Crane Alley
115 W Main St, Urbana, IL, 61801
Crane Alley Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Urbana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Urbana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Urbana for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
115 W Main St
Urbana, IL, 61801 - Phone (217) 384-7526
- Website https://crane-alley.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Eric B.
Everything about Crane Alley is excellent! The beer selection is second to none in the state. Best Bloody Mary in town! The Chili is excellent The appetizers are fantastic I've had better hot wings, but that doesn't knock my review down. Really looking forward to the Annual Crawfish Boil in June!
(5)Jen T.
Back when I used to drink, on an occasion, there was a "vibe" I was looking for-- dark, dive-y, with the option of smoking a cig in an alleyway where I could see the stars. When I got that urge, Crane Alley was one of the options. When they put out the tables, and the tiny lights are lit, sitting in that alley, traffic passing by, it's easy to forget-- the stress of the day, the problems at the other end. But, booze is booze and as far as CA is concerned, unless you're drinking off the tap (which is a good option), it don't come cheap. I will say this... drinking here is a different experience. There's a sleazy undertone, stuff's dirty, bartenders (and even the barbacks!) are rude (dismissive). And it's not because they aren't making tips... leave your money on the bar, and they'll just help themselves (had it happen numerous times to me... as a matter of fact, one actually wrote _in_ her tip on my credit card, once). I wouldn't spend the money on the food. You can find a hundred different places near to have a better meal. If you're just gnoshing to keep up with the liquor, that's one thing, but if you want a bite with a beer, try everyone's favorite, Farren's! =D All together, if it's what you're looking for, CA fits the bill. There are better places out there, though.
(3)Kathy P.
Great menu and great food....however VERY pricey!!! Ordered 2 small potato pancakes that were very tasty and 2 martinis and my bill was $32 plus tax and tip...service was great... But the experience was not worth $38!!! Will not go back anytime soon!!
(2)Chander G.
Came here expecting a lot - but realized that I should have set my expectations a lot lower. First off - the beer is beer - it's not bad, the selection is great (mostly bottles) - so you can't go wrong there (though the Blind Pig might be a better bet overall. However the food - oh the food :( - I was disappointed. It started with the appetizers - not looking for something "regular", I decided to try the Pretzel bites. The only thing apt about the name was "bites"! They're large-ish (golfball sized) baked pretzel dough. Problem is - the pretzel dough wasn't baked today (maybe not even yesterday?) - they take the pre-baked bites and put them in the (microwave?) oven for a few minutes and bring them out. If you eat them fast you'll be okay...but once they start to cool they get hard (like - very hard!) They come with cheese, which is - cheese. Nothing special about it. The reality is that my appetizer experience (and the lackadaisical attitude when I asked about the appetizer) kind of turned me off. I didn't really make it past the apps... Being a "gastropub" I expected a bit more - like at least freshly prepared food - out of this place. When I'm sitting at a table my appetizer doesn't need to come out at McDonalds speed (if I wanted that, I'd have gone to Mickey D's) - do it right and live up to the "gastropub" name. If you're eating *and* drinking, this is the kind of place to walk away from.
(2)Jessica K.
I thought Crane Alley was my favorite restaurant. It's not. I just had one exceptionally good time, and the rest were more faithful representations. Crane Alley offers certain dishes for a limited time. The first time I came here, it was the salmon burger, and oh my god, it was scrumptious. It was, like, one of the most yummy things I've ever had. I never saw it again :(. I came back here, I think, three more times. Still yummy and then progressively less so. I think two of my least favorite things that I've tried (here and in my life time) were their spaghetti and lamb meatballs (which was laughably overpriced for how it tasted) and their Cuban sandwich. The spaghetti dish was bland and mushy. The lamb uninteresting. It was a comforting meal, but seriously disappointing for its price and for the standards to which I held Crane. It... sort of tasted like Chef Boyardee. I like Chef Boyardee (I know, guilty, repugnant pleasure), so I'm not saying I absolutely despised it. Just... Not great. The Cuban sandwich broke my heart. It really did. I was expecting a Cuban... Like, you know, a pressed Cuban sandwich. Like, you know, a Cuban. Well, it came on a sub, not pressed, and sliding around in its mayo. Not pressed. Not impressed. I'd most definitely come back for the salmon burger though.
(3)Elizabeth M.
Rock solid! This place will impress even the biggest beer snob in the group, especially if Belgians are preferred. Crane Alley is Champaign-Urbana's answer to Chicago's Hopleaf. No kidding. I enjoyed a Gulden Draak and my husband had the Local Option American Muscle. They have a fabulous, albeit limited, food menu and a weekly pool tournament. The servers are friendly & knowledgeable, and there are several dining areas away from the bar and pool tables for those who require a bit more privacy. My only complaint is the presence of babies, kids, and teens in the room...one of my biggest pet peeves. Next time I'm visiting my parents in Shampoo-Banana, I'll certainly return to Crane Alley.
(4)Natalie M.
The burgers are typically good, service has been variable. Unfortunately, we decided to try one of their specials which was some nachos with steak ragout sauce and roasted jalapenos, with a chipotle sauce. Sounded amazing but as it came, it was just a big bowl of chips and barely any sauce. It just seemed so plain and the ragout was just a dark mush of sauce that seemed like it came from a can. Nothing about it was special and this cost $14. I asked the waitress for more sauce seeing that most of our chips were very bare, and later when the bill came, she had charged us for the additional sauce. When telling her we ordered more sauce because the chips barely had any, she said "I'll take off the charge, Jesus Christ." She was definitely rude and hostile--unnecessarily. If the kitchen messed up and didn't add enough sauce, you don't really need to charge the customer. Either way, Crane Alley isn't on my list of placed I'd check out again. I'd rather check out Farren's in Champaign. The recent service and food option was definitely not something I'd want to experience again. Thanks, but no thanks Crane.
(2)Jessica L.
Went here for a friend's birthday. Gluten-free options were awesome. The gluten-free calamari as better than I have ever had at most places, and I have never had it gluten-free before. The coconut basil chicken I got was good. The rice it came with could have used more flavoring, but the sauce was delicious. The buffalo chicken sandwich my friend got was AMAZING. I took a bite and discovered the sauce was so unique and had a hint of ranch, which was so good. My other friend ordered a Caesar salad which had homemade croutons (made from a baguette) and was extremely larger. Definitely coming back and getting that Buffalo Chicken sandwich. Lots of unique choices! All the entrees & sandwiches looked good.
(4)Maggie H.
Wait staff is AMAZING! The turkey pita and hummas plate is my jam. I've seriously never had anything I didn't love and the beer flights are such a great deal!
(5)Jason D.
I live 90 miles away in Springfield, but often spend a week in Urbana for work. When I'm here for 5-6 nights, 3-4 of those nights will be at Crane Alley. Between the amazing food and the huge drink selection, I'm all in, baby!
(5)Alexis P.
Love the selection of draft beer! Super friendly wait staff even when they're packed. Very knowledgable bartenders that can help you select the perfect beverage for your taste buds! Love the outdoor seating for enjoying a light breeze with a burger and a beer. Thanks for the good times yall!
(5)Rebecca S.
This is probably the best Urbana bar! Classy, good food, and drinks to go around! Last time I tried the pesto chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries and it was pretty decent and filling
(4)Wendy B.
Meh. I have given them three tries and it's just not that good. I have a hard time believing the bland hummus has won awards. The Niçoise salad lacks tuna. The veggie burger was blah. The service is slow, but passably friendly. Crane Alley is just mediocre, overpriced bar food.
(2)Paige M.
While I was a student at UIUC, it never crossed my mind to go here. Only after I graduated and moved away did I come to like beer and realize how many opportunities I had missed in Champaign/Urbana... So when I was in town visiting, I finally had a chance to go here. I thought the beer selection was good, but I would have preferred more options on tap. Because I'm used to the higher cost of living in Ann Arbor, the beer prices seemed reasonable, especially for flights. That said, I expected them to be slightly lower, since it's Urbana and not Ann Arbor. The menu looked great. I got the porter marinated steak and was really excited because everything about it sounded like exactly what I wanted. The food was somewhat disappointing, though. I wouldn't say it was bad, but it was a little bland and just didn't live up to my expectations. If I come back, I'd probably just get a burger or sandwich. Service was fine. Our waitress checked on us just enough, and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. I'd definitely stop here again if I'm in the area, but I wouldn't be too upset if I couldn't.
(3)Christine P.
approaching on the one year anniversary of the day i decided to stop coming to crane alley. And I have to confess I DO NOT MISS IT ONE BIT! Crane Alley is the equivalent of playing Crimes Against Humanity with your friends, you go only to humor people but you are bored the entire time and hate yourself for doing it. the staff is extremely rude and the food unimaginative.
(1)Kasia H.
I used to really like to eat here, but the menu never changes, it has few vegetarian options, and the quality is inconsistent. They also stopped having onion rings, which made me sad. The service is usually quite good, though, and they have an awesome, always changing beer list. Unfortunately it can be quite loud and crowded on weekend evenings, so it is awkward place to try to go with a group of friends.
(2)Raechel H.
My two best dude pals just got married on St. Patty's Day in Urbana, and we headed here for the "reception" lunch. Charming interior, prompt service, and tasty eats! Holiday fate included Irish stew, corned beef & cabbage, rare bit, Irish soda bread, and a platter of all of the above. Of course, I opted for the platter to get a taste of everything. - Corned beef and cabbage was nice spotted in the Irish stew. Mmm... - Rare bit - basically cheese on toast, was horrid. Soggy bread with fake, melted cheese on it. - Irish soda bread - classic! - Irish stew - infused with lamb, potatoes, and veggies. Very nice on a cold, windy day. As for drink, I had my usual Strongbow. They don't have it on tap, just in a bottle. Eh, next best thing. Can't stand the taste of it out of those yucky cans.
(4)K. C.
The beer selection is excellent and I love the alley seating during the summer. However, their food is underwhelming. The steak frittes are pretty much the only thing I actually enjoy on the menu. Who wouldn't love French fries w/ hangar stack and garlic parmesan butter? PSA: AVOID the wings, they are the definition of awful.
(3)Daniella B.
This is a great place to come for a drink and a late night meal. Last night, we had the poutine and a couple of $4 flights. With a friendly staff, this is one of our regular Urbana spots to visit. Octoberfest here is phenomenal!
(4)Sarah G.
If you like beer then this place is for you. No really, if you like beer you should come here. Now. This place features all kinds of local beers from the IL area in addition to featuring a ton of other great microbrews from across the country. I wouldn't come here in a rush because you need some time to actually read through all of their beer selections there are that many! It is a mini binder, so come ready to read about beer, taste beer, and enjoy beer, and then maybe even play a little pool (until the pool league comes in that is, since they have a league here a few days a week!). They also have beer samplers and I have to say that Matt J. and I were very impressed with our bar tender in that she not only remembered the 10 different beers we ordered, but then recited them back in order in increasing light to dark beers as well. Amazing. That is the type of bar tender at a great beer place that you want. So hat's off to her! The food looked pretty good here too and everyone here just seemed happy in general. It is a darker bar restaurant on the inside so good for group outings or dates I would say, but if you don't like beer, you will be missing the main draw of this place!
(4)Paul G.
Mehhhh this place is OKAY. Nothing worth going back to. My friend and I were in Urbana and we decide to try out crane alley (mainly because black dog was closed). He said he hear it was good. It wasn't. Before I begin, the food wasn't bad per say but it wasn't great. And for the price of the burger I got. It DEFINITELY wasn't worth it. I got the 15$ burger thinking, well it's the most expensive one, should be pretty tasty right? WRONG. I substituted the fries for the soup of the day which was jambalaya. +2.50$. Blah. The jambalaya was actually pretty decent. Not amazing but it was pretty hardy. The burger came out and it just seemed like crane alley was trying to do too much on one burger. It had blue cheese, Dijon mustard, bacon and a few other things that didn't go together great. I've also forgot the name of the burger. It was the only one over 14$ I almost gave this place 2 stars but I felt kinda bad because it seems like they have a good beer selection and the staff is very polite. Would I go back? Probably not. Rather spend my money on the better places to eat in Urbana champaign. :-) I would consider going back for a drink but nothing else.
(3)Allan C.
Their desserts are now made in house and are pretty fantastic. The mint cheesecake isn't heavy and is refreshing. The cheesecake in general here is way better than the cheesecakes I could find in St. Louis. Seriously. They seem to have a rotating thing of desserts but if you see the carrot cake get that too. It's a lot more delicate than what I'm used to.
(4)Aaron S.
Pretty solid beer selection, nice waitstaff, average food. Once a month beer club meetings
(4)Jay B.
Great beer selection, haven't tried the whole menu but what I had was good enough. Service just so-so for me.
(4)Benjamin E.
Crane Alley is by far the best Urbana bar. Well, okay, maybe that's not saying much, but this place does stand on its merits. It's equal parts restaurant and bar; you can get a drink or a meal whether you're at a table or the bar. There are also a couple of pool tables across from the bar, and when it's warm out you can sit at a table in the eponymous alley next to the bar. (Do this at night--it can feel downright romantic beneath the strings of little lightbulbs.) Crane Alley has an excellent beer selection. They always have a dozen or so good ones on tap, and the bartenders and servers are knowledgeable enough to give recommendations. (I think they do beer tastings and whiskey tastings, although I've never been.) The liquor selection is good, with an emphasis on whiskey, and there are a couple of menu pages dedicated to sweet cocktails. I usually ordered beer here but the few mixed drinks I had were well-made. Food-wise, they serve burgers, pasta, steaks, and appetizers. I was an especially big fan of the Portobello mushroom sandwich (a burger-type sandwich with a mushroom instead of meat, and roasted red pepper, feta, and pesto) and the potato pancakes (a decently-sized appetizer that comes with asparagus and a tasty cream sauce). My only complaint about this place is that some of the meals feel overpriced--my friend ordered the hanger steak once and it was not $16 worth of steak. Oh, and I wish they had kept the beet chips on the menu; paired with a goat cream cheese for dipping, they were awesome, but they disappeared from the menu sometime last year. Downtown Urbana actually has a handful of restaurants and bars, but for whatever reason most of them feel like exclusively townie haunts. Crane Alley and Black Dog are the two exceptions, and unless you're specifically in the mood for barbecue and are willing to wait an hour for a table at Black Dog, Crane Alley is the place to go. It's too far from campus for the undergrads, so it's usually a mix of grad students and professionals. You can eat a burger at the bar, you can grab a beer and play pool, or you can treat your date to fancy cocktails and a nice dinner in the upstairs loft. Highly recommended.
(5)Marika N.
Personally, I have greatly enjoyed all of my trips to Crane Alley. There's plenty of options for vegetarians. My favorite appetizers are the hummus which is served with warm pita bread and the sweet potato fries which are dusted with brown sugar and served with barbecue sauce. Both are to die for! The beer selection is great and I enjoy the cocktails as well. Overall, it is a great place for happy hour, dinner, or for hanging out and shooting pool.
(4)Christopher C.
I had the hanger steak. In my 22 years of life, I've never been more dissapointed by a meal. Perhaps I shouldn't have gone to Crane Alley hungry. The portion size for the beef was laughable at $18. The suace was bland. The side of asparagus was fine. The garlic mashed potatoes were decently good. My friends got sandwiches at half the cost and I was definitely envious. My favorite part about dining out tonight was watching my friends eat their meals.
(2)Preston B.
My favorite date spot in champaign. They have a fantastic beer menu and a seasonal, chef-inspired menu. Their burgers are the best in town (in my opinion). And I am yet to have something here I didn't like. Staff is very knowledgeable, at tentative, friendly, and helpful. One of Crane Alley's best features is its diversity of atmosphere. You can sit at the bar and enjoy, shoot some pool with your friends, or you can have a more private table in the back 2 stories of the restaurant that are quite and comfortable for having a nice meal. Then during the warmer months, you can sit outside on the sidewalk or in their quaint, creatively-decorated alley that is right next to the building (hence the name Crane Alley). The ambiance out there is top notch and I would highly recommend it any time the weather is nice!
(5)Anna W.
Excellent quality bar food plus the more elevated stuff is good too. Good sized beer menu. Definitely my favorite place in Champaign-Urbana for outdoor dining and drinking. My favorites: Turkey pita, sweet potato fries, whatever the "special" hamburger is
(4)Allan C.
The menu certainly not what we expected, we thought it was going to be bar food but it impressed instead. For the price it was above average but not amazing. Service was great. Ambience is hip. Bar was nice with their selection of beer. I'd go again!
(4)Abby P.
I live in Urbana, and I think that this is the best place to go locally for some drinks and food. Well, I used to think that, until I had a bad experience. One night in the summer, I went to celebrate getting a new job. The night was going well and the server was pleasant. The food that we ordered was severely overpriced. $12 burgers? Are we in Manhattan? Because I can get burgers in Manhattan for less than 12 bucks and they taste better. But, I'm digressing. The main reason for the one star is because after two drinks, I forgot to sign my copy of the receipt. I totally realize that this was my error--an unintentional one. However, the server took it upon himself to run my credit card without authorization and give himself a full tip, even though I didn't agree or sign anything. Shameful in my book.
(1)Benjamin U.
Nothing worth going back for...except for the beer which was fantastic. Food made me think of glorified leftovers and overpriced at that. I had the steak sandwich and was very underwhelmed. It came on two pieces of what tasted like wonderbread and the gondolza(sp) was almost nonexistent. Great atmosphere and our waitress was very attentive. Don't think I'll be back for the food though.
(2)Angela C.
I love this place! The food is surprisingly good. Since I have a dairy allergy, I stick to the turkey pita club and its delicious every time. Also good - hummus, calamari, soup of the day every time, onion rings, bbq bacon burger! Don't let the pool tables fool you; this is a classy joint.
(5)Paul D.
IMO, one of the only reasons to ever go into Urbana :) This is a place I visit often when I come back to see the family. A nice bar with pool tables, and an area upstairs. There is a nice beer garden in the alley next to the bar. Plenty of goodies on tap and in bottles. Boulevard Smokestack offerings, some Flossmoor Station, Two Brothers, DFH . A really good bottle list too. I believe they also have a monthly beer club that meets here as well. The food is great. Lots of sandwiches and several other entrees that are top notch. They have the best fish sandwich in Champaing/Urbana. A good burger and Reuben. About the only thing I have to complain about is the service. The waitresses can be slow and don't always get the order right. Besides that a great place to quaff some quality beers in downtown Urbana.
(4)Noam S.
I just really love this place. The beer selection is fantastic. The food is surprisingly good.. The service rarely disappoints, and the ambience outside in the summer is awesome. Not much reason to drive to Champaign to drink when I can walk to Crane Alley!
(4)Hunter J.
Crane Alley rocks! Drinks are are strong and the food is great. We had the Italian beef and Reuben and both were solid. The wait for a Friday night wasn't too bad- about a twenty minute wait for a table, but we grabbed a drink and a couple seats at the bar while we waited. Atmosphere was lively and staff was great!
(4)Matthew L.
PROS: Great drinks, friendly service, fun busy atmosphere, interesting large menu (my favs are the mediterranean style Mezze plate and the Falafel sandwich, both of which are pretty rare to find around here), great specials, reasonable prices, good healthy options. CONS: Booth area is slightly odd in terms of interior design - I wish they would revamp it and make it less claustrophobic somehow...
(4)Matthis H.
Had about 10 meals here over the years. Glad they are in Downtown Urbana. Great people work here. Good Good Good drink selection/beer/booze. I have not strayed to far from my faves, so I can not really give a fair array of menu reviews here. That said, what I have had, I adore.
(4)Molly M.
Skip this place at ALL costs. I went with a small group and the service was horrible. We were seated after a long wait and then told that we could not order food because the kitchen was too small and had too many orders already in! What kind of establishment tells customers (who are seated and hungry) that they cannot order food? What a joke! We asked for salsa and chips and were told that we could not order anything. It took everything in our power not to walk out. Once we finally were able to order, the staff and management stared at our table and could not wait to take our plates. I was not even done and told the manager to leave my plate. This place is ran poorly and needless to say, our group won't be back! There are many better places to eat in the CU area!
(1)Emiko D.
This place is my main go-to to drink great beer. Every single person on the wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the beers. I'm always looking for a good recommendation, and the draft list changes so often that I rarely have a hard time choosing something new. The artichoke dip and the special nachos are a must!
(5)Cindy C.
The Craft Beer Battered Fish is a great deal for a quality fish sandwich. They do not skim out on the filet at all, and they serve it when it's still deliciously hot! They also toast the bun to give it an extra crunch. I normally eat half and save the other half for later, but I couldn't resist. My plate was completely cleaned by the time we left. I also ordered a small soup on the side, it was the blue cheese tomato soup and that was really great too! We came during lunch, so there was no wait at all. I'd imagine a long wait later on during the day.
(5)Terry B.
I love Crane Alley, their corn beef sandwich is top notch, the staff is fantastic and the atmosphere is pretty good. The Alley with the lights hanging over the buildings in the summer time is pretty terrific - you can sit there and sooner or later as people are walking through the conversations start, everyone seems to know each other. They have plenty of assorted beer's and the best desert~!
(5)Stephanie D.
lovely when the weather is just right and I can sit in Crane alley with the lights above and a plate of chips and salsa and a nice drink
(4)Draft M.
As one of the original customers the day the place opened...I'm proud of where the place is today. It's evolved nicely and still retains a lot of what made it great in the beginning.
(4)Nathan W.
One word. "Meh." My wife and I checked this place out for lunch while in town. A friend recommended the Black Dog, but it was just too crowded, so we stumbled upon this place. The atmosphere is definitely more setup for more of the late-night get drunk and rowdy crew. Not holding that against them. Great beer selection - which made us excited for the overall experience, but would be disappointed. While we were there, it appeared that about half the occupants of a local trailer park decided they wanted to bring all their kids to the bar at lunch time. These people were loud and obnoxious, and their kids treated the place like a playground. I was disappointed that staff made no attempted to settle the situation down... even a "Hey, no running and screaming in bar." may have sufficed. Anyway, my wife had the steak sandwich and I had the Italian beef... both pretty much had zero taste. It wasn't bad by any means, but the food quality wasn't anywhere near what the presentation promised. Like I said... just plain "meh." We would not return the next time we're in town.
(2)Angela K.
I love Crane Alley! They have a great selection of sandwiches at reasonable prices, and the best beer selection in town. I find the Friday/Saturday specials are always creative and amazing. You can't go wrong with the frequently offered Beef Ragout Nachos (but bring 2-3 people to help you finish!). Seating outside is quite pleasant, except then you miss interacting with the friendly bartenders inside. The service is friendly, with just the right amount of attentiveness, and they are nice to our dogs.
(5)Ashley B.
Awesome range of food and beer and the atmosphere is nice. This place has to be one of my top 5 in Champaign-Urbana, especially in the summer when you can sit in the actual alley itself. Not to mention, this place is great for some low-key billiards and beer after dinner.
(4)Jamie L.
Based on my food alone, 5 stars! I had blackened tuna pita with petit salad and it was amazing as served. My husband had a fried fish sandwich and it wasn't great, but nothing compares to destihl's fried fish. The service was terrible. Our waitress was in a foul mood and had a bad attitude with every table in our section.
(3)Rachel V.
Great (!) Beer selection and friendly wait staff. The food is also generally very good. I especially recommend the spinach artichoke dip. Sooo yummy, but sadly a little skimpy on the pita that goes w/ it. Beers aren't cheap but I've never been anywhere w/ such a great selection. Pretty nice beer garden area on the side of the building as well.
(4)B C.
First off: free pool till 4:00. All around, this place is an excellent weekend afternoon relaxation spot. We stopped in this past Saturday around 2:00. It wasn't empty, but it was far from busy and the pool tables were unoccupied. If I didn't live out of town, this would be my March Madness go-to spot. Second, other good details: I got the turkey pita, which was just the right size, fresh and slightly crunchy pita bread, plenty of meat, and delicious with guacamole. The beer selection here is impressive, covering a wide range of styles and breweries from around the country. I consider myself fairly familiar with the microbrew landscape, and yet they still had about 12 beers that I had never even heard of, plus, Crane Alley does modestly priced flights of 4 x 5 ounce tasters ($6 + a buck for the really obscure choices). The servers were all nice and quick to help out whenever we needed them.
(4)Emily D.
I grew up in Urbana, and many times with so many great places to eat in the C-U/Campustown area it can be hard to choose where to go. Something everyone can always agree to is Crane Alley! The food is AMAZING and way better quality than most bars can claim. The sweet potato fries are a must try, and I also love the turkey pita sandwich! Also a great selection of beers and full bar, not to mention a great atmosphere. I love to sit in the alley in the summer! Definitely one of my favorite spots at home!
(5)Skip B.
Lets start with the good parts great beer and scotch list the food was good, fresh, and hot. So much for the good stuff, the wait service, bad is an understatement, we where seated the waitress took our drink order we got our drinks and she was gone. Finally we were able to get her attention and ask if we could order. We got our food and she was gone again had to go find her or yell at her as she zipped by to get anything you needed or wanted, even drink refills its a bar at least keep my beer full. Boy do you pay for the bad service you get, crab cakes appetizer, fish sandwich, ruben sandwich, 3 beers $60.00 not including tip a little steep for bar food
(3)Shanza B.
BEST BLACKBEAN BURGER EVER IN MY LIFE. i miss crane alley. it was my go-to restaurant in the CU area. always: blackbean burger, no sprouts with a side of greek pasta salad. even better with a bloody mary or a spicy martini, there's a specific one that i'm talking about but i can't remember what it's called... they also have an AMAZING beer selection. every time i go there are a few new draft beers. definitely try a beer flight. oh and the sweet potato fries. so goooooddddd. i've tried a few other items on the menu, but after finding the blackbean burger there was never a reason to order anything else. SERIOUSLY THE BEST EVER. 5 million stars.
(5)Robin A.
In the summer you can sit at outdoor tables in the alley. I love that you can sit outside with your dog. They even bring out a bowl of water for your pup. This coupled with the draft beers makes it one of my favorites. They have a huge selection of beers and rotation of drafts. The drink menu is like a small novel. If you can't decide the servers/bartenders are knowledgeable and will help you make a choice. I have ordered food here a couple of times and was amazed at how good everything was.
(5)Penelope Y.
Stopped by here for lunch/dinner (it was 3...what meal does that count as?); it was pretty quiet since we didn't come during regular lunch/dinner hours. Crane Alley is a "Restaurant & Bar" but it definitely feels more like a bar than a restaurant--it's very dimly lit, there are pool tables and a large bar area. I guess if you like bars/feel comfortable in bars you probably won't notice this. I got the veggie sandwich and it was amazingly good. Please allow me to list the ingredients of this most tasty of sandwiches: cucumber, bell peppers, onion, tomato, sprouts, lettuce, basil oil, sunflower seeds and dill cream cheese, all on two big slices of wheat bread. The greek pasta salad was also tasty, and overall it was a very satisfying, generous portioned meal for a little under $7. My boyfriend had a hamburger and it was HUGE. The fries were good and he liked the burger (although he said it had some kind of seasoning on it, which he seemed kind of "eh" about). Between the two of us we spent about $15 (before tip and without any drinks). Not bad. The desserts also sounded really good (flourless chocolate cake...mmm...) but we passed on that this time. I'll definitely be back. I feel like if I had any interest in beer then this would be my new favorite place, but since I'm not a fan of beer or bars in general, that's kind of a deterrent for me (completely aware I'm in the minority here). Oh well. I'll still come back for their yummy food.
(4)Ruairi M.
First time at this place. It was starting to get busy and loud near the bar area. We got seated near the back. They have a small gluten free menu, all you have to do is ask. I got BBQ salmon with sautéed veg and garlic mashed potato. It was fresh and delicious and well presented. My wife got a side salad with a cup of soup which was ham, chicken and corn chowder. Service was great and our server was a delight, will definitely be back. Great location in downtown Urbana.
(4)Katherine C.
I recently made a trip back to Crane Alley for dinner, and was dismayed by the alterations to the menu, primarily the price. I remember buying affordable sandwiches for around $6, but all sandwiches have been bumped up to the $8 to $9 range. ($8.50 for a falafel sandwich!? Really!? Those falafels are little nuggets of luxury now...) Quality of the food ranges from standard to good, though there is usually nothing here that smacks of culinary sophistication (especially to justify charging $8.50 for a falafel sandwich!!). When I'm feeling indulgent, I order the fish sandwich, which is all the greasy, crunchy-crusted fish I could want. Appetizers here are decent. The spinach and artichoke dip tastes like every homemade version I've sampled from friends' kitchens. The beet chips with goat cheese are considered one of their hallmark dishes. I agree they're good--when prepared properly. It's a gamble. Because of the color of the beets, I think it's difficult to distinguish when they're finished cooking; I often get beet chips that taste like black charcoal. When friends propose coming here for happy hour after work, I just kind of dread it. Crane Alley presents itself as a bar/pub, but they are more like a formal restaurant that expects everyone to stay in their assigned seats. As someone who's waited tables in the past, I know large groups are challenging, but the waitresses here look downright insulted when they realize they have to serve our table. They mostly avoid our group and hope that we won't ask for anything more than one meal and one drink. Once, we showed up at a busy hour with a group of 8 and had to wait to be seated. No big deal. No one was complaining, we just stood in a group and chatted amongst ourselves. After a few minutes, the hostess approached us, obviously annoyed, and said, "If you have a group this big in the future, you're going to have to call in advance to make a reservation." ...Ugh, really? Sadly, downtown Urbana does not offer many options for night life, especially if you want to have a nice drink with your meal. Crane Alley has broad appeal and is a general crowd-pleaser, so it is a safe option for a date or outing with friends. Just make sure you don't bring too many friends.
(3)Neil O.
Love Crane Alley ---- Huge selection of beers and they make excellent cocktails. The atmosphere is mellow and causal and in nice weather, there is great seating outside. 3 pool tables in the main floor along with a long bar and plenty of seating. The food is surprisingly excellent bar fare. I was expecting the food to be okay and was pleasantly surprised. I frequent Crane Alley every week and my favorites are their burgers and their fish sandwich! They are a bit pricey but for what you get in terms of quality and atmosphere I think it is a good deal.
(4)Rosie J.
Great draft beer selection. Try the Blackened Tuna on Pita Bread. It was perfectly done, seared rare.
(4)Katie A.
Ate here on a whim one night when Black Dog Smoke House was packed and really enjoyed it. I've been here three times now with different people. Best piece of advice for ordering food: avoid the pastas, get the burgers, mezzo plate, or tacos (when on special). The pastas I've had or others with me have had were not that great, but the "pub food" is interesting and done right. Plus, you cannot beat the beer selection and their prices are fair. Service is always fast, even if they're crowded.
(4)Sam W.
So, overall, the food here I've had has been really good. I will say though that if you go to Crane Alley, it's not as cheap as some of the other area restaurants (esp. not the alcohol). Another thing my friends and I noticed is that if you get appetizers, they normally give you way more dipping material (hummus, spinach and artichoke dip, etc.) than you can use up with the pita provided. You will get charged extra if you ask for more pita. They always have a nice selection of beverages, particularly beers, but there's a cocktail list as well (again, just plan on it being pricey). If fresh and local is important to you, they also sometimes have menu items made from products of sellers you might see at Market at the Square in the summer. In the end, it's a great place to go when the weather is nice and you can sit outside in the evening with your friends in the actual alley part of Crane Alley.
(4)Mike B.
I like the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich here. I also like the selection of beers and flights. Real chill place to go and kick it with some buddies or to start off a night.
(3)RJ D.
my opinion of the food remains the same. it's okay. seems fresh. still costs more than it should. however. wait service. yikes. it's never been great... but my experience last night was not awesome. i was waited on by a guy with a deep v and plenty of chest hair. he seemed put out by everything... and not in the slightest hurry to do anything. refill drinks. take orders. smile. my party wasn't ready to order when we first arrived. we ordered drinks and an appetizer. we brought it and plunked it down on the table, not saying a word. he didn't return to our table for over 20 minutes. in other words... a long ass time. when we finally ordered, it took a long time to come out of the kitchen. i could understand if it were busy. but it wasn't. there were four tables sitting outside and only one other table inside sitting beside my party of three. a couple of guys at the bar. i have had a lot of "meh" experiences at crane alley... and really... for the food, it's just not worth it. smile deep v guy! seriously! if you're gonna be slow, at least be gracious. people love the affable slow poke. too cool for school and slow never won popularity contests.
(2)Meg K.
I'm not usually at Crane for food but eat there occasionally & enjoy whatever I order. The drink selection is exceptional, especially beers. The drafts are rotated frequently & are a little pricey but not unexpectedly so. Overall, a great place for a couple beers on the patio!
(4)Tom R.
This could be the most overrated place in CU. Beer selection good, everything else pretty bad. Service was particularly bad when we went and the food was not great for the price. We ordered desert before our appetizers because we particularly wanted one of the options. By the time we finished our main course, the waiter informed us that they had just sold out of the dessert we had ordered long before. We were shocked by his honesty and incompetence.
(2)Nicole F.
this place is horrible. the waiters are rude and the food is average. the waiter I had never came back and filled our drinks and was nothing but rude to me and my family. the salad also tasted of dirt like they plucked it fresh out of the garden and didn't wash it.
(1)Ginny L.
Every time I watch the How I Met Your Mother episode Best Burger in New York, I go off in search of something to satisfy that craving. There are a lot of mediocre burgers in Chambana, but you won't find that at Crane Alley. My favorite was the burger with mushrooms, gorgonzola cheese, and caramelized onions. The patty was perfectly cooked and flavorful, and I could imagine obsessing over it like they did in the episode... TV-related gushing aside, I really like this place. We also tried the steak frites with gorgonzola butter on top, and those were wonderful, and the beer selection is great. I like trying the flights myself so I don't have to commit to a full version of any one thing. The normal fries are not great. Nothing especially wrong with them, just... not great. Also, the steak sandwich was good, but whereas the steak sandwiches I'm used to are best shared with at LEAST one other person, this is more of a one person sandwich, unless you're not that hungry. Be sure to keep up on their facebook page; they have awesome beer dinners or other cool events from time to time! I went to a great beer and chocolate pairing a few weeks ago, and keep hoping there will be another.
(4)Jeff J.
Good burgers good beer... Need more?
(4)Erin Y.
I have to agree with those holding the "OVER-Rated" opinion. The best thing about Crane Alley is the drinkin'. They have loads of beer selection, the bar is well stocked, and we all got a little over appreciative of their fine scotch selections. The food and service though, both left much to be desired. They serve typical pub food with some updates/twists. Beet chips? Why not? Our apps were all ok, not great. The service was slow, like stuck in tar slow. Everything here is on the expensive side. Go for a night of trying different brews/liquors; eat somewhere tastier before heading over!
(3)Tim J.
(Chanting, in that well-worn 4 beat cadence) "OVERRATED...OVERRATED" The food here is extremely hit-or-miss. Eating here three times, I have been very disappointed twice with my own meal and all three times with some aspect of the dining experience. Their menu sounds good, but is perhaps beyond the skill of its staff, as they often fail to deliver. Sauces are either too thin or too thick, either tasteless or too salty, and every time at least one item was served too cold (even when it was just 2 of us). If you are the type that likes to occasionally order an appetizer for your entree, think again: many apps are really skimpy. Also, food service can be very slow at times, as I think they stretch their servers too thin. They also have very few vegetarian options, which surprises me, based upon their clientele. Notice how all these comments are about food? That is because their alcohol service, selection, and quality are all beyond reproach. Their prices, including their alcohol prices, are pretty high for what you get. For the alcohol, I can justify this to cover the cost of carrying obscure barley wines (tremendous); to charge high prices for the food, is absolutely unacceptable. EAT at V. Picasso's, Courier Cafe, Bunny's, Tang Dynasty, The Great Impasta, Xinh Xinh, Black Dog, Silver Creek, or even Siam Terrace, then DRINK at Crane Alley.
(2)James B.
Crane Alley is the only bar I go to in Urbana, and has the best bottled beer menu of any bar in the area. In addition, it will have more than 10 draft beers at any one time from various microbreweries and craft breweries. The reasons to stop by don't stop there, since there is also a fairly extensive menu of tavern-style food, which is higher quality than what one usually comes across. My favorite appetizer is Crane Alley's signature beet chips. Every table around us got this appetizer, since it is one of the dishes that Crane Alley is most known for. The beet chips come with a bowl of a goat cheese dip (which has cream cheese mixed in). The dip is somewhat rich and heavy, and helps to bulk up what might otherwise be a rather light appetizer. The sandwiches at Crane Alley run up to around $10, and the main courses a bit higher than that. Last visit, my girlfriend got a portabella mushroom burger, which was one of the daily specials, and of course had no meat. However, it was bulky enough to offset that and not be as light and unfilling as a lot of vegetarian food ends up being. I got a beer-battered fish sandwich, which was crispy and fairly large (way too much fish for the bun), along with the sweet potato fries (another thing Crane Alley is known for). One of the complaints I usually have about fried fish sandwiches is how greasy they are, but luckily this sandwich didn't fall into that trap. The primary lure that Crane Alley has is its wide selection of beers and drinks, which can be ordered alongside a selection of appetizers or food (something some local competitors do not offer). In addition, it has weekly special dishes and daily specials, and special beer and food pairings on set dates (tickets must usually be purchased). I would highly recommend anyone in the area or at the university make the effort to stop here at least once.
(5)Vivian W.
Don't order the fish here, it's clearly frozen, not fresh. I've been to this restaurant several times with groups. While there's a decent drink/beer selection, it seems like most of the time alot of the food items on the menu are not available. The one thing I do love about this place is their sweet potato fries, which is topped with brown sugar. This is definately more of a bar + snacks kind of place and not so much a sit-down restaurant though they try. And as far as bars go, there are less expensive and better, elsewhere in town.
(2)kate c.
I was back in town a month ago or so, and we went out to Crane Alley. I saw someone else posted something I felt that night - they expect you to stay in your assigned seats. I definitely noticed that. From now on, I will only go later on at night when there aren't so many groups out. Still - awesome beer selection and bartenders!
(4)Debra W.
They have a fantastic beer list and the food is very good although pricey for what you get. The service is the reason for my low score. If not for the weak service, I would give the restaurant either a 3 or 4. I went and ordered a beer that the menu stated was 12 ounces. The glass it was brought in was clearly not 12 ounces. When I brought it to the waitresses attention, she argued the point. Finally, we were able to demonstrate that the beer really was less than 12 ounces and she took $1 off the price of the bill. I prefer restaurants who take their customers more seriously than this.
(2)Kimberly N.
I've been a little stingy with my 5 stars these days, and I'm tempted to rate this 4... but the sweet potato fries... there is just nothing like them! I've been here twice now during my quarterly visits to C-U. The food, burgers in both instances, has been consistently good. Now I live really really close to the infamous Kuma's Corner in Chicago--their burgers are so famous they've been featured on the Food Network. That having been said... my standards are pretty high... and Crane's, I must say, makes a darn tasty burger! Today I had the special--1/2 burger with mole, roasted chilies, pork shoulder, and chihuahua cheese--oooohhhh yes. Aside from tasty burgers, their beer selection rocks. They literally have one full page of IPAs. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Their draft beers (which I believe rotate?) are quality as well. The place is big, their outdoor (alley) seating is great in the summer, and the service is good. Though I must warn you... my first time (in the summer) was during some crayfish special... tables of rowdy bikers cheered on ladies in leather bumping and grinding in their laps. I'm not sure what was going on, and I don't know if it is somehow related to the crayfish, just thought it was worth mentioning.
(5)Anne W.
I am making an edit to this review. It is still a nice place where you can actually go with your friends or date and hear them. Especially since you don't have to scream over the music and noise. It is NOT a good place to have dinner any longer. They changed their chef or something. The miso mussels and linguine was horrible. Totally alcoholic.. with no miso. When I told the waitress she took my dish back to the kitchen and brought out something that was sooo salty. Disgusting. The mussels were also not fresh and made me sick later. My friend ordered the reuben which used to be superb but was too salty as well. You can guess that I will NOT be returning to eat here ever again. It's a little more expensive than other bars in the area... so expect the drinks to cost a little more than other places. I am not a fan of the beer garden since it's basically an alley between it's building and the next.
(2)Ana L.
Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna with Cream Sauce- The noodles were nice and thin, the Alfredo-style bechamel flavorful- this was a nice surprise. A bit pricy though.. Chicken Parm- Had a weird pepperoncini sauce on top that subtracted from the dish. The marinara was not as good as the lasagna's alfredo. The breaded chicken breast was crispy and cooked to perfection. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich- very good- HUGE portion. I prefer to get the Buffalo sauce and ranch (can't have blue cheese while pregnant) on the side and dip- otherwise the breading gets soggy. Chicken is very well cooked. Italian Roast Beef- the beef used was too lean- it was dry and chewy. Would benefit from using ribeye (like on a good Philly cheesesteak) or a well braised chuck roast that has enough fat to keep the meat tender. The au jus was not very flavorful- tasted mostly like oil + red pepper flakes. Nice beer list- they have beer dinners, ($65 or $75), but they wont' discount the ticket if you are unable to drink alcohol (e.g. pregnant me)- otherwise my husband and I would have loved to have gone to one.
(4)Paige D.
I, like a fair amount of other people, think that crane alley is pretty hit/miss. I love their beer selection, and their bartenders are friendly. We were their last weekend, and their hostess almost drove us to insanity; we had a group of 7, and two tables opened up, more than enough so seat us all, and instead of pushing them together, she sat 2 people at the 4 person table and then let the other sit empty. At that point, we were told the wait would be 20-40 minutes. After an hour, still with empty tables, we went to ask. She said she'd seat us in 10 minutes... and finally 30 minutes later after bugging her twice more, she got us a table. The bartenders actually compted us the pool because they felt so bad. That being said, our waitress was very friendly, though not always present, but very accommodating. Food was ok, but we were annoyed that we waited 1.5 hours to be seated when there were empty tables the entire time... we started to wonder if she was mad at certain wait staff members and trying to spite them by not sitting people in their sections. That being said, I have had much better experiences there, and I hope that never happens to anyone else.
(3)Grace C.
I had lunch with a friend at Crane Alley yesterday. I'd never been there but had heard mostly good things. I'm going to agree with that assessment: mostly good! I had the portobello sandwich, with peppers and a nice pesto topping. I was sort of disappointed when my friend said she wasn't into beet chips as an appetizer, but completely excited when I saw I could substitute my fries for beet chips! Yay! We ended up sharing the spinach and artichoke dip app. It came with toasted pita slices. Mmmmm. The food was interesting, and it was good. It wasn't fantastic, or mind-blowing, but it was solid, and the menu had a good variety of selections. The price wasn't super cheap, but it wasn't outrageous for lunch. My sandwich (plus beet chips, which do carry a surcharge as a substitution), my friend's entree (a bowl of the soup of the day and a Reuben), one soft drink and our appetizer = 28.79 before tip. The drink menu is HUGE! I'd love to come back for dinner and drinks sometime. The ambiance screams "You're in a bar!!" which considering that, hey! you're in a bar, that works. It was cozy, the lighting was low, the booths black - might be a nice place for a casual date. The one aspect that shone above all was the service. Our waiter was FANTASTIC. He was knowledgeable about the menu, helpful without being pushy or overbearing, very attentive, we had regular drink refills but he didn't make it hard for us to continue our conversation. He even brought us an assortment of to-go containers so we could keep the dip and pita chips separate - what a guy! That waiter deserves five stars (and a large tip)!
(4)Heather T.
Crane Alley receives an admittedly very biased 5 stars from me. This is partially because they're currently carrying two Bell's beers on tap (Amber--divine, and Hopslam 2X--10% abv and so magically sweet AND hoppy that Teej, my fiance and I decided that it must pour directly out of the Easter Bunny's anus...the most magically sweet and hoppy of all the rabbit anuses, as you know). Bell's aside, Crane Alley is a place I want to be at all the time. It's dim, but not dank. Tasteful, and not over the top. The waitress checked in an appropriate amount of the time, was friendly, and had mad non-spilling-the-water skills when pouring all the way to the top of the glass. I had the falafel pita, which was only 'okay', but was later upgraded to 'good' when I added salt and pepper. It came with quinoa tabbouleh that was the slightest bit creamy, and oh-so-plentiful. Mmm....quinoa tabbouleh.
(5)