Small portions, but tasty Penne alla vodka. Riesling was refreshing! Nice hidden date night spot on campus

Overall pasta dishes are blend and overcooked. I tried here for couple of times, but the quality of pasta and risotto are kind of inconsistent. The only dish I always liked was seafood risotto tho :) read more

Still the best pizza in IL. From the Classic's to the weekly special pizza's it's really really good. The Fungi pizza is world class. Great starters (the Fritto Misto and the Goat Cheese are fantastic, check the specials too) and complex and tasty entree's which change all the time. Usually 4-8 pasta's which are a bargain and range from comfort food to very complex. Many vegetarian and some good vegan choices usually. The food is rich and filling and always really good. Excellent Italian, French, and American wine list and surprisingly affordable with many things only available here AFAIK. read more

This place was great. I was very impressed with both the food and the service. Me and my sisters went to this place for dinner. We got the linguine pasta, the ravioli, and the Timpone's original pizza, and house salad. All the food was delicious! And the waiter and chef were so accommodating. My sister had a food allergy to the item she ordered and they immediately apologized and offered to get her new food. I would highly recommend coming here. read more

Timpone's - Linguine, ravioli, and wine - Italian Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

I have to say that I was really skeptical about eating here after going to other Italian spots around here, but damn... Way to represent, champaign, whoops, my bad, way to represent, URBANA!!! I love this spot!!! The portions look hella small (my friend who paid - looked at my dish and was like "you sure that's gonna be enough?" and it was!! It's like space food, you wet it and poof it goes bigger) but it's enough, trust me. They are creative with their dishes (spinach lasagne special - uh yum?) and well worth the money I spent. And also, the seafood tasted fresh, not rubbery from the freezer (they might be my go to seafood spot if I get a raise - sorry, red lobster). They don't have ginger beer so no dark and stormies or Moscow mules, but they did inspire me to start making my own ginger beer (you can't have none). Creme brûlée wasn't spectacular but their bacon caramel bread pudding, I swear it's like Einstein and Julia child had an Italian baby and the baby works in this kitchen. The service was great, too. Kerry (I think) was attentive in just the right way. And he was honest with the things he knew and didn't know, and sold us on the specials (thank you, Kerry!!) Cons: accessibility. There is a downstairs portion (where the bar is) but if someone who was wheelchair bound didn't want to be around that area, I don't know if the restaurant accounts for that. Otherwise, if you want to impress ANYONE bring them here. read more

The food wasn't memorable, but the service was. Our waitress had no idea what she was talking about and seemed abrasive and rude! Unfriendliness aside, she didn't even do her job very well. It's expensive, and just based on service alone, I wouldn't go back. read more

For two years I walked past the singularly unimpressive facade of Timpone's with its dated looking sign, convinced that such a place could only continue to remain open because it was obviously a front for some illegal racketeering scheme or other sinister enterprise. Then I went for lunch. I am still not entirely convinced that there is not a vicious syndicate running the location, but I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Well-made salads, great food options, and wonderfully arrayed. I ended the entire adventure with a lovely dessert and coffee and emerged mildly regretful for having judged Timpone's so harshly. However, if there's a raid one day I wouldn't be surprised. ;) read more

I feel that this could be a perfectly good restaurant but every time I go there they just miss it. So if you want an expensive meal that just misses tasting good, go here. I had a perfectly good burger that had apparently been sitting too long before the waiter brought it out: the bottom bun had turned to soggy mush. So close! I tried a tomato bisque with goat cheese lumps in it that had a lot of potential but there were so many goat cheese lumps that the balance was all wrong. When you order a tomato bisque it should taste like tomato, I reckon. Almost! I had a fancy-pants mushroom and sausage pizza. Each ingredient seemed good by itself, but as a whole it had a taste I would describe as "many strong clashing cheeses." Nearly there! read more

It's kind of funny how you go through your college years with a certain perspective on cost. Back in my day, anything over 5 bucks for a meal was expensive. I never went to Bread Company or to Timpone's until after I came back to visit my now wife. But now? I'm freaking rich, bitches. I can order what I want, where I want. That's right. 12 bucks for a plate of awesome pasta with bolognese sauce? Why yes, I can afford that. I actually have a paycheck that isn't from wiping tables or undergraduate research! The times I've been to Timpone's has always been impressive. My most recent visit, however, made me appreciate this place all the more. I can't say that I've had a better pasta with bolognese sauce. Sure, it's a seemingly absurdly simple dish, but everything about the thing was just right. The wife got a fried oyster and spinach salad that was extremely delicious as well. I kept meaning to ask what sort of oysters they were, because you don't typically see consistently small oysters like that. Alas, the mother-in-law has since moved away from the Champaign/Urbana area so our visits will be fewer and farther in between. I'll have to make it a point to visit this place whenever we aren't stuffed on pokey stix... read more

I think this may be the best restaurant near the U of I. Standard Italian food, but some wonderful improvisations in addition. I don't know where they get their seafood, but the swordfish is the best I've ever had. Also pastas, steaks, and great vegetables - they are committed to organic ingredients. Spend a few hours and taste a few appetizers before dinner. Reasonably comprehensive wine list and full bar. Cordial service, but they keep it leisurely, so let them know if you've got a curtain later. The owner comes around to make sure you feel well cared-for. Note: they serve lunch M-F from 11:30 until 3. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. read more

I took my Dad here when he was visiting. I was expecting it to be expensive, but also to be a solid dining experience. Sure it is one of the few very nice restaurants on campus, but from now on I will go off campus to eat nice meals. The food was okay. The dishes were pretty small for the price. Worst of all was the service. It took forever to get anything done and while the waittress was very nice, it was unpleasant. Also, it was too loud for my Dad and I to talk which was our main intention. Lastly, this was in the winter and there was a huge draft whenever anybody entered the restaurant that forced us to put our jackets on. read more

Three people on a Wednesday night. Sat downstairs, which is like eating in the foyer. One glass of wine, two personal pizzas, bowl of pasta and 3 salads equaled a tab of $60 before tip. The pizza is great, but the total experience was meh. This restaurant ought to have a lower priced menu for the folks sitting downstairs and getting food dished out by the bartender, and a higher priced menu would be fair for folks sitting upstairs enjoying the white tablecloth experience. I'll go again, but a $7/three-ounce glass of wine ought to be enjoyed upstairs, and was simply incongruous for the casual meal-in-the-doorway we had. read more

I went here last night for my birthday dinner, and I was extremely happy with the entire experience. The biggest plus for me, aside from the food that is, was the waitstaff. All of the servers were very friendly and professional, and I could tell they all looked out for each other. Case in point, I noticed some lint on one of my glasses of wine, and before I could even say anything, one of the other waiters saw me studying the glass and quickly came over and offered to replace it. Speaking of wine, the selection was great, but I was unfortunately relegated to the limited "wine by the glass" menu since I was the only red wine drinker at my table. Even so, the selection of wine by the glass was well-rounded and pretty solid, and our waiter's wine recommendations were spot on. Now, for the food! Bread and olive oil is complimentary, of course, and very tasty (so simple...but so good!). For starters, we ordered the crab cakes as well as a spring salad with walnuts and gorgonzola, both of which were very good. For my entree, I had the roast duck, which came with fingerling potatoes, red cabbage, spring vegetables. The entire dish was fantastic. Moist duck, perfectly cooked vegetables, and a wonderful sauce that had blueberries in it. A simple dish done very, very well. In all, Timpone's is a great place for a gourmet meal at a pretty decent price. They have a nice selection of veg-friendly dishes, too (not vegan, however). I can't recommend this place enough. Give it a try! read more

I went here for my graduation dinner and had a party of 7. We had a reservation and we arrived early and were seated instantly. We sat down at our table and there was only one other table in the room. We were all so hungry that by the time the server came we were so excited to order stuff. We ordered two bottles of wine and a few orders of bread. You have to pay a dollar for bread but I honestly think it is worth it and were ordered 3. Their menu changes daily and they have daily specials. I ordered their tomato bisque soup and a caesar salad along with meat lasagna. Their soup was to die for. I wish I didn't split it with my boyfriend because I was sad when it was all gone. Their lasagna was made with spinach noodles which at first I didn't think I would enjoy but I really did. Everyone at my table was super satisfied with everything they ordered. The bill came out to around 250 which I thought was a little high. However, I can't complain because it was a really great meal and we had great service. I will definitely be returning and I'm grateful to the staff who helped to make my graduation night very special. read more

I don't usually go out for Italian food because Italian food is easy to make. I make pasta at least once a week. Why pay $15+ per person for the pleasure? But I was taken out to Timpone's for lunch for my birthday. I'd been especially hesitant about Timpone's when thinking about trying Italian food here...mostly because their logo is so yuck and tired looking. Yes, I do judge a book by its cover. I was not more impressed when we entered the building, as the restaurant looked like an old timey lounge or shabby hotel lobby. My experience was proof of why it's wrong to judge books by their covers (though I'll still continue to do so). Timpone's offers a pretty extensive and moderately priced lunch menu, ranging from salads, to pasta, to individual pizzas, to entrees. Most items were between $8-12. AND all of the menu seemed relatively innovative. For instance, they offer a pizza that has broccoli, shrimp, and goat cheese. You know you want that. I had meatloaf (!!! who even has that on a menu?! excitement!) that came sliced, wrapped in thick bacon, on a fluffy bed of creamily dreamy mashed potatoes. There was just the right amount of tasty mushroom gravy and crisp-tender green beans scattered throughout. Holy hell. It was so fantastic. My dining companion had grilled shrimp with a less-mushy guacamole on top of polenta. See? Tasty and innovative. Even better, we got the last table in the restaurant, but the waitress AND the food both came promptly. Awesome. read more

This is a tale of two experiences. My husband would vote his meal as a three, where I am sticking with a two. To be fair, he is much better at understanding flavor dynamics on paper than I am, which is probably why we ended up with two different experiences. This review is split into two parts: the ambiance and service aspect, followed by the food review. My husband and I agree, though, that two stars are definitely warranted for the former portion. There are three important items to note before entering Timpones. The first is that the decor is absolutely ridiculous; reminiscent of a Miami night club circa 1984. The second thing is that the wait staff do not seem to know what's going on, which can perhaps be attributed to the third thing. The manager yells at their wait staff in front of all patrons, which I can only assume makes the wait staff SUPER NERVOUS. Of course, I am generalizing based on one experience, and yet it seems other Yelpers share similar sentiments. Of course, the above items relate strictly to ambiance and service. Important, but not the end-all, be-all of a meal, so let us move on. We started off with a goat cheese and arugula salad. On paper, this was an exciting start to this meal! But when it came out? A total disappointment. It is seldom, even when a meal is not good, that I think, "this was shallow/vacuous/trite/vapid" and yet that is exactly what it tasted like. For dinner, my husband ordered a hearty stew with an interesting citrus, chocolate, and red meat dynamic. He enjoyed it, and rated it a three. I had the spinach tagliatelle that was underwhelming at best. There was very little flavor, but tons of cream. I thought the texture was nice, which is why I gave it two stars instead of one. No dessert--we had tried enough. I am not sure if we will be going back here. I promise that there are restaurants in Urbana-Champaign that are WAY better. Perhaps they do not cost as much, or have as gaudy of interiors, but... they taste good. And I'm not so sure that the same can be said of Timpones. read more

"Three raviolis in my dish?! This better be the appetizer portion!!" My experiences with TImpone's are fairly inconsistent. Food is not bad tasting in any way, but I always leave just a little dissatisfied. Portions are incredibly small and well, if you wanna be "that kind of place"...you should move out of Champaign. It's fine for a date, business dinner, something of that sorts, but definitely not the kind of place I'd keep coming back to. read more

I'm rather surprised at the reviews here. This place is expensive, and the portions are smaller, but that's how high-class dining works. If you want big portions (and often I do, so I understand the desire), go to Nyro's and get a triple gyro plate. The food is superb, and the waitstaff is excellent. The interior is very cozy and lodge-like (upstairs, anyway). Also, I typically don't like gourmet pizzas (I'm a blue-collar pizza kind of guy) but they really have some excellent pizzas here. On busy college weekends (like parents' weekend or whatever they call it) it's tough to get a reservation here. It's also the place that visiting scholars are often brought to be dined. The food will not disappoint. read more

From handsome waiter to friendly chef, great dining experience in campus. Quite and classy. Food is great I have to go on diets later after stuff myself too satisfied here. Will recommend to anyone want Italian food in town read more

Everyone knows, being stuck in that section of Urbana can well and truly suck. Especially when it comes to lunch! 45 minutes with a fifteen or better walk up to Green? No thank you! So, for a good time, there, Timpone's was the one. The answer to everything. And, in that, there was value. Not a dollar value, I'm afraid, as Timpone's sure charged for the pleasure. And there wasn't much flexibility there, either... I mean, it's not like you could order and they'd deliver. But you could pick-up, so that was something. My favorite, by a landslide, was their Italian Beef, but it, too, wasn't that dependable. It really just hinged upon whether you liked thickly sliced garlic. You could always tell when they got down to the bottom.... besides the beef getting a little fattier, there were so many pieces of sliced garlic, the whole texture/taste changed. Enough garlic to keep ten Dracula's at bay, I assure you! Their expensive sub-par pizza was soon replaced by Ozark. A happy day for all those on the South Campus. Honestly, we had to depend on this place for so many years, and I just always found their food "meh", and their "service" even worse. Unfortunately, their prices were the biggest insult... When the new place was built across the street, we were all glad. If you're looking for a very dated restaurant, with a menu that's reflective of its age, give this one a try. Just limit your expectations. read more

Dined for lunch and dinner on separate occasions. Casual enough for friends, families, and dates (though you should call ahead and mention that so they can seat you in a more private area). The pizzas are on the smaller side when compared to Papa Johns, but the quality is superior. They're meant to be shared, sliced in easy to take slices. If you want big portions loaded with fat, go to Olive Gardens or Pizza Hut. I had the roast beef sandwich for lunch, and my god it was the best I've had in CU. Juicy, meaty, a traditional American feel. My only critique would be the okay service (it's spotty overall) and an overdue revamp of the outdated restuarant interior, as well as replacements for silverware and plating. Though who minds a little scuff when you've busy eating! read more

Every time I've gone to the Canopy Club to see some raucous rock show, I've always wondered if folks at Timpone's were being disturbed by wailing guitars and so forth. Still no answer on this but I have found that it's somewhere I'll want to be coming back to. Well, I ordered the papardelle with the bolognese. Being a bolognese snob (and believing very sincerely that the best bolognese I've had was made by yours truly), I have to say it was certainly up to my standards. In addition, I had a slice of my neighbor's margherita pizza which was also tasty. I've not been to any other Italian restaurants in town, but this is Chicago-quality stuff right here. While it's a little on the expensive side, it is finer dining. It's not somewhere I'd expect to go every day for lunch but it would be nice for special occasions, dates, etc. read more

My mother and I treated my boyfriend to dinner for his graduation. My boyfriend being Italian I figured hey what better way than authentic Italian cuisine. Timpones was not the original choice, due to it being graduation weekend, everything in Champaign-Urbana was completely booked through the weekend. However, I got very lucky and was able to make reservations for a Friday night at 7 with no issues at all. The ambiance of the restaurant was very warm and inviting, it was definitely decorated to replicate old world Italian and the feel of perhaps a true restaurant in Italy. I've never been to Italy so I can't say how well they did. The lay out of the restaurant is a little untraditional. The dining area was up two sets of stairs and there was also a downstairs, though I'm not sure what was down there. We decided to split a bottle of wine amongst the three of us but we couldn't choose so we asked our waitress what she recommended. Our waitress was very nice and helpful in the ways that she could be however, wine was not her area of knowledge. She did however run our likes and dislikes by a man in the back who suggested a bottle of pinot noir and it was delicious. I ordered the Penn Rustica, which was Penne, Italian sausage, roasted chicken, onions, peppers and mushrooms and it was spot on. My mom had ordered angle hair pasta with seafood and my boyfriend order wild boar with egg noodles. Both of which I sampled off their plate and both of which were very very good as well. Our food came out in a very timely manner and our waitress was there when we needed her but stayed away for the most part, which I can appreciate due to the amount of talking we do together. Whether your in for a celebration or you have a taste for traditional italian food, Timpones is a great place to do it. With a welcoming atmosphere and fresh and delicious food Timpones is a very cool place. read more

Timpone's - Easily drank the whole bottle! So good! - Italian Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

First time I was hear the food was pretty good, but I came back recently for their Italian Sandwich and it was terrible -- just meat and bread, nothing else. Update: came back and tried a pasta dish. It was completely overcooked and had the consistency of paste. Blech. read more

Go here if you want free food poisoning. My mom got food poisoning from some shrimp she ate here. For the rest of the day, she was vomiting. Needless to say, I'll never eat there again. Not only is the food bad, the owner is an absolute horror. I haven't dealt with him personally but he's got a very bad reputation. I talked with several people who worked here and they said he was just horrible. I'm amazed that they are still in business. read more

I don't comment unless it's mindblowing or horrid... If you're looking for "italian" go to olive garden or some crap place like that. Timpone's has a seasonal menu, diverse offerings, and expertly prepared foods. I don't think Timpone's bills itself as an "Italian restaurante" Okay, pasta is on the menu too, but is that all it takes to be pigeonholed about being Italian? Or the name? Yes, the decor is bad. But the food transcends... Far & above, it is the best place to dine in Champaign/ Urbana. Timpone's offers the freshest, most expertly prepared cuisine that I am aware of, and, for the quality, it is under-priced. read more

Having gone to Timpone's for the first time for dinner with Sean Astin and the rest of the IUB Enriching Programs committee, I thought my lunch experience here would disappoint. The bar is on the ground floor and we got seating on the first floor. We ordered a Margarita pizza, two 8oz hamburgers (one with avocado one with cheese), and I ordered a Tagliatelle with Chicken Breast, Prosciutto, Peas, Tomato Cream, Basil, Romano. I've had the pizza here before and it's not bad but the pasta I had today was pretty good. The portions were pretty small though- it could just be that I'm comparing it with other campus eateries, when this is on a whole nother level. This is the first time I've ever been here for lunch and I have to say that I'm impressed. I had a great time.I strongly recommend the Burgers here -they're cooked to perfection and priced just right. This is a classy place so make sure you wait to be seated, even for lunch! My only regret is that I didn't explore their beverage selection... read more

Great place for a special occasion, very upscale and surprising considering where it is located, with a very knowledgeable staff and delicious food. Definitely much more of a fine dining establishment than anything else in the area it is not an "everyday" kind of place for students but definitely a good place to keep in mind for those special events. read more

Racist! The restaurant rejected us just because we are Chinese. There were six of us and waiter told us there is a table available and we waited for them to clean, but then the manager comes up and talks about crap of all the tables are booked and there will be fire hazards if they serve us? Wtf?! Upstairs and downstairs are both pretty empty and it is 1:30pm in the afternoon, and now you're telling there's no place available? I would never come back to this restaurant ever again. read more

I walked into the restaurant with my mom and dad and a few other family members a couple weeks ago for a special birthday celebration, we were greeted by a middle aged host that did not seem very welcoming. However the food and serving staff were absolutely amazing. The fish and wine I had, recommended to me by my server, was perfectly cooked and complimented well by everything else on the plate. The server was telling me that the chef has been at Timpones for a long time, let's hope it stays that way! The service was nothing less than a joy to experience. We had a very attractive male waiter who was witty and showed grace under pressure--when we kept ordering rounds of drinks, and bugging him about his looks, ethnicity, and future plans. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Champaign/Italian dining experience. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Came here with a group. First off - got great service. Good menu recommendations, and very accommodating when it came time splitting the bill. I had a nice goat cheese with arugula salad to start that was a really nice mix with a superb dressing. I had the seafood risotto for the main course, and it was really good. I like my risotto to be steaming hot when it comes out, and it was - despite the large group I was with. There was a decent, but not overwhelming amount of seafood/scallops/shrimp - there could've been more, but hey - we're a thousand miles from the closest ocean here. I was a grad student at UIUC back in the early 90's, and when my current employer came to a recruiting fair, they took a handful of us out to dinner. I had never been someplace so nice as a student, and it was probably the best meal I'd had in Champaign-Urbana during my school years - but I could never remember the name of the place. After going in there this time, it was clear - this was the place. Confirmed by a local professor who said that Timpone's was an Urbana tradition and had been around longer than most restaurtants. Fond memories. read more

Tjis place is out of the price range for most college kids and I feel the food is very average. Which would be fine if I wasn't paying extra for average food. I got taken here twice for a focus group for my major and since it was free I cant complain. But there's no way I would pay full price here. I'm a heavy eater. And by heavy eater I mean I normally throw down to or three normal entrees at regular restaurants.these portions do not fill the average person though. Its not a bad restaurant but its not great either. read more

Have always enjoyed the food and thought it to be of very good quality. The service is lacking due to the focus on hiring the nearby students from the university. On one occasion we made reservations, and while being seated the hostess tried to place us at a table. We prefer a booth and asked to be seated at one but she refused saying that they were not yet seating in that area. We insisted, and this went back and forth several times before we said that we will leave. She finally allowed us to sit at a booth but then made a dramatic show about placing us there before stomping off. It was bizarre and not the typical experience, but just a cautionary sign of what comes when staffing students. read more

i order from timpone's pretty frequently, their chicken parmesan is something i can default to on nights that deciding on food/cooking is kind of overwhelming. it's consistently very good, and i feel very valued as a customer every time. tonight the chef asked my mom when she picked up my food if he could buy me a dessert because i'm a frequent customer - that's really sweet, and i appreciate the kindness shown to me every time i visit. (and the food is really great) read more

where u of i employees, professors, go and because of there pride they think this is good food, lol. "oh i go to this place," big fing woohoo Don't go, terrible service and food and way to overpriced. I survey local restaurant for a living. i am sad that people still go and pay money to eat that this hole. read more

The overall quality is great! The dish are served slow, it took them 15 min to have a pasta prepared. Good environment for dating, amazing dessert. The food taste great, and their seafood are fresh! read more

Timpone's - A little bit more spicy than I expected. - Italian Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Out-of-towner from Florida. Ordered the $38 grouper. Big mistake! Rubbery and tasteless. Tilapia? Others had pasta and seemed ok. Had the mousse. Nothing special but served in a plastic cup !? Overall a big disappointment. Nice wine list but ridiculously overpriced. read more

Went here for a lunch about six weeks ago (takes me a while to digest my thoughts, so to speak). Had a goat cheese pizza, and it was PRETTY TASTY. Prices were right for a joint of its kind, and the place itself had a nice decor, which made it, all around, really solid. read more

"Surprisingly good Italian food for the area." Ordered the Fritto Misto as an appetizer. A great starter with Shrimp, Calamari and Scallops. Our table had the 2010 San Silvestro Dolcetto Monferrato Anselmo bottle of wine with our meal. Per the advice of the waiter, ordered the Pork's Lover's pizza as my main course. Good meaty personal pizza, large in size. Had Creme Brulee topped with fruit for dessert. Daily specials offered, generally better than the menu. Open for lunch as well. read more

Last summer, I was in town for an afternoon, and I ate the apple, onion, ham, and gruyere panini. The fact that I remember the panini is a testament to how good it was. I still talk about it. I've tried to recreate it, but I haven't yet reached its level of perfection. For reference, lunch was about $12--pretty reasonable! read more