Gould's and Silvercreek, but every bit as tasty. Destihl is going to have a great impact on downtown. Also, while I'm not a beer person, the people I ate with said the beer is an excellent local micro-brew. Perhaps not amazing, but just as much as any reasonable person could hope for. Also, they do have a meeting/conference room with a large table and an LCD TV.
(5)
B R Hungry X.
We were here over the weekend and its a really nice spot, we didn't really order food, except for some garlic bread which was cool. We went there for their beer since afterall, they are a brewery. $1.25 for 4oz beers....you can try close to everything they brew and then some. I had 6 and my bf had 5, our bill was just under $20. They had pumpkin ale, hefeweizen, chocolate cherry, coffee beer, IPA's...too many to remember, you'll have to check it out yourself. Can't wait to go back and maybe try some things on their menu. Fun bartender too, ask for Mike!
(4)
Thomas B.
A nice addition to Downtown Champaign.
(4)
Wendy T.
Loved the Beer Battered Deep Friend Bacon... yes BACON! Staff was wonderful and helpful even when I had a small problem with my sandwich. I hadn't read that the fried egg on the BLT was made sunny side up so when I got it I ran everywhere. I don't like sunny side up eggs so they took it back without question and got me a different burger. Which was wonderful! Would have loved to had some dessert but I was too full when I got done. Great place!
(4)
Mariam N.
My first and hopefully last visit to Destihl was a faculty dinner (Destihl is apparently one of the few places in town large enough to accommodate simultaneous departmental functions, as there were multiple university-based parties that night). But this convenience is off-set by the depressingly overblown chain aesthetic, here manifesting as a too-self-conscious effort to seem "on trend" with both gastro pubs and microbreweries (witness, for instance, the giant prop barrels by the front door) while failing to capture the particular qualities of either. The "artisan food" was as mediocre as expected from this self-described "gastrobrewpub TM." We ordered pizzas as appetizers for the table; "stone oven" seems to be a euphemism for "toaster oven." The crusts were uniformly thin, but creepily so, without bubbling or crispness; the undersides were barely cooked. I suspect pre-formed frozen dough, by the taste and all-too-regular texture. The generous toppings were not supported by the crust, making each slice limp and increasingly wet. We also ordered the deep-fried asparagus, but I refrained -- the asparagus looked both too thick (these stalks were almost hot-dog-sized in circumference!) and too greasy. One of our dinner companions warned us against ordering burgers; on her last visit, her medium rare burger was burned black on one side (and was not at all medium rare). She guessed that the cooks went outside for a smoke and forgot to flip the burgers, but generously wondered if it had just been a long night for them in the kitchen. In an attempt to heed her advice, I tried to order the grilled and stuffed pasta without olives, but the waiter told me that the olives "are already mixed in." I took that to mean that the pasta is made in a giant vat ahead of time (here I imagined a big plastic tub covered in Saran wrap in a walk-in freezer), and grilled to order, which didn't sound all that appetizing. Instead, I ordered the veggie burger (black beans and rice), and my g.f. the Kobe burger, medium rare. Both arrived with one black, charred side; her burger was well-done, ruining the meat. (Why eat Kobe beef if it's just going to be burned to a crisp?) My veggie burger was unremarkable, and my pile of shoestring fries had been overcooked in the fryer, and served to me lukewarm to cold -- totally inedible. I nibbled on two and then had to stop. Cold grease, ugh. I'd much rather order a burger and fries from Steak 'n' Shake, where you know what you're getting for the money. Overall, Destihl was a big "no way." I will strenuously avoid coming here again!
(1)
Shannon D.
The food is amazing, and the service is great, too! The prices are a little bit high for me, but the fact is that the food was so good, it was worth it, and by the time you go to just about any restraunt in town now, they're fairly close in price. We had the potato croquettes as the appetizer, and they were amazing!! I had a soup and half sandwich for lunch. The soup was the corn & chicken chowder. Now, normally I am not a fan of any type of corn chowder, but it sounded good that day, and so I gave it a whirl. DELICIOUS!! The sandwich was the pastrami reuben, and every bite of it was amazing. My only regret is that we didn't save room for dessert! We're dining there today, and I'll be saving room for dessert. If it turns out to be as good as my meal was the other day, I'll change this to a 5 star review.
(4)
Ciara W.
The beer here is extremely tasty. And I like how the restaurant decorated. The burger here is better than the dish entries.
(4)
Tc H.
Well, I searched the website to see where I wanted to have my birthday dinner with my coworkers. I was seeking out a restaurant that had a little bit of this and a little bit of that so that everyone can find something that they would enjoy eating. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and we kept on watching the staff bring out different dishes as we would comment how yummy it looks. I was torn between two dishes and I asked the staff their recommendation. She did not steer me wrong. It was so tasty that I wanted to eat another entree of it. Every dish they brought to the table look so tempting. Definitely a wide variety and everyone enjoyed a nice beer and atmosphere. Glad we made reservations because the place filled up quick for a Friday night. Service was awesome and I am already missing it. I will definitely be back before I leave town.
(5)
Sarah I.
I went here for lunch with a large group. I thought the menu selections were unique and gourmet. We ordered the Fried Asparagus and they were lightly battered and fried to perfection. Delicious. My friend is Gluten Free and they have a menu just for GF items....she had some type of pizza that looked and tasted delicious. We didn't have any alcohol it was a work lunch, so I can't speak to that.
(5)
Annie W.
I wanted to come back and let ya'll know that Destihl has recently become vegan-friendly! The marinated cucumbers and beer-battered asparagus are both vegan as-is, and Destihl has added an 8 oz veggie burger to their menu that can be made vegan if the mayo's left off. I believe there are a few other items that are vegan (the peanuts and the chips are, sans ranch dip), but I haven't confirmed them with the chef, so I'll leave you to figure that out on your own!
Awesome. Food was delish; decor was very fresh and service was excellent. I'll definitely go back if I'm ever in Champaign again.
(5)
Katie R.
The beverages are good. The food is average. Everything tastes a bit bland.
(3)
Julia A.
Stopped in for a quick appetizer and beer after work and it was Wonderful. Beer was fresh and tasty. Ordered the ceveche and it was AWESOME!!! Great prices. Great atmosphere! Loved it!
(5)
Tom R.
First, reserve a table if you're going at a busy time and want to sit in the dining area. It was my first time at Destihl last night; I will probably go back. Destihl has a great beer selection. I tried about four different beers, all of which were pretty tasty. The appetizers were so-so. We tried potato croquettes and beer battered bacon. The croquettes were run-of-the-mill, but good nonetheless. The bacon was interesting, but certainly not a taste sensation. The main course were pretty variable. My wife ordered the shrimp and grits - which was far too overpriced for such a meager portion. Though, it was fairly tasty. I ordered a Brewmaster's pizza which was very good. The main reason Destihl loses a star is the speed with which we received our drinks order. It must have taken about 15 minutes after ordering for us to receive our drinks. Eventually, we were informed of the backup at the bar. I expect better though. Also, unrelated to my rating, there appeared to be a large number of employees standing around at the greeting station watching other employees working. This could be training, then again, it could be the reason some of the food items are so expensive for the product!
(4)
Rhiannon C.
We have been to Destihl several times. I've heard beer enthusiasts say that their brewery and beers aren't that great, but the food more than makes up for it. Everything I've ordered has been great, and the service is spot-on. I've gone with just my husband, larger groups of adults, and have also gone with the kids. It's been smooth sailing no matter the size or composition of the group. Their kids menu is broader than most, which is nice. The regular menu offers unique dishes that have always enjoyed. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Alex R.
4.5/5 -- Great restaurant all around. Friendly, helpful waitstaff. Diverse and large menu of appetizers, meat, veggies, seafood, drinks, desserts, everything. I tried the shrimp ceviche (awesome summer dish), swordfish (delicious, yet small for a swordfish steak), fish and chips (delicious as well), and a cherry heffeweizen and a Hawaiian fruit beer to drink. Everything was awesome, tasty, and presented well. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Victor T.
Foodie euphoria. You can presume the food is going to be incredible when they offer a sous-vide entree on the menu. I actually altered my business travel plans to come to Destihl based on Yelp reviews, and am super glad I did. I drove through Illinois on a day trip and passed the Destihl sister location in Normal early in the morning before they had opened, so I decided to stay overnight in Champaign to visit the other Destihl location. I ordered the Red Chili Pork entree and it was, quite simply, remarkable. [note: I posted a tryptich Instagram photo of my dining experience here on Yelp] I also sampled several of their beer offerings, conveniently (and affordably) sold in 4 oz. taster glasses. All were more than satisfactory as compared to other microbreweries, of which I have been to many. The interior is also pleasant, being situated in a newly constructed building. There is outdoor seating, which was in high demand on the warm early evening I was here in late June. As one who travels a lot for work, I can strongly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Matthew M.
Ordered the Steak sandwich...medium. The waitress brought out a big chuck of meat sandwiched between a french roll. When I bit into my sandwich, it was bloody red! Nowhere near medium! On top of that, it was smothered with caramelized onions, which were very strong and took away from the taste of the steak! The service was average. Nothing great. Overall, I would never consider going back. I can find a better steak sandwich for a lot less at a number of different area restaurants. Coincidentally, I spoke to a friend about my experience weeks later when Destihl came up in conversation, only to find out that she had the exact situation happen to her when she visited Destihl. Her steak sandwich was extremely undercooked as well. Must be a common trend with this place. Just another common chain restaurant, as far as I'm concerned!
(1)
Grace C.
Despite the lack of love for Destihl on Yelp, I have to say: I am besotted. besotted/bisätid/ - Adjective: 1. Strongly infatuated: "he became besotted with his best friend's sister". 2. Intoxicated; drunk. Now, I am currently the first definition of besotted, with Destihl. I LOVED my visit. I went with Mr. Husband and a Very Close Friend (VCF) before seeing a movie at the Art Theater. Upon leaving, I may have been the second definition of besotted. (Just kidding, I only had one beer. I swear, my Yelp reviews make me sound like an alcoholic sometimes.) We went on a Monday evening around 6. We were seated right away. Mr. Husband and I had never been there, and we were surprised how big the restaurant actually is - it doesn't look that big from the outside. Our waiter came over right away and gave us a nice little menu introduction. I don't know why they've made a restaurant based on the things I personally like, but they did - I wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. Seriously. I haven't had such a hard time deciding on what to order for quite some time. VCF and I decided to split a small plate and an appetizer, so we got the 'House Olives' and the Bacon, Egg & Cheese deviled eggs. For my meal, I got the beer & cheddar soup and the spinach salad. VCF got the bison burger, and Mr. Husband got a special item, a bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. Food: Very good, but to be honest, it *could* have been better. If Yelp let me give 4.5 stars, I would've. Everything was solid, but there were a couple things that might just push it over the top. For instance, the house olives small plate? It was agreed that it could be improved by serving the olives pre-chopped, not whole - sort of a mix between an olive salad and a tapenade. The deviled eggs were good, but the yolk was just a bit stiffer than I would've liked. The beer & cheddar soup was yum, but the scallions would have been a little better more finely sliced. The spinach salad was good, but the maple in the maple jalapeno bacon dressing was a little too sweet, and overpowered the other good stuff (grilled portabella mushroom? hell yes.) Another reason I'm torn: I love that they use ingredients from local places when possible, and have put an emphasis on sustainable farming. I'm all for buying locally and supporting small farms and businesses. On the other hand, the way it's flaunted just strikes me as a tad pretentious. Personal bias, but still. Service - Another ALMOST 5 stars. My only issue with our waiter was that he was TOO attentive. Really friendly, very knowledgeable about the menu, gave good recommendations, was able to tell us what HIS favorites are (it drives me crazy when waiters have no idea what's good on the menu.) However, he came by every 5 minutes or so. I always have mixed feelings about that. I like a server who is *there* when I need a water refill or a new fork, etc, but coming by too often just breaks up the conversation. Ambiance - Very cool. Very big-city. I like it. I also like that it's BIG. Ample room between tables. We chose a booth, and it was perfect. The noise level is ideal - quiet enough to talk at a normal level, loud enough that it doesn't feel like everyone in the area can hear what you're saying. Dessert - I can't tell you the last time I ordered dessert after dinner! That NEVER happens! (I actually can tell you, it was at my mom-in-law's birthday dinner in early October.) But VCF knows how to sweet-talk me into sweets (heh), and our waiter was VERY convincing when telling us about the stout ice cream sandwiches, which feature a housemade chocolate ice cream made with their own stout, served on chocolate brownies. Oh. Mah. Gah. SO GOOD. The stout ice cream was phenomenal. The dessert consists of two sandwiches, so you get four brownies and two scoops of ice cream. This would be great to 5 out of 5 stars for the dessert!! Price - Another 5 out of 5 stars. I was expecting that I'd have one entree and a beer. We ended up with a ton of food! For $38.77 before tip (I saved my receipt!), we got: -A soda -A 12 oz. beer - the Malius Apple Blonde Ale - so good! -House Olives app -Spinach salad -Soup -Bacon cheeseburger special -1/2 of the stout ice cream sandwiches So while I can't yet give Destihl a 'best of the best' rating, I'm definitely a fan, and certainly willing to give it another few tries. I don't want to deter anyone from going here, because my visit was truly enjoyable. I'm already planning to permanently take Jim Gould out of my date-night lineup and replace it with Destihl. I just want to acknowledge that there is some room for improvement. I think with a tiny bit of tweaking, Destihl could easily be one of the top restaurants in C-U.
(4)
Derrick P.
Every time I go to Destihl, I want to love it but I always leave disappointed. The menu is very creative in concept but the execution is always sub par. I've tried the seared scallops over curried mashed potatoes and the thai half chicken. The scallops were hardly seared and the potatoes were waaaaay over salted. The chicken on the other hand was far under spiced and seasoned. I will say their beer battered jalepeno bacon is delicious but deep fried food is pretty hard to screw up. Overall the prospect of having a modern american restaurant with an eclectic menu in the CU area is a great one, but a bit more attention to detail would greatly help Destihl.
(3)
Zoe Z.
I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant/brew pub. The beer selection is pretty good here if you want to try different beers, and their food is pretty good. I came here for brunch which was average, but I really enjoyed the pizza I ordered on a different occasion. I would recommend this place as a nice spot to go for dinner.
(4)
Marcia F.
You won't go wrong with anything on the menu. All of the food here is incredible. Things you can't miss: Beer Battered Asparagus, Flat Iron Steak Quesadilla with Blue Cheese, Mediterranean Pizza and Stuffed Poblano Pepper. Leave room for the S'mores!
(5)
William R.
We were greeted and seated near our reservation time even though the restaurant was very busy. Our server was quickly at our table and very attentive at first. We ordered our drinks and food and all was well. However, an hour later our server explained that there were a number of large parties who were getting their food before us so it was taking this long. He delivered our food and never came back to the table. My order was correct and fairly tasty but my wife's order was wrong and there was never anyone to ask about correcting it. Very long wait for the wrong food and very disappointed in our experience. There are quite a few restaurants downtown, this will not be on our short list for another visit.
(2)
Dorian G.
The positive: The Aztec chocolate martini comes with a brownie garnish. And it's spicy. The waiters and bartenders I've talked to have been incredibly friendly. The food's better than you'd expect, actually. The salad was good, which is maybe not what you'd expect from a place that labels itself a brew pub. The pizza's a little boring, but that's probably just the vegetarian ones I'm limited to. They serve continuously, they have a large cocktail list, they take my American Express... it's everything a burgeoning yuppie alcoholic could want in a brew pub. Except that's not really me so here's what I don't like. The atmosphere. As I read through the descriptions they say "oh the atmosphere is great!" and I say... are you at the same restaurant? It's what a corporate design team thinks of as good atmosphere. Large, airy, and completely devoid of personality. It matches Jim Gould's across the street very well actually. The whole place really just reeks of chain, and I don't think that bothers most people at all but if I want to go in by myself and have a late lunch I feel very awkward. I'm happy to go in with friends and have cocktails and split a pound of cake. (They actually inform me that it is an 11 pound cake split 10 ways, so slightly more than a pound!) Worth checking out, if for no other reason than you too have probably been watching them work on this place for a couple years. You can't NOT go.
(3)
Lynn G.
If there were an option for negative stars, DESTIHL Champaign would have a rating of -5 stars. What a complete failure this restaurant is. This place reminds me too much of the Jim Gould success failure story. It's a tale of how a restaurant owner and chef become to sure of themselves and stop trying only to discover complete failure. I pride myself in knowing good food and good restaurants. I have studied cullinary technique and have a passion for fresh, quality ingredients that produces a meal that leaves you longing for more. I write this review, having visited DESTIHL three times spread out over the course of a year. I sent my food back two out of the three times. The second time, I ordered the veggie burger which was hands down the WORST veggie burger I've ever sampled. I did not send this back because it was not the way the burger was cooked, it was a pure and simple failure on the design. My first experience I ordered swordfish. It was overcooked, returned and cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the Bison burger, medium rare and it came out well done. While waiting for the food to return, the manager apologized and brought us free appetizers. The meal ticket was reduced due to the error in the kitchen. I was optimistic about this restaurant and the situation was handled perfectly. Last night, I returned for what I was hoping to be a perfect swordfish. My husband's and I's order was the same. Bison burger and swordfish. First try at our order lended the same results. Both dishes overcooked and returned. Second try at our order, my husbands burger was cooked perfectly, my swordfish was raw. Third try at the swordfish, still raw! I changed my order to salmon at the waiter's recommendation. Finally a manager appears and delivers the Salmon stating "this is cooked to the chef's perfection." The manager slither's off like a snake before I even touch the salmon. Without cutting into the salmon, It was obvious that this fish was too raw. My family had finished eating and after an hour and a half wait with no food, no appetizers, and a chef that I was now convinced can not cook at all, I ordered a Greek Salad. This salad looked like someone threw the ingredients on my plate. No order, presentation was horrible. The dressing was red oil. This dressing did not taste like greek dressing at all. I ate the salad in disbelief that this place can not even prepare a good salad. Our ticket was once again adjusted but this experience left a sour taste in my mouth. I e-mailed the general manager and COO for the company and am awaiting a reply. I would recommend no one go to this restaurant. Seated across the street is Ko Fusion, an amazing restaurant. This restaurant is too close for comfort for DESTIHL as this is where I will be seated watching DESTIHL's doors close for good if they do not find a chef that can cook the menu that was created. EDIT: Less than 12 hours after my e-mail, I received a phone call from the general manager. He was very kind and appologized. More than this he listened. He was kind and acknowledged that my concerns were valid. He stated over and over again that there are no good excuses. Humiliy allows for growth and I hope that this general managers humility induces change that produces solid growth. In March 2013, My husband and I used compensation cards to return. The following is my email to the manager of destihl. I e-mailed back in October regarding a disappointing dinner and service that my family I experienced at Destihl Champaign. We received compensation cards and returned tonight in order to assess if the service and food improved. Our server was once again phenomenal, but the food was less than stellar. My husband and I both ordered the swordfish, which were once again not cooked properly. The swordfish were dry and over cooked, even upon reorder. I guessed by the drying of the fish that a meat thermometer was used to assess if they were cooked properly, which in my opinion is an amateur error. I then ordered a small portion Greek salad due to my hunger, my husband did not order one and we were charged for both. I then ordered a gluten free Mediterranean pizza and my husband, a bone in ribeye. My pizza could not possibly have been gluten free because within seconds, I felt sick and bloated and my husband's ribeye was cooked unevenly and dried out! Most likely another piece of meat fallen victim to the meat thermometer. With a history in restaurant service and cooking, I was appalled that we were charged for the salads and the pizza and were virtually comped nothing for the less than stellar food that we received. Please do not send us any more compensation cards as we will not be returning, but I wanted to let you know that we are completely dissatisfied with ALL of our experiences at Destihl Champaign.
(1)
Debra W.
The wait staff have been among the friendliest I have encountered in town. Last night I had a good mojito. For food, it is sometimes hit and miss. I love the salmon salad. The goat cheese and spinach salad was a little skimpy and I didn't recognize the two little dollops of goat cheese on the salad. The tortilla soup was also nothing to write home about. It is the only place in town with cheese curds! I absolutely love the baked apple dessert! In the evenings, the sun is in just the right place to give a nice shade for the outdoor seating. All in all, I have always enjoyed my visits to Destihl.
(4)
Morgan M.
I am so happy the Champaign Destil finally opened! The food menu is a bit different from the Bloomington one, but awesome nonetheless. Beer battered bacon is good, flatbreads are awesome, and the stout ice cream sandwiches (incredible!) have enough stout that they card people for that dessert! 4oz taster glasses make trying multiple beers fun, and the bartender will even give you a FREE 2 oz taster if you don't know what you want. Will be back over and over again!
(5)
Evelyne T.
I loved the food and beer selection. I only wish there were more vegetarian options. It won't keep me from going back, but I won't go as often as I might if there more veggie-friendly choices:)
(3)
Conrad G.
Slow service, weak food, im not sure the beers we ordered had any alcohol in them they tasted watered down. The place looks promising but I was dissapointed.
(2)
lady a.
The service here has been great! No complaints. The beers are hit-or-miss -- I've tasted a couple that were PHENOMENAL and ended up in a growler purchase but some are subpar. Taste tests are in order! The food is good, but nothing extraordinary -- on the thai salad, it would've been nice to have more than 4 slivers of steak but it tasted wonderful. The pizzas are also tasty. Clean, inoffensive, and not terribly expensive.
(4)
Rick F.
Deep fried bacon is awesome. Great selection of beers. Service good. Waiter waaay too social. Buffalo was yummy. Nice ambiance. Ample parking. Reasonable prices.
(4)
Bess W.
The bacon is great and the asparagus is amazing. This is all I can say good for this place. The wait staff always seems very busy standing in the corner chatting instead of checking on patrons. I've given this place too many chances to be disappointed every time. I even wrote a letter to the manager once to get an insencere apology. Clearly nothing has changed as I am writing this sitting at the bar after being ignored for 20 minutes and counting with an empty glass on a very slow Monday night.
(1)
Daniel F.
After waiting years for this to finally open (and moving 2 years ago) I finally tried it out on my way back to St. Louis from the Chicago area. It was after 2 pm, so no idea how things are during peak times. I liked the atmosphere, although the AC was at arctic levels. I enjoyed my food and drink, but since I was traveling, I just got a sampler of the Altercation (a good compromise between light and dark), and the spinach salad (enjoyed the maple bacon dressing) and the Cuban Pork. Recommended stop in downtown Champaign - in the large condo tower on Neil in downtown. There's a gigantic parking deck behind it, or metered parking in the city lot across the street, where there are 2 Zipcars stationed. Good move, Champaign.
(4)
Lenore B.
I have been here 3 times for dinner and both times I enjoyed the food. It's also a very good place to bring children, and they have healthier children's meals with pb & j and fruit, unlike many other places that just add junk into children's meals. Each time I've been here, I've had a generally positive experience. The wait staff are very friendly and helpful. I would definitely continue to go here.
(5)
Tim J.
Couldn't be better for lunch. Service was on point and friendly (word on the street is they hijacked 80% of Houlihan's staff). Their beers were solid, too. I couldn't get the Yelp App to check me in so I could upload my pic of the tastiest stout I've ever had, so you are just going to have to trust me on its delicousity. I tried a taster (4oz for $1.50) of their berry weiss beer and it was a little too much berry for me, but if you like that kind of thing, you will love Destihl's take on it: the flavors of sweet and tart bounce back and forth dynamically as you sip. A companion loved their IPA, lauding the freshness and the spicyness of the hops. The food is as good as anywhere else downtown. My table ordered the portabello sandwich which was really hearty and came with kettle chips with a touch of seasoning and Destihl's Kobe burger, which is served on a fancy bun I did non recognize and stacked with thick jalepeno bacon, bleu and white chedar cheeses, pickles, and comes with the best steak fries I've ever tasted. That burger is about the same price as Farren's and the verdict was it was just as good, if not better, owing to the extra special toppings. Destihl's fries are thick badasses with the skin on and huge flecks of kosher or sea salt and were both perfectly crispy and cooked the whole way thru. Those are served with their balsamic vinegar (and expresso bean?) barbecue sauce that is unlike any I've ever had. As good as the kettle chips are, I highly recommend you sub in for the steak fries (though I saw some gorgeous piles of sexy shoestring fries served with other dishes, giving me one more reason for a quick return). Another reason for a quick return is the very impressive menu. Vegetarian will have no problem here, nor will the health-concious. They have a wide and deep menu spanning from American classic pub fare to trendy fusion dishes usually found only in more expensive restaurants. Prices were not exceedingly low, however value is good. I did not see their spirits or wine menus, but the lineup behind the bar bodes well for those not in the mood for beer. This place takes the best of Boltini's, Seven Saints, the Pigs, Radio, and Bacaro and serves it up in a killer setting with great modern ambiance. I will never pass up an invite to eat here.
(5)
Majhon P.
This is a fun place with a trendy atmosphere. It's one of the few places in town that allow you to mix and match beer flights at a fair price. The food is fun and tasty. I recommend the mussels, pizzas, and wings.
(4)
Karla G.
Can you say BEER BATTERED BACON??!!! Fried cod is to die for and Kobe burger is awesome!
(4)
Rene O.
Had dinner with a group of friends and felt the food was very over rated. Bison burger was salty and the service was took forever. Had to ask for condiments after the food arrived and drinks took forever. Disappointing experience.
(2)
Beth K.
The rueben is awesome. The bison burger leaves much to be desired. It has a very French flavor to it, which just doesn't seem right for bison at all. The bourbons they have should be better than what they are carrying.
(3)
jim d.
We have had Destihl in Bloomington-Normal for some time but I've been looking forward to the addition to the Champaign-Urbana restaurant options for some time. And I'm glad it has arrived!! I found the atmosphere cozier than the B/N Destihl. The service was FAST! My iced tea was never empty (which is impressive because I drink fast and a LOT....which is why I opt for the iced tea and not the beer). The food did not disappoint. I'm a fan of the beer battered asparagus appetizer. And opted for the Brewmaster Pizza on this trip. Everyone in my party of 6 had something different and came away pleased with their meals. I used OpenTable to make a reservation which was quick and convenient. We were in and out in about an hour....much quicker than I expected. In my opinion, a great addition to the Downtown area! Perfect for dinner before hopping over to The Art Theater! Welcome Destihl!!!
(4)
Ed M.
Visiting friends in Champaign and came here for lunch. Contemporary, open restaurant with a good vibe in downtown Champaign. Our waiter was Trent; very personable, knowledgeable and helpful. There is no set beer flight but you can order 4 oz small glasses if you want to sample. I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest and the Roadblock British Red Ale. We shared the Beer Batter Asparagus for an appetizer and really enjoyed it (Trent encouraged us to squeeze the grilled lemon over the Asparagus and glad that we did). We ordered the Lunch Combos. The soup and sandwiches were top notch. I know there are a lot of restaurants in the C/U area, but you can't go wrong here. If the rest of the wait staff are as good as Trent, you will be taken care of quite nicely. Very good beer, very good food in an inviting atmosphere, I definitely recommend Destihl.
(4)
Jennifer F.
Went for dinner and sat on the patio which was wonderful because there was a band playing on the corner. Our food was very good, but the best part was the coffee and dessert! Our waiter recommended the sour cherry bread pudding and it was awesome. Our waiter was great too. Despite them being extremely busy, he was very attentive and very helpful!
(5)
Adam T.
Update: I had eaten at Destihl a couple months ago, and the best word for my dining experience at that point would be "inconsistent." Last night I returned to Destihl so that I could form a more definite opinion. For my main course, I ordered the Brewmaster's Pizza, which was served with chicken, andouille sausage, ale onions, and an espresso-chipotle barbecue sauce. The pizza was nothing to rave about, but it probably would have been quite a bit better if a) the pizza had been served hot instead of lukewarm and rapidly cooling, and b) the crust had been cooked all the way through. My brother's pizza was also apparently cold and undercooked, and reading through the other reviews, this seems to be common for diners at Destihl who order pizza. I think I've probably accumulated enough evidence at this point--Destihl is not worth the high prices. There are so many better restaurants in Champaign.
(2)
keren g.
Tried this place around 5:30 on a weeknight and it was not at all busy. It did start getting busier towards the end of the meal, but our service was good. Luckily for me I had not been highly anticipating the opening of Destihl. The beers were good enough. There were about a dozen to choose from so if you drink beer at all, you should be able to find one you like. The night we went in we were given free 2oz samples of as many of the beers as we wanted to try. I tried the Belgian, Strawberry Blonde and Raspberry Wheat, Champaign Blond and Frankengluten - good flavors, but none will be appearing on my all-time favorites list. The Frankengluten was interesting and worth a try if you are adventurous. Our waiter was nice and attentive enough but could not properly give drink recommendations since he was not old enough to drink. I thought this strange since, clearly, patrons are going to want to know about the beer. The food... I had the brie and portabello sandwich with chips. The chips were average and the sandwich was bland. That's honestly about the best I can say. My dinner partner said his steak salad was excellent and it looked fresh and crisp, but I can't vouch for the taste. We split the beer battered asparagus and that was by far my favorite item. I will probably go back at some point for another try. The pizza and a desserts sounded like they may have potential. Second visit 8/27/11: Finally tried the pizza (pesto and goat cheese) and still really no change in my review. Nice wait staff but the food does not overly impress. You do receive a large quantity of food for the price. Although, for me, quantity does not trump quality.
(3)
Rand G.
We've eastern here before but was less satisfied this time. Waited an hour for a table which was a function of the table simply not turning over which was probably a function of a slow kitchen based on our experience. The food was medium this time. My wife had the trout which was really too spicy and overwhelmed the trout taste. My shrimp kabobs seemed like they were cooked earlier in the day and then reheated. They looked like they were cooked to death but they were mildly warm -- not hot. The custom brew was mixed -- some acceptable and some bad (their pale ale). The kids were OK with their meals. The deserts are decadent but can be expensive. $10 for a slice of chocolate cake at this place in middle of Illinois? Kind of expensive. Why not cut it in half and charge $5.50? Anyway, we we divided between 2 and 3 stars although we have had higher rated meals here in past years.
(3)
Stephanie F.
This place is pretty bad. The decor looks like the contractor went to Lowe's or Home Depot and bought all the "fancy" materials from the discontinued materials section (and just a note here to the management: really? bathroom stall doors that go all the way to the floor? Western civilization pivots on the ability to look down and see if there are feet under the door and thus realize that you have to wait a minute instead of jiggling the door handle like some pee-filled serial killer). The service was equally uninspired -- my least favorite combination of ingratiatingly peppy and incompetent, and the food was mediocre when it got there. It took so long to appear at the table that I was sort of hoping that the cook had sent out for it from another restaurant, but no such luck. And I only thought this might be the case because the menu says that the kitchen likes to get food from local sources. This might be technically true -- they might like it -- but there's not much evidence that they actually do it. I think I can honestly say that the last time I experienced this kind of ambience I was in an airport restaurant.
(1)
Angela T.
I went for lunch with high expectations, and was bitterly disappointed. I ordered the "choose two," including the pastrami reuben sandwich and the beer cheese soup. A brew-pub has to have great beer-cheese soup, right? WRONG!!!! The soup was like a creamy caraway broth with some green onion garnish. No taste of cheese or beer, just gross. The Pastrami Reuben, described as served on Cranberry Nut bread, looked interesting on the menu. However, what I received was essentially a large cranberry nut scone (about 4" tall) sliced in half with three small pieces of pastrami, a few shreds of sauerkraut, and invisible swiss cheese. I normally do not send things back in a restaurant, but this showing was so horrible, I sent it back. I tried the $13 American Kobe burger instead. Eh. It was an average - but by no means worth $13 - burger (think akin to the pre-made patties you find at Sam's Club) and, once again, the bread-to-meat ratio was WAY off. Anyway, $40 later, we walked out very disappointed. I can think of several places in town I could go and spend much less for a much higher quality experience.
(1)
Idan S.
I was recently invited to Champaign for a grad-school interview, and went out to dinner at Destihl on one of the nights I spent in town. I have to say that I found it very amusing that the priciest restaurant I went to on this trip was also the worst meal of the trip by far. I ordered the goat-cheese pesto pizza, shared the battered asparagus appetizer, and had pint of the brown ale. The battered asparagus was alright but EXTREMELY greasy, the pizza was soggy and surprisingly didn't really taste like basil or goat cheese, and the brown ale was flat out bad (trust me, I drink a lot of microbrew beer, I know what good beer tastes like). Plus, most other people at my table agreed that their food and drinks were also mediocre. Needless to say, since this is an pricier restaurant, I doubt I'd be willing to give Destihl another shot.
(1)
Kali M.
Hitting the big 5-0-0 with a great restaurant from my hometown! - The vitals: Downtown microbrewery + restaurant with a slightly hip industrial vibe. Great food, great beer. Best part? Small (4oz) tasting portions $1-2. GREAT service. - Every time I visit my parents in good ol' Chambana they have a "new restaurant in town" that hubby and I MUST try. Or five. This time, Destihl was first on their list... and they are so crazy about it, they took us twice. In ONE DAY. First, for lunch. No beer this visit (hence the second), just lunch. I had the Portabella Sandwich with Shoestring Fries, and it was 100% delish. Also on the table: - Stuffed poblano pepper - Cuban sandwich - Salad with ahi tuna - Clam chowder I heard nothing but raves from the group. Late that evening we stopped in for post-dinner drinks "and maybe a little to munch on." We got three appetizers for the table: - Chorizo & Potato Flautas - Marinated Cucumbers (there's some BITE to those suckers!) - Brewmaster's Pizza (yuuuuuumm) ... and all got a few 4oz tasting pours. The beer was fantastic, some of the best I've had. Our waiters both times were friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a good time. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the story my dad told (more than once) about his friend's first visit. They were a big group, 12 I think, and stopping in before seeing a show in downtown. They ordered food, drinks, then dessert. There was a delay in the kitchen and they were kept waiting on their dessert for quite while... they were now running short on time, so one of the guys flagged down their waiter and told him, maybe a touch rudely, that they "needed either dessert or the check, because we gotta get out of here." The manager came back a couple of minutes later, apologized profusely, and served their dessert. Dessert or check, and Destihl chose dessert. Their meal and drinks for 12 were on the house. It's those kinds of stories that spread your business' name in the best possible way - you chose wisely, Destihl. The guy's been sending over everyone he knows, always prompting with "you gotta hear how amazingly this restaurant treated me!"
(5)
Jay B.
This is kind of a go-to place with out-of-town relatives, the food is good if overpriced. Some dishes meh but i like the fish and chips. Beer ok better than your low end brews. Nicely decorated service generally good.
(4)
S M.
Our waiter was really nice, but the food was just OK this time. Unfortunately they did not have the Asian chicken wings or Cherry French Toast on the menu that we really enjoyed the last time we ate there. We went there for lunch & I ordered a Thai steak salad. The steak was overcooked in chunks & there were only a few slices of steak. The dressing was sour & just OK. The rest of my family ordered the beer battered bacon app which they loved. My son enjoys the pork sandwich. Their house made chips & chocolate cake are very good.
(3)
Melissa B.
My family and I absolutely LOVE Destihl! It has become the go-to place whenever my parents visit (I am in law school). The first time we went there, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many options were available for myself because I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Usually I have to settle for something bland or uninteresting, but Destihl has lots of imaginative and delicious options. We started with the beer-battered asparagus which was pretty tasty. I ordered the stuffed pablano which was absolutely amazing. It was spicy and had a really interesting mix of flavors. My mom got the Thai fried chicken and my dad got the ribeye, which they both loved. My boyfriend got the bison burger which he thought was good but not as amazing as our dishes. The second time we went was for lunch. I got the lunch combo with the portabella and brie sandwich and the beer and cheddar soup. The sandwich was yummy but the soup was really very delicious. Definitely comfort food and really hit the spot. My mom got the Thai fried chicken again and my dad got the Thai steak which he said was even better than the ribeye. My boyfriend ordered the Dijon chicken which he really enjoyed. You should probably make a reservation for dinner but likely do not need one for lunch. They also serve brunch on the weekends until 2:00 and those items looked pretty delicious as well. We have had great servers at Destihl and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. Plus, they don't have a corkage fee! The first time we went, we brought our own bottle of wine and there was no charge! All in all we have had really great meals here and will definitely be returning!
(5)
Monica H.
Passing through town and stopped in Champaign for the night. This place was recommended to me by the front desk clerks at my hotel. If you are a craft beer enthusiast you should definitely stop in. It is definitely worth the short drive even if you are staying by the highway in Motel Hell. I arrived early and was seated promptly at a table in view of a big screen TV near the bar area. My server was knowledgable and attentive. I had a flight of three craft beers, guided by my server. As an appetizer, I had the mac and cheese. Loved it and managed to avoid eating it all so I could take some back to my room. For an entree, I had the salmon over a bed of roasted vegetables. This was also quite good. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, which is accented by a topping of cinnamon-coated maple bacon (amazing) and mint. This was also good but could be more chocolatey, IMHO. If I lived in the area I would dine here regularly. If you are a visitor, do yourself a favor and avoid the generic chain places by the highway, and drive into town to go here instead.
(4)
Amith D.
I have been there twice till now and I am amazed at how classy a brewery's restaurant can be in a college town! They have few of the best appetizers I have had and certainly the best in the urbana-champaign area. They profess their best appetizer are the cheese curds (which are good) but the best of the lot has to be the Potato croquettes. I have had the beer-battered asparagus as well which changed my taste buds liking towards asparagus! I am a vegetarian and its extremely difficult to find a good vegetarian burger, so i was skeptical to order that (most places have burnt, bitter black bean patty!!) but they had one of the biggest veggie burger I have seen. The patty had rice, carrots, ginger and a few other veggies blended with the beans making it really delicious filling. The only vegetarian entree they have is the Stuffed Poblano Peppers, which was excellent. The staff is extremely courteous (sometimes more so than needed) and are very keen to entertain you. A few negatives are, the beer selection is great but is limited. I expect a brewery to have all their beers available (except the seasonal's, obviously) but they seem to rotate their beer. Even though the beer tastes good, I would cut some points for the spread of it. Another thing would be the place is unable to substitute any of the meat based dish with a vegetarian option which is a turn off if you are a vegetarian. P.S. Make a reservation, it is usually crowded!
(4)
Chelsey S.
I have gone multiple times and my parents pretty much live here. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable on what they have and they are super friendly! I love trying new things and I am never disappointed. My dad has helped them with a batch of beer, they have made Reese's vodka just for my mom and honestly, whenever I go with them to eat it's like I walk onto the set of Cheers. Everybody knows their name. But you don't have to be a regular to feel like you're getting special treatment. I love that they bring you samples of their beer or tell you what just became available after aging. I love the location, I love the feel... I just wish I had more money so I could visit them more often!
(5)
Douglas H.
The first time I went to Destihl, I sat in the dining room; things were okay. The next time, and every time since, I have sat at the bar; things were remarkable. I enjoy having the direct interaction with the team of wonderfully skilled bartenders. Their attention to detail and good cheer make the bar a must for anyone I take out in Champaign. The roasted peanuts covered in delectable spices and drizzled with fresh lime juice make the perfect accoutrement to the always great, fresh beer; the bbq burger is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5)
Catie R.
I had heard about this place about 6 months before I tried it out, and I'm mad at myself for missing out for so long. The food is affordable for a student on a budget, and the atmosphere is perfect for a date or group outing. It's the perfect place for students to bring their visiting parents, too. The beer comes in sizes ranging from 4oz to 16oz, so you can try different brews if you're in the mood for that. The Tomato & Bread salad is absolutely phenomenal, and I have added chicken to it and had that as my entree on more than one occasion. This is one restaurant I really miss since graduating U of I and leaving the area.
(5)
Matthew L.
I really was not expecting to give a brewpub 5 stars...but here goes... We went on a Monday night, and the restaurant was FULL which was A) good to see for a new business and B) surprising! The decor is surprisingly upscale - really cool use of natural stone and wood. HUGE shame they didn't open with their patio ready to go, but when I inquired they said it was in the plans to open the patio soon. The beers (I tried 5, yup 5) were decent - not world-class, but decent. My favorite purely for summer drinkability was the Champaign Blonde, but I am admittedly not into dark beers at all, and there are PLENTY of dark ones and heavier Begian-style ales which I didn't try. The menu looked surprisingly interesting, (I was expecting burgers and pretzels), and between us we tried the pickled cucumber salad, the tuna carpaccio, the strawberry salad and the warm salmon and potato salad. All four dishes were winners, although the small plates ARE really small (which is exactly what we wanted). The entrees are MASSIVE for the price, and look like they are high quality meals, but I'm glad we saw how big they were before we ordered one! Service was excellent from beginning to end. The desserts also looks amazing, but I was too full to try. As a gay couple it was nice to feel comfortable and that there was a real mix of clientele - I was scared it was going to be exclusively Olive Garden-goers, but there were some hipsters, some queens, and some students as well as your typical 'casual-dining' crowd. Can't wait for the patio to open, but believe me, there will be a serious wait time on those tables - be prepared!
(5)
John S.
Having heard and read so many different views on Destihl, I was looking forward to being part of a group dinner tonight. My group of 12 was immediately seated and drink orders were quickly taken. Service was interesting. Although our waiter was excellent, there seemed to be several uncertainties when drinks and food were brought to the table. Things got to where they needed to be, but I was surprised there seemed to be so much trouble just getting the orders to the correct guests. The food was wonderful! We had some excellent shared appetizers -- beer-battered asparagus, stone oven pretzels and beer-battered bacon. I had the Greekish salad and the cedar plank salmon. My wife had bacon & brussels and roasted beet salad. Others had a variety of chicken, seafood and meat entrees. For dessert my wife and I shared the chocolate cake. I tried a few of the four ounce beer samples and had a bloody mary. The beer was very good, the bloody mary excellent in presentation but only average in taste. We were not expecting to spend almost three hours having a leisurely dinner, but the evening was very nice. I was impressed with the general vibe for a Saturday night. All in all, I was impressed with Destihl and will definitely come back to try lunch or perhaps dinner with my wife or a smaller group.
(4)
L L.
Destihl is my go to place for a nice meal in Champaign, The environment is great. this is a must go for couples looking for a nice date. Their draft selection is great (obviously with a huge brewery inside the restaurant) they let you sample a few beers to try out what you like and they have awesome mixed drinks as well. I love their bloody mary (comes with salami, pickles, celery etc) its amazing (I love the spicy-ness of it). Honestly, the food was just okay. I've gotten this asian-ish dish before, a burger (eggs, bacon, wagyu beef) but i would much prefer Farren's, and appetizers. So yeah food is not too special but the drinks are good, waitresses are friendly (Michelle is AMAZING), and dessert is delicious. So honestly, I would come here (sit at the bar) get a few appetizers, drinks, and dessert.
(4)
Pete B.
3.5 for food 4.5 for drinks Destihl seems to have all the right ingredients to become THE hot spot downtown, but I didn't leave it feeling like I really want to come back. Service was very slow, but since it's the first weekend of operation, I'm not going to take any points off. The decor was really nice, cosy, and even a little cosmopolitan. I got the pesto chicken pasta which I thought was good, but nothing to get excited about. I tried the fried cheese appertiser, and while good, they also weren't anything to write home about. Overall, food was good, but not great. There are better restaurants elsewhere. The drinks, on the other hand, were good AND also reasonably priced which I did not expect. They had a big beer, wine, cocktail, and martini menu. I tried a couple of different beers, and they were all really good for the most part. They also had 4 oz portion which was a great way to try different beers, and the 4 oz portion is surprisingly not priced proportionally any higher than its 12 oz counter part. Destihl seems like the ideal place to get dinner before a night downtown. Great ambient, great location, great drinks, and good food. Even though it's not anywhere near there yet, I'm sure that it has the potential to be the best place in a couple of months.
(4)
W S.
Beer is seriously bad here, and the food is horrendous. Want beer brats with cabbage? Great, enjoy your greasy, deep fried brats with chopped onions (apparently they ran out of cabbage). Dates with cheese and bacon? Enjoy your dates with no cheese, but covered in chimichurro sauce for some reason. Three dates, which equals two dollars each. Total waste of money. The decor is weirdly airport/hotelesque. Back to the beer. Tried four sampler sizes, two are ok, two taste like ice wine. No fizz, and all sugar.
(1)
Neil O.
I really wanted to like this place. The location is nice and the tables are spacious. It can be both informal or formal and the seating and decor are mellow. The service was very good and our server Aaron was excellent. However....the food is another story. We started with an appetizer that was fine but our meals were terrible. My date ordered the dijon chicken and it was incredibly dry and also came with TWO HAIRS in it! My kobe burger was also very dry and unexciting. The bun was stale and the beef was extremely dry and tasteless. For dessert we ordered a large chocolate cake that was $11. It was okay, but nothing exciting. I'm not a food snob but for the money I would expect a lot more. Sorry to say that this was my first and last experience at Destihl. I hope others have a more favorable experience.
(1)
Sarah P.
Super excited this place is finally open. Not only that, but it was just as good as I had hoped it would be. Tons of good things to say about the place, but I'll start with the two negatives so we can get that out of the way. The waitress heard me say cheese pizza instead of goat cheese pizza. Probably my fault actually, because it was loud and I am a self-proclaimed mumbler. This mistake was fixed promptly and the pesto goat cheese pizza was awesome. Second problem was that the fried asparagus was somewhat whelming. It was really big, so if you're going for size great, but smaller spears aren't woody textured like the big spears. I assume that since they specify they use local when they can, that this problem will remedy itself once asparagus comes into season in a few weeks around here. Now for the mega good stuff: Deadhead double red is probably THE BEST red ale I've ever had. It is strong, spicy, flavorful and full bodied. Just wonderful! Everyone at my table liked their other flavors (and we went with some beer snobs ;) The hubby loved, loved, loved the coffee glazed rib-eye. Service was surprisingly good granted that it was the first weekend they were open. The people getting bad service in the other review...sorry, we must've been hogging all the attention ;). We actually liked the place so much we went back for brunch on the next day. Which was even. more. amazing. Ordered the swordfish tacos (see pics) and Cuban sandwich, and the french toast (see pics) for the munchkin. The kids French toast was ridiculously awesome. Here's the most awesome kicker- we were with a big group with 4 kids and the back room was open, so they gave it to us to have our brunch back there so the kids wouldn't bother anyone else. It was an awesome experience and the whole staff was soooo super nice. Make sure to check out my food pics- the kids meal was 1/3 eaten when I took the pic, but you can imagine the thrill in junior's eyes when he saw what he got for breakfast! :) Awesome place guys! Keep up the good work!
(5)
Owen B.
My wife and I are from Chicago and our friends from the area introduced us to Distihl. It was a busy Saturday night and the service was a bit slow but given that we weren't in a rush, that was OK. The food exceeded my expectations. I had the Cuban sandwich and one of the better Cubans I've had in a long time! My wife and friend both had a pasta dish which they enjoyed. The waiter also was very knowledgeable about the menu and large number of beer choices, all of which were excellent too. There are lots of choices in Champaign and I recommend anyone try Distihl!
(4)
Chris R.
I'm a beer nerd, and I'm disappointed by this place so far. I plan to give it more chances, but I've tried the brown ale, Belgian single, a kolsch, and a pale ale, and have been relatively uninspired by nearly all of them. The website lists some hoppier alternatives, but I haven't seen them actually on the menu.
(3)
Ted C.
All right, so I've now been to both locations of Destihl and I have to say they're both pretty good, not stellar but a slightly above average brewpub. I tried their Hawaii five ale which was okay-it was a fruit beer that was supposed to remind me of being on a beach in Hawaii. Well, anything is possible it was a tarter beer but still a very light ale. They didn't have their dunkelweizen here which was disappointing. I got hungry waiting for my friend so I ordered the Ancho chips and dip. The chips were just okay but the vinegar and the dressings were really quite good. The habanero vinegar wasn't overpoweringly hot but had a nice kick and the ranch was more than just a ranch dressing. I had the bison burger because I haven't had bison meat in a while and it was just as good. The burger though, was all right the bison, slightly sweeter and less greasy than ground beef was good. The dressing on it though took away from the flavor of the meat but the fries were actually quite tasty. Overall, it's still an okay place
(3)
Joe R.
I ate here May 2013 and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Came back February 6 and had terrible service. I was seated at a table and waited 14 minutes without seeing a waiter or being offered a drink. A table directly across from me sat down after me, was given water and drinks. I asked to see the manager waited another ten minutes so got up and left. Only as I was walking out the door was the manager able to find me.
(1)
Anthony P.
My teammate and I had two delicious dinners here. We loved the "bacon egg and cheese" deviled eggs. I enjoyed, on separate occasions, the chipotle chicken sandwich (good sweet potato fries) and the grilled and stuffed. I also sampled my teammate's meat loaf; that tasted incredible as well. I loved my cocktails, which include the Vanilla and Mint, Dark and Stormy, and the Aztec Chocolate. The last one was amazing - it had a spicy kick to it. The atmosphere and service were incredible as well. If in town again I would make it a point to return here.
(4)
Bethany C.
I've been here a few times. I like it for lunch. Their beer is alright. The flatbread-y pizza with lemon and arugula was delicious. I have it on good authority that their portobello sandwich is better than The Bread Company. I think the dinner - both the crowds and the food - are a little pretentious. My BF thinks that this is "a great place for women who shop at Chicos to meet up with each other and discuss the braided leather belts they bought for their husbands." Which is to say, he thinks they overdo atmosphere to keep the rif raff out. In my experience, I will sacrifice dim lighting for a chile that is actually spicy. Oh, midwestern restaurants. Are you using bell peppers to make Chile Rellenos? My littlest brother really liked it, though. He devoured some friend bacon appetizer.
(3)
sheridan r.
Went here for din-din with my broey and his wifepoo since they live in the area. Food was fantastic! Service was spot on - our waitress was very attentive and took great care of us. We had a flight of the many beers they offer, the menu is extensive and it's hard to decide. But one thing is 1000% worth getting: Beer Battered Asparagus. That's it. Who cares if you have stinky pee from eating asparagus - totally worth it.
(4)
Steve B.
Not bad, not great. I've had the pot roast sandwich and the bison burger. The pot roast was a surprisingly small portion. The bun on my bison burger was a little stale. Honestly, my biggest pet peeve with Destihl is their attempt at trying to create elevated food that just come off as tacky. For instance when I split their quesadilla appetizer they proudly touted it was deconstructed. That meant the appetizer consisted of some tortillas with melted cheese and a side of so-so grilled steak. Give me a break- I've had some cleverly deconstructed items before and that was not the case here. They do a similar thing with smores (e.g. the marshmallows come pre-melted). Tacky might be a strong word but to serve things in ways that are poorly executed and actually make eating your meal less enjoyable and more complicated in an attempt to seem high-end is pretty tacky.
(2)
Luis R.
Exceptional dining experience. Made a Reservation with the Andrew, the Lead Bartender. I simply mentioned that I wanted a nice dinner because it was a first date, and he made the start of the evening's date very memeorable. When we arrived, Andrew had a reserved table set aside, candles, wine glasses and the first bottle of wine complimentary. Meeting us at the front he personally welcomed us to the restaurant and lead us to our table, and then passed us along to out waiter Vincent. This young man kept a keen eye on our table and made sure our wine glasses were replenished. The food was excellent but an afterthought to the service we received. Thanks Andrew!
(5)
S. P.
This is a cute place in the downtown area of Champaign. It is always busy on the weekends and the service is good. My only issue was that the menu was kind of all over the place. There was traditional bar food mixed in with Thai as well as pasta dishes. Just didn't seem coherent to me I guess. Overall, it was a good experience.
(4)
Brad P.
Destihl was something that was completely unexpected for me to find in downtown Champaign. It was a MUCH bigger place than I anticipated, and I would love to see it on a day when it was busy. We were there about 3pm on a Monday. I was immediately impressed with the vibe of the place - very hip, and something you would expect to find in any major city's downtown. The beer list was posted on a board above the bar and was HUGE for a local microbrewery. Where I expected to find 8-10 local beers supported by a smattering of other regional brews, the list of beers brewed in house was closer to 20-25. As I had never been to Destihl, I asked the bartender to select 4 beers for me to sample (this is typical practice for me -- a good bartender will ask the right questions and figure out what you like). He started by asking if I wanted darker or lighter beer, and then asked me about some different flavor profiles. After a few questions, he came back with four delicious beers. I tried the Roadblock British Red Ale, Black Angel Stout, Deadhead Double Red, and Antiquity Rye Wine. All were really awesome. I was very pleased with the bartenders knowledge of the beer, the fast friendly service, and the atmosphere in general. Next time I'm in town this is DEFINITELY a place I plan to return, and hopefully next time I'll get to order some food as well.
(5)
Alan Z.
Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got. Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got.
(5)
Zachary H.
Dishes can be hit or miss here but overall I enjoy Destihl. I recommend this for groups or other gatherings since it is casual but still pretty nice. I like the pretzels for appetizer, the burgers for entree, and the banana cream pie for dessert (it is seriously awesome).
(4)
Devin H.
My first experience was on a date. I misheard what the waiter said when he was listing the specials. I asked him to repeat after he was done speaking. He sighed and sort of rolled his eyes. I ordered a turkey burger (because I'm epic classy like that). It was cold. It tasted like it would have been delicious had it arrived at my table 10 min sooner. My second time was just last night. I sat at the bar with a friend to have appetizers and a few beers. The lady at the bar was too busy literally dancing with her fellow employee (boyfriend?) and kept kissing and dancing by the kitchen to ever get my second drink. The appetizer I order was incredibly spicy, therefore it had no flavor other than pepper, and was also quite greasy. On top of that the manager saw a buddy of his sitting next to us. They both got into their conversation for a good 10-15min and began talking quite loudly. I could not hear the company next to me telling a story. I may give it another shot, but its pretty unlikely.
(2)
Nancy D.
Living in downtown Chicago & having great restaurants right outside our door, it's hard to get really jazzed about another restaurant. Unable to find anything like Distihl with it's interesting, well executed menu & drinks. We've come to expect a great meal at our visits but this time our server, Luis, was an extraordinary compliment to the overall experience with his fun personality & great suggestions. This is a great place to eat dessert first, banana cream pie is awesome and you'll want to have room for every delicious forkful!
(5)
John R.
I was blown away by this oasis of fantastic flavor. The grilled stuffed pasta was so mind-bendingly delicious that I tried to recreate this at home. While the description and use of two sauces sounds like it would contradict itself, each of the components blend marvelously in your mouth. I sampled soups and small bites as well. Over all, I found the flavors in each dish are well balanced and don't compete for attention. There is a certain finesse that's being used in the kitchen to render distinctly memorable flavor profiles. The atmosphere was inviting, modern and clean. The service staff knowledgeable and attentive. I wish I had one where I live and will absolutely be back when I find myself in Champaign again.
(5)
Jaclyn S.
If its TL;DR: Great food, great drinks, great service. I've gone to Desthil a few times, and I'm consistently impressed by their food and attention to detail. Once, I sat at the bar with my dad, just there for drinks; bartender was great, amiable and had suggestions when we knew what we liked and wanted recommendations. Their heffeweissen is really excellent. The apricot brew actually tastes like apricot; I tend to like fruity beers, and this one stood out to me. Their cocktails are also really, really good. I had the sake lemon drop and was not disappointed. Appetizers: Hands down, no contest, their beer-battered asparagus takes the gold. Its a lighter batter, more like a very gentle tempura than a "fried chicken" type fry. The honey-whatever sauce they serve with it is incredible, and they serve a grilled lemon with it that you probably aren't supposed to eat but tastes like candy so do it anyways. The shrimp ceviche is nothing to write home about. The shrimp skewers entree was tasty and well seasoned, but if you came with a big appetite, it might not be the choice for you. Their portions (one of the things I like most about Desthil) are reasonable and not out of this world for most of the main dishes. My boyfriend wasn't totally full when he left, but comfortable. The thai steak salad is incredible! I like a little spice, and this definitely had that! It's not big, but its delicious. Their pizzas are also fabulous, if a little salty. You can't complain that they underseason like some places in downtown Champaign. The seabass dish (I think it was a special) was definitely worth it. They do their cubans right; their mustard is homemade I think and really rounds it out. Overall, loved it. Decently priced for what you get, and you get a great night out!
(5)
Jessica W.
Huge fan of this place! My fiance and I made last minute reservations here on Christmas Eve...we had a GREAT waitress, can't remember her name...who understood we wanted to move quick so we could catch Mission Impossible (which would only get about 2 stars, by the way). We ordered the flat bread (I'm obsessed with truffle oil), one of their specialty pizzas and a Greek salad to share. We were impressed with ALL of it. Flat bread was good if you're in the mood for starchy foods--the pizza had a very thin crust, which I loved, so you could eat more of the toppings...and the salad was HUGE for its small price. We tasted several of the beers and ended up getting a growler to go because we loved it so much. Decor was a bit industrial, and very contemporary, especially for the Midwest. We will definitely return and bring friends!
(4)
Stephanie T.
Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Destihl's Yelp rating isn't higher. Two of my friends and I wandered in on a weekday night while looking for a place to eat at in downtown Champaign. The restaurant was relatively full for 7pm on Thursday, so I'd imagine there may be a wait on weekend nights. Beers = good. I think we tried 4? The strawberry blonde ale on tap was a clear favorite for us. Both their beer and dinner menus took awhile for us to look at. I was expecting traditional pub-style food, but their offerings far exceeded that. We started off with the deviled egg appetizer and the beer battered bacon appetizer. Both were very good- the beer battered bacon is a MUST. Jalapeno bacon in a tempura-like beer batter coating topped with a drizzle of maple chipotle glaze?! Yes please! When it came to our table, we slowly stopped talking and watched our plate of bacon descend in front of us. Like it came down straight from heaven. We didn't even realize we stopped talking and didn't remember what we were talking about until the bacon was gone.. My friends got the jambalaya and the prosciutto-wrapped meatloaf. I really only tried part of the super tasty andouille sausage corn muffin that came with the jambalaya, as I was working on my full slab of beer-braised ribs (I gave one rib each to my friends to try though). They were perfect. Orders of magnitude better than Black Dog's ribs. I'm not sure whether or not that's a fair comparison since it's different cooking styles, but the texture of Destihl's ribs was absolutely perfect- tender, falling off the bone, but not annoyingly so.. The flavor was great also, as it tasted lovely by itself and did not need to be hidden behind sauce although the chipotle espresso bbq sauce it came with was also very tasty. My friends and I agreed that I "won" dinner since I ordered the best dish. My only qualm was that my shoestring fries were a little soggy and not as crispy as I would have preferred. But that's very minor. We were all pretty full, but could not pass up dessert. Like the rest of their menus, the dessert menu had a lot of tasty-sounding options. After some rock/paper/scissors, we ended up ordering the stout ice cream sandwiches which is more like four round brownie patties a la mode. But by all means, if you really wanted to, I guess you could try to eat it ice cream sandwich style. The alcohol in the chocolate stout ice cream wasn't very strong. Both the ice cream and the brownies were stellar. My friends especially loved the brownies. I was wondering what they did with the remaining brownie part after cutting out the rounds (to, you know, save waste if need be), and our waitress told us that the remainder is used for their chocolate martini? Maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and also, our waitress was very nice and friendly too. Overall, good service, clean place, nice decor.. everything was great. After tips, came out to ~$30/person, but actually filling up me + two guys does require a bit of food and drink. I'm already trying to think of when I will return to try the kobe burger..
(5)
Alecia M.
Okay, first of all, credit where credit is due: There are some delicious appetizers on the menu, and desserts are HUGE and great for splitting. My husband and I have been here a few times, and we both really like the potato croquettes (mmm, chimichurri) and the marinated cucumber salad. Both have a spicy bite -- definitely recommended. The rest of the food is okay. Pizzas are decent, the salads seem to rely a lot on the dressings, similarly so with the sandwiches. Service is good and friendly, although can come down a little on the overwhelmingly chatty side. Still, in a place as big as this one, it's nice to not feel like you've gotten lost or abandoned. Unfortunately, I can't recommend much else. The design and marketing of Destihl gives off a very artisanal vibe, particularly in their choice of "craft beer," but their beers are at best uneven and at worst anemic shadows of what they could be. Most recently, I was disappointed in the pumpkin porter, which sounds like it should be layered and spicy and complex. Mostly, it was bitter and I could only taste the pumpkin if I really thought about it. I've felt similarly about all of their beers that I have tried, although a few are okay (the Hefeweizen, the Tripel). I want to be seduced by the delicious descriptions (and oh, they DO have a good writer), but I just can't. This place reads to me as a large chain that wants to be a small, careful, art-and-ingredient-driven restaurant, but it doesn't get there. It's confusing. 2 1/2 stars, rounding down.
(2)
Hannah D.
Great restaurant! I have been here twice now and enjoyed everything I've had. Visit #1: Tried a few beers before selecting one. The drafts come in three sizes, which is really nice. My friends and I got the pretzels with cheese and mustard dipping sauces, and LOVED them. I got the bison burger with fries and had to stop myself from eating the whole thing before my stomach exploded! Great wait staff and a very classy atmosphere. Visit #2: Another great beer experience. Got a pizza this time, which was pleasantly adequate for a one person dinner. It was thin and crispy, but not crunchy...just the way I like it! We sat at a window near the bar and watched downtown during sunset, which was really nice. I like the corner location...lots of natural light! Will definitely consider coming here whenever I want to eat downtown. Reasonably priced for the quality, and a great overall dining experience.
(5)
Simon H.
I have never been more disappointed in my gastronomic experience in Urbana-Champaign then this past weekend at Destihl "Brewery" (who knows if they even brew beer at this place). Having been to Destihl a handful of times before the abominable brunch I suffered through this past weekend I expected an experience somewhat similar to what most people describe here on Yelp. That being a friendly staff, and decent (perhaps even good) food at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, Destihl has suffered a complete drain of quality over the last few years. When it opened, Destihl offered hot, quality food served my intellectual and friendly servers who were happy to be working in one of Champaign's better restaurants. Each time I dined at Destihl I noticed the quality of the food, the quality of the service, and the quality of the dining experience was eroding away. This erosion culminated with the brunch a group of friends and I endured this past Sunday. I say endured because our meal lasted from 12:30p.m. until 2p.m. The absurd elongation of our meal was not caused by entrancing, deep conversation amongst old friends, or by laggard mastication of our fantastic food. The epoch that was our brunch at Destihl was caused solely by the complete ineptitude and incompetence of our server, the manager, and Destihl as an establishment. To begin, our waiter spoke to our group at a volume slightly above "whisper". He seemed to not care at all that our decently sized group would likely give him his biggest tip of the day. One could almost assume our waiter was indentured to Destihl and taking our orders, suggesting menu items, and assuring that we were taken care of was a reminder of the chains that confined him. After taking our orders, three of which were simply "eggs, bacon, and potatoes" (not worth the $10), our group set off on the marathon that ninety minutes later would end in us getting our food. In total our group would watch at least seven other parties wait for a table, be placed near us, taken care of by the same subjugated waiter, eat, pay their bill, and depart. After the fourth group who had arrived after us was served before us, a member of our group called the manager over. At this point we had spent 45 minutes ordering and waiting. By this point the waiter had been unable to provide any information about our meal besides, "they are still working on it, should be out soon." This information was decrypted by the members of our group through the reading of his lips and not by any sort of audible understanding between him and ourselves. We hoped the manger could provide us with additional information, this would prove to be a fool hearted assumption. The manager assured us he would check on our order and would return shortly. After three more groups consumed their meals, paid their tabs and departed, and another half an hour passed, the manager had not returned. At this point our group decided that if our food did not arrive by 1:45 PM. we would simply stand up, leave, and eat fast food. Finally, at 1:43p.m., 1 hour 13 minutes after arriving our meal was served. Destihl was relatively empty when we arrived and continued to be throughout our meal. Yet, our food took longer to cook than the run time of the original 1931 version of Frankenstein. If you have been to Destihl for brunch you know none of the menu items are difficult to cook, they are largely egg dishes accompanied by breakfast meats, french toasts, or a hot sandwich. Since this experience ended I have wondered what took so long for our food to be cooked and leave the kitchen. I have surmised that the reasons for our hour and a half endeavor are a product of the poor quality that now defines Destihl. First, our waiter did not care about us nor did he serve as our representative in the kitchen. Second, the cooks clearly lost track of our order because some food came out steaming hot, some came out only partially complete, and the rest came out lukewarm (presumably having spent an hour under a heat lamp). Finally, the manager who never returned to our table and only after being called over again offered excuse after excuse before finally saying, "Well, I am sorry." To anyone who has invested the time to read my review, thank you. To anyone who has spent the time to read my review and still intends to go to Destihl even after I have made clear my utter frustration and disappointment, I wish you the best of luck. To conclude, my friends and I will never eat at Destihl again and I look forward to the restaurant that will soon replace it.
Told us it was a 45 minute wait even though tables were empty. Went on yelp and could make a reservation for 15 mins. Very disappointing.
(1)
Ashley B.
FINALLY! We were all being teased for so long about when it would actually open! I went it's opening weekend and let me be clear when I say this rating is based on beers alone, I didn't get a chance to try the food yet! I'll start by saying that the atmosphere is really cool. It reminds me of a Blind Pig Brewery meets Seven Saints or something like that. They call themselves a gastro-brewery instead of a gastro-pub, which I think fits the bill pretty well. The place is divided up nicely with the bar being it's own area and a nicer looking restaurant on the other side. I have to say though, I was a bit surprised to hear that it's only open until 11, that doesn't seem wise for an area of town that's so reliant on the nightlife. As far as the beer goes, they had 18 on tap that were freshly made on the spot and they were pretty amazing. I was surprised to hear that they didn't have anything but their own brews available, and I worried about how my non-fancy beer fans felt, but then when I tasted their Champaign Blonde Ale, it was EXACTLY like a Bud Light. I think my favorite that I sampled was the Downstate Pale Ale, and the Raspberry Wheat Ale was a bit too much for me. But overall, I think they covered their bases pretty well. I definitely can't wait to come back and try the food (which I hear is truuuuly delicious) and give this place it's 5th and final star! UPDATE! So I went back and finally got to try the food. I believe I ordered the Swordfish, my boyfriend got the jambalaya and we both split some of the beer battered asparagus. I'll say right away the asparagus was the best part, which didn't surprise me because everyone raved about their appetizers, but I never heard much about the main dishes. My swordfish wasn't that great, to be honest, and I'm pretty easy to please. My boyfriend's jambalaya wasn't superb either, but then again, that's probably not the best thing to order at a place like this. All in all, everything was good, and a nice change from what's available downtown, but if I had one piece of advice, it would be stick to the beer and small plates!
(4)
Angela C.
I came here a handful of times during my 5 years in Chambana and had a great experience almost every time. They have some fantastic dishes - the swordfish is AWESOME, the beer battered asparagus is enormous, the burgers are great and the desserts are intense. The drinks are good too. I brought many different people here and they all had a great time too. I think the one dish that was unanimously disliked was the bleu cheese quesadilla thing. TOO MUCH BLEU CHEESE. It's a great location for groups and the service always seemed to be timely and personable. Would definitely go again if I traveled down that way more often.
(4)
Brent Z.
The menu has a good variety of options, which is nice. I have had the bison burger twice, but they seem to always cook it a little too much. I tried it medium once and medium rare another time, and both times they cooked it longer than they should of. But it still tasted good. Service at the bar was very good.
(4)
Stephanie C.
The Ruben egg rolls are so unique and delicious. Our dinner was also very good..we ate the Thai chicken and a half roasted chicken (not sure what it was called). Both of these entrees were massive and very tasty. I knocked it down a star because the service was average. But above all, the mango ipa was the best!
(4)
Maxine W.
I'm so disappointed. I'm in champaign visiting my sister, and a friend of ours recommended we go to Destihl. He touted it as a gift from the gods. Like so good hat he went there for lunch and dinner one day and then came back for brunch the next morning. After looking at the menu, how could I resist?? So we went today for a late lunch (around 2:30) and found the place pretty much deserted. There were some people working in the bar who made eye contact with us but didn't come up to the host stand to seat us. So we waited. And waited. And finally a hostess came and brought us to a cavernous booth in the bar. Where we waited. And waited. And listened to awful terrible music (read: Dave Matthews Band) A female server came to get our drink orders and informed us that Michael would be our server. Ok, so the do team service, I'm on board with that. But Michael didn't come with our drinks. Someone dressed like a manager did. And Michael didn't take our food order. A woman who we later learned was a manager did. I think Michael maybe refilled our drinks? The first manager looking guy dropped off our apps. Here's the skinny on what we had: Beer battered bacon: this is worth a star. It was greasy but oddly delicious. Brussels sprouts: flavor was good but they were still pretty hard in the middle. Bacon Egg and Cheese Deviled Eggs: nothing to write home about. They were small and pretty smoky tasting. For entrees, I ordered the fried egg BLT and my sister ordered the bison burger. My BLT was fine. Again, nothing to write home about. There was some sort of mustardy vinaigrette on the greens that was overpowering. And the egg could have been runnier. But another star goes to the fries which were hot and crispy and delicious. My sister ordered her burger medium and it came out completely well done. Like "we think this bison is dead but let's burn it at the stake just to make sure it's really really dead." She decided to send it back and so we waited. And waited. And a brand new server (still not Michael) came by to check on us. She went back to the kitchen to have them make a new burger and left the old one so my sis could nibble on the fries. Her friendly attitude and apologies would have garnered another star, but I was SO put off when she came back to tell us that her manager wanted to let us know that she put the order in correctly and that the cooks are the ones who screwed up. Umm... Why wouldn't the manager come over herself to apologize? Or at least to check on us after the replacement came? And also, it is so not cool to throw your kitchen staff under the bus like that. All in all, Destihl has good bacon, inattentive staff, poor leadership, and too much desire to be "cool." And where is Michael? My receipt says he was my server but I don't even know if I saw him, and I fear my tip went to someone who didn't do any work! I won't be back.
(2)
Jo B.
We went here for Mother's Day dinner the Monday after. Was impressed with the decor, menu, service, and food. Our service was excellent. I had a Flat Iron Steak and fingerling potatoes w/blue cheese. Steak was cooked perfectly. Potatoes were tasty. Other people in our group were satisfied with their choices. (We tasted each other's dishes to verify the deliciousness.) Portabella burger, veggie burger, American Kobe burger, chipotle shrimp skewers, & chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon were their choices. We had two appetizers - cheese curds & tempura-fried asparagus. Yum, yum. One of our dessertw was the highly-promoted banana cream pie. Good, but the bananas were over caramelized. (waiter apologized). All in all we were very happy with our experience. I hope to take other people to share the Destihl experience.
I had really high expectations for this place...I have to say, I was very disappointed. The only reason for a two star rating was the appetizers. We got the pretzels with beer cheese and the deep fried bacon. The pretzels were great, served warm. The bacon was...interesting, but tasty. That is where the goodness ends. I got a cheeseburger and asked for it to be prepared medium...I received a very dry and very well done bland burger with horrible over cooked yet cold potato wedges. The kids meals are ridiculously small and mediocre at best. To add insult to injury...we paid over $100 for a party of 5 (2 were kids meals) for over cooked and cold food. Huge disappointment!
(2)
Grace S.
OK, if it wasn't for the weird service we experienced, this would totally be 5 stars. At first, our server spent a lot of us time with us going over all the different beers and was super knowledgeable and basically just a really good server. Halfway into dinner he disappeared and other people started bringing us our food. When we asked where he was, we were told that he was in the back doing other things. At the end of dinner he returned to being our server but also bartender so we were basically ignored. Very weird service. We tried 11 of the 14 beers they make. I personally like really hoppy beers, but alas I can't remember the names of the ones I liked. For appetizers we ordered the chorizo stuffed dates, which were AMAZING! We also ordered lamb meatballs. I love anything with goat cheese so both of these appetizers were right up my alley. In the past, I have also gotten beer battered asparagus which is also super delicious. Originally, I ordered the pesto and goat cheese pizza but unfortunately it was very soggy and my plate was drenched in grease. Even the server commented that it was excessively soggy. I sent it back, which is something I NEVER do. I then ordered the flat iron quesadillas from the appetizers as my dinner. It didn't disappoint. My favorite part was definitely the chorizo stuffed dates.
(4)
Jennifer W.
Reading other comments about the high prices here made me chuckle. We felt like Distihl was a great bargain, but since we are from Chicago, our scale is perhaps skewed. Dinner for 6 for $100 made this place fantastic for the price. Granted we were not drinking, but still. The cassoulet was very good, if light on the promised sausage. We will go back next time we are in town.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
A lot of people have already said exactly what I think - underwhelming. I've been to Destihl 4 times - the first time, I got the beer-battered cod. WOW! Amazing!! Everything about that experience was great! The past 3 times? Not so much. We always take out-of-town family there, and it's a disappointment. The portions are teeeeeeny tiny, so order plenty of appetizers. The value is not very good at all. The beer's alright. Champaign has better breweries. This restaurant has a lot of potential - it's already showed that. I always go there wanting to be wow'd, and they come up short.
(3)
Rakesh G.
They have good food options. They could work more on the vegetarian options. Nice beer. Some people may like this, but I personally don't like waiters coming back every 10-15 mins asking how the food is and if everything is okay. But I understand that they are trained to do the same.
(3)
Josh M.
Any draught beer from this place is a good options. Beer battered asparagus, veggie burger, Thai steak salad, or roasted beer salad you'll enjoy!
(5)
Liren C.
After three dining experiences at Destihl, the biggest complain I have is that they consistently over salt their food. Hey, what's up with that? Lighten up on the soy sauce please! Some of us would like to actually taste our food without leaving with high blood pressure. The Thai chicken wings were salty. The meatloaf was salty and dry. The Thai fried chicken is a good concept, but again it was salty. My chicken was under cooked. The waitress was apologetic and promptly got it re-fried (nice service). Although I didn't get to try them, the burgers and pizzas looked pretty good (but if you're just looking for burgers and pizzas there are much better places). The chocolate crème brulee was a travesty! No resemblance to crème brulee in terms of taste or texture. Extremely unpleasant! However, there is something on the menu that is truly mind blowing! BEER-BATTERED BACON! WOW! So crispy and thick! Must have! Bottom line, if you're here for drinks, order the beer-battered bacon and maybe burgers and pizza. Everything else on the menu is mediocre at best. Oh, and don't forget your blood pressure medication. You'll need it!
(3)
Emiko D.
After several times of driving past Destihl and thinking I'd come to try their brews one day, I finally made it, except not for the beer. I made a reservation through yelp for lunch and was promptly seated as soon as we arrived. Our party ordered the beer battered asparagus and absolutely loved it. The overall service was great and very respectful in helping my grandma get through the doors with her walker. The only reason for rating 4 stars instead of 5 would be that our waitress seemed impatient with giving us a few minutes to order and came off a bit rude when asking who would be taking the check. Regardless, I'll be back for the beer, Destihl!!
(4)
Julie E.
We are staying in Champaign on our way back to the East coast. We looked at Yelp and as soon as I saw Destihl's menu I knew this was the place. It was terrific! Our server, Alex, was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The menu was everything I'd hoped for and tasted as good as it sounded in print. I had the Minted Man cocktail. Refreshing and delicious! The sandwiches were huge and delicious. I wish we'd split a sandwich and saved room for dessert. We are already looking for reasons to come back to Champaign so we can eat here again!
(5)
Dionne C.
OK so each time I have gone back to Destihl since my original post it has been better. I'd like to think someone over there read my posts ;) I'm still not a fan of the price points but the food is far more consistent and seems to be better quality. Also really enjoy their coffee and fresh cream after any meal there. Still nothing terribly interesting however everything seems fresh and well executed. Also I am trying to tone down on being such a food snob so... 4 stars!! (throws confetti sarcastically)
(4)
Kelly P.
Wonderful meal at Destihl. Pretzel and Reuben appetizers were amazing. We all loved our meals . The waiter recommended a beer for each of us and we really liked them too. Good service and seated promptly. Great experience.
(5)
Joy M.
Tried it again after awhile and boy have the portions gotten smaller and still as expensive. I will totally pay for it if it's worth it but I don't think it is. I think it only gets good ratings bc there isn't much to choose from here in c/u along these lines. Also the atmosphere is nice and beer is pretty good for being able to order the small ones to try more. But yeah, won't be back.
(2)
David T.
I've been to Desthil a couple times, and it's pretty nice. The burgers are really good, as are the Cuban sandwiches. I was also fond of the house drafts that I tried (including an apricot beer that's one of my favorite Belgians). The beers they brew onsite are all really good. The dessert menu is also fantastic- try the chocolate cake that's the size of your head if you're looking for diabetes. The Smores plate is also fun. All that said, the food here is a bit more expensive than it's worth. Burgers are cheaper (and better) at Farren's, Radio Maria has better Cubans for the price and the entrees are nothing too impressive- good, but not great. I've also found service to be a bit hit or miss- we've had waiters that have been remarkably friendly and courteous, but last time they substituted a more expensive glass of wine for one they apparently didn't have without telling us. I like going here, and it's a nice change of pace every once in a while, but rarely do I go "Boy, we need to go to Desthil."
(3)
Lisa G.
Destihl is an upscale pub-style restaurant with a low key atmosphere. The menu is quite large and has a lot of variety from small tapas style plates, to salads, pizzas, burgers, steaks, entrees, and even some thai-fusion style dishes. Because of the variety, I think this is a great place to bring a group or a date if you're not sure what type of food they prefer. The beer is all brewed at Destihl and is decent, but I've never been blown away by any of their brews. I have been here several times and my favorite dish so far was the Cedar Plank Salmon. On my most recent trip I ordered the Kobe Burger and when I ran out of sauce, the server asked if I would like more. I am not a dessert person, but I LOVE their dessert menu. So, do yourself a favor and save room for dessert! Be warned, if you sit in the bar area be prepared to wait. I have actually left a few times when I haven't been given water or a menu 15 minutes after arriving. If you sit in the main dining room however, the service is superb.
(4)
LeAnn A.
Sat outside on a gorgeous 82 degree night. Drinks were superb coupled with the beer battered fried bacon. The sauce is amazing!! Had the Nitro (double pale ale) and a Jacob's ladder (brown ale). For entree we had the flat iron steak and rice/beans and fish and chips. Again-- superb! Whitney waited on us and made sure ALL was sheer perfection. She recommended the perfect tequila/amaretto mixed drink for me since my husband is the beer drinker. Wonderful date night!!!
(5)
Sherry K.
Bacon wrapped dates a bit spicy but very good flavor. Swordfish tacos delicious & the rice/black beans that came with it had a great ancho chili flavor. Beer battered fish sandwich very tasty & great chips with it. Overall a delicious lunch today!
(4)
Olivia B.
It was an alright meal with good things and just ok things. The good: That cucumber/rose martini. Yes. Also, the fried green tomatoes appetizer with the crab/avocado salad on top. So delicious! Swordfish tacos were enjoyed. The bad: the bacon wrapped dates. The bacon wasn't crispy so it was tough to chew. The sauce was so spicy we were practically crying. Salmon sandwich special was not as good as anticipated, and the bacon on the bacon cheeseburger was also not crispy. The service was so-so. While our waiter at the beginning was friendly, he repeatedly forgot things so we would spend time sitting there staring at our food because we didn't have plates or silverware. They also ran out of wine glasses so we were left sitting through our entrees without drinks that were ordered before entrees arrived, and he didn't tell us until we were finished eating. Overall, it'd be worth a shot to visit again but if the 2nd experience was similar or worse, I wouldn't try a 3rd time.
(3)
K- C.
Once again--And it's happened several times! We have been asked to wait when several tables are open-as in almost half the tables. This time 8:00pm on a Tuesday--hardly high dinning hour in central Illinois. When hard pressed the manager on duty (Justin Kelly) said the servers are fully occupied with other tables and we would prefer you wait in the lobby instead of at your table. Their hard and fast rules are first not guest friendly. We were once told at 8:40 all of tables were reserved. When we left the reserved signs could still be seen. NO GUESTS IN SITE! Clearly a lie. In stead of asking an available server to pick up our table they (management) would prefer us to wait. We will not be back. Their management needs to evaluate this process. The food and service are usually ok. Good luck with getting a table when they are all "reserved". Oh we got in immediately at a restaurant across the street and were given the table we asked for.
(1)
Bo D.
This place serves the weirdest reuben sandwich I've ever had, and not in a good way. Instead of rye bread, they use this cranberry nut bread that, while interesting, is also too thick and dry. Instead of the usual "Russian dressing" (similar to thousand island), theirs has this "mustard" with an overpowering horseradish taste that is not pleasant at all. Overall, Destihl seems like a place that tries too hard to be "hip" or "unique". You can tell just by looking at the extravagant descriptions on their menu. I give them credit for trying new things (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), but when it comes to food sometimes it's better to stick with something proven.
(2)
Mark F.
Great selection of beers, food and plenty of unique twists to make it as interesting as anything else within 50 miles. Had a great time here and enjoyed very good service in this trendy looking place.
(4)
Susan R.
Great food, nice atmosphere! Have the weissenheimer chicken, shaved Brussels sprout salad and pumpkin bread pudding! Delicious! Fun place too!
(5)
Jen T.
Hmm. The problem with Destihl is that it's either GOOD or it's BAD. That's kind of why the review is an in-between. This place is off the charts when it comes to liquor. Just don't buy booze here. That's my honest feedback. We had a party of 8, once, and only a few drinks were ordered (a couple waters, two ordered pop) and the bill was something astronomical (like $180!). The other thing about Destihl is that it's a microbrewery (and,-cough-, gastropub) that's trying to be a microbrewery and a -cough- gastropub, if you catch my drift? If not, here's the thing-- it's pretentious as all get out. And for who knows what reason, really. It's kind of a dimly lit restaurant/bar that's just as non-descript as any other. It tries too hard to be what it thinks it is, and doesn't try hard enough to be a good restaurant. With that said, though, some of their food is just out-of-the-ballpark, OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD awesome. All of their soups (3 cheese and ale, or the tomato basil). The Havarti and Turkey is lovely, as is the Cuban style pork (tho, I did find a very unappetizing piece of fat in it the very last time I had it, so it kind of put me off it for a while). You can't go wrong with a burger. =) But, then again, it's a burger, they're not reinventing the airplane. I say... if you want to spend a mint for the possibility of some good food, and then an outrageous bar tab, pick Destihl. But if you're looking for beer and semi-comparable food, check out Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings. The same in theory, just a different point-of-view.
(3)
Jonathan K.
This restaurant has below average/overpriced food, and ridiculously slow service.. It took about 15-20 minutes for anyone to even notice us. We had to flag someone down just for some waters. I wouldn't say the servers did know what they were doing, but just very slow. For a Monday night, business was okay, but waiting 40 minutes for food is inexcusable. I had the Beer Battered Bacon Burger with an Egg, and it was below average. It would have been your average burger if the patty had any flavor.. But the meat was simply tasteless. The beer battered bacon is quite tasty, but the nothing I would crave for. The only reason I give this place two stars is for the Strawberry Ale that I got to try. The beer was light and smooth, it complimented my meal. I would go back to have a drink or two, but not for a dinner out with family or friends.
(2)
Jeremy C.
This place has it together! We came here after waiting 25 minutes at a nearby restaurant with no service. DESTIHL was very busy, which is always a good sign. After a brief wait, we were seated and acknowledged immediately by our server. Not only were the beers top notch, but the food and service was as well! We had water refills and empty plates cleared by other servers who happened to be walking by. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!
(5)
Travis B.
Nice kinda classy place that has food. You could wear a tie and not feel out of place, but I'm in khakis and a t-shirt and still feel comfortable. We're just ordering beer samples and Curtis is taking care of us nicely. Not a bad blow off Monday workday kind of place.
(4)
Alex C.
It was our last few days on campus and one of my roommates wanted to grab a nicer dinner before we left for the summer. Craft beer and unique burgers are probably our go-to cuisine when dining out. I suggested we try Destihl after having a pretty good experience there with my family last time. This visit was equally as good! We opted to sit at the bar and watch the Bulls game due to the dining room wait being around 35 minutes which was much too long for two very hungry college kids. We started with a few 4oz beer samples which are very convenient and not too expensive, I dislike having to commit to a roughly $5 16oz beer not knowing much beforehand. I particularly enjoyed the oatmeal nitro but didn't much care for the Champaign blonde. The beer-battered bacon was a must-try for us since I didn't get it last time and it gets a lot of attention here on Yelp. We also opted for the cheese curds, both of these appetizers were so artery-cloggingly delicious. The Bulls started to seriously disappoint us and when our food arrived we were glad to have something else to focus on, rather than the demise of Chicago basketball this season. I ordered the meatloaf and my roommate got the rancher burger. He said his was really tasty, right up there with the burger we had at Farren's a few weaks earlier. I went with the meatloaf to try something different and when it came out I was initially a little taken aback, but after trying it that all changed. This was not your grandmother's meatloaf! It was rolled up and wrapped in prosciutto sitting on a mountain of mashed potatoes adorned with some thinly sliced vegetables all inside a cast iron skillet. The meatloaf itself was well seasoned and actually had a little spice to it. What really made this dish though was the prosciutto, it added that nice smoky pork flavor to the meatloaf. I highly recommend this dish! The service was a little different because we were at the bar. The bar staff was extremely busy due to having a packed dining room and fairly full bar as well. There were about two people taking care of us and they made sure we always had beer and were quick to clear our plates as well as check in frequently. Service: great! Overall, another great experience at Destihl. Though, like I mentioned last time, it comes a bit of a steeper price than some other potential options nearby. Either way, we really liked our food.
(4)
Erin D.
There hamburger is a 5 star real fancy made up ...fries season to the t...they make their own beer wich i dont drink got great tea but its high as hell to eat there but worth it
(5)
Gabi G.
Went here on a Friday night. Waited about 10 or so minutes to get seated and then once seated, no waiter came. About 4 waiters passed us, served and checked in with the tables around us. No "I'll be with you guys in a bit" or nothing. After about 15 mins of sitting there, me and my husband got up and left. Not sure what the problem was but was very dissatisfied and unhappy.
(1)
Kat H.
I'd been putting off going here due to what I'd heard about the prices, finally went for a get-together with friends and was impressed. Service was pretty great. We had a big group, 16 people, and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would for our food to get to us. I also have a baby and a stroller and the host was great about getting her a high chair before we even asked, and was very chill about finding a place for the stroller and just having the baby around in general. The food was delicious. I had a Thai steak salad, and the steak came on its own next to the salad so you can cut it yourself and get the full delicious steak experience and not lose any juiciness. The steak was tender and cooked wonderfully, and the salad was nicely spicy, with some spicy peanuts that I think they make in-house. Good deal for $12, in my opinion, or at least not overpriced compared to restaurants with similar food. My husband had the fish and chips, which I thought were pretty nice too. Potato wedges were a bit salty, but I love salt, so I was happy. Beer-wise, I had a house IPA that was good but not great. Would go again for a nice meal out. It seems like a good place to go on a date or celebrate an event, and they seem to handle large groups well.
(5)
Ibrahim S.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers! They are just delicious. The food at this place is amazing. It is also very wholesome. The staff is super helpful and makes really good selections. The location is fantastic and right in the middle of downtown and very accessible by bus. They have free validated parking available as well. They have a craft brewery as well and have some of the finest selections of beers. Make sure to try their 4oz selections. Lastly, the outdoor patio. Definitely the place to be for lunch during spring and summers.
(5)
Paul J.
To be honest the food was pretty good. I got the chorizo stuffed dates, which was the best thing I had tonight. For my entree I got the wagyu burger, which was overall pretty good. However this is the point at which their rating goes down. The wagyu burger is advertised as coming with a "golden brioche bun", but the bun we received looked like the average bun you get at Walmart for a picnic; thin, flat and crumbling. We asked the waitress if there was some mistake but she confirmed that, indeed the bun we received was the "golden brioche bun". Either the waitress was mistaken, or this restaurant does not know what a brioche bun is. I guess it's also possible that I have no idea what a brioche bun should look like. I uploaded a photo of the bun if you guys want to see for yourself.
(2)
Jody E.
We were there for a very special going away party. It was a shame the waiter made us feel so unwelcome. Typical of CU. Crummugeonly students who begrudgingly take wait staff jobs but really act as though it's beneath them to the customer. He was curt and indifferent. The food was barely so so.. the arugula salad was inedible. The cook overdosed it with 1/2 cup of salt. The beer is good, but the server knew little about it. I won't go out of my way to go there.
(2)
Ed R.
My review is for today's visit. In town on business and Destihl was recommended. Service was very good as we fumbled through the beer and food menu. I had the Hefeweizen, Jacobs ladder brown, and Roadblock red beers, all good. Tried the battered bacon appetizer, perfect. So many great sounding entrees, I picked the pot roast - excellent. Very tender and tasty beef, gravy with vegetables on top of mashed potatoes. Excellent. Prices are reasonable. I wish we had this place in Wisconsin.
(5)
Caroline H.
We stopped by here after a dinner across the street. We were originally going to eat here, but were told the food was bland. Aside from that, we had some beers. I like the hefeweizen and the porter. A good place to hang out. Will try the menu another time.
(3)
Shruti S.
One of the few places in Champaign I like going to more than a few times. Never tried their beer because I don't drink beer, which is a shame since their food's good so I bet there are some great pairings! Their croquettes, like most fried stuff IMHO, is okay. A friend ordered the stuffed poblano, which was really nicely done, and ha some serious stuffing! The swordfish tacos are amazing; just look at the line up of flavours on the menu! I avoid eating pastas in most places, but the orrechhiette and fennel sausage one is great. Always love flavoured sausages, and while I'm not sure this is house-made, it's still a great dish. And even when you re-heat it, except for the kale bits of course :)
(3)
Jessica K.
The first few times I dined at Destihl, I wasn't fond of it. I thought the food was too greasy and too salty. That was in regards to the the duck confit (which they don't offer anymore) and the salmon. The next few times I tried a greater of variety of dishes including the fish tacos and a couple burgers and a few appetizers (cheese curds and quesadilla). Excellent. Destihl has really grown on me.
(5)
Alex G.
I had a red ale, I normally wouldn't give a place a bad review because I chose poorly. In this case it's warranted because it's their own beer and they're responsible for the quality. It was just a very thin beer, it didn't have enough flavor to stand up to the food. I had their meatloaf dish, and I appreciate the idea of creating a blend of beef, bison, and lamb the loaf itself was over mixed and too dense. The mashed potatoes seemed like they were made from a box, or they were over whipped, almost to a paste but there was enough butter to make them creamy. The roasted vegetables were pretty good. Ended with the bread pudding, which was a drier than I like, but the caramel sauce was good. I liked how other things sounded on the menu if I go back I will update the rating but currently unimpressed.
(2)
Jason D.
I've been here so many times that it's rare to find an item on the menu I haven't had. Honestly, there's nothing on the menu that, if they told me they were out of everything else, I wouldn't turn down that item. And the beers? Wow - great variety and their in-house brewed beers are fantastic. Seriously, I have no complaints. One of my favorites in CU.
(5)
Nelson M.
Restaurant review I preface this review is mainly for the food so I did not try any of the beer here. The food is okay, I can't say that it is amazing or that I crave coming here for dinner. It is also not cheap by any imagination, but this is one of the hot spots for dinner with the gastropub concept and microbrewery on site. The first time I came during a work function. I had the bavarian style pretzel. Nothing really exciting. Pretzel with cheese sauce or the IPA mustard. It sort of reminded me of the pretzels you would get at the amusement park. I ended up trying the most expensive item on the menu which was the espresso rubber ribeye 18 oz with bone in, chiptole espress bbq sauce, asparagus, and bacon truffle mashed potatoes for 30 dollars. Somehow the meat just does not match steak hour quality meat. You are expecting an angus quality steak, but somehow my ribeye had a huge chunk of fat in the middle. Good ribeye is marbled with fat to give it that amazing tenderness and flavor, this was not that. The espresso rubbed gave it sort of a burnt flavor. I can't say that I was impressed. The second time I came went with the beer battered bacon egg burger 14.50 that had angus beef, beer battered jalapeno bacon, bacon jam, along with a fried egg topped with smoked white cheddar cheese and a brioche bun. Somehow the batter of the bacon was super thick so you ended up having chicken tender size bacon on top of the burger. The blend of angus beef patty with bacon jam and fried egg is an amazing combo, but somehow the oil must have not been changed for the beer batter bacon. It was a very dark color and had a strong not so pleasant oil taste. If you like gastro-pub food you can give this place a try, but once again for the price you pay the food just falls short of that bar. Pros: gastro-pub, lots of beer selection, quick service Cons: not top quality protein, the oil may have not been changed for a while given the overused oil taste, expensive Hidden deals: Join the desthil guest reward program. I did not get offered this at my visit. You get 25 dollars back after spending 500 dollars. Double points at lunch time during the week.
(2)
Deborah F.
The food is amazing. I had the salmon and potato salad. This is no ordinary salad, the dish is served warm with fingerling potatoes, grilled vegetables and salmon carefully laid on top with a spicy mustard sauce. My description doesn't adequately represent the delicious meal. It was quite surprising for a brewery. The staff was great and knew the various beers to recommend to my novice palate. I am more fond of wine. Great experience.
(5)
Evan A.
Beer: Mostly sub-par. Their sours are generally above average to amazing. I have yet to have decent pale (pale, IPA, IIPA) here. They are mostly a trendy place to go eat and stare at tanks. Most beer geeks will be sorely disappointed. They also charge quite a bit for a growler of beer. A fair number of them are $30-$50...which is stupid for beer of this caliber. Food: The food is pretty good, but all the pretty things to look at in there cost money, which means the food is not cheap. The menu always has interesting choices and they will not let you down.
(3)
Zewditu D.
Overall, not impressed. My family decided to something a bit different this year and went to a new restaurant vs. going to old standbys. After finding a list of top restaurants online, we ended up settling on Destihl due to the large menu with seemingly lots of tasty options. We made a reservation for a Monday night and we were seated right away. Parking can be a bit difficult mid-evening. We had to circle around the nearby city lot to finally find a spot. My order: Chorizo stuffed dates to share and Thai steak salad. Other orders: Clam chowder (the soup of the day), House salad, Spicy Thai shrimp, and Pesto Chicken (recommended by the waiter). The dates came out first. I didn't realize they were going to be wrapped in bacon. But score, I love it that way. The bacon needed to be cooked a bit more though. They had a nice kick to them. They were enjoyed for the most part, but these are much better in Atlanta. As for main meal, the accidentally brought my mom a Caesar salad instead of the House salad. She was going to order it but changed her mind. The waiter forgot to write down the change. He came out quickly to apologize after it was delivered. The salad is a wedge salad with a crispy toast in place of croutons and a fried egg. My mom wasn't excited about the fried egg and gave it to us. I tasted it but didn't like it so passed it on to my brother. How do you mess up a fried egg? My Thai steak salad was not very good. The steak was cooked more medium than medium well. There was not much of it. The greens were kinda soggy. The peanuts were way too salty. Much better in Atlanta, again. Overall, portion sizes were adequate and we got our fill. We signed up for a rewards card that evening and were able to apply the purchase that we had just made to our rewards card. That was great. Even though I may not be back. There were plenty of other options that seemed great on the menu, but hesitant after this experience. Plus there are other places to try in the city. Everyone else liked their food. So that's something. I was going to give them 3 stars given everyone else's satisfaction. But then I realized that I had noted in our reservation that we were celebrating my dad's birthday. They didn't do anything to signify that. Not even a happy birthday. Nothing! So 2 stars it is.
(2)
Dee R.
I think their cedar plank salmon is off the hook good. The service is usually in point and I've never waited very long for a table. Great place.
(5)
Seth B.
Tasty food, solid drink selection, and great location in the heart of downtown Champaign. It's not on my "must-visit" list, but it's one of my regular options for lunch or night on the town. I'd recommend the beer battered bacon cheeseburger. It's delicious and beyond indulgent. I'm not a fan of their house brews, though. It seems like, regardless of style, most of them taste too much alike. I'm just not a fan of the brewmaster's style.
(4)
Daniella B.
We had dinner here awhile back for the first time in a few years. They've improved their menu recently and the variety is very nice - something for everyone. They also feel higher quality. No more expensive pizza! We always enjoy the well priced, high quality beer. We ended buying a keg for a party which was a great value!
(4)
John R.
Service was stellar. The waiter was very kind and the atmosphere was great! It put a smile on my face. It took less than 5 minutes to get seated and less than 10 minutes to have our order taken. Within 2 minutes of having our order taken, the soup we ordered came out. The main entree came out in a timely fashion as well. Items I ordered were: Three Cheese & Ale Soup Stuffed Poblano Pepper Cajun-Style Shrimp Po' Boy The soup was overall very delicious. It was a bit salty but the creamy consistency was amazing and the bacon and green onions really gave the dish some nice texture and crunch. The soup also had a slight bitterness which was good as well. I highly recommend this dish. The stuffed pepper had great flavor but lacked texture. The potato and cheese filling was a bit mushy and the pepper being mushy as well didn't help. I wish the pepper had a bit more crunchy texture to accompany the creaminess of the potato and cheese. The sauce was great and had a nice flavor with some heat. The rice and corn was delicious as well. I probably wouldn't recommend this dish. The po' boy was pretty good. The bread was toasted well and gave the sandwich a nice crunch. Shrimp was a bit overcooked and the veggies were kind of just slammed together in some sauce. However, flavor was there. I took a risk in ordering a Louisiana style dish here and it didn't really hit the mark. I would still recommend this dish nonetheless. I was going to give this place 3 stars but the service is what made this place shine. Therefore, 4 stars it is! Overall, not a bad experience and would come back.
(4)
Michaela K.
Was a little disappointed because I always heard good things. Waitress wasn't well trained and the food kept on getting messed up. It was upsetting because it was so talked up. The food wasn't that great but they did have a good selection of beer and their soft pretzel was out of this world. Enough to get another order as desert and not just an appetizer.
(3)
Sean D.
I have eaten here 4 times to make sure it just wasn't a bad day. Unfortunately it has always just been blah. Good: Service was always fantastic, the other reason I am not giving them 1 star. Bad: Not everything on the dishes are listed on the menu. I ordered a grilled cheese and I got it with an onion marmalade on it, just caked with onions. Everything was always over salted and cold. The wait time for food was always way too long for my liking. The famous beer battered bacon I have heard so much about was burnt. Just overall disappointed.
(2)
Sue K.
First of all, we got there at 2:50 and they told us we could only sit in the bar area at the high tables because they were going to having a shift change in about 15 minutes. Other people had to wait also, they should seat people and have management pick up until waitstaff can. Food was just ok. We had the asparagus appetizer, tasted good, would be better with a spicy dip, the wait person never came back for us to ask. I had the wagyo grass fed burger, was just ok, tasted funny to me. Potato wedges were burnt , regular fries were good. I might go there again but would seriously think about it considering the cost.
(2)
Tricia D.
The only reason I'd come back here is for the bacon wrapped dates! Those babies embodied sweet, savory, smokey, and spicy. Delish! Omg, I just realized that delish is almost an anagram for Destihl. So shall I say it was delisht*? Too many other things were off about the meal for me to want to return. Too bad because those desserts sound alluring (pumpkin bread pudding!). - It took way too long for the waiter (who said he was new) to come back for our order. Another waitress actually came by to ask how we were doing because she saw us looking around. - Long wait for the appetizers. How long does it take to send over some cheese curds, bacon wrapped dates, and nachos? The nachos arrived last. I didn't time it, but the meal was a solid hour and 45 minutes. I wasn't crazy about the nachos, but the cheese curds were my second fave after the dates. - My bison burger was extra dry (and I've had juicy bison before), and the bun it came on was too crumbly and dry as well. I took 2 bites and ditched the rest of the bun. And the last and final straw: - My colleague clearly ordered the Carolina pork two ways (the entree is actually like 5 or 6 words on the menu, and he read off every word), but what was served to him was the Carolina wings. He ended up just eating it because it would've taken forever for the correct entree to come out, based on our experience with the apps and entrees. Also, rather than bringing out a free dessert or comp'ing the entree off the bill, we were still charged for the incorrect order, and waiter just kept saying thanks for understanding, and "the wings tasting good?" That is actually the first time in life that I've seen an entree get messed up, and it's still charged on the final bill. Wth? I spoke to a manager, who removed the item from the bill. *the t is silent. Duh!
(2)
Shantanu D.
I went here last Saturday. The service was quite poor. After sitting down, we waited close to 25 min for our order to be taken and another 20 min for our food. Frankly, I was about to walk out but was swayed by the waiters candid apology. Focusing on the food, I ordered the Thai shrimp noodles. The presentation of the food was nice but for the price the serving size was quite disappointing. The noodles tasted okay but I might have been slightly biased given the poor service. For dessert, I got the carrot cake. The carrot cake was quite moist and soft. I recommend it. Overall, poor service experience and above average food. Given that this is champaign, it is a nice casual sit down place.
(3)
Kevin K.
Overall I was very impressed! A local restaurant with a lot of class. The place has amazing quality chefs and waiters, and makes sure to keep the menu fresh, continuously changing the menu. When I went I had the Flank Top Steak. The prices were moderate for what I ordered, but when it came out, I was impressed with the plating! But that was minuscule adoration compared to the taste of the food. Absolutely delectable. I would recommend the place to anyone looking for a classy place to get great food and a full stomach. And if it's still available, you have to try the Beer Battered Bacon!
(5)
Bryant M.
3.5 Stars I certainly like Destihl, but I'm not quite in love with it. I was mentally writing my review all throughout dinner, and it was a solid 4 stars--until the bill came. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to pay for amazing food, but it's gotta be spot-on. Our dinner for 2 was $120, after tip. We had 2 drinks each, an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert. I've definitely paid this much before for a comparable amount of food, but that was at some of my favorite restaurants that make sure every detail is perfect. And everything at Destihl was good, but not perfect. Here's what we had: --Stuffed dates - These had a great sweet/salty/spicy balance, but the barbecue sauce was a bit too much and a little detracting. --Mustard-glazed chicken - The chicken itself was delicious, but there was too much mustard sauce. The fingerling potatoes and green beans were both good, but not well-seasoned. The dish also didn't come out super hot. --Espresso-rubbed steak - The steak was huge and cooked well, and it had great flavor. Not my favorite steak, but still good. --Bruleed banana pudding - They made this gluten-free for me by not having pie crust, and it was phenomenal. It was the star of the show! I am still dreaming of this. The interior of Destihl is very nice--what you'd expect at an upscale gastropub. Our server was also very nice, but he was a bit new and didn't quite know the menu well yet. While I'm not head over heals for this place, I do think it's a great addition to the downtown Champaign scene! I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city... especially for that banana pudding.
(3)
Amy G.
Luckily, we went with family, so we got to eat off each other's plates! Everything was DELICIOUS! We started off with 4 appetizers. The deep fried bacon, fried green tomatoes, soft pretzels, and bacon wrapped dates. All were fabulous and recommended, but the fried green tomatoes were unbelievable! You really can't go wrong with this menu, and the wait staff is really knowledgeable. They helped guide those who were unsure to a good choice. The poblano peppers with chorizo was off the charts great and the Thai chicken wasn't too far behind. The fried bacon and egg burger was out of this world, but you better have a big appetite! One of the teenagers ordered fish and chips. They even elevated fish and chips! Even with all of this food, we ordered dessert! The sour cherry bread pudding and the banana cream pie were my favorites! The carrot cake was a close second! We had a great family dinner and EVERYONE loved what they got and went home happy! And with a family of 14, that almost never happens.
(5)
Carol C.
Great experience, with great food. The service was quick, polite, and professional. I highly recommend the swordfish (unless it's seasonal and/or replaced by the time of this reading).
(5)
Erin G.
Great food, so-so service. We've been here several times, and it seems like once your food comes, the server disappears! I love the rotating beer list, usually something fruity and crisp is available. The Margherita pizza is great as in the spicy pork sandwich.
(3)
Rick M.
1st, let me say that the restaurant is good and the service there is fine. The bar, however, is another story. If you are seated AT THE BAR you may receive decent service. If you are inside close to the bar or (heaven forbid) outside, your service will be terrible. I usually go there for work meetings so I really don't have much choice. The last time I went there were 7 in our group. We waited 40 minutes for our order. We asked a few times and they would "check" and tell us our order "would be right out". Finally, after 40 minutes, they finally told us that our order "must not have been entered" and that we would have to reorder. Tonight, we sat outside. I waited 15 minutes for a waiter who never came (we could see the wait staff and bartenders from where we were seated). A companion kept flailing her arms at the bartenders but they never responded. Finally we went to another establishment down the street. It`s hard to believe they survive in downtown Champaign with service this bad. A little management is needed.
(2)
Valerie T.
This place is very hyped up. I will say the service has been great the few times I have been there. Their beer is great and so are their mixed cocktails. The food is decent, but it wasn't over the top great. It is Usually pretty busy and a very clean establishment.
(3)
Michelle N.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. I love the inside of it and the food is great. The bacon mac and cheese is amazing, and so is the jambalaya, meatloaf, and fish and chips. Everything there is so unique and good! I definitely recommend this place if you are ever downtown and are looking for a nice place to have dinner
(4)
Rob K.
Destihl (a play on De Stijl? no idea) is an inconsistently passable restaurant with a nice line of beers. They're also a brewery, if you're into that sort of thing, and my experience has been that the waitstaff are very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to the stuff on tap. So if you like the idea of a flight of carefully-selected brews and tasty (if not slightly overpriced) appetizers appeals, stop by. Don't bother with sitting down for dinner. I've limped out of dinner here maybe five times in the past several years. Some reviewers described the food as 'delicious' (they are wrong); a few others as 'inconsistent' or 'not great' (correct). As a purveyor of hastily-prepared American slow food, Destihl is unremarkable, and the breadth of their menu probably suffices to describe the care that each dish has received. Some dishes are actually quite nice, if still too expensive, but you're unlikely to know which are worth your time unless you've got a secret decoder ring or something. If you're looking to blow some cash on food downtown, think about what kind of food you really want. You're likely to get the same (or a similar) dish done better somewhere else. It's like a rich man's Applebees -- the food is better dressed and the ambience is less "shopping mall," but your wallet hurts more than it should and your tongue is left just as wanting. Oh, and if you ignore the rest of my advice, don't ignore this: don't get the big chocolate cake for dessert. It is the most over-sized lump of grocery store crap I've ever tasted. Its spot on the dessert menu is downright insulting.
(2)
Lucas W.
Every time I go to Destihl, I just find myself truly enjoying every dish. There are always some really interesting flavors going on and Destihl really does distinguish itself above its competitors, the other sort of new american or gastropub restaurants. Destihl does brew its own beer and it's generally pretty good, always a very reasonable price. You can also get growlers for like $20. Great deal. They generally have one of each type of brew and they're generally pretty solid brews. I got the Bela - Imperial Pilsner - which was great. Good, strong beer but very drinkable. This time I started with the Corn & Chicken chowder which has a bit of chipotle espresso BBQ sauce on top. Wonderful flavors, really was. Very delicate corn flavor mixed with the hint of bbq and given some weight from the just marginally creamy chowder. The soup was nothing short of phenomenal. Must Have. I then had the Farm & Field burger. Really interesting combination of flavors between the lamb and the bison within the patty and then it's topped with just a wonderful combination of delicious ingredients. Who would've thought that combining pesto, sun dried tomato aioli, havarti cheese, soy onions, etc on a burger would produce such an intriguing concoction of flavors!! My bun did come out quite burnt, but the rest of the burger made up for it. I'd get it again in a heartbeat. Only downside, no room for dessert. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Sarah B.
I've been to Destihl a few times and always leave unsatisfied. As a disclaimer I have only gone as a member of a big group. Also, they have always been very good about steering me away from unsafe gluten-y dishes and I've never gotten sick. However, the actual food is lacking. I had dijon chicken the last time I was there and it was burnt and over cooked but the sides were underdone. My boyfriend got a steak which came out a bit too rare and was just a bad cut- riddled with lines of fat. On a previous visit I had fish dish that was so over-seasoned with peppercorn I could hardly eat it. I know several people who swear by their food but it seems to be inconsistent at best.
(2)
Deidra W.
Always stop here when visiting our local friends. I love the poblano pepper with white cheddar mashed potatoes! Hubs had the jambalaya which he says was excellent. Highly recommend. This is a slightly finer establishment. However, casual dress is acceptable.
(5)
George A.
Wonderful service, great food. Our waitress was attentive and accommodating, they had homemade beer battered bacon, which was unbelievable
(4)
Christina K.
This is a microbrewery, which makes me a fan of the restaurant. Every few months, they have different beers to try which is great. The food is pretty good. It is a great restaurant to go with big groups. If you go during lunch on a weekday and they know you're at work, they usually get your food out pretty quickly to make sure you can get back to work in time. Of course that also depends on where you work. I worked right downtown, so it was nice to have Destihl as a lunch option.
(4)
Dana B.
Have dined at Destihl 3 times and have enjoyed the food every time. I highly recommend reservations. On this visit, we were seated right away while a walk-up couple was told it would be a 30 min wait. The lobby area was busy with people waiting to be seated. Started with the Potato Croquettes, which had a nice flavor to them. Also sampled 3 of the beers...really enjoy the 4 oz options so I can try a few different varieties. We were satisfied with our entrees...a pork tenderloin special and the flat iron steak. Great flavors and cooked the way we ordered. Best part is probably dessert. The smores are a fun, gooey mess and the cherry bread pudding was tasty. We dined on a Saturday night, which was also prom night in the area and a busy sports night (we were seated in the bar area), so it was a bit noisy. However, Destihl is a good dining option in the CU area.
(4)
A N.
One of the classiest establishments Champaign has to offer. I come here at least once a week for work or events. They have a diverse menu that should please most people. I'd recommend the skirt steak, Dijon chicken, or burgers. The salmon is very popular with my colleagues as well. They also have a rotating drink list that always seems to offer something new and unique. They take reservations and it usually a good idea, especially on a weekend. If you have space in your diet their appetizers are wonderful (bacon wrapped dates!) also for dessert the chocolate cake is worth a bite (then take it home to eat later).
(4)
Amanda F.
The service here was really slow, however the food and the patio is very nice. We were travelling with our dog and thankfully they allow pets on their patio. The fish tacos we had were phenomenal and the beer was quite tasty as well, however the fact that we had to wait so long for absolutely everything took my rating of them down a star. They weren't busy, so I don't know what the hold up was.
(3)
Laura S.
This restaurant is conveniently located off Neil St in downtown Champaign. My girlfriend and I had heard great reviews from Champaignites and decided to head on down. She ordered the meatloaf and I ordered a spice chicken sandwich. The food was DELICIOUS--even better the next day when it was reheated. The portions were big and it was all very filling. The beers on tap that we chose didn't turn out as tasty as we had hoped, but that happens when you're trying out new beers. She went back with coworkers later and said that everyone was a little disheartened with their beer choices, but that nonetheless the food was still delicious.
(3)
Brandy K.
One of my favorite places in C-U . The strawberry goat cheese salad is my favorite and don't forget the strawberry pale ale.
(5)
Sherry Y.
I think this place is a little bit over-hyped. The burgers are pretty fantastic and quite juicy, but the food takes quite a bit of time to prepare. Not in the this-is-gonna-be-awesome type of preparation, but more of the my-food-is-lukewarm preparation. Given the amount of time you have to put into reservations and fighting the crowds, I say there are better bets elsewhere. However, definitely still worth a taste if you're into fancy interiors and great service.
(4)
Frances C.
It was super busy but that didn't stop the stellar customer service from the bar tender. I had the quesadilla with the strawberry blonde ale. Delish! I decided to appease my sweet tooth and got the lemon berry cake. A-MAZING. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Kyle L.
Been a while since we went here but I said I would post a review and I am finally doing it. We were crossing through there and back from a trip to Indy and is was a good enough experience to return on the way back. The brewer took me on a tour of the facilities and we bantered about state laws and differences between Texas and Indiana. The menu provided option for my entire picky, gluten free eating family. I very much enjoyed the beers. They had a huge selection and not all were perfect, however using beeradvocate and the waiters I was able to parse through the weaker options and pretty much only had great beers. I highly recommend this joint for a nice family restaurant that also has great craft beer.
(5)
Sadie S.
First time to dine. Service was excellent. We had a reservation we were about 15 min late. The host was very gracious and sat us immediately. As an appetizer we had the chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in jalapeño bacon with a sweet, tangy glaze. They were delicious. My date had the fish tacos served with a black bean rice. His only complaint was there could've been more fish in the taco. I had the jambalaya. A perfect combination of spice with a generous mix of sausage and shrimp. The corn muffin was moist and flavorful. Recommend reservation for a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)
David R.
Despite seeming to serve vegetarian needs this place fails to be vegan friendly. You can get one entree and two partial meals that are vegan. They have a vegan burger with a non-vegan bun. Does that make sense on any planet? Same with the portobello sandwich. Crazy. The food is good but vegans don't bother. They don't get it.
(2)
Karen N.
Once a year we go to Champaign and I always dread the restaurant choices. We like this place! Easy going vibe, spacious bar, everything squeaky clean, good beers to sample and the good variety menu that goes along well with everything. The sandwiches, soup and salads were excellent for lunch and there were plenty of people sampling the many items on the menu... which made it impossible for us to get a table the next night without waiting. So next time when I go, I will make a reservation.
(3)
Hannah L.
I think this is the best valued food in champaign. Almost everything I've ever gotten has been full of flavor and delicious- from pizzas to soup and sandwiches and great local meat entrees. Their beer is decent, nothing extraordinary, but they have other beer options besides their own.
(4)
Richard R.
Fantastic beer, food and staff. Spicy shrimp Po Boy, IPA and Banana cream pie was great!
(5)
Amy D.
We had such a wonderful experience. Raul was our server and couldn't have been more helpful. Wasn't sure what to expect but our party of 6 all left very happy. Would go back again but our so graduated. Wish I had know about this great place and Raul sooner.
(5)
Macy W.
This restaurant was highly recommended to me by a friend and did not disappoint! We started with the Reuben eggrolls and they were AMAZING. I'd like to go back and just get those, if I could! The steak I ordered was perfectly cooked, asparagus and potatoes were really well-seasoned. The stuffed poblano peppers were also a hit. What's nice about this restaurant is that the prices are definitely fair for the amount of food you get. Their homebrewed beer selection is great and I'd definitely recommend the Bela Imperial Pilsner. Customer service was superb and the restrooms were VERY clean! I'm looking forward to visiting this restaurant again.
(5)
Jill F.
I hate this place. I have been here twice, and the portion sizes are pretty ridiculously tiny for anything that's not pasta, or bread, or french fries. I got a generous serving of french fries with my chicken sandwich, but the sandwich itself was mostly bread and maybe a half a chicken breast pounded flat. There was not much of the cheese sauce that was supposed to be on the sandwich, either. Did it taste good? Sure, when I managed to get a bite that actually had all the ingredients of the sandwich in it. Also, the top piece of bread was hard, probably because it'd been under the warmer for a while. I feel like they charge high prices for mediocre food; I do like having a spendy meal every now and then, but Destihl is not where I would go when I do.
(2)
Chaz B.
This is now my favorite restaurant in Champaign, followed by O'Charley's and TGI Fridays. The food here is simply delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful. Try the Thai Fried Chicken, spicy and incredibly good. The food is good, the wait staff is friendly and the location is ideal. I simply love Destihl and I didn't even mention the great variety of beers. Oh, I just did.
(5)
Vedran A.
Terrific place to grab some food and a pint. The staff here is extremely friendly and courteous. The food is on par and goes well with some fine brew that is on tap. I like this place for lunch and would definitely eat here again.
(3)
Jonna N.
I came here because their dessert menu had about 3 options with pecans and I love pecans. Their in house brewery interested me too. I haven't been to a restaurant where they offered 4oz sample sizes of beers. I got the "Matt and the Giant Juicy Juicy Mango IPA." I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but this wasn't that bad to me and also it was nice to have just a sample size so I don't waste any beer. My friend and I started out with the appetizer, chorizo stuffed dates. I have never tried these and I thought that These were amazing. The perfect blend of spicy, savory and sweet. I got the Weissenheimer Chicken. I have to compliment the chef on how juicy the chicken was. It was a big piece of chicken and not one bit dry. I thought the green beans weren't cooked as long, but the mashed potatoes were really good. My friend got the Brewmaster's pizza. I liked that it was a personal pizza and they also offer gluten free bread. It's nice that this restaurant is conscious about that. The service was awesome too. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. I felt like some foods had a spicy twist on them which I think is a nice flavor to pair with IPAs. I didn't get to try any desserts because the kitchen closed. I know so sad because I went there wanting the dessert the most, but at least my appetizer and entree was good.
(4)
M B.
Why does everyone hate it here? It's not gourmet. It's a brewery that also serves food. But it's a brewery first. Maybe I've gotten lucky. Maybe I just know how to order at a place like this (potato croquettes are great, pretzels are... pretzels - come on, cheese curds are okay, sandwiches are satisfying). I feel like if you're ordering something that you expect to be high-end here, you're just begging to be disappointed. Very good cocktail menu. Nice that they will fill growlers. More than likely there's something on tap you'll like. Good spot to come after work. I always sit at the bar and I usually see people all around who seem happy - that tends to be a good sign in my book.
(4)
Chris K.
We had 12:30 lunch reservations. Waited to be seated roughly 10 minutes. Sat unattended for 20 minutes. At 1:00 we finally saw a server. This was the first time someone had even acknowleged us. we ordered beers and the waited another 20 minutes for the first round to arrive at our table. 50 minutes after walking in we finally had a drink! At a bar no less! We were celebrating a birthday and would have ordered more rounds of drinks if we could have. we saw the server 3-5 times total and only were able to order 2 beers. My hamburger was raw and an individual kids pizza was terrible. The topping just slid off of the crust. Very sad we chose this option.
(1)
Matt S.
A very good restaurant that works to accommodate their customers and make sure all are well fed. I enjoy the beer battered bacon it is worth the trip all by itself. A great selection of beer and microbrews. I have had the jambalaya and swordfish the times I went both were descent. Swordfish was a bit dry. It's a good atmosphere on the weekends. A bit dead during the week. All in all a great place to eat.
(4)
Rob N.
Visiting from out of town and came here with a small group. Nice location in downtown. The beer selection was OK, but nothing stellar - and one of the beers I got was on the warm side. The ambiance was nice, and it was quiet enough to make it easy to talk with the rest of the table, even though a world series game was on and it was pretty crowded. The food was just mediocre. The fries (which were recommended as a side) were tasty, but a bit soggy. I had a chicken sandwich that was tasty, but the amount of meat was pretty small - it was a thin cut (probably half a breast pounded flat) and I ended up peeling away half the bun, which was twice as big as the cut. My friends seemed to like their food (burger, bacon-wrapped dates), but I don't think they would give it more than 2.5 or 3 stars either. I gave it 3 stars because the prices were OK, but I'm used to California prices - so this might be more the norm for Champaign.
(3)
Joyce T.
Loved the bacon dates appetizer! And the cheese curds. I had the three cheese soup and the half of Cuban sandwich and liked both. The side house salad I ordered was fresh and had a light house dressing. Some of of our family had burgers and all were happy with the meal. One of us had the Thai noodles and liked it. We all shared pumpkin bread pudding with pecan ice cream for desert and it was delicious. It is very clean and has a nice atmosphere. Pretty reasonably priced for a family of 5!
(4)
Sally F.
I love Destihl! We have come here many times and always bring our out of town friends here. It's always busy, and with good reason. The atmosphere is casual, and the food is great and decent quality. Our friends love the samples of their micro-brews. From "Smile Politely," (Champaign-Urbana's online magazine) "DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works of Champaign, Illinois, won a bronze medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for its Strawberry Blonde Ale in the 'Fruit Beer' category." The menu has many options ranging from salads to burgers to pizza. I personally love the beer-battered asparagus and beer-battered fish and chips. My husband has ordered the fish tacos on one occasion and pizza on another. The fish tacos were okay. The pizza is good. They also have a gluten-free menu and a kids' menu. Even though we have never taken our 2.5 year old to a kids' restaurant, and she is used to dining with grown-ups in grown-up restaurants, it's nice that they accommodate young diners with crayons to color on the kids' menu. Even the most patient young foodie could use a quiet distraction while they wait. Glad we have this restaurant in the C-U. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Kate T.
One of the best places in Champaign. It's a great place to take vegan friends. I recommend the warm potato and salmon (minus the salmon and add extra veggies for non meat eaters). I also love the vegan burger without the cheese. Their salads are good portions and are pretty tasty. Lastly, the drinks are great. I love the sake lemon drop. I always request a homemade shandy with their strawberry blonde beer and lemonade.
(4)
Kailey O.
5 stars just for the Iced Tea!!! It wasn't your average passion fruit, it was something better; even garnished with an orange. The service was on the brink of "too good" and the food was excellent. We sat at the bar to watch the Illinois Basketball game; they have about 3-4 TVs to watch sports. There is also plenty of seating. For appetizers, we ordered the cheese curds, pretzel, and lamb meatballs. The cheese curds were amazing, basically just fried cheese with marinara sauce. The pretzel was also good - a little burnt in places but nothing too aggravating. It came with nacho cheese and mustard. Our server had the chef chop it up into bite size so we could share easily. Very thoughtful. For my lunch entree, I ordered the Dijon chicken. It came with two asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes with sausage chopped up in it. for about $10, i would order this over and over again. It truly felt like a hearty, but healthy lunch option, especially relative to other options on the menu. The price cannot be beat.
(5)
Carlos F.
Wings, spicy, asparagus awesome, corned beef eggroll awesome. Let me tell you, that asparagus was insanely good a slight heart attack but insanely good so I will mandate that you give that sucker a try. The corned beef egg roll was well balanced and meatty! Yum!
(4)
Justin B.
Beer battered bacon. I could stop there, but there is even more. The beers are delicious and $5 per craft pint. There is an espresso-rubbed ribeye which I did not have but looked incredible. The dijon chicken was phenomenal. The staff was great. I told them it was my coworkers birthday and they surprised her with s'mores! Good ones! Cast iron roasted marshmallows and an awesome chocolate sauce. Cant wait to go back!
(5)
Kenneth O.
Best roast chicken I have ever had. Slurped the bones. Bread pudding dessert was also great. Beer was fabulous. Glad I stumbled on this place. If I ever come to Urbana again, I will definitely seek it out.
(5)
Kristen W.
I'm not a beer drinker, so my opinion is based solely on food, atmosphere, and service. First of all, their menu is extremely imaginative and varied. I had very hard time deciding on what to order on my two visits here. Be careful when they ask what kind of salad you want when you order - because they're going to charge you ~$8 for it if you bite. The food has been sensational, but they tend to overseason some dishes. Several people in our party ordered Caesar salads (which is half a head of romaine topped with a fried egg) and they were grossly over peppered. The pulled pork from my Carolina pork two ways was the spiciest pulled pork I've ever tasted in my life, so much so that I couldn't take more than two bites in a row. It wasn't a problem ubiquitous throughout our group or between visits, though. The atmosphere is very nice. It's dark and clean. The service has always been good.
(4)
Gina R.
Destihl, Destihl, Destihl. Their food is just bad. So bad. I gave them two chances and I just could not ever do that again. The beer/cheese soup is a salty, goopy mess. The blue cheese and steak quesadilla would have been edible if it wasn't absolutely sopping wet with oil. The burger is bland and if you're lucky (note my sarcasm), you'll get a few nice, chewy chunks of fat in there. I got some kind of s'mores dessert and it was a cheap mess. How can you make a bad s'mores dessert??? It's cruel! Their menu is so awesome, but they're SUCH a tease! They cannot execute anything well. I gave them two stars: one, for the selection in the menu and the other, because I haven't had any beer here and it is kind of a brewery I guess so I can't judge them there. Also, people seem to like their deep-fried bacon, but I personally cannot bring myself to put something like that in my body, but then again I did eat at Destihl TWICE *facepalm* Oh, Destihl. How badly did I want to love you, but you were not willing.
(2)
Jamie L.
I don't know many people that like Destihl. I think it's a nice, relaxed place to go for different cuisine than you would find a chain restaurant plus they have some pretty stellar brews. The beer changes often, so don't fall in love with anything. I've had my heart broken more than once by their ever-changing menu. The plus side is I'm forced to try something new when they switch things up. Destihl is a nice spot to go to relax and have a drink. They have a small selection of small plates that are interesting and mostly good. I've never had bad service here and love the fact that they validate parking!
(4)
Michael F.
This place is FANTASTIC! We came on a Friday night, probably one of their busiest. We called ahead for reservations (highly recommended) and only waited at the bar for only 20 minutes. The beer selection is wonderful and they taste great; I had the mango IPA and it was mind blowing! Our server Aaron was incredibly professional and knowledgeable; he confidently and accurately described every item on the menu we asked about. I had the beer battered jalapeño bacon and fried egg prime beef burger. Mouth orgasm! So good. My wife and her cousin were born and raised in this area. They proclaimed with confidence that this is the best restaurant in the area I couldn't agree more. Try this place!!
(5)
Clifford S.
The key to getting to eat here is to have a reservation. Last year we came with a reservation once and without another time. When we did not have a reservation we were simply turned away even though we could see tons of empty tables. Recently we left the game early and called them from the parking lot at 2:45 and made a reservation for 3:15. We were promptly escorted to a roomy booth which really worked out because other people ended up joining us. We had to wait for a while for the other people to show up and the staff was very amenable to it, acted like that was just fine. They even held back our entree order until they got there. We liked the deviled eggs for the appetizer, they were really good. I had the chili which was very disappointing, I wouldn't get it again. My wife and I split the Cubano sandwich which was Okay. Nice big space, great staff and if you have a reservation, great place. But the food is kindof college town fare which the space is not. Too bad as last time we were here the food was better.
(3)
Liz P.
I have eaten at Destihl several times - it is consistently pretty good, occasionally exceptional, and rarely subpar. The staff is always really nice, they are almost aggressive about refilling soda (glasses rarely get to empty, and aren't left empty for more than a minute or two!), reservations and parking are easy, the booths are comfy, and there are some really good items on the menu (Cuban sandwich, the burgers, the ancho chicken, and the huevos rancheros are great; the deep fried bacon can be skipped).
(4)
Jordan G.
One of the few good, non-chain food options in Champaign, IL. Their cheese curds are to die for and their white sangria is delicious. On busy weekend (Mom's + Dad's weekends, Graduation, Holidays, etc.) reservations are a MUST! They also sell growlers of their beer!
(4)
Channa P.
I've been a bad yelper and late on this review, but let me just say I can still taste the delicious beer I drank in this place over a month ago. I was in town for a recruiting visit and found this place on yelp. My food was great (try the lamb meatballs) and my beer was even better. Lots of great winter brews and an excellent spirits list as well. If you are in town like me for work, avoid the mediocre campus options. Come here, drink, be merry. Oh and sit at the bar... this little baby has a wait and reservation list.
(4)
Anne W.
Update: Stopped by again. Still disappointing. Their brussel sprouts are baked but watery. Ick. I did try their scallops.. that was better on top of quinoa. Not the best.. but certainly nothing to write home about. And the funniest thing I observed.. I don't recall seeing any beer on their menu even though they have their own beer distillery. What?!! **************************************************Â****************** Maybe it's my big city experiences that make me not excited about this place. I had such high expectations and went here for dinner.. I'm never around anymore BUT I am here shortly for work. Tried their skirt steak which is a special... it was with a demi glace and green beans. Really not that great.. it's okay. I tried three of their red wines: syrah, pinot noir, and tempranillio. All were not that good. Pricey though for Champaign.. compared to Black Dog the previous evening... meh.
(2)
Meghan D.
Really good burgers, especially the bun. The fries were really good as well. Drinks were just okay. (Not anything special or mixology)
(4)
Karla L.
Awesome beer. Awesome service. Incredible staff. If I lived in the area I'd go there very chance I got. Unfortunately it was a business trip and I won't be back in the area in the foreseeable future. 3 people in my party had the t-bone and said it was fabulous. I had the strawberry and goat cheese salad. Wow! Never thought I could rave about a salad but it was amazing. Don't think you can go wrong at this restaurant. The menu holds an amazing collection of foods and certainly something for every palette.
(5)
Genevieve T.
I thought it was a bit overrated and overpriced.
(3)
Eileen M.
Came to destihl for brunch (have been several times for dinner), and they do not disappoint. Started off with beer battered bacon as an appetizer with a delicious Bloody Mary. The brunch menu is small but the frittata and French toast we are were delicious! Will definitely go back!
(5)
Lena T.
Modern, trendy and most importantly, DELICIOUS! Destihl is definitely among my favorite in Champaign. I've been here multiple times and have never left disappointed. My taste buds and tummy agree. It's a good go-to, for anything from dinner to brunch; date or large group outing. My staples for whenever I visit: beer battered bacon, cheese curds and the fresh berry napoleon. If you get a chance, check out the weekend brunch. They have a killer strawberry french toast entree that is to die for. Prices are a little on the higher end, relative to a college student's budget but overall, not too expensive. Staff is friendly, accommodating, and fast. The only downside is, it can get pretty crowded, especially during dinner/weekends/special occasions, so make sure to make reservations!
(5)
Danny J.
Great service by our waiter. He knew the menu in & out. Took me so long to choose what to order because they have too many good looking options on their menu! Finally decided to get the bacon, blue cheese pizza but switched out the blue cheese for Goat cheese! One of the best pizzas I've ever had! So much creamy goodness in this pizza.
(5)
Rebecca R.
Got seated right away. Menu is a good mix of traditional and some unique items. I had the skirt steak. It was good, but didn't really care for the seasoning. However, it was prepared just as I asked. The BEST part of our experience was the incredible service. Alex is the best. We will ask for him when we return. All-in-all, a very pleasant experience.
(4)
I. T.
The best thing on the menu was the fries. I continue to be underwhelmed by this restaurant. This is my third time, and enough is enough, three strikes you're out. I went here for dinner this evening, I am even writing this from the table. I have had the Thai chicken, fish and chips, burger and fries. All of these were subpar with the exception of the fries. Temperature wise the food wasn't hot and even though I shared that the food was not good, no one ever came to the table to address my displeasure. The waiter was fairly attentive, but the food was BLAND. People often recommend this place, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the attraction is. Possibly it is the location or the ambiance, but shouldn't it be for the food? I'm incredibly disappointed and will need to go elsewhere to find acceptable nourishment.
(1)
Pat E.
I've been here twice and both times I left underwhelmed by my experience. I went here in a group of six on a Friday night. My neighbors, another couple, and my date The restaurant was surprisingly dead in my opinion, but after our service and food...I can see why. The word/phrase/reaction Yelp uses with their rating system is perfect: A-OK. We sat down and ordered drinks. Water and beer for the whole table. We all were deciding what to get. My date went with the Ancho Chicken Salad (she loves avocado too...score!), and among the other items ordered were the Kobe (Bryant) Burger (I bet it regrets that night in Colorado...hahah), Stuffed Poblano Peppers, Weissenheimer chicken, Flat Iron Steak, and last but certainly not least...I went with the Cedar Plank Salmon. It was excellent! I was pleasantly surprised. I also added the Greekish Salad to my meal which was delicious and amazingly 5.75. I guess olives are like gas...price just keeps going up. I asked for the dressing on the side for both my salmon and salad, and our waiter went 1-2 on that one. I guess in baseball that's good...for this Yelper....not so good. This place is a Gastropub...whatever the hell that means. The food comes with a lot of flair and the taste is there, but if someone were to ask me, "How was Destihl?", I'd tell them "eh". The second time I came here I was paid for (hell ya starving teacher) and I ordered the Greekish salad (again) and Red Chili Braised Pork. The salad was great, but I asked for the dressing on the side and got in on the salad. The pork was awesome. I was no doubt influenced by my brothers' recent pork tenderloin dinner ideas. I have a ton of C-U places I can't wait to try. I am glad I tried this place again just to make sure the first time wasn't an anomaly. It wasn't. I would not recommend going here because there are much better options LITERALLY a stone's throw away. You could throw a stone to Guido's, KoFusion, and BGT if you crow hop!
(2)
Rachael C.
One of my new favorites. I've been twice now- once for lunch and once for dinner- and have been very impressed by the service. The waitstaff has been extremely helpful, knowledgeable about the menu (both beer and food) and very attentive. My favorite thing on the menu so far has to be the Flat Iron Quesadilla. I wasn't that excited about it when I ordered (I planned to share with my mom, and that's what she wanted) but I was extremely impressed. It's not your typical quesadilla- it comes deconstructed and has components like bleu cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette. At the risk of sounding like a total weirdo, I have to confess that I have been thinking about this quesadilla A LOT and cannot wait to go back and have it again! :) The beer is good and the atmosphere is very modern and chill. I'd definitely recommend this place and I will be back again soon!
(4)
Brittany M.
Fabulous restaurant! Ordered the Ruben egg rolls to start and it just continued to be amazing through our dinner! BBQ chicken pizza and fish and chips were really yummy! Update* went last night and had the stuffed poblano peppers and the wagyu burger and the carrot cake .... All were to die for! I don't like stuffed bell peppers and I cleaned the plate with the poblanos! Well done desthil!!!
(5)
David W.
went here twice, got pizza the first time, ribs the second. The pizza is quite satisfying and good if you order it, I would recommend that over the ribs. The ribs were kinda mediocre, but they were still decent, but not worth the price. Got a bunch of beers both times I went, they have rotating beers and home brewed beers that stay. None of them were that special. It is a nice place though, waitress and atmosphere is more on the refine side.
(3)
Melissa A.
I've only eaten here a couple times. The food is good and they have some interesting specialty beers on occasion. I don't really go here to eat, even though the food is good and nothing's wrong with it. It's just not my go to place when my friends and I want to go out somewhere. Perhaps I will update my review the next time I eat there. For now, this is all I've got. 3/15/2015 update: I came here for Sunday brunch with a large group of friends. I had half a Cuban sandwich and the strawberry goat cheese salad. Both very delicious. Although, I think I'll order the French toast next time, it looked so good! :) Brunch is a big thumbs up.
(4)
Kristen C.
We didn't eat here but I sampled almost all of their beers... and I loved them! You can either purchase the pint or the 4oz samplers which was a great way to try all their brews. I didn't have one beer I didn't like. The atmosphere was fantastic and the waiter was very informative about the beer. Another major plus was the bathrooms were private and exceptionally clean! If I'm in the area again I'll be back!
(5)
Jessica Y.
We were sat in one of the bar high tops for an 830 Saturday night dinner. Service was prompt and casual. I had a martini but would probably stick to beer in the future. Different beer portions allow for different tastings. The dessert list looked interesting but we were too full to try anything. CHORIZO STUFFED DATES ($5.95 for 3 small dates) - The dates had a nice smokiness flavor to them and did not need the sauce which over powered the dish. DUCK CONFIT POT PIE ($15.95) - At first I thought it looked soupy but once I started eating it realized the vegetable to sauce ratio was well balanced. The crust is non traditional as a pillow of herb puff pastry sitting on top of the vegetables (duck confit, roasted golden beets, brussels sprouts, pearl onions, sweet potatoes, green beans, fingerling potatoes, and swiss chard). A tad too salty but otherwise a playful, hearty dish. CUBAN-STYLE PORK ($9.95) - A good portion with juicy ham and all the fixings. Come in for some local beer and casual bites.
(3)
Olbelina U.
Hit or miss for me. Sometimes I have something I really enjoy, like one of their burgers, sandwiches, or steaks. I specially like the cuban sandwich, and the smallest cut of steak that comes with asparagus and potatoes. However, I have gotten stuck with some very salty meatloaf/fish, or a greasy pile of mashed potatoes. So I would stick to sandwiches and burgers. The appetizers are tasty but all high in calories, and pair good with the beer. The desserts are HUGE. I love the carrot cake, which is really why I go back. I like the sampler size beer because their house inventions can be too out-there for a full glass.
(3)
Leo K.
Great food. Average service that was a little slow. The hour long wait for a table was well worth it, but with better service they could turn over tables much quicker. BUT.....the food is worth coming back for..... the beer batter deep fried bacon and egg burger was simply amazing!
(4)
Andy O.
Food was great, service was excellent. Atmosphere was perfect for a nice evening out! I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Anne G.
We walked in for valentines day and the hostess wasn't very nice but we got a seat at the bar and were served right away. The bartenders were friendly and the service was pretty quick. The bloody Mary's were amazing and they came with a three ounce sampler of a beer of choice. They had a pretty large ramge of beers including IPAs. The food was great, we got a salad and a burger with cheese curds as an apitizer. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Lisa M.
Bloody Marys were great, stuffed dates were spicy yet delicious, Mango IPA yum! Wait staff worked together well. An exceptional experience for a first time visit!
(4)
Rachel B.
I really enjoyed this place. We had a large group of people celebrating my grandma's birthday. There was about 15 of us so we had our own separate room. The service was really great! I wish I knew the waiters name because he went above and beyond to make sure we all had what we need. It was fairly fast service as well for being as many of us as there were. I liked the menu selection here to. Lots of gourmet and different food items to choose from, not the same old stuff you see at most restaurants. They have a unique twist to your average or popular dishes. Pretty cool. Now on to the food.... They had me at beer battered jalapeño bacon! Omg it was delicious! We also tried the beer battered asparagus which was equally as good. For my meal I got the green chile mac and cheese with pork. It was good, I wish I would've ordered something with a bit more substance (not much meat in it) but I guess that was my own fault! The flavor of what I had was great though. I also tried my moms stuffed pablano pepper which was great! I wish I would've gotten that. Everyone seemed to love their food here. Oh, and the carrot cake is TO DIE FOR! I highly recommend it, the pieces are as big, if not bigger, than my head! The prices were also fair. I really enjoyed this place! Wish there was more places like this (for this same price range) around Schaumburg.
(4)
Kirsten W.
While our server was a little slow with refills (it was Saturday at 7pm!) Everything was awesome! We had skillet nacho app amazing! And pesto pizza on gluten free crust. Beer samples and very knowledgable waiter in his suggestions based on what my boyfriend likes as domestic beer. Very fun date night and only spent $40 and that was with tip! We will be returning !!!
(5)
Alex U.
Worst service in Champaign. We spent three hours for dinner: late reservation, drinks took nearly an hour, food took an hour, and it took them half an hour to process our checks. It was a comedy of errors. Food was average at best.
(1)
Matthis H.
I have only eaten here four times. All four were great. Good food for sure. The spot has a chain feel to it honestly, but the staff is nice and efficient. I am not a big fan of their beers, but to each their own eh? I live around the corner, and well.. it's kinda funny that it took me a year to finally walk in the door. Glad I did. Can be a bit pricey for the amount of actual food, but I should be grateful that I'm not allowed to gorge on the goodness of their food. I"m happy to see the diversity in downtown. Not just another bar that is.
(4)
Drew H.
Destihl has a HUGE menu. This is a great place to go if you want options. They've got burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, pizza, a bunch of appetizers and more. They also have a gluten free menu which is pretty rare in Champaign. They have a gluten free crust for pizzas, but it is baked in the same oven as the regular pizzas. They also have a great brunch menu on weekends. I've come here a bunch of times and overall I've been really happy with my experiences. I've had two bad experiences though. Once I got some entree that was pretty worthless and one time I had a waiter that continually messed up our orders throughout the course of dinner. Besides those two occasions, the food and service have both been great. Food recommendations: Appetizers - Ancho Chips & Dip Bacon & Brussels Chorizo Stuffed Dates Salads - Ancho Chicken Salad Thai Steak Salad Entrees - Dijon Chicken Cedar Plank Salmon (If you're in the mood for something light and simple) Gaucho Skirt Steak (The best option on the menu!) Drinks - The Bloody Mary is pretty delicious I almost always get the gaucho skirt steak. I've never been disappointed with it! Again, if you want a place with lots of options and good food, definitely check out Destihl!
(4)
Colleen M.
I tried out Destihl this past weekend and it was definitely one of the best meals I've had since moving to Illinois. For our appetizer, we had the warm pretzels. I'm a big fan of the cheese sauce they come with and they were gone pretty quickly. I also sampled the fried cheese curds and they were tasty as well. For my meal, I had the fried egg BLT. You really can't go wrong with bacon, a fried egg and avocado on a sandwich. The garlic dressing on the sandwich was great too. I was really pleased. I ordered an iced tea and I think it's my own fault for not looking at it on the menu, but I expected a regular iced tea. Their iced tea is an orange tea that has a pretty strong orange flavor. I wasn't a fan. Our server exchanged it for a soda and I wasn't charged for it. Definitely give it a try if you're in the area.
(5)
Lisa B.
While not overly impressed with what I had to eat I was impressed by the service and atmosphere. I detected horseradish in the salad dressing and she immediately took care of it. I hate horseradish and anything that even remotely resembles it. My Grandmother had me grind horseradish roots once and it was awful. My eyes watered and the stench was terrible. Every since then I have not been able to tolerate it. I had the house salad with a portabello mushroom sandwich. I didn't think the sandwich had much flavor. We also ordered an appetizer sampler that included fried asparagus, bacon deviled eggs and some kind of egg roll. All of which I thought tasted good but I didn't have that "oh wow" thing going on either. It was a special deal for restaurant week. You got 2 of each item for $10.00. Some special huh? I would definitely go back and try again and hopefully I can give them more stars. The service was really good.
(3)
Cher S.
I like their beers and you can get samplers. They have some great dishes like the fish and chips, the salmon salad, and burger but stay away from the meat loaf.
(4)
Liz R.
After a long work day, my friend J and I needed some booze and sustenance... and she came up with yet another Champaign winner! Interior is stylish, minimal and dark. Our booth was large and comfy. Our waiter was knowledgeable and just friendly enough. Can quickly become pricey if you stay a while and dive into the small plates and drinks. I was overwhelmed by the drink menu and ended up going with my old standby, the dirty Martini. My first one with organic corn vodka, which made for a smooth sipping drink. Loved it. J tried two different drinks (so I got to try them too) over the course of our dinner, both of which were delicious and pleasantly spiked with liquor. We tried two different apps - the Beer Battered Bacon and the House Olives (our 2nd choice when we were told they'd just run out of the deviled eggs). The bacon was not greasy at all, and the maple chipotle drizzle was the perfect topper. The olives were meh, just not necessary - and I don't think my opinion was swayed too much by the fact that I really, really wanted those deviled eggs! Next up, a la carte soup. I went with the Beer & Cheddar soup, which was close to great with discernible beer and cheese flavors. J chose the soup du jour, Cream of Asparagus - excellent fresh asparagus flavor here. Both soups were wonderfully creamy. Bowls were decent-sized for $5. My entree was a Thai shrimp and noodle dish (I'm a sucker for coconut curry sauces). Nice amount of shrimp, but no noticeable spice to the dish. A bit of a disappointment. J's beer-brined double pork chop was an amazing dish, not to mention huge. Perfectly pink pork. We parked in a nearby parking garage as the lot across the street was full. I would return and try everything new (other than my Martini).
(4)
RePhoned I.
I've been here a few times and I've had good and sub par experiences. I'm not saying that I didnt like the food but the service could be a little better.
(3)
Bobbi W.
The food was really good and the waitstaff was very concerned with making sure everyone was happy. I like the prices as well, thumbs up here.
(5)
Tara G.
This restaurant is expensive but definitely worth it for a special occasion. Great appetizers and entrees. The mixed drinks are incredible - try the saki lemon drop martini, it's amazing. The service is great. The food is great. For celebrations, my first thought is always destihl.
(5)
Emily M.
Just got told that the wait for two would be 15-20 minutes for brunch - there were four tables, top, in the place. This is the third time this same situation has happened. Their food is mediocre (a glorified Applebee's or TGIF) and continually is incredibly over or under salted/seasoned. Who would wait 20 minutes in an empty restaurant for this disappointing food?
(1)
William S.
Real good food along with exceptional service, good place for casual dining... Best of all were a trio of Beef Filets that were the best I have ever had, tender, flavorful, exceptional quality meat... Burgers were a hit with the kids who wrestled today.... Beer we tried were great! Service was top notch.. Very pleasant dining experience.. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Gail T.
The beer was tasty. The pizza wasn't that great, especially for the price. Wouldn't order it again.
(3)
Andrea T.
I love the Destihl in Bloomington-Normal so I had to give this one a try. A co-worker and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. The place was not overly busy but had plenty of business. I really liked the decor of the place and the booth setup was neat. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. I was happy to see that they have the same menu as the one in Bloomington-Normal with only their beer selection being different. We started with the Beer Battered Asparagus which was delicious! I was tempted to get my usual, the White Cheddar Stuffed Poblano Peppers but decided to change it up a bit. I went with the Potato Crusted Rainbow Trout. It had wonderful flavor! My co-worker got my usual and she loved them too. We decided to go for dessert as well. I ordered the Creme Brulee. I was not very impressed by this. It was a bit on the runny side and I am used to creme brulee being smooth and creamy. Overall, great food and service! Love this place!
(4)
Lindsay S.
I'm in town for work and have been to this restaurant seven times in two weeks. I love almost everything on their menu from the burgers, chili, chorizo-wrapped dates, battered asparagus, Brussel sprout salad and banana creme pie. They serve Wagyu beef burgers or lamb/bison-delicious! I'm not a fan of the Dijon chicken but that's the only thing that hasn't been delicious. My coworkers enjoy the fish tacos a lot. The service here has been great, too. This is my favorite restaurant in Champaign by far.
(5)
Shaobo S.
You really can't go wrong here. The beers they have on tap are always spectacular and the ones brewed in store are even better. It's an all-around homie environment, haters are stopped at the door.
(5)
Sherwin C.
This is become one of my favorite places to dine in Champaign. Good prices, consistent cooking, good service, and not too busy on Sunday mornings. I noticed some people complained about the prices, but for the quality of food, this is really much cheaper than something comparable in the Chicago suburbs although the portions aren't exactly huge. But it's pretty in line with prices and portion sizes at other restaurants in downtown. The menu is quite unique for the area and similar to what you'd find in a lot of Milwaukee restaurants. I really enjoyed everything from the American Kobe burger to the Beer-battered cod. The textures and variety of flavors were great and not too salty. The sandwiches and soups were also pretty light and refreshing. I particularly enjoyed the tomato soup and corn & chicken chowder soups. The dessert choices were quite varied but i was so full I didn't have room for more than one. The stout ice cream sandwiches had a really nice stout ice cream between brownie circles. It was a perfect way to end the meal. Given the quality of cooking and good prices, I'll definitely be back here soon. Update: Upon visiting a few more times, I still think this is a good restaurants but there are a couple notes. The price complaints I see from some reviews may be due to the varying sizes of some dishes. For example, the thai mussels appetizer is quite a bit smaller than some other items although the prices are similar. Also, the chocolate cake is a giant portion compared to the bread pudding. I'm not a big fan of anything Asian themed I tried here as I found the flavors to be too strong. I prefer it to be more delicate although some patrons may appreciate the bold flavors. I wasn't a big fan of the pizzas either. They were large in size but the dough was too moist for me and I didn't like the flavor combinations I tried. I did like the teas I tried as they were high quality organic tea bags. The coffee is a mix of two Kenyan coffees with a full bodied flavor from their supplier in Bloomington served with fresh cream. The shrimp frittata comes with a generous amount of shrimp flavored with shrimp stock, probably the best frittata I've ever eaten. The cuban style pork sandwich was done well but not as legendary as other reviewers make it out to be. The Potts roast was also done well but not worth a special note. The potato crusted rainbow trout was done well with good presentation but I wish the portion size could have been a little larger. The dijon chicken was moist and flavored well but, the real star of the dish was the asparagus that was cooked and flavored excellently. The apple fritters dessert had crispy fritters but the toughness of the peel wasn't that appealing. If it were substituted with something like apple chips or churros, I probably would have enjoyed it more. If the goal is to keep an apple-like look, possibly fried colored dough is a better substitute. The chocolate cake is a whole pound with chocolate layering instead of cream. This was done well and not overly sweet, a very good choice for chocolate lovers. The sour cherry bread pudding was done well, a little too sour for me but a solid choice. I would've preferred a couple elements to vary the texture inside but that might not fit the overall theme of the dish.
(5)
Kathleen M.
Another fun new restaurant we tried in Champaign! My daughter who lives there is moving to Spain so we are letting her choose whenever we go down for football games and she has been picking some winners. This is a sleek, clean, modern space. There are beer vats as you enter which add a nice vibe of authenticity. We were seated right away at a very comfortable table for the four of us. We tried the deviled eggs app and some gingery egg rolls, we all split them and liked them. Both had a bit of a kick, the egg roll sauce had the most kick and I found this out after I had drizzled it all over mine but I still enjoyed it immensely, I just drank some extra water. Everyone tried a cup of soup because hey, soup is good food. I gobbled up every bit of my beer cheese soup, so light and flavorful. I loved it! With my swordfish tacos I had an amazing iced tea, it was just a lovely flavorful tea with an orange slice. The swordfish tacos were divine but if you are a bit of a spice wimp (like me) you might want the guac on the side, that is where the heat was for sure! I ended up just eating the fish out of the taco, it was just too picante for me! I adored the rice, bean, corn side dish. Just delicious! For dessert, we all split a sour cherry bread pudding and I really liked it. It came with ice cream and it was just smooth, sweet and a bit of tangy with that nice cold creamy spot of the ice cream. I am not a huge bread pudding fan but I think I could become one! This was a very enjoyable meal. The team had played lousy, my daughter is moving, I needed a culinary hug and this was it! I would definitely come back but sadly it won't be with my youngest! Why don't you meet us so I won't miss her?
(5)
Joshua N.
Beer is pretty good. I'm not normally impressed with the offerings of small brewpubs, but this place is OK. Liked every beer I was served. Appetizers were good. I enjoyed the bacon-wrapped dates. Things fell apart a bit when it came to our main meal. My hamburger was overcooked and uninteresting. No condiments for my sandwich. And waitstaff sorta evaporated once our food was delivered. This is a restaurant I would visit to sit at the bar and enjoy beer and snacks. But for lunch or dinner, I'd take my meal elsewhere.
(3)
Samuel M.
This place has great food, wonderful beer and a really pleasant outdoor dining area. Beer battered asparagus is amazing and their Banana Cream Pie is killer! Only knock is sometime the food takes a little while, but who could notice or care with so many great beers to try! Best place for dinner to start your night out in the downtown area.
(4)
Irtefa F.
Easily the best Wagyu burger ever! Ask the chef to replace the bleu cheese with goat cheese. It tastes great!
(5)
Tati B.
Always happy when I go there. Great beer selection, great food selection, and great service. The only reason it's not 5 stars in my book is because the main dining room still kinda feels like a big chainy restaurant, and I'm more of a fan of independent ones.
(4)
Eric K.
Shiny, new, and inviting, Destihl is definitely one of Champaign's nicest restaurants. It's often the gathering point for business events or company dinners, which brings a lot of patrons to this restaurant. There's a good selection of beer that's, judging by the brewing equipment in the restaurant, presumably brewed in-house (and maybe some off-site) as well as a decent menu showcasing modern American fare. Usually, a drinking establishment that decides to start cooking ends up making subpar food, while a restaurant that makes good food has a lackluster beer selection. Of course, this isn't always the case, but I usually don't go to bars for their food, and restaurants for their beer. Destihl, however, strikes a good balance between the two camps. I had a chicken pot pie when I went there, while my dining companion had stuffed peppers. Both were perfectly fine, but nothing to write home about. The menu is made up of conventional American dishes, but unfortunately nothing too unique. You'll find everything you want here for a great meal, but nothing that truly catches your eye. Overall, the service was excellent, our waiter had insightful knowledge on the beer selections, and the atmosphere here was just right. I feel like their menu is a bit too unoriginal to justify the price, but regardless, I'm sure you'll enjoy your meal here anyways.
(4)
Dave G.
Occasionally, very rarely if truth be told, one finds oneself in Champaign, home of University of Illnois at Urbana-Champaign Campus and gateway to the high plains. It is one of those lovely little Midwestern university towns where one could spend a nice life far from the cut and thrust of city life. When in Champaign, one could do worse than to eat at Destihl. The place is modern brew pub of the sort that was popular in the late 90s in fleshpots like San Francisco. Get their flight, it is quite good. The Amber is sweet and floral. They serve nice gastro pub fare. I had the fish (of some sort) that was quite nice. Mid-west prices. Sit on the corner patio in front of Destihl, sipping their beer and watching the sunset on downtown Champagne. Good times. (Whew! So snobby!)
(3)
Rachel S.
I just found out that Destihl doesn't have a dedicated fryer for their french fries and other "gluten-free" offerings. And they have stopped offering a GF menu. They were obviously trying to cater to the trendy gluten-free crowd, but not to Celiacs.
(2)
Alex C.
Brilliant. The staff was super friendly, the atmosphere was awesome, and the food was spectacular. I ordered the Thai fried chicken. It was literally a half a chicken on top of a bed of some yummy, spicy rice. I loved it. Ordered the fried asparagus for appetizer. The waitress was very informative and was spot on with suggesting the dishes. I absolutely recommend this place for first timers.
(5)
Marshall B.
I've come here on a number of occasions, usually work-related. The food is tasty and the appetizers are creative. As long as you're seated away from the bar, it's usually quiet enough to carry on civilized conversation. However, The beer is pretty disappointing, particularly for a brewery. As a result, this place is not my first choice for a night out, but makes for a good dinner in general.
(3)
Lindsey G.
Oh, Destihl. How I wish you were anything above average. I had a delicious brunch at Destihl once (while sitting outside) and it ruined me for life, because for that reason, I feel compelled to keep giving the place a chance at serving me a delicious indoor dinner that's worth the price tag. So far, that just hasn't happened, or even come close. I might join friends here for dessert or for drinks and an appetizer, but I've learned my lesson with dinner. I think.
(2)
Andy L.
skirt steak is amazing have to try slightly spicy but great flavor. Brussel sprout salad has to right combo of sweet and sour. Topped off with cherry bread pudding 5 star for just that.
(5)
Nate S.
Good food but great beer. There are two locations one in Champaign and the other in Bloomington. They both have unique food and drinks. I've never had anything I didn't like here.
(4)
Dean W.
Highly recommended! Nice bar with a great selection of their beers. I particularly like the Nut Brown Ale but there are several other styles to choose from. As for dining, we love Destihl. This time we had the Reuben Egg Rolls which were excellent. I had the Chicken Corn Chowder which was one of the best I've ever tasted. For dinner I had the Swordfish dinner. It has a very nice and spicy glaze and is served on a bed of arugula and other spiced veggies. Very impressive, very tasty, but it was a little small which the server told me ahead of time. Not the best choice if you are looking for a big meal, but a very good dish overall. My friend had the Pork rib and pulled pork dish with cole slaw and potatoes. I was very good, had a nice kick to it. Everything is served with a modern flair and a unique flavor profile. This is not your typical boring brew pub food. Very stylish. The atmosphere is nicer that most brew pubs and is great for a nice dinner out with friends. I am never disappointed at Destihl!!
(5)
Michael B.
Great food. Great service. Decent wine list. And an extensive gluten free menu to boot. Our go-to place when we are in Champaign.
(4)
Crazy G.
What a great meal and fun time last night. Server was Alex and he was outstanding! started with a flight and a drink and the battered bacon, YUM Hubby had the skirt steak I had the jambalaya topped it off with dessert and we never do that, pastry with fresh fruit and lemon curd We did not want to leave and can not wait to go back!
(5)
Anthony D.
Beer-Battered Asparagus, Craft Beer, and great food on the menu. You can't beat it.
(5)
Paul D.
Man, Champaign (my hometown) now has two brewpubs within a block of each other. Houston (where I live now) has none. Why can't the 4th largest city in the US have a brewpub? I digress. There is a sterile and industrial atmosphere here. One that I am seeing in more in more bars, and I am not a fan. The style does not work here looks like the pub and owners are being cheep. Seems cold to me. The bar is to the left with some tables and booths. To the right on the Neil St side is another dinning area. The brewing equipment can be seen from the Church St side. A few TV's above the bar, but unintrusive. Relaxed, but sterile and pretty much the exact opposite of the Blind Pig. Which oozes uniqueness from every wood poor. The service is fast, but they are not very interested in much. I want someone working at a brewpub to at least show interest in their products. Here it seems they want to shuffle you in and out with a ticket and some tips. Unimpressed on this front. The food is fairly bland and generic. Some pizzas, some steaks, some chicken, some seafood. A little of everything. They do nothing good, but nothing bad either. There is a wide variety of beers available. Including a cask mild, which I would have jumped at if I had seen it before leaving. The rest is about 14 taps in all styles. A blonde, hefeweizen, a scotch ale, a few stouts and IPAs (some imperial), lots of Belgian styles. Though nothing is really that good, and some have obvious flaws. Overall, clearly the second best brewpub on the block. Almost the definition of average to me. The food does not really excite me either. I really can't see myself coming here to often over the many other great beer destinations and restaurants within walking distance. Though cheers for at least another brewpub option in town.
(2)
Carlos Y.
This was the fourth time I've been to destihl since it opened in champaign. The first two times were within the first 6 months it opened and I left less than impressed. I finally came back a year or so later and the food has definitely gotten better. This time I went for lunch and had the swordfish tacos with rice and beans on the side. This was pretty good. Maybe just a bit heavy on the sauce which masked a lot of the fish but the chimichurri sauce itself was good. My wife had the chimichurri shrimp pizza and hers was excellent! I also have to mention the last time I was here I had the beer-brined double bone in pork chop and that was easily the best dish I had here. After a few early lackluster visits this place is slowly becoming one of the better restaurants in the area.
(4)
Nick S.
Not too crowded at 12am on a weekend. Found a table, whew, and the waiter was very helpful. He knew quite a bit about drinks, their beers, and the menu. He was attentive and answered all our questions patiently. Patience is a virtue to a bar customer because time is money for them, and I get that. The only thing I remember ordering was the deep fried bacon. MMMMMMMM It had a bit of spice to it and they were great...just taxing on the tummy 30 minutes after eating it. Sooooo much grease - but aren't things better that way? Lots of interesting menu choices and in house brewed beers (which I didn't have) Hope you try them.
(4)
Kari T.
WOW- I am really surprised by all of the good reviews of this place! I have been here twice- both times for lunch. The first time I went with colleagues and two of us ordered soup. It came out cold and had to be sent back. We ordered the cheese curds to share (nothing great) and I had the Chimi Chicken Torta; which was actually pretty bland. The second time I went, I ordered the Tomato and Bread salad with chicken. By the name of the salad, you would think it would have tomatoes on it right? I had two little pieces of a tomato, wilted greens, and a couple little tiny balls of mozzarella. Not acceptable. I asked the waitress for more tomatoes and mozzarella and after looking annoyed, she returned with more of each. I don't know what others are having that's so great, but I am very unimpressed with this place and will not be returning.
(2)
Erin G.
Great food, so-so service. We've been here several times, and it seems like once your food comes, the server disappears! I love the rotating beer list, usually something fruity and crisp is available. The Margherita pizza is great as in the spicy pork sandwich.
(3)
Sean D.
I have eaten here 4 times to make sure it just wasn't a bad day. Unfortunately it has always just been blah. Good: Service was always fantastic, the other reason I am not giving them 1 star. Bad: Not everything on the dishes are listed on the menu. I ordered a grilled cheese and I got it with an onion marmalade on it, just caked with onions. Everything was always over salted and cold. The wait time for food was always way too long for my liking. The famous beer battered bacon I have heard so much about was burnt. Just overall disappointed.
(2)
Sue K.
First of all, we got there at 2:50 and they told us we could only sit in the bar area at the high tables because they were going to having a shift change in about 15 minutes. Other people had to wait also, they should seat people and have management pick up until waitstaff can. Food was just ok. We had the asparagus appetizer, tasted good, would be better with a spicy dip, the wait person never came back for us to ask. I had the wagyo grass fed burger, was just ok, tasted funny to me. Potato wedges were burnt , regular fries were good. I might go there again but would seriously think about it considering the cost.
(2)
Rick M.
1st, let me say that the restaurant is good and the service there is fine. The bar, however, is another story. If you are seated AT THE BAR you may receive decent service. If you are inside close to the bar or (heaven forbid) outside, your service will be terrible. I usually go there for work meetings so I really don't have much choice. The last time I went there were 7 in our group. We waited 40 minutes for our order. We asked a few times and they would "check" and tell us our order "would be right out". Finally, after 40 minutes, they finally told us that our order "must not have been entered" and that we would have to reorder. Tonight, we sat outside. I waited 15 minutes for a waiter who never came (we could see the wait staff and bartenders from where we were seated). A companion kept flailing her arms at the bartenders but they never responded. Finally we went to another establishment down the street. It`s hard to believe they survive in downtown Champaign with service this bad. A little management is needed.
(2)
Valerie T.
This place is very hyped up. I will say the service has been great the few times I have been there. Their beer is great and so are their mixed cocktails. The food is decent, but it wasn't over the top great. It is Usually pretty busy and a very clean establishment.
(3)
Michelle N.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. I love the inside of it and the food is great. The bacon mac and cheese is amazing, and so is the jambalaya, meatloaf, and fish and chips. Everything there is so unique and good! I definitely recommend this place if you are ever downtown and are looking for a nice place to have dinner
(4)
Rob K.
Destihl (a play on De Stijl? no idea) is an inconsistently passable restaurant with a nice line of beers. They're also a brewery, if you're into that sort of thing, and my experience has been that the waitstaff are very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to the stuff on tap. So if you like the idea of a flight of carefully-selected brews and tasty (if not slightly overpriced) appetizers appeals, stop by. Don't bother with sitting down for dinner. I've limped out of dinner here maybe five times in the past several years. Some reviewers described the food as 'delicious' (they are wrong); a few others as 'inconsistent' or 'not great' (correct). As a purveyor of hastily-prepared American slow food, Destihl is unremarkable, and the breadth of their menu probably suffices to describe the care that each dish has received. Some dishes are actually quite nice, if still too expensive, but you're unlikely to know which are worth your time unless you've got a secret decoder ring or something. If you're looking to blow some cash on food downtown, think about what kind of food you really want. You're likely to get the same (or a similar) dish done better somewhere else. It's like a rich man's Applebees -- the food is better dressed and the ambience is less "shopping mall," but your wallet hurts more than it should and your tongue is left just as wanting. Oh, and if you ignore the rest of my advice, don't ignore this: don't get the big chocolate cake for dessert. It is the most over-sized lump of grocery store crap I've ever tasted. Its spot on the dessert menu is downright insulting.
(2)
Lucas W.
Every time I go to Destihl, I just find myself truly enjoying every dish. There are always some really interesting flavors going on and Destihl really does distinguish itself above its competitors, the other sort of new american or gastropub restaurants. Destihl does brew its own beer and it's generally pretty good, always a very reasonable price. You can also get growlers for like $20. Great deal. They generally have one of each type of brew and they're generally pretty solid brews. I got the Bela - Imperial Pilsner - which was great. Good, strong beer but very drinkable. This time I started with the Corn & Chicken chowder which has a bit of chipotle espresso BBQ sauce on top. Wonderful flavors, really was. Very delicate corn flavor mixed with the hint of bbq and given some weight from the just marginally creamy chowder. The soup was nothing short of phenomenal. Must Have. I then had the Farm & Field burger. Really interesting combination of flavors between the lamb and the bison within the patty and then it's topped with just a wonderful combination of delicious ingredients. Who would've thought that combining pesto, sun dried tomato aioli, havarti cheese, soy onions, etc on a burger would produce such an intriguing concoction of flavors!! My bun did come out quite burnt, but the rest of the burger made up for it. I'd get it again in a heartbeat. Only downside, no room for dessert. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Sarah B.
I've been to Destihl a few times and always leave unsatisfied. As a disclaimer I have only gone as a member of a big group. Also, they have always been very good about steering me away from unsafe gluten-y dishes and I've never gotten sick. However, the actual food is lacking. I had dijon chicken the last time I was there and it was burnt and over cooked but the sides were underdone. My boyfriend got a steak which came out a bit too rare and was just a bad cut- riddled with lines of fat. On a previous visit I had fish dish that was so over-seasoned with peppercorn I could hardly eat it. I know several people who swear by their food but it seems to be inconsistent at best.
(2)
Deidra W.
Always stop here when visiting our local friends. I love the poblano pepper with white cheddar mashed potatoes! Hubs had the jambalaya which he says was excellent. Highly recommend. This is a slightly finer establishment. However, casual dress is acceptable.
(5)
George A.
Wonderful service, great food. Our waitress was attentive and accommodating, they had homemade beer battered bacon, which was unbelievable
(4)
Christina K.
This is a microbrewery, which makes me a fan of the restaurant. Every few months, they have different beers to try which is great. The food is pretty good. It is a great restaurant to go with big groups. If you go during lunch on a weekday and they know you're at work, they usually get your food out pretty quickly to make sure you can get back to work in time. Of course that also depends on where you work. I worked right downtown, so it was nice to have Destihl as a lunch option.
(4)
Dana B.
Have dined at Destihl 3 times and have enjoyed the food every time. I highly recommend reservations. On this visit, we were seated right away while a walk-up couple was told it would be a 30 min wait. The lobby area was busy with people waiting to be seated. Started with the Potato Croquettes, which had a nice flavor to them. Also sampled 3 of the beers...really enjoy the 4 oz options so I can try a few different varieties. We were satisfied with our entrees...a pork tenderloin special and the flat iron steak. Great flavors and cooked the way we ordered. Best part is probably dessert. The smores are a fun, gooey mess and the cherry bread pudding was tasty. We dined on a Saturday night, which was also prom night in the area and a busy sports night (we were seated in the bar area), so it was a bit noisy. However, Destihl is a good dining option in the CU area.
(4)
A N.
One of the classiest establishments Champaign has to offer. I come here at least once a week for work or events. They have a diverse menu that should please most people. I'd recommend the skirt steak, Dijon chicken, or burgers. The salmon is very popular with my colleagues as well. They also have a rotating drink list that always seems to offer something new and unique. They take reservations and it usually a good idea, especially on a weekend. If you have space in your diet their appetizers are wonderful (bacon wrapped dates!) also for dessert the chocolate cake is worth a bite (then take it home to eat later).
(4)
Amanda F.
The service here was really slow, however the food and the patio is very nice. We were travelling with our dog and thankfully they allow pets on their patio. The fish tacos we had were phenomenal and the beer was quite tasty as well, however the fact that we had to wait so long for absolutely everything took my rating of them down a star. They weren't busy, so I don't know what the hold up was.
(3)
Laura S.
This restaurant is conveniently located off Neil St in downtown Champaign. My girlfriend and I had heard great reviews from Champaignites and decided to head on down. She ordered the meatloaf and I ordered a spice chicken sandwich. The food was DELICIOUS--even better the next day when it was reheated. The portions were big and it was all very filling. The beers on tap that we chose didn't turn out as tasty as we had hoped, but that happens when you're trying out new beers. She went back with coworkers later and said that everyone was a little disheartened with their beer choices, but that nonetheless the food was still delicious.
(3)
Brandy K.
One of my favorite places in C-U . The strawberry goat cheese salad is my favorite and don't forget the strawberry pale ale.
(5)
Evan A.
Beer: Mostly sub-par. Their sours are generally above average to amazing. I have yet to have decent pale (pale, IPA, IIPA) here. They are mostly a trendy place to go eat and stare at tanks. Most beer geeks will be sorely disappointed. They also charge quite a bit for a growler of beer. A fair number of them are $30-$50...which is stupid for beer of this caliber. Food: The food is pretty good, but all the pretty things to look at in there cost money, which means the food is not cheap. The menu always has interesting choices and they will not let you down.
(3)
Sherry Y.
I think this place is a little bit over-hyped. The burgers are pretty fantastic and quite juicy, but the food takes quite a bit of time to prepare. Not in the this-is-gonna-be-awesome type of preparation, but more of the my-food-is-lukewarm preparation. Given the amount of time you have to put into reservations and fighting the crowds, I say there are better bets elsewhere. However, definitely still worth a taste if you're into fancy interiors and great service.
(4)
Frances C.
It was super busy but that didn't stop the stellar customer service from the bar tender. I had the quesadilla with the strawberry blonde ale. Delish! I decided to appease my sweet tooth and got the lemon berry cake. A-MAZING. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Kyle L.
Been a while since we went here but I said I would post a review and I am finally doing it. We were crossing through there and back from a trip to Indy and is was a good enough experience to return on the way back. The brewer took me on a tour of the facilities and we bantered about state laws and differences between Texas and Indiana. The menu provided option for my entire picky, gluten free eating family. I very much enjoyed the beers. They had a huge selection and not all were perfect, however using beeradvocate and the waiters I was able to parse through the weaker options and pretty much only had great beers. I highly recommend this joint for a nice family restaurant that also has great craft beer.
(5)
Sadie S.
First time to dine. Service was excellent. We had a reservation we were about 15 min late. The host was very gracious and sat us immediately. As an appetizer we had the chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in jalapeño bacon with a sweet, tangy glaze. They were delicious. My date had the fish tacos served with a black bean rice. His only complaint was there could've been more fish in the taco. I had the jambalaya. A perfect combination of spice with a generous mix of sausage and shrimp. The corn muffin was moist and flavorful. Recommend reservation for a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)
David R.
Despite seeming to serve vegetarian needs this place fails to be vegan friendly. You can get one entree and two partial meals that are vegan. They have a vegan burger with a non-vegan bun. Does that make sense on any planet? Same with the portobello sandwich. Crazy. The food is good but vegans don't bother. They don't get it.
(2)
Karen N.
Once a year we go to Champaign and I always dread the restaurant choices. We like this place! Easy going vibe, spacious bar, everything squeaky clean, good beers to sample and the good variety menu that goes along well with everything. The sandwiches, soup and salads were excellent for lunch and there were plenty of people sampling the many items on the menu... which made it impossible for us to get a table the next night without waiting. So next time when I go, I will make a reservation.
(3)
Hannah L.
I think this is the best valued food in champaign. Almost everything I've ever gotten has been full of flavor and delicious- from pizzas to soup and sandwiches and great local meat entrees. Their beer is decent, nothing extraordinary, but they have other beer options besides their own.
(4)
Richard R.
Fantastic beer, food and staff. Spicy shrimp Po Boy, IPA and Banana cream pie was great!
(5)
Amy D.
We had such a wonderful experience. Raul was our server and couldn't have been more helpful. Wasn't sure what to expect but our party of 6 all left very happy. Would go back again but our so graduated. Wish I had know about this great place and Raul sooner.
(5)
Macy W.
This restaurant was highly recommended to me by a friend and did not disappoint! We started with the Reuben eggrolls and they were AMAZING. I'd like to go back and just get those, if I could! The steak I ordered was perfectly cooked, asparagus and potatoes were really well-seasoned. The stuffed poblano peppers were also a hit. What's nice about this restaurant is that the prices are definitely fair for the amount of food you get. Their homebrewed beer selection is great and I'd definitely recommend the Bela Imperial Pilsner. Customer service was superb and the restrooms were VERY clean! I'm looking forward to visiting this restaurant again.
(5)
Jill F.
I hate this place. I have been here twice, and the portion sizes are pretty ridiculously tiny for anything that's not pasta, or bread, or french fries. I got a generous serving of french fries with my chicken sandwich, but the sandwich itself was mostly bread and maybe a half a chicken breast pounded flat. There was not much of the cheese sauce that was supposed to be on the sandwich, either. Did it taste good? Sure, when I managed to get a bite that actually had all the ingredients of the sandwich in it. Also, the top piece of bread was hard, probably because it'd been under the warmer for a while. I feel like they charge high prices for mediocre food; I do like having a spendy meal every now and then, but Destihl is not where I would go when I do.
(2)
Jonna N.
I came here because their dessert menu had about 3 options with pecans and I love pecans. Their in house brewery interested me too. I haven't been to a restaurant where they offered 4oz sample sizes of beers. I got the "Matt and the Giant Juicy Juicy Mango IPA." I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but this wasn't that bad to me and also it was nice to have just a sample size so I don't waste any beer. My friend and I started out with the appetizer, chorizo stuffed dates. I have never tried these and I thought that These were amazing. The perfect blend of spicy, savory and sweet. I got the Weissenheimer Chicken. I have to compliment the chef on how juicy the chicken was. It was a big piece of chicken and not one bit dry. I thought the green beans weren't cooked as long, but the mashed potatoes were really good. My friend got the Brewmaster's pizza. I liked that it was a personal pizza and they also offer gluten free bread. It's nice that this restaurant is conscious about that. The service was awesome too. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. I felt like some foods had a spicy twist on them which I think is a nice flavor to pair with IPAs. I didn't get to try any desserts because the kitchen closed. I know so sad because I went there wanting the dessert the most, but at least my appetizer and entree was good.
(4)
LeAnn A.
Sat outside on a gorgeous 82 degree night. Drinks were superb coupled with the beer battered fried bacon. The sauce is amazing!! Had the Nitro (double pale ale) and a Jacob's ladder (brown ale). For entree we had the flat iron steak and rice/beans and fish and chips. Again-- superb! Whitney waited on us and made sure ALL was sheer perfection. She recommended the perfect tequila/amaretto mixed drink for me since my husband is the beer drinker. Wonderful date night!!!
(5)
Olivia B.
It was an alright meal with good things and just ok things. The good: That cucumber/rose martini. Yes. Also, the fried green tomatoes appetizer with the crab/avocado salad on top. So delicious! Swordfish tacos were enjoyed. The bad: the bacon wrapped dates. The bacon wasn't crispy so it was tough to chew. The sauce was so spicy we were practically crying. Salmon sandwich special was not as good as anticipated, and the bacon on the bacon cheeseburger was also not crispy. The service was so-so. While our waiter at the beginning was friendly, he repeatedly forgot things so we would spend time sitting there staring at our food because we didn't have plates or silverware. They also ran out of wine glasses so we were left sitting through our entrees without drinks that were ordered before entrees arrived, and he didn't tell us until we were finished eating. Overall, it'd be worth a shot to visit again but if the 2nd experience was similar or worse, I wouldn't try a 3rd time.
(3)
K- C.
Once again--And it's happened several times! We have been asked to wait when several tables are open-as in almost half the tables. This time 8:00pm on a Tuesday--hardly high dinning hour in central Illinois. When hard pressed the manager on duty (Justin Kelly) said the servers are fully occupied with other tables and we would prefer you wait in the lobby instead of at your table. Their hard and fast rules are first not guest friendly. We were once told at 8:40 all of tables were reserved. When we left the reserved signs could still be seen. NO GUESTS IN SITE! Clearly a lie. In stead of asking an available server to pick up our table they (management) would prefer us to wait. We will not be back. Their management needs to evaluate this process. The food and service are usually ok. Good luck with getting a table when they are all "reserved". Oh we got in immediately at a restaurant across the street and were given the table we asked for.
(1)
Bo D.
This place serves the weirdest reuben sandwich I've ever had, and not in a good way. Instead of rye bread, they use this cranberry nut bread that, while interesting, is also too thick and dry. Instead of the usual "Russian dressing" (similar to thousand island), theirs has this "mustard" with an overpowering horseradish taste that is not pleasant at all. Overall, Destihl seems like a place that tries too hard to be "hip" or "unique". You can tell just by looking at the extravagant descriptions on their menu. I give them credit for trying new things (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), but when it comes to food sometimes it's better to stick with something proven.
(2)
Mark F.
Great selection of beers, food and plenty of unique twists to make it as interesting as anything else within 50 miles. Had a great time here and enjoyed very good service in this trendy looking place.
(4)
Susan R.
Great food, nice atmosphere! Have the weissenheimer chicken, shaved Brussels sprout salad and pumpkin bread pudding! Delicious! Fun place too!
(5)
Jen T.
Hmm. The problem with Destihl is that it's either GOOD or it's BAD. That's kind of why the review is an in-between. This place is off the charts when it comes to liquor. Just don't buy booze here. That's my honest feedback. We had a party of 8, once, and only a few drinks were ordered (a couple waters, two ordered pop) and the bill was something astronomical (like $180!). The other thing about Destihl is that it's a microbrewery (and,-cough-, gastropub) that's trying to be a microbrewery and a -cough- gastropub, if you catch my drift? If not, here's the thing-- it's pretentious as all get out. And for who knows what reason, really. It's kind of a dimly lit restaurant/bar that's just as non-descript as any other. It tries too hard to be what it thinks it is, and doesn't try hard enough to be a good restaurant. With that said, though, some of their food is just out-of-the-ballpark, OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD awesome. All of their soups (3 cheese and ale, or the tomato basil). The Havarti and Turkey is lovely, as is the Cuban style pork (tho, I did find a very unappetizing piece of fat in it the very last time I had it, so it kind of put me off it for a while). You can't go wrong with a burger. =) But, then again, it's a burger, they're not reinventing the airplane. I say... if you want to spend a mint for the possibility of some good food, and then an outrageous bar tab, pick Destihl. But if you're looking for beer and semi-comparable food, check out Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings. The same in theory, just a different point-of-view.
(3)
Alex C.
It was our last few days on campus and one of my roommates wanted to grab a nicer dinner before we left for the summer. Craft beer and unique burgers are probably our go-to cuisine when dining out. I suggested we try Destihl after having a pretty good experience there with my family last time. This visit was equally as good! We opted to sit at the bar and watch the Bulls game due to the dining room wait being around 35 minutes which was much too long for two very hungry college kids. We started with a few 4oz beer samples which are very convenient and not too expensive, I dislike having to commit to a roughly $5 16oz beer not knowing much beforehand. I particularly enjoyed the oatmeal nitro but didn't much care for the Champaign blonde. The beer-battered bacon was a must-try for us since I didn't get it last time and it gets a lot of attention here on Yelp. We also opted for the cheese curds, both of these appetizers were so artery-cloggingly delicious. The Bulls started to seriously disappoint us and when our food arrived we were glad to have something else to focus on, rather than the demise of Chicago basketball this season. I ordered the meatloaf and my roommate got the rancher burger. He said his was really tasty, right up there with the burger we had at Farren's a few weaks earlier. I went with the meatloaf to try something different and when it came out I was initially a little taken aback, but after trying it that all changed. This was not your grandmother's meatloaf! It was rolled up and wrapped in prosciutto sitting on a mountain of mashed potatoes adorned with some thinly sliced vegetables all inside a cast iron skillet. The meatloaf itself was well seasoned and actually had a little spice to it. What really made this dish though was the prosciutto, it added that nice smoky pork flavor to the meatloaf. I highly recommend this dish! The service was a little different because we were at the bar. The bar staff was extremely busy due to having a packed dining room and fairly full bar as well. There were about two people taking care of us and they made sure we always had beer and were quick to clear our plates as well as check in frequently. Service: great! Overall, another great experience at Destihl. Though, like I mentioned last time, it comes a bit of a steeper price than some other potential options nearby. Either way, we really liked our food.
(4)
M B.
Why does everyone hate it here? It's not gourmet. It's a brewery that also serves food. But it's a brewery first. Maybe I've gotten lucky. Maybe I just know how to order at a place like this (potato croquettes are great, pretzels are... pretzels - come on, cheese curds are okay, sandwiches are satisfying). I feel like if you're ordering something that you expect to be high-end here, you're just begging to be disappointed. Very good cocktail menu. Nice that they will fill growlers. More than likely there's something on tap you'll like. Good spot to come after work. I always sit at the bar and I usually see people all around who seem happy - that tends to be a good sign in my book.
(4)
Chris K.
We had 12:30 lunch reservations. Waited to be seated roughly 10 minutes. Sat unattended for 20 minutes. At 1:00 we finally saw a server. This was the first time someone had even acknowleged us. we ordered beers and the waited another 20 minutes for the first round to arrive at our table. 50 minutes after walking in we finally had a drink! At a bar no less! We were celebrating a birthday and would have ordered more rounds of drinks if we could have. we saw the server 3-5 times total and only were able to order 2 beers. My hamburger was raw and an individual kids pizza was terrible. The topping just slid off of the crust. Very sad we chose this option.
(1)
Rob N.
Visiting from out of town and came here with a small group. Nice location in downtown. The beer selection was OK, but nothing stellar - and one of the beers I got was on the warm side. The ambiance was nice, and it was quiet enough to make it easy to talk with the rest of the table, even though a world series game was on and it was pretty crowded. The food was just mediocre. The fries (which were recommended as a side) were tasty, but a bit soggy. I had a chicken sandwich that was tasty, but the amount of meat was pretty small - it was a thin cut (probably half a breast pounded flat) and I ended up peeling away half the bun, which was twice as big as the cut. My friends seemed to like their food (burger, bacon-wrapped dates), but I don't think they would give it more than 2.5 or 3 stars either. I gave it 3 stars because the prices were OK, but I'm used to California prices - so this might be more the norm for Champaign.
(3)
Joyce T.
Loved the bacon dates appetizer! And the cheese curds. I had the three cheese soup and the half of Cuban sandwich and liked both. The side house salad I ordered was fresh and had a light house dressing. Some of of our family had burgers and all were happy with the meal. One of us had the Thai noodles and liked it. We all shared pumpkin bread pudding with pecan ice cream for desert and it was delicious. It is very clean and has a nice atmosphere. Pretty reasonably priced for a family of 5!
(4)
Sally F.
I love Destihl! We have come here many times and always bring our out of town friends here. It's always busy, and with good reason. The atmosphere is casual, and the food is great and decent quality. Our friends love the samples of their micro-brews. From "Smile Politely," (Champaign-Urbana's online magazine) "DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works of Champaign, Illinois, won a bronze medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for its Strawberry Blonde Ale in the 'Fruit Beer' category." The menu has many options ranging from salads to burgers to pizza. I personally love the beer-battered asparagus and beer-battered fish and chips. My husband has ordered the fish tacos on one occasion and pizza on another. The fish tacos were okay. The pizza is good. They also have a gluten-free menu and a kids' menu. Even though we have never taken our 2.5 year old to a kids' restaurant, and she is used to dining with grown-ups in grown-up restaurants, it's nice that they accommodate young diners with crayons to color on the kids' menu. Even the most patient young foodie could use a quiet distraction while they wait. Glad we have this restaurant in the C-U. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Kate T.
One of the best places in Champaign. It's a great place to take vegan friends. I recommend the warm potato and salmon (minus the salmon and add extra veggies for non meat eaters). I also love the vegan burger without the cheese. Their salads are good portions and are pretty tasty. Lastly, the drinks are great. I love the sake lemon drop. I always request a homemade shandy with their strawberry blonde beer and lemonade.
(4)
Matt S.
A very good restaurant that works to accommodate their customers and make sure all are well fed. I enjoy the beer battered bacon it is worth the trip all by itself. A great selection of beer and microbrews. I have had the jambalaya and swordfish the times I went both were descent. Swordfish was a bit dry. It's a good atmosphere on the weekends. A bit dead during the week. All in all a great place to eat.
(4)
Kailey O.
5 stars just for the Iced Tea!!! It wasn't your average passion fruit, it was something better; even garnished with an orange. The service was on the brink of "too good" and the food was excellent. We sat at the bar to watch the Illinois Basketball game; they have about 3-4 TVs to watch sports. There is also plenty of seating. For appetizers, we ordered the cheese curds, pretzel, and lamb meatballs. The cheese curds were amazing, basically just fried cheese with marinara sauce. The pretzel was also good - a little burnt in places but nothing too aggravating. It came with nacho cheese and mustard. Our server had the chef chop it up into bite size so we could share easily. Very thoughtful. For my lunch entree, I ordered the Dijon chicken. It came with two asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes with sausage chopped up in it. for about $10, i would order this over and over again. It truly felt like a hearty, but healthy lunch option, especially relative to other options on the menu. The price cannot be beat.
(5)
Carlos F.
Wings, spicy, asparagus awesome, corned beef eggroll awesome. Let me tell you, that asparagus was insanely good a slight heart attack but insanely good so I will mandate that you give that sucker a try. The corned beef egg roll was well balanced and meatty! Yum!
(4)
Justin B.
Beer battered bacon. I could stop there, but there is even more. The beers are delicious and $5 per craft pint. There is an espresso-rubbed ribeye which I did not have but looked incredible. The dijon chicken was phenomenal. The staff was great. I told them it was my coworkers birthday and they surprised her with s'mores! Good ones! Cast iron roasted marshmallows and an awesome chocolate sauce. Cant wait to go back!
(5)
Kenneth O.
Best roast chicken I have ever had. Slurped the bones. Bread pudding dessert was also great. Beer was fabulous. Glad I stumbled on this place. If I ever come to Urbana again, I will definitely seek it out.
(5)
Kristen W.
I'm not a beer drinker, so my opinion is based solely on food, atmosphere, and service. First of all, their menu is extremely imaginative and varied. I had very hard time deciding on what to order on my two visits here. Be careful when they ask what kind of salad you want when you order - because they're going to charge you ~$8 for it if you bite. The food has been sensational, but they tend to overseason some dishes. Several people in our party ordered Caesar salads (which is half a head of romaine topped with a fried egg) and they were grossly over peppered. The pulled pork from my Carolina pork two ways was the spiciest pulled pork I've ever tasted in my life, so much so that I couldn't take more than two bites in a row. It wasn't a problem ubiquitous throughout our group or between visits, though. The atmosphere is very nice. It's dark and clean. The service has always been good.
(4)
Gina R.
Destihl, Destihl, Destihl. Their food is just bad. So bad. I gave them two chances and I just could not ever do that again. The beer/cheese soup is a salty, goopy mess. The blue cheese and steak quesadilla would have been edible if it wasn't absolutely sopping wet with oil. The burger is bland and if you're lucky (note my sarcasm), you'll get a few nice, chewy chunks of fat in there. I got some kind of s'mores dessert and it was a cheap mess. How can you make a bad s'mores dessert??? It's cruel! Their menu is so awesome, but they're SUCH a tease! They cannot execute anything well. I gave them two stars: one, for the selection in the menu and the other, because I haven't had any beer here and it is kind of a brewery I guess so I can't judge them there. Also, people seem to like their deep-fried bacon, but I personally cannot bring myself to put something like that in my body, but then again I did eat at Destihl TWICE *facepalm* Oh, Destihl. How badly did I want to love you, but you were not willing.
(2)
Jamie L.
I don't know many people that like Destihl. I think it's a nice, relaxed place to go for different cuisine than you would find a chain restaurant plus they have some pretty stellar brews. The beer changes often, so don't fall in love with anything. I've had my heart broken more than once by their ever-changing menu. The plus side is I'm forced to try something new when they switch things up. Destihl is a nice spot to go to relax and have a drink. They have a small selection of small plates that are interesting and mostly good. I've never had bad service here and love the fact that they validate parking!
(4)
Michael F.
This place is FANTASTIC! We came on a Friday night, probably one of their busiest. We called ahead for reservations (highly recommended) and only waited at the bar for only 20 minutes. The beer selection is wonderful and they taste great; I had the mango IPA and it was mind blowing! Our server Aaron was incredibly professional and knowledgeable; he confidently and accurately described every item on the menu we asked about. I had the beer battered jalapeño bacon and fried egg prime beef burger. Mouth orgasm! So good. My wife and her cousin were born and raised in this area. They proclaimed with confidence that this is the best restaurant in the area I couldn't agree more. Try this place!!
(5)
Clifford S.
The key to getting to eat here is to have a reservation. Last year we came with a reservation once and without another time. When we did not have a reservation we were simply turned away even though we could see tons of empty tables. Recently we left the game early and called them from the parking lot at 2:45 and made a reservation for 3:15. We were promptly escorted to a roomy booth which really worked out because other people ended up joining us. We had to wait for a while for the other people to show up and the staff was very amenable to it, acted like that was just fine. They even held back our entree order until they got there. We liked the deviled eggs for the appetizer, they were really good. I had the chili which was very disappointing, I wouldn't get it again. My wife and I split the Cubano sandwich which was Okay. Nice big space, great staff and if you have a reservation, great place. But the food is kindof college town fare which the space is not. Too bad as last time we were here the food was better.
(3)
Chaz B.
This is now my favorite restaurant in Champaign, followed by O'Charley's and TGI Fridays. The food here is simply delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful. Try the Thai Fried Chicken, spicy and incredibly good. The food is good, the wait staff is friendly and the location is ideal. I simply love Destihl and I didn't even mention the great variety of beers. Oh, I just did.
(5)
Vedran A.
Terrific place to grab some food and a pint. The staff here is extremely friendly and courteous. The food is on par and goes well with some fine brew that is on tap. I like this place for lunch and would definitely eat here again.
(3)
Liz P.
I have eaten at Destihl several times - it is consistently pretty good, occasionally exceptional, and rarely subpar. The staff is always really nice, they are almost aggressive about refilling soda (glasses rarely get to empty, and aren't left empty for more than a minute or two!), reservations and parking are easy, the booths are comfy, and there are some really good items on the menu (Cuban sandwich, the burgers, the ancho chicken, and the huevos rancheros are great; the deep fried bacon can be skipped).
(4)
Jordan G.
One of the few good, non-chain food options in Champaign, IL. Their cheese curds are to die for and their white sangria is delicious. On busy weekend (Mom's + Dad's weekends, Graduation, Holidays, etc.) reservations are a MUST! They also sell growlers of their beer!
(4)
Channa P.
I've been a bad yelper and late on this review, but let me just say I can still taste the delicious beer I drank in this place over a month ago. I was in town for a recruiting visit and found this place on yelp. My food was great (try the lamb meatballs) and my beer was even better. Lots of great winter brews and an excellent spirits list as well. If you are in town like me for work, avoid the mediocre campus options. Come here, drink, be merry. Oh and sit at the bar... this little baby has a wait and reservation list.
(4)
Anne W.
Update: Stopped by again. Still disappointing. Their brussel sprouts are baked but watery. Ick. I did try their scallops.. that was better on top of quinoa. Not the best.. but certainly nothing to write home about. And the funniest thing I observed.. I don't recall seeing any beer on their menu even though they have their own beer distillery. What?!! **************************************************Â****************** Maybe it's my big city experiences that make me not excited about this place. I had such high expectations and went here for dinner.. I'm never around anymore BUT I am here shortly for work. Tried their skirt steak which is a special... it was with a demi glace and green beans. Really not that great.. it's okay. I tried three of their red wines: syrah, pinot noir, and tempranillio. All were not that good. Pricey though for Champaign.. compared to Black Dog the previous evening... meh.
(2)
Meghan D.
Really good burgers, especially the bun. The fries were really good as well. Drinks were just okay. (Not anything special or mixology)
(4)
Karla L.
Awesome beer. Awesome service. Incredible staff. If I lived in the area I'd go there very chance I got. Unfortunately it was a business trip and I won't be back in the area in the foreseeable future. 3 people in my party had the t-bone and said it was fabulous. I had the strawberry and goat cheese salad. Wow! Never thought I could rave about a salad but it was amazing. Don't think you can go wrong at this restaurant. The menu holds an amazing collection of foods and certainly something for every palette.
(5)
Genevieve T.
I thought it was a bit overrated and overpriced.
(3)
Eileen M.
Came to destihl for brunch (have been several times for dinner), and they do not disappoint. Started off with beer battered bacon as an appetizer with a delicious Bloody Mary. The brunch menu is small but the frittata and French toast we are were delicious! Will definitely go back!
(5)
Lena T.
Modern, trendy and most importantly, DELICIOUS! Destihl is definitely among my favorite in Champaign. I've been here multiple times and have never left disappointed. My taste buds and tummy agree. It's a good go-to, for anything from dinner to brunch; date or large group outing. My staples for whenever I visit: beer battered bacon, cheese curds and the fresh berry napoleon. If you get a chance, check out the weekend brunch. They have a killer strawberry french toast entree that is to die for. Prices are a little on the higher end, relative to a college student's budget but overall, not too expensive. Staff is friendly, accommodating, and fast. The only downside is, it can get pretty crowded, especially during dinner/weekends/special occasions, so make sure to make reservations!
(5)
Danny J.
Great service by our waiter. He knew the menu in & out. Took me so long to choose what to order because they have too many good looking options on their menu! Finally decided to get the bacon, blue cheese pizza but switched out the blue cheese for Goat cheese! One of the best pizzas I've ever had! So much creamy goodness in this pizza.
(5)
Rebecca R.
Got seated right away. Menu is a good mix of traditional and some unique items. I had the skirt steak. It was good, but didn't really care for the seasoning. However, it was prepared just as I asked. The BEST part of our experience was the incredible service. Alex is the best. We will ask for him when we return. All-in-all, a very pleasant experience.
(4)
I. T.
The best thing on the menu was the fries. I continue to be underwhelmed by this restaurant. This is my third time, and enough is enough, three strikes you're out. I went here for dinner this evening, I am even writing this from the table. I have had the Thai chicken, fish and chips, burger and fries. All of these were subpar with the exception of the fries. Temperature wise the food wasn't hot and even though I shared that the food was not good, no one ever came to the table to address my displeasure. The waiter was fairly attentive, but the food was BLAND. People often recommend this place, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the attraction is. Possibly it is the location or the ambiance, but shouldn't it be for the food? I'm incredibly disappointed and will need to go elsewhere to find acceptable nourishment.
(1)
Pat E.
I've been here twice and both times I left underwhelmed by my experience. I went here in a group of six on a Friday night. My neighbors, another couple, and my date The restaurant was surprisingly dead in my opinion, but after our service and food...I can see why. The word/phrase/reaction Yelp uses with their rating system is perfect: A-OK. We sat down and ordered drinks. Water and beer for the whole table. We all were deciding what to get. My date went with the Ancho Chicken Salad (she loves avocado too...score!), and among the other items ordered were the Kobe (Bryant) Burger (I bet it regrets that night in Colorado...hahah), Stuffed Poblano Peppers, Weissenheimer chicken, Flat Iron Steak, and last but certainly not least...I went with the Cedar Plank Salmon. It was excellent! I was pleasantly surprised. I also added the Greekish Salad to my meal which was delicious and amazingly 5.75. I guess olives are like gas...price just keeps going up. I asked for the dressing on the side for both my salmon and salad, and our waiter went 1-2 on that one. I guess in baseball that's good...for this Yelper....not so good. This place is a Gastropub...whatever the hell that means. The food comes with a lot of flair and the taste is there, but if someone were to ask me, "How was Destihl?", I'd tell them "eh". The second time I came here I was paid for (hell ya starving teacher) and I ordered the Greekish salad (again) and Red Chili Braised Pork. The salad was great, but I asked for the dressing on the side and got in on the salad. The pork was awesome. I was no doubt influenced by my brothers' recent pork tenderloin dinner ideas. I have a ton of C-U places I can't wait to try. I am glad I tried this place again just to make sure the first time wasn't an anomaly. It wasn't. I would not recommend going here because there are much better options LITERALLY a stone's throw away. You could throw a stone to Guido's, KoFusion, and BGT if you crow hop!
(2)
Rachael C.
One of my new favorites. I've been twice now- once for lunch and once for dinner- and have been very impressed by the service. The waitstaff has been extremely helpful, knowledgeable about the menu (both beer and food) and very attentive. My favorite thing on the menu so far has to be the Flat Iron Quesadilla. I wasn't that excited about it when I ordered (I planned to share with my mom, and that's what she wanted) but I was extremely impressed. It's not your typical quesadilla- it comes deconstructed and has components like bleu cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette. At the risk of sounding like a total weirdo, I have to confess that I have been thinking about this quesadilla A LOT and cannot wait to go back and have it again! :) The beer is good and the atmosphere is very modern and chill. I'd definitely recommend this place and I will be back again soon!
(4)
Brittany M.
Fabulous restaurant! Ordered the Ruben egg rolls to start and it just continued to be amazing through our dinner! BBQ chicken pizza and fish and chips were really yummy! Update* went last night and had the stuffed poblano peppers and the wagyu burger and the carrot cake .... All were to die for! I don't like stuffed bell peppers and I cleaned the plate with the poblanos! Well done desthil!!!
(5)
David W.
went here twice, got pizza the first time, ribs the second. The pizza is quite satisfying and good if you order it, I would recommend that over the ribs. The ribs were kinda mediocre, but they were still decent, but not worth the price. Got a bunch of beers both times I went, they have rotating beers and home brewed beers that stay. None of them were that special. It is a nice place though, waitress and atmosphere is more on the refine side.
(3)
Melissa A.
I've only eaten here a couple times. The food is good and they have some interesting specialty beers on occasion. I don't really go here to eat, even though the food is good and nothing's wrong with it. It's just not my go to place when my friends and I want to go out somewhere. Perhaps I will update my review the next time I eat there. For now, this is all I've got. 3/15/2015 update: I came here for Sunday brunch with a large group of friends. I had half a Cuban sandwich and the strawberry goat cheese salad. Both very delicious. Although, I think I'll order the French toast next time, it looked so good! :) Brunch is a big thumbs up.
(4)
Kristen C.
We didn't eat here but I sampled almost all of their beers... and I loved them! You can either purchase the pint or the 4oz samplers which was a great way to try all their brews. I didn't have one beer I didn't like. The atmosphere was fantastic and the waiter was very informative about the beer. Another major plus was the bathrooms were private and exceptionally clean! If I'm in the area again I'll be back!
(5)
Jessica Y.
We were sat in one of the bar high tops for an 830 Saturday night dinner. Service was prompt and casual. I had a martini but would probably stick to beer in the future. Different beer portions allow for different tastings. The dessert list looked interesting but we were too full to try anything. CHORIZO STUFFED DATES ($5.95 for 3 small dates) - The dates had a nice smokiness flavor to them and did not need the sauce which over powered the dish. DUCK CONFIT POT PIE ($15.95) - At first I thought it looked soupy but once I started eating it realized the vegetable to sauce ratio was well balanced. The crust is non traditional as a pillow of herb puff pastry sitting on top of the vegetables (duck confit, roasted golden beets, brussels sprouts, pearl onions, sweet potatoes, green beans, fingerling potatoes, and swiss chard). A tad too salty but otherwise a playful, hearty dish. CUBAN-STYLE PORK ($9.95) - A good portion with juicy ham and all the fixings. Come in for some local beer and casual bites.
(3)
Olbelina U.
Hit or miss for me. Sometimes I have something I really enjoy, like one of their burgers, sandwiches, or steaks. I specially like the cuban sandwich, and the smallest cut of steak that comes with asparagus and potatoes. However, I have gotten stuck with some very salty meatloaf/fish, or a greasy pile of mashed potatoes. So I would stick to sandwiches and burgers. The appetizers are tasty but all high in calories, and pair good with the beer. The desserts are HUGE. I love the carrot cake, which is really why I go back. I like the sampler size beer because their house inventions can be too out-there for a full glass.
(3)
Leo K.
Great food. Average service that was a little slow. The hour long wait for a table was well worth it, but with better service they could turn over tables much quicker. BUT.....the food is worth coming back for..... the beer batter deep fried bacon and egg burger was simply amazing!
(4)
Andy O.
Food was great, service was excellent. Atmosphere was perfect for a nice evening out! I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Anne G.
We walked in for valentines day and the hostess wasn't very nice but we got a seat at the bar and were served right away. The bartenders were friendly and the service was pretty quick. The bloody Mary's were amazing and they came with a three ounce sampler of a beer of choice. They had a pretty large ramge of beers including IPAs. The food was great, we got a salad and a burger with cheese curds as an apitizer. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Lisa M.
Bloody Marys were great, stuffed dates were spicy yet delicious, Mango IPA yum! Wait staff worked together well. An exceptional experience for a first time visit!
(4)
Rachel B.
I really enjoyed this place. We had a large group of people celebrating my grandma's birthday. There was about 15 of us so we had our own separate room. The service was really great! I wish I knew the waiters name because he went above and beyond to make sure we all had what we need. It was fairly fast service as well for being as many of us as there were. I liked the menu selection here to. Lots of gourmet and different food items to choose from, not the same old stuff you see at most restaurants. They have a unique twist to your average or popular dishes. Pretty cool. Now on to the food.... They had me at beer battered jalapeño bacon! Omg it was delicious! We also tried the beer battered asparagus which was equally as good. For my meal I got the green chile mac and cheese with pork. It was good, I wish I would've ordered something with a bit more substance (not much meat in it) but I guess that was my own fault! The flavor of what I had was great though. I also tried my moms stuffed pablano pepper which was great! I wish I would've gotten that. Everyone seemed to love their food here. Oh, and the carrot cake is TO DIE FOR! I highly recommend it, the pieces are as big, if not bigger, than my head! The prices were also fair. I really enjoyed this place! Wish there was more places like this (for this same price range) around Schaumburg.
(4)
Kirsten W.
While our server was a little slow with refills (it was Saturday at 7pm!) Everything was awesome! We had skillet nacho app amazing! And pesto pizza on gluten free crust. Beer samples and very knowledgable waiter in his suggestions based on what my boyfriend likes as domestic beer. Very fun date night and only spent $40 and that was with tip! We will be returning !!!
(5)
Alex U.
Worst service in Champaign. We spent three hours for dinner: late reservation, drinks took nearly an hour, food took an hour, and it took them half an hour to process our checks. It was a comedy of errors. Food was average at best.
(1)
Matthis H.
I have only eaten here four times. All four were great. Good food for sure. The spot has a chain feel to it honestly, but the staff is nice and efficient. I am not a big fan of their beers, but to each their own eh? I live around the corner, and well.. it's kinda funny that it took me a year to finally walk in the door. Glad I did. Can be a bit pricey for the amount of actual food, but I should be grateful that I'm not allowed to gorge on the goodness of their food. I"m happy to see the diversity in downtown. Not just another bar that is.
(4)
Drew H.
Destihl has a HUGE menu. This is a great place to go if you want options. They've got burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, pizza, a bunch of appetizers and more. They also have a gluten free menu which is pretty rare in Champaign. They have a gluten free crust for pizzas, but it is baked in the same oven as the regular pizzas. They also have a great brunch menu on weekends. I've come here a bunch of times and overall I've been really happy with my experiences. I've had two bad experiences though. Once I got some entree that was pretty worthless and one time I had a waiter that continually messed up our orders throughout the course of dinner. Besides those two occasions, the food and service have both been great. Food recommendations: Appetizers - Ancho Chips & Dip Bacon & Brussels Chorizo Stuffed Dates Salads - Ancho Chicken Salad Thai Steak Salad Entrees - Dijon Chicken Cedar Plank Salmon (If you're in the mood for something light and simple) Gaucho Skirt Steak (The best option on the menu!) Drinks - The Bloody Mary is pretty delicious I almost always get the gaucho skirt steak. I've never been disappointed with it! Again, if you want a place with lots of options and good food, definitely check out Destihl!
(4)
Colleen M.
I tried out Destihl this past weekend and it was definitely one of the best meals I've had since moving to Illinois. For our appetizer, we had the warm pretzels. I'm a big fan of the cheese sauce they come with and they were gone pretty quickly. I also sampled the fried cheese curds and they were tasty as well. For my meal, I had the fried egg BLT. You really can't go wrong with bacon, a fried egg and avocado on a sandwich. The garlic dressing on the sandwich was great too. I was really pleased. I ordered an iced tea and I think it's my own fault for not looking at it on the menu, but I expected a regular iced tea. Their iced tea is an orange tea that has a pretty strong orange flavor. I wasn't a fan. Our server exchanged it for a soda and I wasn't charged for it. Definitely give it a try if you're in the area.
(5)
Simon H.
I have never been more disappointed in my gastronomic experience in Urbana-Champaign then this past weekend at Destihl "Brewery" (who knows if they even brew beer at this place). Having been to Destihl a handful of times before the abominable brunch I suffered through this past weekend I expected an experience somewhat similar to what most people describe here on Yelp. That being a friendly staff, and decent (perhaps even good) food at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, Destihl has suffered a complete drain of quality over the last few years. When it opened, Destihl offered hot, quality food served my intellectual and friendly servers who were happy to be working in one of Champaign's better restaurants. Each time I dined at Destihl I noticed the quality of the food, the quality of the service, and the quality of the dining experience was eroding away. This erosion culminated with the brunch a group of friends and I endured this past Sunday. I say endured because our meal lasted from 12:30p.m. until 2p.m. The absurd elongation of our meal was not caused by entrancing, deep conversation amongst old friends, or by laggard mastication of our fantastic food. The epoch that was our brunch at Destihl was caused solely by the complete ineptitude and incompetence of our server, the manager, and Destihl as an establishment. To begin, our waiter spoke to our group at a volume slightly above "whisper". He seemed to not care at all that our decently sized group would likely give him his biggest tip of the day. One could almost assume our waiter was indentured to Destihl and taking our orders, suggesting menu items, and assuring that we were taken care of was a reminder of the chains that confined him. After taking our orders, three of which were simply "eggs, bacon, and potatoes" (not worth the $10), our group set off on the marathon that ninety minutes later would end in us getting our food. In total our group would watch at least seven other parties wait for a table, be placed near us, taken care of by the same subjugated waiter, eat, pay their bill, and depart. After the fourth group who had arrived after us was served before us, a member of our group called the manager over. At this point we had spent 45 minutes ordering and waiting. By this point the waiter had been unable to provide any information about our meal besides, "they are still working on it, should be out soon." This information was decrypted by the members of our group through the reading of his lips and not by any sort of audible understanding between him and ourselves. We hoped the manger could provide us with additional information, this would prove to be a fool hearted assumption. The manager assured us he would check on our order and would return shortly. After three more groups consumed their meals, paid their tabs and departed, and another half an hour passed, the manager had not returned. At this point our group decided that if our food did not arrive by 1:45 PM. we would simply stand up, leave, and eat fast food. Finally, at 1:43p.m., 1 hour 13 minutes after arriving our meal was served. Destihl was relatively empty when we arrived and continued to be throughout our meal. Yet, our food took longer to cook than the run time of the original 1931 version of Frankenstein. If you have been to Destihl for brunch you know none of the menu items are difficult to cook, they are largely egg dishes accompanied by breakfast meats, french toasts, or a hot sandwich. Since this experience ended I have wondered what took so long for our food to be cooked and leave the kitchen. I have surmised that the reasons for our hour and a half endeavor are a product of the poor quality that now defines Destihl. First, our waiter did not care about us nor did he serve as our representative in the kitchen. Second, the cooks clearly lost track of our order because some food came out steaming hot, some came out only partially complete, and the rest came out lukewarm (presumably having spent an hour under a heat lamp). Finally, the manager who never returned to our table and only after being called over again offered excuse after excuse before finally saying, "Well, I am sorry." To anyone who has invested the time to read my review, thank you. To anyone who has spent the time to read my review and still intends to go to Destihl even after I have made clear my utter frustration and disappointment, I wish you the best of luck. To conclude, my friends and I will never eat at Destihl again and I look forward to the restaurant that will soon replace it.
While not overly impressed with what I had to eat I was impressed by the service and atmosphere. I detected horseradish in the salad dressing and she immediately took care of it. I hate horseradish and anything that even remotely resembles it. My Grandmother had me grind horseradish roots once and it was awful. My eyes watered and the stench was terrible. Every since then I have not been able to tolerate it. I had the house salad with a portabello mushroom sandwich. I didn't think the sandwich had much flavor. We also ordered an appetizer sampler that included fried asparagus, bacon deviled eggs and some kind of egg roll. All of which I thought tasted good but I didn't have that "oh wow" thing going on either. It was a special deal for restaurant week. You got 2 of each item for $10.00. Some special huh? I would definitely go back and try again and hopefully I can give them more stars. The service was really good.
(3)
Cher S.
I like their beers and you can get samplers. They have some great dishes like the fish and chips, the salmon salad, and burger but stay away from the meat loaf.
(4)
Liz R.
After a long work day, my friend J and I needed some booze and sustenance... and she came up with yet another Champaign winner! Interior is stylish, minimal and dark. Our booth was large and comfy. Our waiter was knowledgeable and just friendly enough. Can quickly become pricey if you stay a while and dive into the small plates and drinks. I was overwhelmed by the drink menu and ended up going with my old standby, the dirty Martini. My first one with organic corn vodka, which made for a smooth sipping drink. Loved it. J tried two different drinks (so I got to try them too) over the course of our dinner, both of which were delicious and pleasantly spiked with liquor. We tried two different apps - the Beer Battered Bacon and the House Olives (our 2nd choice when we were told they'd just run out of the deviled eggs). The bacon was not greasy at all, and the maple chipotle drizzle was the perfect topper. The olives were meh, just not necessary - and I don't think my opinion was swayed too much by the fact that I really, really wanted those deviled eggs! Next up, a la carte soup. I went with the Beer & Cheddar soup, which was close to great with discernible beer and cheese flavors. J chose the soup du jour, Cream of Asparagus - excellent fresh asparagus flavor here. Both soups were wonderfully creamy. Bowls were decent-sized for $5. My entree was a Thai shrimp and noodle dish (I'm a sucker for coconut curry sauces). Nice amount of shrimp, but no noticeable spice to the dish. A bit of a disappointment. J's beer-brined double pork chop was an amazing dish, not to mention huge. Perfectly pink pork. We parked in a nearby parking garage as the lot across the street was full. I would return and try everything new (other than my Martini).
(4)
RePhoned I.
I've been here a few times and I've had good and sub par experiences. I'm not saying that I didnt like the food but the service could be a little better.
(3)
Bobbi W.
The food was really good and the waitstaff was very concerned with making sure everyone was happy. I like the prices as well, thumbs up here.
(5)
Tara G.
This restaurant is expensive but definitely worth it for a special occasion. Great appetizers and entrees. The mixed drinks are incredible - try the saki lemon drop martini, it's amazing. The service is great. The food is great. For celebrations, my first thought is always destihl.
(5)
Emily M.
Just got told that the wait for two would be 15-20 minutes for brunch - there were four tables, top, in the place. This is the third time this same situation has happened. Their food is mediocre (a glorified Applebee's or TGIF) and continually is incredibly over or under salted/seasoned. Who would wait 20 minutes in an empty restaurant for this disappointing food?
(1)
William S.
Real good food along with exceptional service, good place for casual dining... Best of all were a trio of Beef Filets that were the best I have ever had, tender, flavorful, exceptional quality meat... Burgers were a hit with the kids who wrestled today.... Beer we tried were great! Service was top notch.. Very pleasant dining experience.. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Gail T.
The beer was tasty. The pizza wasn't that great, especially for the price. Wouldn't order it again.
(3)
Andrea T.
I love the Destihl in Bloomington-Normal so I had to give this one a try. A co-worker and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. The place was not overly busy but had plenty of business. I really liked the decor of the place and the booth setup was neat. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. I was happy to see that they have the same menu as the one in Bloomington-Normal with only their beer selection being different. We started with the Beer Battered Asparagus which was delicious! I was tempted to get my usual, the White Cheddar Stuffed Poblano Peppers but decided to change it up a bit. I went with the Potato Crusted Rainbow Trout. It had wonderful flavor! My co-worker got my usual and she loved them too. We decided to go for dessert as well. I ordered the Creme Brulee. I was not very impressed by this. It was a bit on the runny side and I am used to creme brulee being smooth and creamy. Overall, great food and service! Love this place!
(4)
Lindsay S.
I'm in town for work and have been to this restaurant seven times in two weeks. I love almost everything on their menu from the burgers, chili, chorizo-wrapped dates, battered asparagus, Brussel sprout salad and banana creme pie. They serve Wagyu beef burgers or lamb/bison-delicious! I'm not a fan of the Dijon chicken but that's the only thing that hasn't been delicious. My coworkers enjoy the fish tacos a lot. The service here has been great, too. This is my favorite restaurant in Champaign by far.
(5)
Shaobo S.
You really can't go wrong here. The beers they have on tap are always spectacular and the ones brewed in store are even better. It's an all-around homie environment, haters are stopped at the door.
(5)
Sherwin C.
This is become one of my favorite places to dine in Champaign. Good prices, consistent cooking, good service, and not too busy on Sunday mornings. I noticed some people complained about the prices, but for the quality of food, this is really much cheaper than something comparable in the Chicago suburbs although the portions aren't exactly huge. But it's pretty in line with prices and portion sizes at other restaurants in downtown. The menu is quite unique for the area and similar to what you'd find in a lot of Milwaukee restaurants. I really enjoyed everything from the American Kobe burger to the Beer-battered cod. The textures and variety of flavors were great and not too salty. The sandwiches and soups were also pretty light and refreshing. I particularly enjoyed the tomato soup and corn & chicken chowder soups. The dessert choices were quite varied but i was so full I didn't have room for more than one. The stout ice cream sandwiches had a really nice stout ice cream between brownie circles. It was a perfect way to end the meal. Given the quality of cooking and good prices, I'll definitely be back here soon. Update: Upon visiting a few more times, I still think this is a good restaurants but there are a couple notes. The price complaints I see from some reviews may be due to the varying sizes of some dishes. For example, the thai mussels appetizer is quite a bit smaller than some other items although the prices are similar. Also, the chocolate cake is a giant portion compared to the bread pudding. I'm not a big fan of anything Asian themed I tried here as I found the flavors to be too strong. I prefer it to be more delicate although some patrons may appreciate the bold flavors. I wasn't a big fan of the pizzas either. They were large in size but the dough was too moist for me and I didn't like the flavor combinations I tried. I did like the teas I tried as they were high quality organic tea bags. The coffee is a mix of two Kenyan coffees with a full bodied flavor from their supplier in Bloomington served with fresh cream. The shrimp frittata comes with a generous amount of shrimp flavored with shrimp stock, probably the best frittata I've ever eaten. The cuban style pork sandwich was done well but not as legendary as other reviewers make it out to be. The Potts roast was also done well but not worth a special note. The potato crusted rainbow trout was done well with good presentation but I wish the portion size could have been a little larger. The dijon chicken was moist and flavored well but, the real star of the dish was the asparagus that was cooked and flavored excellently. The apple fritters dessert had crispy fritters but the toughness of the peel wasn't that appealing. If it were substituted with something like apple chips or churros, I probably would have enjoyed it more. If the goal is to keep an apple-like look, possibly fried colored dough is a better substitute. The chocolate cake is a whole pound with chocolate layering instead of cream. This was done well and not overly sweet, a very good choice for chocolate lovers. The sour cherry bread pudding was done well, a little too sour for me but a solid choice. I would've preferred a couple elements to vary the texture inside but that might not fit the overall theme of the dish.
(5)
Kathleen M.
Another fun new restaurant we tried in Champaign! My daughter who lives there is moving to Spain so we are letting her choose whenever we go down for football games and she has been picking some winners. This is a sleek, clean, modern space. There are beer vats as you enter which add a nice vibe of authenticity. We were seated right away at a very comfortable table for the four of us. We tried the deviled eggs app and some gingery egg rolls, we all split them and liked them. Both had a bit of a kick, the egg roll sauce had the most kick and I found this out after I had drizzled it all over mine but I still enjoyed it immensely, I just drank some extra water. Everyone tried a cup of soup because hey, soup is good food. I gobbled up every bit of my beer cheese soup, so light and flavorful. I loved it! With my swordfish tacos I had an amazing iced tea, it was just a lovely flavorful tea with an orange slice. The swordfish tacos were divine but if you are a bit of a spice wimp (like me) you might want the guac on the side, that is where the heat was for sure! I ended up just eating the fish out of the taco, it was just too picante for me! I adored the rice, bean, corn side dish. Just delicious! For dessert, we all split a sour cherry bread pudding and I really liked it. It came with ice cream and it was just smooth, sweet and a bit of tangy with that nice cold creamy spot of the ice cream. I am not a huge bread pudding fan but I think I could become one! This was a very enjoyable meal. The team had played lousy, my daughter is moving, I needed a culinary hug and this was it! I would definitely come back but sadly it won't be with my youngest! Why don't you meet us so I won't miss her?
(5)
Joshua N.
Beer is pretty good. I'm not normally impressed with the offerings of small brewpubs, but this place is OK. Liked every beer I was served. Appetizers were good. I enjoyed the bacon-wrapped dates. Things fell apart a bit when it came to our main meal. My hamburger was overcooked and uninteresting. No condiments for my sandwich. And waitstaff sorta evaporated once our food was delivered. This is a restaurant I would visit to sit at the bar and enjoy beer and snacks. But for lunch or dinner, I'd take my meal elsewhere.
(3)
Samuel M.
This place has great food, wonderful beer and a really pleasant outdoor dining area. Beer battered asparagus is amazing and their Banana Cream Pie is killer! Only knock is sometime the food takes a little while, but who could notice or care with so many great beers to try! Best place for dinner to start your night out in the downtown area.
(4)
Irtefa F.
Easily the best Wagyu burger ever! Ask the chef to replace the bleu cheese with goat cheese. It tastes great!
(5)
Tati B.
Always happy when I go there. Great beer selection, great food selection, and great service. The only reason it's not 5 stars in my book is because the main dining room still kinda feels like a big chainy restaurant, and I'm more of a fan of independent ones.
(4)
Eric K.
Shiny, new, and inviting, Destihl is definitely one of Champaign's nicest restaurants. It's often the gathering point for business events or company dinners, which brings a lot of patrons to this restaurant. There's a good selection of beer that's, judging by the brewing equipment in the restaurant, presumably brewed in-house (and maybe some off-site) as well as a decent menu showcasing modern American fare. Usually, a drinking establishment that decides to start cooking ends up making subpar food, while a restaurant that makes good food has a lackluster beer selection. Of course, this isn't always the case, but I usually don't go to bars for their food, and restaurants for their beer. Destihl, however, strikes a good balance between the two camps. I had a chicken pot pie when I went there, while my dining companion had stuffed peppers. Both were perfectly fine, but nothing to write home about. The menu is made up of conventional American dishes, but unfortunately nothing too unique. You'll find everything you want here for a great meal, but nothing that truly catches your eye. Overall, the service was excellent, our waiter had insightful knowledge on the beer selections, and the atmosphere here was just right. I feel like their menu is a bit too unoriginal to justify the price, but regardless, I'm sure you'll enjoy your meal here anyways.
(4)
Dave G.
Occasionally, very rarely if truth be told, one finds oneself in Champaign, home of University of Illnois at Urbana-Champaign Campus and gateway to the high plains. It is one of those lovely little Midwestern university towns where one could spend a nice life far from the cut and thrust of city life. When in Champaign, one could do worse than to eat at Destihl. The place is modern brew pub of the sort that was popular in the late 90s in fleshpots like San Francisco. Get their flight, it is quite good. The Amber is sweet and floral. They serve nice gastro pub fare. I had the fish (of some sort) that was quite nice. Mid-west prices. Sit on the corner patio in front of Destihl, sipping their beer and watching the sunset on downtown Champagne. Good times. (Whew! So snobby!)
(3)
Rachel S.
I just found out that Destihl doesn't have a dedicated fryer for their french fries and other "gluten-free" offerings. And they have stopped offering a GF menu. They were obviously trying to cater to the trendy gluten-free crowd, but not to Celiacs.
(2)
Alex C.
Brilliant. The staff was super friendly, the atmosphere was awesome, and the food was spectacular. I ordered the Thai fried chicken. It was literally a half a chicken on top of a bed of some yummy, spicy rice. I loved it. Ordered the fried asparagus for appetizer. The waitress was very informative and was spot on with suggesting the dishes. I absolutely recommend this place for first timers.
(5)
Marshall B.
I've come here on a number of occasions, usually work-related. The food is tasty and the appetizers are creative. As long as you're seated away from the bar, it's usually quiet enough to carry on civilized conversation. However, The beer is pretty disappointing, particularly for a brewery. As a result, this place is not my first choice for a night out, but makes for a good dinner in general.
(3)
Lindsey G.
Oh, Destihl. How I wish you were anything above average. I had a delicious brunch at Destihl once (while sitting outside) and it ruined me for life, because for that reason, I feel compelled to keep giving the place a chance at serving me a delicious indoor dinner that's worth the price tag. So far, that just hasn't happened, or even come close. I might join friends here for dessert or for drinks and an appetizer, but I've learned my lesson with dinner. I think.
(2)
Andy L.
skirt steak is amazing have to try slightly spicy but great flavor. Brussel sprout salad has to right combo of sweet and sour. Topped off with cherry bread pudding 5 star for just that.
(5)
Nate S.
Good food but great beer. There are two locations one in Champaign and the other in Bloomington. They both have unique food and drinks. I've never had anything I didn't like here.
(4)
Dean W.
Highly recommended! Nice bar with a great selection of their beers. I particularly like the Nut Brown Ale but there are several other styles to choose from. As for dining, we love Destihl. This time we had the Reuben Egg Rolls which were excellent. I had the Chicken Corn Chowder which was one of the best I've ever tasted. For dinner I had the Swordfish dinner. It has a very nice and spicy glaze and is served on a bed of arugula and other spiced veggies. Very impressive, very tasty, but it was a little small which the server told me ahead of time. Not the best choice if you are looking for a big meal, but a very good dish overall. My friend had the Pork rib and pulled pork dish with cole slaw and potatoes. I was very good, had a nice kick to it. Everything is served with a modern flair and a unique flavor profile. This is not your typical boring brew pub food. Very stylish. The atmosphere is nicer that most brew pubs and is great for a nice dinner out with friends. I am never disappointed at Destihl!!
(5)
Michael B.
Great food. Great service. Decent wine list. And an extensive gluten free menu to boot. Our go-to place when we are in Champaign.
(4)
Crazy G.
What a great meal and fun time last night. Server was Alex and he was outstanding! started with a flight and a drink and the battered bacon, YUM Hubby had the skirt steak I had the jambalaya topped it off with dessert and we never do that, pastry with fresh fruit and lemon curd We did not want to leave and can not wait to go back!
(5)
Anthony D.
Beer-Battered Asparagus, Craft Beer, and great food on the menu. You can't beat it.
(5)
Paul D.
Man, Champaign (my hometown) now has two brewpubs within a block of each other. Houston (where I live now) has none. Why can't the 4th largest city in the US have a brewpub? I digress. There is a sterile and industrial atmosphere here. One that I am seeing in more in more bars, and I am not a fan. The style does not work here looks like the pub and owners are being cheep. Seems cold to me. The bar is to the left with some tables and booths. To the right on the Neil St side is another dinning area. The brewing equipment can be seen from the Church St side. A few TV's above the bar, but unintrusive. Relaxed, but sterile and pretty much the exact opposite of the Blind Pig. Which oozes uniqueness from every wood poor. The service is fast, but they are not very interested in much. I want someone working at a brewpub to at least show interest in their products. Here it seems they want to shuffle you in and out with a ticket and some tips. Unimpressed on this front. The food is fairly bland and generic. Some pizzas, some steaks, some chicken, some seafood. A little of everything. They do nothing good, but nothing bad either. There is a wide variety of beers available. Including a cask mild, which I would have jumped at if I had seen it before leaving. The rest is about 14 taps in all styles. A blonde, hefeweizen, a scotch ale, a few stouts and IPAs (some imperial), lots of Belgian styles. Though nothing is really that good, and some have obvious flaws. Overall, clearly the second best brewpub on the block. Almost the definition of average to me. The food does not really excite me either. I really can't see myself coming here to often over the many other great beer destinations and restaurants within walking distance. Though cheers for at least another brewpub option in town.
(2)
Stacy P.
Told us it was a 45 minute wait even though tables were empty. Went on yelp and could make a reservation for 15 mins. Very disappointing.
I had really high expectations for this place...I have to say, I was very disappointed. The only reason for a two star rating was the appetizers. We got the pretzels with beer cheese and the deep fried bacon. The pretzels were great, served warm. The bacon was...interesting, but tasty. That is where the goodness ends. I got a cheeseburger and asked for it to be prepared medium...I received a very dry and very well done bland burger with horrible over cooked yet cold potato wedges. The kids meals are ridiculously small and mediocre at best. To add insult to injury...we paid over $100 for a party of 5 (2 were kids meals) for over cooked and cold food. Huge disappointment!
(2)
Ashley B.
FINALLY! We were all being teased for so long about when it would actually open! I went it's opening weekend and let me be clear when I say this rating is based on beers alone, I didn't get a chance to try the food yet! I'll start by saying that the atmosphere is really cool. It reminds me of a Blind Pig Brewery meets Seven Saints or something like that. They call themselves a gastro-brewery instead of a gastro-pub, which I think fits the bill pretty well. The place is divided up nicely with the bar being it's own area and a nicer looking restaurant on the other side. I have to say though, I was a bit surprised to hear that it's only open until 11, that doesn't seem wise for an area of town that's so reliant on the nightlife. As far as the beer goes, they had 18 on tap that were freshly made on the spot and they were pretty amazing. I was surprised to hear that they didn't have anything but their own brews available, and I worried about how my non-fancy beer fans felt, but then when I tasted their Champaign Blonde Ale, it was EXACTLY like a Bud Light. I think my favorite that I sampled was the Downstate Pale Ale, and the Raspberry Wheat Ale was a bit too much for me. But overall, I think they covered their bases pretty well. I definitely can't wait to come back and try the food (which I hear is truuuuly delicious) and give this place it's 5th and final star! UPDATE! So I went back and finally got to try the food. I believe I ordered the Swordfish, my boyfriend got the jambalaya and we both split some of the beer battered asparagus. I'll say right away the asparagus was the best part, which didn't surprise me because everyone raved about their appetizers, but I never heard much about the main dishes. My swordfish wasn't that great, to be honest, and I'm pretty easy to please. My boyfriend's jambalaya wasn't superb either, but then again, that's probably not the best thing to order at a place like this. All in all, everything was good, and a nice change from what's available downtown, but if I had one piece of advice, it would be stick to the beer and small plates!
(4)
Angela C.
I came here a handful of times during my 5 years in Chambana and had a great experience almost every time. They have some fantastic dishes - the swordfish is AWESOME, the beer battered asparagus is enormous, the burgers are great and the desserts are intense. The drinks are good too. I brought many different people here and they all had a great time too. I think the one dish that was unanimously disliked was the bleu cheese quesadilla thing. TOO MUCH BLEU CHEESE. It's a great location for groups and the service always seemed to be timely and personable. Would definitely go again if I traveled down that way more often.
(4)
Brent Z.
The menu has a good variety of options, which is nice. I have had the bison burger twice, but they seem to always cook it a little too much. I tried it medium once and medium rare another time, and both times they cooked it longer than they should of. But it still tasted good. Service at the bar was very good.
(4)
Stephanie C.
The Ruben egg rolls are so unique and delicious. Our dinner was also very good..we ate the Thai chicken and a half roasted chicken (not sure what it was called). Both of these entrees were massive and very tasty. I knocked it down a star because the service was average. But above all, the mango ipa was the best!
(4)
Maxine W.
I'm so disappointed. I'm in champaign visiting my sister, and a friend of ours recommended we go to Destihl. He touted it as a gift from the gods. Like so good hat he went there for lunch and dinner one day and then came back for brunch the next morning. After looking at the menu, how could I resist?? So we went today for a late lunch (around 2:30) and found the place pretty much deserted. There were some people working in the bar who made eye contact with us but didn't come up to the host stand to seat us. So we waited. And waited. And finally a hostess came and brought us to a cavernous booth in the bar. Where we waited. And waited. And listened to awful terrible music (read: Dave Matthews Band) A female server came to get our drink orders and informed us that Michael would be our server. Ok, so the do team service, I'm on board with that. But Michael didn't come with our drinks. Someone dressed like a manager did. And Michael didn't take our food order. A woman who we later learned was a manager did. I think Michael maybe refilled our drinks? The first manager looking guy dropped off our apps. Here's the skinny on what we had: Beer battered bacon: this is worth a star. It was greasy but oddly delicious. Brussels sprouts: flavor was good but they were still pretty hard in the middle. Bacon Egg and Cheese Deviled Eggs: nothing to write home about. They were small and pretty smoky tasting. For entrees, I ordered the fried egg BLT and my sister ordered the bison burger. My BLT was fine. Again, nothing to write home about. There was some sort of mustardy vinaigrette on the greens that was overpowering. And the egg could have been runnier. But another star goes to the fries which were hot and crispy and delicious. My sister ordered her burger medium and it came out completely well done. Like "we think this bison is dead but let's burn it at the stake just to make sure it's really really dead." She decided to send it back and so we waited. And waited. And a brand new server (still not Michael) came by to check on us. She went back to the kitchen to have them make a new burger and left the old one so my sis could nibble on the fries. Her friendly attitude and apologies would have garnered another star, but I was SO put off when she came back to tell us that her manager wanted to let us know that she put the order in correctly and that the cooks are the ones who screwed up. Umm... Why wouldn't the manager come over herself to apologize? Or at least to check on us after the replacement came? And also, it is so not cool to throw your kitchen staff under the bus like that. All in all, Destihl has good bacon, inattentive staff, poor leadership, and too much desire to be "cool." And where is Michael? My receipt says he was my server but I don't even know if I saw him, and I fear my tip went to someone who didn't do any work! I won't be back.
(2)
Jo B.
We went here for Mother's Day dinner the Monday after. Was impressed with the decor, menu, service, and food. Our service was excellent. I had a Flat Iron Steak and fingerling potatoes w/blue cheese. Steak was cooked perfectly. Potatoes were tasty. Other people in our group were satisfied with their choices. (We tasted each other's dishes to verify the deliciousness.) Portabella burger, veggie burger, American Kobe burger, chipotle shrimp skewers, & chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon were their choices. We had two appetizers - cheese curds & tempura-fried asparagus. Yum, yum. One of our dessertw was the highly-promoted banana cream pie. Good, but the bananas were over caramelized. (waiter apologized). All in all we were very happy with our experience. I hope to take other people to share the Destihl experience.
(4)
Grace S.
OK, if it wasn't for the weird service we experienced, this would totally be 5 stars. At first, our server spent a lot of us time with us going over all the different beers and was super knowledgeable and basically just a really good server. Halfway into dinner he disappeared and other people started bringing us our food. When we asked where he was, we were told that he was in the back doing other things. At the end of dinner he returned to being our server but also bartender so we were basically ignored. Very weird service. We tried 11 of the 14 beers they make. I personally like really hoppy beers, but alas I can't remember the names of the ones I liked. For appetizers we ordered the chorizo stuffed dates, which were AMAZING! We also ordered lamb meatballs. I love anything with goat cheese so both of these appetizers were right up my alley. In the past, I have also gotten beer battered asparagus which is also super delicious. Originally, I ordered the pesto and goat cheese pizza but unfortunately it was very soggy and my plate was drenched in grease. Even the server commented that it was excessively soggy. I sent it back, which is something I NEVER do. I then ordered the flat iron quesadillas from the appetizers as my dinner. It didn't disappoint. My favorite part was definitely the chorizo stuffed dates.
(4)
Jennifer W.
Reading other comments about the high prices here made me chuckle. We felt like Distihl was a great bargain, but since we are from Chicago, our scale is perhaps skewed. Dinner for 6 for $100 made this place fantastic for the price. Granted we were not drinking, but still. The cassoulet was very good, if light on the promised sausage. We will go back next time we are in town.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
A lot of people have already said exactly what I think - underwhelming. I've been to Destihl 4 times - the first time, I got the beer-battered cod. WOW! Amazing!! Everything about that experience was great! The past 3 times? Not so much. We always take out-of-town family there, and it's a disappointment. The portions are teeeeeeny tiny, so order plenty of appetizers. The value is not very good at all. The beer's alright. Champaign has better breweries. This restaurant has a lot of potential - it's already showed that. I always go there wanting to be wow'd, and they come up short.
(3)
Rakesh G.
They have good food options. They could work more on the vegetarian options. Nice beer. Some people may like this, but I personally don't like waiters coming back every 10-15 mins asking how the food is and if everything is okay. But I understand that they are trained to do the same.
(3)
Josh M.
Any draught beer from this place is a good options. Beer battered asparagus, veggie burger, Thai steak salad, or roasted beer salad you'll enjoy!
(5)
Liren C.
After three dining experiences at Destihl, the biggest complain I have is that they consistently over salt their food. Hey, what's up with that? Lighten up on the soy sauce please! Some of us would like to actually taste our food without leaving with high blood pressure. The Thai chicken wings were salty. The meatloaf was salty and dry. The Thai fried chicken is a good concept, but again it was salty. My chicken was under cooked. The waitress was apologetic and promptly got it re-fried (nice service). Although I didn't get to try them, the burgers and pizzas looked pretty good (but if you're just looking for burgers and pizzas there are much better places). The chocolate crème brulee was a travesty! No resemblance to crème brulee in terms of taste or texture. Extremely unpleasant! However, there is something on the menu that is truly mind blowing! BEER-BATTERED BACON! WOW! So crispy and thick! Must have! Bottom line, if you're here for drinks, order the beer-battered bacon and maybe burgers and pizza. Everything else on the menu is mediocre at best. Oh, and don't forget your blood pressure medication. You'll need it!
(3)
Emiko D.
After several times of driving past Destihl and thinking I'd come to try their brews one day, I finally made it, except not for the beer. I made a reservation through yelp for lunch and was promptly seated as soon as we arrived. Our party ordered the beer battered asparagus and absolutely loved it. The overall service was great and very respectful in helping my grandma get through the doors with her walker. The only reason for rating 4 stars instead of 5 would be that our waitress seemed impatient with giving us a few minutes to order and came off a bit rude when asking who would be taking the check. Regardless, I'll be back for the beer, Destihl!!
(4)
Julie E.
We are staying in Champaign on our way back to the East coast. We looked at Yelp and as soon as I saw Destihl's menu I knew this was the place. It was terrific! Our server, Alex, was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The menu was everything I'd hoped for and tasted as good as it sounded in print. I had the Minted Man cocktail. Refreshing and delicious! The sandwiches were huge and delicious. I wish we'd split a sandwich and saved room for dessert. We are already looking for reasons to come back to Champaign so we can eat here again!
(5)
Dionne C.
OK so each time I have gone back to Destihl since my original post it has been better. I'd like to think someone over there read my posts ;) I'm still not a fan of the price points but the food is far more consistent and seems to be better quality. Also really enjoy their coffee and fresh cream after any meal there. Still nothing terribly interesting however everything seems fresh and well executed. Also I am trying to tone down on being such a food snob so... 4 stars!! (throws confetti sarcastically)
(4)
Kelly P.
Wonderful meal at Destihl. Pretzel and Reuben appetizers were amazing. We all loved our meals . The waiter recommended a beer for each of us and we really liked them too. Good service and seated promptly. Great experience.
(5)
Joy M.
Tried it again after awhile and boy have the portions gotten smaller and still as expensive. I will totally pay for it if it's worth it but I don't think it is. I think it only gets good ratings bc there isn't much to choose from here in c/u along these lines. Also the atmosphere is nice and beer is pretty good for being able to order the small ones to try more. But yeah, won't be back.
(2)
David T.
I've been to Desthil a couple times, and it's pretty nice. The burgers are really good, as are the Cuban sandwiches. I was also fond of the house drafts that I tried (including an apricot beer that's one of my favorite Belgians). The beers they brew onsite are all really good. The dessert menu is also fantastic- try the chocolate cake that's the size of your head if you're looking for diabetes. The Smores plate is also fun. All that said, the food here is a bit more expensive than it's worth. Burgers are cheaper (and better) at Farren's, Radio Maria has better Cubans for the price and the entrees are nothing too impressive- good, but not great. I've also found service to be a bit hit or miss- we've had waiters that have been remarkably friendly and courteous, but last time they substituted a more expensive glass of wine for one they apparently didn't have without telling us. I like going here, and it's a nice change of pace every once in a while, but rarely do I go "Boy, we need to go to Desthil."
(3)
Lisa G.
Destihl is an upscale pub-style restaurant with a low key atmosphere. The menu is quite large and has a lot of variety from small tapas style plates, to salads, pizzas, burgers, steaks, entrees, and even some thai-fusion style dishes. Because of the variety, I think this is a great place to bring a group or a date if you're not sure what type of food they prefer. The beer is all brewed at Destihl and is decent, but I've never been blown away by any of their brews. I have been here several times and my favorite dish so far was the Cedar Plank Salmon. On my most recent trip I ordered the Kobe Burger and when I ran out of sauce, the server asked if I would like more. I am not a dessert person, but I LOVE their dessert menu. So, do yourself a favor and save room for dessert! Be warned, if you sit in the bar area be prepared to wait. I have actually left a few times when I haven't been given water or a menu 15 minutes after arriving. If you sit in the main dining room however, the service is superb.
(4)
Idan S.
I was recently invited to Champaign for a grad-school interview, and went out to dinner at Destihl on one of the nights I spent in town. I have to say that I found it very amusing that the priciest restaurant I went to on this trip was also the worst meal of the trip by far. I ordered the goat-cheese pesto pizza, shared the battered asparagus appetizer, and had pint of the brown ale. The battered asparagus was alright but EXTREMELY greasy, the pizza was soggy and surprisingly didn't really taste like basil or goat cheese, and the brown ale was flat out bad (trust me, I drink a lot of microbrew beer, I know what good beer tastes like). Plus, most other people at my table agreed that their food and drinks were also mediocre. Needless to say, since this is an pricier restaurant, I doubt I'd be willing to give Destihl another shot.
(1)
Kali M.
Hitting the big 5-0-0 with a great restaurant from my hometown! - The vitals: Downtown microbrewery + restaurant with a slightly hip industrial vibe. Great food, great beer. Best part? Small (4oz) tasting portions $1-2. GREAT service. - Every time I visit my parents in good ol' Chambana they have a "new restaurant in town" that hubby and I MUST try. Or five. This time, Destihl was first on their list... and they are so crazy about it, they took us twice. In ONE DAY. First, for lunch. No beer this visit (hence the second), just lunch. I had the Portabella Sandwich with Shoestring Fries, and it was 100% delish. Also on the table: - Stuffed poblano pepper - Cuban sandwich - Salad with ahi tuna - Clam chowder I heard nothing but raves from the group. Late that evening we stopped in for post-dinner drinks "and maybe a little to munch on." We got three appetizers for the table: - Chorizo & Potato Flautas - Marinated Cucumbers (there's some BITE to those suckers!) - Brewmaster's Pizza (yuuuuuumm) ... and all got a few 4oz tasting pours. The beer was fantastic, some of the best I've had. Our waiters both times were friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a good time. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the story my dad told (more than once) about his friend's first visit. They were a big group, 12 I think, and stopping in before seeing a show in downtown. They ordered food, drinks, then dessert. There was a delay in the kitchen and they were kept waiting on their dessert for quite while... they were now running short on time, so one of the guys flagged down their waiter and told him, maybe a touch rudely, that they "needed either dessert or the check, because we gotta get out of here." The manager came back a couple of minutes later, apologized profusely, and served their dessert. Dessert or check, and Destihl chose dessert. Their meal and drinks for 12 were on the house. It's those kinds of stories that spread your business' name in the best possible way - you chose wisely, Destihl. The guy's been sending over everyone he knows, always prompting with "you gotta hear how amazingly this restaurant treated me!"
(5)
Jay B.
This is kind of a go-to place with out-of-town relatives, the food is good if overpriced. Some dishes meh but i like the fish and chips. Beer ok better than your low end brews. Nicely decorated service generally good.
(4)
S M.
Our waiter was really nice, but the food was just OK this time. Unfortunately they did not have the Asian chicken wings or Cherry French Toast on the menu that we really enjoyed the last time we ate there. We went there for lunch & I ordered a Thai steak salad. The steak was overcooked in chunks & there were only a few slices of steak. The dressing was sour & just OK. The rest of my family ordered the beer battered bacon app which they loved. My son enjoys the pork sandwich. Their house made chips & chocolate cake are very good.
(3)
Melissa B.
My family and I absolutely LOVE Destihl! It has become the go-to place whenever my parents visit (I am in law school). The first time we went there, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many options were available for myself because I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Usually I have to settle for something bland or uninteresting, but Destihl has lots of imaginative and delicious options. We started with the beer-battered asparagus which was pretty tasty. I ordered the stuffed pablano which was absolutely amazing. It was spicy and had a really interesting mix of flavors. My mom got the Thai fried chicken and my dad got the ribeye, which they both loved. My boyfriend got the bison burger which he thought was good but not as amazing as our dishes. The second time we went was for lunch. I got the lunch combo with the portabella and brie sandwich and the beer and cheddar soup. The sandwich was yummy but the soup was really very delicious. Definitely comfort food and really hit the spot. My mom got the Thai fried chicken again and my dad got the Thai steak which he said was even better than the ribeye. My boyfriend ordered the Dijon chicken which he really enjoyed. You should probably make a reservation for dinner but likely do not need one for lunch. They also serve brunch on the weekends until 2:00 and those items looked pretty delicious as well. We have had great servers at Destihl and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. Plus, they don't have a corkage fee! The first time we went, we brought our own bottle of wine and there was no charge! All in all we have had really great meals here and will definitely be returning!
(5)
Monica H.
Passing through town and stopped in Champaign for the night. This place was recommended to me by the front desk clerks at my hotel. If you are a craft beer enthusiast you should definitely stop in. It is definitely worth the short drive even if you are staying by the highway in Motel Hell. I arrived early and was seated promptly at a table in view of a big screen TV near the bar area. My server was knowledgable and attentive. I had a flight of three craft beers, guided by my server. As an appetizer, I had the mac and cheese. Loved it and managed to avoid eating it all so I could take some back to my room. For an entree, I had the salmon over a bed of roasted vegetables. This was also quite good. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, which is accented by a topping of cinnamon-coated maple bacon (amazing) and mint. This was also good but could be more chocolatey, IMHO. If I lived in the area I would dine here regularly. If you are a visitor, do yourself a favor and avoid the generic chain places by the highway, and drive into town to go here instead.
(4)
Alan Z.
Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got. Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got.
(5)
Zachary H.
Dishes can be hit or miss here but overall I enjoy Destihl. I recommend this for groups or other gatherings since it is casual but still pretty nice. I like the pretzels for appetizer, the burgers for entree, and the banana cream pie for dessert (it is seriously awesome).
(4)
Amith D.
I have been there twice till now and I am amazed at how classy a brewery's restaurant can be in a college town! They have few of the best appetizers I have had and certainly the best in the urbana-champaign area. They profess their best appetizer are the cheese curds (which are good) but the best of the lot has to be the Potato croquettes. I have had the beer-battered asparagus as well which changed my taste buds liking towards asparagus! I am a vegetarian and its extremely difficult to find a good vegetarian burger, so i was skeptical to order that (most places have burnt, bitter black bean patty!!) but they had one of the biggest veggie burger I have seen. The patty had rice, carrots, ginger and a few other veggies blended with the beans making it really delicious filling. The only vegetarian entree they have is the Stuffed Poblano Peppers, which was excellent. The staff is extremely courteous (sometimes more so than needed) and are very keen to entertain you. A few negatives are, the beer selection is great but is limited. I expect a brewery to have all their beers available (except the seasonal's, obviously) but they seem to rotate their beer. Even though the beer tastes good, I would cut some points for the spread of it. Another thing would be the place is unable to substitute any of the meat based dish with a vegetarian option which is a turn off if you are a vegetarian. P.S. Make a reservation, it is usually crowded!
(4)
Chelsey S.
I have gone multiple times and my parents pretty much live here. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable on what they have and they are super friendly! I love trying new things and I am never disappointed. My dad has helped them with a batch of beer, they have made Reese's vodka just for my mom and honestly, whenever I go with them to eat it's like I walk onto the set of Cheers. Everybody knows their name. But you don't have to be a regular to feel like you're getting special treatment. I love that they bring you samples of their beer or tell you what just became available after aging. I love the location, I love the feel... I just wish I had more money so I could visit them more often!
(5)
Douglas H.
The first time I went to Destihl, I sat in the dining room; things were okay. The next time, and every time since, I have sat at the bar; things were remarkable. I enjoy having the direct interaction with the team of wonderfully skilled bartenders. Their attention to detail and good cheer make the bar a must for anyone I take out in Champaign. The roasted peanuts covered in delectable spices and drizzled with fresh lime juice make the perfect accoutrement to the always great, fresh beer; the bbq burger is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5)
Catie R.
I had heard about this place about 6 months before I tried it out, and I'm mad at myself for missing out for so long. The food is affordable for a student on a budget, and the atmosphere is perfect for a date or group outing. It's the perfect place for students to bring their visiting parents, too. The beer comes in sizes ranging from 4oz to 16oz, so you can try different brews if you're in the mood for that. The Tomato & Bread salad is absolutely phenomenal, and I have added chicken to it and had that as my entree on more than one occasion. This is one restaurant I really miss since graduating U of I and leaving the area.
(5)
Matthew L.
I really was not expecting to give a brewpub 5 stars...but here goes... We went on a Monday night, and the restaurant was FULL which was A) good to see for a new business and B) surprising! The decor is surprisingly upscale - really cool use of natural stone and wood. HUGE shame they didn't open with their patio ready to go, but when I inquired they said it was in the plans to open the patio soon. The beers (I tried 5, yup 5) were decent - not world-class, but decent. My favorite purely for summer drinkability was the Champaign Blonde, but I am admittedly not into dark beers at all, and there are PLENTY of dark ones and heavier Begian-style ales which I didn't try. The menu looked surprisingly interesting, (I was expecting burgers and pretzels), and between us we tried the pickled cucumber salad, the tuna carpaccio, the strawberry salad and the warm salmon and potato salad. All four dishes were winners, although the small plates ARE really small (which is exactly what we wanted). The entrees are MASSIVE for the price, and look like they are high quality meals, but I'm glad we saw how big they were before we ordered one! Service was excellent from beginning to end. The desserts also looks amazing, but I was too full to try. As a gay couple it was nice to feel comfortable and that there was a real mix of clientele - I was scared it was going to be exclusively Olive Garden-goers, but there were some hipsters, some queens, and some students as well as your typical 'casual-dining' crowd. Can't wait for the patio to open, but believe me, there will be a serious wait time on those tables - be prepared!
(5)
John S.
Having heard and read so many different views on Destihl, I was looking forward to being part of a group dinner tonight. My group of 12 was immediately seated and drink orders were quickly taken. Service was interesting. Although our waiter was excellent, there seemed to be several uncertainties when drinks and food were brought to the table. Things got to where they needed to be, but I was surprised there seemed to be so much trouble just getting the orders to the correct guests. The food was wonderful! We had some excellent shared appetizers -- beer-battered asparagus, stone oven pretzels and beer-battered bacon. I had the Greekish salad and the cedar plank salmon. My wife had bacon & brussels and roasted beet salad. Others had a variety of chicken, seafood and meat entrees. For dessert my wife and I shared the chocolate cake. I tried a few of the four ounce beer samples and had a bloody mary. The beer was very good, the bloody mary excellent in presentation but only average in taste. We were not expecting to spend almost three hours having a leisurely dinner, but the evening was very nice. I was impressed with the general vibe for a Saturday night. All in all, I was impressed with Destihl and will definitely come back to try lunch or perhaps dinner with my wife or a smaller group.
(4)
L L.
Destihl is my go to place for a nice meal in Champaign, The environment is great. this is a must go for couples looking for a nice date. Their draft selection is great (obviously with a huge brewery inside the restaurant) they let you sample a few beers to try out what you like and they have awesome mixed drinks as well. I love their bloody mary (comes with salami, pickles, celery etc) its amazing (I love the spicy-ness of it). Honestly, the food was just okay. I've gotten this asian-ish dish before, a burger (eggs, bacon, wagyu beef) but i would much prefer Farren's, and appetizers. So yeah food is not too special but the drinks are good, waitresses are friendly (Michelle is AMAZING), and dessert is delicious. So honestly, I would come here (sit at the bar) get a few appetizers, drinks, and dessert.
(4)
Pete B.
3.5 for food 4.5 for drinks Destihl seems to have all the right ingredients to become THE hot spot downtown, but I didn't leave it feeling like I really want to come back. Service was very slow, but since it's the first weekend of operation, I'm not going to take any points off. The decor was really nice, cosy, and even a little cosmopolitan. I got the pesto chicken pasta which I thought was good, but nothing to get excited about. I tried the fried cheese appertiser, and while good, they also weren't anything to write home about. Overall, food was good, but not great. There are better restaurants elsewhere. The drinks, on the other hand, were good AND also reasonably priced which I did not expect. They had a big beer, wine, cocktail, and martini menu. I tried a couple of different beers, and they were all really good for the most part. They also had 4 oz portion which was a great way to try different beers, and the 4 oz portion is surprisingly not priced proportionally any higher than its 12 oz counter part. Destihl seems like the ideal place to get dinner before a night downtown. Great ambient, great location, great drinks, and good food. Even though it's not anywhere near there yet, I'm sure that it has the potential to be the best place in a couple of months.
(4)
W S.
Beer is seriously bad here, and the food is horrendous. Want beer brats with cabbage? Great, enjoy your greasy, deep fried brats with chopped onions (apparently they ran out of cabbage). Dates with cheese and bacon? Enjoy your dates with no cheese, but covered in chimichurro sauce for some reason. Three dates, which equals two dollars each. Total waste of money. The decor is weirdly airport/hotelesque. Back to the beer. Tried four sampler sizes, two are ok, two taste like ice wine. No fizz, and all sugar.
(1)
Neil O.
I really wanted to like this place. The location is nice and the tables are spacious. It can be both informal or formal and the seating and decor are mellow. The service was very good and our server Aaron was excellent. However....the food is another story. We started with an appetizer that was fine but our meals were terrible. My date ordered the dijon chicken and it was incredibly dry and also came with TWO HAIRS in it! My kobe burger was also very dry and unexciting. The bun was stale and the beef was extremely dry and tasteless. For dessert we ordered a large chocolate cake that was $11. It was okay, but nothing exciting. I'm not a food snob but for the money I would expect a lot more. Sorry to say that this was my first and last experience at Destihl. I hope others have a more favorable experience.
(1)
Sarah P.
Super excited this place is finally open. Not only that, but it was just as good as I had hoped it would be. Tons of good things to say about the place, but I'll start with the two negatives so we can get that out of the way. The waitress heard me say cheese pizza instead of goat cheese pizza. Probably my fault actually, because it was loud and I am a self-proclaimed mumbler. This mistake was fixed promptly and the pesto goat cheese pizza was awesome. Second problem was that the fried asparagus was somewhat whelming. It was really big, so if you're going for size great, but smaller spears aren't woody textured like the big spears. I assume that since they specify they use local when they can, that this problem will remedy itself once asparagus comes into season in a few weeks around here. Now for the mega good stuff: Deadhead double red is probably THE BEST red ale I've ever had. It is strong, spicy, flavorful and full bodied. Just wonderful! Everyone at my table liked their other flavors (and we went with some beer snobs ;) The hubby loved, loved, loved the coffee glazed rib-eye. Service was surprisingly good granted that it was the first weekend they were open. The people getting bad service in the other review...sorry, we must've been hogging all the attention ;). We actually liked the place so much we went back for brunch on the next day. Which was even. more. amazing. Ordered the swordfish tacos (see pics) and Cuban sandwich, and the french toast (see pics) for the munchkin. The kids French toast was ridiculously awesome. Here's the most awesome kicker- we were with a big group with 4 kids and the back room was open, so they gave it to us to have our brunch back there so the kids wouldn't bother anyone else. It was an awesome experience and the whole staff was soooo super nice. Make sure to check out my food pics- the kids meal was 1/3 eaten when I took the pic, but you can imagine the thrill in junior's eyes when he saw what he got for breakfast! :) Awesome place guys! Keep up the good work!
(5)
Owen B.
My wife and I are from Chicago and our friends from the area introduced us to Distihl. It was a busy Saturday night and the service was a bit slow but given that we weren't in a rush, that was OK. The food exceeded my expectations. I had the Cuban sandwich and one of the better Cubans I've had in a long time! My wife and friend both had a pasta dish which they enjoyed. The waiter also was very knowledgeable about the menu and large number of beer choices, all of which were excellent too. There are lots of choices in Champaign and I recommend anyone try Distihl!
(4)
Chris R.
I'm a beer nerd, and I'm disappointed by this place so far. I plan to give it more chances, but I've tried the brown ale, Belgian single, a kolsch, and a pale ale, and have been relatively uninspired by nearly all of them. The website lists some hoppier alternatives, but I haven't seen them actually on the menu.
(3)
Ted C.
All right, so I've now been to both locations of Destihl and I have to say they're both pretty good, not stellar but a slightly above average brewpub. I tried their Hawaii five ale which was okay-it was a fruit beer that was supposed to remind me of being on a beach in Hawaii. Well, anything is possible it was a tarter beer but still a very light ale. They didn't have their dunkelweizen here which was disappointing. I got hungry waiting for my friend so I ordered the Ancho chips and dip. The chips were just okay but the vinegar and the dressings were really quite good. The habanero vinegar wasn't overpoweringly hot but had a nice kick and the ranch was more than just a ranch dressing. I had the bison burger because I haven't had bison meat in a while and it was just as good. The burger though, was all right the bison, slightly sweeter and less greasy than ground beef was good. The dressing on it though took away from the flavor of the meat but the fries were actually quite tasty. Overall, it's still an okay place
(3)
Joe R.
I ate here May 2013 and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Came back February 6 and had terrible service. I was seated at a table and waited 14 minutes without seeing a waiter or being offered a drink. A table directly across from me sat down after me, was given water and drinks. I asked to see the manager waited another ten minutes so got up and left. Only as I was walking out the door was the manager able to find me.
(1)
Anthony P.
My teammate and I had two delicious dinners here. We loved the "bacon egg and cheese" deviled eggs. I enjoyed, on separate occasions, the chipotle chicken sandwich (good sweet potato fries) and the grilled and stuffed. I also sampled my teammate's meat loaf; that tasted incredible as well. I loved my cocktails, which include the Vanilla and Mint, Dark and Stormy, and the Aztec Chocolate. The last one was amazing - it had a spicy kick to it. The atmosphere and service were incredible as well. If in town again I would make it a point to return here.
(4)
Bethany C.
I've been here a few times. I like it for lunch. Their beer is alright. The flatbread-y pizza with lemon and arugula was delicious. I have it on good authority that their portobello sandwich is better than The Bread Company. I think the dinner - both the crowds and the food - are a little pretentious. My BF thinks that this is "a great place for women who shop at Chicos to meet up with each other and discuss the braided leather belts they bought for their husbands." Which is to say, he thinks they overdo atmosphere to keep the rif raff out. In my experience, I will sacrifice dim lighting for a chile that is actually spicy. Oh, midwestern restaurants. Are you using bell peppers to make Chile Rellenos? My littlest brother really liked it, though. He devoured some friend bacon appetizer.
(3)
sheridan r.
Went here for din-din with my broey and his wifepoo since they live in the area. Food was fantastic! Service was spot on - our waitress was very attentive and took great care of us. We had a flight of the many beers they offer, the menu is extensive and it's hard to decide. But one thing is 1000% worth getting: Beer Battered Asparagus. That's it. Who cares if you have stinky pee from eating asparagus - totally worth it.
(4)
Steve B.
Not bad, not great. I've had the pot roast sandwich and the bison burger. The pot roast was a surprisingly small portion. The bun on my bison burger was a little stale. Honestly, my biggest pet peeve with Destihl is their attempt at trying to create elevated food that just come off as tacky. For instance when I split their quesadilla appetizer they proudly touted it was deconstructed. That meant the appetizer consisted of some tortillas with melted cheese and a side of so-so grilled steak. Give me a break- I've had some cleverly deconstructed items before and that was not the case here. They do a similar thing with smores (e.g. the marshmallows come pre-melted). Tacky might be a strong word but to serve things in ways that are poorly executed and actually make eating your meal less enjoyable and more complicated in an attempt to seem high-end is pretty tacky.
(2)
Luis R.
Exceptional dining experience. Made a Reservation with the Andrew, the Lead Bartender. I simply mentioned that I wanted a nice dinner because it was a first date, and he made the start of the evening's date very memeorable. When we arrived, Andrew had a reserved table set aside, candles, wine glasses and the first bottle of wine complimentary. Meeting us at the front he personally welcomed us to the restaurant and lead us to our table, and then passed us along to out waiter Vincent. This young man kept a keen eye on our table and made sure our wine glasses were replenished. The food was excellent but an afterthought to the service we received. Thanks Andrew!
(5)
S. P.
This is a cute place in the downtown area of Champaign. It is always busy on the weekends and the service is good. My only issue was that the menu was kind of all over the place. There was traditional bar food mixed in with Thai as well as pasta dishes. Just didn't seem coherent to me I guess. Overall, it was a good experience.
(4)
Brad P.
Destihl was something that was completely unexpected for me to find in downtown Champaign. It was a MUCH bigger place than I anticipated, and I would love to see it on a day when it was busy. We were there about 3pm on a Monday. I was immediately impressed with the vibe of the place - very hip, and something you would expect to find in any major city's downtown. The beer list was posted on a board above the bar and was HUGE for a local microbrewery. Where I expected to find 8-10 local beers supported by a smattering of other regional brews, the list of beers brewed in house was closer to 20-25. As I had never been to Destihl, I asked the bartender to select 4 beers for me to sample (this is typical practice for me -- a good bartender will ask the right questions and figure out what you like). He started by asking if I wanted darker or lighter beer, and then asked me about some different flavor profiles. After a few questions, he came back with four delicious beers. I tried the Roadblock British Red Ale, Black Angel Stout, Deadhead Double Red, and Antiquity Rye Wine. All were really awesome. I was very pleased with the bartenders knowledge of the beer, the fast friendly service, and the atmosphere in general. Next time I'm in town this is DEFINITELY a place I plan to return, and hopefully next time I'll get to order some food as well.
(5)
Devin H.
My first experience was on a date. I misheard what the waiter said when he was listing the specials. I asked him to repeat after he was done speaking. He sighed and sort of rolled his eyes. I ordered a turkey burger (because I'm epic classy like that). It was cold. It tasted like it would have been delicious had it arrived at my table 10 min sooner. My second time was just last night. I sat at the bar with a friend to have appetizers and a few beers. The lady at the bar was too busy literally dancing with her fellow employee (boyfriend?) and kept kissing and dancing by the kitchen to ever get my second drink. The appetizer I order was incredibly spicy, therefore it had no flavor other than pepper, and was also quite greasy. On top of that the manager saw a buddy of his sitting next to us. They both got into their conversation for a good 10-15min and began talking quite loudly. I could not hear the company next to me telling a story. I may give it another shot, but its pretty unlikely.
(2)
Nancy D.
Living in downtown Chicago & having great restaurants right outside our door, it's hard to get really jazzed about another restaurant. Unable to find anything like Distihl with it's interesting, well executed menu & drinks. We've come to expect a great meal at our visits but this time our server, Luis, was an extraordinary compliment to the overall experience with his fun personality & great suggestions. This is a great place to eat dessert first, banana cream pie is awesome and you'll want to have room for every delicious forkful!
(5)
John R.
I was blown away by this oasis of fantastic flavor. The grilled stuffed pasta was so mind-bendingly delicious that I tried to recreate this at home. While the description and use of two sauces sounds like it would contradict itself, each of the components blend marvelously in your mouth. I sampled soups and small bites as well. Over all, I found the flavors in each dish are well balanced and don't compete for attention. There is a certain finesse that's being used in the kitchen to render distinctly memorable flavor profiles. The atmosphere was inviting, modern and clean. The service staff knowledgeable and attentive. I wish I had one where I live and will absolutely be back when I find myself in Champaign again.
(5)
Nick S.
Not too crowded at 12am on a weekend. Found a table, whew, and the waiter was very helpful. He knew quite a bit about drinks, their beers, and the menu. He was attentive and answered all our questions patiently. Patience is a virtue to a bar customer because time is money for them, and I get that. The only thing I remember ordering was the deep fried bacon. MMMMMMMM It had a bit of spice to it and they were great...just taxing on the tummy 30 minutes after eating it. Sooooo much grease - but aren't things better that way? Lots of interesting menu choices and in house brewed beers (which I didn't have) Hope you try them.
(4)
Jaclyn S.
If its TL;DR: Great food, great drinks, great service. I've gone to Desthil a few times, and I'm consistently impressed by their food and attention to detail. Once, I sat at the bar with my dad, just there for drinks; bartender was great, amiable and had suggestions when we knew what we liked and wanted recommendations. Their heffeweissen is really excellent. The apricot brew actually tastes like apricot; I tend to like fruity beers, and this one stood out to me. Their cocktails are also really, really good. I had the sake lemon drop and was not disappointed. Appetizers: Hands down, no contest, their beer-battered asparagus takes the gold. Its a lighter batter, more like a very gentle tempura than a "fried chicken" type fry. The honey-whatever sauce they serve with it is incredible, and they serve a grilled lemon with it that you probably aren't supposed to eat but tastes like candy so do it anyways. The shrimp ceviche is nothing to write home about. The shrimp skewers entree was tasty and well seasoned, but if you came with a big appetite, it might not be the choice for you. Their portions (one of the things I like most about Desthil) are reasonable and not out of this world for most of the main dishes. My boyfriend wasn't totally full when he left, but comfortable. The thai steak salad is incredible! I like a little spice, and this definitely had that! It's not big, but its delicious. Their pizzas are also fabulous, if a little salty. You can't complain that they underseason like some places in downtown Champaign. The seabass dish (I think it was a special) was definitely worth it. They do their cubans right; their mustard is homemade I think and really rounds it out. Overall, loved it. Decently priced for what you get, and you get a great night out!
(5)
Jessica W.
Huge fan of this place! My fiance and I made last minute reservations here on Christmas Eve...we had a GREAT waitress, can't remember her name...who understood we wanted to move quick so we could catch Mission Impossible (which would only get about 2 stars, by the way). We ordered the flat bread (I'm obsessed with truffle oil), one of their specialty pizzas and a Greek salad to share. We were impressed with ALL of it. Flat bread was good if you're in the mood for starchy foods--the pizza had a very thin crust, which I loved, so you could eat more of the toppings...and the salad was HUGE for its small price. We tasted several of the beers and ended up getting a growler to go because we loved it so much. Decor was a bit industrial, and very contemporary, especially for the Midwest. We will definitely return and bring friends!
(4)
bayrox K.
A great variety of beers. very happy to have it in champaign. Food is good too but I always go here for the beer. I wish they improved their appetizers section a bit. Not many appetizers designed for sharing. awesome ambiance. Service depends on how busy they are the wait staff you get. I have been here many times and the experience varied.
(4)
Craig M.
Let me say this: never have I gone to a brew-pub and felt comfortable ordering a burger medium-rare. Destihl has changed all that. Destihl knows what they're doing. Great food, well prepared, attentive and quick service. I would give them 6 stars, but my brother at my leftover half of Kobe burger without asking, and I associate that somewhat traumatic experience with Destihl.
(5)
Stephanie T.
Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Destihl's Yelp rating isn't higher. Two of my friends and I wandered in on a weekday night while looking for a place to eat at in downtown Champaign. The restaurant was relatively full for 7pm on Thursday, so I'd imagine there may be a wait on weekend nights. Beers = good. I think we tried 4? The strawberry blonde ale on tap was a clear favorite for us. Both their beer and dinner menus took awhile for us to look at. I was expecting traditional pub-style food, but their offerings far exceeded that. We started off with the deviled egg appetizer and the beer battered bacon appetizer. Both were very good- the beer battered bacon is a MUST. Jalapeno bacon in a tempura-like beer batter coating topped with a drizzle of maple chipotle glaze?! Yes please! When it came to our table, we slowly stopped talking and watched our plate of bacon descend in front of us. Like it came down straight from heaven. We didn't even realize we stopped talking and didn't remember what we were talking about until the bacon was gone.. My friends got the jambalaya and the prosciutto-wrapped meatloaf. I really only tried part of the super tasty andouille sausage corn muffin that came with the jambalaya, as I was working on my full slab of beer-braised ribs (I gave one rib each to my friends to try though). They were perfect. Orders of magnitude better than Black Dog's ribs. I'm not sure whether or not that's a fair comparison since it's different cooking styles, but the texture of Destihl's ribs was absolutely perfect- tender, falling off the bone, but not annoyingly so.. The flavor was great also, as it tasted lovely by itself and did not need to be hidden behind sauce although the chipotle espresso bbq sauce it came with was also very tasty. My friends and I agreed that I "won" dinner since I ordered the best dish. My only qualm was that my shoestring fries were a little soggy and not as crispy as I would have preferred. But that's very minor. We were all pretty full, but could not pass up dessert. Like the rest of their menus, the dessert menu had a lot of tasty-sounding options. After some rock/paper/scissors, we ended up ordering the stout ice cream sandwiches which is more like four round brownie patties a la mode. But by all means, if you really wanted to, I guess you could try to eat it ice cream sandwich style. The alcohol in the chocolate stout ice cream wasn't very strong. Both the ice cream and the brownies were stellar. My friends especially loved the brownies. I was wondering what they did with the remaining brownie part after cutting out the rounds (to, you know, save waste if need be), and our waitress told us that the remainder is used for their chocolate martini? Maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and also, our waitress was very nice and friendly too. Overall, good service, clean place, nice decor.. everything was great. After tips, came out to ~$30/person, but actually filling up me + two guys does require a bit of food and drink. I'm already trying to think of when I will return to try the kobe burger..
(5)
Alecia M.
Okay, first of all, credit where credit is due: There are some delicious appetizers on the menu, and desserts are HUGE and great for splitting. My husband and I have been here a few times, and we both really like the potato croquettes (mmm, chimichurri) and the marinated cucumber salad. Both have a spicy bite -- definitely recommended. The rest of the food is okay. Pizzas are decent, the salads seem to rely a lot on the dressings, similarly so with the sandwiches. Service is good and friendly, although can come down a little on the overwhelmingly chatty side. Still, in a place as big as this one, it's nice to not feel like you've gotten lost or abandoned. Unfortunately, I can't recommend much else. The design and marketing of Destihl gives off a very artisanal vibe, particularly in their choice of "craft beer," but their beers are at best uneven and at worst anemic shadows of what they could be. Most recently, I was disappointed in the pumpkin porter, which sounds like it should be layered and spicy and complex. Mostly, it was bitter and I could only taste the pumpkin if I really thought about it. I've felt similarly about all of their beers that I have tried, although a few are okay (the Hefeweizen, the Tripel). I want to be seduced by the delicious descriptions (and oh, they DO have a good writer), but I just can't. This place reads to me as a large chain that wants to be a small, careful, art-and-ingredient-driven restaurant, but it doesn't get there. It's confusing. 2 1/2 stars, rounding down.
(2)
Hannah D.
Great restaurant! I have been here twice now and enjoyed everything I've had. Visit #1: Tried a few beers before selecting one. The drafts come in three sizes, which is really nice. My friends and I got the pretzels with cheese and mustard dipping sauces, and LOVED them. I got the bison burger with fries and had to stop myself from eating the whole thing before my stomach exploded! Great wait staff and a very classy atmosphere. Visit #2: Another great beer experience. Got a pizza this time, which was pleasantly adequate for a one person dinner. It was thin and crispy, but not crunchy...just the way I like it! We sat at a window near the bar and watched downtown during sunset, which was really nice. I like the corner location...lots of natural light! Will definitely consider coming here whenever I want to eat downtown. Reasonably priced for the quality, and a great overall dining experience.
(5)
Carlos Y.
This was the fourth time I've been to destihl since it opened in champaign. The first two times were within the first 6 months it opened and I left less than impressed. I finally came back a year or so later and the food has definitely gotten better. This time I went for lunch and had the swordfish tacos with rice and beans on the side. This was pretty good. Maybe just a bit heavy on the sauce which masked a lot of the fish but the chimichurri sauce itself was good. My wife had the chimichurri shrimp pizza and hers was excellent! I also have to mention the last time I was here I had the beer-brined double bone in pork chop and that was easily the best dish I had here. After a few early lackluster visits this place is slowly becoming one of the better restaurants in the area.
(4)
Kari T.
WOW- I am really surprised by all of the good reviews of this place! I have been here twice- both times for lunch. The first time I went with colleagues and two of us ordered soup. It came out cold and had to be sent back. We ordered the cheese curds to share (nothing great) and I had the Chimi Chicken Torta; which was actually pretty bland. The second time I went, I ordered the Tomato and Bread salad with chicken. By the name of the salad, you would think it would have tomatoes on it right? I had two little pieces of a tomato, wilted greens, and a couple little tiny balls of mozzarella. Not acceptable. I asked the waitress for more tomatoes and mozzarella and after looking annoyed, she returned with more of each. I don't know what others are having that's so great, but I am very unimpressed with this place and will not be returning.
It is a place with excellent service and excellent food. The quality of the food is better than the price and the place has a classy atmosphere without the pompous attitude.
(4)
Rebecca D.
Beer battered asparagus is a many must! I had the yummy scallops and curried mash potatoes and my bf had the bonein rib eye....both were great! Our sever was friendly and knew the menu well.
(5)
Kelly S.
We've been to Destihl maybe six times now, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Most of the food is very good, better conceived and made than a lot of other area restaurants offer. Portions are fairly generous (not so much with brunch items), and the price fits the quality of ingredients and preparation. The staffing is good, service is timely, and the decor is charming. The craft beers made on site are wonderful. Try a series of 4 ouncers to build your own tasting. The flavor profiles given on the brew menu seem so far to have been accurate. For appetizers, I recommend the shrimp ceviche (technically a "small plate") and the stone oven pretzels (you get two, with cheese and spicy honey mustard dips). I've tried one soup, the corn and chicken chowder, which was very good, nice SW pepper flavor without overwhelming the chicken. We've had sandwiches and entrees, from burgers to steak, and it's all been really delicious. The food is in the American Contemporary Casual style -- better than Houlihan's at the i-Hotel in our opinion. The only bad experience we've had with the food has been the cedar plank brie dessert. It was badly prepared (the brie wasn't even room temperature) and either the recipe was off or the honey-chili sauce was made incorrectly, because it was completely unbalanced and unpalatable. The smoke flavor reacted poorly with what was on the plank, too. We took the brie home (a big piece) and cut off the rind to eat the middle later, but it still tasted of rank sauce and smoke. We did not go back to the restaurant for a couple of months because of just how bad this was. I wrote the general manager and he was good about it, offering to review the recipe and preparation with the lead chef. Since returning to Destihl, we've had good experiences again -- the place is consistent, a fun place to socialize, and a nice addition to CU's restaurant scene.
(4)
Katrina M.
Went here for dinner with a few colleagues. There was spacious seating, so it was a great place for groups. Had the Dijon chicken with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. I was kind of put off by the dark color of the sauce, but the whole entree was pretty good; chicken was flavorful and tender too. For dessert I had the baked apples, which was good but nothing unique. Our waitress was very attentive, but her attentiveness seemed to taper off as the night went on.
(3)
Patrick B.
Utterly fantastic food. The chef is a genious on par with any of the best restaurants in town, but at a lower price than some of the more expensive competition. Not as nice of an atmosphere as some of the fine-dining restaruants like Jim Gould's and Silvercreek, but every bit as tasty. Destihl is going to have a great impact on downtown. Also, while I'm not a beer person, the people I ate with said the beer is an excellent local micro-brew. Perhaps not amazing, but just as much as any reasonable person could hope for. Also, they do have a meeting/conference room with a large table and an LCD TV.
(5)
Marjie T.
I was really excited to try Destihl, but unfortunately the experience fell a little flat. My friend and I arrived a little after 7 on a Friday night and was told the wait would be about 40 minutes since we didn't have reservations. No problem. After only about 20-25 minutes our pager buzzed, so score! So far so good. Our server was really nice and attentive, nothing negative to say about him. However, the food is another story. We started with the cheese curds for an appetizer. And these were awesome, plus they give you a lot. The only part of the meal that really stood out, sadly. I'd had my eye on the strawberry goat cheese salad, so I got that and split the pesto goat cheese pizza. The salad had a lot of potential with all the seemingly good ingredients, but was just off. The spinach tasted wrong and it would have been much better with mixed greens. The "strawberry" part of the salad consisted of maybe three tiny pieces and the goat cheese wasn't even very good. It mainly was made up of mandarin oranges and ill-tasting spinach. I'm not a huge fan of wood-fired pizza (I prefer almost any other type of crust). My friend and I split a pizza, but I saw plenty of people putting one away all by themselves. It is very thin. The toppings were ok, but I didn't like how the goat cheese was in big globs instead of spread over the whole pizza. We left without getting dessert, but I saw a few and they are possibly the biggest desserts I've ever seen anywhere. This isn't a good thing. Probably 3-4 people should be splitting on dessert, but I'm guessing that doesn't happen that often. So just be aware if you do order that piece of cake. Besides the service, the other positive is the price. Everything is fairly cheap. But that coincides with the quality, so just beware.
(3)
Eugene W.
In my opinion a good brewpub has great beer with good food to accompany the beer. Maybe it iwas the fact that we checked it out 4 days after it opened, but of the 5 beer styles we got, 4 of them were "off". One was clearly oxidized (badly), one was infected to lacto and tasted very funy and the other two mildly oxidized. We hoped the manager would come visit with us, but no luck. The bartender indicated that depending on the time of day, the beer tastes different from the yeast. First time I have heard of that. Food was decent, but I have had better pub grub. Maybe the beer just ruined my taste buds. (Positive) The pizza is HUGE . .enough for two to share or one very hungry person. Hopefully they figure things out. Have been frequently brewpubs throughout the US in the last 12 years and can honestly say it was the oxidized beer and infect beer were the worse I have ever had. Even my earliest botched homebrews were not that "off". Gave it two stars since it was the first week it was open and the possibilities it was growing pains.
(2)
Esther S.
The place looks great and I love the beer. The food looks great but it doesnt taste great.... it's usually overly salted. like calm down with the salt shaker. I like that they offer $2 mini beers so that you can try multiple. That's a-okay in my book. one last thing... what's up with the waiters? ALL of them! They've all got the personalities of awkward engineers. I actually was so certain our waiter was an awkward engineer that I asked him if he was a student at U of I. Imagine my surprise when he said he studied library sciences. WAAAAH? Anyways, moderate place for food, good place for beer, awkward but polite service.
(3)
Elie L.
Four girls squeezed into a booth. Cue a "movie" waiter. My friend named our waiter as someone you would see in a comedy movie or sitcom--talkative, funny-ish, and always popping up at random times for small chat. Needless to say, our server was very attentive (e.g., good at recommending/not recommending dishes, clearing the table). He skated the *annoying* line very closely, never crossed it though so hurrah. Food got thumbs up from us: Med. pizza (really delicious and big for $9), Bison burger (fries were a hit), jambalaya, and dopple chop (it was good, but pricey at $20 for what is received). Drink-wise: Belgian pale ale (ugh, no. a bit of an off-taste), torched cherry caiprissima (too much lime juice for me, but my friend loved it), and don juan (nice). Overall, a good experience. But not a place I would have cravings for or feel the need to re-visit. It felt like a safe night-out dinner. Plus you can wear what you'd like, I saw fashions of all kinds without much judgment.
(3)
Grace T.
The waitress and hostess were super friendly. Waitress recommended lots of options (her favorite salad, pizza, app, sandwich, etc) and beers. I went with a strawberry ale, cheese curds and the greekish salad. The beer was excellent - fruity and light! The cheese curds were great but the more you ate, the more blah you felt...share with someone! The greekish salad was weird...it had a red dressing that I didn't like at all. Bill came to $19. A little pricey for lunch but not outrageous.
(3)
Ricardo S.
I've been in for both lunch and dinner multiple times since they opened. I've heard about their Bloomington-Normal location. The food is quite delicious and very flavorful, however I must say they go overboard with heat at times! (But that us a matter of taste of course !) very clean facilities, comfortable space and very nice selection of beer. I must say that the hard alcohol drinks are not always consistent in flavor or liquid amount.
(4)
Eric B.
good food, small portions. Fairly over priced for what you get. A little on the gourmet side as well. All in all, i'd like to try more on the menu, i had the bbq glazed chicken and it was good, not great, thus only 3 stars for Distihl. Would love to see some blackened items added to the menu, like a fish or a chicken.
(3)
Tracey D.
Good food. First time for us. We will be back!
(4)
Joel K.
Excellent food at very reasonable prices, beer was very tasty, environment was pleasant and even upscale, and I would recommend this place to anyone. My family thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Back to the beer, I did a sampler and found the various beers to be very much above average. I tried their hallmark sour beer with trepidation, but enjoyed it. It's like a cider with a sour twist--done right.
(5)
George W.
My daughter had heard good things about Destihls, so we decided to give it a try. We went on a Saturday night (12/1/12), so the place was pretty busy. Fortunately, I was able to get a reservation through OpenTable via Yelp, so getting in was no problem. When we arrived, we were seated within 30 seconds. I appreciate that efficiency - we also saw several groups that tried the walk-in route - Lesson Learned - use the Yelp reservation system for fast seating! We ordered the home-made chips for an appetizer, and they were great. Very tasty, and a malt vinegar sauce, as well as a spicy sauce. This place makes and serves it's own beer. if you want a Bud Light, you'll have to go elsewhere. If you want to try their beer, the prices are quite honestly, very low for good beer. We tried their 4 ounce beers (I know, so small, but since you're trying a store brew, do I really want 16 ounces I don't like after one sip?) and for $1 and $1.50 (the price range of a 4 ounce beer), we got 2 beers that were very palatable and very good. On to dinner. The menu ranges from sandwiches to steaks to pizza. I ordered the 8 ounce Sirloin, medium rare. The steak was cooked properly, more importantly, it was seasoned properly, and tasted great. It was more tender than some fillets I have had recently. A+! My wife ordered a pork roast dish, that had pork so tender you didn't need a knife. She really liked the dish. My daughter went with the 8 ounce burger, and was very impressed. She ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to order. She loved it. My son ordered one of the pizzas, and was a little surprised when a large, thin crust pizza arrived (pleasantly surprised - he was expecting a lot less.) The pizza was great. We ordered desert, which included carrot cake (we ordered 1 piece for 2 people, and it was the right choice - very heavy, very good), along with S'mores and a Neopolitan fruit dish, all of which were very good. The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is the noise level - the interior is nicely appointed, and very well done, but the acoustics are not very good. Lots of hard surfaces result in a loud restaurant, where it was hard to hear our server. We'll be back. The entire ticket with tip was less than $110 for four adults.
(4)
kate c.
I had 2 different beers; they were both pretty good. I ordered the mussels. Over half were not open. I sent them back. Second time about 5 were not open (not acceptable to me). The broth was good, however. I also had the pepperoni pizza. It was decent. My bf got the cod, it was very tasty. Next time, I will probably try an entree. It was very busy when we went, but we sat in the bar. Service was good.
(3)
Tc H.
Well, I searched the website to see where I wanted to have my birthday dinner with my coworkers. I was seeking out a restaurant that had a little bit of this and a little bit of that so that everyone can find something that they would enjoy eating. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and we kept on watching the staff bring out different dishes as we would comment how yummy it looks. I was torn between two dishes and I asked the staff their recommendation. She did not steer me wrong. It was so tasty that I wanted to eat another entree of it. Every dish they brought to the table look so tempting. Definitely a wide variety and everyone enjoyed a nice beer and atmosphere. Glad we made reservations because the place filled up quick for a Friday night. Service was awesome and I am already missing it. I will definitely be back before I leave town.
(5)
James C.
Destihl-ness is the move! They've only been open a few weeks but I'm predicting that this place is going to become an institution here in Champaign-Urbana. They're not quite there yet, BUT this four stars is partially based on potential. I don't know if that's acceptable for Yelp, but whatever. I will admit I got a little gluttonous this evening. Ideally, I wouldn't have eaten as much as I did, but it was what it was. I started off with some of the home brews. I did the the little 4 oz guys and out of the four I tried, I liked three enough to drink again (the Belgian ale was a bit too hoppy for my liking). At $1.25 each (or $5 for the 4), I don't mind one I didn't like. Next I went with the beer-cheese soup. WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT. It was amazingly good. Also, at my table were some cheese curds and I will dare say that these curds were the finest curds I have ever eaten (and I've had them in Wisconsin too). For my entree, I went with the bison burger which was flavorful - although I will echo the review who noted that their meat was overcooked - and I appreciated that fries were included. The fries were awesome - shoestring style and were not oversalted, but weren't seasoned improperly either (just right!). For dessert it was baked apples with butter pecan ice cream. It was wildly decadent and irresponsibly delicious. The service is not awful but you can tell that the servers are still getting their feet wet. No worries though. The food was totes worth the wait. I'll be back no doubt and I'm pretty sure I'll be updating with 5 stars.
(4)
B R Hungry X.
We were here over the weekend and its a really nice spot, we didn't really order food, except for some garlic bread which was cool. We went there for their beer since afterall, they are a brewery. $1.25 for 4oz beers....you can try close to everything they brew and then some. I had 6 and my bf had 5, our bill was just under $20. They had pumpkin ale, hefeweizen, chocolate cherry, coffee beer, IPA's...too many to remember, you'll have to check it out yourself. Can't wait to go back and maybe try some things on their menu. Fun bartender too, ask for Mike!
(4)
Thomas B.
A nice addition to Downtown Champaign.
(4)
Wendy T.
Loved the Beer Battered Deep Friend Bacon... yes BACON! Staff was wonderful and helpful even when I had a small problem with my sandwich. I hadn't read that the fried egg on the BLT was made sunny side up so when I got it I ran everywhere. I don't like sunny side up eggs so they took it back without question and got me a different burger. Which was wonderful! Would have loved to had some dessert but I was too full when I got done. Great place!
(4)
MJ E.
We enjoyed this place very much for lunch. We started with the beer battered asparagus - yum! We were happy to see that they offer 4 ounce glasses of beer and sampled several good beers. The menu is varied and inspired. Everything we tried can hold its own with any big city restaurant we've tried. The restaurant is sleek and beautiful and the service was great.
(4)
Mariam N.
My first and hopefully last visit to Destihl was a faculty dinner (Destihl is apparently one of the few places in town large enough to accommodate simultaneous departmental functions, as there were multiple university-based parties that night). But this convenience is off-set by the depressingly overblown chain aesthetic, here manifesting as a too-self-conscious effort to seem "on trend" with both gastro pubs and microbreweries (witness, for instance, the giant prop barrels by the front door) while failing to capture the particular qualities of either. The "artisan food" was as mediocre as expected from this self-described "gastrobrewpub TM." We ordered pizzas as appetizers for the table; "stone oven" seems to be a euphemism for "toaster oven." The crusts were uniformly thin, but creepily so, without bubbling or crispness; the undersides were barely cooked. I suspect pre-formed frozen dough, by the taste and all-too-regular texture. The generous toppings were not supported by the crust, making each slice limp and increasingly wet. We also ordered the deep-fried asparagus, but I refrained -- the asparagus looked both too thick (these stalks were almost hot-dog-sized in circumference!) and too greasy. One of our dinner companions warned us against ordering burgers; on her last visit, her medium rare burger was burned black on one side (and was not at all medium rare). She guessed that the cooks went outside for a smoke and forgot to flip the burgers, but generously wondered if it had just been a long night for them in the kitchen. In an attempt to heed her advice, I tried to order the grilled and stuffed pasta without olives, but the waiter told me that the olives "are already mixed in." I took that to mean that the pasta is made in a giant vat ahead of time (here I imagined a big plastic tub covered in Saran wrap in a walk-in freezer), and grilled to order, which didn't sound all that appetizing. Instead, I ordered the veggie burger (black beans and rice), and my g.f. the Kobe burger, medium rare. Both arrived with one black, charred side; her burger was well-done, ruining the meat. (Why eat Kobe beef if it's just going to be burned to a crisp?) My veggie burger was unremarkable, and my pile of shoestring fries had been overcooked in the fryer, and served to me lukewarm to cold -- totally inedible. I nibbled on two and then had to stop. Cold grease, ugh. I'd much rather order a burger and fries from Steak 'n' Shake, where you know what you're getting for the money. Overall, Destihl was a big "no way." I will strenuously avoid coming here again!
(1)
Shannon D.
The food is amazing, and the service is great, too! The prices are a little bit high for me, but the fact is that the food was so good, it was worth it, and by the time you go to just about any restraunt in town now, they're fairly close in price. We had the potato croquettes as the appetizer, and they were amazing!! I had a soup and half sandwich for lunch. The soup was the corn & chicken chowder. Now, normally I am not a fan of any type of corn chowder, but it sounded good that day, and so I gave it a whirl. DELICIOUS!! The sandwich was the pastrami reuben, and every bite of it was amazing. My only regret is that we didn't save room for dessert! We're dining there today, and I'll be saving room for dessert. If it turns out to be as good as my meal was the other day, I'll change this to a 5 star review.
(4)
Ciara W.
The beer here is extremely tasty. And I like how the restaurant decorated. The burger here is better than the dish entries.
(4)
Sarah I.
I went here for lunch with a large group. I thought the menu selections were unique and gourmet. We ordered the Fried Asparagus and they were lightly battered and fried to perfection. Delicious. My friend is Gluten Free and they have a menu just for GF items....she had some type of pizza that looked and tasted delicious. We didn't have any alcohol it was a work lunch, so I can't speak to that.
(5)
Annie W.
I wanted to come back and let ya'll know that Destihl has recently become vegan-friendly! The marinated cucumbers and beer-battered asparagus are both vegan as-is, and Destihl has added an 8 oz veggie burger to their menu that can be made vegan if the mayo's left off. I believe there are a few other items that are vegan (the peanuts and the chips are, sans ranch dip), but I haven't confirmed them with the chef, so I'll leave you to figure that out on your own!
Awesome. Food was delish; decor was very fresh and service was excellent. I'll definitely go back if I'm ever in Champaign again.
(5)
Tom R.
First, reserve a table if you're going at a busy time and want to sit in the dining area. It was my first time at Destihl last night; I will probably go back. Destihl has a great beer selection. I tried about four different beers, all of which were pretty tasty. The appetizers were so-so. We tried potato croquettes and beer battered bacon. The croquettes were run-of-the-mill, but good nonetheless. The bacon was interesting, but certainly not a taste sensation. The main course were pretty variable. My wife ordered the shrimp and grits - which was far too overpriced for such a meager portion. Though, it was fairly tasty. I ordered a Brewmaster's pizza which was very good. The main reason Destihl loses a star is the speed with which we received our drinks order. It must have taken about 15 minutes after ordering for us to receive our drinks. Eventually, we were informed of the backup at the bar. I expect better though. Also, unrelated to my rating, there appeared to be a large number of employees standing around at the greeting station watching other employees working. This could be training, then again, it could be the reason some of the food items are so expensive for the product!
(4)
Rhiannon C.
We have been to Destihl several times. I've heard beer enthusiasts say that their brewery and beers aren't that great, but the food more than makes up for it. Everything I've ordered has been great, and the service is spot-on. I've gone with just my husband, larger groups of adults, and have also gone with the kids. It's been smooth sailing no matter the size or composition of the group. Their kids menu is broader than most, which is nice. The regular menu offers unique dishes that have always enjoyed. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Alex R.
4.5/5 -- Great restaurant all around. Friendly, helpful waitstaff. Diverse and large menu of appetizers, meat, veggies, seafood, drinks, desserts, everything. I tried the shrimp ceviche (awesome summer dish), swordfish (delicious, yet small for a swordfish steak), fish and chips (delicious as well), and a cherry heffeweizen and a Hawaiian fruit beer to drink. Everything was awesome, tasty, and presented well. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Victor T.
Foodie euphoria. You can presume the food is going to be incredible when they offer a sous-vide entree on the menu. I actually altered my business travel plans to come to Destihl based on Yelp reviews, and am super glad I did. I drove through Illinois on a day trip and passed the Destihl sister location in Normal early in the morning before they had opened, so I decided to stay overnight in Champaign to visit the other Destihl location. I ordered the Red Chili Pork entree and it was, quite simply, remarkable. [note: I posted a tryptich Instagram photo of my dining experience here on Yelp] I also sampled several of their beer offerings, conveniently (and affordably) sold in 4 oz. taster glasses. All were more than satisfactory as compared to other microbreweries, of which I have been to many. The interior is also pleasant, being situated in a newly constructed building. There is outdoor seating, which was in high demand on the warm early evening I was here in late June. As one who travels a lot for work, I can strongly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Katie R.
The beverages are good. The food is average. Everything tastes a bit bland.
(3)
Julia A.
Stopped in for a quick appetizer and beer after work and it was Wonderful. Beer was fresh and tasty. Ordered the ceveche and it was AWESOME!!! Great prices. Great atmosphere! Loved it!
(5)
Matthew M.
Ordered the Steak sandwich...medium. The waitress brought out a big chuck of meat sandwiched between a french roll. When I bit into my sandwich, it was bloody red! Nowhere near medium! On top of that, it was smothered with caramelized onions, which were very strong and took away from the taste of the steak! The service was average. Nothing great. Overall, I would never consider going back. I can find a better steak sandwich for a lot less at a number of different area restaurants. Coincidentally, I spoke to a friend about my experience weeks later when Destihl came up in conversation, only to find out that she had the exact situation happen to her when she visited Destihl. Her steak sandwich was extremely undercooked as well. Must be a common trend with this place. Just another common chain restaurant, as far as I'm concerned!
(1)
Grace C.
Despite the lack of love for Destihl on Yelp, I have to say: I am besotted. besotted/bisätid/ - Adjective: 1. Strongly infatuated: "he became besotted with his best friend's sister". 2. Intoxicated; drunk. Now, I am currently the first definition of besotted, with Destihl. I LOVED my visit. I went with Mr. Husband and a Very Close Friend (VCF) before seeing a movie at the Art Theater. Upon leaving, I may have been the second definition of besotted. (Just kidding, I only had one beer. I swear, my Yelp reviews make me sound like an alcoholic sometimes.) We went on a Monday evening around 6. We were seated right away. Mr. Husband and I had never been there, and we were surprised how big the restaurant actually is - it doesn't look that big from the outside. Our waiter came over right away and gave us a nice little menu introduction. I don't know why they've made a restaurant based on the things I personally like, but they did - I wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. Seriously. I haven't had such a hard time deciding on what to order for quite some time. VCF and I decided to split a small plate and an appetizer, so we got the 'House Olives' and the Bacon, Egg & Cheese deviled eggs. For my meal, I got the beer & cheddar soup and the spinach salad. VCF got the bison burger, and Mr. Husband got a special item, a bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. Food: Very good, but to be honest, it *could* have been better. If Yelp let me give 4.5 stars, I would've. Everything was solid, but there were a couple things that might just push it over the top. For instance, the house olives small plate? It was agreed that it could be improved by serving the olives pre-chopped, not whole - sort of a mix between an olive salad and a tapenade. The deviled eggs were good, but the yolk was just a bit stiffer than I would've liked. The beer & cheddar soup was yum, but the scallions would have been a little better more finely sliced. The spinach salad was good, but the maple in the maple jalapeno bacon dressing was a little too sweet, and overpowered the other good stuff (grilled portabella mushroom? hell yes.) Another reason I'm torn: I love that they use ingredients from local places when possible, and have put an emphasis on sustainable farming. I'm all for buying locally and supporting small farms and businesses. On the other hand, the way it's flaunted just strikes me as a tad pretentious. Personal bias, but still. Service - Another ALMOST 5 stars. My only issue with our waiter was that he was TOO attentive. Really friendly, very knowledgeable about the menu, gave good recommendations, was able to tell us what HIS favorites are (it drives me crazy when waiters have no idea what's good on the menu.) However, he came by every 5 minutes or so. I always have mixed feelings about that. I like a server who is *there* when I need a water refill or a new fork, etc, but coming by too often just breaks up the conversation. Ambiance - Very cool. Very big-city. I like it. I also like that it's BIG. Ample room between tables. We chose a booth, and it was perfect. The noise level is ideal - quiet enough to talk at a normal level, loud enough that it doesn't feel like everyone in the area can hear what you're saying. Dessert - I can't tell you the last time I ordered dessert after dinner! That NEVER happens! (I actually can tell you, it was at my mom-in-law's birthday dinner in early October.) But VCF knows how to sweet-talk me into sweets (heh), and our waiter was VERY convincing when telling us about the stout ice cream sandwiches, which feature a housemade chocolate ice cream made with their own stout, served on chocolate brownies. Oh. Mah. Gah. SO GOOD. The stout ice cream was phenomenal. The dessert consists of two sandwiches, so you get four brownies and two scoops of ice cream. This would be great to 5 out of 5 stars for the dessert!! Price - Another 5 out of 5 stars. I was expecting that I'd have one entree and a beer. We ended up with a ton of food! For $38.77 before tip (I saved my receipt!), we got: -A soda -A 12 oz. beer - the Malius Apple Blonde Ale - so good! -House Olives app -Spinach salad -Soup -Bacon cheeseburger special -1/2 of the stout ice cream sandwiches So while I can't yet give Destihl a 'best of the best' rating, I'm definitely a fan, and certainly willing to give it another few tries. I don't want to deter anyone from going here, because my visit was truly enjoyable. I'm already planning to permanently take Jim Gould out of my date-night lineup and replace it with Destihl. I just want to acknowledge that there is some room for improvement. I think with a tiny bit of tweaking, Destihl could easily be one of the top restaurants in C-U.
(4)
Derrick P.
Every time I go to Destihl, I want to love it but I always leave disappointed. The menu is very creative in concept but the execution is always sub par. I've tried the seared scallops over curried mashed potatoes and the thai half chicken. The scallops were hardly seared and the potatoes were waaaaay over salted. The chicken on the other hand was far under spiced and seasoned. I will say their beer battered jalepeno bacon is delicious but deep fried food is pretty hard to screw up. Overall the prospect of having a modern american restaurant with an eclectic menu in the CU area is a great one, but a bit more attention to detail would greatly help Destihl.
(3)
Zoe Z.
I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant/brew pub. The beer selection is pretty good here if you want to try different beers, and their food is pretty good. I came here for brunch which was average, but I really enjoyed the pizza I ordered on a different occasion. I would recommend this place as a nice spot to go for dinner.
(4)
Dorian G.
The positive: The Aztec chocolate martini comes with a brownie garnish. And it's spicy. The waiters and bartenders I've talked to have been incredibly friendly. The food's better than you'd expect, actually. The salad was good, which is maybe not what you'd expect from a place that labels itself a brew pub. The pizza's a little boring, but that's probably just the vegetarian ones I'm limited to. They serve continuously, they have a large cocktail list, they take my American Express... it's everything a burgeoning yuppie alcoholic could want in a brew pub. Except that's not really me so here's what I don't like. The atmosphere. As I read through the descriptions they say "oh the atmosphere is great!" and I say... are you at the same restaurant? It's what a corporate design team thinks of as good atmosphere. Large, airy, and completely devoid of personality. It matches Jim Gould's across the street very well actually. The whole place really just reeks of chain, and I don't think that bothers most people at all but if I want to go in by myself and have a late lunch I feel very awkward. I'm happy to go in with friends and have cocktails and split a pound of cake. (They actually inform me that it is an 11 pound cake split 10 ways, so slightly more than a pound!) Worth checking out, if for no other reason than you too have probably been watching them work on this place for a couple years. You can't NOT go.
(3)
Lynn G.
If there were an option for negative stars, DESTIHL Champaign would have a rating of -5 stars. What a complete failure this restaurant is. This place reminds me too much of the Jim Gould success failure story. It's a tale of how a restaurant owner and chef become to sure of themselves and stop trying only to discover complete failure. I pride myself in knowing good food and good restaurants. I have studied cullinary technique and have a passion for fresh, quality ingredients that produces a meal that leaves you longing for more. I write this review, having visited DESTIHL three times spread out over the course of a year. I sent my food back two out of the three times. The second time, I ordered the veggie burger which was hands down the WORST veggie burger I've ever sampled. I did not send this back because it was not the way the burger was cooked, it was a pure and simple failure on the design. My first experience I ordered swordfish. It was overcooked, returned and cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the Bison burger, medium rare and it came out well done. While waiting for the food to return, the manager apologized and brought us free appetizers. The meal ticket was reduced due to the error in the kitchen. I was optimistic about this restaurant and the situation was handled perfectly. Last night, I returned for what I was hoping to be a perfect swordfish. My husband's and I's order was the same. Bison burger and swordfish. First try at our order lended the same results. Both dishes overcooked and returned. Second try at our order, my husbands burger was cooked perfectly, my swordfish was raw. Third try at the swordfish, still raw! I changed my order to salmon at the waiter's recommendation. Finally a manager appears and delivers the Salmon stating "this is cooked to the chef's perfection." The manager slither's off like a snake before I even touch the salmon. Without cutting into the salmon, It was obvious that this fish was too raw. My family had finished eating and after an hour and a half wait with no food, no appetizers, and a chef that I was now convinced can not cook at all, I ordered a Greek Salad. This salad looked like someone threw the ingredients on my plate. No order, presentation was horrible. The dressing was red oil. This dressing did not taste like greek dressing at all. I ate the salad in disbelief that this place can not even prepare a good salad. Our ticket was once again adjusted but this experience left a sour taste in my mouth. I e-mailed the general manager and COO for the company and am awaiting a reply. I would recommend no one go to this restaurant. Seated across the street is Ko Fusion, an amazing restaurant. This restaurant is too close for comfort for DESTIHL as this is where I will be seated watching DESTIHL's doors close for good if they do not find a chef that can cook the menu that was created. EDIT: Less than 12 hours after my e-mail, I received a phone call from the general manager. He was very kind and appologized. More than this he listened. He was kind and acknowledged that my concerns were valid. He stated over and over again that there are no good excuses. Humiliy allows for growth and I hope that this general managers humility induces change that produces solid growth. In March 2013, My husband and I used compensation cards to return. The following is my email to the manager of destihl. I e-mailed back in October regarding a disappointing dinner and service that my family I experienced at Destihl Champaign. We received compensation cards and returned tonight in order to assess if the service and food improved. Our server was once again phenomenal, but the food was less than stellar. My husband and I both ordered the swordfish, which were once again not cooked properly. The swordfish were dry and over cooked, even upon reorder. I guessed by the drying of the fish that a meat thermometer was used to assess if they were cooked properly, which in my opinion is an amateur error. I then ordered a small portion Greek salad due to my hunger, my husband did not order one and we were charged for both. I then ordered a gluten free Mediterranean pizza and my husband, a bone in ribeye. My pizza could not possibly have been gluten free because within seconds, I felt sick and bloated and my husband's ribeye was cooked unevenly and dried out! Most likely another piece of meat fallen victim to the meat thermometer. With a history in restaurant service and cooking, I was appalled that we were charged for the salads and the pizza and were virtually comped nothing for the less than stellar food that we received. Please do not send us any more compensation cards as we will not be returning, but I wanted to let you know that we are completely dissatisfied with ALL of our experiences at Destihl Champaign.
(1)
Debra W.
The wait staff have been among the friendliest I have encountered in town. Last night I had a good mojito. For food, it is sometimes hit and miss. I love the salmon salad. The goat cheese and spinach salad was a little skimpy and I didn't recognize the two little dollops of goat cheese on the salad. The tortilla soup was also nothing to write home about. It is the only place in town with cheese curds! I absolutely love the baked apple dessert! In the evenings, the sun is in just the right place to give a nice shade for the outdoor seating. All in all, I have always enjoyed my visits to Destihl.
(4)
Morgan M.
I am so happy the Champaign Destil finally opened! The food menu is a bit different from the Bloomington one, but awesome nonetheless. Beer battered bacon is good, flatbreads are awesome, and the stout ice cream sandwiches (incredible!) have enough stout that they card people for that dessert! 4oz taster glasses make trying multiple beers fun, and the bartender will even give you a FREE 2 oz taster if you don't know what you want. Will be back over and over again!
(5)
Evelyne T.
I loved the food and beer selection. I only wish there were more vegetarian options. It won't keep me from going back, but I won't go as often as I might if there more veggie-friendly choices:)
(3)
Conrad G.
Slow service, weak food, im not sure the beers we ordered had any alcohol in them they tasted watered down. The place looks promising but I was dissapointed.
(2)
Marcia F.
You won't go wrong with anything on the menu. All of the food here is incredible. Things you can't miss: Beer Battered Asparagus, Flat Iron Steak Quesadilla with Blue Cheese, Mediterranean Pizza and Stuffed Poblano Pepper. Leave room for the S'mores!
(5)
William R.
We were greeted and seated near our reservation time even though the restaurant was very busy. Our server was quickly at our table and very attentive at first. We ordered our drinks and food and all was well. However, an hour later our server explained that there were a number of large parties who were getting their food before us so it was taking this long. He delivered our food and never came back to the table. My order was correct and fairly tasty but my wife's order was wrong and there was never anyone to ask about correcting it. Very long wait for the wrong food and very disappointed in our experience. There are quite a few restaurants downtown, this will not be on our short list for another visit.
(2)
lady a.
The service here has been great! No complaints. The beers are hit-or-miss -- I've tasted a couple that were PHENOMENAL and ended up in a growler purchase but some are subpar. Taste tests are in order! The food is good, but nothing extraordinary -- on the thai salad, it would've been nice to have more than 4 slivers of steak but it tasted wonderful. The pizzas are also tasty. Clean, inoffensive, and not terribly expensive.
(4)
Rick F.
Deep fried bacon is awesome. Great selection of beers. Service good. Waiter waaay too social. Buffalo was yummy. Nice ambiance. Ample parking. Reasonable prices.
(4)
Bess W.
The bacon is great and the asparagus is amazing. This is all I can say good for this place. The wait staff always seems very busy standing in the corner chatting instead of checking on patrons. I've given this place too many chances to be disappointed every time. I even wrote a letter to the manager once to get an insencere apology. Clearly nothing has changed as I am writing this sitting at the bar after being ignored for 20 minutes and counting with an empty glass on a very slow Monday night.
(1)
Daniel F.
After waiting years for this to finally open (and moving 2 years ago) I finally tried it out on my way back to St. Louis from the Chicago area. It was after 2 pm, so no idea how things are during peak times. I liked the atmosphere, although the AC was at arctic levels. I enjoyed my food and drink, but since I was traveling, I just got a sampler of the Altercation (a good compromise between light and dark), and the spinach salad (enjoyed the maple bacon dressing) and the Cuban Pork. Recommended stop in downtown Champaign - in the large condo tower on Neil in downtown. There's a gigantic parking deck behind it, or metered parking in the city lot across the street, where there are 2 Zipcars stationed. Good move, Champaign.
(4)
Tim J.
Couldn't be better for lunch. Service was on point and friendly (word on the street is they hijacked 80% of Houlihan's staff). Their beers were solid, too. I couldn't get the Yelp App to check me in so I could upload my pic of the tastiest stout I've ever had, so you are just going to have to trust me on its delicousity. I tried a taster (4oz for $1.50) of their berry weiss beer and it was a little too much berry for me, but if you like that kind of thing, you will love Destihl's take on it: the flavors of sweet and tart bounce back and forth dynamically as you sip. A companion loved their IPA, lauding the freshness and the spicyness of the hops. The food is as good as anywhere else downtown. My table ordered the portabello sandwich which was really hearty and came with kettle chips with a touch of seasoning and Destihl's Kobe burger, which is served on a fancy bun I did non recognize and stacked with thick jalepeno bacon, bleu and white chedar cheeses, pickles, and comes with the best steak fries I've ever tasted. That burger is about the same price as Farren's and the verdict was it was just as good, if not better, owing to the extra special toppings. Destihl's fries are thick badasses with the skin on and huge flecks of kosher or sea salt and were both perfectly crispy and cooked the whole way thru. Those are served with their balsamic vinegar (and expresso bean?) barbecue sauce that is unlike any I've ever had. As good as the kettle chips are, I highly recommend you sub in for the steak fries (though I saw some gorgeous piles of sexy shoestring fries served with other dishes, giving me one more reason for a quick return). Another reason for a quick return is the very impressive menu. Vegetarian will have no problem here, nor will the health-concious. They have a wide and deep menu spanning from American classic pub fare to trendy fusion dishes usually found only in more expensive restaurants. Prices were not exceedingly low, however value is good. I did not see their spirits or wine menus, but the lineup behind the bar bodes well for those not in the mood for beer. This place takes the best of Boltini's, Seven Saints, the Pigs, Radio, and Bacaro and serves it up in a killer setting with great modern ambiance. I will never pass up an invite to eat here.
(5)
Majhon P.
This is a fun place with a trendy atmosphere. It's one of the few places in town that allow you to mix and match beer flights at a fair price. The food is fun and tasty. I recommend the mussels, pizzas, and wings.
(4)
Karla G.
Can you say BEER BATTERED BACON??!!! Fried cod is to die for and Kobe burger is awesome!
(4)
Rene O.
Had dinner with a group of friends and felt the food was very over rated. Bison burger was salty and the service was took forever. Had to ask for condiments after the food arrived and drinks took forever. Disappointing experience.
(2)
Beth K.
The rueben is awesome. The bison burger leaves much to be desired. It has a very French flavor to it, which just doesn't seem right for bison at all. The bourbons they have should be better than what they are carrying.
(3)
jim d.
We have had Destihl in Bloomington-Normal for some time but I've been looking forward to the addition to the Champaign-Urbana restaurant options for some time. And I'm glad it has arrived!! I found the atmosphere cozier than the B/N Destihl. The service was FAST! My iced tea was never empty (which is impressive because I drink fast and a LOT....which is why I opt for the iced tea and not the beer). The food did not disappoint. I'm a fan of the beer battered asparagus appetizer. And opted for the Brewmaster Pizza on this trip. Everyone in my party of 6 had something different and came away pleased with their meals. I used OpenTable to make a reservation which was quick and convenient. We were in and out in about an hour....much quicker than I expected. In my opinion, a great addition to the Downtown area! Perfect for dinner before hopping over to The Art Theater! Welcome Destihl!!!
(4)
Ed M.
Visiting friends in Champaign and came here for lunch. Contemporary, open restaurant with a good vibe in downtown Champaign. Our waiter was Trent; very personable, knowledgeable and helpful. There is no set beer flight but you can order 4 oz small glasses if you want to sample. I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest and the Roadblock British Red Ale. We shared the Beer Batter Asparagus for an appetizer and really enjoyed it (Trent encouraged us to squeeze the grilled lemon over the Asparagus and glad that we did). We ordered the Lunch Combos. The soup and sandwiches were top notch. I know there are a lot of restaurants in the C/U area, but you can't go wrong here. If the rest of the wait staff are as good as Trent, you will be taken care of quite nicely. Very good beer, very good food in an inviting atmosphere, I definitely recommend Destihl.
(4)
Jennifer F.
Went for dinner and sat on the patio which was wonderful because there was a band playing on the corner. Our food was very good, but the best part was the coffee and dessert! Our waiter recommended the sour cherry bread pudding and it was awesome. Our waiter was great too. Despite them being extremely busy, he was very attentive and very helpful!
(5)
Adam T.
Update: I had eaten at Destihl a couple months ago, and the best word for my dining experience at that point would be "inconsistent." Last night I returned to Destihl so that I could form a more definite opinion. For my main course, I ordered the Brewmaster's Pizza, which was served with chicken, andouille sausage, ale onions, and an espresso-chipotle barbecue sauce. The pizza was nothing to rave about, but it probably would have been quite a bit better if a) the pizza had been served hot instead of lukewarm and rapidly cooling, and b) the crust had been cooked all the way through. My brother's pizza was also apparently cold and undercooked, and reading through the other reviews, this seems to be common for diners at Destihl who order pizza. I think I've probably accumulated enough evidence at this point--Destihl is not worth the high prices. There are so many better restaurants in Champaign.
(2)
Lenore B.
I have been here 3 times for dinner and both times I enjoyed the food. It's also a very good place to bring children, and they have healthier children's meals with pb & j and fruit, unlike many other places that just add junk into children's meals. Each time I've been here, I've had a generally positive experience. The wait staff are very friendly and helpful. I would definitely continue to go here.
(5)
keren g.
Tried this place around 5:30 on a weeknight and it was not at all busy. It did start getting busier towards the end of the meal, but our service was good. Luckily for me I had not been highly anticipating the opening of Destihl. The beers were good enough. There were about a dozen to choose from so if you drink beer at all, you should be able to find one you like. The night we went in we were given free 2oz samples of as many of the beers as we wanted to try. I tried the Belgian, Strawberry Blonde and Raspberry Wheat, Champaign Blond and Frankengluten - good flavors, but none will be appearing on my all-time favorites list. The Frankengluten was interesting and worth a try if you are adventurous. Our waiter was nice and attentive enough but could not properly give drink recommendations since he was not old enough to drink. I thought this strange since, clearly, patrons are going to want to know about the beer. The food... I had the brie and portabello sandwich with chips. The chips were average and the sandwich was bland. That's honestly about the best I can say. My dinner partner said his steak salad was excellent and it looked fresh and crisp, but I can't vouch for the taste. We split the beer battered asparagus and that was by far my favorite item. I will probably go back at some point for another try. The pizza and a desserts sounded like they may have potential. Second visit 8/27/11: Finally tried the pizza (pesto and goat cheese) and still really no change in my review. Nice wait staff but the food does not overly impress. You do receive a large quantity of food for the price. Although, for me, quantity does not trump quality.
(3)
Rand G.
We've eastern here before but was less satisfied this time. Waited an hour for a table which was a function of the table simply not turning over which was probably a function of a slow kitchen based on our experience. The food was medium this time. My wife had the trout which was really too spicy and overwhelmed the trout taste. My shrimp kabobs seemed like they were cooked earlier in the day and then reheated. They looked like they were cooked to death but they were mildly warm -- not hot. The custom brew was mixed -- some acceptable and some bad (their pale ale). The kids were OK with their meals. The deserts are decadent but can be expensive. $10 for a slice of chocolate cake at this place in middle of Illinois? Kind of expensive. Why not cut it in half and charge $5.50? Anyway, we we divided between 2 and 3 stars although we have had higher rated meals here in past years.
(3)
Stephanie F.
This place is pretty bad. The decor looks like the contractor went to Lowe's or Home Depot and bought all the "fancy" materials from the discontinued materials section (and just a note here to the management: really? bathroom stall doors that go all the way to the floor? Western civilization pivots on the ability to look down and see if there are feet under the door and thus realize that you have to wait a minute instead of jiggling the door handle like some pee-filled serial killer). The service was equally uninspired -- my least favorite combination of ingratiatingly peppy and incompetent, and the food was mediocre when it got there. It took so long to appear at the table that I was sort of hoping that the cook had sent out for it from another restaurant, but no such luck. And I only thought this might be the case because the menu says that the kitchen likes to get food from local sources. This might be technically true -- they might like it -- but there's not much evidence that they actually do it. I think I can honestly say that the last time I experienced this kind of ambience I was in an airport restaurant.
(1)
Angela T.
I went for lunch with high expectations, and was bitterly disappointed. I ordered the "choose two," including the pastrami reuben sandwich and the beer cheese soup. A brew-pub has to have great beer-cheese soup, right? WRONG!!!! The soup was like a creamy caraway broth with some green onion garnish. No taste of cheese or beer, just gross. The Pastrami Reuben, described as served on Cranberry Nut bread, looked interesting on the menu. However, what I received was essentially a large cranberry nut scone (about 4" tall) sliced in half with three small pieces of pastrami, a few shreds of sauerkraut, and invisible swiss cheese. I normally do not send things back in a restaurant, but this showing was so horrible, I sent it back. I tried the $13 American Kobe burger instead. Eh. It was an average - but by no means worth $13 - burger (think akin to the pre-made patties you find at Sam's Club) and, once again, the bread-to-meat ratio was WAY off. Anyway, $40 later, we walked out very disappointed. I can think of several places in town I could go and spend much less for a much higher quality experience.
(1)
Erin D.
There hamburger is a 5 star real fancy made up ...fries season to the t...they make their own beer wich i dont drink got great tea but its high as hell to eat there but worth it
(5)
Gabi G.
Went here on a Friday night. Waited about 10 or so minutes to get seated and then once seated, no waiter came. About 4 waiters passed us, served and checked in with the tables around us. No "I'll be with you guys in a bit" or nothing. After about 15 mins of sitting there, me and my husband got up and left. Not sure what the problem was but was very dissatisfied and unhappy.
(1)
Jonathan K.
This restaurant has below average/overpriced food, and ridiculously slow service.. It took about 15-20 minutes for anyone to even notice us. We had to flag someone down just for some waters. I wouldn't say the servers did know what they were doing, but just very slow. For a Monday night, business was okay, but waiting 40 minutes for food is inexcusable. I had the Beer Battered Bacon Burger with an Egg, and it was below average. It would have been your average burger if the patty had any flavor.. But the meat was simply tasteless. The beer battered bacon is quite tasty, but the nothing I would crave for. The only reason I give this place two stars is for the Strawberry Ale that I got to try. The beer was light and smooth, it complimented my meal. I would go back to have a drink or two, but not for a dinner out with family or friends.
(2)
Jeremy C.
This place has it together! We came here after waiting 25 minutes at a nearby restaurant with no service. DESTIHL was very busy, which is always a good sign. After a brief wait, we were seated and acknowledged immediately by our server. Not only were the beers top notch, but the food and service was as well! We had water refills and empty plates cleared by other servers who happened to be walking by. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!
(5)
Travis B.
Nice kinda classy place that has food. You could wear a tie and not feel out of place, but I'm in khakis and a t-shirt and still feel comfortable. We're just ordering beer samples and Curtis is taking care of us nicely. Not a bad blow off Monday workday kind of place.
(4)
Kat H.
I'd been putting off going here due to what I'd heard about the prices, finally went for a get-together with friends and was impressed. Service was pretty great. We had a big group, 16 people, and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would for our food to get to us. I also have a baby and a stroller and the host was great about getting her a high chair before we even asked, and was very chill about finding a place for the stroller and just having the baby around in general. The food was delicious. I had a Thai steak salad, and the steak came on its own next to the salad so you can cut it yourself and get the full delicious steak experience and not lose any juiciness. The steak was tender and cooked wonderfully, and the salad was nicely spicy, with some spicy peanuts that I think they make in-house. Good deal for $12, in my opinion, or at least not overpriced compared to restaurants with similar food. My husband had the fish and chips, which I thought were pretty nice too. Potato wedges were a bit salty, but I love salt, so I was happy. Beer-wise, I had a house IPA that was good but not great. Would go again for a nice meal out. It seems like a good place to go on a date or celebrate an event, and they seem to handle large groups well.
(5)
Ibrahim S.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers! They are just delicious. The food at this place is amazing. It is also very wholesome. The staff is super helpful and makes really good selections. The location is fantastic and right in the middle of downtown and very accessible by bus. They have free validated parking available as well. They have a craft brewery as well and have some of the finest selections of beers. Make sure to try their 4oz selections. Lastly, the outdoor patio. Definitely the place to be for lunch during spring and summers.
(5)
Paul J.
To be honest the food was pretty good. I got the chorizo stuffed dates, which was the best thing I had tonight. For my entree I got the wagyu burger, which was overall pretty good. However this is the point at which their rating goes down. The wagyu burger is advertised as coming with a "golden brioche bun", but the bun we received looked like the average bun you get at Walmart for a picnic; thin, flat and crumbling. We asked the waitress if there was some mistake but she confirmed that, indeed the bun we received was the "golden brioche bun". Either the waitress was mistaken, or this restaurant does not know what a brioche bun is. I guess it's also possible that I have no idea what a brioche bun should look like. I uploaded a photo of the bun if you guys want to see for yourself.
(2)
Jody E.
We were there for a very special going away party. It was a shame the waiter made us feel so unwelcome. Typical of CU. Crummugeonly students who begrudgingly take wait staff jobs but really act as though it's beneath them to the customer. He was curt and indifferent. The food was barely so so.. the arugula salad was inedible. The cook overdosed it with 1/2 cup of salt. The beer is good, but the server knew little about it. I won't go out of my way to go there.
(2)
Sherry K.
Bacon wrapped dates a bit spicy but very good flavor. Swordfish tacos delicious & the rice/black beans that came with it had a great ancho chili flavor. Beer battered fish sandwich very tasty & great chips with it. Overall a delicious lunch today!
(4)
Ed R.
My review is for today's visit. In town on business and Destihl was recommended. Service was very good as we fumbled through the beer and food menu. I had the Hefeweizen, Jacobs ladder brown, and Roadblock red beers, all good. Tried the battered bacon appetizer, perfect. So many great sounding entrees, I picked the pot roast - excellent. Very tender and tasty beef, gravy with vegetables on top of mashed potatoes. Excellent. Prices are reasonable. I wish we had this place in Wisconsin.
(5)
Caroline H.
We stopped by here after a dinner across the street. We were originally going to eat here, but were told the food was bland. Aside from that, we had some beers. I like the hefeweizen and the porter. A good place to hang out. Will try the menu another time.
(3)
Shruti S.
One of the few places in Champaign I like going to more than a few times. Never tried their beer because I don't drink beer, which is a shame since their food's good so I bet there are some great pairings! Their croquettes, like most fried stuff IMHO, is okay. A friend ordered the stuffed poblano, which was really nicely done, and ha some serious stuffing! The swordfish tacos are amazing; just look at the line up of flavours on the menu! I avoid eating pastas in most places, but the orrechhiette and fennel sausage one is great. Always love flavoured sausages, and while I'm not sure this is house-made, it's still a great dish. And even when you re-heat it, except for the kale bits of course :)
(3)
Nelson M.
Restaurant review I preface this review is mainly for the food so I did not try any of the beer here. The food is okay, I can't say that it is amazing or that I crave coming here for dinner. It is also not cheap by any imagination, but this is one of the hot spots for dinner with the gastropub concept and microbrewery on site. The first time I came during a work function. I had the bavarian style pretzel. Nothing really exciting. Pretzel with cheese sauce or the IPA mustard. It sort of reminded me of the pretzels you would get at the amusement park. I ended up trying the most expensive item on the menu which was the espresso rubber ribeye 18 oz with bone in, chiptole espress bbq sauce, asparagus, and bacon truffle mashed potatoes for 30 dollars. Somehow the meat just does not match steak hour quality meat. You are expecting an angus quality steak, but somehow my ribeye had a huge chunk of fat in the middle. Good ribeye is marbled with fat to give it that amazing tenderness and flavor, this was not that. The espresso rubbed gave it sort of a burnt flavor. I can't say that I was impressed. The second time I came went with the beer battered bacon egg burger 14.50 that had angus beef, beer battered jalapeno bacon, bacon jam, along with a fried egg topped with smoked white cheddar cheese and a brioche bun. Somehow the batter of the bacon was super thick so you ended up having chicken tender size bacon on top of the burger. The blend of angus beef patty with bacon jam and fried egg is an amazing combo, but somehow the oil must have not been changed for the beer batter bacon. It was a very dark color and had a strong not so pleasant oil taste. If you like gastro-pub food you can give this place a try, but once again for the price you pay the food just falls short of that bar. Pros: gastro-pub, lots of beer selection, quick service Cons: not top quality protein, the oil may have not been changed for a while given the overused oil taste, expensive Hidden deals: Join the desthil guest reward program. I did not get offered this at my visit. You get 25 dollars back after spending 500 dollars. Double points at lunch time during the week.
(2)
Jessica K.
The first few times I dined at Destihl, I wasn't fond of it. I thought the food was too greasy and too salty. That was in regards to the the duck confit (which they don't offer anymore) and the salmon. The next few times I tried a greater of variety of dishes including the fish tacos and a couple burgers and a few appetizers (cheese curds and quesadilla). Excellent. Destihl has really grown on me.
(5)
Zewditu D.
Overall, not impressed. My family decided to something a bit different this year and went to a new restaurant vs. going to old standbys. After finding a list of top restaurants online, we ended up settling on Destihl due to the large menu with seemingly lots of tasty options. We made a reservation for a Monday night and we were seated right away. Parking can be a bit difficult mid-evening. We had to circle around the nearby city lot to finally find a spot. My order: Chorizo stuffed dates to share and Thai steak salad. Other orders: Clam chowder (the soup of the day), House salad, Spicy Thai shrimp, and Pesto Chicken (recommended by the waiter). The dates came out first. I didn't realize they were going to be wrapped in bacon. But score, I love it that way. The bacon needed to be cooked a bit more though. They had a nice kick to them. They were enjoyed for the most part, but these are much better in Atlanta. As for main meal, the accidentally brought my mom a Caesar salad instead of the House salad. She was going to order it but changed her mind. The waiter forgot to write down the change. He came out quickly to apologize after it was delivered. The salad is a wedge salad with a crispy toast in place of croutons and a fried egg. My mom wasn't excited about the fried egg and gave it to us. I tasted it but didn't like it so passed it on to my brother. How do you mess up a fried egg? My Thai steak salad was not very good. The steak was cooked more medium than medium well. There was not much of it. The greens were kinda soggy. The peanuts were way too salty. Much better in Atlanta, again. Overall, portion sizes were adequate and we got our fill. We signed up for a rewards card that evening and were able to apply the purchase that we had just made to our rewards card. That was great. Even though I may not be back. There were plenty of other options that seemed great on the menu, but hesitant after this experience. Plus there are other places to try in the city. Everyone else liked their food. So that's something. I was going to give them 3 stars given everyone else's satisfaction. But then I realized that I had noted in our reservation that we were celebrating my dad's birthday. They didn't do anything to signify that. Not even a happy birthday. Nothing! So 2 stars it is.
(2)
Dee R.
I think their cedar plank salmon is off the hook good. The service is usually in point and I've never waited very long for a table. Great place.
(5)
Seth B.
Tasty food, solid drink selection, and great location in the heart of downtown Champaign. It's not on my "must-visit" list, but it's one of my regular options for lunch or night on the town. I'd recommend the beer battered bacon cheeseburger. It's delicious and beyond indulgent. I'm not a fan of their house brews, though. It seems like, regardless of style, most of them taste too much alike. I'm just not a fan of the brewmaster's style.
(4)
Daniella B.
We had dinner here awhile back for the first time in a few years. They've improved their menu recently and the variety is very nice - something for everyone. They also feel higher quality. No more expensive pizza! We always enjoy the well priced, high quality beer. We ended buying a keg for a party which was a great value!
(4)
Alex G.
I had a red ale, I normally wouldn't give a place a bad review because I chose poorly. In this case it's warranted because it's their own beer and they're responsible for the quality. It was just a very thin beer, it didn't have enough flavor to stand up to the food. I had their meatloaf dish, and I appreciate the idea of creating a blend of beef, bison, and lamb the loaf itself was over mixed and too dense. The mashed potatoes seemed like they were made from a box, or they were over whipped, almost to a paste but there was enough butter to make them creamy. The roasted vegetables were pretty good. Ended with the bread pudding, which was a drier than I like, but the caramel sauce was good. I liked how other things sounded on the menu if I go back I will update the rating but currently unimpressed.
(2)
Jason D.
I've been here so many times that it's rare to find an item on the menu I haven't had. Honestly, there's nothing on the menu that, if they told me they were out of everything else, I wouldn't turn down that item. And the beers? Wow - great variety and their in-house brewed beers are fantastic. Seriously, I have no complaints. One of my favorites in CU.
(5)
Deborah F.
The food is amazing. I had the salmon and potato salad. This is no ordinary salad, the dish is served warm with fingerling potatoes, grilled vegetables and salmon carefully laid on top with a spicy mustard sauce. My description doesn't adequately represent the delicious meal. It was quite surprising for a brewery. The staff was great and knew the various beers to recommend to my novice palate. I am more fond of wine. Great experience.
(5)
John R.
Service was stellar. The waiter was very kind and the atmosphere was great! It put a smile on my face. It took less than 5 minutes to get seated and less than 10 minutes to have our order taken. Within 2 minutes of having our order taken, the soup we ordered came out. The main entree came out in a timely fashion as well. Items I ordered were: Three Cheese & Ale Soup Stuffed Poblano Pepper Cajun-Style Shrimp Po' Boy The soup was overall very delicious. It was a bit salty but the creamy consistency was amazing and the bacon and green onions really gave the dish some nice texture and crunch. The soup also had a slight bitterness which was good as well. I highly recommend this dish. The stuffed pepper had great flavor but lacked texture. The potato and cheese filling was a bit mushy and the pepper being mushy as well didn't help. I wish the pepper had a bit more crunchy texture to accompany the creaminess of the potato and cheese. The sauce was great and had a nice flavor with some heat. The rice and corn was delicious as well. I probably wouldn't recommend this dish. The po' boy was pretty good. The bread was toasted well and gave the sandwich a nice crunch. Shrimp was a bit overcooked and the veggies were kind of just slammed together in some sauce. However, flavor was there. I took a risk in ordering a Louisiana style dish here and it didn't really hit the mark. I would still recommend this dish nonetheless. I was going to give this place 3 stars but the service is what made this place shine. Therefore, 4 stars it is! Overall, not a bad experience and would come back.
(4)
Michaela K.
Was a little disappointed because I always heard good things. Waitress wasn't well trained and the food kept on getting messed up. It was upsetting because it was so talked up. The food wasn't that great but they did have a good selection of beer and their soft pretzel was out of this world. Enough to get another order as desert and not just an appetizer.
(3)
Tricia D.
The only reason I'd come back here is for the bacon wrapped dates! Those babies embodied sweet, savory, smokey, and spicy. Delish! Omg, I just realized that delish is almost an anagram for Destihl. So shall I say it was delisht*? Too many other things were off about the meal for me to want to return. Too bad because those desserts sound alluring (pumpkin bread pudding!). - It took way too long for the waiter (who said he was new) to come back for our order. Another waitress actually came by to ask how we were doing because she saw us looking around. - Long wait for the appetizers. How long does it take to send over some cheese curds, bacon wrapped dates, and nachos? The nachos arrived last. I didn't time it, but the meal was a solid hour and 45 minutes. I wasn't crazy about the nachos, but the cheese curds were my second fave after the dates. - My bison burger was extra dry (and I've had juicy bison before), and the bun it came on was too crumbly and dry as well. I took 2 bites and ditched the rest of the bun. And the last and final straw: - My colleague clearly ordered the Carolina pork two ways (the entree is actually like 5 or 6 words on the menu, and he read off every word), but what was served to him was the Carolina wings. He ended up just eating it because it would've taken forever for the correct entree to come out, based on our experience with the apps and entrees. Also, rather than bringing out a free dessert or comp'ing the entree off the bill, we were still charged for the incorrect order, and waiter just kept saying thanks for understanding, and "the wings tasting good?" That is actually the first time in life that I've seen an entree get messed up, and it's still charged on the final bill. Wth? I spoke to a manager, who removed the item from the bill. *the t is silent. Duh!
(2)
Shantanu D.
I went here last Saturday. The service was quite poor. After sitting down, we waited close to 25 min for our order to be taken and another 20 min for our food. Frankly, I was about to walk out but was swayed by the waiters candid apology. Focusing on the food, I ordered the Thai shrimp noodles. The presentation of the food was nice but for the price the serving size was quite disappointing. The noodles tasted okay but I might have been slightly biased given the poor service. For dessert, I got the carrot cake. The carrot cake was quite moist and soft. I recommend it. Overall, poor service experience and above average food. Given that this is champaign, it is a nice casual sit down place.
(3)
Kevin K.
Overall I was very impressed! A local restaurant with a lot of class. The place has amazing quality chefs and waiters, and makes sure to keep the menu fresh, continuously changing the menu. When I went I had the Flank Top Steak. The prices were moderate for what I ordered, but when it came out, I was impressed with the plating! But that was minuscule adoration compared to the taste of the food. Absolutely delectable. I would recommend the place to anyone looking for a classy place to get great food and a full stomach. And if it's still available, you have to try the Beer Battered Bacon!
(5)
Bryant M.
3.5 Stars I certainly like Destihl, but I'm not quite in love with it. I was mentally writing my review all throughout dinner, and it was a solid 4 stars--until the bill came. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to pay for amazing food, but it's gotta be spot-on. Our dinner for 2 was $120, after tip. We had 2 drinks each, an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert. I've definitely paid this much before for a comparable amount of food, but that was at some of my favorite restaurants that make sure every detail is perfect. And everything at Destihl was good, but not perfect. Here's what we had: --Stuffed dates - These had a great sweet/salty/spicy balance, but the barbecue sauce was a bit too much and a little detracting. --Mustard-glazed chicken - The chicken itself was delicious, but there was too much mustard sauce. The fingerling potatoes and green beans were both good, but not well-seasoned. The dish also didn't come out super hot. --Espresso-rubbed steak - The steak was huge and cooked well, and it had great flavor. Not my favorite steak, but still good. --Bruleed banana pudding - They made this gluten-free for me by not having pie crust, and it was phenomenal. It was the star of the show! I am still dreaming of this. The interior of Destihl is very nice--what you'd expect at an upscale gastropub. Our server was also very nice, but he was a bit new and didn't quite know the menu well yet. While I'm not head over heals for this place, I do think it's a great addition to the downtown Champaign scene! I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city... especially for that banana pudding.
(3)
Amy G.
Luckily, we went with family, so we got to eat off each other's plates! Everything was DELICIOUS! We started off with 4 appetizers. The deep fried bacon, fried green tomatoes, soft pretzels, and bacon wrapped dates. All were fabulous and recommended, but the fried green tomatoes were unbelievable! You really can't go wrong with this menu, and the wait staff is really knowledgeable. They helped guide those who were unsure to a good choice. The poblano peppers with chorizo was off the charts great and the Thai chicken wasn't too far behind. The fried bacon and egg burger was out of this world, but you better have a big appetite! One of the teenagers ordered fish and chips. They even elevated fish and chips! Even with all of this food, we ordered dessert! The sour cherry bread pudding and the banana cream pie were my favorites! The carrot cake was a close second! We had a great family dinner and EVERYONE loved what they got and went home happy! And with a family of 14, that almost never happens.
(5)
Carol C.
Great experience, with great food. The service was quick, polite, and professional. I highly recommend the swordfish (unless it's seasonal and/or replaced by the time of this reading).
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Heather T.
The Hubster and I decided to do a date night--try out Destihl and then go see The Exorcist at the Virginia (our date night may not be your definition of 'romantic,' but that's neither here nor there). I'd heard about how crowded Destihl gets around dinnertime, and never having been there before, I went the AARP-route and reserved a table for us at 5:15 to give ample time for slow service (this was unnecessary). I was surprised to learn that Destihl is cavernous. There was absolutely no shortage of tables. How does it ever get crowded? Who knows? In any case, we were (irritatingly) seated near the only large, loud party in the entire restaurant. Nothing like listening to a bunch of screechy teenagers dressed up for Homecoming say semi-racist things and then shush each other on date night! We got appetizers and small plate-y things to constitute our meal. All were finger food, all were messy and delicious. We tried the cheese curds (lightly breaded, crunchy, thoroughly melty), thai chicken wings (a nicely spicy slow burn, flavorful, thick sauced with fabulous peanuts sprinkled over the top), and beer-boiled shrimp (a tad too much seasoning that clung to our fingers and overwhelmed most other flavors, not much beer taste, but otherwise...you know...cold shrimp are tasty on their own). I tried a pint of their black IPA which I thoroughly enjoyed. We also shared their chocolate trio (or Ménage à Trois or whatever they call it), which consisted of mexican hot chocolate (thick, hot, nom), a chocolate tart (delicious filling, but with a crust that was absolutely impossible to cut into, making it awkward to eat, much less share), and zanzibar chocolate ice cream (heaven). I need to try more things to be sure that this is actually a problem, but I feel like everything on their menu is too complicated. There are SO MANY INGREDIENTS listed on every single menu item. Too many seasonings, too many flavor combinations. Every time I read something, I was like, "Mmm...yes...yes...yes!...oh, no, you went too far." Our waiter was extremely enthusiastically friendly to the point of making us feel a bit awkward. I mean, he hung out and chatted. I don't harbor ill will against the guy or anything--he was really nice!--but you know...I'm on a date with my main squeeze...please leave. Considering all the stuff we got, our tab was surprisingly cheap. I think we were out for under $30. I waffled between 3.5 and 4 stars, but I'm feeling generous today.
(4)Quang T.
It is a place with excellent service and excellent food. The quality of the food is better than the price and the place has a classy atmosphere without the pompous attitude.
(4)bayrox K.
A great variety of beers. very happy to have it in champaign. Food is good too but I always go here for the beer. I wish they improved their appetizers section a bit. Not many appetizers designed for sharing. awesome ambiance. Service depends on how busy they are the wait staff you get. I have been here many times and the experience varied.
(4)Craig M.
Let me say this: never have I gone to a brew-pub and felt comfortable ordering a burger medium-rare. Destihl has changed all that. Destihl knows what they're doing. Great food, well prepared, attentive and quick service. I would give them 6 stars, but my brother at my leftover half of Kobe burger without asking, and I associate that somewhat traumatic experience with Destihl.
(5)Rebecca D.
Beer battered asparagus is a many must! I had the yummy scallops and curried mash potatoes and my bf had the bonein rib eye....both were great! Our sever was friendly and knew the menu well.
(5)Kelly S.
We've been to Destihl maybe six times now, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Most of the food is very good, better conceived and made than a lot of other area restaurants offer. Portions are fairly generous (not so much with brunch items), and the price fits the quality of ingredients and preparation. The staffing is good, service is timely, and the decor is charming. The craft beers made on site are wonderful. Try a series of 4 ouncers to build your own tasting. The flavor profiles given on the brew menu seem so far to have been accurate. For appetizers, I recommend the shrimp ceviche (technically a "small plate") and the stone oven pretzels (you get two, with cheese and spicy honey mustard dips). I've tried one soup, the corn and chicken chowder, which was very good, nice SW pepper flavor without overwhelming the chicken. We've had sandwiches and entrees, from burgers to steak, and it's all been really delicious. The food is in the American Contemporary Casual style -- better than Houlihan's at the i-Hotel in our opinion. The only bad experience we've had with the food has been the cedar plank brie dessert. It was badly prepared (the brie wasn't even room temperature) and either the recipe was off or the honey-chili sauce was made incorrectly, because it was completely unbalanced and unpalatable. The smoke flavor reacted poorly with what was on the plank, too. We took the brie home (a big piece) and cut off the rind to eat the middle later, but it still tasted of rank sauce and smoke. We did not go back to the restaurant for a couple of months because of just how bad this was. I wrote the general manager and he was good about it, offering to review the recipe and preparation with the lead chef. Since returning to Destihl, we've had good experiences again -- the place is consistent, a fun place to socialize, and a nice addition to CU's restaurant scene.
(4)Marjie T.
I was really excited to try Destihl, but unfortunately the experience fell a little flat. My friend and I arrived a little after 7 on a Friday night and was told the wait would be about 40 minutes since we didn't have reservations. No problem. After only about 20-25 minutes our pager buzzed, so score! So far so good. Our server was really nice and attentive, nothing negative to say about him. However, the food is another story. We started with the cheese curds for an appetizer. And these were awesome, plus they give you a lot. The only part of the meal that really stood out, sadly. I'd had my eye on the strawberry goat cheese salad, so I got that and split the pesto goat cheese pizza. The salad had a lot of potential with all the seemingly good ingredients, but was just off. The spinach tasted wrong and it would have been much better with mixed greens. The "strawberry" part of the salad consisted of maybe three tiny pieces and the goat cheese wasn't even very good. It mainly was made up of mandarin oranges and ill-tasting spinach. I'm not a huge fan of wood-fired pizza (I prefer almost any other type of crust). My friend and I split a pizza, but I saw plenty of people putting one away all by themselves. It is very thin. The toppings were ok, but I didn't like how the goat cheese was in big globs instead of spread over the whole pizza. We left without getting dessert, but I saw a few and they are possibly the biggest desserts I've ever seen anywhere. This isn't a good thing. Probably 3-4 people should be splitting on dessert, but I'm guessing that doesn't happen that often. So just be aware if you do order that piece of cake. Besides the service, the other positive is the price. Everything is fairly cheap. But that coincides with the quality, so just beware.
(3)Eugene W.
In my opinion a good brewpub has great beer with good food to accompany the beer. Maybe it iwas the fact that we checked it out 4 days after it opened, but of the 5 beer styles we got, 4 of them were "off". One was clearly oxidized (badly), one was infected to lacto and tasted very funy and the other two mildly oxidized. We hoped the manager would come visit with us, but no luck. The bartender indicated that depending on the time of day, the beer tastes different from the yeast. First time I have heard of that. Food was decent, but I have had better pub grub. Maybe the beer just ruined my taste buds. (Positive) The pizza is HUGE . .enough for two to share or one very hungry person. Hopefully they figure things out. Have been frequently brewpubs throughout the US in the last 12 years and can honestly say it was the oxidized beer and infect beer were the worse I have ever had. Even my earliest botched homebrews were not that "off". Gave it two stars since it was the first week it was open and the possibilities it was growing pains.
(2)Esther S.
The place looks great and I love the beer. The food looks great but it doesnt taste great.... it's usually overly salted. like calm down with the salt shaker. I like that they offer $2 mini beers so that you can try multiple. That's a-okay in my book. one last thing... what's up with the waiters? ALL of them! They've all got the personalities of awkward engineers. I actually was so certain our waiter was an awkward engineer that I asked him if he was a student at U of I. Imagine my surprise when he said he studied library sciences. WAAAAH? Anyways, moderate place for food, good place for beer, awkward but polite service.
(3)Katrina M.
Went here for dinner with a few colleagues. There was spacious seating, so it was a great place for groups. Had the Dijon chicken with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. I was kind of put off by the dark color of the sauce, but the whole entree was pretty good; chicken was flavorful and tender too. For dessert I had the baked apples, which was good but nothing unique. Our waitress was very attentive, but her attentiveness seemed to taper off as the night went on.
(3)Elie L.
Four girls squeezed into a booth. Cue a "movie" waiter. My friend named our waiter as someone you would see in a comedy movie or sitcom--talkative, funny-ish, and always popping up at random times for small chat. Needless to say, our server was very attentive (e.g., good at recommending/not recommending dishes, clearing the table). He skated the *annoying* line very closely, never crossed it though so hurrah. Food got thumbs up from us: Med. pizza (really delicious and big for $9), Bison burger (fries were a hit), jambalaya, and dopple chop (it was good, but pricey at $20 for what is received). Drink-wise: Belgian pale ale (ugh, no. a bit of an off-taste), torched cherry caiprissima (too much lime juice for me, but my friend loved it), and don juan (nice). Overall, a good experience. But not a place I would have cravings for or feel the need to re-visit. It felt like a safe night-out dinner. Plus you can wear what you'd like, I saw fashions of all kinds without much judgment.
(3)Grace T.
The waitress and hostess were super friendly. Waitress recommended lots of options (her favorite salad, pizza, app, sandwich, etc) and beers. I went with a strawberry ale, cheese curds and the greekish salad. The beer was excellent - fruity and light! The cheese curds were great but the more you ate, the more blah you felt...share with someone! The greekish salad was weird...it had a red dressing that I didn't like at all. Bill came to $19. A little pricey for lunch but not outrageous.
(3)Ricardo S.
I've been in for both lunch and dinner multiple times since they opened. I've heard about their Bloomington-Normal location. The food is quite delicious and very flavorful, however I must say they go overboard with heat at times! (But that us a matter of taste of course !) very clean facilities, comfortable space and very nice selection of beer. I must say that the hard alcohol drinks are not always consistent in flavor or liquid amount.
(4)MJ E.
We enjoyed this place very much for lunch. We started with the beer battered asparagus - yum! We were happy to see that they offer 4 ounce glasses of beer and sampled several good beers. The menu is varied and inspired. Everything we tried can hold its own with any big city restaurant we've tried. The restaurant is sleek and beautiful and the service was great.
(4)Eric B.
good food, small portions. Fairly over priced for what you get. A little on the gourmet side as well. All in all, i'd like to try more on the menu, i had the bbq glazed chicken and it was good, not great, thus only 3 stars for Distihl. Would love to see some blackened items added to the menu, like a fish or a chicken.
(3)George W.
My daughter had heard good things about Destihls, so we decided to give it a try. We went on a Saturday night (12/1/12), so the place was pretty busy. Fortunately, I was able to get a reservation through OpenTable via Yelp, so getting in was no problem. When we arrived, we were seated within 30 seconds. I appreciate that efficiency - we also saw several groups that tried the walk-in route - Lesson Learned - use the Yelp reservation system for fast seating! We ordered the home-made chips for an appetizer, and they were great. Very tasty, and a malt vinegar sauce, as well as a spicy sauce. This place makes and serves it's own beer. if you want a Bud Light, you'll have to go elsewhere. If you want to try their beer, the prices are quite honestly, very low for good beer. We tried their 4 ounce beers (I know, so small, but since you're trying a store brew, do I really want 16 ounces I don't like after one sip?) and for $1 and $1.50 (the price range of a 4 ounce beer), we got 2 beers that were very palatable and very good. On to dinner. The menu ranges from sandwiches to steaks to pizza. I ordered the 8 ounce Sirloin, medium rare. The steak was cooked properly, more importantly, it was seasoned properly, and tasted great. It was more tender than some fillets I have had recently. A+! My wife ordered a pork roast dish, that had pork so tender you didn't need a knife. She really liked the dish. My daughter went with the 8 ounce burger, and was very impressed. She ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to order. She loved it. My son ordered one of the pizzas, and was a little surprised when a large, thin crust pizza arrived (pleasantly surprised - he was expecting a lot less.) The pizza was great. We ordered desert, which included carrot cake (we ordered 1 piece for 2 people, and it was the right choice - very heavy, very good), along with S'mores and a Neopolitan fruit dish, all of which were very good. The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is the noise level - the interior is nicely appointed, and very well done, but the acoustics are not very good. Lots of hard surfaces result in a loud restaurant, where it was hard to hear our server. We'll be back. The entire ticket with tip was less than $110 for four adults.
(4)Tracey D.
Good food. First time for us. We will be back!
(4)Joel K.
Excellent food at very reasonable prices, beer was very tasty, environment was pleasant and even upscale, and I would recommend this place to anyone. My family thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Back to the beer, I did a sampler and found the various beers to be very much above average. I tried their hallmark sour beer with trepidation, but enjoyed it. It's like a cider with a sour twist--done right.
(5)kate c.
I had 2 different beers; they were both pretty good. I ordered the mussels. Over half were not open. I sent them back. Second time about 5 were not open (not acceptable to me). The broth was good, however. I also had the pepperoni pizza. It was decent. My bf got the cod, it was very tasty. Next time, I will probably try an entree. It was very busy when we went, but we sat in the bar. Service was good.
(3)James C.
Destihl-ness is the move! They've only been open a few weeks but I'm predicting that this place is going to become an institution here in Champaign-Urbana. They're not quite there yet, BUT this four stars is partially based on potential. I don't know if that's acceptable for Yelp, but whatever. I will admit I got a little gluttonous this evening. Ideally, I wouldn't have eaten as much as I did, but it was what it was. I started off with some of the home brews. I did the the little 4 oz guys and out of the four I tried, I liked three enough to drink again (the Belgian ale was a bit too hoppy for my liking). At $1.25 each (or $5 for the 4), I don't mind one I didn't like. Next I went with the beer-cheese soup. WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT. It was amazingly good. Also, at my table were some cheese curds and I will dare say that these curds were the finest curds I have ever eaten (and I've had them in Wisconsin too). For my entree, I went with the bison burger which was flavorful - although I will echo the review who noted that their meat was overcooked - and I appreciated that fries were included. The fries were awesome - shoestring style and were not oversalted, but weren't seasoned improperly either (just right!). For dessert it was baked apples with butter pecan ice cream. It was wildly decadent and irresponsibly delicious. The service is not awful but you can tell that the servers are still getting their feet wet. No worries though. The food was totes worth the wait. I'll be back no doubt and I'm pretty sure I'll be updating with 5 stars.
(4)Patrick B.
Utterly fantastic food. The chef is a genious on par with any of the best restaurants in town, but at a lower price than some of the more expensive competition. Not as nice of an atmosphere as some of the fine-dining restaruants like Jim Gould's and Silvercreek, but every bit as tasty. Destihl is going to have a great impact on downtown. Also, while I'm not a beer person, the people I ate with said the beer is an excellent local micro-brew. Perhaps not amazing, but just as much as any reasonable person could hope for. Also, they do have a meeting/conference room with a large table and an LCD TV.
(5)B R Hungry X.
We were here over the weekend and its a really nice spot, we didn't really order food, except for some garlic bread which was cool. We went there for their beer since afterall, they are a brewery. $1.25 for 4oz beers....you can try close to everything they brew and then some. I had 6 and my bf had 5, our bill was just under $20. They had pumpkin ale, hefeweizen, chocolate cherry, coffee beer, IPA's...too many to remember, you'll have to check it out yourself. Can't wait to go back and maybe try some things on their menu. Fun bartender too, ask for Mike!
(4)Thomas B.
A nice addition to Downtown Champaign.
(4)Wendy T.
Loved the Beer Battered Deep Friend Bacon... yes BACON! Staff was wonderful and helpful even when I had a small problem with my sandwich. I hadn't read that the fried egg on the BLT was made sunny side up so when I got it I ran everywhere. I don't like sunny side up eggs so they took it back without question and got me a different burger. Which was wonderful! Would have loved to had some dessert but I was too full when I got done. Great place!
(4)Mariam N.
My first and hopefully last visit to Destihl was a faculty dinner (Destihl is apparently one of the few places in town large enough to accommodate simultaneous departmental functions, as there were multiple university-based parties that night). But this convenience is off-set by the depressingly overblown chain aesthetic, here manifesting as a too-self-conscious effort to seem "on trend" with both gastro pubs and microbreweries (witness, for instance, the giant prop barrels by the front door) while failing to capture the particular qualities of either. The "artisan food" was as mediocre as expected from this self-described "gastrobrewpub TM." We ordered pizzas as appetizers for the table; "stone oven" seems to be a euphemism for "toaster oven." The crusts were uniformly thin, but creepily so, without bubbling or crispness; the undersides were barely cooked. I suspect pre-formed frozen dough, by the taste and all-too-regular texture. The generous toppings were not supported by the crust, making each slice limp and increasingly wet. We also ordered the deep-fried asparagus, but I refrained -- the asparagus looked both too thick (these stalks were almost hot-dog-sized in circumference!) and too greasy. One of our dinner companions warned us against ordering burgers; on her last visit, her medium rare burger was burned black on one side (and was not at all medium rare). She guessed that the cooks went outside for a smoke and forgot to flip the burgers, but generously wondered if it had just been a long night for them in the kitchen. In an attempt to heed her advice, I tried to order the grilled and stuffed pasta without olives, but the waiter told me that the olives "are already mixed in." I took that to mean that the pasta is made in a giant vat ahead of time (here I imagined a big plastic tub covered in Saran wrap in a walk-in freezer), and grilled to order, which didn't sound all that appetizing. Instead, I ordered the veggie burger (black beans and rice), and my g.f. the Kobe burger, medium rare. Both arrived with one black, charred side; her burger was well-done, ruining the meat. (Why eat Kobe beef if it's just going to be burned to a crisp?) My veggie burger was unremarkable, and my pile of shoestring fries had been overcooked in the fryer, and served to me lukewarm to cold -- totally inedible. I nibbled on two and then had to stop. Cold grease, ugh. I'd much rather order a burger and fries from Steak 'n' Shake, where you know what you're getting for the money. Overall, Destihl was a big "no way." I will strenuously avoid coming here again!
(1)Shannon D.
The food is amazing, and the service is great, too! The prices are a little bit high for me, but the fact is that the food was so good, it was worth it, and by the time you go to just about any restraunt in town now, they're fairly close in price. We had the potato croquettes as the appetizer, and they were amazing!! I had a soup and half sandwich for lunch. The soup was the corn & chicken chowder. Now, normally I am not a fan of any type of corn chowder, but it sounded good that day, and so I gave it a whirl. DELICIOUS!! The sandwich was the pastrami reuben, and every bite of it was amazing. My only regret is that we didn't save room for dessert! We're dining there today, and I'll be saving room for dessert. If it turns out to be as good as my meal was the other day, I'll change this to a 5 star review.
(4)Ciara W.
The beer here is extremely tasty. And I like how the restaurant decorated. The burger here is better than the dish entries.
(4)Tc H.
Well, I searched the website to see where I wanted to have my birthday dinner with my coworkers. I was seeking out a restaurant that had a little bit of this and a little bit of that so that everyone can find something that they would enjoy eating. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and we kept on watching the staff bring out different dishes as we would comment how yummy it looks. I was torn between two dishes and I asked the staff their recommendation. She did not steer me wrong. It was so tasty that I wanted to eat another entree of it. Every dish they brought to the table look so tempting. Definitely a wide variety and everyone enjoyed a nice beer and atmosphere. Glad we made reservations because the place filled up quick for a Friday night. Service was awesome and I am already missing it. I will definitely be back before I leave town.
(5)Sarah I.
I went here for lunch with a large group. I thought the menu selections were unique and gourmet. We ordered the Fried Asparagus and they were lightly battered and fried to perfection. Delicious. My friend is Gluten Free and they have a menu just for GF items....she had some type of pizza that looked and tasted delicious. We didn't have any alcohol it was a work lunch, so I can't speak to that.
(5)Annie W.
I wanted to come back and let ya'll know that Destihl has recently become vegan-friendly! The marinated cucumbers and beer-battered asparagus are both vegan as-is, and Destihl has added an 8 oz veggie burger to their menu that can be made vegan if the mayo's left off. I believe there are a few other items that are vegan (the peanuts and the chips are, sans ranch dip), but I haven't confirmed them with the chef, so I'll leave you to figure that out on your own!
(4)Lynn C.
This restaurant is above average in selection but average in delivery. We ordered a couple of entrée salads which were small but quite good. One person ordered sweet potato fries which were so overcooked we asked for a replacement which was not much better. The iced tea was unique and worth it. I suspect the draw here is the beer which none of us ordered.
(3)Justin A.
Awesome. Food was delish; decor was very fresh and service was excellent. I'll definitely go back if I'm ever in Champaign again.
(5)Katie R.
The beverages are good. The food is average. Everything tastes a bit bland.
(3)Julia A.
Stopped in for a quick appetizer and beer after work and it was Wonderful. Beer was fresh and tasty. Ordered the ceveche and it was AWESOME!!! Great prices. Great atmosphere! Loved it!
(5)Tom R.
First, reserve a table if you're going at a busy time and want to sit in the dining area. It was my first time at Destihl last night; I will probably go back. Destihl has a great beer selection. I tried about four different beers, all of which were pretty tasty. The appetizers were so-so. We tried potato croquettes and beer battered bacon. The croquettes were run-of-the-mill, but good nonetheless. The bacon was interesting, but certainly not a taste sensation. The main course were pretty variable. My wife ordered the shrimp and grits - which was far too overpriced for such a meager portion. Though, it was fairly tasty. I ordered a Brewmaster's pizza which was very good. The main reason Destihl loses a star is the speed with which we received our drinks order. It must have taken about 15 minutes after ordering for us to receive our drinks. Eventually, we were informed of the backup at the bar. I expect better though. Also, unrelated to my rating, there appeared to be a large number of employees standing around at the greeting station watching other employees working. This could be training, then again, it could be the reason some of the food items are so expensive for the product!
(4)Rhiannon C.
We have been to Destihl several times. I've heard beer enthusiasts say that their brewery and beers aren't that great, but the food more than makes up for it. Everything I've ordered has been great, and the service is spot-on. I've gone with just my husband, larger groups of adults, and have also gone with the kids. It's been smooth sailing no matter the size or composition of the group. Their kids menu is broader than most, which is nice. The regular menu offers unique dishes that have always enjoyed. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Alex R.
4.5/5 -- Great restaurant all around. Friendly, helpful waitstaff. Diverse and large menu of appetizers, meat, veggies, seafood, drinks, desserts, everything. I tried the shrimp ceviche (awesome summer dish), swordfish (delicious, yet small for a swordfish steak), fish and chips (delicious as well), and a cherry heffeweizen and a Hawaiian fruit beer to drink. Everything was awesome, tasty, and presented well. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Victor T.
Foodie euphoria. You can presume the food is going to be incredible when they offer a sous-vide entree on the menu. I actually altered my business travel plans to come to Destihl based on Yelp reviews, and am super glad I did. I drove through Illinois on a day trip and passed the Destihl sister location in Normal early in the morning before they had opened, so I decided to stay overnight in Champaign to visit the other Destihl location. I ordered the Red Chili Pork entree and it was, quite simply, remarkable. [note: I posted a tryptich Instagram photo of my dining experience here on Yelp] I also sampled several of their beer offerings, conveniently (and affordably) sold in 4 oz. taster glasses. All were more than satisfactory as compared to other microbreweries, of which I have been to many. The interior is also pleasant, being situated in a newly constructed building. There is outdoor seating, which was in high demand on the warm early evening I was here in late June. As one who travels a lot for work, I can strongly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Matthew M.
Ordered the Steak sandwich...medium. The waitress brought out a big chuck of meat sandwiched between a french roll. When I bit into my sandwich, it was bloody red! Nowhere near medium! On top of that, it was smothered with caramelized onions, which were very strong and took away from the taste of the steak! The service was average. Nothing great. Overall, I would never consider going back. I can find a better steak sandwich for a lot less at a number of different area restaurants. Coincidentally, I spoke to a friend about my experience weeks later when Destihl came up in conversation, only to find out that she had the exact situation happen to her when she visited Destihl. Her steak sandwich was extremely undercooked as well. Must be a common trend with this place. Just another common chain restaurant, as far as I'm concerned!
(1)Grace C.
Despite the lack of love for Destihl on Yelp, I have to say: I am besotted. besotted/bisätid/ - Adjective: 1. Strongly infatuated: "he became besotted with his best friend's sister". 2. Intoxicated; drunk. Now, I am currently the first definition of besotted, with Destihl. I LOVED my visit. I went with Mr. Husband and a Very Close Friend (VCF) before seeing a movie at the Art Theater. Upon leaving, I may have been the second definition of besotted. (Just kidding, I only had one beer. I swear, my Yelp reviews make me sound like an alcoholic sometimes.) We went on a Monday evening around 6. We were seated right away. Mr. Husband and I had never been there, and we were surprised how big the restaurant actually is - it doesn't look that big from the outside. Our waiter came over right away and gave us a nice little menu introduction. I don't know why they've made a restaurant based on the things I personally like, but they did - I wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. Seriously. I haven't had such a hard time deciding on what to order for quite some time. VCF and I decided to split a small plate and an appetizer, so we got the 'House Olives' and the Bacon, Egg & Cheese deviled eggs. For my meal, I got the beer & cheddar soup and the spinach salad. VCF got the bison burger, and Mr. Husband got a special item, a bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. Food: Very good, but to be honest, it *could* have been better. If Yelp let me give 4.5 stars, I would've. Everything was solid, but there were a couple things that might just push it over the top. For instance, the house olives small plate? It was agreed that it could be improved by serving the olives pre-chopped, not whole - sort of a mix between an olive salad and a tapenade. The deviled eggs were good, but the yolk was just a bit stiffer than I would've liked. The beer & cheddar soup was yum, but the scallions would have been a little better more finely sliced. The spinach salad was good, but the maple in the maple jalapeno bacon dressing was a little too sweet, and overpowered the other good stuff (grilled portabella mushroom? hell yes.) Another reason I'm torn: I love that they use ingredients from local places when possible, and have put an emphasis on sustainable farming. I'm all for buying locally and supporting small farms and businesses. On the other hand, the way it's flaunted just strikes me as a tad pretentious. Personal bias, but still. Service - Another ALMOST 5 stars. My only issue with our waiter was that he was TOO attentive. Really friendly, very knowledgeable about the menu, gave good recommendations, was able to tell us what HIS favorites are (it drives me crazy when waiters have no idea what's good on the menu.) However, he came by every 5 minutes or so. I always have mixed feelings about that. I like a server who is *there* when I need a water refill or a new fork, etc, but coming by too often just breaks up the conversation. Ambiance - Very cool. Very big-city. I like it. I also like that it's BIG. Ample room between tables. We chose a booth, and it was perfect. The noise level is ideal - quiet enough to talk at a normal level, loud enough that it doesn't feel like everyone in the area can hear what you're saying. Dessert - I can't tell you the last time I ordered dessert after dinner! That NEVER happens! (I actually can tell you, it was at my mom-in-law's birthday dinner in early October.) But VCF knows how to sweet-talk me into sweets (heh), and our waiter was VERY convincing when telling us about the stout ice cream sandwiches, which feature a housemade chocolate ice cream made with their own stout, served on chocolate brownies. Oh. Mah. Gah. SO GOOD. The stout ice cream was phenomenal. The dessert consists of two sandwiches, so you get four brownies and two scoops of ice cream. This would be great to 5 out of 5 stars for the dessert!! Price - Another 5 out of 5 stars. I was expecting that I'd have one entree and a beer. We ended up with a ton of food! For $38.77 before tip (I saved my receipt!), we got: -A soda -A 12 oz. beer - the Malius Apple Blonde Ale - so good! -House Olives app -Spinach salad -Soup -Bacon cheeseburger special -1/2 of the stout ice cream sandwiches So while I can't yet give Destihl a 'best of the best' rating, I'm definitely a fan, and certainly willing to give it another few tries. I don't want to deter anyone from going here, because my visit was truly enjoyable. I'm already planning to permanently take Jim Gould out of my date-night lineup and replace it with Destihl. I just want to acknowledge that there is some room for improvement. I think with a tiny bit of tweaking, Destihl could easily be one of the top restaurants in C-U.
(4)Derrick P.
Every time I go to Destihl, I want to love it but I always leave disappointed. The menu is very creative in concept but the execution is always sub par. I've tried the seared scallops over curried mashed potatoes and the thai half chicken. The scallops were hardly seared and the potatoes were waaaaay over salted. The chicken on the other hand was far under spiced and seasoned. I will say their beer battered jalepeno bacon is delicious but deep fried food is pretty hard to screw up. Overall the prospect of having a modern american restaurant with an eclectic menu in the CU area is a great one, but a bit more attention to detail would greatly help Destihl.
(3)Zoe Z.
I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant/brew pub. The beer selection is pretty good here if you want to try different beers, and their food is pretty good. I came here for brunch which was average, but I really enjoyed the pizza I ordered on a different occasion. I would recommend this place as a nice spot to go for dinner.
(4)Marcia F.
You won't go wrong with anything on the menu. All of the food here is incredible. Things you can't miss: Beer Battered Asparagus, Flat Iron Steak Quesadilla with Blue Cheese, Mediterranean Pizza and Stuffed Poblano Pepper. Leave room for the S'mores!
(5)William R.
We were greeted and seated near our reservation time even though the restaurant was very busy. Our server was quickly at our table and very attentive at first. We ordered our drinks and food and all was well. However, an hour later our server explained that there were a number of large parties who were getting their food before us so it was taking this long. He delivered our food and never came back to the table. My order was correct and fairly tasty but my wife's order was wrong and there was never anyone to ask about correcting it. Very long wait for the wrong food and very disappointed in our experience. There are quite a few restaurants downtown, this will not be on our short list for another visit.
(2)Dorian G.
The positive: The Aztec chocolate martini comes with a brownie garnish. And it's spicy. The waiters and bartenders I've talked to have been incredibly friendly. The food's better than you'd expect, actually. The salad was good, which is maybe not what you'd expect from a place that labels itself a brew pub. The pizza's a little boring, but that's probably just the vegetarian ones I'm limited to. They serve continuously, they have a large cocktail list, they take my American Express... it's everything a burgeoning yuppie alcoholic could want in a brew pub. Except that's not really me so here's what I don't like. The atmosphere. As I read through the descriptions they say "oh the atmosphere is great!" and I say... are you at the same restaurant? It's what a corporate design team thinks of as good atmosphere. Large, airy, and completely devoid of personality. It matches Jim Gould's across the street very well actually. The whole place really just reeks of chain, and I don't think that bothers most people at all but if I want to go in by myself and have a late lunch I feel very awkward. I'm happy to go in with friends and have cocktails and split a pound of cake. (They actually inform me that it is an 11 pound cake split 10 ways, so slightly more than a pound!) Worth checking out, if for no other reason than you too have probably been watching them work on this place for a couple years. You can't NOT go.
(3)Lynn G.
If there were an option for negative stars, DESTIHL Champaign would have a rating of -5 stars. What a complete failure this restaurant is. This place reminds me too much of the Jim Gould success failure story. It's a tale of how a restaurant owner and chef become to sure of themselves and stop trying only to discover complete failure. I pride myself in knowing good food and good restaurants. I have studied cullinary technique and have a passion for fresh, quality ingredients that produces a meal that leaves you longing for more. I write this review, having visited DESTIHL three times spread out over the course of a year. I sent my food back two out of the three times. The second time, I ordered the veggie burger which was hands down the WORST veggie burger I've ever sampled. I did not send this back because it was not the way the burger was cooked, it was a pure and simple failure on the design. My first experience I ordered swordfish. It was overcooked, returned and cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the Bison burger, medium rare and it came out well done. While waiting for the food to return, the manager apologized and brought us free appetizers. The meal ticket was reduced due to the error in the kitchen. I was optimistic about this restaurant and the situation was handled perfectly. Last night, I returned for what I was hoping to be a perfect swordfish. My husband's and I's order was the same. Bison burger and swordfish. First try at our order lended the same results. Both dishes overcooked and returned. Second try at our order, my husbands burger was cooked perfectly, my swordfish was raw. Third try at the swordfish, still raw! I changed my order to salmon at the waiter's recommendation. Finally a manager appears and delivers the Salmon stating "this is cooked to the chef's perfection." The manager slither's off like a snake before I even touch the salmon. Without cutting into the salmon, It was obvious that this fish was too raw. My family had finished eating and after an hour and a half wait with no food, no appetizers, and a chef that I was now convinced can not cook at all, I ordered a Greek Salad. This salad looked like someone threw the ingredients on my plate. No order, presentation was horrible. The dressing was red oil. This dressing did not taste like greek dressing at all. I ate the salad in disbelief that this place can not even prepare a good salad. Our ticket was once again adjusted but this experience left a sour taste in my mouth. I e-mailed the general manager and COO for the company and am awaiting a reply. I would recommend no one go to this restaurant. Seated across the street is Ko Fusion, an amazing restaurant. This restaurant is too close for comfort for DESTIHL as this is where I will be seated watching DESTIHL's doors close for good if they do not find a chef that can cook the menu that was created. EDIT: Less than 12 hours after my e-mail, I received a phone call from the general manager. He was very kind and appologized. More than this he listened. He was kind and acknowledged that my concerns were valid. He stated over and over again that there are no good excuses. Humiliy allows for growth and I hope that this general managers humility induces change that produces solid growth. In March 2013, My husband and I used compensation cards to return. The following is my email to the manager of destihl. I e-mailed back in October regarding a disappointing dinner and service that my family I experienced at Destihl Champaign. We received compensation cards and returned tonight in order to assess if the service and food improved. Our server was once again phenomenal, but the food was less than stellar. My husband and I both ordered the swordfish, which were once again not cooked properly. The swordfish were dry and over cooked, even upon reorder. I guessed by the drying of the fish that a meat thermometer was used to assess if they were cooked properly, which in my opinion is an amateur error. I then ordered a small portion Greek salad due to my hunger, my husband did not order one and we were charged for both. I then ordered a gluten free Mediterranean pizza and my husband, a bone in ribeye. My pizza could not possibly have been gluten free because within seconds, I felt sick and bloated and my husband's ribeye was cooked unevenly and dried out! Most likely another piece of meat fallen victim to the meat thermometer. With a history in restaurant service and cooking, I was appalled that we were charged for the salads and the pizza and were virtually comped nothing for the less than stellar food that we received. Please do not send us any more compensation cards as we will not be returning, but I wanted to let you know that we are completely dissatisfied with ALL of our experiences at Destihl Champaign.
(1)Debra W.
The wait staff have been among the friendliest I have encountered in town. Last night I had a good mojito. For food, it is sometimes hit and miss. I love the salmon salad. The goat cheese and spinach salad was a little skimpy and I didn't recognize the two little dollops of goat cheese on the salad. The tortilla soup was also nothing to write home about. It is the only place in town with cheese curds! I absolutely love the baked apple dessert! In the evenings, the sun is in just the right place to give a nice shade for the outdoor seating. All in all, I have always enjoyed my visits to Destihl.
(4)Morgan M.
I am so happy the Champaign Destil finally opened! The food menu is a bit different from the Bloomington one, but awesome nonetheless. Beer battered bacon is good, flatbreads are awesome, and the stout ice cream sandwiches (incredible!) have enough stout that they card people for that dessert! 4oz taster glasses make trying multiple beers fun, and the bartender will even give you a FREE 2 oz taster if you don't know what you want. Will be back over and over again!
(5)Evelyne T.
I loved the food and beer selection. I only wish there were more vegetarian options. It won't keep me from going back, but I won't go as often as I might if there more veggie-friendly choices:)
(3)Conrad G.
Slow service, weak food, im not sure the beers we ordered had any alcohol in them they tasted watered down. The place looks promising but I was dissapointed.
(2)lady a.
The service here has been great! No complaints. The beers are hit-or-miss -- I've tasted a couple that were PHENOMENAL and ended up in a growler purchase but some are subpar. Taste tests are in order! The food is good, but nothing extraordinary -- on the thai salad, it would've been nice to have more than 4 slivers of steak but it tasted wonderful. The pizzas are also tasty. Clean, inoffensive, and not terribly expensive.
(4)Rick F.
Deep fried bacon is awesome. Great selection of beers. Service good. Waiter waaay too social. Buffalo was yummy. Nice ambiance. Ample parking. Reasonable prices.
(4)Bess W.
The bacon is great and the asparagus is amazing. This is all I can say good for this place. The wait staff always seems very busy standing in the corner chatting instead of checking on patrons. I've given this place too many chances to be disappointed every time. I even wrote a letter to the manager once to get an insencere apology. Clearly nothing has changed as I am writing this sitting at the bar after being ignored for 20 minutes and counting with an empty glass on a very slow Monday night.
(1)Daniel F.
After waiting years for this to finally open (and moving 2 years ago) I finally tried it out on my way back to St. Louis from the Chicago area. It was after 2 pm, so no idea how things are during peak times. I liked the atmosphere, although the AC was at arctic levels. I enjoyed my food and drink, but since I was traveling, I just got a sampler of the Altercation (a good compromise between light and dark), and the spinach salad (enjoyed the maple bacon dressing) and the Cuban Pork. Recommended stop in downtown Champaign - in the large condo tower on Neil in downtown. There's a gigantic parking deck behind it, or metered parking in the city lot across the street, where there are 2 Zipcars stationed. Good move, Champaign.
(4)Lenore B.
I have been here 3 times for dinner and both times I enjoyed the food. It's also a very good place to bring children, and they have healthier children's meals with pb & j and fruit, unlike many other places that just add junk into children's meals. Each time I've been here, I've had a generally positive experience. The wait staff are very friendly and helpful. I would definitely continue to go here.
(5)Tim J.
Couldn't be better for lunch. Service was on point and friendly (word on the street is they hijacked 80% of Houlihan's staff). Their beers were solid, too. I couldn't get the Yelp App to check me in so I could upload my pic of the tastiest stout I've ever had, so you are just going to have to trust me on its delicousity. I tried a taster (4oz for $1.50) of their berry weiss beer and it was a little too much berry for me, but if you like that kind of thing, you will love Destihl's take on it: the flavors of sweet and tart bounce back and forth dynamically as you sip. A companion loved their IPA, lauding the freshness and the spicyness of the hops. The food is as good as anywhere else downtown. My table ordered the portabello sandwich which was really hearty and came with kettle chips with a touch of seasoning and Destihl's Kobe burger, which is served on a fancy bun I did non recognize and stacked with thick jalepeno bacon, bleu and white chedar cheeses, pickles, and comes with the best steak fries I've ever tasted. That burger is about the same price as Farren's and the verdict was it was just as good, if not better, owing to the extra special toppings. Destihl's fries are thick badasses with the skin on and huge flecks of kosher or sea salt and were both perfectly crispy and cooked the whole way thru. Those are served with their balsamic vinegar (and expresso bean?) barbecue sauce that is unlike any I've ever had. As good as the kettle chips are, I highly recommend you sub in for the steak fries (though I saw some gorgeous piles of sexy shoestring fries served with other dishes, giving me one more reason for a quick return). Another reason for a quick return is the very impressive menu. Vegetarian will have no problem here, nor will the health-concious. They have a wide and deep menu spanning from American classic pub fare to trendy fusion dishes usually found only in more expensive restaurants. Prices were not exceedingly low, however value is good. I did not see their spirits or wine menus, but the lineup behind the bar bodes well for those not in the mood for beer. This place takes the best of Boltini's, Seven Saints, the Pigs, Radio, and Bacaro and serves it up in a killer setting with great modern ambiance. I will never pass up an invite to eat here.
(5)Majhon P.
This is a fun place with a trendy atmosphere. It's one of the few places in town that allow you to mix and match beer flights at a fair price. The food is fun and tasty. I recommend the mussels, pizzas, and wings.
(4)Karla G.
Can you say BEER BATTERED BACON??!!! Fried cod is to die for and Kobe burger is awesome!
(4)Rene O.
Had dinner with a group of friends and felt the food was very over rated. Bison burger was salty and the service was took forever. Had to ask for condiments after the food arrived and drinks took forever. Disappointing experience.
(2)Beth K.
The rueben is awesome. The bison burger leaves much to be desired. It has a very French flavor to it, which just doesn't seem right for bison at all. The bourbons they have should be better than what they are carrying.
(3)jim d.
We have had Destihl in Bloomington-Normal for some time but I've been looking forward to the addition to the Champaign-Urbana restaurant options for some time. And I'm glad it has arrived!! I found the atmosphere cozier than the B/N Destihl. The service was FAST! My iced tea was never empty (which is impressive because I drink fast and a LOT....which is why I opt for the iced tea and not the beer). The food did not disappoint. I'm a fan of the beer battered asparagus appetizer. And opted for the Brewmaster Pizza on this trip. Everyone in my party of 6 had something different and came away pleased with their meals. I used OpenTable to make a reservation which was quick and convenient. We were in and out in about an hour....much quicker than I expected. In my opinion, a great addition to the Downtown area! Perfect for dinner before hopping over to The Art Theater! Welcome Destihl!!!
(4)Ed M.
Visiting friends in Champaign and came here for lunch. Contemporary, open restaurant with a good vibe in downtown Champaign. Our waiter was Trent; very personable, knowledgeable and helpful. There is no set beer flight but you can order 4 oz small glasses if you want to sample. I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest and the Roadblock British Red Ale. We shared the Beer Batter Asparagus for an appetizer and really enjoyed it (Trent encouraged us to squeeze the grilled lemon over the Asparagus and glad that we did). We ordered the Lunch Combos. The soup and sandwiches were top notch. I know there are a lot of restaurants in the C/U area, but you can't go wrong here. If the rest of the wait staff are as good as Trent, you will be taken care of quite nicely. Very good beer, very good food in an inviting atmosphere, I definitely recommend Destihl.
(4)Jennifer F.
Went for dinner and sat on the patio which was wonderful because there was a band playing on the corner. Our food was very good, but the best part was the coffee and dessert! Our waiter recommended the sour cherry bread pudding and it was awesome. Our waiter was great too. Despite them being extremely busy, he was very attentive and very helpful!
(5)Adam T.
Update: I had eaten at Destihl a couple months ago, and the best word for my dining experience at that point would be "inconsistent." Last night I returned to Destihl so that I could form a more definite opinion. For my main course, I ordered the Brewmaster's Pizza, which was served with chicken, andouille sausage, ale onions, and an espresso-chipotle barbecue sauce. The pizza was nothing to rave about, but it probably would have been quite a bit better if a) the pizza had been served hot instead of lukewarm and rapidly cooling, and b) the crust had been cooked all the way through. My brother's pizza was also apparently cold and undercooked, and reading through the other reviews, this seems to be common for diners at Destihl who order pizza. I think I've probably accumulated enough evidence at this point--Destihl is not worth the high prices. There are so many better restaurants in Champaign.
(2)keren g.
Tried this place around 5:30 on a weeknight and it was not at all busy. It did start getting busier towards the end of the meal, but our service was good. Luckily for me I had not been highly anticipating the opening of Destihl. The beers were good enough. There were about a dozen to choose from so if you drink beer at all, you should be able to find one you like. The night we went in we were given free 2oz samples of as many of the beers as we wanted to try. I tried the Belgian, Strawberry Blonde and Raspberry Wheat, Champaign Blond and Frankengluten - good flavors, but none will be appearing on my all-time favorites list. The Frankengluten was interesting and worth a try if you are adventurous. Our waiter was nice and attentive enough but could not properly give drink recommendations since he was not old enough to drink. I thought this strange since, clearly, patrons are going to want to know about the beer. The food... I had the brie and portabello sandwich with chips. The chips were average and the sandwich was bland. That's honestly about the best I can say. My dinner partner said his steak salad was excellent and it looked fresh and crisp, but I can't vouch for the taste. We split the beer battered asparagus and that was by far my favorite item. I will probably go back at some point for another try. The pizza and a desserts sounded like they may have potential. Second visit 8/27/11: Finally tried the pizza (pesto and goat cheese) and still really no change in my review. Nice wait staff but the food does not overly impress. You do receive a large quantity of food for the price. Although, for me, quantity does not trump quality.
(3)Rand G.
We've eastern here before but was less satisfied this time. Waited an hour for a table which was a function of the table simply not turning over which was probably a function of a slow kitchen based on our experience. The food was medium this time. My wife had the trout which was really too spicy and overwhelmed the trout taste. My shrimp kabobs seemed like they were cooked earlier in the day and then reheated. They looked like they were cooked to death but they were mildly warm -- not hot. The custom brew was mixed -- some acceptable and some bad (their pale ale). The kids were OK with their meals. The deserts are decadent but can be expensive. $10 for a slice of chocolate cake at this place in middle of Illinois? Kind of expensive. Why not cut it in half and charge $5.50? Anyway, we we divided between 2 and 3 stars although we have had higher rated meals here in past years.
(3)Stephanie F.
This place is pretty bad. The decor looks like the contractor went to Lowe's or Home Depot and bought all the "fancy" materials from the discontinued materials section (and just a note here to the management: really? bathroom stall doors that go all the way to the floor? Western civilization pivots on the ability to look down and see if there are feet under the door and thus realize that you have to wait a minute instead of jiggling the door handle like some pee-filled serial killer). The service was equally uninspired -- my least favorite combination of ingratiatingly peppy and incompetent, and the food was mediocre when it got there. It took so long to appear at the table that I was sort of hoping that the cook had sent out for it from another restaurant, but no such luck. And I only thought this might be the case because the menu says that the kitchen likes to get food from local sources. This might be technically true -- they might like it -- but there's not much evidence that they actually do it. I think I can honestly say that the last time I experienced this kind of ambience I was in an airport restaurant.
(1)Angela T.
I went for lunch with high expectations, and was bitterly disappointed. I ordered the "choose two," including the pastrami reuben sandwich and the beer cheese soup. A brew-pub has to have great beer-cheese soup, right? WRONG!!!! The soup was like a creamy caraway broth with some green onion garnish. No taste of cheese or beer, just gross. The Pastrami Reuben, described as served on Cranberry Nut bread, looked interesting on the menu. However, what I received was essentially a large cranberry nut scone (about 4" tall) sliced in half with three small pieces of pastrami, a few shreds of sauerkraut, and invisible swiss cheese. I normally do not send things back in a restaurant, but this showing was so horrible, I sent it back. I tried the $13 American Kobe burger instead. Eh. It was an average - but by no means worth $13 - burger (think akin to the pre-made patties you find at Sam's Club) and, once again, the bread-to-meat ratio was WAY off. Anyway, $40 later, we walked out very disappointed. I can think of several places in town I could go and spend much less for a much higher quality experience.
(1)Idan S.
I was recently invited to Champaign for a grad-school interview, and went out to dinner at Destihl on one of the nights I spent in town. I have to say that I found it very amusing that the priciest restaurant I went to on this trip was also the worst meal of the trip by far. I ordered the goat-cheese pesto pizza, shared the battered asparagus appetizer, and had pint of the brown ale. The battered asparagus was alright but EXTREMELY greasy, the pizza was soggy and surprisingly didn't really taste like basil or goat cheese, and the brown ale was flat out bad (trust me, I drink a lot of microbrew beer, I know what good beer tastes like). Plus, most other people at my table agreed that their food and drinks were also mediocre. Needless to say, since this is an pricier restaurant, I doubt I'd be willing to give Destihl another shot.
(1)Kali M.
Hitting the big 5-0-0 with a great restaurant from my hometown! - The vitals: Downtown microbrewery + restaurant with a slightly hip industrial vibe. Great food, great beer. Best part? Small (4oz) tasting portions $1-2. GREAT service. - Every time I visit my parents in good ol' Chambana they have a "new restaurant in town" that hubby and I MUST try. Or five. This time, Destihl was first on their list... and they are so crazy about it, they took us twice. In ONE DAY. First, for lunch. No beer this visit (hence the second), just lunch. I had the Portabella Sandwich with Shoestring Fries, and it was 100% delish. Also on the table: - Stuffed poblano pepper - Cuban sandwich - Salad with ahi tuna - Clam chowder I heard nothing but raves from the group. Late that evening we stopped in for post-dinner drinks "and maybe a little to munch on." We got three appetizers for the table: - Chorizo & Potato Flautas - Marinated Cucumbers (there's some BITE to those suckers!) - Brewmaster's Pizza (yuuuuuumm) ... and all got a few 4oz tasting pours. The beer was fantastic, some of the best I've had. Our waiters both times were friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a good time. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the story my dad told (more than once) about his friend's first visit. They were a big group, 12 I think, and stopping in before seeing a show in downtown. They ordered food, drinks, then dessert. There was a delay in the kitchen and they were kept waiting on their dessert for quite while... they were now running short on time, so one of the guys flagged down their waiter and told him, maybe a touch rudely, that they "needed either dessert or the check, because we gotta get out of here." The manager came back a couple of minutes later, apologized profusely, and served their dessert. Dessert or check, and Destihl chose dessert. Their meal and drinks for 12 were on the house. It's those kinds of stories that spread your business' name in the best possible way - you chose wisely, Destihl. The guy's been sending over everyone he knows, always prompting with "you gotta hear how amazingly this restaurant treated me!"
(5)Jay B.
This is kind of a go-to place with out-of-town relatives, the food is good if overpriced. Some dishes meh but i like the fish and chips. Beer ok better than your low end brews. Nicely decorated service generally good.
(4)S M.
Our waiter was really nice, but the food was just OK this time. Unfortunately they did not have the Asian chicken wings or Cherry French Toast on the menu that we really enjoyed the last time we ate there. We went there for lunch & I ordered a Thai steak salad. The steak was overcooked in chunks & there were only a few slices of steak. The dressing was sour & just OK. The rest of my family ordered the beer battered bacon app which they loved. My son enjoys the pork sandwich. Their house made chips & chocolate cake are very good.
(3)Melissa B.
My family and I absolutely LOVE Destihl! It has become the go-to place whenever my parents visit (I am in law school). The first time we went there, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many options were available for myself because I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Usually I have to settle for something bland or uninteresting, but Destihl has lots of imaginative and delicious options. We started with the beer-battered asparagus which was pretty tasty. I ordered the stuffed pablano which was absolutely amazing. It was spicy and had a really interesting mix of flavors. My mom got the Thai fried chicken and my dad got the ribeye, which they both loved. My boyfriend got the bison burger which he thought was good but not as amazing as our dishes. The second time we went was for lunch. I got the lunch combo with the portabella and brie sandwich and the beer and cheddar soup. The sandwich was yummy but the soup was really very delicious. Definitely comfort food and really hit the spot. My mom got the Thai fried chicken again and my dad got the Thai steak which he said was even better than the ribeye. My boyfriend ordered the Dijon chicken which he really enjoyed. You should probably make a reservation for dinner but likely do not need one for lunch. They also serve brunch on the weekends until 2:00 and those items looked pretty delicious as well. We have had great servers at Destihl and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. Plus, they don't have a corkage fee! The first time we went, we brought our own bottle of wine and there was no charge! All in all we have had really great meals here and will definitely be returning!
(5)Monica H.
Passing through town and stopped in Champaign for the night. This place was recommended to me by the front desk clerks at my hotel. If you are a craft beer enthusiast you should definitely stop in. It is definitely worth the short drive even if you are staying by the highway in Motel Hell. I arrived early and was seated promptly at a table in view of a big screen TV near the bar area. My server was knowledgable and attentive. I had a flight of three craft beers, guided by my server. As an appetizer, I had the mac and cheese. Loved it and managed to avoid eating it all so I could take some back to my room. For an entree, I had the salmon over a bed of roasted vegetables. This was also quite good. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, which is accented by a topping of cinnamon-coated maple bacon (amazing) and mint. This was also good but could be more chocolatey, IMHO. If I lived in the area I would dine here regularly. If you are a visitor, do yourself a favor and avoid the generic chain places by the highway, and drive into town to go here instead.
(4)Amith D.
I have been there twice till now and I am amazed at how classy a brewery's restaurant can be in a college town! They have few of the best appetizers I have had and certainly the best in the urbana-champaign area. They profess their best appetizer are the cheese curds (which are good) but the best of the lot has to be the Potato croquettes. I have had the beer-battered asparagus as well which changed my taste buds liking towards asparagus! I am a vegetarian and its extremely difficult to find a good vegetarian burger, so i was skeptical to order that (most places have burnt, bitter black bean patty!!) but they had one of the biggest veggie burger I have seen. The patty had rice, carrots, ginger and a few other veggies blended with the beans making it really delicious filling. The only vegetarian entree they have is the Stuffed Poblano Peppers, which was excellent. The staff is extremely courteous (sometimes more so than needed) and are very keen to entertain you. A few negatives are, the beer selection is great but is limited. I expect a brewery to have all their beers available (except the seasonal's, obviously) but they seem to rotate their beer. Even though the beer tastes good, I would cut some points for the spread of it. Another thing would be the place is unable to substitute any of the meat based dish with a vegetarian option which is a turn off if you are a vegetarian. P.S. Make a reservation, it is usually crowded!
(4)Chelsey S.
I have gone multiple times and my parents pretty much live here. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable on what they have and they are super friendly! I love trying new things and I am never disappointed. My dad has helped them with a batch of beer, they have made Reese's vodka just for my mom and honestly, whenever I go with them to eat it's like I walk onto the set of Cheers. Everybody knows their name. But you don't have to be a regular to feel like you're getting special treatment. I love that they bring you samples of their beer or tell you what just became available after aging. I love the location, I love the feel... I just wish I had more money so I could visit them more often!
(5)Douglas H.
The first time I went to Destihl, I sat in the dining room; things were okay. The next time, and every time since, I have sat at the bar; things were remarkable. I enjoy having the direct interaction with the team of wonderfully skilled bartenders. Their attention to detail and good cheer make the bar a must for anyone I take out in Champaign. The roasted peanuts covered in delectable spices and drizzled with fresh lime juice make the perfect accoutrement to the always great, fresh beer; the bbq burger is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5)Catie R.
I had heard about this place about 6 months before I tried it out, and I'm mad at myself for missing out for so long. The food is affordable for a student on a budget, and the atmosphere is perfect for a date or group outing. It's the perfect place for students to bring their visiting parents, too. The beer comes in sizes ranging from 4oz to 16oz, so you can try different brews if you're in the mood for that. The Tomato & Bread salad is absolutely phenomenal, and I have added chicken to it and had that as my entree on more than one occasion. This is one restaurant I really miss since graduating U of I and leaving the area.
(5)Matthew L.
I really was not expecting to give a brewpub 5 stars...but here goes... We went on a Monday night, and the restaurant was FULL which was A) good to see for a new business and B) surprising! The decor is surprisingly upscale - really cool use of natural stone and wood. HUGE shame they didn't open with their patio ready to go, but when I inquired they said it was in the plans to open the patio soon. The beers (I tried 5, yup 5) were decent - not world-class, but decent. My favorite purely for summer drinkability was the Champaign Blonde, but I am admittedly not into dark beers at all, and there are PLENTY of dark ones and heavier Begian-style ales which I didn't try. The menu looked surprisingly interesting, (I was expecting burgers and pretzels), and between us we tried the pickled cucumber salad, the tuna carpaccio, the strawberry salad and the warm salmon and potato salad. All four dishes were winners, although the small plates ARE really small (which is exactly what we wanted). The entrees are MASSIVE for the price, and look like they are high quality meals, but I'm glad we saw how big they were before we ordered one! Service was excellent from beginning to end. The desserts also looks amazing, but I was too full to try. As a gay couple it was nice to feel comfortable and that there was a real mix of clientele - I was scared it was going to be exclusively Olive Garden-goers, but there were some hipsters, some queens, and some students as well as your typical 'casual-dining' crowd. Can't wait for the patio to open, but believe me, there will be a serious wait time on those tables - be prepared!
(5)John S.
Having heard and read so many different views on Destihl, I was looking forward to being part of a group dinner tonight. My group of 12 was immediately seated and drink orders were quickly taken. Service was interesting. Although our waiter was excellent, there seemed to be several uncertainties when drinks and food were brought to the table. Things got to where they needed to be, but I was surprised there seemed to be so much trouble just getting the orders to the correct guests. The food was wonderful! We had some excellent shared appetizers -- beer-battered asparagus, stone oven pretzels and beer-battered bacon. I had the Greekish salad and the cedar plank salmon. My wife had bacon & brussels and roasted beet salad. Others had a variety of chicken, seafood and meat entrees. For dessert my wife and I shared the chocolate cake. I tried a few of the four ounce beer samples and had a bloody mary. The beer was very good, the bloody mary excellent in presentation but only average in taste. We were not expecting to spend almost three hours having a leisurely dinner, but the evening was very nice. I was impressed with the general vibe for a Saturday night. All in all, I was impressed with Destihl and will definitely come back to try lunch or perhaps dinner with my wife or a smaller group.
(4)L L.
Destihl is my go to place for a nice meal in Champaign, The environment is great. this is a must go for couples looking for a nice date. Their draft selection is great (obviously with a huge brewery inside the restaurant) they let you sample a few beers to try out what you like and they have awesome mixed drinks as well. I love their bloody mary (comes with salami, pickles, celery etc) its amazing (I love the spicy-ness of it). Honestly, the food was just okay. I've gotten this asian-ish dish before, a burger (eggs, bacon, wagyu beef) but i would much prefer Farren's, and appetizers. So yeah food is not too special but the drinks are good, waitresses are friendly (Michelle is AMAZING), and dessert is delicious. So honestly, I would come here (sit at the bar) get a few appetizers, drinks, and dessert.
(4)Pete B.
3.5 for food 4.5 for drinks Destihl seems to have all the right ingredients to become THE hot spot downtown, but I didn't leave it feeling like I really want to come back. Service was very slow, but since it's the first weekend of operation, I'm not going to take any points off. The decor was really nice, cosy, and even a little cosmopolitan. I got the pesto chicken pasta which I thought was good, but nothing to get excited about. I tried the fried cheese appertiser, and while good, they also weren't anything to write home about. Overall, food was good, but not great. There are better restaurants elsewhere. The drinks, on the other hand, were good AND also reasonably priced which I did not expect. They had a big beer, wine, cocktail, and martini menu. I tried a couple of different beers, and they were all really good for the most part. They also had 4 oz portion which was a great way to try different beers, and the 4 oz portion is surprisingly not priced proportionally any higher than its 12 oz counter part. Destihl seems like the ideal place to get dinner before a night downtown. Great ambient, great location, great drinks, and good food. Even though it's not anywhere near there yet, I'm sure that it has the potential to be the best place in a couple of months.
(4)W S.
Beer is seriously bad here, and the food is horrendous. Want beer brats with cabbage? Great, enjoy your greasy, deep fried brats with chopped onions (apparently they ran out of cabbage). Dates with cheese and bacon? Enjoy your dates with no cheese, but covered in chimichurro sauce for some reason. Three dates, which equals two dollars each. Total waste of money. The decor is weirdly airport/hotelesque. Back to the beer. Tried four sampler sizes, two are ok, two taste like ice wine. No fizz, and all sugar.
(1)Neil O.
I really wanted to like this place. The location is nice and the tables are spacious. It can be both informal or formal and the seating and decor are mellow. The service was very good and our server Aaron was excellent. However....the food is another story. We started with an appetizer that was fine but our meals were terrible. My date ordered the dijon chicken and it was incredibly dry and also came with TWO HAIRS in it! My kobe burger was also very dry and unexciting. The bun was stale and the beef was extremely dry and tasteless. For dessert we ordered a large chocolate cake that was $11. It was okay, but nothing exciting. I'm not a food snob but for the money I would expect a lot more. Sorry to say that this was my first and last experience at Destihl. I hope others have a more favorable experience.
(1)Sarah P.
Super excited this place is finally open. Not only that, but it was just as good as I had hoped it would be. Tons of good things to say about the place, but I'll start with the two negatives so we can get that out of the way. The waitress heard me say cheese pizza instead of goat cheese pizza. Probably my fault actually, because it was loud and I am a self-proclaimed mumbler. This mistake was fixed promptly and the pesto goat cheese pizza was awesome. Second problem was that the fried asparagus was somewhat whelming. It was really big, so if you're going for size great, but smaller spears aren't woody textured like the big spears. I assume that since they specify they use local when they can, that this problem will remedy itself once asparagus comes into season in a few weeks around here. Now for the mega good stuff: Deadhead double red is probably THE BEST red ale I've ever had. It is strong, spicy, flavorful and full bodied. Just wonderful! Everyone at my table liked their other flavors (and we went with some beer snobs ;) The hubby loved, loved, loved the coffee glazed rib-eye. Service was surprisingly good granted that it was the first weekend they were open. The people getting bad service in the other review...sorry, we must've been hogging all the attention ;). We actually liked the place so much we went back for brunch on the next day. Which was even. more. amazing. Ordered the swordfish tacos (see pics) and Cuban sandwich, and the french toast (see pics) for the munchkin. The kids French toast was ridiculously awesome. Here's the most awesome kicker- we were with a big group with 4 kids and the back room was open, so they gave it to us to have our brunch back there so the kids wouldn't bother anyone else. It was an awesome experience and the whole staff was soooo super nice. Make sure to check out my food pics- the kids meal was 1/3 eaten when I took the pic, but you can imagine the thrill in junior's eyes when he saw what he got for breakfast! :) Awesome place guys! Keep up the good work!
(5)Owen B.
My wife and I are from Chicago and our friends from the area introduced us to Distihl. It was a busy Saturday night and the service was a bit slow but given that we weren't in a rush, that was OK. The food exceeded my expectations. I had the Cuban sandwich and one of the better Cubans I've had in a long time! My wife and friend both had a pasta dish which they enjoyed. The waiter also was very knowledgeable about the menu and large number of beer choices, all of which were excellent too. There are lots of choices in Champaign and I recommend anyone try Distihl!
(4)Chris R.
I'm a beer nerd, and I'm disappointed by this place so far. I plan to give it more chances, but I've tried the brown ale, Belgian single, a kolsch, and a pale ale, and have been relatively uninspired by nearly all of them. The website lists some hoppier alternatives, but I haven't seen them actually on the menu.
(3)Ted C.
All right, so I've now been to both locations of Destihl and I have to say they're both pretty good, not stellar but a slightly above average brewpub. I tried their Hawaii five ale which was okay-it was a fruit beer that was supposed to remind me of being on a beach in Hawaii. Well, anything is possible it was a tarter beer but still a very light ale. They didn't have their dunkelweizen here which was disappointing. I got hungry waiting for my friend so I ordered the Ancho chips and dip. The chips were just okay but the vinegar and the dressings were really quite good. The habanero vinegar wasn't overpoweringly hot but had a nice kick and the ranch was more than just a ranch dressing. I had the bison burger because I haven't had bison meat in a while and it was just as good. The burger though, was all right the bison, slightly sweeter and less greasy than ground beef was good. The dressing on it though took away from the flavor of the meat but the fries were actually quite tasty. Overall, it's still an okay place
(3)Joe R.
I ate here May 2013 and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Came back February 6 and had terrible service. I was seated at a table and waited 14 minutes without seeing a waiter or being offered a drink. A table directly across from me sat down after me, was given water and drinks. I asked to see the manager waited another ten minutes so got up and left. Only as I was walking out the door was the manager able to find me.
(1)Anthony P.
My teammate and I had two delicious dinners here. We loved the "bacon egg and cheese" deviled eggs. I enjoyed, on separate occasions, the chipotle chicken sandwich (good sweet potato fries) and the grilled and stuffed. I also sampled my teammate's meat loaf; that tasted incredible as well. I loved my cocktails, which include the Vanilla and Mint, Dark and Stormy, and the Aztec Chocolate. The last one was amazing - it had a spicy kick to it. The atmosphere and service were incredible as well. If in town again I would make it a point to return here.
(4)Bethany C.
I've been here a few times. I like it for lunch. Their beer is alright. The flatbread-y pizza with lemon and arugula was delicious. I have it on good authority that their portobello sandwich is better than The Bread Company. I think the dinner - both the crowds and the food - are a little pretentious. My BF thinks that this is "a great place for women who shop at Chicos to meet up with each other and discuss the braided leather belts they bought for their husbands." Which is to say, he thinks they overdo atmosphere to keep the rif raff out. In my experience, I will sacrifice dim lighting for a chile that is actually spicy. Oh, midwestern restaurants. Are you using bell peppers to make Chile Rellenos? My littlest brother really liked it, though. He devoured some friend bacon appetizer.
(3)sheridan r.
Went here for din-din with my broey and his wifepoo since they live in the area. Food was fantastic! Service was spot on - our waitress was very attentive and took great care of us. We had a flight of the many beers they offer, the menu is extensive and it's hard to decide. But one thing is 1000% worth getting: Beer Battered Asparagus. That's it. Who cares if you have stinky pee from eating asparagus - totally worth it.
(4)Steve B.
Not bad, not great. I've had the pot roast sandwich and the bison burger. The pot roast was a surprisingly small portion. The bun on my bison burger was a little stale. Honestly, my biggest pet peeve with Destihl is their attempt at trying to create elevated food that just come off as tacky. For instance when I split their quesadilla appetizer they proudly touted it was deconstructed. That meant the appetizer consisted of some tortillas with melted cheese and a side of so-so grilled steak. Give me a break- I've had some cleverly deconstructed items before and that was not the case here. They do a similar thing with smores (e.g. the marshmallows come pre-melted). Tacky might be a strong word but to serve things in ways that are poorly executed and actually make eating your meal less enjoyable and more complicated in an attempt to seem high-end is pretty tacky.
(2)Luis R.
Exceptional dining experience. Made a Reservation with the Andrew, the Lead Bartender. I simply mentioned that I wanted a nice dinner because it was a first date, and he made the start of the evening's date very memeorable. When we arrived, Andrew had a reserved table set aside, candles, wine glasses and the first bottle of wine complimentary. Meeting us at the front he personally welcomed us to the restaurant and lead us to our table, and then passed us along to out waiter Vincent. This young man kept a keen eye on our table and made sure our wine glasses were replenished. The food was excellent but an afterthought to the service we received. Thanks Andrew!
(5)S. P.
This is a cute place in the downtown area of Champaign. It is always busy on the weekends and the service is good. My only issue was that the menu was kind of all over the place. There was traditional bar food mixed in with Thai as well as pasta dishes. Just didn't seem coherent to me I guess. Overall, it was a good experience.
(4)Brad P.
Destihl was something that was completely unexpected for me to find in downtown Champaign. It was a MUCH bigger place than I anticipated, and I would love to see it on a day when it was busy. We were there about 3pm on a Monday. I was immediately impressed with the vibe of the place - very hip, and something you would expect to find in any major city's downtown. The beer list was posted on a board above the bar and was HUGE for a local microbrewery. Where I expected to find 8-10 local beers supported by a smattering of other regional brews, the list of beers brewed in house was closer to 20-25. As I had never been to Destihl, I asked the bartender to select 4 beers for me to sample (this is typical practice for me -- a good bartender will ask the right questions and figure out what you like). He started by asking if I wanted darker or lighter beer, and then asked me about some different flavor profiles. After a few questions, he came back with four delicious beers. I tried the Roadblock British Red Ale, Black Angel Stout, Deadhead Double Red, and Antiquity Rye Wine. All were really awesome. I was very pleased with the bartenders knowledge of the beer, the fast friendly service, and the atmosphere in general. Next time I'm in town this is DEFINITELY a place I plan to return, and hopefully next time I'll get to order some food as well.
(5)Alan Z.
Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got. Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got.
(5)Zachary H.
Dishes can be hit or miss here but overall I enjoy Destihl. I recommend this for groups or other gatherings since it is casual but still pretty nice. I like the pretzels for appetizer, the burgers for entree, and the banana cream pie for dessert (it is seriously awesome).
(4)Devin H.
My first experience was on a date. I misheard what the waiter said when he was listing the specials. I asked him to repeat after he was done speaking. He sighed and sort of rolled his eyes. I ordered a turkey burger (because I'm epic classy like that). It was cold. It tasted like it would have been delicious had it arrived at my table 10 min sooner. My second time was just last night. I sat at the bar with a friend to have appetizers and a few beers. The lady at the bar was too busy literally dancing with her fellow employee (boyfriend?) and kept kissing and dancing by the kitchen to ever get my second drink. The appetizer I order was incredibly spicy, therefore it had no flavor other than pepper, and was also quite greasy. On top of that the manager saw a buddy of his sitting next to us. They both got into their conversation for a good 10-15min and began talking quite loudly. I could not hear the company next to me telling a story. I may give it another shot, but its pretty unlikely.
(2)Nancy D.
Living in downtown Chicago & having great restaurants right outside our door, it's hard to get really jazzed about another restaurant. Unable to find anything like Distihl with it's interesting, well executed menu & drinks. We've come to expect a great meal at our visits but this time our server, Luis, was an extraordinary compliment to the overall experience with his fun personality & great suggestions. This is a great place to eat dessert first, banana cream pie is awesome and you'll want to have room for every delicious forkful!
(5)John R.
I was blown away by this oasis of fantastic flavor. The grilled stuffed pasta was so mind-bendingly delicious that I tried to recreate this at home. While the description and use of two sauces sounds like it would contradict itself, each of the components blend marvelously in your mouth. I sampled soups and small bites as well. Over all, I found the flavors in each dish are well balanced and don't compete for attention. There is a certain finesse that's being used in the kitchen to render distinctly memorable flavor profiles. The atmosphere was inviting, modern and clean. The service staff knowledgeable and attentive. I wish I had one where I live and will absolutely be back when I find myself in Champaign again.
(5)Jaclyn S.
If its TL;DR: Great food, great drinks, great service. I've gone to Desthil a few times, and I'm consistently impressed by their food and attention to detail. Once, I sat at the bar with my dad, just there for drinks; bartender was great, amiable and had suggestions when we knew what we liked and wanted recommendations. Their heffeweissen is really excellent. The apricot brew actually tastes like apricot; I tend to like fruity beers, and this one stood out to me. Their cocktails are also really, really good. I had the sake lemon drop and was not disappointed. Appetizers: Hands down, no contest, their beer-battered asparagus takes the gold. Its a lighter batter, more like a very gentle tempura than a "fried chicken" type fry. The honey-whatever sauce they serve with it is incredible, and they serve a grilled lemon with it that you probably aren't supposed to eat but tastes like candy so do it anyways. The shrimp ceviche is nothing to write home about. The shrimp skewers entree was tasty and well seasoned, but if you came with a big appetite, it might not be the choice for you. Their portions (one of the things I like most about Desthil) are reasonable and not out of this world for most of the main dishes. My boyfriend wasn't totally full when he left, but comfortable. The thai steak salad is incredible! I like a little spice, and this definitely had that! It's not big, but its delicious. Their pizzas are also fabulous, if a little salty. You can't complain that they underseason like some places in downtown Champaign. The seabass dish (I think it was a special) was definitely worth it. They do their cubans right; their mustard is homemade I think and really rounds it out. Overall, loved it. Decently priced for what you get, and you get a great night out!
(5)Jessica W.
Huge fan of this place! My fiance and I made last minute reservations here on Christmas Eve...we had a GREAT waitress, can't remember her name...who understood we wanted to move quick so we could catch Mission Impossible (which would only get about 2 stars, by the way). We ordered the flat bread (I'm obsessed with truffle oil), one of their specialty pizzas and a Greek salad to share. We were impressed with ALL of it. Flat bread was good if you're in the mood for starchy foods--the pizza had a very thin crust, which I loved, so you could eat more of the toppings...and the salad was HUGE for its small price. We tasted several of the beers and ended up getting a growler to go because we loved it so much. Decor was a bit industrial, and very contemporary, especially for the Midwest. We will definitely return and bring friends!
(4)Stephanie T.
Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Destihl's Yelp rating isn't higher. Two of my friends and I wandered in on a weekday night while looking for a place to eat at in downtown Champaign. The restaurant was relatively full for 7pm on Thursday, so I'd imagine there may be a wait on weekend nights. Beers = good. I think we tried 4? The strawberry blonde ale on tap was a clear favorite for us. Both their beer and dinner menus took awhile for us to look at. I was expecting traditional pub-style food, but their offerings far exceeded that. We started off with the deviled egg appetizer and the beer battered bacon appetizer. Both were very good- the beer battered bacon is a MUST. Jalapeno bacon in a tempura-like beer batter coating topped with a drizzle of maple chipotle glaze?! Yes please! When it came to our table, we slowly stopped talking and watched our plate of bacon descend in front of us. Like it came down straight from heaven. We didn't even realize we stopped talking and didn't remember what we were talking about until the bacon was gone.. My friends got the jambalaya and the prosciutto-wrapped meatloaf. I really only tried part of the super tasty andouille sausage corn muffin that came with the jambalaya, as I was working on my full slab of beer-braised ribs (I gave one rib each to my friends to try though). They were perfect. Orders of magnitude better than Black Dog's ribs. I'm not sure whether or not that's a fair comparison since it's different cooking styles, but the texture of Destihl's ribs was absolutely perfect- tender, falling off the bone, but not annoyingly so.. The flavor was great also, as it tasted lovely by itself and did not need to be hidden behind sauce although the chipotle espresso bbq sauce it came with was also very tasty. My friends and I agreed that I "won" dinner since I ordered the best dish. My only qualm was that my shoestring fries were a little soggy and not as crispy as I would have preferred. But that's very minor. We were all pretty full, but could not pass up dessert. Like the rest of their menus, the dessert menu had a lot of tasty-sounding options. After some rock/paper/scissors, we ended up ordering the stout ice cream sandwiches which is more like four round brownie patties a la mode. But by all means, if you really wanted to, I guess you could try to eat it ice cream sandwich style. The alcohol in the chocolate stout ice cream wasn't very strong. Both the ice cream and the brownies were stellar. My friends especially loved the brownies. I was wondering what they did with the remaining brownie part after cutting out the rounds (to, you know, save waste if need be), and our waitress told us that the remainder is used for their chocolate martini? Maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and also, our waitress was very nice and friendly too. Overall, good service, clean place, nice decor.. everything was great. After tips, came out to ~$30/person, but actually filling up me + two guys does require a bit of food and drink. I'm already trying to think of when I will return to try the kobe burger..
(5)Alecia M.
Okay, first of all, credit where credit is due: There are some delicious appetizers on the menu, and desserts are HUGE and great for splitting. My husband and I have been here a few times, and we both really like the potato croquettes (mmm, chimichurri) and the marinated cucumber salad. Both have a spicy bite -- definitely recommended. The rest of the food is okay. Pizzas are decent, the salads seem to rely a lot on the dressings, similarly so with the sandwiches. Service is good and friendly, although can come down a little on the overwhelmingly chatty side. Still, in a place as big as this one, it's nice to not feel like you've gotten lost or abandoned. Unfortunately, I can't recommend much else. The design and marketing of Destihl gives off a very artisanal vibe, particularly in their choice of "craft beer," but their beers are at best uneven and at worst anemic shadows of what they could be. Most recently, I was disappointed in the pumpkin porter, which sounds like it should be layered and spicy and complex. Mostly, it was bitter and I could only taste the pumpkin if I really thought about it. I've felt similarly about all of their beers that I have tried, although a few are okay (the Hefeweizen, the Tripel). I want to be seduced by the delicious descriptions (and oh, they DO have a good writer), but I just can't. This place reads to me as a large chain that wants to be a small, careful, art-and-ingredient-driven restaurant, but it doesn't get there. It's confusing. 2 1/2 stars, rounding down.
(2)Hannah D.
Great restaurant! I have been here twice now and enjoyed everything I've had. Visit #1: Tried a few beers before selecting one. The drafts come in three sizes, which is really nice. My friends and I got the pretzels with cheese and mustard dipping sauces, and LOVED them. I got the bison burger with fries and had to stop myself from eating the whole thing before my stomach exploded! Great wait staff and a very classy atmosphere. Visit #2: Another great beer experience. Got a pizza this time, which was pleasantly adequate for a one person dinner. It was thin and crispy, but not crunchy...just the way I like it! We sat at a window near the bar and watched downtown during sunset, which was really nice. I like the corner location...lots of natural light! Will definitely consider coming here whenever I want to eat downtown. Reasonably priced for the quality, and a great overall dining experience.
(5)Simon H.
I have never been more disappointed in my gastronomic experience in Urbana-Champaign then this past weekend at Destihl "Brewery" (who knows if they even brew beer at this place). Having been to Destihl a handful of times before the abominable brunch I suffered through this past weekend I expected an experience somewhat similar to what most people describe here on Yelp. That being a friendly staff, and decent (perhaps even good) food at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, Destihl has suffered a complete drain of quality over the last few years. When it opened, Destihl offered hot, quality food served my intellectual and friendly servers who were happy to be working in one of Champaign's better restaurants. Each time I dined at Destihl I noticed the quality of the food, the quality of the service, and the quality of the dining experience was eroding away. This erosion culminated with the brunch a group of friends and I endured this past Sunday. I say endured because our meal lasted from 12:30p.m. until 2p.m. The absurd elongation of our meal was not caused by entrancing, deep conversation amongst old friends, or by laggard mastication of our fantastic food. The epoch that was our brunch at Destihl was caused solely by the complete ineptitude and incompetence of our server, the manager, and Destihl as an establishment. To begin, our waiter spoke to our group at a volume slightly above "whisper". He seemed to not care at all that our decently sized group would likely give him his biggest tip of the day. One could almost assume our waiter was indentured to Destihl and taking our orders, suggesting menu items, and assuring that we were taken care of was a reminder of the chains that confined him. After taking our orders, three of which were simply "eggs, bacon, and potatoes" (not worth the $10), our group set off on the marathon that ninety minutes later would end in us getting our food. In total our group would watch at least seven other parties wait for a table, be placed near us, taken care of by the same subjugated waiter, eat, pay their bill, and depart. After the fourth group who had arrived after us was served before us, a member of our group called the manager over. At this point we had spent 45 minutes ordering and waiting. By this point the waiter had been unable to provide any information about our meal besides, "they are still working on it, should be out soon." This information was decrypted by the members of our group through the reading of his lips and not by any sort of audible understanding between him and ourselves. We hoped the manger could provide us with additional information, this would prove to be a fool hearted assumption. The manager assured us he would check on our order and would return shortly. After three more groups consumed their meals, paid their tabs and departed, and another half an hour passed, the manager had not returned. At this point our group decided that if our food did not arrive by 1:45 PM. we would simply stand up, leave, and eat fast food. Finally, at 1:43p.m., 1 hour 13 minutes after arriving our meal was served. Destihl was relatively empty when we arrived and continued to be throughout our meal. Yet, our food took longer to cook than the run time of the original 1931 version of Frankenstein. If you have been to Destihl for brunch you know none of the menu items are difficult to cook, they are largely egg dishes accompanied by breakfast meats, french toasts, or a hot sandwich. Since this experience ended I have wondered what took so long for our food to be cooked and leave the kitchen. I have surmised that the reasons for our hour and a half endeavor are a product of the poor quality that now defines Destihl. First, our waiter did not care about us nor did he serve as our representative in the kitchen. Second, the cooks clearly lost track of our order because some food came out steaming hot, some came out only partially complete, and the rest came out lukewarm (presumably having spent an hour under a heat lamp). Finally, the manager who never returned to our table and only after being called over again offered excuse after excuse before finally saying, "Well, I am sorry." To anyone who has invested the time to read my review, thank you. To anyone who has spent the time to read my review and still intends to go to Destihl even after I have made clear my utter frustration and disappointment, I wish you the best of luck. To conclude, my friends and I will never eat at Destihl again and I look forward to the restaurant that will soon replace it.
(1)Patricia N.
Pizza: Chorizo & Mushroom. Sandwich: Cuban-Style Pork. Beer. Best Pink Moscato!
(4)Stacy P.
Told us it was a 45 minute wait even though tables were empty. Went on yelp and could make a reservation for 15 mins. Very disappointing.
(1)Ashley B.
FINALLY! We were all being teased for so long about when it would actually open! I went it's opening weekend and let me be clear when I say this rating is based on beers alone, I didn't get a chance to try the food yet! I'll start by saying that the atmosphere is really cool. It reminds me of a Blind Pig Brewery meets Seven Saints or something like that. They call themselves a gastro-brewery instead of a gastro-pub, which I think fits the bill pretty well. The place is divided up nicely with the bar being it's own area and a nicer looking restaurant on the other side. I have to say though, I was a bit surprised to hear that it's only open until 11, that doesn't seem wise for an area of town that's so reliant on the nightlife. As far as the beer goes, they had 18 on tap that were freshly made on the spot and they were pretty amazing. I was surprised to hear that they didn't have anything but their own brews available, and I worried about how my non-fancy beer fans felt, but then when I tasted their Champaign Blonde Ale, it was EXACTLY like a Bud Light. I think my favorite that I sampled was the Downstate Pale Ale, and the Raspberry Wheat Ale was a bit too much for me. But overall, I think they covered their bases pretty well. I definitely can't wait to come back and try the food (which I hear is truuuuly delicious) and give this place it's 5th and final star! UPDATE! So I went back and finally got to try the food. I believe I ordered the Swordfish, my boyfriend got the jambalaya and we both split some of the beer battered asparagus. I'll say right away the asparagus was the best part, which didn't surprise me because everyone raved about their appetizers, but I never heard much about the main dishes. My swordfish wasn't that great, to be honest, and I'm pretty easy to please. My boyfriend's jambalaya wasn't superb either, but then again, that's probably not the best thing to order at a place like this. All in all, everything was good, and a nice change from what's available downtown, but if I had one piece of advice, it would be stick to the beer and small plates!
(4)Angela C.
I came here a handful of times during my 5 years in Chambana and had a great experience almost every time. They have some fantastic dishes - the swordfish is AWESOME, the beer battered asparagus is enormous, the burgers are great and the desserts are intense. The drinks are good too. I brought many different people here and they all had a great time too. I think the one dish that was unanimously disliked was the bleu cheese quesadilla thing. TOO MUCH BLEU CHEESE. It's a great location for groups and the service always seemed to be timely and personable. Would definitely go again if I traveled down that way more often.
(4)Brent Z.
The menu has a good variety of options, which is nice. I have had the bison burger twice, but they seem to always cook it a little too much. I tried it medium once and medium rare another time, and both times they cooked it longer than they should of. But it still tasted good. Service at the bar was very good.
(4)Stephanie C.
The Ruben egg rolls are so unique and delicious. Our dinner was also very good..we ate the Thai chicken and a half roasted chicken (not sure what it was called). Both of these entrees were massive and very tasty. I knocked it down a star because the service was average. But above all, the mango ipa was the best!
(4)Maxine W.
I'm so disappointed. I'm in champaign visiting my sister, and a friend of ours recommended we go to Destihl. He touted it as a gift from the gods. Like so good hat he went there for lunch and dinner one day and then came back for brunch the next morning. After looking at the menu, how could I resist?? So we went today for a late lunch (around 2:30) and found the place pretty much deserted. There were some people working in the bar who made eye contact with us but didn't come up to the host stand to seat us. So we waited. And waited. And finally a hostess came and brought us to a cavernous booth in the bar. Where we waited. And waited. And listened to awful terrible music (read: Dave Matthews Band) A female server came to get our drink orders and informed us that Michael would be our server. Ok, so the do team service, I'm on board with that. But Michael didn't come with our drinks. Someone dressed like a manager did. And Michael didn't take our food order. A woman who we later learned was a manager did. I think Michael maybe refilled our drinks? The first manager looking guy dropped off our apps. Here's the skinny on what we had: Beer battered bacon: this is worth a star. It was greasy but oddly delicious. Brussels sprouts: flavor was good but they were still pretty hard in the middle. Bacon Egg and Cheese Deviled Eggs: nothing to write home about. They were small and pretty smoky tasting. For entrees, I ordered the fried egg BLT and my sister ordered the bison burger. My BLT was fine. Again, nothing to write home about. There was some sort of mustardy vinaigrette on the greens that was overpowering. And the egg could have been runnier. But another star goes to the fries which were hot and crispy and delicious. My sister ordered her burger medium and it came out completely well done. Like "we think this bison is dead but let's burn it at the stake just to make sure it's really really dead." She decided to send it back and so we waited. And waited. And a brand new server (still not Michael) came by to check on us. She went back to the kitchen to have them make a new burger and left the old one so my sis could nibble on the fries. Her friendly attitude and apologies would have garnered another star, but I was SO put off when she came back to tell us that her manager wanted to let us know that she put the order in correctly and that the cooks are the ones who screwed up. Umm... Why wouldn't the manager come over herself to apologize? Or at least to check on us after the replacement came? And also, it is so not cool to throw your kitchen staff under the bus like that. All in all, Destihl has good bacon, inattentive staff, poor leadership, and too much desire to be "cool." And where is Michael? My receipt says he was my server but I don't even know if I saw him, and I fear my tip went to someone who didn't do any work! I won't be back.
(2)Jo B.
We went here for Mother's Day dinner the Monday after. Was impressed with the decor, menu, service, and food. Our service was excellent. I had a Flat Iron Steak and fingerling potatoes w/blue cheese. Steak was cooked perfectly. Potatoes were tasty. Other people in our group were satisfied with their choices. (We tasted each other's dishes to verify the deliciousness.) Portabella burger, veggie burger, American Kobe burger, chipotle shrimp skewers, & chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon were their choices. We had two appetizers - cheese curds & tempura-fried asparagus. Yum, yum. One of our dessertw was the highly-promoted banana cream pie. Good, but the bananas were over caramelized. (waiter apologized). All in all we were very happy with our experience. I hope to take other people to share the Destihl experience.
(4)Kelli A.
Quickly becoming one of my go-tos, but beer selections are continuing to fall flat. Date night is not quite as enjoyable when my Cab is more manly than the beer the fiancé has to drink.
(3)Julie T.
I had really high expectations for this place...I have to say, I was very disappointed. The only reason for a two star rating was the appetizers. We got the pretzels with beer cheese and the deep fried bacon. The pretzels were great, served warm. The bacon was...interesting, but tasty. That is where the goodness ends. I got a cheeseburger and asked for it to be prepared medium...I received a very dry and very well done bland burger with horrible over cooked yet cold potato wedges. The kids meals are ridiculously small and mediocre at best. To add insult to injury...we paid over $100 for a party of 5 (2 were kids meals) for over cooked and cold food. Huge disappointment!
(2)Grace S.
OK, if it wasn't for the weird service we experienced, this would totally be 5 stars. At first, our server spent a lot of us time with us going over all the different beers and was super knowledgeable and basically just a really good server. Halfway into dinner he disappeared and other people started bringing us our food. When we asked where he was, we were told that he was in the back doing other things. At the end of dinner he returned to being our server but also bartender so we were basically ignored. Very weird service. We tried 11 of the 14 beers they make. I personally like really hoppy beers, but alas I can't remember the names of the ones I liked. For appetizers we ordered the chorizo stuffed dates, which were AMAZING! We also ordered lamb meatballs. I love anything with goat cheese so both of these appetizers were right up my alley. In the past, I have also gotten beer battered asparagus which is also super delicious. Originally, I ordered the pesto and goat cheese pizza but unfortunately it was very soggy and my plate was drenched in grease. Even the server commented that it was excessively soggy. I sent it back, which is something I NEVER do. I then ordered the flat iron quesadillas from the appetizers as my dinner. It didn't disappoint. My favorite part was definitely the chorizo stuffed dates.
(4)Jennifer W.
Reading other comments about the high prices here made me chuckle. We felt like Distihl was a great bargain, but since we are from Chicago, our scale is perhaps skewed. Dinner for 6 for $100 made this place fantastic for the price. Granted we were not drinking, but still. The cassoulet was very good, if light on the promised sausage. We will go back next time we are in town.
(4)Elizabeth S.
A lot of people have already said exactly what I think - underwhelming. I've been to Destihl 4 times - the first time, I got the beer-battered cod. WOW! Amazing!! Everything about that experience was great! The past 3 times? Not so much. We always take out-of-town family there, and it's a disappointment. The portions are teeeeeeny tiny, so order plenty of appetizers. The value is not very good at all. The beer's alright. Champaign has better breweries. This restaurant has a lot of potential - it's already showed that. I always go there wanting to be wow'd, and they come up short.
(3)Rakesh G.
They have good food options. They could work more on the vegetarian options. Nice beer. Some people may like this, but I personally don't like waiters coming back every 10-15 mins asking how the food is and if everything is okay. But I understand that they are trained to do the same.
(3)Josh M.
Any draught beer from this place is a good options. Beer battered asparagus, veggie burger, Thai steak salad, or roasted beer salad you'll enjoy!
(5)Liren C.
After three dining experiences at Destihl, the biggest complain I have is that they consistently over salt their food. Hey, what's up with that? Lighten up on the soy sauce please! Some of us would like to actually taste our food without leaving with high blood pressure. The Thai chicken wings were salty. The meatloaf was salty and dry. The Thai fried chicken is a good concept, but again it was salty. My chicken was under cooked. The waitress was apologetic and promptly got it re-fried (nice service). Although I didn't get to try them, the burgers and pizzas looked pretty good (but if you're just looking for burgers and pizzas there are much better places). The chocolate crème brulee was a travesty! No resemblance to crème brulee in terms of taste or texture. Extremely unpleasant! However, there is something on the menu that is truly mind blowing! BEER-BATTERED BACON! WOW! So crispy and thick! Must have! Bottom line, if you're here for drinks, order the beer-battered bacon and maybe burgers and pizza. Everything else on the menu is mediocre at best. Oh, and don't forget your blood pressure medication. You'll need it!
(3)Emiko D.
After several times of driving past Destihl and thinking I'd come to try their brews one day, I finally made it, except not for the beer. I made a reservation through yelp for lunch and was promptly seated as soon as we arrived. Our party ordered the beer battered asparagus and absolutely loved it. The overall service was great and very respectful in helping my grandma get through the doors with her walker. The only reason for rating 4 stars instead of 5 would be that our waitress seemed impatient with giving us a few minutes to order and came off a bit rude when asking who would be taking the check. Regardless, I'll be back for the beer, Destihl!!
(4)Julie E.
We are staying in Champaign on our way back to the East coast. We looked at Yelp and as soon as I saw Destihl's menu I knew this was the place. It was terrific! Our server, Alex, was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The menu was everything I'd hoped for and tasted as good as it sounded in print. I had the Minted Man cocktail. Refreshing and delicious! The sandwiches were huge and delicious. I wish we'd split a sandwich and saved room for dessert. We are already looking for reasons to come back to Champaign so we can eat here again!
(5)Dionne C.
OK so each time I have gone back to Destihl since my original post it has been better. I'd like to think someone over there read my posts ;) I'm still not a fan of the price points but the food is far more consistent and seems to be better quality. Also really enjoy their coffee and fresh cream after any meal there. Still nothing terribly interesting however everything seems fresh and well executed. Also I am trying to tone down on being such a food snob so... 4 stars!! (throws confetti sarcastically)
(4)Kelly P.
Wonderful meal at Destihl. Pretzel and Reuben appetizers were amazing. We all loved our meals . The waiter recommended a beer for each of us and we really liked them too. Good service and seated promptly. Great experience.
(5)Joy M.
Tried it again after awhile and boy have the portions gotten smaller and still as expensive. I will totally pay for it if it's worth it but I don't think it is. I think it only gets good ratings bc there isn't much to choose from here in c/u along these lines. Also the atmosphere is nice and beer is pretty good for being able to order the small ones to try more. But yeah, won't be back.
(2)David T.
I've been to Desthil a couple times, and it's pretty nice. The burgers are really good, as are the Cuban sandwiches. I was also fond of the house drafts that I tried (including an apricot beer that's one of my favorite Belgians). The beers they brew onsite are all really good. The dessert menu is also fantastic- try the chocolate cake that's the size of your head if you're looking for diabetes. The Smores plate is also fun. All that said, the food here is a bit more expensive than it's worth. Burgers are cheaper (and better) at Farren's, Radio Maria has better Cubans for the price and the entrees are nothing too impressive- good, but not great. I've also found service to be a bit hit or miss- we've had waiters that have been remarkably friendly and courteous, but last time they substituted a more expensive glass of wine for one they apparently didn't have without telling us. I like going here, and it's a nice change of pace every once in a while, but rarely do I go "Boy, we need to go to Desthil."
(3)Lisa G.
Destihl is an upscale pub-style restaurant with a low key atmosphere. The menu is quite large and has a lot of variety from small tapas style plates, to salads, pizzas, burgers, steaks, entrees, and even some thai-fusion style dishes. Because of the variety, I think this is a great place to bring a group or a date if you're not sure what type of food they prefer. The beer is all brewed at Destihl and is decent, but I've never been blown away by any of their brews. I have been here several times and my favorite dish so far was the Cedar Plank Salmon. On my most recent trip I ordered the Kobe Burger and when I ran out of sauce, the server asked if I would like more. I am not a dessert person, but I LOVE their dessert menu. So, do yourself a favor and save room for dessert! Be warned, if you sit in the bar area be prepared to wait. I have actually left a few times when I haven't been given water or a menu 15 minutes after arriving. If you sit in the main dining room however, the service is superb.
(4)LeAnn A.
Sat outside on a gorgeous 82 degree night. Drinks were superb coupled with the beer battered fried bacon. The sauce is amazing!! Had the Nitro (double pale ale) and a Jacob's ladder (brown ale). For entree we had the flat iron steak and rice/beans and fish and chips. Again-- superb! Whitney waited on us and made sure ALL was sheer perfection. She recommended the perfect tequila/amaretto mixed drink for me since my husband is the beer drinker. Wonderful date night!!!
(5)Sherry K.
Bacon wrapped dates a bit spicy but very good flavor. Swordfish tacos delicious & the rice/black beans that came with it had a great ancho chili flavor. Beer battered fish sandwich very tasty & great chips with it. Overall a delicious lunch today!
(4)Olivia B.
It was an alright meal with good things and just ok things. The good: That cucumber/rose martini. Yes. Also, the fried green tomatoes appetizer with the crab/avocado salad on top. So delicious! Swordfish tacos were enjoyed. The bad: the bacon wrapped dates. The bacon wasn't crispy so it was tough to chew. The sauce was so spicy we were practically crying. Salmon sandwich special was not as good as anticipated, and the bacon on the bacon cheeseburger was also not crispy. The service was so-so. While our waiter at the beginning was friendly, he repeatedly forgot things so we would spend time sitting there staring at our food because we didn't have plates or silverware. They also ran out of wine glasses so we were left sitting through our entrees without drinks that were ordered before entrees arrived, and he didn't tell us until we were finished eating. Overall, it'd be worth a shot to visit again but if the 2nd experience was similar or worse, I wouldn't try a 3rd time.
(3)K- C.
Once again--And it's happened several times! We have been asked to wait when several tables are open-as in almost half the tables. This time 8:00pm on a Tuesday--hardly high dinning hour in central Illinois. When hard pressed the manager on duty (Justin Kelly) said the servers are fully occupied with other tables and we would prefer you wait in the lobby instead of at your table. Their hard and fast rules are first not guest friendly. We were once told at 8:40 all of tables were reserved. When we left the reserved signs could still be seen. NO GUESTS IN SITE! Clearly a lie. In stead of asking an available server to pick up our table they (management) would prefer us to wait. We will not be back. Their management needs to evaluate this process. The food and service are usually ok. Good luck with getting a table when they are all "reserved". Oh we got in immediately at a restaurant across the street and were given the table we asked for.
(1)Bo D.
This place serves the weirdest reuben sandwich I've ever had, and not in a good way. Instead of rye bread, they use this cranberry nut bread that, while interesting, is also too thick and dry. Instead of the usual "Russian dressing" (similar to thousand island), theirs has this "mustard" with an overpowering horseradish taste that is not pleasant at all. Overall, Destihl seems like a place that tries too hard to be "hip" or "unique". You can tell just by looking at the extravagant descriptions on their menu. I give them credit for trying new things (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), but when it comes to food sometimes it's better to stick with something proven.
(2)Mark F.
Great selection of beers, food and plenty of unique twists to make it as interesting as anything else within 50 miles. Had a great time here and enjoyed very good service in this trendy looking place.
(4)Susan R.
Great food, nice atmosphere! Have the weissenheimer chicken, shaved Brussels sprout salad and pumpkin bread pudding! Delicious! Fun place too!
(5)Jen T.
Hmm. The problem with Destihl is that it's either GOOD or it's BAD. That's kind of why the review is an in-between. This place is off the charts when it comes to liquor. Just don't buy booze here. That's my honest feedback. We had a party of 8, once, and only a few drinks were ordered (a couple waters, two ordered pop) and the bill was something astronomical (like $180!). The other thing about Destihl is that it's a microbrewery (and,-cough-, gastropub) that's trying to be a microbrewery and a -cough- gastropub, if you catch my drift? If not, here's the thing-- it's pretentious as all get out. And for who knows what reason, really. It's kind of a dimly lit restaurant/bar that's just as non-descript as any other. It tries too hard to be what it thinks it is, and doesn't try hard enough to be a good restaurant. With that said, though, some of their food is just out-of-the-ballpark, OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD awesome. All of their soups (3 cheese and ale, or the tomato basil). The Havarti and Turkey is lovely, as is the Cuban style pork (tho, I did find a very unappetizing piece of fat in it the very last time I had it, so it kind of put me off it for a while). You can't go wrong with a burger. =) But, then again, it's a burger, they're not reinventing the airplane. I say... if you want to spend a mint for the possibility of some good food, and then an outrageous bar tab, pick Destihl. But if you're looking for beer and semi-comparable food, check out Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings. The same in theory, just a different point-of-view.
(3)Jonathan K.
This restaurant has below average/overpriced food, and ridiculously slow service.. It took about 15-20 minutes for anyone to even notice us. We had to flag someone down just for some waters. I wouldn't say the servers did know what they were doing, but just very slow. For a Monday night, business was okay, but waiting 40 minutes for food is inexcusable. I had the Beer Battered Bacon Burger with an Egg, and it was below average. It would have been your average burger if the patty had any flavor.. But the meat was simply tasteless. The beer battered bacon is quite tasty, but the nothing I would crave for. The only reason I give this place two stars is for the Strawberry Ale that I got to try. The beer was light and smooth, it complimented my meal. I would go back to have a drink or two, but not for a dinner out with family or friends.
(2)Jeremy C.
This place has it together! We came here after waiting 25 minutes at a nearby restaurant with no service. DESTIHL was very busy, which is always a good sign. After a brief wait, we were seated and acknowledged immediately by our server. Not only were the beers top notch, but the food and service was as well! We had water refills and empty plates cleared by other servers who happened to be walking by. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!
(5)Travis B.
Nice kinda classy place that has food. You could wear a tie and not feel out of place, but I'm in khakis and a t-shirt and still feel comfortable. We're just ordering beer samples and Curtis is taking care of us nicely. Not a bad blow off Monday workday kind of place.
(4)Alex C.
It was our last few days on campus and one of my roommates wanted to grab a nicer dinner before we left for the summer. Craft beer and unique burgers are probably our go-to cuisine when dining out. I suggested we try Destihl after having a pretty good experience there with my family last time. This visit was equally as good! We opted to sit at the bar and watch the Bulls game due to the dining room wait being around 35 minutes which was much too long for two very hungry college kids. We started with a few 4oz beer samples which are very convenient and not too expensive, I dislike having to commit to a roughly $5 16oz beer not knowing much beforehand. I particularly enjoyed the oatmeal nitro but didn't much care for the Champaign blonde. The beer-battered bacon was a must-try for us since I didn't get it last time and it gets a lot of attention here on Yelp. We also opted for the cheese curds, both of these appetizers were so artery-cloggingly delicious. The Bulls started to seriously disappoint us and when our food arrived we were glad to have something else to focus on, rather than the demise of Chicago basketball this season. I ordered the meatloaf and my roommate got the rancher burger. He said his was really tasty, right up there with the burger we had at Farren's a few weaks earlier. I went with the meatloaf to try something different and when it came out I was initially a little taken aback, but after trying it that all changed. This was not your grandmother's meatloaf! It was rolled up and wrapped in prosciutto sitting on a mountain of mashed potatoes adorned with some thinly sliced vegetables all inside a cast iron skillet. The meatloaf itself was well seasoned and actually had a little spice to it. What really made this dish though was the prosciutto, it added that nice smoky pork flavor to the meatloaf. I highly recommend this dish! The service was a little different because we were at the bar. The bar staff was extremely busy due to having a packed dining room and fairly full bar as well. There were about two people taking care of us and they made sure we always had beer and were quick to clear our plates as well as check in frequently. Service: great! Overall, another great experience at Destihl. Though, like I mentioned last time, it comes a bit of a steeper price than some other potential options nearby. Either way, we really liked our food.
(4)Erin D.
There hamburger is a 5 star real fancy made up ...fries season to the t...they make their own beer wich i dont drink got great tea but its high as hell to eat there but worth it
(5)Gabi G.
Went here on a Friday night. Waited about 10 or so minutes to get seated and then once seated, no waiter came. About 4 waiters passed us, served and checked in with the tables around us. No "I'll be with you guys in a bit" or nothing. After about 15 mins of sitting there, me and my husband got up and left. Not sure what the problem was but was very dissatisfied and unhappy.
(1)Kat H.
I'd been putting off going here due to what I'd heard about the prices, finally went for a get-together with friends and was impressed. Service was pretty great. We had a big group, 16 people, and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would for our food to get to us. I also have a baby and a stroller and the host was great about getting her a high chair before we even asked, and was very chill about finding a place for the stroller and just having the baby around in general. The food was delicious. I had a Thai steak salad, and the steak came on its own next to the salad so you can cut it yourself and get the full delicious steak experience and not lose any juiciness. The steak was tender and cooked wonderfully, and the salad was nicely spicy, with some spicy peanuts that I think they make in-house. Good deal for $12, in my opinion, or at least not overpriced compared to restaurants with similar food. My husband had the fish and chips, which I thought were pretty nice too. Potato wedges were a bit salty, but I love salt, so I was happy. Beer-wise, I had a house IPA that was good but not great. Would go again for a nice meal out. It seems like a good place to go on a date or celebrate an event, and they seem to handle large groups well.
(5)Ibrahim S.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers! They are just delicious. The food at this place is amazing. It is also very wholesome. The staff is super helpful and makes really good selections. The location is fantastic and right in the middle of downtown and very accessible by bus. They have free validated parking available as well. They have a craft brewery as well and have some of the finest selections of beers. Make sure to try their 4oz selections. Lastly, the outdoor patio. Definitely the place to be for lunch during spring and summers.
(5)Paul J.
To be honest the food was pretty good. I got the chorizo stuffed dates, which was the best thing I had tonight. For my entree I got the wagyu burger, which was overall pretty good. However this is the point at which their rating goes down. The wagyu burger is advertised as coming with a "golden brioche bun", but the bun we received looked like the average bun you get at Walmart for a picnic; thin, flat and crumbling. We asked the waitress if there was some mistake but she confirmed that, indeed the bun we received was the "golden brioche bun". Either the waitress was mistaken, or this restaurant does not know what a brioche bun is. I guess it's also possible that I have no idea what a brioche bun should look like. I uploaded a photo of the bun if you guys want to see for yourself.
(2)Jody E.
We were there for a very special going away party. It was a shame the waiter made us feel so unwelcome. Typical of CU. Crummugeonly students who begrudgingly take wait staff jobs but really act as though it's beneath them to the customer. He was curt and indifferent. The food was barely so so.. the arugula salad was inedible. The cook overdosed it with 1/2 cup of salt. The beer is good, but the server knew little about it. I won't go out of my way to go there.
(2)Ed R.
My review is for today's visit. In town on business and Destihl was recommended. Service was very good as we fumbled through the beer and food menu. I had the Hefeweizen, Jacobs ladder brown, and Roadblock red beers, all good. Tried the battered bacon appetizer, perfect. So many great sounding entrees, I picked the pot roast - excellent. Very tender and tasty beef, gravy with vegetables on top of mashed potatoes. Excellent. Prices are reasonable. I wish we had this place in Wisconsin.
(5)Caroline H.
We stopped by here after a dinner across the street. We were originally going to eat here, but were told the food was bland. Aside from that, we had some beers. I like the hefeweizen and the porter. A good place to hang out. Will try the menu another time.
(3)Shruti S.
One of the few places in Champaign I like going to more than a few times. Never tried their beer because I don't drink beer, which is a shame since their food's good so I bet there are some great pairings! Their croquettes, like most fried stuff IMHO, is okay. A friend ordered the stuffed poblano, which was really nicely done, and ha some serious stuffing! The swordfish tacos are amazing; just look at the line up of flavours on the menu! I avoid eating pastas in most places, but the orrechhiette and fennel sausage one is great. Always love flavoured sausages, and while I'm not sure this is house-made, it's still a great dish. And even when you re-heat it, except for the kale bits of course :)
(3)Jessica K.
The first few times I dined at Destihl, I wasn't fond of it. I thought the food was too greasy and too salty. That was in regards to the the duck confit (which they don't offer anymore) and the salmon. The next few times I tried a greater of variety of dishes including the fish tacos and a couple burgers and a few appetizers (cheese curds and quesadilla). Excellent. Destihl has really grown on me.
(5)Alex G.
I had a red ale, I normally wouldn't give a place a bad review because I chose poorly. In this case it's warranted because it's their own beer and they're responsible for the quality. It was just a very thin beer, it didn't have enough flavor to stand up to the food. I had their meatloaf dish, and I appreciate the idea of creating a blend of beef, bison, and lamb the loaf itself was over mixed and too dense. The mashed potatoes seemed like they were made from a box, or they were over whipped, almost to a paste but there was enough butter to make them creamy. The roasted vegetables were pretty good. Ended with the bread pudding, which was a drier than I like, but the caramel sauce was good. I liked how other things sounded on the menu if I go back I will update the rating but currently unimpressed.
(2)Jason D.
I've been here so many times that it's rare to find an item on the menu I haven't had. Honestly, there's nothing on the menu that, if they told me they were out of everything else, I wouldn't turn down that item. And the beers? Wow - great variety and their in-house brewed beers are fantastic. Seriously, I have no complaints. One of my favorites in CU.
(5)Nelson M.
Restaurant review I preface this review is mainly for the food so I did not try any of the beer here. The food is okay, I can't say that it is amazing or that I crave coming here for dinner. It is also not cheap by any imagination, but this is one of the hot spots for dinner with the gastropub concept and microbrewery on site. The first time I came during a work function. I had the bavarian style pretzel. Nothing really exciting. Pretzel with cheese sauce or the IPA mustard. It sort of reminded me of the pretzels you would get at the amusement park. I ended up trying the most expensive item on the menu which was the espresso rubber ribeye 18 oz with bone in, chiptole espress bbq sauce, asparagus, and bacon truffle mashed potatoes for 30 dollars. Somehow the meat just does not match steak hour quality meat. You are expecting an angus quality steak, but somehow my ribeye had a huge chunk of fat in the middle. Good ribeye is marbled with fat to give it that amazing tenderness and flavor, this was not that. The espresso rubbed gave it sort of a burnt flavor. I can't say that I was impressed. The second time I came went with the beer battered bacon egg burger 14.50 that had angus beef, beer battered jalapeno bacon, bacon jam, along with a fried egg topped with smoked white cheddar cheese and a brioche bun. Somehow the batter of the bacon was super thick so you ended up having chicken tender size bacon on top of the burger. The blend of angus beef patty with bacon jam and fried egg is an amazing combo, but somehow the oil must have not been changed for the beer batter bacon. It was a very dark color and had a strong not so pleasant oil taste. If you like gastro-pub food you can give this place a try, but once again for the price you pay the food just falls short of that bar. Pros: gastro-pub, lots of beer selection, quick service Cons: not top quality protein, the oil may have not been changed for a while given the overused oil taste, expensive Hidden deals: Join the desthil guest reward program. I did not get offered this at my visit. You get 25 dollars back after spending 500 dollars. Double points at lunch time during the week.
(2)Deborah F.
The food is amazing. I had the salmon and potato salad. This is no ordinary salad, the dish is served warm with fingerling potatoes, grilled vegetables and salmon carefully laid on top with a spicy mustard sauce. My description doesn't adequately represent the delicious meal. It was quite surprising for a brewery. The staff was great and knew the various beers to recommend to my novice palate. I am more fond of wine. Great experience.
(5)Evan A.
Beer: Mostly sub-par. Their sours are generally above average to amazing. I have yet to have decent pale (pale, IPA, IIPA) here. They are mostly a trendy place to go eat and stare at tanks. Most beer geeks will be sorely disappointed. They also charge quite a bit for a growler of beer. A fair number of them are $30-$50...which is stupid for beer of this caliber. Food: The food is pretty good, but all the pretty things to look at in there cost money, which means the food is not cheap. The menu always has interesting choices and they will not let you down.
(3)Zewditu D.
Overall, not impressed. My family decided to something a bit different this year and went to a new restaurant vs. going to old standbys. After finding a list of top restaurants online, we ended up settling on Destihl due to the large menu with seemingly lots of tasty options. We made a reservation for a Monday night and we were seated right away. Parking can be a bit difficult mid-evening. We had to circle around the nearby city lot to finally find a spot. My order: Chorizo stuffed dates to share and Thai steak salad. Other orders: Clam chowder (the soup of the day), House salad, Spicy Thai shrimp, and Pesto Chicken (recommended by the waiter). The dates came out first. I didn't realize they were going to be wrapped in bacon. But score, I love it that way. The bacon needed to be cooked a bit more though. They had a nice kick to them. They were enjoyed for the most part, but these are much better in Atlanta. As for main meal, the accidentally brought my mom a Caesar salad instead of the House salad. She was going to order it but changed her mind. The waiter forgot to write down the change. He came out quickly to apologize after it was delivered. The salad is a wedge salad with a crispy toast in place of croutons and a fried egg. My mom wasn't excited about the fried egg and gave it to us. I tasted it but didn't like it so passed it on to my brother. How do you mess up a fried egg? My Thai steak salad was not very good. The steak was cooked more medium than medium well. There was not much of it. The greens were kinda soggy. The peanuts were way too salty. Much better in Atlanta, again. Overall, portion sizes were adequate and we got our fill. We signed up for a rewards card that evening and were able to apply the purchase that we had just made to our rewards card. That was great. Even though I may not be back. There were plenty of other options that seemed great on the menu, but hesitant after this experience. Plus there are other places to try in the city. Everyone else liked their food. So that's something. I was going to give them 3 stars given everyone else's satisfaction. But then I realized that I had noted in our reservation that we were celebrating my dad's birthday. They didn't do anything to signify that. Not even a happy birthday. Nothing! So 2 stars it is.
(2)Dee R.
I think their cedar plank salmon is off the hook good. The service is usually in point and I've never waited very long for a table. Great place.
(5)Seth B.
Tasty food, solid drink selection, and great location in the heart of downtown Champaign. It's not on my "must-visit" list, but it's one of my regular options for lunch or night on the town. I'd recommend the beer battered bacon cheeseburger. It's delicious and beyond indulgent. I'm not a fan of their house brews, though. It seems like, regardless of style, most of them taste too much alike. I'm just not a fan of the brewmaster's style.
(4)Daniella B.
We had dinner here awhile back for the first time in a few years. They've improved their menu recently and the variety is very nice - something for everyone. They also feel higher quality. No more expensive pizza! We always enjoy the well priced, high quality beer. We ended buying a keg for a party which was a great value!
(4)John R.
Service was stellar. The waiter was very kind and the atmosphere was great! It put a smile on my face. It took less than 5 minutes to get seated and less than 10 minutes to have our order taken. Within 2 minutes of having our order taken, the soup we ordered came out. The main entree came out in a timely fashion as well. Items I ordered were: Three Cheese & Ale Soup Stuffed Poblano Pepper Cajun-Style Shrimp Po' Boy The soup was overall very delicious. It was a bit salty but the creamy consistency was amazing and the bacon and green onions really gave the dish some nice texture and crunch. The soup also had a slight bitterness which was good as well. I highly recommend this dish. The stuffed pepper had great flavor but lacked texture. The potato and cheese filling was a bit mushy and the pepper being mushy as well didn't help. I wish the pepper had a bit more crunchy texture to accompany the creaminess of the potato and cheese. The sauce was great and had a nice flavor with some heat. The rice and corn was delicious as well. I probably wouldn't recommend this dish. The po' boy was pretty good. The bread was toasted well and gave the sandwich a nice crunch. Shrimp was a bit overcooked and the veggies were kind of just slammed together in some sauce. However, flavor was there. I took a risk in ordering a Louisiana style dish here and it didn't really hit the mark. I would still recommend this dish nonetheless. I was going to give this place 3 stars but the service is what made this place shine. Therefore, 4 stars it is! Overall, not a bad experience and would come back.
(4)Michaela K.
Was a little disappointed because I always heard good things. Waitress wasn't well trained and the food kept on getting messed up. It was upsetting because it was so talked up. The food wasn't that great but they did have a good selection of beer and their soft pretzel was out of this world. Enough to get another order as desert and not just an appetizer.
(3)Sean D.
I have eaten here 4 times to make sure it just wasn't a bad day. Unfortunately it has always just been blah. Good: Service was always fantastic, the other reason I am not giving them 1 star. Bad: Not everything on the dishes are listed on the menu. I ordered a grilled cheese and I got it with an onion marmalade on it, just caked with onions. Everything was always over salted and cold. The wait time for food was always way too long for my liking. The famous beer battered bacon I have heard so much about was burnt. Just overall disappointed.
(2)Sue K.
First of all, we got there at 2:50 and they told us we could only sit in the bar area at the high tables because they were going to having a shift change in about 15 minutes. Other people had to wait also, they should seat people and have management pick up until waitstaff can. Food was just ok. We had the asparagus appetizer, tasted good, would be better with a spicy dip, the wait person never came back for us to ask. I had the wagyo grass fed burger, was just ok, tasted funny to me. Potato wedges were burnt , regular fries were good. I might go there again but would seriously think about it considering the cost.
(2)Tricia D.
The only reason I'd come back here is for the bacon wrapped dates! Those babies embodied sweet, savory, smokey, and spicy. Delish! Omg, I just realized that delish is almost an anagram for Destihl. So shall I say it was delisht*? Too many other things were off about the meal for me to want to return. Too bad because those desserts sound alluring (pumpkin bread pudding!). - It took way too long for the waiter (who said he was new) to come back for our order. Another waitress actually came by to ask how we were doing because she saw us looking around. - Long wait for the appetizers. How long does it take to send over some cheese curds, bacon wrapped dates, and nachos? The nachos arrived last. I didn't time it, but the meal was a solid hour and 45 minutes. I wasn't crazy about the nachos, but the cheese curds were my second fave after the dates. - My bison burger was extra dry (and I've had juicy bison before), and the bun it came on was too crumbly and dry as well. I took 2 bites and ditched the rest of the bun. And the last and final straw: - My colleague clearly ordered the Carolina pork two ways (the entree is actually like 5 or 6 words on the menu, and he read off every word), but what was served to him was the Carolina wings. He ended up just eating it because it would've taken forever for the correct entree to come out, based on our experience with the apps and entrees. Also, rather than bringing out a free dessert or comp'ing the entree off the bill, we were still charged for the incorrect order, and waiter just kept saying thanks for understanding, and "the wings tasting good?" That is actually the first time in life that I've seen an entree get messed up, and it's still charged on the final bill. Wth? I spoke to a manager, who removed the item from the bill. *the t is silent. Duh!
(2)Shantanu D.
I went here last Saturday. The service was quite poor. After sitting down, we waited close to 25 min for our order to be taken and another 20 min for our food. Frankly, I was about to walk out but was swayed by the waiters candid apology. Focusing on the food, I ordered the Thai shrimp noodles. The presentation of the food was nice but for the price the serving size was quite disappointing. The noodles tasted okay but I might have been slightly biased given the poor service. For dessert, I got the carrot cake. The carrot cake was quite moist and soft. I recommend it. Overall, poor service experience and above average food. Given that this is champaign, it is a nice casual sit down place.
(3)Kevin K.
Overall I was very impressed! A local restaurant with a lot of class. The place has amazing quality chefs and waiters, and makes sure to keep the menu fresh, continuously changing the menu. When I went I had the Flank Top Steak. The prices were moderate for what I ordered, but when it came out, I was impressed with the plating! But that was minuscule adoration compared to the taste of the food. Absolutely delectable. I would recommend the place to anyone looking for a classy place to get great food and a full stomach. And if it's still available, you have to try the Beer Battered Bacon!
(5)Bryant M.
3.5 Stars I certainly like Destihl, but I'm not quite in love with it. I was mentally writing my review all throughout dinner, and it was a solid 4 stars--until the bill came. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to pay for amazing food, but it's gotta be spot-on. Our dinner for 2 was $120, after tip. We had 2 drinks each, an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert. I've definitely paid this much before for a comparable amount of food, but that was at some of my favorite restaurants that make sure every detail is perfect. And everything at Destihl was good, but not perfect. Here's what we had: --Stuffed dates - These had a great sweet/salty/spicy balance, but the barbecue sauce was a bit too much and a little detracting. --Mustard-glazed chicken - The chicken itself was delicious, but there was too much mustard sauce. The fingerling potatoes and green beans were both good, but not well-seasoned. The dish also didn't come out super hot. --Espresso-rubbed steak - The steak was huge and cooked well, and it had great flavor. Not my favorite steak, but still good. --Bruleed banana pudding - They made this gluten-free for me by not having pie crust, and it was phenomenal. It was the star of the show! I am still dreaming of this. The interior of Destihl is very nice--what you'd expect at an upscale gastropub. Our server was also very nice, but he was a bit new and didn't quite know the menu well yet. While I'm not head over heals for this place, I do think it's a great addition to the downtown Champaign scene! I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city... especially for that banana pudding.
(3)Amy G.
Luckily, we went with family, so we got to eat off each other's plates! Everything was DELICIOUS! We started off with 4 appetizers. The deep fried bacon, fried green tomatoes, soft pretzels, and bacon wrapped dates. All were fabulous and recommended, but the fried green tomatoes were unbelievable! You really can't go wrong with this menu, and the wait staff is really knowledgeable. They helped guide those who were unsure to a good choice. The poblano peppers with chorizo was off the charts great and the Thai chicken wasn't too far behind. The fried bacon and egg burger was out of this world, but you better have a big appetite! One of the teenagers ordered fish and chips. They even elevated fish and chips! Even with all of this food, we ordered dessert! The sour cherry bread pudding and the banana cream pie were my favorites! The carrot cake was a close second! We had a great family dinner and EVERYONE loved what they got and went home happy! And with a family of 14, that almost never happens.
(5)Carol C.
Great experience, with great food. The service was quick, polite, and professional. I highly recommend the swordfish (unless it's seasonal and/or replaced by the time of this reading).
(5)Erin G.
Great food, so-so service. We've been here several times, and it seems like once your food comes, the server disappears! I love the rotating beer list, usually something fruity and crisp is available. The Margherita pizza is great as in the spicy pork sandwich.
(3)Rick M.
1st, let me say that the restaurant is good and the service there is fine. The bar, however, is another story. If you are seated AT THE BAR you may receive decent service. If you are inside close to the bar or (heaven forbid) outside, your service will be terrible. I usually go there for work meetings so I really don't have much choice. The last time I went there were 7 in our group. We waited 40 minutes for our order. We asked a few times and they would "check" and tell us our order "would be right out". Finally, after 40 minutes, they finally told us that our order "must not have been entered" and that we would have to reorder. Tonight, we sat outside. I waited 15 minutes for a waiter who never came (we could see the wait staff and bartenders from where we were seated). A companion kept flailing her arms at the bartenders but they never responded. Finally we went to another establishment down the street. It`s hard to believe they survive in downtown Champaign with service this bad. A little management is needed.
(2)Valerie T.
This place is very hyped up. I will say the service has been great the few times I have been there. Their beer is great and so are their mixed cocktails. The food is decent, but it wasn't over the top great. It is Usually pretty busy and a very clean establishment.
(3)Michelle N.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. I love the inside of it and the food is great. The bacon mac and cheese is amazing, and so is the jambalaya, meatloaf, and fish and chips. Everything there is so unique and good! I definitely recommend this place if you are ever downtown and are looking for a nice place to have dinner
(4)Rob K.
Destihl (a play on De Stijl? no idea) is an inconsistently passable restaurant with a nice line of beers. They're also a brewery, if you're into that sort of thing, and my experience has been that the waitstaff are very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to the stuff on tap. So if you like the idea of a flight of carefully-selected brews and tasty (if not slightly overpriced) appetizers appeals, stop by. Don't bother with sitting down for dinner. I've limped out of dinner here maybe five times in the past several years. Some reviewers described the food as 'delicious' (they are wrong); a few others as 'inconsistent' or 'not great' (correct). As a purveyor of hastily-prepared American slow food, Destihl is unremarkable, and the breadth of their menu probably suffices to describe the care that each dish has received. Some dishes are actually quite nice, if still too expensive, but you're unlikely to know which are worth your time unless you've got a secret decoder ring or something. If you're looking to blow some cash on food downtown, think about what kind of food you really want. You're likely to get the same (or a similar) dish done better somewhere else. It's like a rich man's Applebees -- the food is better dressed and the ambience is less "shopping mall," but your wallet hurts more than it should and your tongue is left just as wanting. Oh, and if you ignore the rest of my advice, don't ignore this: don't get the big chocolate cake for dessert. It is the most over-sized lump of grocery store crap I've ever tasted. Its spot on the dessert menu is downright insulting.
(2)Lucas W.
Every time I go to Destihl, I just find myself truly enjoying every dish. There are always some really interesting flavors going on and Destihl really does distinguish itself above its competitors, the other sort of new american or gastropub restaurants. Destihl does brew its own beer and it's generally pretty good, always a very reasonable price. You can also get growlers for like $20. Great deal. They generally have one of each type of brew and they're generally pretty solid brews. I got the Bela - Imperial Pilsner - which was great. Good, strong beer but very drinkable. This time I started with the Corn & Chicken chowder which has a bit of chipotle espresso BBQ sauce on top. Wonderful flavors, really was. Very delicate corn flavor mixed with the hint of bbq and given some weight from the just marginally creamy chowder. The soup was nothing short of phenomenal. Must Have. I then had the Farm & Field burger. Really interesting combination of flavors between the lamb and the bison within the patty and then it's topped with just a wonderful combination of delicious ingredients. Who would've thought that combining pesto, sun dried tomato aioli, havarti cheese, soy onions, etc on a burger would produce such an intriguing concoction of flavors!! My bun did come out quite burnt, but the rest of the burger made up for it. I'd get it again in a heartbeat. Only downside, no room for dessert. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Sarah B.
I've been to Destihl a few times and always leave unsatisfied. As a disclaimer I have only gone as a member of a big group. Also, they have always been very good about steering me away from unsafe gluten-y dishes and I've never gotten sick. However, the actual food is lacking. I had dijon chicken the last time I was there and it was burnt and over cooked but the sides were underdone. My boyfriend got a steak which came out a bit too rare and was just a bad cut- riddled with lines of fat. On a previous visit I had fish dish that was so over-seasoned with peppercorn I could hardly eat it. I know several people who swear by their food but it seems to be inconsistent at best.
(2)Deidra W.
Always stop here when visiting our local friends. I love the poblano pepper with white cheddar mashed potatoes! Hubs had the jambalaya which he says was excellent. Highly recommend. This is a slightly finer establishment. However, casual dress is acceptable.
(5)George A.
Wonderful service, great food. Our waitress was attentive and accommodating, they had homemade beer battered bacon, which was unbelievable
(4)Christina K.
This is a microbrewery, which makes me a fan of the restaurant. Every few months, they have different beers to try which is great. The food is pretty good. It is a great restaurant to go with big groups. If you go during lunch on a weekday and they know you're at work, they usually get your food out pretty quickly to make sure you can get back to work in time. Of course that also depends on where you work. I worked right downtown, so it was nice to have Destihl as a lunch option.
(4)Dana B.
Have dined at Destihl 3 times and have enjoyed the food every time. I highly recommend reservations. On this visit, we were seated right away while a walk-up couple was told it would be a 30 min wait. The lobby area was busy with people waiting to be seated. Started with the Potato Croquettes, which had a nice flavor to them. Also sampled 3 of the beers...really enjoy the 4 oz options so I can try a few different varieties. We were satisfied with our entrees...a pork tenderloin special and the flat iron steak. Great flavors and cooked the way we ordered. Best part is probably dessert. The smores are a fun, gooey mess and the cherry bread pudding was tasty. We dined on a Saturday night, which was also prom night in the area and a busy sports night (we were seated in the bar area), so it was a bit noisy. However, Destihl is a good dining option in the CU area.
(4)A N.
One of the classiest establishments Champaign has to offer. I come here at least once a week for work or events. They have a diverse menu that should please most people. I'd recommend the skirt steak, Dijon chicken, or burgers. The salmon is very popular with my colleagues as well. They also have a rotating drink list that always seems to offer something new and unique. They take reservations and it usually a good idea, especially on a weekend. If you have space in your diet their appetizers are wonderful (bacon wrapped dates!) also for dessert the chocolate cake is worth a bite (then take it home to eat later).
(4)Amanda F.
The service here was really slow, however the food and the patio is very nice. We were travelling with our dog and thankfully they allow pets on their patio. The fish tacos we had were phenomenal and the beer was quite tasty as well, however the fact that we had to wait so long for absolutely everything took my rating of them down a star. They weren't busy, so I don't know what the hold up was.
(3)Laura S.
This restaurant is conveniently located off Neil St in downtown Champaign. My girlfriend and I had heard great reviews from Champaignites and decided to head on down. She ordered the meatloaf and I ordered a spice chicken sandwich. The food was DELICIOUS--even better the next day when it was reheated. The portions were big and it was all very filling. The beers on tap that we chose didn't turn out as tasty as we had hoped, but that happens when you're trying out new beers. She went back with coworkers later and said that everyone was a little disheartened with their beer choices, but that nonetheless the food was still delicious.
(3)Brandy K.
One of my favorite places in C-U . The strawberry goat cheese salad is my favorite and don't forget the strawberry pale ale.
(5)Sherry Y.
I think this place is a little bit over-hyped. The burgers are pretty fantastic and quite juicy, but the food takes quite a bit of time to prepare. Not in the this-is-gonna-be-awesome type of preparation, but more of the my-food-is-lukewarm preparation. Given the amount of time you have to put into reservations and fighting the crowds, I say there are better bets elsewhere. However, definitely still worth a taste if you're into fancy interiors and great service.
(4)Frances C.
It was super busy but that didn't stop the stellar customer service from the bar tender. I had the quesadilla with the strawberry blonde ale. Delish! I decided to appease my sweet tooth and got the lemon berry cake. A-MAZING. I would definitely go back.
(5)Kyle L.
Been a while since we went here but I said I would post a review and I am finally doing it. We were crossing through there and back from a trip to Indy and is was a good enough experience to return on the way back. The brewer took me on a tour of the facilities and we bantered about state laws and differences between Texas and Indiana. The menu provided option for my entire picky, gluten free eating family. I very much enjoyed the beers. They had a huge selection and not all were perfect, however using beeradvocate and the waiters I was able to parse through the weaker options and pretty much only had great beers. I highly recommend this joint for a nice family restaurant that also has great craft beer.
(5)Sadie S.
First time to dine. Service was excellent. We had a reservation we were about 15 min late. The host was very gracious and sat us immediately. As an appetizer we had the chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in jalapeño bacon with a sweet, tangy glaze. They were delicious. My date had the fish tacos served with a black bean rice. His only complaint was there could've been more fish in the taco. I had the jambalaya. A perfect combination of spice with a generous mix of sausage and shrimp. The corn muffin was moist and flavorful. Recommend reservation for a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)David R.
Despite seeming to serve vegetarian needs this place fails to be vegan friendly. You can get one entree and two partial meals that are vegan. They have a vegan burger with a non-vegan bun. Does that make sense on any planet? Same with the portobello sandwich. Crazy. The food is good but vegans don't bother. They don't get it.
(2)Karen N.
Once a year we go to Champaign and I always dread the restaurant choices. We like this place! Easy going vibe, spacious bar, everything squeaky clean, good beers to sample and the good variety menu that goes along well with everything. The sandwiches, soup and salads were excellent for lunch and there were plenty of people sampling the many items on the menu... which made it impossible for us to get a table the next night without waiting. So next time when I go, I will make a reservation.
(3)Hannah L.
I think this is the best valued food in champaign. Almost everything I've ever gotten has been full of flavor and delicious- from pizzas to soup and sandwiches and great local meat entrees. Their beer is decent, nothing extraordinary, but they have other beer options besides their own.
(4)Richard R.
Fantastic beer, food and staff. Spicy shrimp Po Boy, IPA and Banana cream pie was great!
(5)Amy D.
We had such a wonderful experience. Raul was our server and couldn't have been more helpful. Wasn't sure what to expect but our party of 6 all left very happy. Would go back again but our so graduated. Wish I had know about this great place and Raul sooner.
(5)Macy W.
This restaurant was highly recommended to me by a friend and did not disappoint! We started with the Reuben eggrolls and they were AMAZING. I'd like to go back and just get those, if I could! The steak I ordered was perfectly cooked, asparagus and potatoes were really well-seasoned. The stuffed poblano peppers were also a hit. What's nice about this restaurant is that the prices are definitely fair for the amount of food you get. Their homebrewed beer selection is great and I'd definitely recommend the Bela Imperial Pilsner. Customer service was superb and the restrooms were VERY clean! I'm looking forward to visiting this restaurant again.
(5)Jill F.
I hate this place. I have been here twice, and the portion sizes are pretty ridiculously tiny for anything that's not pasta, or bread, or french fries. I got a generous serving of french fries with my chicken sandwich, but the sandwich itself was mostly bread and maybe a half a chicken breast pounded flat. There was not much of the cheese sauce that was supposed to be on the sandwich, either. Did it taste good? Sure, when I managed to get a bite that actually had all the ingredients of the sandwich in it. Also, the top piece of bread was hard, probably because it'd been under the warmer for a while. I feel like they charge high prices for mediocre food; I do like having a spendy meal every now and then, but Destihl is not where I would go when I do.
(2)Chaz B.
This is now my favorite restaurant in Champaign, followed by O'Charley's and TGI Fridays. The food here is simply delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful. Try the Thai Fried Chicken, spicy and incredibly good. The food is good, the wait staff is friendly and the location is ideal. I simply love Destihl and I didn't even mention the great variety of beers. Oh, I just did.
(5)Vedran A.
Terrific place to grab some food and a pint. The staff here is extremely friendly and courteous. The food is on par and goes well with some fine brew that is on tap. I like this place for lunch and would definitely eat here again.
(3)Jonna N.
I came here because their dessert menu had about 3 options with pecans and I love pecans. Their in house brewery interested me too. I haven't been to a restaurant where they offered 4oz sample sizes of beers. I got the "Matt and the Giant Juicy Juicy Mango IPA." I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but this wasn't that bad to me and also it was nice to have just a sample size so I don't waste any beer. My friend and I started out with the appetizer, chorizo stuffed dates. I have never tried these and I thought that These were amazing. The perfect blend of spicy, savory and sweet. I got the Weissenheimer Chicken. I have to compliment the chef on how juicy the chicken was. It was a big piece of chicken and not one bit dry. I thought the green beans weren't cooked as long, but the mashed potatoes were really good. My friend got the Brewmaster's pizza. I liked that it was a personal pizza and they also offer gluten free bread. It's nice that this restaurant is conscious about that. The service was awesome too. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. I felt like some foods had a spicy twist on them which I think is a nice flavor to pair with IPAs. I didn't get to try any desserts because the kitchen closed. I know so sad because I went there wanting the dessert the most, but at least my appetizer and entree was good.
(4)M B.
Why does everyone hate it here? It's not gourmet. It's a brewery that also serves food. But it's a brewery first. Maybe I've gotten lucky. Maybe I just know how to order at a place like this (potato croquettes are great, pretzels are... pretzels - come on, cheese curds are okay, sandwiches are satisfying). I feel like if you're ordering something that you expect to be high-end here, you're just begging to be disappointed. Very good cocktail menu. Nice that they will fill growlers. More than likely there's something on tap you'll like. Good spot to come after work. I always sit at the bar and I usually see people all around who seem happy - that tends to be a good sign in my book.
(4)Chris K.
We had 12:30 lunch reservations. Waited to be seated roughly 10 minutes. Sat unattended for 20 minutes. At 1:00 we finally saw a server. This was the first time someone had even acknowleged us. we ordered beers and the waited another 20 minutes for the first round to arrive at our table. 50 minutes after walking in we finally had a drink! At a bar no less! We were celebrating a birthday and would have ordered more rounds of drinks if we could have. we saw the server 3-5 times total and only were able to order 2 beers. My hamburger was raw and an individual kids pizza was terrible. The topping just slid off of the crust. Very sad we chose this option.
(1)Matt S.
A very good restaurant that works to accommodate their customers and make sure all are well fed. I enjoy the beer battered bacon it is worth the trip all by itself. A great selection of beer and microbrews. I have had the jambalaya and swordfish the times I went both were descent. Swordfish was a bit dry. It's a good atmosphere on the weekends. A bit dead during the week. All in all a great place to eat.
(4)Rob N.
Visiting from out of town and came here with a small group. Nice location in downtown. The beer selection was OK, but nothing stellar - and one of the beers I got was on the warm side. The ambiance was nice, and it was quiet enough to make it easy to talk with the rest of the table, even though a world series game was on and it was pretty crowded. The food was just mediocre. The fries (which were recommended as a side) were tasty, but a bit soggy. I had a chicken sandwich that was tasty, but the amount of meat was pretty small - it was a thin cut (probably half a breast pounded flat) and I ended up peeling away half the bun, which was twice as big as the cut. My friends seemed to like their food (burger, bacon-wrapped dates), but I don't think they would give it more than 2.5 or 3 stars either. I gave it 3 stars because the prices were OK, but I'm used to California prices - so this might be more the norm for Champaign.
(3)Joyce T.
Loved the bacon dates appetizer! And the cheese curds. I had the three cheese soup and the half of Cuban sandwich and liked both. The side house salad I ordered was fresh and had a light house dressing. Some of of our family had burgers and all were happy with the meal. One of us had the Thai noodles and liked it. We all shared pumpkin bread pudding with pecan ice cream for desert and it was delicious. It is very clean and has a nice atmosphere. Pretty reasonably priced for a family of 5!
(4)Sally F.
I love Destihl! We have come here many times and always bring our out of town friends here. It's always busy, and with good reason. The atmosphere is casual, and the food is great and decent quality. Our friends love the samples of their micro-brews. From "Smile Politely," (Champaign-Urbana's online magazine) "DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works of Champaign, Illinois, won a bronze medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for its Strawberry Blonde Ale in the 'Fruit Beer' category." The menu has many options ranging from salads to burgers to pizza. I personally love the beer-battered asparagus and beer-battered fish and chips. My husband has ordered the fish tacos on one occasion and pizza on another. The fish tacos were okay. The pizza is good. They also have a gluten-free menu and a kids' menu. Even though we have never taken our 2.5 year old to a kids' restaurant, and she is used to dining with grown-ups in grown-up restaurants, it's nice that they accommodate young diners with crayons to color on the kids' menu. Even the most patient young foodie could use a quiet distraction while they wait. Glad we have this restaurant in the C-U. I highly recommend it.
(5)Kate T.
One of the best places in Champaign. It's a great place to take vegan friends. I recommend the warm potato and salmon (minus the salmon and add extra veggies for non meat eaters). I also love the vegan burger without the cheese. Their salads are good portions and are pretty tasty. Lastly, the drinks are great. I love the sake lemon drop. I always request a homemade shandy with their strawberry blonde beer and lemonade.
(4)Kailey O.
5 stars just for the Iced Tea!!! It wasn't your average passion fruit, it was something better; even garnished with an orange. The service was on the brink of "too good" and the food was excellent. We sat at the bar to watch the Illinois Basketball game; they have about 3-4 TVs to watch sports. There is also plenty of seating. For appetizers, we ordered the cheese curds, pretzel, and lamb meatballs. The cheese curds were amazing, basically just fried cheese with marinara sauce. The pretzel was also good - a little burnt in places but nothing too aggravating. It came with nacho cheese and mustard. Our server had the chef chop it up into bite size so we could share easily. Very thoughtful. For my lunch entree, I ordered the Dijon chicken. It came with two asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes with sausage chopped up in it. for about $10, i would order this over and over again. It truly felt like a hearty, but healthy lunch option, especially relative to other options on the menu. The price cannot be beat.
(5)Carlos F.
Wings, spicy, asparagus awesome, corned beef eggroll awesome. Let me tell you, that asparagus was insanely good a slight heart attack but insanely good so I will mandate that you give that sucker a try. The corned beef egg roll was well balanced and meatty! Yum!
(4)Justin B.
Beer battered bacon. I could stop there, but there is even more. The beers are delicious and $5 per craft pint. There is an espresso-rubbed ribeye which I did not have but looked incredible. The dijon chicken was phenomenal. The staff was great. I told them it was my coworkers birthday and they surprised her with s'mores! Good ones! Cast iron roasted marshmallows and an awesome chocolate sauce. Cant wait to go back!
(5)Kenneth O.
Best roast chicken I have ever had. Slurped the bones. Bread pudding dessert was also great. Beer was fabulous. Glad I stumbled on this place. If I ever come to Urbana again, I will definitely seek it out.
(5)Kristen W.
I'm not a beer drinker, so my opinion is based solely on food, atmosphere, and service. First of all, their menu is extremely imaginative and varied. I had very hard time deciding on what to order on my two visits here. Be careful when they ask what kind of salad you want when you order - because they're going to charge you ~$8 for it if you bite. The food has been sensational, but they tend to overseason some dishes. Several people in our party ordered Caesar salads (which is half a head of romaine topped with a fried egg) and they were grossly over peppered. The pulled pork from my Carolina pork two ways was the spiciest pulled pork I've ever tasted in my life, so much so that I couldn't take more than two bites in a row. It wasn't a problem ubiquitous throughout our group or between visits, though. The atmosphere is very nice. It's dark and clean. The service has always been good.
(4)Gina R.
Destihl, Destihl, Destihl. Their food is just bad. So bad. I gave them two chances and I just could not ever do that again. The beer/cheese soup is a salty, goopy mess. The blue cheese and steak quesadilla would have been edible if it wasn't absolutely sopping wet with oil. The burger is bland and if you're lucky (note my sarcasm), you'll get a few nice, chewy chunks of fat in there. I got some kind of s'mores dessert and it was a cheap mess. How can you make a bad s'mores dessert??? It's cruel! Their menu is so awesome, but they're SUCH a tease! They cannot execute anything well. I gave them two stars: one, for the selection in the menu and the other, because I haven't had any beer here and it is kind of a brewery I guess so I can't judge them there. Also, people seem to like their deep-fried bacon, but I personally cannot bring myself to put something like that in my body, but then again I did eat at Destihl TWICE *facepalm* Oh, Destihl. How badly did I want to love you, but you were not willing.
(2)Jamie L.
I don't know many people that like Destihl. I think it's a nice, relaxed place to go for different cuisine than you would find a chain restaurant plus they have some pretty stellar brews. The beer changes often, so don't fall in love with anything. I've had my heart broken more than once by their ever-changing menu. The plus side is I'm forced to try something new when they switch things up. Destihl is a nice spot to go to relax and have a drink. They have a small selection of small plates that are interesting and mostly good. I've never had bad service here and love the fact that they validate parking!
(4)Michael F.
This place is FANTASTIC! We came on a Friday night, probably one of their busiest. We called ahead for reservations (highly recommended) and only waited at the bar for only 20 minutes. The beer selection is wonderful and they taste great; I had the mango IPA and it was mind blowing! Our server Aaron was incredibly professional and knowledgeable; he confidently and accurately described every item on the menu we asked about. I had the beer battered jalapeño bacon and fried egg prime beef burger. Mouth orgasm! So good. My wife and her cousin were born and raised in this area. They proclaimed with confidence that this is the best restaurant in the area I couldn't agree more. Try this place!!
(5)Clifford S.
The key to getting to eat here is to have a reservation. Last year we came with a reservation once and without another time. When we did not have a reservation we were simply turned away even though we could see tons of empty tables. Recently we left the game early and called them from the parking lot at 2:45 and made a reservation for 3:15. We were promptly escorted to a roomy booth which really worked out because other people ended up joining us. We had to wait for a while for the other people to show up and the staff was very amenable to it, acted like that was just fine. They even held back our entree order until they got there. We liked the deviled eggs for the appetizer, they were really good. I had the chili which was very disappointing, I wouldn't get it again. My wife and I split the Cubano sandwich which was Okay. Nice big space, great staff and if you have a reservation, great place. But the food is kindof college town fare which the space is not. Too bad as last time we were here the food was better.
(3)Liz P.
I have eaten at Destihl several times - it is consistently pretty good, occasionally exceptional, and rarely subpar. The staff is always really nice, they are almost aggressive about refilling soda (glasses rarely get to empty, and aren't left empty for more than a minute or two!), reservations and parking are easy, the booths are comfy, and there are some really good items on the menu (Cuban sandwich, the burgers, the ancho chicken, and the huevos rancheros are great; the deep fried bacon can be skipped).
(4)Jordan G.
One of the few good, non-chain food options in Champaign, IL. Their cheese curds are to die for and their white sangria is delicious. On busy weekend (Mom's + Dad's weekends, Graduation, Holidays, etc.) reservations are a MUST! They also sell growlers of their beer!
(4)Channa P.
I've been a bad yelper and late on this review, but let me just say I can still taste the delicious beer I drank in this place over a month ago. I was in town for a recruiting visit and found this place on yelp. My food was great (try the lamb meatballs) and my beer was even better. Lots of great winter brews and an excellent spirits list as well. If you are in town like me for work, avoid the mediocre campus options. Come here, drink, be merry. Oh and sit at the bar... this little baby has a wait and reservation list.
(4)Anne W.
Update: Stopped by again. Still disappointing. Their brussel sprouts are baked but watery. Ick. I did try their scallops.. that was better on top of quinoa. Not the best.. but certainly nothing to write home about. And the funniest thing I observed.. I don't recall seeing any beer on their menu even though they have their own beer distillery. What?!! **************************************************Â****************** Maybe it's my big city experiences that make me not excited about this place. I had such high expectations and went here for dinner.. I'm never around anymore BUT I am here shortly for work. Tried their skirt steak which is a special... it was with a demi glace and green beans. Really not that great.. it's okay. I tried three of their red wines: syrah, pinot noir, and tempranillio. All were not that good. Pricey though for Champaign.. compared to Black Dog the previous evening... meh.
(2)Meghan D.
Really good burgers, especially the bun. The fries were really good as well. Drinks were just okay. (Not anything special or mixology)
(4)Karla L.
Awesome beer. Awesome service. Incredible staff. If I lived in the area I'd go there very chance I got. Unfortunately it was a business trip and I won't be back in the area in the foreseeable future. 3 people in my party had the t-bone and said it was fabulous. I had the strawberry and goat cheese salad. Wow! Never thought I could rave about a salad but it was amazing. Don't think you can go wrong at this restaurant. The menu holds an amazing collection of foods and certainly something for every palette.
(5)Genevieve T.
I thought it was a bit overrated and overpriced.
(3)Eileen M.
Came to destihl for brunch (have been several times for dinner), and they do not disappoint. Started off with beer battered bacon as an appetizer with a delicious Bloody Mary. The brunch menu is small but the frittata and French toast we are were delicious! Will definitely go back!
(5)Lena T.
Modern, trendy and most importantly, DELICIOUS! Destihl is definitely among my favorite in Champaign. I've been here multiple times and have never left disappointed. My taste buds and tummy agree. It's a good go-to, for anything from dinner to brunch; date or large group outing. My staples for whenever I visit: beer battered bacon, cheese curds and the fresh berry napoleon. If you get a chance, check out the weekend brunch. They have a killer strawberry french toast entree that is to die for. Prices are a little on the higher end, relative to a college student's budget but overall, not too expensive. Staff is friendly, accommodating, and fast. The only downside is, it can get pretty crowded, especially during dinner/weekends/special occasions, so make sure to make reservations!
(5)Danny J.
Great service by our waiter. He knew the menu in & out. Took me so long to choose what to order because they have too many good looking options on their menu! Finally decided to get the bacon, blue cheese pizza but switched out the blue cheese for Goat cheese! One of the best pizzas I've ever had! So much creamy goodness in this pizza.
(5)Rebecca R.
Got seated right away. Menu is a good mix of traditional and some unique items. I had the skirt steak. It was good, but didn't really care for the seasoning. However, it was prepared just as I asked. The BEST part of our experience was the incredible service. Alex is the best. We will ask for him when we return. All-in-all, a very pleasant experience.
(4)I. T.
The best thing on the menu was the fries. I continue to be underwhelmed by this restaurant. This is my third time, and enough is enough, three strikes you're out. I went here for dinner this evening, I am even writing this from the table. I have had the Thai chicken, fish and chips, burger and fries. All of these were subpar with the exception of the fries. Temperature wise the food wasn't hot and even though I shared that the food was not good, no one ever came to the table to address my displeasure. The waiter was fairly attentive, but the food was BLAND. People often recommend this place, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the attraction is. Possibly it is the location or the ambiance, but shouldn't it be for the food? I'm incredibly disappointed and will need to go elsewhere to find acceptable nourishment.
(1)Pat E.
I've been here twice and both times I left underwhelmed by my experience. I went here in a group of six on a Friday night. My neighbors, another couple, and my date The restaurant was surprisingly dead in my opinion, but after our service and food...I can see why. The word/phrase/reaction Yelp uses with their rating system is perfect: A-OK. We sat down and ordered drinks. Water and beer for the whole table. We all were deciding what to get. My date went with the Ancho Chicken Salad (she loves avocado too...score!), and among the other items ordered were the Kobe (Bryant) Burger (I bet it regrets that night in Colorado...hahah), Stuffed Poblano Peppers, Weissenheimer chicken, Flat Iron Steak, and last but certainly not least...I went with the Cedar Plank Salmon. It was excellent! I was pleasantly surprised. I also added the Greekish Salad to my meal which was delicious and amazingly 5.75. I guess olives are like gas...price just keeps going up. I asked for the dressing on the side for both my salmon and salad, and our waiter went 1-2 on that one. I guess in baseball that's good...for this Yelper....not so good. This place is a Gastropub...whatever the hell that means. The food comes with a lot of flair and the taste is there, but if someone were to ask me, "How was Destihl?", I'd tell them "eh". The second time I came here I was paid for (hell ya starving teacher) and I ordered the Greekish salad (again) and Red Chili Braised Pork. The salad was great, but I asked for the dressing on the side and got in on the salad. The pork was awesome. I was no doubt influenced by my brothers' recent pork tenderloin dinner ideas. I have a ton of C-U places I can't wait to try. I am glad I tried this place again just to make sure the first time wasn't an anomaly. It wasn't. I would not recommend going here because there are much better options LITERALLY a stone's throw away. You could throw a stone to Guido's, KoFusion, and BGT if you crow hop!
(2)Rachael C.
One of my new favorites. I've been twice now- once for lunch and once for dinner- and have been very impressed by the service. The waitstaff has been extremely helpful, knowledgeable about the menu (both beer and food) and very attentive. My favorite thing on the menu so far has to be the Flat Iron Quesadilla. I wasn't that excited about it when I ordered (I planned to share with my mom, and that's what she wanted) but I was extremely impressed. It's not your typical quesadilla- it comes deconstructed and has components like bleu cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette. At the risk of sounding like a total weirdo, I have to confess that I have been thinking about this quesadilla A LOT and cannot wait to go back and have it again! :) The beer is good and the atmosphere is very modern and chill. I'd definitely recommend this place and I will be back again soon!
(4)Brittany M.
Fabulous restaurant! Ordered the Ruben egg rolls to start and it just continued to be amazing through our dinner! BBQ chicken pizza and fish and chips were really yummy! Update* went last night and had the stuffed poblano peppers and the wagyu burger and the carrot cake .... All were to die for! I don't like stuffed bell peppers and I cleaned the plate with the poblanos! Well done desthil!!!
(5)David W.
went here twice, got pizza the first time, ribs the second. The pizza is quite satisfying and good if you order it, I would recommend that over the ribs. The ribs were kinda mediocre, but they were still decent, but not worth the price. Got a bunch of beers both times I went, they have rotating beers and home brewed beers that stay. None of them were that special. It is a nice place though, waitress and atmosphere is more on the refine side.
(3)Melissa A.
I've only eaten here a couple times. The food is good and they have some interesting specialty beers on occasion. I don't really go here to eat, even though the food is good and nothing's wrong with it. It's just not my go to place when my friends and I want to go out somewhere. Perhaps I will update my review the next time I eat there. For now, this is all I've got. 3/15/2015 update: I came here for Sunday brunch with a large group of friends. I had half a Cuban sandwich and the strawberry goat cheese salad. Both very delicious. Although, I think I'll order the French toast next time, it looked so good! :) Brunch is a big thumbs up.
(4)Kristen C.
We didn't eat here but I sampled almost all of their beers... and I loved them! You can either purchase the pint or the 4oz samplers which was a great way to try all their brews. I didn't have one beer I didn't like. The atmosphere was fantastic and the waiter was very informative about the beer. Another major plus was the bathrooms were private and exceptionally clean! If I'm in the area again I'll be back!
(5)Jessica Y.
We were sat in one of the bar high tops for an 830 Saturday night dinner. Service was prompt and casual. I had a martini but would probably stick to beer in the future. Different beer portions allow for different tastings. The dessert list looked interesting but we were too full to try anything. CHORIZO STUFFED DATES ($5.95 for 3 small dates) - The dates had a nice smokiness flavor to them and did not need the sauce which over powered the dish. DUCK CONFIT POT PIE ($15.95) - At first I thought it looked soupy but once I started eating it realized the vegetable to sauce ratio was well balanced. The crust is non traditional as a pillow of herb puff pastry sitting on top of the vegetables (duck confit, roasted golden beets, brussels sprouts, pearl onions, sweet potatoes, green beans, fingerling potatoes, and swiss chard). A tad too salty but otherwise a playful, hearty dish. CUBAN-STYLE PORK ($9.95) - A good portion with juicy ham and all the fixings. Come in for some local beer and casual bites.
(3)Olbelina U.
Hit or miss for me. Sometimes I have something I really enjoy, like one of their burgers, sandwiches, or steaks. I specially like the cuban sandwich, and the smallest cut of steak that comes with asparagus and potatoes. However, I have gotten stuck with some very salty meatloaf/fish, or a greasy pile of mashed potatoes. So I would stick to sandwiches and burgers. The appetizers are tasty but all high in calories, and pair good with the beer. The desserts are HUGE. I love the carrot cake, which is really why I go back. I like the sampler size beer because their house inventions can be too out-there for a full glass.
(3)Leo K.
Great food. Average service that was a little slow. The hour long wait for a table was well worth it, but with better service they could turn over tables much quicker. BUT.....the food is worth coming back for..... the beer batter deep fried bacon and egg burger was simply amazing!
(4)Andy O.
Food was great, service was excellent. Atmosphere was perfect for a nice evening out! I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)Anne G.
We walked in for valentines day and the hostess wasn't very nice but we got a seat at the bar and were served right away. The bartenders were friendly and the service was pretty quick. The bloody Mary's were amazing and they came with a three ounce sampler of a beer of choice. They had a pretty large ramge of beers including IPAs. The food was great, we got a salad and a burger with cheese curds as an apitizer. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Lisa M.
Bloody Marys were great, stuffed dates were spicy yet delicious, Mango IPA yum! Wait staff worked together well. An exceptional experience for a first time visit!
(4)Rachel B.
I really enjoyed this place. We had a large group of people celebrating my grandma's birthday. There was about 15 of us so we had our own separate room. The service was really great! I wish I knew the waiters name because he went above and beyond to make sure we all had what we need. It was fairly fast service as well for being as many of us as there were. I liked the menu selection here to. Lots of gourmet and different food items to choose from, not the same old stuff you see at most restaurants. They have a unique twist to your average or popular dishes. Pretty cool. Now on to the food.... They had me at beer battered jalapeño bacon! Omg it was delicious! We also tried the beer battered asparagus which was equally as good. For my meal I got the green chile mac and cheese with pork. It was good, I wish I would've ordered something with a bit more substance (not much meat in it) but I guess that was my own fault! The flavor of what I had was great though. I also tried my moms stuffed pablano pepper which was great! I wish I would've gotten that. Everyone seemed to love their food here. Oh, and the carrot cake is TO DIE FOR! I highly recommend it, the pieces are as big, if not bigger, than my head! The prices were also fair. I really enjoyed this place! Wish there was more places like this (for this same price range) around Schaumburg.
(4)Kirsten W.
While our server was a little slow with refills (it was Saturday at 7pm!) Everything was awesome! We had skillet nacho app amazing! And pesto pizza on gluten free crust. Beer samples and very knowledgable waiter in his suggestions based on what my boyfriend likes as domestic beer. Very fun date night and only spent $40 and that was with tip! We will be returning !!!
(5)Alex U.
Worst service in Champaign. We spent three hours for dinner: late reservation, drinks took nearly an hour, food took an hour, and it took them half an hour to process our checks. It was a comedy of errors. Food was average at best.
(1)Matthis H.
I have only eaten here four times. All four were great. Good food for sure. The spot has a chain feel to it honestly, but the staff is nice and efficient. I am not a big fan of their beers, but to each their own eh? I live around the corner, and well.. it's kinda funny that it took me a year to finally walk in the door. Glad I did. Can be a bit pricey for the amount of actual food, but I should be grateful that I'm not allowed to gorge on the goodness of their food. I"m happy to see the diversity in downtown. Not just another bar that is.
(4)Drew H.
Destihl has a HUGE menu. This is a great place to go if you want options. They've got burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, pizza, a bunch of appetizers and more. They also have a gluten free menu which is pretty rare in Champaign. They have a gluten free crust for pizzas, but it is baked in the same oven as the regular pizzas. They also have a great brunch menu on weekends. I've come here a bunch of times and overall I've been really happy with my experiences. I've had two bad experiences though. Once I got some entree that was pretty worthless and one time I had a waiter that continually messed up our orders throughout the course of dinner. Besides those two occasions, the food and service have both been great. Food recommendations: Appetizers - Ancho Chips & Dip Bacon & Brussels Chorizo Stuffed Dates Salads - Ancho Chicken Salad Thai Steak Salad Entrees - Dijon Chicken Cedar Plank Salmon (If you're in the mood for something light and simple) Gaucho Skirt Steak (The best option on the menu!) Drinks - The Bloody Mary is pretty delicious I almost always get the gaucho skirt steak. I've never been disappointed with it! Again, if you want a place with lots of options and good food, definitely check out Destihl!
(4)Colleen M.
I tried out Destihl this past weekend and it was definitely one of the best meals I've had since moving to Illinois. For our appetizer, we had the warm pretzels. I'm a big fan of the cheese sauce they come with and they were gone pretty quickly. I also sampled the fried cheese curds and they were tasty as well. For my meal, I had the fried egg BLT. You really can't go wrong with bacon, a fried egg and avocado on a sandwich. The garlic dressing on the sandwich was great too. I was really pleased. I ordered an iced tea and I think it's my own fault for not looking at it on the menu, but I expected a regular iced tea. Their iced tea is an orange tea that has a pretty strong orange flavor. I wasn't a fan. Our server exchanged it for a soda and I wasn't charged for it. Definitely give it a try if you're in the area.
(5)Lisa B.
While not overly impressed with what I had to eat I was impressed by the service and atmosphere. I detected horseradish in the salad dressing and she immediately took care of it. I hate horseradish and anything that even remotely resembles it. My Grandmother had me grind horseradish roots once and it was awful. My eyes watered and the stench was terrible. Every since then I have not been able to tolerate it. I had the house salad with a portabello mushroom sandwich. I didn't think the sandwich had much flavor. We also ordered an appetizer sampler that included fried asparagus, bacon deviled eggs and some kind of egg roll. All of which I thought tasted good but I didn't have that "oh wow" thing going on either. It was a special deal for restaurant week. You got 2 of each item for $10.00. Some special huh? I would definitely go back and try again and hopefully I can give them more stars. The service was really good.
(3)Cher S.
I like their beers and you can get samplers. They have some great dishes like the fish and chips, the salmon salad, and burger but stay away from the meat loaf.
(4)Liz R.
After a long work day, my friend J and I needed some booze and sustenance... and she came up with yet another Champaign winner! Interior is stylish, minimal and dark. Our booth was large and comfy. Our waiter was knowledgeable and just friendly enough. Can quickly become pricey if you stay a while and dive into the small plates and drinks. I was overwhelmed by the drink menu and ended up going with my old standby, the dirty Martini. My first one with organic corn vodka, which made for a smooth sipping drink. Loved it. J tried two different drinks (so I got to try them too) over the course of our dinner, both of which were delicious and pleasantly spiked with liquor. We tried two different apps - the Beer Battered Bacon and the House Olives (our 2nd choice when we were told they'd just run out of the deviled eggs). The bacon was not greasy at all, and the maple chipotle drizzle was the perfect topper. The olives were meh, just not necessary - and I don't think my opinion was swayed too much by the fact that I really, really wanted those deviled eggs! Next up, a la carte soup. I went with the Beer & Cheddar soup, which was close to great with discernible beer and cheese flavors. J chose the soup du jour, Cream of Asparagus - excellent fresh asparagus flavor here. Both soups were wonderfully creamy. Bowls were decent-sized for $5. My entree was a Thai shrimp and noodle dish (I'm a sucker for coconut curry sauces). Nice amount of shrimp, but no noticeable spice to the dish. A bit of a disappointment. J's beer-brined double pork chop was an amazing dish, not to mention huge. Perfectly pink pork. We parked in a nearby parking garage as the lot across the street was full. I would return and try everything new (other than my Martini).
(4)RePhoned I.
I've been here a few times and I've had good and sub par experiences. I'm not saying that I didnt like the food but the service could be a little better.
(3)Bobbi W.
The food was really good and the waitstaff was very concerned with making sure everyone was happy. I like the prices as well, thumbs up here.
(5)Tara G.
This restaurant is expensive but definitely worth it for a special occasion. Great appetizers and entrees. The mixed drinks are incredible - try the saki lemon drop martini, it's amazing. The service is great. The food is great. For celebrations, my first thought is always destihl.
(5)Emily M.
Just got told that the wait for two would be 15-20 minutes for brunch - there were four tables, top, in the place. This is the third time this same situation has happened. Their food is mediocre (a glorified Applebee's or TGIF) and continually is incredibly over or under salted/seasoned. Who would wait 20 minutes in an empty restaurant for this disappointing food?
(1)William S.
Real good food along with exceptional service, good place for casual dining... Best of all were a trio of Beef Filets that were the best I have ever had, tender, flavorful, exceptional quality meat... Burgers were a hit with the kids who wrestled today.... Beer we tried were great! Service was top notch.. Very pleasant dining experience.. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Gail T.
The beer was tasty. The pizza wasn't that great, especially for the price. Wouldn't order it again.
(3)Andrea T.
I love the Destihl in Bloomington-Normal so I had to give this one a try. A co-worker and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. The place was not overly busy but had plenty of business. I really liked the decor of the place and the booth setup was neat. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. I was happy to see that they have the same menu as the one in Bloomington-Normal with only their beer selection being different. We started with the Beer Battered Asparagus which was delicious! I was tempted to get my usual, the White Cheddar Stuffed Poblano Peppers but decided to change it up a bit. I went with the Potato Crusted Rainbow Trout. It had wonderful flavor! My co-worker got my usual and she loved them too. We decided to go for dessert as well. I ordered the Creme Brulee. I was not very impressed by this. It was a bit on the runny side and I am used to creme brulee being smooth and creamy. Overall, great food and service! Love this place!
(4)Lindsay S.
I'm in town for work and have been to this restaurant seven times in two weeks. I love almost everything on their menu from the burgers, chili, chorizo-wrapped dates, battered asparagus, Brussel sprout salad and banana creme pie. They serve Wagyu beef burgers or lamb/bison-delicious! I'm not a fan of the Dijon chicken but that's the only thing that hasn't been delicious. My coworkers enjoy the fish tacos a lot. The service here has been great, too. This is my favorite restaurant in Champaign by far.
(5)Shaobo S.
You really can't go wrong here. The beers they have on tap are always spectacular and the ones brewed in store are even better. It's an all-around homie environment, haters are stopped at the door.
(5)Sherwin C.
This is become one of my favorite places to dine in Champaign. Good prices, consistent cooking, good service, and not too busy on Sunday mornings. I noticed some people complained about the prices, but for the quality of food, this is really much cheaper than something comparable in the Chicago suburbs although the portions aren't exactly huge. But it's pretty in line with prices and portion sizes at other restaurants in downtown. The menu is quite unique for the area and similar to what you'd find in a lot of Milwaukee restaurants. I really enjoyed everything from the American Kobe burger to the Beer-battered cod. The textures and variety of flavors were great and not too salty. The sandwiches and soups were also pretty light and refreshing. I particularly enjoyed the tomato soup and corn & chicken chowder soups. The dessert choices were quite varied but i was so full I didn't have room for more than one. The stout ice cream sandwiches had a really nice stout ice cream between brownie circles. It was a perfect way to end the meal. Given the quality of cooking and good prices, I'll definitely be back here soon. Update: Upon visiting a few more times, I still think this is a good restaurants but there are a couple notes. The price complaints I see from some reviews may be due to the varying sizes of some dishes. For example, the thai mussels appetizer is quite a bit smaller than some other items although the prices are similar. Also, the chocolate cake is a giant portion compared to the bread pudding. I'm not a big fan of anything Asian themed I tried here as I found the flavors to be too strong. I prefer it to be more delicate although some patrons may appreciate the bold flavors. I wasn't a big fan of the pizzas either. They were large in size but the dough was too moist for me and I didn't like the flavor combinations I tried. I did like the teas I tried as they were high quality organic tea bags. The coffee is a mix of two Kenyan coffees with a full bodied flavor from their supplier in Bloomington served with fresh cream. The shrimp frittata comes with a generous amount of shrimp flavored with shrimp stock, probably the best frittata I've ever eaten. The cuban style pork sandwich was done well but not as legendary as other reviewers make it out to be. The Potts roast was also done well but not worth a special note. The potato crusted rainbow trout was done well with good presentation but I wish the portion size could have been a little larger. The dijon chicken was moist and flavored well but, the real star of the dish was the asparagus that was cooked and flavored excellently. The apple fritters dessert had crispy fritters but the toughness of the peel wasn't that appealing. If it were substituted with something like apple chips or churros, I probably would have enjoyed it more. If the goal is to keep an apple-like look, possibly fried colored dough is a better substitute. The chocolate cake is a whole pound with chocolate layering instead of cream. This was done well and not overly sweet, a very good choice for chocolate lovers. The sour cherry bread pudding was done well, a little too sour for me but a solid choice. I would've preferred a couple elements to vary the texture inside but that might not fit the overall theme of the dish.
(5)Kathleen M.
Another fun new restaurant we tried in Champaign! My daughter who lives there is moving to Spain so we are letting her choose whenever we go down for football games and she has been picking some winners. This is a sleek, clean, modern space. There are beer vats as you enter which add a nice vibe of authenticity. We were seated right away at a very comfortable table for the four of us. We tried the deviled eggs app and some gingery egg rolls, we all split them and liked them. Both had a bit of a kick, the egg roll sauce had the most kick and I found this out after I had drizzled it all over mine but I still enjoyed it immensely, I just drank some extra water. Everyone tried a cup of soup because hey, soup is good food. I gobbled up every bit of my beer cheese soup, so light and flavorful. I loved it! With my swordfish tacos I had an amazing iced tea, it was just a lovely flavorful tea with an orange slice. The swordfish tacos were divine but if you are a bit of a spice wimp (like me) you might want the guac on the side, that is where the heat was for sure! I ended up just eating the fish out of the taco, it was just too picante for me! I adored the rice, bean, corn side dish. Just delicious! For dessert, we all split a sour cherry bread pudding and I really liked it. It came with ice cream and it was just smooth, sweet and a bit of tangy with that nice cold creamy spot of the ice cream. I am not a huge bread pudding fan but I think I could become one! This was a very enjoyable meal. The team had played lousy, my daughter is moving, I needed a culinary hug and this was it! I would definitely come back but sadly it won't be with my youngest! Why don't you meet us so I won't miss her?
(5)Joshua N.
Beer is pretty good. I'm not normally impressed with the offerings of small brewpubs, but this place is OK. Liked every beer I was served. Appetizers were good. I enjoyed the bacon-wrapped dates. Things fell apart a bit when it came to our main meal. My hamburger was overcooked and uninteresting. No condiments for my sandwich. And waitstaff sorta evaporated once our food was delivered. This is a restaurant I would visit to sit at the bar and enjoy beer and snacks. But for lunch or dinner, I'd take my meal elsewhere.
(3)Samuel M.
This place has great food, wonderful beer and a really pleasant outdoor dining area. Beer battered asparagus is amazing and their Banana Cream Pie is killer! Only knock is sometime the food takes a little while, but who could notice or care with so many great beers to try! Best place for dinner to start your night out in the downtown area.
(4)Irtefa F.
Easily the best Wagyu burger ever! Ask the chef to replace the bleu cheese with goat cheese. It tastes great!
(5)Tati B.
Always happy when I go there. Great beer selection, great food selection, and great service. The only reason it's not 5 stars in my book is because the main dining room still kinda feels like a big chainy restaurant, and I'm more of a fan of independent ones.
(4)Eric K.
Shiny, new, and inviting, Destihl is definitely one of Champaign's nicest restaurants. It's often the gathering point for business events or company dinners, which brings a lot of patrons to this restaurant. There's a good selection of beer that's, judging by the brewing equipment in the restaurant, presumably brewed in-house (and maybe some off-site) as well as a decent menu showcasing modern American fare. Usually, a drinking establishment that decides to start cooking ends up making subpar food, while a restaurant that makes good food has a lackluster beer selection. Of course, this isn't always the case, but I usually don't go to bars for their food, and restaurants for their beer. Destihl, however, strikes a good balance between the two camps. I had a chicken pot pie when I went there, while my dining companion had stuffed peppers. Both were perfectly fine, but nothing to write home about. The menu is made up of conventional American dishes, but unfortunately nothing too unique. You'll find everything you want here for a great meal, but nothing that truly catches your eye. Overall, the service was excellent, our waiter had insightful knowledge on the beer selections, and the atmosphere here was just right. I feel like their menu is a bit too unoriginal to justify the price, but regardless, I'm sure you'll enjoy your meal here anyways.
(4)Dave G.
Occasionally, very rarely if truth be told, one finds oneself in Champaign, home of University of Illnois at Urbana-Champaign Campus and gateway to the high plains. It is one of those lovely little Midwestern university towns where one could spend a nice life far from the cut and thrust of city life. When in Champaign, one could do worse than to eat at Destihl. The place is modern brew pub of the sort that was popular in the late 90s in fleshpots like San Francisco. Get their flight, it is quite good. The Amber is sweet and floral. They serve nice gastro pub fare. I had the fish (of some sort) that was quite nice. Mid-west prices. Sit on the corner patio in front of Destihl, sipping their beer and watching the sunset on downtown Champagne. Good times. (Whew! So snobby!)
(3)Rachel S.
I just found out that Destihl doesn't have a dedicated fryer for their french fries and other "gluten-free" offerings. And they have stopped offering a GF menu. They were obviously trying to cater to the trendy gluten-free crowd, but not to Celiacs.
(2)Alex C.
Brilliant. The staff was super friendly, the atmosphere was awesome, and the food was spectacular. I ordered the Thai fried chicken. It was literally a half a chicken on top of a bed of some yummy, spicy rice. I loved it. Ordered the fried asparagus for appetizer. The waitress was very informative and was spot on with suggesting the dishes. I absolutely recommend this place for first timers.
(5)Marshall B.
I've come here on a number of occasions, usually work-related. The food is tasty and the appetizers are creative. As long as you're seated away from the bar, it's usually quiet enough to carry on civilized conversation. However, The beer is pretty disappointing, particularly for a brewery. As a result, this place is not my first choice for a night out, but makes for a good dinner in general.
(3)Lindsey G.
Oh, Destihl. How I wish you were anything above average. I had a delicious brunch at Destihl once (while sitting outside) and it ruined me for life, because for that reason, I feel compelled to keep giving the place a chance at serving me a delicious indoor dinner that's worth the price tag. So far, that just hasn't happened, or even come close. I might join friends here for dessert or for drinks and an appetizer, but I've learned my lesson with dinner. I think.
(2)Andy L.
skirt steak is amazing have to try slightly spicy but great flavor. Brussel sprout salad has to right combo of sweet and sour. Topped off with cherry bread pudding 5 star for just that.
(5)Nate S.
Good food but great beer. There are two locations one in Champaign and the other in Bloomington. They both have unique food and drinks. I've never had anything I didn't like here.
(4)Dean W.
Highly recommended! Nice bar with a great selection of their beers. I particularly like the Nut Brown Ale but there are several other styles to choose from. As for dining, we love Destihl. This time we had the Reuben Egg Rolls which were excellent. I had the Chicken Corn Chowder which was one of the best I've ever tasted. For dinner I had the Swordfish dinner. It has a very nice and spicy glaze and is served on a bed of arugula and other spiced veggies. Very impressive, very tasty, but it was a little small which the server told me ahead of time. Not the best choice if you are looking for a big meal, but a very good dish overall. My friend had the Pork rib and pulled pork dish with cole slaw and potatoes. I was very good, had a nice kick to it. Everything is served with a modern flair and a unique flavor profile. This is not your typical boring brew pub food. Very stylish. The atmosphere is nicer that most brew pubs and is great for a nice dinner out with friends. I am never disappointed at Destihl!!
(5)Michael B.
Great food. Great service. Decent wine list. And an extensive gluten free menu to boot. Our go-to place when we are in Champaign.
(4)Crazy G.
What a great meal and fun time last night. Server was Alex and he was outstanding! started with a flight and a drink and the battered bacon, YUM Hubby had the skirt steak I had the jambalaya topped it off with dessert and we never do that, pastry with fresh fruit and lemon curd We did not want to leave and can not wait to go back!
(5)Anthony D.
Beer-Battered Asparagus, Craft Beer, and great food on the menu. You can't beat it.
(5)Paul D.
Man, Champaign (my hometown) now has two brewpubs within a block of each other. Houston (where I live now) has none. Why can't the 4th largest city in the US have a brewpub? I digress. There is a sterile and industrial atmosphere here. One that I am seeing in more in more bars, and I am not a fan. The style does not work here looks like the pub and owners are being cheep. Seems cold to me. The bar is to the left with some tables and booths. To the right on the Neil St side is another dinning area. The brewing equipment can be seen from the Church St side. A few TV's above the bar, but unintrusive. Relaxed, but sterile and pretty much the exact opposite of the Blind Pig. Which oozes uniqueness from every wood poor. The service is fast, but they are not very interested in much. I want someone working at a brewpub to at least show interest in their products. Here it seems they want to shuffle you in and out with a ticket and some tips. Unimpressed on this front. The food is fairly bland and generic. Some pizzas, some steaks, some chicken, some seafood. A little of everything. They do nothing good, but nothing bad either. There is a wide variety of beers available. Including a cask mild, which I would have jumped at if I had seen it before leaving. The rest is about 14 taps in all styles. A blonde, hefeweizen, a scotch ale, a few stouts and IPAs (some imperial), lots of Belgian styles. Though nothing is really that good, and some have obvious flaws. Overall, clearly the second best brewpub on the block. Almost the definition of average to me. The food does not really excite me either. I really can't see myself coming here to often over the many other great beer destinations and restaurants within walking distance. Though cheers for at least another brewpub option in town.
(2)Carlos Y.
This was the fourth time I've been to destihl since it opened in champaign. The first two times were within the first 6 months it opened and I left less than impressed. I finally came back a year or so later and the food has definitely gotten better. This time I went for lunch and had the swordfish tacos with rice and beans on the side. This was pretty good. Maybe just a bit heavy on the sauce which masked a lot of the fish but the chimichurri sauce itself was good. My wife had the chimichurri shrimp pizza and hers was excellent! I also have to mention the last time I was here I had the beer-brined double bone in pork chop and that was easily the best dish I had here. After a few early lackluster visits this place is slowly becoming one of the better restaurants in the area.
(4)Nick S.
Not too crowded at 12am on a weekend. Found a table, whew, and the waiter was very helpful. He knew quite a bit about drinks, their beers, and the menu. He was attentive and answered all our questions patiently. Patience is a virtue to a bar customer because time is money for them, and I get that. The only thing I remember ordering was the deep fried bacon. MMMMMMMM It had a bit of spice to it and they were great...just taxing on the tummy 30 minutes after eating it. Sooooo much grease - but aren't things better that way? Lots of interesting menu choices and in house brewed beers (which I didn't have) Hope you try them.
(4)Kari T.
WOW- I am really surprised by all of the good reviews of this place! I have been here twice- both times for lunch. The first time I went with colleagues and two of us ordered soup. It came out cold and had to be sent back. We ordered the cheese curds to share (nothing great) and I had the Chimi Chicken Torta; which was actually pretty bland. The second time I went, I ordered the Tomato and Bread salad with chicken. By the name of the salad, you would think it would have tomatoes on it right? I had two little pieces of a tomato, wilted greens, and a couple little tiny balls of mozzarella. Not acceptable. I asked the waitress for more tomatoes and mozzarella and after looking annoyed, she returned with more of each. I don't know what others are having that's so great, but I am very unimpressed with this place and will not be returning.
(2)Erin G.
Great food, so-so service. We've been here several times, and it seems like once your food comes, the server disappears! I love the rotating beer list, usually something fruity and crisp is available. The Margherita pizza is great as in the spicy pork sandwich.
(3)Sean D.
I have eaten here 4 times to make sure it just wasn't a bad day. Unfortunately it has always just been blah. Good: Service was always fantastic, the other reason I am not giving them 1 star. Bad: Not everything on the dishes are listed on the menu. I ordered a grilled cheese and I got it with an onion marmalade on it, just caked with onions. Everything was always over salted and cold. The wait time for food was always way too long for my liking. The famous beer battered bacon I have heard so much about was burnt. Just overall disappointed.
(2)Sue K.
First of all, we got there at 2:50 and they told us we could only sit in the bar area at the high tables because they were going to having a shift change in about 15 minutes. Other people had to wait also, they should seat people and have management pick up until waitstaff can. Food was just ok. We had the asparagus appetizer, tasted good, would be better with a spicy dip, the wait person never came back for us to ask. I had the wagyo grass fed burger, was just ok, tasted funny to me. Potato wedges were burnt , regular fries were good. I might go there again but would seriously think about it considering the cost.
(2)Rick M.
1st, let me say that the restaurant is good and the service there is fine. The bar, however, is another story. If you are seated AT THE BAR you may receive decent service. If you are inside close to the bar or (heaven forbid) outside, your service will be terrible. I usually go there for work meetings so I really don't have much choice. The last time I went there were 7 in our group. We waited 40 minutes for our order. We asked a few times and they would "check" and tell us our order "would be right out". Finally, after 40 minutes, they finally told us that our order "must not have been entered" and that we would have to reorder. Tonight, we sat outside. I waited 15 minutes for a waiter who never came (we could see the wait staff and bartenders from where we were seated). A companion kept flailing her arms at the bartenders but they never responded. Finally we went to another establishment down the street. It`s hard to believe they survive in downtown Champaign with service this bad. A little management is needed.
(2)Valerie T.
This place is very hyped up. I will say the service has been great the few times I have been there. Their beer is great and so are their mixed cocktails. The food is decent, but it wasn't over the top great. It is Usually pretty busy and a very clean establishment.
(3)Michelle N.
One of my favorite restaurants in town. I love the inside of it and the food is great. The bacon mac and cheese is amazing, and so is the jambalaya, meatloaf, and fish and chips. Everything there is so unique and good! I definitely recommend this place if you are ever downtown and are looking for a nice place to have dinner
(4)Rob K.
Destihl (a play on De Stijl? no idea) is an inconsistently passable restaurant with a nice line of beers. They're also a brewery, if you're into that sort of thing, and my experience has been that the waitstaff are very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to the stuff on tap. So if you like the idea of a flight of carefully-selected brews and tasty (if not slightly overpriced) appetizers appeals, stop by. Don't bother with sitting down for dinner. I've limped out of dinner here maybe five times in the past several years. Some reviewers described the food as 'delicious' (they are wrong); a few others as 'inconsistent' or 'not great' (correct). As a purveyor of hastily-prepared American slow food, Destihl is unremarkable, and the breadth of their menu probably suffices to describe the care that each dish has received. Some dishes are actually quite nice, if still too expensive, but you're unlikely to know which are worth your time unless you've got a secret decoder ring or something. If you're looking to blow some cash on food downtown, think about what kind of food you really want. You're likely to get the same (or a similar) dish done better somewhere else. It's like a rich man's Applebees -- the food is better dressed and the ambience is less "shopping mall," but your wallet hurts more than it should and your tongue is left just as wanting. Oh, and if you ignore the rest of my advice, don't ignore this: don't get the big chocolate cake for dessert. It is the most over-sized lump of grocery store crap I've ever tasted. Its spot on the dessert menu is downright insulting.
(2)Lucas W.
Every time I go to Destihl, I just find myself truly enjoying every dish. There are always some really interesting flavors going on and Destihl really does distinguish itself above its competitors, the other sort of new american or gastropub restaurants. Destihl does brew its own beer and it's generally pretty good, always a very reasonable price. You can also get growlers for like $20. Great deal. They generally have one of each type of brew and they're generally pretty solid brews. I got the Bela - Imperial Pilsner - which was great. Good, strong beer but very drinkable. This time I started with the Corn & Chicken chowder which has a bit of chipotle espresso BBQ sauce on top. Wonderful flavors, really was. Very delicate corn flavor mixed with the hint of bbq and given some weight from the just marginally creamy chowder. The soup was nothing short of phenomenal. Must Have. I then had the Farm & Field burger. Really interesting combination of flavors between the lamb and the bison within the patty and then it's topped with just a wonderful combination of delicious ingredients. Who would've thought that combining pesto, sun dried tomato aioli, havarti cheese, soy onions, etc on a burger would produce such an intriguing concoction of flavors!! My bun did come out quite burnt, but the rest of the burger made up for it. I'd get it again in a heartbeat. Only downside, no room for dessert. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Sarah B.
I've been to Destihl a few times and always leave unsatisfied. As a disclaimer I have only gone as a member of a big group. Also, they have always been very good about steering me away from unsafe gluten-y dishes and I've never gotten sick. However, the actual food is lacking. I had dijon chicken the last time I was there and it was burnt and over cooked but the sides were underdone. My boyfriend got a steak which came out a bit too rare and was just a bad cut- riddled with lines of fat. On a previous visit I had fish dish that was so over-seasoned with peppercorn I could hardly eat it. I know several people who swear by their food but it seems to be inconsistent at best.
(2)Deidra W.
Always stop here when visiting our local friends. I love the poblano pepper with white cheddar mashed potatoes! Hubs had the jambalaya which he says was excellent. Highly recommend. This is a slightly finer establishment. However, casual dress is acceptable.
(5)George A.
Wonderful service, great food. Our waitress was attentive and accommodating, they had homemade beer battered bacon, which was unbelievable
(4)Christina K.
This is a microbrewery, which makes me a fan of the restaurant. Every few months, they have different beers to try which is great. The food is pretty good. It is a great restaurant to go with big groups. If you go during lunch on a weekday and they know you're at work, they usually get your food out pretty quickly to make sure you can get back to work in time. Of course that also depends on where you work. I worked right downtown, so it was nice to have Destihl as a lunch option.
(4)Dana B.
Have dined at Destihl 3 times and have enjoyed the food every time. I highly recommend reservations. On this visit, we were seated right away while a walk-up couple was told it would be a 30 min wait. The lobby area was busy with people waiting to be seated. Started with the Potato Croquettes, which had a nice flavor to them. Also sampled 3 of the beers...really enjoy the 4 oz options so I can try a few different varieties. We were satisfied with our entrees...a pork tenderloin special and the flat iron steak. Great flavors and cooked the way we ordered. Best part is probably dessert. The smores are a fun, gooey mess and the cherry bread pudding was tasty. We dined on a Saturday night, which was also prom night in the area and a busy sports night (we were seated in the bar area), so it was a bit noisy. However, Destihl is a good dining option in the CU area.
(4)A N.
One of the classiest establishments Champaign has to offer. I come here at least once a week for work or events. They have a diverse menu that should please most people. I'd recommend the skirt steak, Dijon chicken, or burgers. The salmon is very popular with my colleagues as well. They also have a rotating drink list that always seems to offer something new and unique. They take reservations and it usually a good idea, especially on a weekend. If you have space in your diet their appetizers are wonderful (bacon wrapped dates!) also for dessert the chocolate cake is worth a bite (then take it home to eat later).
(4)Amanda F.
The service here was really slow, however the food and the patio is very nice. We were travelling with our dog and thankfully they allow pets on their patio. The fish tacos we had were phenomenal and the beer was quite tasty as well, however the fact that we had to wait so long for absolutely everything took my rating of them down a star. They weren't busy, so I don't know what the hold up was.
(3)Laura S.
This restaurant is conveniently located off Neil St in downtown Champaign. My girlfriend and I had heard great reviews from Champaignites and decided to head on down. She ordered the meatloaf and I ordered a spice chicken sandwich. The food was DELICIOUS--even better the next day when it was reheated. The portions were big and it was all very filling. The beers on tap that we chose didn't turn out as tasty as we had hoped, but that happens when you're trying out new beers. She went back with coworkers later and said that everyone was a little disheartened with their beer choices, but that nonetheless the food was still delicious.
(3)Brandy K.
One of my favorite places in C-U . The strawberry goat cheese salad is my favorite and don't forget the strawberry pale ale.
(5)Evan A.
Beer: Mostly sub-par. Their sours are generally above average to amazing. I have yet to have decent pale (pale, IPA, IIPA) here. They are mostly a trendy place to go eat and stare at tanks. Most beer geeks will be sorely disappointed. They also charge quite a bit for a growler of beer. A fair number of them are $30-$50...which is stupid for beer of this caliber. Food: The food is pretty good, but all the pretty things to look at in there cost money, which means the food is not cheap. The menu always has interesting choices and they will not let you down.
(3)Sherry Y.
I think this place is a little bit over-hyped. The burgers are pretty fantastic and quite juicy, but the food takes quite a bit of time to prepare. Not in the this-is-gonna-be-awesome type of preparation, but more of the my-food-is-lukewarm preparation. Given the amount of time you have to put into reservations and fighting the crowds, I say there are better bets elsewhere. However, definitely still worth a taste if you're into fancy interiors and great service.
(4)Frances C.
It was super busy but that didn't stop the stellar customer service from the bar tender. I had the quesadilla with the strawberry blonde ale. Delish! I decided to appease my sweet tooth and got the lemon berry cake. A-MAZING. I would definitely go back.
(5)Kyle L.
Been a while since we went here but I said I would post a review and I am finally doing it. We were crossing through there and back from a trip to Indy and is was a good enough experience to return on the way back. The brewer took me on a tour of the facilities and we bantered about state laws and differences between Texas and Indiana. The menu provided option for my entire picky, gluten free eating family. I very much enjoyed the beers. They had a huge selection and not all were perfect, however using beeradvocate and the waiters I was able to parse through the weaker options and pretty much only had great beers. I highly recommend this joint for a nice family restaurant that also has great craft beer.
(5)Sadie S.
First time to dine. Service was excellent. We had a reservation we were about 15 min late. The host was very gracious and sat us immediately. As an appetizer we had the chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in jalapeño bacon with a sweet, tangy glaze. They were delicious. My date had the fish tacos served with a black bean rice. His only complaint was there could've been more fish in the taco. I had the jambalaya. A perfect combination of spice with a generous mix of sausage and shrimp. The corn muffin was moist and flavorful. Recommend reservation for a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)David R.
Despite seeming to serve vegetarian needs this place fails to be vegan friendly. You can get one entree and two partial meals that are vegan. They have a vegan burger with a non-vegan bun. Does that make sense on any planet? Same with the portobello sandwich. Crazy. The food is good but vegans don't bother. They don't get it.
(2)Karen N.
Once a year we go to Champaign and I always dread the restaurant choices. We like this place! Easy going vibe, spacious bar, everything squeaky clean, good beers to sample and the good variety menu that goes along well with everything. The sandwiches, soup and salads were excellent for lunch and there were plenty of people sampling the many items on the menu... which made it impossible for us to get a table the next night without waiting. So next time when I go, I will make a reservation.
(3)Hannah L.
I think this is the best valued food in champaign. Almost everything I've ever gotten has been full of flavor and delicious- from pizzas to soup and sandwiches and great local meat entrees. Their beer is decent, nothing extraordinary, but they have other beer options besides their own.
(4)Richard R.
Fantastic beer, food and staff. Spicy shrimp Po Boy, IPA and Banana cream pie was great!
(5)Amy D.
We had such a wonderful experience. Raul was our server and couldn't have been more helpful. Wasn't sure what to expect but our party of 6 all left very happy. Would go back again but our so graduated. Wish I had know about this great place and Raul sooner.
(5)Macy W.
This restaurant was highly recommended to me by a friend and did not disappoint! We started with the Reuben eggrolls and they were AMAZING. I'd like to go back and just get those, if I could! The steak I ordered was perfectly cooked, asparagus and potatoes were really well-seasoned. The stuffed poblano peppers were also a hit. What's nice about this restaurant is that the prices are definitely fair for the amount of food you get. Their homebrewed beer selection is great and I'd definitely recommend the Bela Imperial Pilsner. Customer service was superb and the restrooms were VERY clean! I'm looking forward to visiting this restaurant again.
(5)Jill F.
I hate this place. I have been here twice, and the portion sizes are pretty ridiculously tiny for anything that's not pasta, or bread, or french fries. I got a generous serving of french fries with my chicken sandwich, but the sandwich itself was mostly bread and maybe a half a chicken breast pounded flat. There was not much of the cheese sauce that was supposed to be on the sandwich, either. Did it taste good? Sure, when I managed to get a bite that actually had all the ingredients of the sandwich in it. Also, the top piece of bread was hard, probably because it'd been under the warmer for a while. I feel like they charge high prices for mediocre food; I do like having a spendy meal every now and then, but Destihl is not where I would go when I do.
(2)Jonna N.
I came here because their dessert menu had about 3 options with pecans and I love pecans. Their in house brewery interested me too. I haven't been to a restaurant where they offered 4oz sample sizes of beers. I got the "Matt and the Giant Juicy Juicy Mango IPA." I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but this wasn't that bad to me and also it was nice to have just a sample size so I don't waste any beer. My friend and I started out with the appetizer, chorizo stuffed dates. I have never tried these and I thought that These were amazing. The perfect blend of spicy, savory and sweet. I got the Weissenheimer Chicken. I have to compliment the chef on how juicy the chicken was. It was a big piece of chicken and not one bit dry. I thought the green beans weren't cooked as long, but the mashed potatoes were really good. My friend got the Brewmaster's pizza. I liked that it was a personal pizza and they also offer gluten free bread. It's nice that this restaurant is conscious about that. The service was awesome too. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. I felt like some foods had a spicy twist on them which I think is a nice flavor to pair with IPAs. I didn't get to try any desserts because the kitchen closed. I know so sad because I went there wanting the dessert the most, but at least my appetizer and entree was good.
(4)LeAnn A.
Sat outside on a gorgeous 82 degree night. Drinks were superb coupled with the beer battered fried bacon. The sauce is amazing!! Had the Nitro (double pale ale) and a Jacob's ladder (brown ale). For entree we had the flat iron steak and rice/beans and fish and chips. Again-- superb! Whitney waited on us and made sure ALL was sheer perfection. She recommended the perfect tequila/amaretto mixed drink for me since my husband is the beer drinker. Wonderful date night!!!
(5)Olivia B.
It was an alright meal with good things and just ok things. The good: That cucumber/rose martini. Yes. Also, the fried green tomatoes appetizer with the crab/avocado salad on top. So delicious! Swordfish tacos were enjoyed. The bad: the bacon wrapped dates. The bacon wasn't crispy so it was tough to chew. The sauce was so spicy we were practically crying. Salmon sandwich special was not as good as anticipated, and the bacon on the bacon cheeseburger was also not crispy. The service was so-so. While our waiter at the beginning was friendly, he repeatedly forgot things so we would spend time sitting there staring at our food because we didn't have plates or silverware. They also ran out of wine glasses so we were left sitting through our entrees without drinks that were ordered before entrees arrived, and he didn't tell us until we were finished eating. Overall, it'd be worth a shot to visit again but if the 2nd experience was similar or worse, I wouldn't try a 3rd time.
(3)K- C.
Once again--And it's happened several times! We have been asked to wait when several tables are open-as in almost half the tables. This time 8:00pm on a Tuesday--hardly high dinning hour in central Illinois. When hard pressed the manager on duty (Justin Kelly) said the servers are fully occupied with other tables and we would prefer you wait in the lobby instead of at your table. Their hard and fast rules are first not guest friendly. We were once told at 8:40 all of tables were reserved. When we left the reserved signs could still be seen. NO GUESTS IN SITE! Clearly a lie. In stead of asking an available server to pick up our table they (management) would prefer us to wait. We will not be back. Their management needs to evaluate this process. The food and service are usually ok. Good luck with getting a table when they are all "reserved". Oh we got in immediately at a restaurant across the street and were given the table we asked for.
(1)Bo D.
This place serves the weirdest reuben sandwich I've ever had, and not in a good way. Instead of rye bread, they use this cranberry nut bread that, while interesting, is also too thick and dry. Instead of the usual "Russian dressing" (similar to thousand island), theirs has this "mustard" with an overpowering horseradish taste that is not pleasant at all. Overall, Destihl seems like a place that tries too hard to be "hip" or "unique". You can tell just by looking at the extravagant descriptions on their menu. I give them credit for trying new things (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), but when it comes to food sometimes it's better to stick with something proven.
(2)Mark F.
Great selection of beers, food and plenty of unique twists to make it as interesting as anything else within 50 miles. Had a great time here and enjoyed very good service in this trendy looking place.
(4)Susan R.
Great food, nice atmosphere! Have the weissenheimer chicken, shaved Brussels sprout salad and pumpkin bread pudding! Delicious! Fun place too!
(5)Jen T.
Hmm. The problem with Destihl is that it's either GOOD or it's BAD. That's kind of why the review is an in-between. This place is off the charts when it comes to liquor. Just don't buy booze here. That's my honest feedback. We had a party of 8, once, and only a few drinks were ordered (a couple waters, two ordered pop) and the bill was something astronomical (like $180!). The other thing about Destihl is that it's a microbrewery (and,-cough-, gastropub) that's trying to be a microbrewery and a -cough- gastropub, if you catch my drift? If not, here's the thing-- it's pretentious as all get out. And for who knows what reason, really. It's kind of a dimly lit restaurant/bar that's just as non-descript as any other. It tries too hard to be what it thinks it is, and doesn't try hard enough to be a good restaurant. With that said, though, some of their food is just out-of-the-ballpark, OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD awesome. All of their soups (3 cheese and ale, or the tomato basil). The Havarti and Turkey is lovely, as is the Cuban style pork (tho, I did find a very unappetizing piece of fat in it the very last time I had it, so it kind of put me off it for a while). You can't go wrong with a burger. =) But, then again, it's a burger, they're not reinventing the airplane. I say... if you want to spend a mint for the possibility of some good food, and then an outrageous bar tab, pick Destihl. But if you're looking for beer and semi-comparable food, check out Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings. The same in theory, just a different point-of-view.
(3)Alex C.
It was our last few days on campus and one of my roommates wanted to grab a nicer dinner before we left for the summer. Craft beer and unique burgers are probably our go-to cuisine when dining out. I suggested we try Destihl after having a pretty good experience there with my family last time. This visit was equally as good! We opted to sit at the bar and watch the Bulls game due to the dining room wait being around 35 minutes which was much too long for two very hungry college kids. We started with a few 4oz beer samples which are very convenient and not too expensive, I dislike having to commit to a roughly $5 16oz beer not knowing much beforehand. I particularly enjoyed the oatmeal nitro but didn't much care for the Champaign blonde. The beer-battered bacon was a must-try for us since I didn't get it last time and it gets a lot of attention here on Yelp. We also opted for the cheese curds, both of these appetizers were so artery-cloggingly delicious. The Bulls started to seriously disappoint us and when our food arrived we were glad to have something else to focus on, rather than the demise of Chicago basketball this season. I ordered the meatloaf and my roommate got the rancher burger. He said his was really tasty, right up there with the burger we had at Farren's a few weaks earlier. I went with the meatloaf to try something different and when it came out I was initially a little taken aback, but after trying it that all changed. This was not your grandmother's meatloaf! It was rolled up and wrapped in prosciutto sitting on a mountain of mashed potatoes adorned with some thinly sliced vegetables all inside a cast iron skillet. The meatloaf itself was well seasoned and actually had a little spice to it. What really made this dish though was the prosciutto, it added that nice smoky pork flavor to the meatloaf. I highly recommend this dish! The service was a little different because we were at the bar. The bar staff was extremely busy due to having a packed dining room and fairly full bar as well. There were about two people taking care of us and they made sure we always had beer and were quick to clear our plates as well as check in frequently. Service: great! Overall, another great experience at Destihl. Though, like I mentioned last time, it comes a bit of a steeper price than some other potential options nearby. Either way, we really liked our food.
(4)M B.
Why does everyone hate it here? It's not gourmet. It's a brewery that also serves food. But it's a brewery first. Maybe I've gotten lucky. Maybe I just know how to order at a place like this (potato croquettes are great, pretzels are... pretzels - come on, cheese curds are okay, sandwiches are satisfying). I feel like if you're ordering something that you expect to be high-end here, you're just begging to be disappointed. Very good cocktail menu. Nice that they will fill growlers. More than likely there's something on tap you'll like. Good spot to come after work. I always sit at the bar and I usually see people all around who seem happy - that tends to be a good sign in my book.
(4)Chris K.
We had 12:30 lunch reservations. Waited to be seated roughly 10 minutes. Sat unattended for 20 minutes. At 1:00 we finally saw a server. This was the first time someone had even acknowleged us. we ordered beers and the waited another 20 minutes for the first round to arrive at our table. 50 minutes after walking in we finally had a drink! At a bar no less! We were celebrating a birthday and would have ordered more rounds of drinks if we could have. we saw the server 3-5 times total and only were able to order 2 beers. My hamburger was raw and an individual kids pizza was terrible. The topping just slid off of the crust. Very sad we chose this option.
(1)Rob N.
Visiting from out of town and came here with a small group. Nice location in downtown. The beer selection was OK, but nothing stellar - and one of the beers I got was on the warm side. The ambiance was nice, and it was quiet enough to make it easy to talk with the rest of the table, even though a world series game was on and it was pretty crowded. The food was just mediocre. The fries (which were recommended as a side) were tasty, but a bit soggy. I had a chicken sandwich that was tasty, but the amount of meat was pretty small - it was a thin cut (probably half a breast pounded flat) and I ended up peeling away half the bun, which was twice as big as the cut. My friends seemed to like their food (burger, bacon-wrapped dates), but I don't think they would give it more than 2.5 or 3 stars either. I gave it 3 stars because the prices were OK, but I'm used to California prices - so this might be more the norm for Champaign.
(3)Joyce T.
Loved the bacon dates appetizer! And the cheese curds. I had the three cheese soup and the half of Cuban sandwich and liked both. The side house salad I ordered was fresh and had a light house dressing. Some of of our family had burgers and all were happy with the meal. One of us had the Thai noodles and liked it. We all shared pumpkin bread pudding with pecan ice cream for desert and it was delicious. It is very clean and has a nice atmosphere. Pretty reasonably priced for a family of 5!
(4)Sally F.
I love Destihl! We have come here many times and always bring our out of town friends here. It's always busy, and with good reason. The atmosphere is casual, and the food is great and decent quality. Our friends love the samples of their micro-brews. From "Smile Politely," (Champaign-Urbana's online magazine) "DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works of Champaign, Illinois, won a bronze medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for its Strawberry Blonde Ale in the 'Fruit Beer' category." The menu has many options ranging from salads to burgers to pizza. I personally love the beer-battered asparagus and beer-battered fish and chips. My husband has ordered the fish tacos on one occasion and pizza on another. The fish tacos were okay. The pizza is good. They also have a gluten-free menu and a kids' menu. Even though we have never taken our 2.5 year old to a kids' restaurant, and she is used to dining with grown-ups in grown-up restaurants, it's nice that they accommodate young diners with crayons to color on the kids' menu. Even the most patient young foodie could use a quiet distraction while they wait. Glad we have this restaurant in the C-U. I highly recommend it.
(5)Kate T.
One of the best places in Champaign. It's a great place to take vegan friends. I recommend the warm potato and salmon (minus the salmon and add extra veggies for non meat eaters). I also love the vegan burger without the cheese. Their salads are good portions and are pretty tasty. Lastly, the drinks are great. I love the sake lemon drop. I always request a homemade shandy with their strawberry blonde beer and lemonade.
(4)Matt S.
A very good restaurant that works to accommodate their customers and make sure all are well fed. I enjoy the beer battered bacon it is worth the trip all by itself. A great selection of beer and microbrews. I have had the jambalaya and swordfish the times I went both were descent. Swordfish was a bit dry. It's a good atmosphere on the weekends. A bit dead during the week. All in all a great place to eat.
(4)Kailey O.
5 stars just for the Iced Tea!!! It wasn't your average passion fruit, it was something better; even garnished with an orange. The service was on the brink of "too good" and the food was excellent. We sat at the bar to watch the Illinois Basketball game; they have about 3-4 TVs to watch sports. There is also plenty of seating. For appetizers, we ordered the cheese curds, pretzel, and lamb meatballs. The cheese curds were amazing, basically just fried cheese with marinara sauce. The pretzel was also good - a little burnt in places but nothing too aggravating. It came with nacho cheese and mustard. Our server had the chef chop it up into bite size so we could share easily. Very thoughtful. For my lunch entree, I ordered the Dijon chicken. It came with two asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes with sausage chopped up in it. for about $10, i would order this over and over again. It truly felt like a hearty, but healthy lunch option, especially relative to other options on the menu. The price cannot be beat.
(5)Carlos F.
Wings, spicy, asparagus awesome, corned beef eggroll awesome. Let me tell you, that asparagus was insanely good a slight heart attack but insanely good so I will mandate that you give that sucker a try. The corned beef egg roll was well balanced and meatty! Yum!
(4)Justin B.
Beer battered bacon. I could stop there, but there is even more. The beers are delicious and $5 per craft pint. There is an espresso-rubbed ribeye which I did not have but looked incredible. The dijon chicken was phenomenal. The staff was great. I told them it was my coworkers birthday and they surprised her with s'mores! Good ones! Cast iron roasted marshmallows and an awesome chocolate sauce. Cant wait to go back!
(5)Kenneth O.
Best roast chicken I have ever had. Slurped the bones. Bread pudding dessert was also great. Beer was fabulous. Glad I stumbled on this place. If I ever come to Urbana again, I will definitely seek it out.
(5)Kristen W.
I'm not a beer drinker, so my opinion is based solely on food, atmosphere, and service. First of all, their menu is extremely imaginative and varied. I had very hard time deciding on what to order on my two visits here. Be careful when they ask what kind of salad you want when you order - because they're going to charge you ~$8 for it if you bite. The food has been sensational, but they tend to overseason some dishes. Several people in our party ordered Caesar salads (which is half a head of romaine topped with a fried egg) and they were grossly over peppered. The pulled pork from my Carolina pork two ways was the spiciest pulled pork I've ever tasted in my life, so much so that I couldn't take more than two bites in a row. It wasn't a problem ubiquitous throughout our group or between visits, though. The atmosphere is very nice. It's dark and clean. The service has always been good.
(4)Gina R.
Destihl, Destihl, Destihl. Their food is just bad. So bad. I gave them two chances and I just could not ever do that again. The beer/cheese soup is a salty, goopy mess. The blue cheese and steak quesadilla would have been edible if it wasn't absolutely sopping wet with oil. The burger is bland and if you're lucky (note my sarcasm), you'll get a few nice, chewy chunks of fat in there. I got some kind of s'mores dessert and it was a cheap mess. How can you make a bad s'mores dessert??? It's cruel! Their menu is so awesome, but they're SUCH a tease! They cannot execute anything well. I gave them two stars: one, for the selection in the menu and the other, because I haven't had any beer here and it is kind of a brewery I guess so I can't judge them there. Also, people seem to like their deep-fried bacon, but I personally cannot bring myself to put something like that in my body, but then again I did eat at Destihl TWICE *facepalm* Oh, Destihl. How badly did I want to love you, but you were not willing.
(2)Jamie L.
I don't know many people that like Destihl. I think it's a nice, relaxed place to go for different cuisine than you would find a chain restaurant plus they have some pretty stellar brews. The beer changes often, so don't fall in love with anything. I've had my heart broken more than once by their ever-changing menu. The plus side is I'm forced to try something new when they switch things up. Destihl is a nice spot to go to relax and have a drink. They have a small selection of small plates that are interesting and mostly good. I've never had bad service here and love the fact that they validate parking!
(4)Michael F.
This place is FANTASTIC! We came on a Friday night, probably one of their busiest. We called ahead for reservations (highly recommended) and only waited at the bar for only 20 minutes. The beer selection is wonderful and they taste great; I had the mango IPA and it was mind blowing! Our server Aaron was incredibly professional and knowledgeable; he confidently and accurately described every item on the menu we asked about. I had the beer battered jalapeño bacon and fried egg prime beef burger. Mouth orgasm! So good. My wife and her cousin were born and raised in this area. They proclaimed with confidence that this is the best restaurant in the area I couldn't agree more. Try this place!!
(5)Clifford S.
The key to getting to eat here is to have a reservation. Last year we came with a reservation once and without another time. When we did not have a reservation we were simply turned away even though we could see tons of empty tables. Recently we left the game early and called them from the parking lot at 2:45 and made a reservation for 3:15. We were promptly escorted to a roomy booth which really worked out because other people ended up joining us. We had to wait for a while for the other people to show up and the staff was very amenable to it, acted like that was just fine. They even held back our entree order until they got there. We liked the deviled eggs for the appetizer, they were really good. I had the chili which was very disappointing, I wouldn't get it again. My wife and I split the Cubano sandwich which was Okay. Nice big space, great staff and if you have a reservation, great place. But the food is kindof college town fare which the space is not. Too bad as last time we were here the food was better.
(3)Chaz B.
This is now my favorite restaurant in Champaign, followed by O'Charley's and TGI Fridays. The food here is simply delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful. Try the Thai Fried Chicken, spicy and incredibly good. The food is good, the wait staff is friendly and the location is ideal. I simply love Destihl and I didn't even mention the great variety of beers. Oh, I just did.
(5)Vedran A.
Terrific place to grab some food and a pint. The staff here is extremely friendly and courteous. The food is on par and goes well with some fine brew that is on tap. I like this place for lunch and would definitely eat here again.
(3)Liz P.
I have eaten at Destihl several times - it is consistently pretty good, occasionally exceptional, and rarely subpar. The staff is always really nice, they are almost aggressive about refilling soda (glasses rarely get to empty, and aren't left empty for more than a minute or two!), reservations and parking are easy, the booths are comfy, and there are some really good items on the menu (Cuban sandwich, the burgers, the ancho chicken, and the huevos rancheros are great; the deep fried bacon can be skipped).
(4)Jordan G.
One of the few good, non-chain food options in Champaign, IL. Their cheese curds are to die for and their white sangria is delicious. On busy weekend (Mom's + Dad's weekends, Graduation, Holidays, etc.) reservations are a MUST! They also sell growlers of their beer!
(4)Channa P.
I've been a bad yelper and late on this review, but let me just say I can still taste the delicious beer I drank in this place over a month ago. I was in town for a recruiting visit and found this place on yelp. My food was great (try the lamb meatballs) and my beer was even better. Lots of great winter brews and an excellent spirits list as well. If you are in town like me for work, avoid the mediocre campus options. Come here, drink, be merry. Oh and sit at the bar... this little baby has a wait and reservation list.
(4)Anne W.
Update: Stopped by again. Still disappointing. Their brussel sprouts are baked but watery. Ick. I did try their scallops.. that was better on top of quinoa. Not the best.. but certainly nothing to write home about. And the funniest thing I observed.. I don't recall seeing any beer on their menu even though they have their own beer distillery. What?!! **************************************************Â****************** Maybe it's my big city experiences that make me not excited about this place. I had such high expectations and went here for dinner.. I'm never around anymore BUT I am here shortly for work. Tried their skirt steak which is a special... it was with a demi glace and green beans. Really not that great.. it's okay. I tried three of their red wines: syrah, pinot noir, and tempranillio. All were not that good. Pricey though for Champaign.. compared to Black Dog the previous evening... meh.
(2)Meghan D.
Really good burgers, especially the bun. The fries were really good as well. Drinks were just okay. (Not anything special or mixology)
(4)Karla L.
Awesome beer. Awesome service. Incredible staff. If I lived in the area I'd go there very chance I got. Unfortunately it was a business trip and I won't be back in the area in the foreseeable future. 3 people in my party had the t-bone and said it was fabulous. I had the strawberry and goat cheese salad. Wow! Never thought I could rave about a salad but it was amazing. Don't think you can go wrong at this restaurant. The menu holds an amazing collection of foods and certainly something for every palette.
(5)Genevieve T.
I thought it was a bit overrated and overpriced.
(3)Eileen M.
Came to destihl for brunch (have been several times for dinner), and they do not disappoint. Started off with beer battered bacon as an appetizer with a delicious Bloody Mary. The brunch menu is small but the frittata and French toast we are were delicious! Will definitely go back!
(5)Lena T.
Modern, trendy and most importantly, DELICIOUS! Destihl is definitely among my favorite in Champaign. I've been here multiple times and have never left disappointed. My taste buds and tummy agree. It's a good go-to, for anything from dinner to brunch; date or large group outing. My staples for whenever I visit: beer battered bacon, cheese curds and the fresh berry napoleon. If you get a chance, check out the weekend brunch. They have a killer strawberry french toast entree that is to die for. Prices are a little on the higher end, relative to a college student's budget but overall, not too expensive. Staff is friendly, accommodating, and fast. The only downside is, it can get pretty crowded, especially during dinner/weekends/special occasions, so make sure to make reservations!
(5)Danny J.
Great service by our waiter. He knew the menu in & out. Took me so long to choose what to order because they have too many good looking options on their menu! Finally decided to get the bacon, blue cheese pizza but switched out the blue cheese for Goat cheese! One of the best pizzas I've ever had! So much creamy goodness in this pizza.
(5)Rebecca R.
Got seated right away. Menu is a good mix of traditional and some unique items. I had the skirt steak. It was good, but didn't really care for the seasoning. However, it was prepared just as I asked. The BEST part of our experience was the incredible service. Alex is the best. We will ask for him when we return. All-in-all, a very pleasant experience.
(4)I. T.
The best thing on the menu was the fries. I continue to be underwhelmed by this restaurant. This is my third time, and enough is enough, three strikes you're out. I went here for dinner this evening, I am even writing this from the table. I have had the Thai chicken, fish and chips, burger and fries. All of these were subpar with the exception of the fries. Temperature wise the food wasn't hot and even though I shared that the food was not good, no one ever came to the table to address my displeasure. The waiter was fairly attentive, but the food was BLAND. People often recommend this place, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the attraction is. Possibly it is the location or the ambiance, but shouldn't it be for the food? I'm incredibly disappointed and will need to go elsewhere to find acceptable nourishment.
(1)Pat E.
I've been here twice and both times I left underwhelmed by my experience. I went here in a group of six on a Friday night. My neighbors, another couple, and my date The restaurant was surprisingly dead in my opinion, but after our service and food...I can see why. The word/phrase/reaction Yelp uses with their rating system is perfect: A-OK. We sat down and ordered drinks. Water and beer for the whole table. We all were deciding what to get. My date went with the Ancho Chicken Salad (she loves avocado too...score!), and among the other items ordered were the Kobe (Bryant) Burger (I bet it regrets that night in Colorado...hahah), Stuffed Poblano Peppers, Weissenheimer chicken, Flat Iron Steak, and last but certainly not least...I went with the Cedar Plank Salmon. It was excellent! I was pleasantly surprised. I also added the Greekish Salad to my meal which was delicious and amazingly 5.75. I guess olives are like gas...price just keeps going up. I asked for the dressing on the side for both my salmon and salad, and our waiter went 1-2 on that one. I guess in baseball that's good...for this Yelper....not so good. This place is a Gastropub...whatever the hell that means. The food comes with a lot of flair and the taste is there, but if someone were to ask me, "How was Destihl?", I'd tell them "eh". The second time I came here I was paid for (hell ya starving teacher) and I ordered the Greekish salad (again) and Red Chili Braised Pork. The salad was great, but I asked for the dressing on the side and got in on the salad. The pork was awesome. I was no doubt influenced by my brothers' recent pork tenderloin dinner ideas. I have a ton of C-U places I can't wait to try. I am glad I tried this place again just to make sure the first time wasn't an anomaly. It wasn't. I would not recommend going here because there are much better options LITERALLY a stone's throw away. You could throw a stone to Guido's, KoFusion, and BGT if you crow hop!
(2)Rachael C.
One of my new favorites. I've been twice now- once for lunch and once for dinner- and have been very impressed by the service. The waitstaff has been extremely helpful, knowledgeable about the menu (both beer and food) and very attentive. My favorite thing on the menu so far has to be the Flat Iron Quesadilla. I wasn't that excited about it when I ordered (I planned to share with my mom, and that's what she wanted) but I was extremely impressed. It's not your typical quesadilla- it comes deconstructed and has components like bleu cheese and roasted garlic vinaigrette. At the risk of sounding like a total weirdo, I have to confess that I have been thinking about this quesadilla A LOT and cannot wait to go back and have it again! :) The beer is good and the atmosphere is very modern and chill. I'd definitely recommend this place and I will be back again soon!
(4)Brittany M.
Fabulous restaurant! Ordered the Ruben egg rolls to start and it just continued to be amazing through our dinner! BBQ chicken pizza and fish and chips were really yummy! Update* went last night and had the stuffed poblano peppers and the wagyu burger and the carrot cake .... All were to die for! I don't like stuffed bell peppers and I cleaned the plate with the poblanos! Well done desthil!!!
(5)David W.
went here twice, got pizza the first time, ribs the second. The pizza is quite satisfying and good if you order it, I would recommend that over the ribs. The ribs were kinda mediocre, but they were still decent, but not worth the price. Got a bunch of beers both times I went, they have rotating beers and home brewed beers that stay. None of them were that special. It is a nice place though, waitress and atmosphere is more on the refine side.
(3)Melissa A.
I've only eaten here a couple times. The food is good and they have some interesting specialty beers on occasion. I don't really go here to eat, even though the food is good and nothing's wrong with it. It's just not my go to place when my friends and I want to go out somewhere. Perhaps I will update my review the next time I eat there. For now, this is all I've got. 3/15/2015 update: I came here for Sunday brunch with a large group of friends. I had half a Cuban sandwich and the strawberry goat cheese salad. Both very delicious. Although, I think I'll order the French toast next time, it looked so good! :) Brunch is a big thumbs up.
(4)Kristen C.
We didn't eat here but I sampled almost all of their beers... and I loved them! You can either purchase the pint or the 4oz samplers which was a great way to try all their brews. I didn't have one beer I didn't like. The atmosphere was fantastic and the waiter was very informative about the beer. Another major plus was the bathrooms were private and exceptionally clean! If I'm in the area again I'll be back!
(5)Jessica Y.
We were sat in one of the bar high tops for an 830 Saturday night dinner. Service was prompt and casual. I had a martini but would probably stick to beer in the future. Different beer portions allow for different tastings. The dessert list looked interesting but we were too full to try anything. CHORIZO STUFFED DATES ($5.95 for 3 small dates) - The dates had a nice smokiness flavor to them and did not need the sauce which over powered the dish. DUCK CONFIT POT PIE ($15.95) - At first I thought it looked soupy but once I started eating it realized the vegetable to sauce ratio was well balanced. The crust is non traditional as a pillow of herb puff pastry sitting on top of the vegetables (duck confit, roasted golden beets, brussels sprouts, pearl onions, sweet potatoes, green beans, fingerling potatoes, and swiss chard). A tad too salty but otherwise a playful, hearty dish. CUBAN-STYLE PORK ($9.95) - A good portion with juicy ham and all the fixings. Come in for some local beer and casual bites.
(3)Olbelina U.
Hit or miss for me. Sometimes I have something I really enjoy, like one of their burgers, sandwiches, or steaks. I specially like the cuban sandwich, and the smallest cut of steak that comes with asparagus and potatoes. However, I have gotten stuck with some very salty meatloaf/fish, or a greasy pile of mashed potatoes. So I would stick to sandwiches and burgers. The appetizers are tasty but all high in calories, and pair good with the beer. The desserts are HUGE. I love the carrot cake, which is really why I go back. I like the sampler size beer because their house inventions can be too out-there for a full glass.
(3)Leo K.
Great food. Average service that was a little slow. The hour long wait for a table was well worth it, but with better service they could turn over tables much quicker. BUT.....the food is worth coming back for..... the beer batter deep fried bacon and egg burger was simply amazing!
(4)Andy O.
Food was great, service was excellent. Atmosphere was perfect for a nice evening out! I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)Anne G.
We walked in for valentines day and the hostess wasn't very nice but we got a seat at the bar and were served right away. The bartenders were friendly and the service was pretty quick. The bloody Mary's were amazing and they came with a three ounce sampler of a beer of choice. They had a pretty large ramge of beers including IPAs. The food was great, we got a salad and a burger with cheese curds as an apitizer. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Lisa M.
Bloody Marys were great, stuffed dates were spicy yet delicious, Mango IPA yum! Wait staff worked together well. An exceptional experience for a first time visit!
(4)Rachel B.
I really enjoyed this place. We had a large group of people celebrating my grandma's birthday. There was about 15 of us so we had our own separate room. The service was really great! I wish I knew the waiters name because he went above and beyond to make sure we all had what we need. It was fairly fast service as well for being as many of us as there were. I liked the menu selection here to. Lots of gourmet and different food items to choose from, not the same old stuff you see at most restaurants. They have a unique twist to your average or popular dishes. Pretty cool. Now on to the food.... They had me at beer battered jalapeño bacon! Omg it was delicious! We also tried the beer battered asparagus which was equally as good. For my meal I got the green chile mac and cheese with pork. It was good, I wish I would've ordered something with a bit more substance (not much meat in it) but I guess that was my own fault! The flavor of what I had was great though. I also tried my moms stuffed pablano pepper which was great! I wish I would've gotten that. Everyone seemed to love their food here. Oh, and the carrot cake is TO DIE FOR! I highly recommend it, the pieces are as big, if not bigger, than my head! The prices were also fair. I really enjoyed this place! Wish there was more places like this (for this same price range) around Schaumburg.
(4)Kirsten W.
While our server was a little slow with refills (it was Saturday at 7pm!) Everything was awesome! We had skillet nacho app amazing! And pesto pizza on gluten free crust. Beer samples and very knowledgable waiter in his suggestions based on what my boyfriend likes as domestic beer. Very fun date night and only spent $40 and that was with tip! We will be returning !!!
(5)Alex U.
Worst service in Champaign. We spent three hours for dinner: late reservation, drinks took nearly an hour, food took an hour, and it took them half an hour to process our checks. It was a comedy of errors. Food was average at best.
(1)Matthis H.
I have only eaten here four times. All four were great. Good food for sure. The spot has a chain feel to it honestly, but the staff is nice and efficient. I am not a big fan of their beers, but to each their own eh? I live around the corner, and well.. it's kinda funny that it took me a year to finally walk in the door. Glad I did. Can be a bit pricey for the amount of actual food, but I should be grateful that I'm not allowed to gorge on the goodness of their food. I"m happy to see the diversity in downtown. Not just another bar that is.
(4)Drew H.
Destihl has a HUGE menu. This is a great place to go if you want options. They've got burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, pizza, a bunch of appetizers and more. They also have a gluten free menu which is pretty rare in Champaign. They have a gluten free crust for pizzas, but it is baked in the same oven as the regular pizzas. They also have a great brunch menu on weekends. I've come here a bunch of times and overall I've been really happy with my experiences. I've had two bad experiences though. Once I got some entree that was pretty worthless and one time I had a waiter that continually messed up our orders throughout the course of dinner. Besides those two occasions, the food and service have both been great. Food recommendations: Appetizers - Ancho Chips & Dip Bacon & Brussels Chorizo Stuffed Dates Salads - Ancho Chicken Salad Thai Steak Salad Entrees - Dijon Chicken Cedar Plank Salmon (If you're in the mood for something light and simple) Gaucho Skirt Steak (The best option on the menu!) Drinks - The Bloody Mary is pretty delicious I almost always get the gaucho skirt steak. I've never been disappointed with it! Again, if you want a place with lots of options and good food, definitely check out Destihl!
(4)Colleen M.
I tried out Destihl this past weekend and it was definitely one of the best meals I've had since moving to Illinois. For our appetizer, we had the warm pretzels. I'm a big fan of the cheese sauce they come with and they were gone pretty quickly. I also sampled the fried cheese curds and they were tasty as well. For my meal, I had the fried egg BLT. You really can't go wrong with bacon, a fried egg and avocado on a sandwich. The garlic dressing on the sandwich was great too. I was really pleased. I ordered an iced tea and I think it's my own fault for not looking at it on the menu, but I expected a regular iced tea. Their iced tea is an orange tea that has a pretty strong orange flavor. I wasn't a fan. Our server exchanged it for a soda and I wasn't charged for it. Definitely give it a try if you're in the area.
(5)Simon H.
I have never been more disappointed in my gastronomic experience in Urbana-Champaign then this past weekend at Destihl "Brewery" (who knows if they even brew beer at this place). Having been to Destihl a handful of times before the abominable brunch I suffered through this past weekend I expected an experience somewhat similar to what most people describe here on Yelp. That being a friendly staff, and decent (perhaps even good) food at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, Destihl has suffered a complete drain of quality over the last few years. When it opened, Destihl offered hot, quality food served my intellectual and friendly servers who were happy to be working in one of Champaign's better restaurants. Each time I dined at Destihl I noticed the quality of the food, the quality of the service, and the quality of the dining experience was eroding away. This erosion culminated with the brunch a group of friends and I endured this past Sunday. I say endured because our meal lasted from 12:30p.m. until 2p.m. The absurd elongation of our meal was not caused by entrancing, deep conversation amongst old friends, or by laggard mastication of our fantastic food. The epoch that was our brunch at Destihl was caused solely by the complete ineptitude and incompetence of our server, the manager, and Destihl as an establishment. To begin, our waiter spoke to our group at a volume slightly above "whisper". He seemed to not care at all that our decently sized group would likely give him his biggest tip of the day. One could almost assume our waiter was indentured to Destihl and taking our orders, suggesting menu items, and assuring that we were taken care of was a reminder of the chains that confined him. After taking our orders, three of which were simply "eggs, bacon, and potatoes" (not worth the $10), our group set off on the marathon that ninety minutes later would end in us getting our food. In total our group would watch at least seven other parties wait for a table, be placed near us, taken care of by the same subjugated waiter, eat, pay their bill, and depart. After the fourth group who had arrived after us was served before us, a member of our group called the manager over. At this point we had spent 45 minutes ordering and waiting. By this point the waiter had been unable to provide any information about our meal besides, "they are still working on it, should be out soon." This information was decrypted by the members of our group through the reading of his lips and not by any sort of audible understanding between him and ourselves. We hoped the manger could provide us with additional information, this would prove to be a fool hearted assumption. The manager assured us he would check on our order and would return shortly. After three more groups consumed their meals, paid their tabs and departed, and another half an hour passed, the manager had not returned. At this point our group decided that if our food did not arrive by 1:45 PM. we would simply stand up, leave, and eat fast food. Finally, at 1:43p.m., 1 hour 13 minutes after arriving our meal was served. Destihl was relatively empty when we arrived and continued to be throughout our meal. Yet, our food took longer to cook than the run time of the original 1931 version of Frankenstein. If you have been to Destihl for brunch you know none of the menu items are difficult to cook, they are largely egg dishes accompanied by breakfast meats, french toasts, or a hot sandwich. Since this experience ended I have wondered what took so long for our food to be cooked and leave the kitchen. I have surmised that the reasons for our hour and a half endeavor are a product of the poor quality that now defines Destihl. First, our waiter did not care about us nor did he serve as our representative in the kitchen. Second, the cooks clearly lost track of our order because some food came out steaming hot, some came out only partially complete, and the rest came out lukewarm (presumably having spent an hour under a heat lamp). Finally, the manager who never returned to our table and only after being called over again offered excuse after excuse before finally saying, "Well, I am sorry." To anyone who has invested the time to read my review, thank you. To anyone who has spent the time to read my review and still intends to go to Destihl even after I have made clear my utter frustration and disappointment, I wish you the best of luck. To conclude, my friends and I will never eat at Destihl again and I look forward to the restaurant that will soon replace it.
(1)Patricia N.
Pizza: Chorizo & Mushroom. Sandwich: Cuban-Style Pork. Beer. Best Pink Moscato!
(4)Lisa B.
While not overly impressed with what I had to eat I was impressed by the service and atmosphere. I detected horseradish in the salad dressing and she immediately took care of it. I hate horseradish and anything that even remotely resembles it. My Grandmother had me grind horseradish roots once and it was awful. My eyes watered and the stench was terrible. Every since then I have not been able to tolerate it. I had the house salad with a portabello mushroom sandwich. I didn't think the sandwich had much flavor. We also ordered an appetizer sampler that included fried asparagus, bacon deviled eggs and some kind of egg roll. All of which I thought tasted good but I didn't have that "oh wow" thing going on either. It was a special deal for restaurant week. You got 2 of each item for $10.00. Some special huh? I would definitely go back and try again and hopefully I can give them more stars. The service was really good.
(3)Cher S.
I like their beers and you can get samplers. They have some great dishes like the fish and chips, the salmon salad, and burger but stay away from the meat loaf.
(4)Liz R.
After a long work day, my friend J and I needed some booze and sustenance... and she came up with yet another Champaign winner! Interior is stylish, minimal and dark. Our booth was large and comfy. Our waiter was knowledgeable and just friendly enough. Can quickly become pricey if you stay a while and dive into the small plates and drinks. I was overwhelmed by the drink menu and ended up going with my old standby, the dirty Martini. My first one with organic corn vodka, which made for a smooth sipping drink. Loved it. J tried two different drinks (so I got to try them too) over the course of our dinner, both of which were delicious and pleasantly spiked with liquor. We tried two different apps - the Beer Battered Bacon and the House Olives (our 2nd choice when we were told they'd just run out of the deviled eggs). The bacon was not greasy at all, and the maple chipotle drizzle was the perfect topper. The olives were meh, just not necessary - and I don't think my opinion was swayed too much by the fact that I really, really wanted those deviled eggs! Next up, a la carte soup. I went with the Beer & Cheddar soup, which was close to great with discernible beer and cheese flavors. J chose the soup du jour, Cream of Asparagus - excellent fresh asparagus flavor here. Both soups were wonderfully creamy. Bowls were decent-sized for $5. My entree was a Thai shrimp and noodle dish (I'm a sucker for coconut curry sauces). Nice amount of shrimp, but no noticeable spice to the dish. A bit of a disappointment. J's beer-brined double pork chop was an amazing dish, not to mention huge. Perfectly pink pork. We parked in a nearby parking garage as the lot across the street was full. I would return and try everything new (other than my Martini).
(4)RePhoned I.
I've been here a few times and I've had good and sub par experiences. I'm not saying that I didnt like the food but the service could be a little better.
(3)Bobbi W.
The food was really good and the waitstaff was very concerned with making sure everyone was happy. I like the prices as well, thumbs up here.
(5)Tara G.
This restaurant is expensive but definitely worth it for a special occasion. Great appetizers and entrees. The mixed drinks are incredible - try the saki lemon drop martini, it's amazing. The service is great. The food is great. For celebrations, my first thought is always destihl.
(5)Emily M.
Just got told that the wait for two would be 15-20 minutes for brunch - there were four tables, top, in the place. This is the third time this same situation has happened. Their food is mediocre (a glorified Applebee's or TGIF) and continually is incredibly over or under salted/seasoned. Who would wait 20 minutes in an empty restaurant for this disappointing food?
(1)William S.
Real good food along with exceptional service, good place for casual dining... Best of all were a trio of Beef Filets that were the best I have ever had, tender, flavorful, exceptional quality meat... Burgers were a hit with the kids who wrestled today.... Beer we tried were great! Service was top notch.. Very pleasant dining experience.. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Gail T.
The beer was tasty. The pizza wasn't that great, especially for the price. Wouldn't order it again.
(3)Andrea T.
I love the Destihl in Bloomington-Normal so I had to give this one a try. A co-worker and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. The place was not overly busy but had plenty of business. I really liked the decor of the place and the booth setup was neat. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. I was happy to see that they have the same menu as the one in Bloomington-Normal with only their beer selection being different. We started with the Beer Battered Asparagus which was delicious! I was tempted to get my usual, the White Cheddar Stuffed Poblano Peppers but decided to change it up a bit. I went with the Potato Crusted Rainbow Trout. It had wonderful flavor! My co-worker got my usual and she loved them too. We decided to go for dessert as well. I ordered the Creme Brulee. I was not very impressed by this. It was a bit on the runny side and I am used to creme brulee being smooth and creamy. Overall, great food and service! Love this place!
(4)Lindsay S.
I'm in town for work and have been to this restaurant seven times in two weeks. I love almost everything on their menu from the burgers, chili, chorizo-wrapped dates, battered asparagus, Brussel sprout salad and banana creme pie. They serve Wagyu beef burgers or lamb/bison-delicious! I'm not a fan of the Dijon chicken but that's the only thing that hasn't been delicious. My coworkers enjoy the fish tacos a lot. The service here has been great, too. This is my favorite restaurant in Champaign by far.
(5)Shaobo S.
You really can't go wrong here. The beers they have on tap are always spectacular and the ones brewed in store are even better. It's an all-around homie environment, haters are stopped at the door.
(5)Sherwin C.
This is become one of my favorite places to dine in Champaign. Good prices, consistent cooking, good service, and not too busy on Sunday mornings. I noticed some people complained about the prices, but for the quality of food, this is really much cheaper than something comparable in the Chicago suburbs although the portions aren't exactly huge. But it's pretty in line with prices and portion sizes at other restaurants in downtown. The menu is quite unique for the area and similar to what you'd find in a lot of Milwaukee restaurants. I really enjoyed everything from the American Kobe burger to the Beer-battered cod. The textures and variety of flavors were great and not too salty. The sandwiches and soups were also pretty light and refreshing. I particularly enjoyed the tomato soup and corn & chicken chowder soups. The dessert choices were quite varied but i was so full I didn't have room for more than one. The stout ice cream sandwiches had a really nice stout ice cream between brownie circles. It was a perfect way to end the meal. Given the quality of cooking and good prices, I'll definitely be back here soon. Update: Upon visiting a few more times, I still think this is a good restaurants but there are a couple notes. The price complaints I see from some reviews may be due to the varying sizes of some dishes. For example, the thai mussels appetizer is quite a bit smaller than some other items although the prices are similar. Also, the chocolate cake is a giant portion compared to the bread pudding. I'm not a big fan of anything Asian themed I tried here as I found the flavors to be too strong. I prefer it to be more delicate although some patrons may appreciate the bold flavors. I wasn't a big fan of the pizzas either. They were large in size but the dough was too moist for me and I didn't like the flavor combinations I tried. I did like the teas I tried as they were high quality organic tea bags. The coffee is a mix of two Kenyan coffees with a full bodied flavor from their supplier in Bloomington served with fresh cream. The shrimp frittata comes with a generous amount of shrimp flavored with shrimp stock, probably the best frittata I've ever eaten. The cuban style pork sandwich was done well but not as legendary as other reviewers make it out to be. The Potts roast was also done well but not worth a special note. The potato crusted rainbow trout was done well with good presentation but I wish the portion size could have been a little larger. The dijon chicken was moist and flavored well but, the real star of the dish was the asparagus that was cooked and flavored excellently. The apple fritters dessert had crispy fritters but the toughness of the peel wasn't that appealing. If it were substituted with something like apple chips or churros, I probably would have enjoyed it more. If the goal is to keep an apple-like look, possibly fried colored dough is a better substitute. The chocolate cake is a whole pound with chocolate layering instead of cream. This was done well and not overly sweet, a very good choice for chocolate lovers. The sour cherry bread pudding was done well, a little too sour for me but a solid choice. I would've preferred a couple elements to vary the texture inside but that might not fit the overall theme of the dish.
(5)Kathleen M.
Another fun new restaurant we tried in Champaign! My daughter who lives there is moving to Spain so we are letting her choose whenever we go down for football games and she has been picking some winners. This is a sleek, clean, modern space. There are beer vats as you enter which add a nice vibe of authenticity. We were seated right away at a very comfortable table for the four of us. We tried the deviled eggs app and some gingery egg rolls, we all split them and liked them. Both had a bit of a kick, the egg roll sauce had the most kick and I found this out after I had drizzled it all over mine but I still enjoyed it immensely, I just drank some extra water. Everyone tried a cup of soup because hey, soup is good food. I gobbled up every bit of my beer cheese soup, so light and flavorful. I loved it! With my swordfish tacos I had an amazing iced tea, it was just a lovely flavorful tea with an orange slice. The swordfish tacos were divine but if you are a bit of a spice wimp (like me) you might want the guac on the side, that is where the heat was for sure! I ended up just eating the fish out of the taco, it was just too picante for me! I adored the rice, bean, corn side dish. Just delicious! For dessert, we all split a sour cherry bread pudding and I really liked it. It came with ice cream and it was just smooth, sweet and a bit of tangy with that nice cold creamy spot of the ice cream. I am not a huge bread pudding fan but I think I could become one! This was a very enjoyable meal. The team had played lousy, my daughter is moving, I needed a culinary hug and this was it! I would definitely come back but sadly it won't be with my youngest! Why don't you meet us so I won't miss her?
(5)Joshua N.
Beer is pretty good. I'm not normally impressed with the offerings of small brewpubs, but this place is OK. Liked every beer I was served. Appetizers were good. I enjoyed the bacon-wrapped dates. Things fell apart a bit when it came to our main meal. My hamburger was overcooked and uninteresting. No condiments for my sandwich. And waitstaff sorta evaporated once our food was delivered. This is a restaurant I would visit to sit at the bar and enjoy beer and snacks. But for lunch or dinner, I'd take my meal elsewhere.
(3)Samuel M.
This place has great food, wonderful beer and a really pleasant outdoor dining area. Beer battered asparagus is amazing and their Banana Cream Pie is killer! Only knock is sometime the food takes a little while, but who could notice or care with so many great beers to try! Best place for dinner to start your night out in the downtown area.
(4)Irtefa F.
Easily the best Wagyu burger ever! Ask the chef to replace the bleu cheese with goat cheese. It tastes great!
(5)Tati B.
Always happy when I go there. Great beer selection, great food selection, and great service. The only reason it's not 5 stars in my book is because the main dining room still kinda feels like a big chainy restaurant, and I'm more of a fan of independent ones.
(4)Eric K.
Shiny, new, and inviting, Destihl is definitely one of Champaign's nicest restaurants. It's often the gathering point for business events or company dinners, which brings a lot of patrons to this restaurant. There's a good selection of beer that's, judging by the brewing equipment in the restaurant, presumably brewed in-house (and maybe some off-site) as well as a decent menu showcasing modern American fare. Usually, a drinking establishment that decides to start cooking ends up making subpar food, while a restaurant that makes good food has a lackluster beer selection. Of course, this isn't always the case, but I usually don't go to bars for their food, and restaurants for their beer. Destihl, however, strikes a good balance between the two camps. I had a chicken pot pie when I went there, while my dining companion had stuffed peppers. Both were perfectly fine, but nothing to write home about. The menu is made up of conventional American dishes, but unfortunately nothing too unique. You'll find everything you want here for a great meal, but nothing that truly catches your eye. Overall, the service was excellent, our waiter had insightful knowledge on the beer selections, and the atmosphere here was just right. I feel like their menu is a bit too unoriginal to justify the price, but regardless, I'm sure you'll enjoy your meal here anyways.
(4)Dave G.
Occasionally, very rarely if truth be told, one finds oneself in Champaign, home of University of Illnois at Urbana-Champaign Campus and gateway to the high plains. It is one of those lovely little Midwestern university towns where one could spend a nice life far from the cut and thrust of city life. When in Champaign, one could do worse than to eat at Destihl. The place is modern brew pub of the sort that was popular in the late 90s in fleshpots like San Francisco. Get their flight, it is quite good. The Amber is sweet and floral. They serve nice gastro pub fare. I had the fish (of some sort) that was quite nice. Mid-west prices. Sit on the corner patio in front of Destihl, sipping their beer and watching the sunset on downtown Champagne. Good times. (Whew! So snobby!)
(3)Rachel S.
I just found out that Destihl doesn't have a dedicated fryer for their french fries and other "gluten-free" offerings. And they have stopped offering a GF menu. They were obviously trying to cater to the trendy gluten-free crowd, but not to Celiacs.
(2)Alex C.
Brilliant. The staff was super friendly, the atmosphere was awesome, and the food was spectacular. I ordered the Thai fried chicken. It was literally a half a chicken on top of a bed of some yummy, spicy rice. I loved it. Ordered the fried asparagus for appetizer. The waitress was very informative and was spot on with suggesting the dishes. I absolutely recommend this place for first timers.
(5)Marshall B.
I've come here on a number of occasions, usually work-related. The food is tasty and the appetizers are creative. As long as you're seated away from the bar, it's usually quiet enough to carry on civilized conversation. However, The beer is pretty disappointing, particularly for a brewery. As a result, this place is not my first choice for a night out, but makes for a good dinner in general.
(3)Lindsey G.
Oh, Destihl. How I wish you were anything above average. I had a delicious brunch at Destihl once (while sitting outside) and it ruined me for life, because for that reason, I feel compelled to keep giving the place a chance at serving me a delicious indoor dinner that's worth the price tag. So far, that just hasn't happened, or even come close. I might join friends here for dessert or for drinks and an appetizer, but I've learned my lesson with dinner. I think.
(2)Andy L.
skirt steak is amazing have to try slightly spicy but great flavor. Brussel sprout salad has to right combo of sweet and sour. Topped off with cherry bread pudding 5 star for just that.
(5)Nate S.
Good food but great beer. There are two locations one in Champaign and the other in Bloomington. They both have unique food and drinks. I've never had anything I didn't like here.
(4)Dean W.
Highly recommended! Nice bar with a great selection of their beers. I particularly like the Nut Brown Ale but there are several other styles to choose from. As for dining, we love Destihl. This time we had the Reuben Egg Rolls which were excellent. I had the Chicken Corn Chowder which was one of the best I've ever tasted. For dinner I had the Swordfish dinner. It has a very nice and spicy glaze and is served on a bed of arugula and other spiced veggies. Very impressive, very tasty, but it was a little small which the server told me ahead of time. Not the best choice if you are looking for a big meal, but a very good dish overall. My friend had the Pork rib and pulled pork dish with cole slaw and potatoes. I was very good, had a nice kick to it. Everything is served with a modern flair and a unique flavor profile. This is not your typical boring brew pub food. Very stylish. The atmosphere is nicer that most brew pubs and is great for a nice dinner out with friends. I am never disappointed at Destihl!!
(5)Michael B.
Great food. Great service. Decent wine list. And an extensive gluten free menu to boot. Our go-to place when we are in Champaign.
(4)Crazy G.
What a great meal and fun time last night. Server was Alex and he was outstanding! started with a flight and a drink and the battered bacon, YUM Hubby had the skirt steak I had the jambalaya topped it off with dessert and we never do that, pastry with fresh fruit and lemon curd We did not want to leave and can not wait to go back!
(5)Anthony D.
Beer-Battered Asparagus, Craft Beer, and great food on the menu. You can't beat it.
(5)Paul D.
Man, Champaign (my hometown) now has two brewpubs within a block of each other. Houston (where I live now) has none. Why can't the 4th largest city in the US have a brewpub? I digress. There is a sterile and industrial atmosphere here. One that I am seeing in more in more bars, and I am not a fan. The style does not work here looks like the pub and owners are being cheep. Seems cold to me. The bar is to the left with some tables and booths. To the right on the Neil St side is another dinning area. The brewing equipment can be seen from the Church St side. A few TV's above the bar, but unintrusive. Relaxed, but sterile and pretty much the exact opposite of the Blind Pig. Which oozes uniqueness from every wood poor. The service is fast, but they are not very interested in much. I want someone working at a brewpub to at least show interest in their products. Here it seems they want to shuffle you in and out with a ticket and some tips. Unimpressed on this front. The food is fairly bland and generic. Some pizzas, some steaks, some chicken, some seafood. A little of everything. They do nothing good, but nothing bad either. There is a wide variety of beers available. Including a cask mild, which I would have jumped at if I had seen it before leaving. The rest is about 14 taps in all styles. A blonde, hefeweizen, a scotch ale, a few stouts and IPAs (some imperial), lots of Belgian styles. Though nothing is really that good, and some have obvious flaws. Overall, clearly the second best brewpub on the block. Almost the definition of average to me. The food does not really excite me either. I really can't see myself coming here to often over the many other great beer destinations and restaurants within walking distance. Though cheers for at least another brewpub option in town.
(2)Stacy P.
Told us it was a 45 minute wait even though tables were empty. Went on yelp and could make a reservation for 15 mins. Very disappointing.
(1)Kelli A.
Quickly becoming one of my go-tos, but beer selections are continuing to fall flat. Date night is not quite as enjoyable when my Cab is more manly than the beer the fiancé has to drink.
(3)Julie T.
I had really high expectations for this place...I have to say, I was very disappointed. The only reason for a two star rating was the appetizers. We got the pretzels with beer cheese and the deep fried bacon. The pretzels were great, served warm. The bacon was...interesting, but tasty. That is where the goodness ends. I got a cheeseburger and asked for it to be prepared medium...I received a very dry and very well done bland burger with horrible over cooked yet cold potato wedges. The kids meals are ridiculously small and mediocre at best. To add insult to injury...we paid over $100 for a party of 5 (2 were kids meals) for over cooked and cold food. Huge disappointment!
(2)Ashley B.
FINALLY! We were all being teased for so long about when it would actually open! I went it's opening weekend and let me be clear when I say this rating is based on beers alone, I didn't get a chance to try the food yet! I'll start by saying that the atmosphere is really cool. It reminds me of a Blind Pig Brewery meets Seven Saints or something like that. They call themselves a gastro-brewery instead of a gastro-pub, which I think fits the bill pretty well. The place is divided up nicely with the bar being it's own area and a nicer looking restaurant on the other side. I have to say though, I was a bit surprised to hear that it's only open until 11, that doesn't seem wise for an area of town that's so reliant on the nightlife. As far as the beer goes, they had 18 on tap that were freshly made on the spot and they were pretty amazing. I was surprised to hear that they didn't have anything but their own brews available, and I worried about how my non-fancy beer fans felt, but then when I tasted their Champaign Blonde Ale, it was EXACTLY like a Bud Light. I think my favorite that I sampled was the Downstate Pale Ale, and the Raspberry Wheat Ale was a bit too much for me. But overall, I think they covered their bases pretty well. I definitely can't wait to come back and try the food (which I hear is truuuuly delicious) and give this place it's 5th and final star! UPDATE! So I went back and finally got to try the food. I believe I ordered the Swordfish, my boyfriend got the jambalaya and we both split some of the beer battered asparagus. I'll say right away the asparagus was the best part, which didn't surprise me because everyone raved about their appetizers, but I never heard much about the main dishes. My swordfish wasn't that great, to be honest, and I'm pretty easy to please. My boyfriend's jambalaya wasn't superb either, but then again, that's probably not the best thing to order at a place like this. All in all, everything was good, and a nice change from what's available downtown, but if I had one piece of advice, it would be stick to the beer and small plates!
(4)Angela C.
I came here a handful of times during my 5 years in Chambana and had a great experience almost every time. They have some fantastic dishes - the swordfish is AWESOME, the beer battered asparagus is enormous, the burgers are great and the desserts are intense. The drinks are good too. I brought many different people here and they all had a great time too. I think the one dish that was unanimously disliked was the bleu cheese quesadilla thing. TOO MUCH BLEU CHEESE. It's a great location for groups and the service always seemed to be timely and personable. Would definitely go again if I traveled down that way more often.
(4)Brent Z.
The menu has a good variety of options, which is nice. I have had the bison burger twice, but they seem to always cook it a little too much. I tried it medium once and medium rare another time, and both times they cooked it longer than they should of. But it still tasted good. Service at the bar was very good.
(4)Stephanie C.
The Ruben egg rolls are so unique and delicious. Our dinner was also very good..we ate the Thai chicken and a half roasted chicken (not sure what it was called). Both of these entrees were massive and very tasty. I knocked it down a star because the service was average. But above all, the mango ipa was the best!
(4)Maxine W.
I'm so disappointed. I'm in champaign visiting my sister, and a friend of ours recommended we go to Destihl. He touted it as a gift from the gods. Like so good hat he went there for lunch and dinner one day and then came back for brunch the next morning. After looking at the menu, how could I resist?? So we went today for a late lunch (around 2:30) and found the place pretty much deserted. There were some people working in the bar who made eye contact with us but didn't come up to the host stand to seat us. So we waited. And waited. And finally a hostess came and brought us to a cavernous booth in the bar. Where we waited. And waited. And listened to awful terrible music (read: Dave Matthews Band) A female server came to get our drink orders and informed us that Michael would be our server. Ok, so the do team service, I'm on board with that. But Michael didn't come with our drinks. Someone dressed like a manager did. And Michael didn't take our food order. A woman who we later learned was a manager did. I think Michael maybe refilled our drinks? The first manager looking guy dropped off our apps. Here's the skinny on what we had: Beer battered bacon: this is worth a star. It was greasy but oddly delicious. Brussels sprouts: flavor was good but they were still pretty hard in the middle. Bacon Egg and Cheese Deviled Eggs: nothing to write home about. They were small and pretty smoky tasting. For entrees, I ordered the fried egg BLT and my sister ordered the bison burger. My BLT was fine. Again, nothing to write home about. There was some sort of mustardy vinaigrette on the greens that was overpowering. And the egg could have been runnier. But another star goes to the fries which were hot and crispy and delicious. My sister ordered her burger medium and it came out completely well done. Like "we think this bison is dead but let's burn it at the stake just to make sure it's really really dead." She decided to send it back and so we waited. And waited. And a brand new server (still not Michael) came by to check on us. She went back to the kitchen to have them make a new burger and left the old one so my sis could nibble on the fries. Her friendly attitude and apologies would have garnered another star, but I was SO put off when she came back to tell us that her manager wanted to let us know that she put the order in correctly and that the cooks are the ones who screwed up. Umm... Why wouldn't the manager come over herself to apologize? Or at least to check on us after the replacement came? And also, it is so not cool to throw your kitchen staff under the bus like that. All in all, Destihl has good bacon, inattentive staff, poor leadership, and too much desire to be "cool." And where is Michael? My receipt says he was my server but I don't even know if I saw him, and I fear my tip went to someone who didn't do any work! I won't be back.
(2)Jo B.
We went here for Mother's Day dinner the Monday after. Was impressed with the decor, menu, service, and food. Our service was excellent. I had a Flat Iron Steak and fingerling potatoes w/blue cheese. Steak was cooked perfectly. Potatoes were tasty. Other people in our group were satisfied with their choices. (We tasted each other's dishes to verify the deliciousness.) Portabella burger, veggie burger, American Kobe burger, chipotle shrimp skewers, & chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon were their choices. We had two appetizers - cheese curds & tempura-fried asparagus. Yum, yum. One of our dessertw was the highly-promoted banana cream pie. Good, but the bananas were over caramelized. (waiter apologized). All in all we were very happy with our experience. I hope to take other people to share the Destihl experience.
(4)Grace S.
OK, if it wasn't for the weird service we experienced, this would totally be 5 stars. At first, our server spent a lot of us time with us going over all the different beers and was super knowledgeable and basically just a really good server. Halfway into dinner he disappeared and other people started bringing us our food. When we asked where he was, we were told that he was in the back doing other things. At the end of dinner he returned to being our server but also bartender so we were basically ignored. Very weird service. We tried 11 of the 14 beers they make. I personally like really hoppy beers, but alas I can't remember the names of the ones I liked. For appetizers we ordered the chorizo stuffed dates, which were AMAZING! We also ordered lamb meatballs. I love anything with goat cheese so both of these appetizers were right up my alley. In the past, I have also gotten beer battered asparagus which is also super delicious. Originally, I ordered the pesto and goat cheese pizza but unfortunately it was very soggy and my plate was drenched in grease. Even the server commented that it was excessively soggy. I sent it back, which is something I NEVER do. I then ordered the flat iron quesadillas from the appetizers as my dinner. It didn't disappoint. My favorite part was definitely the chorizo stuffed dates.
(4)Jennifer W.
Reading other comments about the high prices here made me chuckle. We felt like Distihl was a great bargain, but since we are from Chicago, our scale is perhaps skewed. Dinner for 6 for $100 made this place fantastic for the price. Granted we were not drinking, but still. The cassoulet was very good, if light on the promised sausage. We will go back next time we are in town.
(4)Elizabeth S.
A lot of people have already said exactly what I think - underwhelming. I've been to Destihl 4 times - the first time, I got the beer-battered cod. WOW! Amazing!! Everything about that experience was great! The past 3 times? Not so much. We always take out-of-town family there, and it's a disappointment. The portions are teeeeeeny tiny, so order plenty of appetizers. The value is not very good at all. The beer's alright. Champaign has better breweries. This restaurant has a lot of potential - it's already showed that. I always go there wanting to be wow'd, and they come up short.
(3)Rakesh G.
They have good food options. They could work more on the vegetarian options. Nice beer. Some people may like this, but I personally don't like waiters coming back every 10-15 mins asking how the food is and if everything is okay. But I understand that they are trained to do the same.
(3)Josh M.
Any draught beer from this place is a good options. Beer battered asparagus, veggie burger, Thai steak salad, or roasted beer salad you'll enjoy!
(5)Liren C.
After three dining experiences at Destihl, the biggest complain I have is that they consistently over salt their food. Hey, what's up with that? Lighten up on the soy sauce please! Some of us would like to actually taste our food without leaving with high blood pressure. The Thai chicken wings were salty. The meatloaf was salty and dry. The Thai fried chicken is a good concept, but again it was salty. My chicken was under cooked. The waitress was apologetic and promptly got it re-fried (nice service). Although I didn't get to try them, the burgers and pizzas looked pretty good (but if you're just looking for burgers and pizzas there are much better places). The chocolate crème brulee was a travesty! No resemblance to crème brulee in terms of taste or texture. Extremely unpleasant! However, there is something on the menu that is truly mind blowing! BEER-BATTERED BACON! WOW! So crispy and thick! Must have! Bottom line, if you're here for drinks, order the beer-battered bacon and maybe burgers and pizza. Everything else on the menu is mediocre at best. Oh, and don't forget your blood pressure medication. You'll need it!
(3)Emiko D.
After several times of driving past Destihl and thinking I'd come to try their brews one day, I finally made it, except not for the beer. I made a reservation through yelp for lunch and was promptly seated as soon as we arrived. Our party ordered the beer battered asparagus and absolutely loved it. The overall service was great and very respectful in helping my grandma get through the doors with her walker. The only reason for rating 4 stars instead of 5 would be that our waitress seemed impatient with giving us a few minutes to order and came off a bit rude when asking who would be taking the check. Regardless, I'll be back for the beer, Destihl!!
(4)Julie E.
We are staying in Champaign on our way back to the East coast. We looked at Yelp and as soon as I saw Destihl's menu I knew this was the place. It was terrific! Our server, Alex, was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The menu was everything I'd hoped for and tasted as good as it sounded in print. I had the Minted Man cocktail. Refreshing and delicious! The sandwiches were huge and delicious. I wish we'd split a sandwich and saved room for dessert. We are already looking for reasons to come back to Champaign so we can eat here again!
(5)Dionne C.
OK so each time I have gone back to Destihl since my original post it has been better. I'd like to think someone over there read my posts ;) I'm still not a fan of the price points but the food is far more consistent and seems to be better quality. Also really enjoy their coffee and fresh cream after any meal there. Still nothing terribly interesting however everything seems fresh and well executed. Also I am trying to tone down on being such a food snob so... 4 stars!! (throws confetti sarcastically)
(4)Kelly P.
Wonderful meal at Destihl. Pretzel and Reuben appetizers were amazing. We all loved our meals . The waiter recommended a beer for each of us and we really liked them too. Good service and seated promptly. Great experience.
(5)Joy M.
Tried it again after awhile and boy have the portions gotten smaller and still as expensive. I will totally pay for it if it's worth it but I don't think it is. I think it only gets good ratings bc there isn't much to choose from here in c/u along these lines. Also the atmosphere is nice and beer is pretty good for being able to order the small ones to try more. But yeah, won't be back.
(2)David T.
I've been to Desthil a couple times, and it's pretty nice. The burgers are really good, as are the Cuban sandwiches. I was also fond of the house drafts that I tried (including an apricot beer that's one of my favorite Belgians). The beers they brew onsite are all really good. The dessert menu is also fantastic- try the chocolate cake that's the size of your head if you're looking for diabetes. The Smores plate is also fun. All that said, the food here is a bit more expensive than it's worth. Burgers are cheaper (and better) at Farren's, Radio Maria has better Cubans for the price and the entrees are nothing too impressive- good, but not great. I've also found service to be a bit hit or miss- we've had waiters that have been remarkably friendly and courteous, but last time they substituted a more expensive glass of wine for one they apparently didn't have without telling us. I like going here, and it's a nice change of pace every once in a while, but rarely do I go "Boy, we need to go to Desthil."
(3)Lisa G.
Destihl is an upscale pub-style restaurant with a low key atmosphere. The menu is quite large and has a lot of variety from small tapas style plates, to salads, pizzas, burgers, steaks, entrees, and even some thai-fusion style dishes. Because of the variety, I think this is a great place to bring a group or a date if you're not sure what type of food they prefer. The beer is all brewed at Destihl and is decent, but I've never been blown away by any of their brews. I have been here several times and my favorite dish so far was the Cedar Plank Salmon. On my most recent trip I ordered the Kobe Burger and when I ran out of sauce, the server asked if I would like more. I am not a dessert person, but I LOVE their dessert menu. So, do yourself a favor and save room for dessert! Be warned, if you sit in the bar area be prepared to wait. I have actually left a few times when I haven't been given water or a menu 15 minutes after arriving. If you sit in the main dining room however, the service is superb.
(4)Idan S.
I was recently invited to Champaign for a grad-school interview, and went out to dinner at Destihl on one of the nights I spent in town. I have to say that I found it very amusing that the priciest restaurant I went to on this trip was also the worst meal of the trip by far. I ordered the goat-cheese pesto pizza, shared the battered asparagus appetizer, and had pint of the brown ale. The battered asparagus was alright but EXTREMELY greasy, the pizza was soggy and surprisingly didn't really taste like basil or goat cheese, and the brown ale was flat out bad (trust me, I drink a lot of microbrew beer, I know what good beer tastes like). Plus, most other people at my table agreed that their food and drinks were also mediocre. Needless to say, since this is an pricier restaurant, I doubt I'd be willing to give Destihl another shot.
(1)Kali M.
Hitting the big 5-0-0 with a great restaurant from my hometown! - The vitals: Downtown microbrewery + restaurant with a slightly hip industrial vibe. Great food, great beer. Best part? Small (4oz) tasting portions $1-2. GREAT service. - Every time I visit my parents in good ol' Chambana they have a "new restaurant in town" that hubby and I MUST try. Or five. This time, Destihl was first on their list... and they are so crazy about it, they took us twice. In ONE DAY. First, for lunch. No beer this visit (hence the second), just lunch. I had the Portabella Sandwich with Shoestring Fries, and it was 100% delish. Also on the table: - Stuffed poblano pepper - Cuban sandwich - Salad with ahi tuna - Clam chowder I heard nothing but raves from the group. Late that evening we stopped in for post-dinner drinks "and maybe a little to munch on." We got three appetizers for the table: - Chorizo & Potato Flautas - Marinated Cucumbers (there's some BITE to those suckers!) - Brewmaster's Pizza (yuuuuuumm) ... and all got a few 4oz tasting pours. The beer was fantastic, some of the best I've had. Our waiters both times were friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a good time. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the story my dad told (more than once) about his friend's first visit. They were a big group, 12 I think, and stopping in before seeing a show in downtown. They ordered food, drinks, then dessert. There was a delay in the kitchen and they were kept waiting on their dessert for quite while... they were now running short on time, so one of the guys flagged down their waiter and told him, maybe a touch rudely, that they "needed either dessert or the check, because we gotta get out of here." The manager came back a couple of minutes later, apologized profusely, and served their dessert. Dessert or check, and Destihl chose dessert. Their meal and drinks for 12 were on the house. It's those kinds of stories that spread your business' name in the best possible way - you chose wisely, Destihl. The guy's been sending over everyone he knows, always prompting with "you gotta hear how amazingly this restaurant treated me!"
(5)Jay B.
This is kind of a go-to place with out-of-town relatives, the food is good if overpriced. Some dishes meh but i like the fish and chips. Beer ok better than your low end brews. Nicely decorated service generally good.
(4)S M.
Our waiter was really nice, but the food was just OK this time. Unfortunately they did not have the Asian chicken wings or Cherry French Toast on the menu that we really enjoyed the last time we ate there. We went there for lunch & I ordered a Thai steak salad. The steak was overcooked in chunks & there were only a few slices of steak. The dressing was sour & just OK. The rest of my family ordered the beer battered bacon app which they loved. My son enjoys the pork sandwich. Their house made chips & chocolate cake are very good.
(3)Melissa B.
My family and I absolutely LOVE Destihl! It has become the go-to place whenever my parents visit (I am in law school). The first time we went there, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many options were available for myself because I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Usually I have to settle for something bland or uninteresting, but Destihl has lots of imaginative and delicious options. We started with the beer-battered asparagus which was pretty tasty. I ordered the stuffed pablano which was absolutely amazing. It was spicy and had a really interesting mix of flavors. My mom got the Thai fried chicken and my dad got the ribeye, which they both loved. My boyfriend got the bison burger which he thought was good but not as amazing as our dishes. The second time we went was for lunch. I got the lunch combo with the portabella and brie sandwich and the beer and cheddar soup. The sandwich was yummy but the soup was really very delicious. Definitely comfort food and really hit the spot. My mom got the Thai fried chicken again and my dad got the Thai steak which he said was even better than the ribeye. My boyfriend ordered the Dijon chicken which he really enjoyed. You should probably make a reservation for dinner but likely do not need one for lunch. They also serve brunch on the weekends until 2:00 and those items looked pretty delicious as well. We have had great servers at Destihl and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. Plus, they don't have a corkage fee! The first time we went, we brought our own bottle of wine and there was no charge! All in all we have had really great meals here and will definitely be returning!
(5)Monica H.
Passing through town and stopped in Champaign for the night. This place was recommended to me by the front desk clerks at my hotel. If you are a craft beer enthusiast you should definitely stop in. It is definitely worth the short drive even if you are staying by the highway in Motel Hell. I arrived early and was seated promptly at a table in view of a big screen TV near the bar area. My server was knowledgable and attentive. I had a flight of three craft beers, guided by my server. As an appetizer, I had the mac and cheese. Loved it and managed to avoid eating it all so I could take some back to my room. For an entree, I had the salmon over a bed of roasted vegetables. This was also quite good. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, which is accented by a topping of cinnamon-coated maple bacon (amazing) and mint. This was also good but could be more chocolatey, IMHO. If I lived in the area I would dine here regularly. If you are a visitor, do yourself a favor and avoid the generic chain places by the highway, and drive into town to go here instead.
(4)Alan Z.
Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got. Really filling. Got the burger and was super satisfied. The beer battered burgers was overkill. Super tasty, super heavy. Decent price for what I got.
(5)Zachary H.
Dishes can be hit or miss here but overall I enjoy Destihl. I recommend this for groups or other gatherings since it is casual but still pretty nice. I like the pretzels for appetizer, the burgers for entree, and the banana cream pie for dessert (it is seriously awesome).
(4)Amith D.
I have been there twice till now and I am amazed at how classy a brewery's restaurant can be in a college town! They have few of the best appetizers I have had and certainly the best in the urbana-champaign area. They profess their best appetizer are the cheese curds (which are good) but the best of the lot has to be the Potato croquettes. I have had the beer-battered asparagus as well which changed my taste buds liking towards asparagus! I am a vegetarian and its extremely difficult to find a good vegetarian burger, so i was skeptical to order that (most places have burnt, bitter black bean patty!!) but they had one of the biggest veggie burger I have seen. The patty had rice, carrots, ginger and a few other veggies blended with the beans making it really delicious filling. The only vegetarian entree they have is the Stuffed Poblano Peppers, which was excellent. The staff is extremely courteous (sometimes more so than needed) and are very keen to entertain you. A few negatives are, the beer selection is great but is limited. I expect a brewery to have all their beers available (except the seasonal's, obviously) but they seem to rotate their beer. Even though the beer tastes good, I would cut some points for the spread of it. Another thing would be the place is unable to substitute any of the meat based dish with a vegetarian option which is a turn off if you are a vegetarian. P.S. Make a reservation, it is usually crowded!
(4)Chelsey S.
I have gone multiple times and my parents pretty much live here. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable on what they have and they are super friendly! I love trying new things and I am never disappointed. My dad has helped them with a batch of beer, they have made Reese's vodka just for my mom and honestly, whenever I go with them to eat it's like I walk onto the set of Cheers. Everybody knows their name. But you don't have to be a regular to feel like you're getting special treatment. I love that they bring you samples of their beer or tell you what just became available after aging. I love the location, I love the feel... I just wish I had more money so I could visit them more often!
(5)Douglas H.
The first time I went to Destihl, I sat in the dining room; things were okay. The next time, and every time since, I have sat at the bar; things were remarkable. I enjoy having the direct interaction with the team of wonderfully skilled bartenders. Their attention to detail and good cheer make the bar a must for anyone I take out in Champaign. The roasted peanuts covered in delectable spices and drizzled with fresh lime juice make the perfect accoutrement to the always great, fresh beer; the bbq burger is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5)Catie R.
I had heard about this place about 6 months before I tried it out, and I'm mad at myself for missing out for so long. The food is affordable for a student on a budget, and the atmosphere is perfect for a date or group outing. It's the perfect place for students to bring their visiting parents, too. The beer comes in sizes ranging from 4oz to 16oz, so you can try different brews if you're in the mood for that. The Tomato & Bread salad is absolutely phenomenal, and I have added chicken to it and had that as my entree on more than one occasion. This is one restaurant I really miss since graduating U of I and leaving the area.
(5)Matthew L.
I really was not expecting to give a brewpub 5 stars...but here goes... We went on a Monday night, and the restaurant was FULL which was A) good to see for a new business and B) surprising! The decor is surprisingly upscale - really cool use of natural stone and wood. HUGE shame they didn't open with their patio ready to go, but when I inquired they said it was in the plans to open the patio soon. The beers (I tried 5, yup 5) were decent - not world-class, but decent. My favorite purely for summer drinkability was the Champaign Blonde, but I am admittedly not into dark beers at all, and there are PLENTY of dark ones and heavier Begian-style ales which I didn't try. The menu looked surprisingly interesting, (I was expecting burgers and pretzels), and between us we tried the pickled cucumber salad, the tuna carpaccio, the strawberry salad and the warm salmon and potato salad. All four dishes were winners, although the small plates ARE really small (which is exactly what we wanted). The entrees are MASSIVE for the price, and look like they are high quality meals, but I'm glad we saw how big they were before we ordered one! Service was excellent from beginning to end. The desserts also looks amazing, but I was too full to try. As a gay couple it was nice to feel comfortable and that there was a real mix of clientele - I was scared it was going to be exclusively Olive Garden-goers, but there were some hipsters, some queens, and some students as well as your typical 'casual-dining' crowd. Can't wait for the patio to open, but believe me, there will be a serious wait time on those tables - be prepared!
(5)John S.
Having heard and read so many different views on Destihl, I was looking forward to being part of a group dinner tonight. My group of 12 was immediately seated and drink orders were quickly taken. Service was interesting. Although our waiter was excellent, there seemed to be several uncertainties when drinks and food were brought to the table. Things got to where they needed to be, but I was surprised there seemed to be so much trouble just getting the orders to the correct guests. The food was wonderful! We had some excellent shared appetizers -- beer-battered asparagus, stone oven pretzels and beer-battered bacon. I had the Greekish salad and the cedar plank salmon. My wife had bacon & brussels and roasted beet salad. Others had a variety of chicken, seafood and meat entrees. For dessert my wife and I shared the chocolate cake. I tried a few of the four ounce beer samples and had a bloody mary. The beer was very good, the bloody mary excellent in presentation but only average in taste. We were not expecting to spend almost three hours having a leisurely dinner, but the evening was very nice. I was impressed with the general vibe for a Saturday night. All in all, I was impressed with Destihl and will definitely come back to try lunch or perhaps dinner with my wife or a smaller group.
(4)L L.
Destihl is my go to place for a nice meal in Champaign, The environment is great. this is a must go for couples looking for a nice date. Their draft selection is great (obviously with a huge brewery inside the restaurant) they let you sample a few beers to try out what you like and they have awesome mixed drinks as well. I love their bloody mary (comes with salami, pickles, celery etc) its amazing (I love the spicy-ness of it). Honestly, the food was just okay. I've gotten this asian-ish dish before, a burger (eggs, bacon, wagyu beef) but i would much prefer Farren's, and appetizers. So yeah food is not too special but the drinks are good, waitresses are friendly (Michelle is AMAZING), and dessert is delicious. So honestly, I would come here (sit at the bar) get a few appetizers, drinks, and dessert.
(4)Pete B.
3.5 for food 4.5 for drinks Destihl seems to have all the right ingredients to become THE hot spot downtown, but I didn't leave it feeling like I really want to come back. Service was very slow, but since it's the first weekend of operation, I'm not going to take any points off. The decor was really nice, cosy, and even a little cosmopolitan. I got the pesto chicken pasta which I thought was good, but nothing to get excited about. I tried the fried cheese appertiser, and while good, they also weren't anything to write home about. Overall, food was good, but not great. There are better restaurants elsewhere. The drinks, on the other hand, were good AND also reasonably priced which I did not expect. They had a big beer, wine, cocktail, and martini menu. I tried a couple of different beers, and they were all really good for the most part. They also had 4 oz portion which was a great way to try different beers, and the 4 oz portion is surprisingly not priced proportionally any higher than its 12 oz counter part. Destihl seems like the ideal place to get dinner before a night downtown. Great ambient, great location, great drinks, and good food. Even though it's not anywhere near there yet, I'm sure that it has the potential to be the best place in a couple of months.
(4)W S.
Beer is seriously bad here, and the food is horrendous. Want beer brats with cabbage? Great, enjoy your greasy, deep fried brats with chopped onions (apparently they ran out of cabbage). Dates with cheese and bacon? Enjoy your dates with no cheese, but covered in chimichurro sauce for some reason. Three dates, which equals two dollars each. Total waste of money. The decor is weirdly airport/hotelesque. Back to the beer. Tried four sampler sizes, two are ok, two taste like ice wine. No fizz, and all sugar.
(1)Neil O.
I really wanted to like this place. The location is nice and the tables are spacious. It can be both informal or formal and the seating and decor are mellow. The service was very good and our server Aaron was excellent. However....the food is another story. We started with an appetizer that was fine but our meals were terrible. My date ordered the dijon chicken and it was incredibly dry and also came with TWO HAIRS in it! My kobe burger was also very dry and unexciting. The bun was stale and the beef was extremely dry and tasteless. For dessert we ordered a large chocolate cake that was $11. It was okay, but nothing exciting. I'm not a food snob but for the money I would expect a lot more. Sorry to say that this was my first and last experience at Destihl. I hope others have a more favorable experience.
(1)Sarah P.
Super excited this place is finally open. Not only that, but it was just as good as I had hoped it would be. Tons of good things to say about the place, but I'll start with the two negatives so we can get that out of the way. The waitress heard me say cheese pizza instead of goat cheese pizza. Probably my fault actually, because it was loud and I am a self-proclaimed mumbler. This mistake was fixed promptly and the pesto goat cheese pizza was awesome. Second problem was that the fried asparagus was somewhat whelming. It was really big, so if you're going for size great, but smaller spears aren't woody textured like the big spears. I assume that since they specify they use local when they can, that this problem will remedy itself once asparagus comes into season in a few weeks around here. Now for the mega good stuff: Deadhead double red is probably THE BEST red ale I've ever had. It is strong, spicy, flavorful and full bodied. Just wonderful! Everyone at my table liked their other flavors (and we went with some beer snobs ;) The hubby loved, loved, loved the coffee glazed rib-eye. Service was surprisingly good granted that it was the first weekend they were open. The people getting bad service in the other review...sorry, we must've been hogging all the attention ;). We actually liked the place so much we went back for brunch on the next day. Which was even. more. amazing. Ordered the swordfish tacos (see pics) and Cuban sandwich, and the french toast (see pics) for the munchkin. The kids French toast was ridiculously awesome. Here's the most awesome kicker- we were with a big group with 4 kids and the back room was open, so they gave it to us to have our brunch back there so the kids wouldn't bother anyone else. It was an awesome experience and the whole staff was soooo super nice. Make sure to check out my food pics- the kids meal was 1/3 eaten when I took the pic, but you can imagine the thrill in junior's eyes when he saw what he got for breakfast! :) Awesome place guys! Keep up the good work!
(5)Owen B.
My wife and I are from Chicago and our friends from the area introduced us to Distihl. It was a busy Saturday night and the service was a bit slow but given that we weren't in a rush, that was OK. The food exceeded my expectations. I had the Cuban sandwich and one of the better Cubans I've had in a long time! My wife and friend both had a pasta dish which they enjoyed. The waiter also was very knowledgeable about the menu and large number of beer choices, all of which were excellent too. There are lots of choices in Champaign and I recommend anyone try Distihl!
(4)Chris R.
I'm a beer nerd, and I'm disappointed by this place so far. I plan to give it more chances, but I've tried the brown ale, Belgian single, a kolsch, and a pale ale, and have been relatively uninspired by nearly all of them. The website lists some hoppier alternatives, but I haven't seen them actually on the menu.
(3)Ted C.
All right, so I've now been to both locations of Destihl and I have to say they're both pretty good, not stellar but a slightly above average brewpub. I tried their Hawaii five ale which was okay-it was a fruit beer that was supposed to remind me of being on a beach in Hawaii. Well, anything is possible it was a tarter beer but still a very light ale. They didn't have their dunkelweizen here which was disappointing. I got hungry waiting for my friend so I ordered the Ancho chips and dip. The chips were just okay but the vinegar and the dressings were really quite good. The habanero vinegar wasn't overpoweringly hot but had a nice kick and the ranch was more than just a ranch dressing. I had the bison burger because I haven't had bison meat in a while and it was just as good. The burger though, was all right the bison, slightly sweeter and less greasy than ground beef was good. The dressing on it though took away from the flavor of the meat but the fries were actually quite tasty. Overall, it's still an okay place
(3)Joe R.
I ate here May 2013 and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Came back February 6 and had terrible service. I was seated at a table and waited 14 minutes without seeing a waiter or being offered a drink. A table directly across from me sat down after me, was given water and drinks. I asked to see the manager waited another ten minutes so got up and left. Only as I was walking out the door was the manager able to find me.
(1)Anthony P.
My teammate and I had two delicious dinners here. We loved the "bacon egg and cheese" deviled eggs. I enjoyed, on separate occasions, the chipotle chicken sandwich (good sweet potato fries) and the grilled and stuffed. I also sampled my teammate's meat loaf; that tasted incredible as well. I loved my cocktails, which include the Vanilla and Mint, Dark and Stormy, and the Aztec Chocolate. The last one was amazing - it had a spicy kick to it. The atmosphere and service were incredible as well. If in town again I would make it a point to return here.
(4)Bethany C.
I've been here a few times. I like it for lunch. Their beer is alright. The flatbread-y pizza with lemon and arugula was delicious. I have it on good authority that their portobello sandwich is better than The Bread Company. I think the dinner - both the crowds and the food - are a little pretentious. My BF thinks that this is "a great place for women who shop at Chicos to meet up with each other and discuss the braided leather belts they bought for their husbands." Which is to say, he thinks they overdo atmosphere to keep the rif raff out. In my experience, I will sacrifice dim lighting for a chile that is actually spicy. Oh, midwestern restaurants. Are you using bell peppers to make Chile Rellenos? My littlest brother really liked it, though. He devoured some friend bacon appetizer.
(3)sheridan r.
Went here for din-din with my broey and his wifepoo since they live in the area. Food was fantastic! Service was spot on - our waitress was very attentive and took great care of us. We had a flight of the many beers they offer, the menu is extensive and it's hard to decide. But one thing is 1000% worth getting: Beer Battered Asparagus. That's it. Who cares if you have stinky pee from eating asparagus - totally worth it.
(4)Steve B.
Not bad, not great. I've had the pot roast sandwich and the bison burger. The pot roast was a surprisingly small portion. The bun on my bison burger was a little stale. Honestly, my biggest pet peeve with Destihl is their attempt at trying to create elevated food that just come off as tacky. For instance when I split their quesadilla appetizer they proudly touted it was deconstructed. That meant the appetizer consisted of some tortillas with melted cheese and a side of so-so grilled steak. Give me a break- I've had some cleverly deconstructed items before and that was not the case here. They do a similar thing with smores (e.g. the marshmallows come pre-melted). Tacky might be a strong word but to serve things in ways that are poorly executed and actually make eating your meal less enjoyable and more complicated in an attempt to seem high-end is pretty tacky.
(2)Luis R.
Exceptional dining experience. Made a Reservation with the Andrew, the Lead Bartender. I simply mentioned that I wanted a nice dinner because it was a first date, and he made the start of the evening's date very memeorable. When we arrived, Andrew had a reserved table set aside, candles, wine glasses and the first bottle of wine complimentary. Meeting us at the front he personally welcomed us to the restaurant and lead us to our table, and then passed us along to out waiter Vincent. This young man kept a keen eye on our table and made sure our wine glasses were replenished. The food was excellent but an afterthought to the service we received. Thanks Andrew!
(5)S. P.
This is a cute place in the downtown area of Champaign. It is always busy on the weekends and the service is good. My only issue was that the menu was kind of all over the place. There was traditional bar food mixed in with Thai as well as pasta dishes. Just didn't seem coherent to me I guess. Overall, it was a good experience.
(4)Brad P.
Destihl was something that was completely unexpected for me to find in downtown Champaign. It was a MUCH bigger place than I anticipated, and I would love to see it on a day when it was busy. We were there about 3pm on a Monday. I was immediately impressed with the vibe of the place - very hip, and something you would expect to find in any major city's downtown. The beer list was posted on a board above the bar and was HUGE for a local microbrewery. Where I expected to find 8-10 local beers supported by a smattering of other regional brews, the list of beers brewed in house was closer to 20-25. As I had never been to Destihl, I asked the bartender to select 4 beers for me to sample (this is typical practice for me -- a good bartender will ask the right questions and figure out what you like). He started by asking if I wanted darker or lighter beer, and then asked me about some different flavor profiles. After a few questions, he came back with four delicious beers. I tried the Roadblock British Red Ale, Black Angel Stout, Deadhead Double Red, and Antiquity Rye Wine. All were really awesome. I was very pleased with the bartenders knowledge of the beer, the fast friendly service, and the atmosphere in general. Next time I'm in town this is DEFINITELY a place I plan to return, and hopefully next time I'll get to order some food as well.
(5)Devin H.
My first experience was on a date. I misheard what the waiter said when he was listing the specials. I asked him to repeat after he was done speaking. He sighed and sort of rolled his eyes. I ordered a turkey burger (because I'm epic classy like that). It was cold. It tasted like it would have been delicious had it arrived at my table 10 min sooner. My second time was just last night. I sat at the bar with a friend to have appetizers and a few beers. The lady at the bar was too busy literally dancing with her fellow employee (boyfriend?) and kept kissing and dancing by the kitchen to ever get my second drink. The appetizer I order was incredibly spicy, therefore it had no flavor other than pepper, and was also quite greasy. On top of that the manager saw a buddy of his sitting next to us. They both got into their conversation for a good 10-15min and began talking quite loudly. I could not hear the company next to me telling a story. I may give it another shot, but its pretty unlikely.
(2)Nancy D.
Living in downtown Chicago & having great restaurants right outside our door, it's hard to get really jazzed about another restaurant. Unable to find anything like Distihl with it's interesting, well executed menu & drinks. We've come to expect a great meal at our visits but this time our server, Luis, was an extraordinary compliment to the overall experience with his fun personality & great suggestions. This is a great place to eat dessert first, banana cream pie is awesome and you'll want to have room for every delicious forkful!
(5)John R.
I was blown away by this oasis of fantastic flavor. The grilled stuffed pasta was so mind-bendingly delicious that I tried to recreate this at home. While the description and use of two sauces sounds like it would contradict itself, each of the components blend marvelously in your mouth. I sampled soups and small bites as well. Over all, I found the flavors in each dish are well balanced and don't compete for attention. There is a certain finesse that's being used in the kitchen to render distinctly memorable flavor profiles. The atmosphere was inviting, modern and clean. The service staff knowledgeable and attentive. I wish I had one where I live and will absolutely be back when I find myself in Champaign again.
(5)Nick S.
Not too crowded at 12am on a weekend. Found a table, whew, and the waiter was very helpful. He knew quite a bit about drinks, their beers, and the menu. He was attentive and answered all our questions patiently. Patience is a virtue to a bar customer because time is money for them, and I get that. The only thing I remember ordering was the deep fried bacon. MMMMMMMM It had a bit of spice to it and they were great...just taxing on the tummy 30 minutes after eating it. Sooooo much grease - but aren't things better that way? Lots of interesting menu choices and in house brewed beers (which I didn't have) Hope you try them.
(4)Jaclyn S.
If its TL;DR: Great food, great drinks, great service. I've gone to Desthil a few times, and I'm consistently impressed by their food and attention to detail. Once, I sat at the bar with my dad, just there for drinks; bartender was great, amiable and had suggestions when we knew what we liked and wanted recommendations. Their heffeweissen is really excellent. The apricot brew actually tastes like apricot; I tend to like fruity beers, and this one stood out to me. Their cocktails are also really, really good. I had the sake lemon drop and was not disappointed. Appetizers: Hands down, no contest, their beer-battered asparagus takes the gold. Its a lighter batter, more like a very gentle tempura than a "fried chicken" type fry. The honey-whatever sauce they serve with it is incredible, and they serve a grilled lemon with it that you probably aren't supposed to eat but tastes like candy so do it anyways. The shrimp ceviche is nothing to write home about. The shrimp skewers entree was tasty and well seasoned, but if you came with a big appetite, it might not be the choice for you. Their portions (one of the things I like most about Desthil) are reasonable and not out of this world for most of the main dishes. My boyfriend wasn't totally full when he left, but comfortable. The thai steak salad is incredible! I like a little spice, and this definitely had that! It's not big, but its delicious. Their pizzas are also fabulous, if a little salty. You can't complain that they underseason like some places in downtown Champaign. The seabass dish (I think it was a special) was definitely worth it. They do their cubans right; their mustard is homemade I think and really rounds it out. Overall, loved it. Decently priced for what you get, and you get a great night out!
(5)Jessica W.
Huge fan of this place! My fiance and I made last minute reservations here on Christmas Eve...we had a GREAT waitress, can't remember her name...who understood we wanted to move quick so we could catch Mission Impossible (which would only get about 2 stars, by the way). We ordered the flat bread (I'm obsessed with truffle oil), one of their specialty pizzas and a Greek salad to share. We were impressed with ALL of it. Flat bread was good if you're in the mood for starchy foods--the pizza had a very thin crust, which I loved, so you could eat more of the toppings...and the salad was HUGE for its small price. We tasted several of the beers and ended up getting a growler to go because we loved it so much. Decor was a bit industrial, and very contemporary, especially for the Midwest. We will definitely return and bring friends!
(4)bayrox K.
A great variety of beers. very happy to have it in champaign. Food is good too but I always go here for the beer. I wish they improved their appetizers section a bit. Not many appetizers designed for sharing. awesome ambiance. Service depends on how busy they are the wait staff you get. I have been here many times and the experience varied.
(4)Craig M.
Let me say this: never have I gone to a brew-pub and felt comfortable ordering a burger medium-rare. Destihl has changed all that. Destihl knows what they're doing. Great food, well prepared, attentive and quick service. I would give them 6 stars, but my brother at my leftover half of Kobe burger without asking, and I associate that somewhat traumatic experience with Destihl.
(5)Stephanie T.
Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Destihl's Yelp rating isn't higher. Two of my friends and I wandered in on a weekday night while looking for a place to eat at in downtown Champaign. The restaurant was relatively full for 7pm on Thursday, so I'd imagine there may be a wait on weekend nights. Beers = good. I think we tried 4? The strawberry blonde ale on tap was a clear favorite for us. Both their beer and dinner menus took awhile for us to look at. I was expecting traditional pub-style food, but their offerings far exceeded that. We started off with the deviled egg appetizer and the beer battered bacon appetizer. Both were very good- the beer battered bacon is a MUST. Jalapeno bacon in a tempura-like beer batter coating topped with a drizzle of maple chipotle glaze?! Yes please! When it came to our table, we slowly stopped talking and watched our plate of bacon descend in front of us. Like it came down straight from heaven. We didn't even realize we stopped talking and didn't remember what we were talking about until the bacon was gone.. My friends got the jambalaya and the prosciutto-wrapped meatloaf. I really only tried part of the super tasty andouille sausage corn muffin that came with the jambalaya, as I was working on my full slab of beer-braised ribs (I gave one rib each to my friends to try though). They were perfect. Orders of magnitude better than Black Dog's ribs. I'm not sure whether or not that's a fair comparison since it's different cooking styles, but the texture of Destihl's ribs was absolutely perfect- tender, falling off the bone, but not annoyingly so.. The flavor was great also, as it tasted lovely by itself and did not need to be hidden behind sauce although the chipotle espresso bbq sauce it came with was also very tasty. My friends and I agreed that I "won" dinner since I ordered the best dish. My only qualm was that my shoestring fries were a little soggy and not as crispy as I would have preferred. But that's very minor. We were all pretty full, but could not pass up dessert. Like the rest of their menus, the dessert menu had a lot of tasty-sounding options. After some rock/paper/scissors, we ended up ordering the stout ice cream sandwiches which is more like four round brownie patties a la mode. But by all means, if you really wanted to, I guess you could try to eat it ice cream sandwich style. The alcohol in the chocolate stout ice cream wasn't very strong. Both the ice cream and the brownies were stellar. My friends especially loved the brownies. I was wondering what they did with the remaining brownie part after cutting out the rounds (to, you know, save waste if need be), and our waitress told us that the remainder is used for their chocolate martini? Maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and also, our waitress was very nice and friendly too. Overall, good service, clean place, nice decor.. everything was great. After tips, came out to ~$30/person, but actually filling up me + two guys does require a bit of food and drink. I'm already trying to think of when I will return to try the kobe burger..
(5)Alecia M.
Okay, first of all, credit where credit is due: There are some delicious appetizers on the menu, and desserts are HUGE and great for splitting. My husband and I have been here a few times, and we both really like the potato croquettes (mmm, chimichurri) and the marinated cucumber salad. Both have a spicy bite -- definitely recommended. The rest of the food is okay. Pizzas are decent, the salads seem to rely a lot on the dressings, similarly so with the sandwiches. Service is good and friendly, although can come down a little on the overwhelmingly chatty side. Still, in a place as big as this one, it's nice to not feel like you've gotten lost or abandoned. Unfortunately, I can't recommend much else. The design and marketing of Destihl gives off a very artisanal vibe, particularly in their choice of "craft beer," but their beers are at best uneven and at worst anemic shadows of what they could be. Most recently, I was disappointed in the pumpkin porter, which sounds like it should be layered and spicy and complex. Mostly, it was bitter and I could only taste the pumpkin if I really thought about it. I've felt similarly about all of their beers that I have tried, although a few are okay (the Hefeweizen, the Tripel). I want to be seduced by the delicious descriptions (and oh, they DO have a good writer), but I just can't. This place reads to me as a large chain that wants to be a small, careful, art-and-ingredient-driven restaurant, but it doesn't get there. It's confusing. 2 1/2 stars, rounding down.
(2)Hannah D.
Great restaurant! I have been here twice now and enjoyed everything I've had. Visit #1: Tried a few beers before selecting one. The drafts come in three sizes, which is really nice. My friends and I got the pretzels with cheese and mustard dipping sauces, and LOVED them. I got the bison burger with fries and had to stop myself from eating the whole thing before my stomach exploded! Great wait staff and a very classy atmosphere. Visit #2: Another great beer experience. Got a pizza this time, which was pleasantly adequate for a one person dinner. It was thin and crispy, but not crunchy...just the way I like it! We sat at a window near the bar and watched downtown during sunset, which was really nice. I like the corner location...lots of natural light! Will definitely consider coming here whenever I want to eat downtown. Reasonably priced for the quality, and a great overall dining experience.
(5)Carlos Y.
This was the fourth time I've been to destihl since it opened in champaign. The first two times were within the first 6 months it opened and I left less than impressed. I finally came back a year or so later and the food has definitely gotten better. This time I went for lunch and had the swordfish tacos with rice and beans on the side. This was pretty good. Maybe just a bit heavy on the sauce which masked a lot of the fish but the chimichurri sauce itself was good. My wife had the chimichurri shrimp pizza and hers was excellent! I also have to mention the last time I was here I had the beer-brined double bone in pork chop and that was easily the best dish I had here. After a few early lackluster visits this place is slowly becoming one of the better restaurants in the area.
(4)Kari T.
WOW- I am really surprised by all of the good reviews of this place! I have been here twice- both times for lunch. The first time I went with colleagues and two of us ordered soup. It came out cold and had to be sent back. We ordered the cheese curds to share (nothing great) and I had the Chimi Chicken Torta; which was actually pretty bland. The second time I went, I ordered the Tomato and Bread salad with chicken. By the name of the salad, you would think it would have tomatoes on it right? I had two little pieces of a tomato, wilted greens, and a couple little tiny balls of mozzarella. Not acceptable. I asked the waitress for more tomatoes and mozzarella and after looking annoyed, she returned with more of each. I don't know what others are having that's so great, but I am very unimpressed with this place and will not be returning.
(2)Heather T.
The Hubster and I decided to do a date night--try out Destihl and then go see The Exorcist at the Virginia (our date night may not be your definition of 'romantic,' but that's neither here nor there). I'd heard about how crowded Destihl gets around dinnertime, and never having been there before, I went the AARP-route and reserved a table for us at 5:15 to give ample time for slow service (this was unnecessary). I was surprised to learn that Destihl is cavernous. There was absolutely no shortage of tables. How does it ever get crowded? Who knows? In any case, we were (irritatingly) seated near the only large, loud party in the entire restaurant. Nothing like listening to a bunch of screechy teenagers dressed up for Homecoming say semi-racist things and then shush each other on date night! We got appetizers and small plate-y things to constitute our meal. All were finger food, all were messy and delicious. We tried the cheese curds (lightly breaded, crunchy, thoroughly melty), thai chicken wings (a nicely spicy slow burn, flavorful, thick sauced with fabulous peanuts sprinkled over the top), and beer-boiled shrimp (a tad too much seasoning that clung to our fingers and overwhelmed most other flavors, not much beer taste, but otherwise...you know...cold shrimp are tasty on their own). I tried a pint of their black IPA which I thoroughly enjoyed. We also shared their chocolate trio (or Ménage à Trois or whatever they call it), which consisted of mexican hot chocolate (thick, hot, nom), a chocolate tart (delicious filling, but with a crust that was absolutely impossible to cut into, making it awkward to eat, much less share), and zanzibar chocolate ice cream (heaven). I need to try more things to be sure that this is actually a problem, but I feel like everything on their menu is too complicated. There are SO MANY INGREDIENTS listed on every single menu item. Too many seasonings, too many flavor combinations. Every time I read something, I was like, "Mmm...yes...yes...yes!...oh, no, you went too far." Our waiter was extremely enthusiastically friendly to the point of making us feel a bit awkward. I mean, he hung out and chatted. I don't harbor ill will against the guy or anything--he was really nice!--but you know...I'm on a date with my main squeeze...please leave. Considering all the stuff we got, our tab was surprisingly cheap. I think we were out for under $30. I waffled between 3.5 and 4 stars, but I'm feeling generous today.
(4)Quang T.
It is a place with excellent service and excellent food. The quality of the food is better than the price and the place has a classy atmosphere without the pompous attitude.
(4)Rebecca D.
Beer battered asparagus is a many must! I had the yummy scallops and curried mash potatoes and my bf had the bonein rib eye....both were great! Our sever was friendly and knew the menu well.
(5)Kelly S.
We've been to Destihl maybe six times now, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Most of the food is very good, better conceived and made than a lot of other area restaurants offer. Portions are fairly generous (not so much with brunch items), and the price fits the quality of ingredients and preparation. The staffing is good, service is timely, and the decor is charming. The craft beers made on site are wonderful. Try a series of 4 ouncers to build your own tasting. The flavor profiles given on the brew menu seem so far to have been accurate. For appetizers, I recommend the shrimp ceviche (technically a "small plate") and the stone oven pretzels (you get two, with cheese and spicy honey mustard dips). I've tried one soup, the corn and chicken chowder, which was very good, nice SW pepper flavor without overwhelming the chicken. We've had sandwiches and entrees, from burgers to steak, and it's all been really delicious. The food is in the American Contemporary Casual style -- better than Houlihan's at the i-Hotel in our opinion. The only bad experience we've had with the food has been the cedar plank brie dessert. It was badly prepared (the brie wasn't even room temperature) and either the recipe was off or the honey-chili sauce was made incorrectly, because it was completely unbalanced and unpalatable. The smoke flavor reacted poorly with what was on the plank, too. We took the brie home (a big piece) and cut off the rind to eat the middle later, but it still tasted of rank sauce and smoke. We did not go back to the restaurant for a couple of months because of just how bad this was. I wrote the general manager and he was good about it, offering to review the recipe and preparation with the lead chef. Since returning to Destihl, we've had good experiences again -- the place is consistent, a fun place to socialize, and a nice addition to CU's restaurant scene.
(4)Katrina M.
Went here for dinner with a few colleagues. There was spacious seating, so it was a great place for groups. Had the Dijon chicken with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. I was kind of put off by the dark color of the sauce, but the whole entree was pretty good; chicken was flavorful and tender too. For dessert I had the baked apples, which was good but nothing unique. Our waitress was very attentive, but her attentiveness seemed to taper off as the night went on.
(3)Patrick B.
Utterly fantastic food. The chef is a genious on par with any of the best restaurants in town, but at a lower price than some of the more expensive competition. Not as nice of an atmosphere as some of the fine-dining restaruants like Jim Gould's and Silvercreek, but every bit as tasty. Destihl is going to have a great impact on downtown. Also, while I'm not a beer person, the people I ate with said the beer is an excellent local micro-brew. Perhaps not amazing, but just as much as any reasonable person could hope for. Also, they do have a meeting/conference room with a large table and an LCD TV.
(5)Marjie T.
I was really excited to try Destihl, but unfortunately the experience fell a little flat. My friend and I arrived a little after 7 on a Friday night and was told the wait would be about 40 minutes since we didn't have reservations. No problem. After only about 20-25 minutes our pager buzzed, so score! So far so good. Our server was really nice and attentive, nothing negative to say about him. However, the food is another story. We started with the cheese curds for an appetizer. And these were awesome, plus they give you a lot. The only part of the meal that really stood out, sadly. I'd had my eye on the strawberry goat cheese salad, so I got that and split the pesto goat cheese pizza. The salad had a lot of potential with all the seemingly good ingredients, but was just off. The spinach tasted wrong and it would have been much better with mixed greens. The "strawberry" part of the salad consisted of maybe three tiny pieces and the goat cheese wasn't even very good. It mainly was made up of mandarin oranges and ill-tasting spinach. I'm not a huge fan of wood-fired pizza (I prefer almost any other type of crust). My friend and I split a pizza, but I saw plenty of people putting one away all by themselves. It is very thin. The toppings were ok, but I didn't like how the goat cheese was in big globs instead of spread over the whole pizza. We left without getting dessert, but I saw a few and they are possibly the biggest desserts I've ever seen anywhere. This isn't a good thing. Probably 3-4 people should be splitting on dessert, but I'm guessing that doesn't happen that often. So just be aware if you do order that piece of cake. Besides the service, the other positive is the price. Everything is fairly cheap. But that coincides with the quality, so just beware.
(3)Eugene W.
In my opinion a good brewpub has great beer with good food to accompany the beer. Maybe it iwas the fact that we checked it out 4 days after it opened, but of the 5 beer styles we got, 4 of them were "off". One was clearly oxidized (badly), one was infected to lacto and tasted very funy and the other two mildly oxidized. We hoped the manager would come visit with us, but no luck. The bartender indicated that depending on the time of day, the beer tastes different from the yeast. First time I have heard of that. Food was decent, but I have had better pub grub. Maybe the beer just ruined my taste buds. (Positive) The pizza is HUGE . .enough for two to share or one very hungry person. Hopefully they figure things out. Have been frequently brewpubs throughout the US in the last 12 years and can honestly say it was the oxidized beer and infect beer were the worse I have ever had. Even my earliest botched homebrews were not that "off". Gave it two stars since it was the first week it was open and the possibilities it was growing pains.
(2)Esther S.
The place looks great and I love the beer. The food looks great but it doesnt taste great.... it's usually overly salted. like calm down with the salt shaker. I like that they offer $2 mini beers so that you can try multiple. That's a-okay in my book. one last thing... what's up with the waiters? ALL of them! They've all got the personalities of awkward engineers. I actually was so certain our waiter was an awkward engineer that I asked him if he was a student at U of I. Imagine my surprise when he said he studied library sciences. WAAAAH? Anyways, moderate place for food, good place for beer, awkward but polite service.
(3)Elie L.
Four girls squeezed into a booth. Cue a "movie" waiter. My friend named our waiter as someone you would see in a comedy movie or sitcom--talkative, funny-ish, and always popping up at random times for small chat. Needless to say, our server was very attentive (e.g., good at recommending/not recommending dishes, clearing the table). He skated the *annoying* line very closely, never crossed it though so hurrah. Food got thumbs up from us: Med. pizza (really delicious and big for $9), Bison burger (fries were a hit), jambalaya, and dopple chop (it was good, but pricey at $20 for what is received). Drink-wise: Belgian pale ale (ugh, no. a bit of an off-taste), torched cherry caiprissima (too much lime juice for me, but my friend loved it), and don juan (nice). Overall, a good experience. But not a place I would have cravings for or feel the need to re-visit. It felt like a safe night-out dinner. Plus you can wear what you'd like, I saw fashions of all kinds without much judgment.
(3)Grace T.
The waitress and hostess were super friendly. Waitress recommended lots of options (her favorite salad, pizza, app, sandwich, etc) and beers. I went with a strawberry ale, cheese curds and the greekish salad. The beer was excellent - fruity and light! The cheese curds were great but the more you ate, the more blah you felt...share with someone! The greekish salad was weird...it had a red dressing that I didn't like at all. Bill came to $19. A little pricey for lunch but not outrageous.
(3)Ricardo S.
I've been in for both lunch and dinner multiple times since they opened. I've heard about their Bloomington-Normal location. The food is quite delicious and very flavorful, however I must say they go overboard with heat at times! (But that us a matter of taste of course !) very clean facilities, comfortable space and very nice selection of beer. I must say that the hard alcohol drinks are not always consistent in flavor or liquid amount.
(4)Eric B.
good food, small portions. Fairly over priced for what you get. A little on the gourmet side as well. All in all, i'd like to try more on the menu, i had the bbq glazed chicken and it was good, not great, thus only 3 stars for Distihl. Would love to see some blackened items added to the menu, like a fish or a chicken.
(3)Tracey D.
Good food. First time for us. We will be back!
(4)Joel K.
Excellent food at very reasonable prices, beer was very tasty, environment was pleasant and even upscale, and I would recommend this place to anyone. My family thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Back to the beer, I did a sampler and found the various beers to be very much above average. I tried their hallmark sour beer with trepidation, but enjoyed it. It's like a cider with a sour twist--done right.
(5)George W.
My daughter had heard good things about Destihls, so we decided to give it a try. We went on a Saturday night (12/1/12), so the place was pretty busy. Fortunately, I was able to get a reservation through OpenTable via Yelp, so getting in was no problem. When we arrived, we were seated within 30 seconds. I appreciate that efficiency - we also saw several groups that tried the walk-in route - Lesson Learned - use the Yelp reservation system for fast seating! We ordered the home-made chips for an appetizer, and they were great. Very tasty, and a malt vinegar sauce, as well as a spicy sauce. This place makes and serves it's own beer. if you want a Bud Light, you'll have to go elsewhere. If you want to try their beer, the prices are quite honestly, very low for good beer. We tried their 4 ounce beers (I know, so small, but since you're trying a store brew, do I really want 16 ounces I don't like after one sip?) and for $1 and $1.50 (the price range of a 4 ounce beer), we got 2 beers that were very palatable and very good. On to dinner. The menu ranges from sandwiches to steaks to pizza. I ordered the 8 ounce Sirloin, medium rare. The steak was cooked properly, more importantly, it was seasoned properly, and tasted great. It was more tender than some fillets I have had recently. A+! My wife ordered a pork roast dish, that had pork so tender you didn't need a knife. She really liked the dish. My daughter went with the 8 ounce burger, and was very impressed. She ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to order. She loved it. My son ordered one of the pizzas, and was a little surprised when a large, thin crust pizza arrived (pleasantly surprised - he was expecting a lot less.) The pizza was great. We ordered desert, which included carrot cake (we ordered 1 piece for 2 people, and it was the right choice - very heavy, very good), along with S'mores and a Neopolitan fruit dish, all of which were very good. The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is the noise level - the interior is nicely appointed, and very well done, but the acoustics are not very good. Lots of hard surfaces result in a loud restaurant, where it was hard to hear our server. We'll be back. The entire ticket with tip was less than $110 for four adults.
(4)kate c.
I had 2 different beers; they were both pretty good. I ordered the mussels. Over half were not open. I sent them back. Second time about 5 were not open (not acceptable to me). The broth was good, however. I also had the pepperoni pizza. It was decent. My bf got the cod, it was very tasty. Next time, I will probably try an entree. It was very busy when we went, but we sat in the bar. Service was good.
(3)Tc H.
Well, I searched the website to see where I wanted to have my birthday dinner with my coworkers. I was seeking out a restaurant that had a little bit of this and a little bit of that so that everyone can find something that they would enjoy eating. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and we kept on watching the staff bring out different dishes as we would comment how yummy it looks. I was torn between two dishes and I asked the staff their recommendation. She did not steer me wrong. It was so tasty that I wanted to eat another entree of it. Every dish they brought to the table look so tempting. Definitely a wide variety and everyone enjoyed a nice beer and atmosphere. Glad we made reservations because the place filled up quick for a Friday night. Service was awesome and I am already missing it. I will definitely be back before I leave town.
(5)James C.
Destihl-ness is the move! They've only been open a few weeks but I'm predicting that this place is going to become an institution here in Champaign-Urbana. They're not quite there yet, BUT this four stars is partially based on potential. I don't know if that's acceptable for Yelp, but whatever. I will admit I got a little gluttonous this evening. Ideally, I wouldn't have eaten as much as I did, but it was what it was. I started off with some of the home brews. I did the the little 4 oz guys and out of the four I tried, I liked three enough to drink again (the Belgian ale was a bit too hoppy for my liking). At $1.25 each (or $5 for the 4), I don't mind one I didn't like. Next I went with the beer-cheese soup. WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT. It was amazingly good. Also, at my table were some cheese curds and I will dare say that these curds were the finest curds I have ever eaten (and I've had them in Wisconsin too). For my entree, I went with the bison burger which was flavorful - although I will echo the review who noted that their meat was overcooked - and I appreciated that fries were included. The fries were awesome - shoestring style and were not oversalted, but weren't seasoned improperly either (just right!). For dessert it was baked apples with butter pecan ice cream. It was wildly decadent and irresponsibly delicious. The service is not awful but you can tell that the servers are still getting their feet wet. No worries though. The food was totes worth the wait. I'll be back no doubt and I'm pretty sure I'll be updating with 5 stars.
(4)B R Hungry X.
We were here over the weekend and its a really nice spot, we didn't really order food, except for some garlic bread which was cool. We went there for their beer since afterall, they are a brewery. $1.25 for 4oz beers....you can try close to everything they brew and then some. I had 6 and my bf had 5, our bill was just under $20. They had pumpkin ale, hefeweizen, chocolate cherry, coffee beer, IPA's...too many to remember, you'll have to check it out yourself. Can't wait to go back and maybe try some things on their menu. Fun bartender too, ask for Mike!
(4)Thomas B.
A nice addition to Downtown Champaign.
(4)Wendy T.
Loved the Beer Battered Deep Friend Bacon... yes BACON! Staff was wonderful and helpful even when I had a small problem with my sandwich. I hadn't read that the fried egg on the BLT was made sunny side up so when I got it I ran everywhere. I don't like sunny side up eggs so they took it back without question and got me a different burger. Which was wonderful! Would have loved to had some dessert but I was too full when I got done. Great place!
(4)MJ E.
We enjoyed this place very much for lunch. We started with the beer battered asparagus - yum! We were happy to see that they offer 4 ounce glasses of beer and sampled several good beers. The menu is varied and inspired. Everything we tried can hold its own with any big city restaurant we've tried. The restaurant is sleek and beautiful and the service was great.
(4)Mariam N.
My first and hopefully last visit to Destihl was a faculty dinner (Destihl is apparently one of the few places in town large enough to accommodate simultaneous departmental functions, as there were multiple university-based parties that night). But this convenience is off-set by the depressingly overblown chain aesthetic, here manifesting as a too-self-conscious effort to seem "on trend" with both gastro pubs and microbreweries (witness, for instance, the giant prop barrels by the front door) while failing to capture the particular qualities of either. The "artisan food" was as mediocre as expected from this self-described "gastrobrewpub TM." We ordered pizzas as appetizers for the table; "stone oven" seems to be a euphemism for "toaster oven." The crusts were uniformly thin, but creepily so, without bubbling or crispness; the undersides were barely cooked. I suspect pre-formed frozen dough, by the taste and all-too-regular texture. The generous toppings were not supported by the crust, making each slice limp and increasingly wet. We also ordered the deep-fried asparagus, but I refrained -- the asparagus looked both too thick (these stalks were almost hot-dog-sized in circumference!) and too greasy. One of our dinner companions warned us against ordering burgers; on her last visit, her medium rare burger was burned black on one side (and was not at all medium rare). She guessed that the cooks went outside for a smoke and forgot to flip the burgers, but generously wondered if it had just been a long night for them in the kitchen. In an attempt to heed her advice, I tried to order the grilled and stuffed pasta without olives, but the waiter told me that the olives "are already mixed in." I took that to mean that the pasta is made in a giant vat ahead of time (here I imagined a big plastic tub covered in Saran wrap in a walk-in freezer), and grilled to order, which didn't sound all that appetizing. Instead, I ordered the veggie burger (black beans and rice), and my g.f. the Kobe burger, medium rare. Both arrived with one black, charred side; her burger was well-done, ruining the meat. (Why eat Kobe beef if it's just going to be burned to a crisp?) My veggie burger was unremarkable, and my pile of shoestring fries had been overcooked in the fryer, and served to me lukewarm to cold -- totally inedible. I nibbled on two and then had to stop. Cold grease, ugh. I'd much rather order a burger and fries from Steak 'n' Shake, where you know what you're getting for the money. Overall, Destihl was a big "no way." I will strenuously avoid coming here again!
(1)Shannon D.
The food is amazing, and the service is great, too! The prices are a little bit high for me, but the fact is that the food was so good, it was worth it, and by the time you go to just about any restraunt in town now, they're fairly close in price. We had the potato croquettes as the appetizer, and they were amazing!! I had a soup and half sandwich for lunch. The soup was the corn & chicken chowder. Now, normally I am not a fan of any type of corn chowder, but it sounded good that day, and so I gave it a whirl. DELICIOUS!! The sandwich was the pastrami reuben, and every bite of it was amazing. My only regret is that we didn't save room for dessert! We're dining there today, and I'll be saving room for dessert. If it turns out to be as good as my meal was the other day, I'll change this to a 5 star review.
(4)Ciara W.
The beer here is extremely tasty. And I like how the restaurant decorated. The burger here is better than the dish entries.
(4)Sarah I.
I went here for lunch with a large group. I thought the menu selections were unique and gourmet. We ordered the Fried Asparagus and they were lightly battered and fried to perfection. Delicious. My friend is Gluten Free and they have a menu just for GF items....she had some type of pizza that looked and tasted delicious. We didn't have any alcohol it was a work lunch, so I can't speak to that.
(5)Annie W.
I wanted to come back and let ya'll know that Destihl has recently become vegan-friendly! The marinated cucumbers and beer-battered asparagus are both vegan as-is, and Destihl has added an 8 oz veggie burger to their menu that can be made vegan if the mayo's left off. I believe there are a few other items that are vegan (the peanuts and the chips are, sans ranch dip), but I haven't confirmed them with the chef, so I'll leave you to figure that out on your own!
(4)Lynn C.
This restaurant is above average in selection but average in delivery. We ordered a couple of entrée salads which were small but quite good. One person ordered sweet potato fries which were so overcooked we asked for a replacement which was not much better. The iced tea was unique and worth it. I suspect the draw here is the beer which none of us ordered.
(3)Justin A.
Awesome. Food was delish; decor was very fresh and service was excellent. I'll definitely go back if I'm ever in Champaign again.
(5)Tom R.
First, reserve a table if you're going at a busy time and want to sit in the dining area. It was my first time at Destihl last night; I will probably go back. Destihl has a great beer selection. I tried about four different beers, all of which were pretty tasty. The appetizers were so-so. We tried potato croquettes and beer battered bacon. The croquettes were run-of-the-mill, but good nonetheless. The bacon was interesting, but certainly not a taste sensation. The main course were pretty variable. My wife ordered the shrimp and grits - which was far too overpriced for such a meager portion. Though, it was fairly tasty. I ordered a Brewmaster's pizza which was very good. The main reason Destihl loses a star is the speed with which we received our drinks order. It must have taken about 15 minutes after ordering for us to receive our drinks. Eventually, we were informed of the backup at the bar. I expect better though. Also, unrelated to my rating, there appeared to be a large number of employees standing around at the greeting station watching other employees working. This could be training, then again, it could be the reason some of the food items are so expensive for the product!
(4)Rhiannon C.
We have been to Destihl several times. I've heard beer enthusiasts say that their brewery and beers aren't that great, but the food more than makes up for it. Everything I've ordered has been great, and the service is spot-on. I've gone with just my husband, larger groups of adults, and have also gone with the kids. It's been smooth sailing no matter the size or composition of the group. Their kids menu is broader than most, which is nice. The regular menu offers unique dishes that have always enjoyed. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Alex R.
4.5/5 -- Great restaurant all around. Friendly, helpful waitstaff. Diverse and large menu of appetizers, meat, veggies, seafood, drinks, desserts, everything. I tried the shrimp ceviche (awesome summer dish), swordfish (delicious, yet small for a swordfish steak), fish and chips (delicious as well), and a cherry heffeweizen and a Hawaiian fruit beer to drink. Everything was awesome, tasty, and presented well. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Victor T.
Foodie euphoria. You can presume the food is going to be incredible when they offer a sous-vide entree on the menu. I actually altered my business travel plans to come to Destihl based on Yelp reviews, and am super glad I did. I drove through Illinois on a day trip and passed the Destihl sister location in Normal early in the morning before they had opened, so I decided to stay overnight in Champaign to visit the other Destihl location. I ordered the Red Chili Pork entree and it was, quite simply, remarkable. [note: I posted a tryptich Instagram photo of my dining experience here on Yelp] I also sampled several of their beer offerings, conveniently (and affordably) sold in 4 oz. taster glasses. All were more than satisfactory as compared to other microbreweries, of which I have been to many. The interior is also pleasant, being situated in a newly constructed building. There is outdoor seating, which was in high demand on the warm early evening I was here in late June. As one who travels a lot for work, I can strongly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Katie R.
The beverages are good. The food is average. Everything tastes a bit bland.
(3)Julia A.
Stopped in for a quick appetizer and beer after work and it was Wonderful. Beer was fresh and tasty. Ordered the ceveche and it was AWESOME!!! Great prices. Great atmosphere! Loved it!
(5)Matthew M.
Ordered the Steak sandwich...medium. The waitress brought out a big chuck of meat sandwiched between a french roll. When I bit into my sandwich, it was bloody red! Nowhere near medium! On top of that, it was smothered with caramelized onions, which were very strong and took away from the taste of the steak! The service was average. Nothing great. Overall, I would never consider going back. I can find a better steak sandwich for a lot less at a number of different area restaurants. Coincidentally, I spoke to a friend about my experience weeks later when Destihl came up in conversation, only to find out that she had the exact situation happen to her when she visited Destihl. Her steak sandwich was extremely undercooked as well. Must be a common trend with this place. Just another common chain restaurant, as far as I'm concerned!
(1)Grace C.
Despite the lack of love for Destihl on Yelp, I have to say: I am besotted. besotted/bisätid/ - Adjective: 1. Strongly infatuated: "he became besotted with his best friend's sister". 2. Intoxicated; drunk. Now, I am currently the first definition of besotted, with Destihl. I LOVED my visit. I went with Mr. Husband and a Very Close Friend (VCF) before seeing a movie at the Art Theater. Upon leaving, I may have been the second definition of besotted. (Just kidding, I only had one beer. I swear, my Yelp reviews make me sound like an alcoholic sometimes.) We went on a Monday evening around 6. We were seated right away. Mr. Husband and I had never been there, and we were surprised how big the restaurant actually is - it doesn't look that big from the outside. Our waiter came over right away and gave us a nice little menu introduction. I don't know why they've made a restaurant based on the things I personally like, but they did - I wanted EVERYTHING on the menu. Seriously. I haven't had such a hard time deciding on what to order for quite some time. VCF and I decided to split a small plate and an appetizer, so we got the 'House Olives' and the Bacon, Egg & Cheese deviled eggs. For my meal, I got the beer & cheddar soup and the spinach salad. VCF got the bison burger, and Mr. Husband got a special item, a bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. Food: Very good, but to be honest, it *could* have been better. If Yelp let me give 4.5 stars, I would've. Everything was solid, but there were a couple things that might just push it over the top. For instance, the house olives small plate? It was agreed that it could be improved by serving the olives pre-chopped, not whole - sort of a mix between an olive salad and a tapenade. The deviled eggs were good, but the yolk was just a bit stiffer than I would've liked. The beer & cheddar soup was yum, but the scallions would have been a little better more finely sliced. The spinach salad was good, but the maple in the maple jalapeno bacon dressing was a little too sweet, and overpowered the other good stuff (grilled portabella mushroom? hell yes.) Another reason I'm torn: I love that they use ingredients from local places when possible, and have put an emphasis on sustainable farming. I'm all for buying locally and supporting small farms and businesses. On the other hand, the way it's flaunted just strikes me as a tad pretentious. Personal bias, but still. Service - Another ALMOST 5 stars. My only issue with our waiter was that he was TOO attentive. Really friendly, very knowledgeable about the menu, gave good recommendations, was able to tell us what HIS favorites are (it drives me crazy when waiters have no idea what's good on the menu.) However, he came by every 5 minutes or so. I always have mixed feelings about that. I like a server who is *there* when I need a water refill or a new fork, etc, but coming by too often just breaks up the conversation. Ambiance - Very cool. Very big-city. I like it. I also like that it's BIG. Ample room between tables. We chose a booth, and it was perfect. The noise level is ideal - quiet enough to talk at a normal level, loud enough that it doesn't feel like everyone in the area can hear what you're saying. Dessert - I can't tell you the last time I ordered dessert after dinner! That NEVER happens! (I actually can tell you, it was at my mom-in-law's birthday dinner in early October.) But VCF knows how to sweet-talk me into sweets (heh), and our waiter was VERY convincing when telling us about the stout ice cream sandwiches, which feature a housemade chocolate ice cream made with their own stout, served on chocolate brownies. Oh. Mah. Gah. SO GOOD. The stout ice cream was phenomenal. The dessert consists of two sandwiches, so you get four brownies and two scoops of ice cream. This would be great to 5 out of 5 stars for the dessert!! Price - Another 5 out of 5 stars. I was expecting that I'd have one entree and a beer. We ended up with a ton of food! For $38.77 before tip (I saved my receipt!), we got: -A soda -A 12 oz. beer - the Malius Apple Blonde Ale - so good! -House Olives app -Spinach salad -Soup -Bacon cheeseburger special -1/2 of the stout ice cream sandwiches So while I can't yet give Destihl a 'best of the best' rating, I'm definitely a fan, and certainly willing to give it another few tries. I don't want to deter anyone from going here, because my visit was truly enjoyable. I'm already planning to permanently take Jim Gould out of my date-night lineup and replace it with Destihl. I just want to acknowledge that there is some room for improvement. I think with a tiny bit of tweaking, Destihl could easily be one of the top restaurants in C-U.
(4)Derrick P.
Every time I go to Destihl, I want to love it but I always leave disappointed. The menu is very creative in concept but the execution is always sub par. I've tried the seared scallops over curried mashed potatoes and the thai half chicken. The scallops were hardly seared and the potatoes were waaaaay over salted. The chicken on the other hand was far under spiced and seasoned. I will say their beer battered jalepeno bacon is delicious but deep fried food is pretty hard to screw up. Overall the prospect of having a modern american restaurant with an eclectic menu in the CU area is a great one, but a bit more attention to detail would greatly help Destihl.
(3)Zoe Z.
I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant/brew pub. The beer selection is pretty good here if you want to try different beers, and their food is pretty good. I came here for brunch which was average, but I really enjoyed the pizza I ordered on a different occasion. I would recommend this place as a nice spot to go for dinner.
(4)Dorian G.
The positive: The Aztec chocolate martini comes with a brownie garnish. And it's spicy. The waiters and bartenders I've talked to have been incredibly friendly. The food's better than you'd expect, actually. The salad was good, which is maybe not what you'd expect from a place that labels itself a brew pub. The pizza's a little boring, but that's probably just the vegetarian ones I'm limited to. They serve continuously, they have a large cocktail list, they take my American Express... it's everything a burgeoning yuppie alcoholic could want in a brew pub. Except that's not really me so here's what I don't like. The atmosphere. As I read through the descriptions they say "oh the atmosphere is great!" and I say... are you at the same restaurant? It's what a corporate design team thinks of as good atmosphere. Large, airy, and completely devoid of personality. It matches Jim Gould's across the street very well actually. The whole place really just reeks of chain, and I don't think that bothers most people at all but if I want to go in by myself and have a late lunch I feel very awkward. I'm happy to go in with friends and have cocktails and split a pound of cake. (They actually inform me that it is an 11 pound cake split 10 ways, so slightly more than a pound!) Worth checking out, if for no other reason than you too have probably been watching them work on this place for a couple years. You can't NOT go.
(3)Lynn G.
If there were an option for negative stars, DESTIHL Champaign would have a rating of -5 stars. What a complete failure this restaurant is. This place reminds me too much of the Jim Gould success failure story. It's a tale of how a restaurant owner and chef become to sure of themselves and stop trying only to discover complete failure. I pride myself in knowing good food and good restaurants. I have studied cullinary technique and have a passion for fresh, quality ingredients that produces a meal that leaves you longing for more. I write this review, having visited DESTIHL three times spread out over the course of a year. I sent my food back two out of the three times. The second time, I ordered the veggie burger which was hands down the WORST veggie burger I've ever sampled. I did not send this back because it was not the way the burger was cooked, it was a pure and simple failure on the design. My first experience I ordered swordfish. It was overcooked, returned and cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the Bison burger, medium rare and it came out well done. While waiting for the food to return, the manager apologized and brought us free appetizers. The meal ticket was reduced due to the error in the kitchen. I was optimistic about this restaurant and the situation was handled perfectly. Last night, I returned for what I was hoping to be a perfect swordfish. My husband's and I's order was the same. Bison burger and swordfish. First try at our order lended the same results. Both dishes overcooked and returned. Second try at our order, my husbands burger was cooked perfectly, my swordfish was raw. Third try at the swordfish, still raw! I changed my order to salmon at the waiter's recommendation. Finally a manager appears and delivers the Salmon stating "this is cooked to the chef's perfection." The manager slither's off like a snake before I even touch the salmon. Without cutting into the salmon, It was obvious that this fish was too raw. My family had finished eating and after an hour and a half wait with no food, no appetizers, and a chef that I was now convinced can not cook at all, I ordered a Greek Salad. This salad looked like someone threw the ingredients on my plate. No order, presentation was horrible. The dressing was red oil. This dressing did not taste like greek dressing at all. I ate the salad in disbelief that this place can not even prepare a good salad. Our ticket was once again adjusted but this experience left a sour taste in my mouth. I e-mailed the general manager and COO for the company and am awaiting a reply. I would recommend no one go to this restaurant. Seated across the street is Ko Fusion, an amazing restaurant. This restaurant is too close for comfort for DESTIHL as this is where I will be seated watching DESTIHL's doors close for good if they do not find a chef that can cook the menu that was created. EDIT: Less than 12 hours after my e-mail, I received a phone call from the general manager. He was very kind and appologized. More than this he listened. He was kind and acknowledged that my concerns were valid. He stated over and over again that there are no good excuses. Humiliy allows for growth and I hope that this general managers humility induces change that produces solid growth. In March 2013, My husband and I used compensation cards to return. The following is my email to the manager of destihl. I e-mailed back in October regarding a disappointing dinner and service that my family I experienced at Destihl Champaign. We received compensation cards and returned tonight in order to assess if the service and food improved. Our server was once again phenomenal, but the food was less than stellar. My husband and I both ordered the swordfish, which were once again not cooked properly. The swordfish were dry and over cooked, even upon reorder. I guessed by the drying of the fish that a meat thermometer was used to assess if they were cooked properly, which in my opinion is an amateur error. I then ordered a small portion Greek salad due to my hunger, my husband did not order one and we were charged for both. I then ordered a gluten free Mediterranean pizza and my husband, a bone in ribeye. My pizza could not possibly have been gluten free because within seconds, I felt sick and bloated and my husband's ribeye was cooked unevenly and dried out! Most likely another piece of meat fallen victim to the meat thermometer. With a history in restaurant service and cooking, I was appalled that we were charged for the salads and the pizza and were virtually comped nothing for the less than stellar food that we received. Please do not send us any more compensation cards as we will not be returning, but I wanted to let you know that we are completely dissatisfied with ALL of our experiences at Destihl Champaign.
(1)Debra W.
The wait staff have been among the friendliest I have encountered in town. Last night I had a good mojito. For food, it is sometimes hit and miss. I love the salmon salad. The goat cheese and spinach salad was a little skimpy and I didn't recognize the two little dollops of goat cheese on the salad. The tortilla soup was also nothing to write home about. It is the only place in town with cheese curds! I absolutely love the baked apple dessert! In the evenings, the sun is in just the right place to give a nice shade for the outdoor seating. All in all, I have always enjoyed my visits to Destihl.
(4)Morgan M.
I am so happy the Champaign Destil finally opened! The food menu is a bit different from the Bloomington one, but awesome nonetheless. Beer battered bacon is good, flatbreads are awesome, and the stout ice cream sandwiches (incredible!) have enough stout that they card people for that dessert! 4oz taster glasses make trying multiple beers fun, and the bartender will even give you a FREE 2 oz taster if you don't know what you want. Will be back over and over again!
(5)Evelyne T.
I loved the food and beer selection. I only wish there were more vegetarian options. It won't keep me from going back, but I won't go as often as I might if there more veggie-friendly choices:)
(3)Conrad G.
Slow service, weak food, im not sure the beers we ordered had any alcohol in them they tasted watered down. The place looks promising but I was dissapointed.
(2)Marcia F.
You won't go wrong with anything on the menu. All of the food here is incredible. Things you can't miss: Beer Battered Asparagus, Flat Iron Steak Quesadilla with Blue Cheese, Mediterranean Pizza and Stuffed Poblano Pepper. Leave room for the S'mores!
(5)William R.
We were greeted and seated near our reservation time even though the restaurant was very busy. Our server was quickly at our table and very attentive at first. We ordered our drinks and food and all was well. However, an hour later our server explained that there were a number of large parties who were getting their food before us so it was taking this long. He delivered our food and never came back to the table. My order was correct and fairly tasty but my wife's order was wrong and there was never anyone to ask about correcting it. Very long wait for the wrong food and very disappointed in our experience. There are quite a few restaurants downtown, this will not be on our short list for another visit.
(2)lady a.
The service here has been great! No complaints. The beers are hit-or-miss -- I've tasted a couple that were PHENOMENAL and ended up in a growler purchase but some are subpar. Taste tests are in order! The food is good, but nothing extraordinary -- on the thai salad, it would've been nice to have more than 4 slivers of steak but it tasted wonderful. The pizzas are also tasty. Clean, inoffensive, and not terribly expensive.
(4)Rick F.
Deep fried bacon is awesome. Great selection of beers. Service good. Waiter waaay too social. Buffalo was yummy. Nice ambiance. Ample parking. Reasonable prices.
(4)Bess W.
The bacon is great and the asparagus is amazing. This is all I can say good for this place. The wait staff always seems very busy standing in the corner chatting instead of checking on patrons. I've given this place too many chances to be disappointed every time. I even wrote a letter to the manager once to get an insencere apology. Clearly nothing has changed as I am writing this sitting at the bar after being ignored for 20 minutes and counting with an empty glass on a very slow Monday night.
(1)Daniel F.
After waiting years for this to finally open (and moving 2 years ago) I finally tried it out on my way back to St. Louis from the Chicago area. It was after 2 pm, so no idea how things are during peak times. I liked the atmosphere, although the AC was at arctic levels. I enjoyed my food and drink, but since I was traveling, I just got a sampler of the Altercation (a good compromise between light and dark), and the spinach salad (enjoyed the maple bacon dressing) and the Cuban Pork. Recommended stop in downtown Champaign - in the large condo tower on Neil in downtown. There's a gigantic parking deck behind it, or metered parking in the city lot across the street, where there are 2 Zipcars stationed. Good move, Champaign.
(4)Tim J.
Couldn't be better for lunch. Service was on point and friendly (word on the street is they hijacked 80% of Houlihan's staff). Their beers were solid, too. I couldn't get the Yelp App to check me in so I could upload my pic of the tastiest stout I've ever had, so you are just going to have to trust me on its delicousity. I tried a taster (4oz for $1.50) of their berry weiss beer and it was a little too much berry for me, but if you like that kind of thing, you will love Destihl's take on it: the flavors of sweet and tart bounce back and forth dynamically as you sip. A companion loved their IPA, lauding the freshness and the spicyness of the hops. The food is as good as anywhere else downtown. My table ordered the portabello sandwich which was really hearty and came with kettle chips with a touch of seasoning and Destihl's Kobe burger, which is served on a fancy bun I did non recognize and stacked with thick jalepeno bacon, bleu and white chedar cheeses, pickles, and comes with the best steak fries I've ever tasted. That burger is about the same price as Farren's and the verdict was it was just as good, if not better, owing to the extra special toppings. Destihl's fries are thick badasses with the skin on and huge flecks of kosher or sea salt and were both perfectly crispy and cooked the whole way thru. Those are served with their balsamic vinegar (and expresso bean?) barbecue sauce that is unlike any I've ever had. As good as the kettle chips are, I highly recommend you sub in for the steak fries (though I saw some gorgeous piles of sexy shoestring fries served with other dishes, giving me one more reason for a quick return). Another reason for a quick return is the very impressive menu. Vegetarian will have no problem here, nor will the health-concious. They have a wide and deep menu spanning from American classic pub fare to trendy fusion dishes usually found only in more expensive restaurants. Prices were not exceedingly low, however value is good. I did not see their spirits or wine menus, but the lineup behind the bar bodes well for those not in the mood for beer. This place takes the best of Boltini's, Seven Saints, the Pigs, Radio, and Bacaro and serves it up in a killer setting with great modern ambiance. I will never pass up an invite to eat here.
(5)Majhon P.
This is a fun place with a trendy atmosphere. It's one of the few places in town that allow you to mix and match beer flights at a fair price. The food is fun and tasty. I recommend the mussels, pizzas, and wings.
(4)Karla G.
Can you say BEER BATTERED BACON??!!! Fried cod is to die for and Kobe burger is awesome!
(4)Rene O.
Had dinner with a group of friends and felt the food was very over rated. Bison burger was salty and the service was took forever. Had to ask for condiments after the food arrived and drinks took forever. Disappointing experience.
(2)Beth K.
The rueben is awesome. The bison burger leaves much to be desired. It has a very French flavor to it, which just doesn't seem right for bison at all. The bourbons they have should be better than what they are carrying.
(3)jim d.
We have had Destihl in Bloomington-Normal for some time but I've been looking forward to the addition to the Champaign-Urbana restaurant options for some time. And I'm glad it has arrived!! I found the atmosphere cozier than the B/N Destihl. The service was FAST! My iced tea was never empty (which is impressive because I drink fast and a LOT....which is why I opt for the iced tea and not the beer). The food did not disappoint. I'm a fan of the beer battered asparagus appetizer. And opted for the Brewmaster Pizza on this trip. Everyone in my party of 6 had something different and came away pleased with their meals. I used OpenTable to make a reservation which was quick and convenient. We were in and out in about an hour....much quicker than I expected. In my opinion, a great addition to the Downtown area! Perfect for dinner before hopping over to The Art Theater! Welcome Destihl!!!
(4)Ed M.
Visiting friends in Champaign and came here for lunch. Contemporary, open restaurant with a good vibe in downtown Champaign. Our waiter was Trent; very personable, knowledgeable and helpful. There is no set beer flight but you can order 4 oz small glasses if you want to sample. I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest and the Roadblock British Red Ale. We shared the Beer Batter Asparagus for an appetizer and really enjoyed it (Trent encouraged us to squeeze the grilled lemon over the Asparagus and glad that we did). We ordered the Lunch Combos. The soup and sandwiches were top notch. I know there are a lot of restaurants in the C/U area, but you can't go wrong here. If the rest of the wait staff are as good as Trent, you will be taken care of quite nicely. Very good beer, very good food in an inviting atmosphere, I definitely recommend Destihl.
(4)Jennifer F.
Went for dinner and sat on the patio which was wonderful because there was a band playing on the corner. Our food was very good, but the best part was the coffee and dessert! Our waiter recommended the sour cherry bread pudding and it was awesome. Our waiter was great too. Despite them being extremely busy, he was very attentive and very helpful!
(5)Adam T.
Update: I had eaten at Destihl a couple months ago, and the best word for my dining experience at that point would be "inconsistent." Last night I returned to Destihl so that I could form a more definite opinion. For my main course, I ordered the Brewmaster's Pizza, which was served with chicken, andouille sausage, ale onions, and an espresso-chipotle barbecue sauce. The pizza was nothing to rave about, but it probably would have been quite a bit better if a) the pizza had been served hot instead of lukewarm and rapidly cooling, and b) the crust had been cooked all the way through. My brother's pizza was also apparently cold and undercooked, and reading through the other reviews, this seems to be common for diners at Destihl who order pizza. I think I've probably accumulated enough evidence at this point--Destihl is not worth the high prices. There are so many better restaurants in Champaign.
(2)Lenore B.
I have been here 3 times for dinner and both times I enjoyed the food. It's also a very good place to bring children, and they have healthier children's meals with pb & j and fruit, unlike many other places that just add junk into children's meals. Each time I've been here, I've had a generally positive experience. The wait staff are very friendly and helpful. I would definitely continue to go here.
(5)keren g.
Tried this place around 5:30 on a weeknight and it was not at all busy. It did start getting busier towards the end of the meal, but our service was good. Luckily for me I had not been highly anticipating the opening of Destihl. The beers were good enough. There were about a dozen to choose from so if you drink beer at all, you should be able to find one you like. The night we went in we were given free 2oz samples of as many of the beers as we wanted to try. I tried the Belgian, Strawberry Blonde and Raspberry Wheat, Champaign Blond and Frankengluten - good flavors, but none will be appearing on my all-time favorites list. The Frankengluten was interesting and worth a try if you are adventurous. Our waiter was nice and attentive enough but could not properly give drink recommendations since he was not old enough to drink. I thought this strange since, clearly, patrons are going to want to know about the beer. The food... I had the brie and portabello sandwich with chips. The chips were average and the sandwich was bland. That's honestly about the best I can say. My dinner partner said his steak salad was excellent and it looked fresh and crisp, but I can't vouch for the taste. We split the beer battered asparagus and that was by far my favorite item. I will probably go back at some point for another try. The pizza and a desserts sounded like they may have potential. Second visit 8/27/11: Finally tried the pizza (pesto and goat cheese) and still really no change in my review. Nice wait staff but the food does not overly impress. You do receive a large quantity of food for the price. Although, for me, quantity does not trump quality.
(3)Rand G.
We've eastern here before but was less satisfied this time. Waited an hour for a table which was a function of the table simply not turning over which was probably a function of a slow kitchen based on our experience. The food was medium this time. My wife had the trout which was really too spicy and overwhelmed the trout taste. My shrimp kabobs seemed like they were cooked earlier in the day and then reheated. They looked like they were cooked to death but they were mildly warm -- not hot. The custom brew was mixed -- some acceptable and some bad (their pale ale). The kids were OK with their meals. The deserts are decadent but can be expensive. $10 for a slice of chocolate cake at this place in middle of Illinois? Kind of expensive. Why not cut it in half and charge $5.50? Anyway, we we divided between 2 and 3 stars although we have had higher rated meals here in past years.
(3)Stephanie F.
This place is pretty bad. The decor looks like the contractor went to Lowe's or Home Depot and bought all the "fancy" materials from the discontinued materials section (and just a note here to the management: really? bathroom stall doors that go all the way to the floor? Western civilization pivots on the ability to look down and see if there are feet under the door and thus realize that you have to wait a minute instead of jiggling the door handle like some pee-filled serial killer). The service was equally uninspired -- my least favorite combination of ingratiatingly peppy and incompetent, and the food was mediocre when it got there. It took so long to appear at the table that I was sort of hoping that the cook had sent out for it from another restaurant, but no such luck. And I only thought this might be the case because the menu says that the kitchen likes to get food from local sources. This might be technically true -- they might like it -- but there's not much evidence that they actually do it. I think I can honestly say that the last time I experienced this kind of ambience I was in an airport restaurant.
(1)Angela T.
I went for lunch with high expectations, and was bitterly disappointed. I ordered the "choose two," including the pastrami reuben sandwich and the beer cheese soup. A brew-pub has to have great beer-cheese soup, right? WRONG!!!! The soup was like a creamy caraway broth with some green onion garnish. No taste of cheese or beer, just gross. The Pastrami Reuben, described as served on Cranberry Nut bread, looked interesting on the menu. However, what I received was essentially a large cranberry nut scone (about 4" tall) sliced in half with three small pieces of pastrami, a few shreds of sauerkraut, and invisible swiss cheese. I normally do not send things back in a restaurant, but this showing was so horrible, I sent it back. I tried the $13 American Kobe burger instead. Eh. It was an average - but by no means worth $13 - burger (think akin to the pre-made patties you find at Sam's Club) and, once again, the bread-to-meat ratio was WAY off. Anyway, $40 later, we walked out very disappointed. I can think of several places in town I could go and spend much less for a much higher quality experience.
(1)Erin D.
There hamburger is a 5 star real fancy made up ...fries season to the t...they make their own beer wich i dont drink got great tea but its high as hell to eat there but worth it
(5)Gabi G.
Went here on a Friday night. Waited about 10 or so minutes to get seated and then once seated, no waiter came. About 4 waiters passed us, served and checked in with the tables around us. No "I'll be with you guys in a bit" or nothing. After about 15 mins of sitting there, me and my husband got up and left. Not sure what the problem was but was very dissatisfied and unhappy.
(1)Jonathan K.
This restaurant has below average/overpriced food, and ridiculously slow service.. It took about 15-20 minutes for anyone to even notice us. We had to flag someone down just for some waters. I wouldn't say the servers did know what they were doing, but just very slow. For a Monday night, business was okay, but waiting 40 minutes for food is inexcusable. I had the Beer Battered Bacon Burger with an Egg, and it was below average. It would have been your average burger if the patty had any flavor.. But the meat was simply tasteless. The beer battered bacon is quite tasty, but the nothing I would crave for. The only reason I give this place two stars is for the Strawberry Ale that I got to try. The beer was light and smooth, it complimented my meal. I would go back to have a drink or two, but not for a dinner out with family or friends.
(2)Jeremy C.
This place has it together! We came here after waiting 25 minutes at a nearby restaurant with no service. DESTIHL was very busy, which is always a good sign. After a brief wait, we were seated and acknowledged immediately by our server. Not only were the beers top notch, but the food and service was as well! We had water refills and empty plates cleared by other servers who happened to be walking by. We couldn't have asked for a better experience!
(5)Travis B.
Nice kinda classy place that has food. You could wear a tie and not feel out of place, but I'm in khakis and a t-shirt and still feel comfortable. We're just ordering beer samples and Curtis is taking care of us nicely. Not a bad blow off Monday workday kind of place.
(4)Kat H.
I'd been putting off going here due to what I'd heard about the prices, finally went for a get-together with friends and was impressed. Service was pretty great. We had a big group, 16 people, and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would for our food to get to us. I also have a baby and a stroller and the host was great about getting her a high chair before we even asked, and was very chill about finding a place for the stroller and just having the baby around in general. The food was delicious. I had a Thai steak salad, and the steak came on its own next to the salad so you can cut it yourself and get the full delicious steak experience and not lose any juiciness. The steak was tender and cooked wonderfully, and the salad was nicely spicy, with some spicy peanuts that I think they make in-house. Good deal for $12, in my opinion, or at least not overpriced compared to restaurants with similar food. My husband had the fish and chips, which I thought were pretty nice too. Potato wedges were a bit salty, but I love salt, so I was happy. Beer-wise, I had a house IPA that was good but not great. Would go again for a nice meal out. It seems like a good place to go on a date or celebrate an event, and they seem to handle large groups well.
(5)Ibrahim S.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers! They are just delicious. The food at this place is amazing. It is also very wholesome. The staff is super helpful and makes really good selections. The location is fantastic and right in the middle of downtown and very accessible by bus. They have free validated parking available as well. They have a craft brewery as well and have some of the finest selections of beers. Make sure to try their 4oz selections. Lastly, the outdoor patio. Definitely the place to be for lunch during spring and summers.
(5)Paul J.
To be honest the food was pretty good. I got the chorizo stuffed dates, which was the best thing I had tonight. For my entree I got the wagyu burger, which was overall pretty good. However this is the point at which their rating goes down. The wagyu burger is advertised as coming with a "golden brioche bun", but the bun we received looked like the average bun you get at Walmart for a picnic; thin, flat and crumbling. We asked the waitress if there was some mistake but she confirmed that, indeed the bun we received was the "golden brioche bun". Either the waitress was mistaken, or this restaurant does not know what a brioche bun is. I guess it's also possible that I have no idea what a brioche bun should look like. I uploaded a photo of the bun if you guys want to see for yourself.
(2)Jody E.
We were there for a very special going away party. It was a shame the waiter made us feel so unwelcome. Typical of CU. Crummugeonly students who begrudgingly take wait staff jobs but really act as though it's beneath them to the customer. He was curt and indifferent. The food was barely so so.. the arugula salad was inedible. The cook overdosed it with 1/2 cup of salt. The beer is good, but the server knew little about it. I won't go out of my way to go there.
(2)Sherry K.
Bacon wrapped dates a bit spicy but very good flavor. Swordfish tacos delicious & the rice/black beans that came with it had a great ancho chili flavor. Beer battered fish sandwich very tasty & great chips with it. Overall a delicious lunch today!
(4)Ed R.
My review is for today's visit. In town on business and Destihl was recommended. Service was very good as we fumbled through the beer and food menu. I had the Hefeweizen, Jacobs ladder brown, and Roadblock red beers, all good. Tried the battered bacon appetizer, perfect. So many great sounding entrees, I picked the pot roast - excellent. Very tender and tasty beef, gravy with vegetables on top of mashed potatoes. Excellent. Prices are reasonable. I wish we had this place in Wisconsin.
(5)Caroline H.
We stopped by here after a dinner across the street. We were originally going to eat here, but were told the food was bland. Aside from that, we had some beers. I like the hefeweizen and the porter. A good place to hang out. Will try the menu another time.
(3)Shruti S.
One of the few places in Champaign I like going to more than a few times. Never tried their beer because I don't drink beer, which is a shame since their food's good so I bet there are some great pairings! Their croquettes, like most fried stuff IMHO, is okay. A friend ordered the stuffed poblano, which was really nicely done, and ha some serious stuffing! The swordfish tacos are amazing; just look at the line up of flavours on the menu! I avoid eating pastas in most places, but the orrechhiette and fennel sausage one is great. Always love flavoured sausages, and while I'm not sure this is house-made, it's still a great dish. And even when you re-heat it, except for the kale bits of course :)
(3)Nelson M.
Restaurant review I preface this review is mainly for the food so I did not try any of the beer here. The food is okay, I can't say that it is amazing or that I crave coming here for dinner. It is also not cheap by any imagination, but this is one of the hot spots for dinner with the gastropub concept and microbrewery on site. The first time I came during a work function. I had the bavarian style pretzel. Nothing really exciting. Pretzel with cheese sauce or the IPA mustard. It sort of reminded me of the pretzels you would get at the amusement park. I ended up trying the most expensive item on the menu which was the espresso rubber ribeye 18 oz with bone in, chiptole espress bbq sauce, asparagus, and bacon truffle mashed potatoes for 30 dollars. Somehow the meat just does not match steak hour quality meat. You are expecting an angus quality steak, but somehow my ribeye had a huge chunk of fat in the middle. Good ribeye is marbled with fat to give it that amazing tenderness and flavor, this was not that. The espresso rubbed gave it sort of a burnt flavor. I can't say that I was impressed. The second time I came went with the beer battered bacon egg burger 14.50 that had angus beef, beer battered jalapeno bacon, bacon jam, along with a fried egg topped with smoked white cheddar cheese and a brioche bun. Somehow the batter of the bacon was super thick so you ended up having chicken tender size bacon on top of the burger. The blend of angus beef patty with bacon jam and fried egg is an amazing combo, but somehow the oil must have not been changed for the beer batter bacon. It was a very dark color and had a strong not so pleasant oil taste. If you like gastro-pub food you can give this place a try, but once again for the price you pay the food just falls short of that bar. Pros: gastro-pub, lots of beer selection, quick service Cons: not top quality protein, the oil may have not been changed for a while given the overused oil taste, expensive Hidden deals: Join the desthil guest reward program. I did not get offered this at my visit. You get 25 dollars back after spending 500 dollars. Double points at lunch time during the week.
(2)Jessica K.
The first few times I dined at Destihl, I wasn't fond of it. I thought the food was too greasy and too salty. That was in regards to the the duck confit (which they don't offer anymore) and the salmon. The next few times I tried a greater of variety of dishes including the fish tacos and a couple burgers and a few appetizers (cheese curds and quesadilla). Excellent. Destihl has really grown on me.
(5)Zewditu D.
Overall, not impressed. My family decided to something a bit different this year and went to a new restaurant vs. going to old standbys. After finding a list of top restaurants online, we ended up settling on Destihl due to the large menu with seemingly lots of tasty options. We made a reservation for a Monday night and we were seated right away. Parking can be a bit difficult mid-evening. We had to circle around the nearby city lot to finally find a spot. My order: Chorizo stuffed dates to share and Thai steak salad. Other orders: Clam chowder (the soup of the day), House salad, Spicy Thai shrimp, and Pesto Chicken (recommended by the waiter). The dates came out first. I didn't realize they were going to be wrapped in bacon. But score, I love it that way. The bacon needed to be cooked a bit more though. They had a nice kick to them. They were enjoyed for the most part, but these are much better in Atlanta. As for main meal, the accidentally brought my mom a Caesar salad instead of the House salad. She was going to order it but changed her mind. The waiter forgot to write down the change. He came out quickly to apologize after it was delivered. The salad is a wedge salad with a crispy toast in place of croutons and a fried egg. My mom wasn't excited about the fried egg and gave it to us. I tasted it but didn't like it so passed it on to my brother. How do you mess up a fried egg? My Thai steak salad was not very good. The steak was cooked more medium than medium well. There was not much of it. The greens were kinda soggy. The peanuts were way too salty. Much better in Atlanta, again. Overall, portion sizes were adequate and we got our fill. We signed up for a rewards card that evening and were able to apply the purchase that we had just made to our rewards card. That was great. Even though I may not be back. There were plenty of other options that seemed great on the menu, but hesitant after this experience. Plus there are other places to try in the city. Everyone else liked their food. So that's something. I was going to give them 3 stars given everyone else's satisfaction. But then I realized that I had noted in our reservation that we were celebrating my dad's birthday. They didn't do anything to signify that. Not even a happy birthday. Nothing! So 2 stars it is.
(2)Dee R.
I think their cedar plank salmon is off the hook good. The service is usually in point and I've never waited very long for a table. Great place.
(5)Seth B.
Tasty food, solid drink selection, and great location in the heart of downtown Champaign. It's not on my "must-visit" list, but it's one of my regular options for lunch or night on the town. I'd recommend the beer battered bacon cheeseburger. It's delicious and beyond indulgent. I'm not a fan of their house brews, though. It seems like, regardless of style, most of them taste too much alike. I'm just not a fan of the brewmaster's style.
(4)Daniella B.
We had dinner here awhile back for the first time in a few years. They've improved their menu recently and the variety is very nice - something for everyone. They also feel higher quality. No more expensive pizza! We always enjoy the well priced, high quality beer. We ended buying a keg for a party which was a great value!
(4)Alex G.
I had a red ale, I normally wouldn't give a place a bad review because I chose poorly. In this case it's warranted because it's their own beer and they're responsible for the quality. It was just a very thin beer, it didn't have enough flavor to stand up to the food. I had their meatloaf dish, and I appreciate the idea of creating a blend of beef, bison, and lamb the loaf itself was over mixed and too dense. The mashed potatoes seemed like they were made from a box, or they were over whipped, almost to a paste but there was enough butter to make them creamy. The roasted vegetables were pretty good. Ended with the bread pudding, which was a drier than I like, but the caramel sauce was good. I liked how other things sounded on the menu if I go back I will update the rating but currently unimpressed.
(2)Jason D.
I've been here so many times that it's rare to find an item on the menu I haven't had. Honestly, there's nothing on the menu that, if they told me they were out of everything else, I wouldn't turn down that item. And the beers? Wow - great variety and their in-house brewed beers are fantastic. Seriously, I have no complaints. One of my favorites in CU.
(5)Deborah F.
The food is amazing. I had the salmon and potato salad. This is no ordinary salad, the dish is served warm with fingerling potatoes, grilled vegetables and salmon carefully laid on top with a spicy mustard sauce. My description doesn't adequately represent the delicious meal. It was quite surprising for a brewery. The staff was great and knew the various beers to recommend to my novice palate. I am more fond of wine. Great experience.
(5)John R.
Service was stellar. The waiter was very kind and the atmosphere was great! It put a smile on my face. It took less than 5 minutes to get seated and less than 10 minutes to have our order taken. Within 2 minutes of having our order taken, the soup we ordered came out. The main entree came out in a timely fashion as well. Items I ordered were: Three Cheese & Ale Soup Stuffed Poblano Pepper Cajun-Style Shrimp Po' Boy The soup was overall very delicious. It was a bit salty but the creamy consistency was amazing and the bacon and green onions really gave the dish some nice texture and crunch. The soup also had a slight bitterness which was good as well. I highly recommend this dish. The stuffed pepper had great flavor but lacked texture. The potato and cheese filling was a bit mushy and the pepper being mushy as well didn't help. I wish the pepper had a bit more crunchy texture to accompany the creaminess of the potato and cheese. The sauce was great and had a nice flavor with some heat. The rice and corn was delicious as well. I probably wouldn't recommend this dish. The po' boy was pretty good. The bread was toasted well and gave the sandwich a nice crunch. Shrimp was a bit overcooked and the veggies were kind of just slammed together in some sauce. However, flavor was there. I took a risk in ordering a Louisiana style dish here and it didn't really hit the mark. I would still recommend this dish nonetheless. I was going to give this place 3 stars but the service is what made this place shine. Therefore, 4 stars it is! Overall, not a bad experience and would come back.
(4)Michaela K.
Was a little disappointed because I always heard good things. Waitress wasn't well trained and the food kept on getting messed up. It was upsetting because it was so talked up. The food wasn't that great but they did have a good selection of beer and their soft pretzel was out of this world. Enough to get another order as desert and not just an appetizer.
(3)Tricia D.
The only reason I'd come back here is for the bacon wrapped dates! Those babies embodied sweet, savory, smokey, and spicy. Delish! Omg, I just realized that delish is almost an anagram for Destihl. So shall I say it was delisht*? Too many other things were off about the meal for me to want to return. Too bad because those desserts sound alluring (pumpkin bread pudding!). - It took way too long for the waiter (who said he was new) to come back for our order. Another waitress actually came by to ask how we were doing because she saw us looking around. - Long wait for the appetizers. How long does it take to send over some cheese curds, bacon wrapped dates, and nachos? The nachos arrived last. I didn't time it, but the meal was a solid hour and 45 minutes. I wasn't crazy about the nachos, but the cheese curds were my second fave after the dates. - My bison burger was extra dry (and I've had juicy bison before), and the bun it came on was too crumbly and dry as well. I took 2 bites and ditched the rest of the bun. And the last and final straw: - My colleague clearly ordered the Carolina pork two ways (the entree is actually like 5 or 6 words on the menu, and he read off every word), but what was served to him was the Carolina wings. He ended up just eating it because it would've taken forever for the correct entree to come out, based on our experience with the apps and entrees. Also, rather than bringing out a free dessert or comp'ing the entree off the bill, we were still charged for the incorrect order, and waiter just kept saying thanks for understanding, and "the wings tasting good?" That is actually the first time in life that I've seen an entree get messed up, and it's still charged on the final bill. Wth? I spoke to a manager, who removed the item from the bill. *the t is silent. Duh!
(2)Shantanu D.
I went here last Saturday. The service was quite poor. After sitting down, we waited close to 25 min for our order to be taken and another 20 min for our food. Frankly, I was about to walk out but was swayed by the waiters candid apology. Focusing on the food, I ordered the Thai shrimp noodles. The presentation of the food was nice but for the price the serving size was quite disappointing. The noodles tasted okay but I might have been slightly biased given the poor service. For dessert, I got the carrot cake. The carrot cake was quite moist and soft. I recommend it. Overall, poor service experience and above average food. Given that this is champaign, it is a nice casual sit down place.
(3)Kevin K.
Overall I was very impressed! A local restaurant with a lot of class. The place has amazing quality chefs and waiters, and makes sure to keep the menu fresh, continuously changing the menu. When I went I had the Flank Top Steak. The prices were moderate for what I ordered, but when it came out, I was impressed with the plating! But that was minuscule adoration compared to the taste of the food. Absolutely delectable. I would recommend the place to anyone looking for a classy place to get great food and a full stomach. And if it's still available, you have to try the Beer Battered Bacon!
(5)Bryant M.
3.5 Stars I certainly like Destihl, but I'm not quite in love with it. I was mentally writing my review all throughout dinner, and it was a solid 4 stars--until the bill came. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to pay for amazing food, but it's gotta be spot-on. Our dinner for 2 was $120, after tip. We had 2 drinks each, an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert. I've definitely paid this much before for a comparable amount of food, but that was at some of my favorite restaurants that make sure every detail is perfect. And everything at Destihl was good, but not perfect. Here's what we had: --Stuffed dates - These had a great sweet/salty/spicy balance, but the barbecue sauce was a bit too much and a little detracting. --Mustard-glazed chicken - The chicken itself was delicious, but there was too much mustard sauce. The fingerling potatoes and green beans were both good, but not well-seasoned. The dish also didn't come out super hot. --Espresso-rubbed steak - The steak was huge and cooked well, and it had great flavor. Not my favorite steak, but still good. --Bruleed banana pudding - They made this gluten-free for me by not having pie crust, and it was phenomenal. It was the star of the show! I am still dreaming of this. The interior of Destihl is very nice--what you'd expect at an upscale gastropub. Our server was also very nice, but he was a bit new and didn't quite know the menu well yet. While I'm not head over heals for this place, I do think it's a great addition to the downtown Champaign scene! I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the city... especially for that banana pudding.
(3)Amy G.
Luckily, we went with family, so we got to eat off each other's plates! Everything was DELICIOUS! We started off with 4 appetizers. The deep fried bacon, fried green tomatoes, soft pretzels, and bacon wrapped dates. All were fabulous and recommended, but the fried green tomatoes were unbelievable! You really can't go wrong with this menu, and the wait staff is really knowledgeable. They helped guide those who were unsure to a good choice. The poblano peppers with chorizo was off the charts great and the Thai chicken wasn't too far behind. The fried bacon and egg burger was out of this world, but you better have a big appetite! One of the teenagers ordered fish and chips. They even elevated fish and chips! Even with all of this food, we ordered dessert! The sour cherry bread pudding and the banana cream pie were my favorites! The carrot cake was a close second! We had a great family dinner and EVERYONE loved what they got and went home happy! And with a family of 14, that almost never happens.
(5)Carol C.
Great experience, with great food. The service was quick, polite, and professional. I highly recommend the swordfish (unless it's seasonal and/or replaced by the time of this reading).
(5)