Baxters American Grille — Restaurant in Champaign

When me and my date arrived, the Hostess Abby was an absolute delight. She informed us of the wait and seated us promptly. The initial server we were seated with was in no way pleasant or what we expected at such a beautiful place.

The server was an older woman with pink and blonde hair and glasses. She had a young brunette shadowing her as well. When she approached our table, there was NO introduction. Rather, she grabbed our water glasses roughly as if she was already annoyed. Then she curtly asked “Will either of you be drinking anything other than water?” So right from the start, we both were not in a positive spirit. I politely gave my drink order. She walked away with nothing said. A table was then sat directly beside us of 3 older men. When she approached THAT table, her name was given, she was polite, attentive, gave a brief explanation of the menu and the drink menu. Now my partner and I are two young people and the men seated were much older. I don’t know if she was judging her possible tip on that, however it doesn’t excuse a bad impression. As soon as I spotted Abby, I humbly requested we be seated in a different section. At that moment, the pink haired lady came out, very huffed up and asked “what’s the problem?”. Abby kindly explained we wished to move. The pink hair lady then shoves the plate of lemons I had requested at Abby and said “well , here’s there lemons, if they wanna move, that’s fine I guess” She then proceeds to look me in the eye and with a smart tone , tilts her head and says “it was a pleasure meeting you”. Like, what in the world was her issue.

Abby sat us in the section of a server named Kenny. Kenny was prompt, kind spoken, and had an air of positivity. When our orders were placed he was very thorough when answering our questions. Abby came back to check on us during our meal and was a further joy to the experience. At one point a gentleman, whom I assume was the FOH manager did a table touch and we were all smiles. Me especially with that delicious tuna tartare! Our meal went off without a hitch. Glasses never empty, and our table was pre bussed efficiently and with little disturbance.

We may not be the wealthiest people, but like to treat ourselves and will always tip well for great service. Our bill with two apps, two entrees, 1 cocktail (my date doesn’t drink) and dessert, was about $100. We tipped $50, and gave an additional tip of $20 to the lovely hostess.

To Kenny and Abby! Thank you for creating a welcoming and warm atmosphere! May both sides of your pillows always be cool and dry. As for the other lady, I hope she steps in a wet spot in her favorite socks.

We will surely be back to Baxters, thanks to those two and the tab will...

Anybody who knows me knows where they can find me on a Wednesday after work for lunch, Baxter's for those half price appetizers (specifically the steak nacho's). I brag about the nacho's all the time because they are good. I've talked so much about them I've talked a couple of family member's and co-workers into trying them. I've talked about them so much for my Grandmother's 75th birthday (yayy) we as a family decided the service and food usually is of our standard, and that we should celebrate my granny's birthday at Baxter's. From the moment we were sat I had an uneasy feeling because for a table of 15 we only had 1 server (Craig). I understand Baxter's American Grille Champaign is a very likeable place, but their staffing arrangements shouldn't have to fall upon the customers (problem #1). At this point in the night I understood although we could do nothing about there being only one server, to have patience because I'm all about being positive especially for a celebration like this. After everyone arriving, we placed our order. Some ordering appetizers, some ordering dinner platters, and some ordering both. I understood Craig might have been under pressure and I sympathize with that. Let's get this clear my experience isn't to single Craig out because I feel he overall in my opinion was decent; however, Craig failed to ask anyone at the table if they would like their appetizer as such or as a meal. He took it upon himself to just bring everyone's food out at the same time. There were 6 children at the table. No exaggeration it took over an hour and a half before my aunt asked Craig if at least some of the people who ordered appetizers could get them as appetizers and not along with their meal. Immediately after her request appetizers were delivered. My wife’s appetizer was luke-warm and all the while she still never received her drink (once again the night was about positive vibes not complaints or being negative). Two hours (after arriving), the rest of the food arrived. The food took so long to arrive that 2 members of our 15 people party decided not to order (mind you it was their first time eating at Baxter’s). Being the person who spoke so highly of this establishment you can only imagine how I feel currently and felt that night. My grandmother who was celebrating her 75th birthday is also a cancer survivor and it was supposed to be a memorable night for good reasons. Her entrée was “delicious” (in her words) and the comp birthday desert was the same. I just wish the service matched and was timed out...

No matter how good your food is, bad service will run the experience every time. That is how our Saturday night went at Baxter's. We got there about 7 and had about a 10-minute wait for our friends to get there. My wife and I sat at the bar until they got there and then we signed in for a table. They told us it be about a 30 minute wait. I thought that was odd because I had walked through and 1/2 the tables were empty at the time. But okay. So after about 10 minutes waiting for a table in the dining room we asked if we could be seated in the bar instead as all of those tables were empty. We were told we could. Well a busboy/waitperson, obviously very displeased, sat a table about 10 minutes later. We assumed it was our table but nobody notified us and after about another 20 minutes of waiting we finally asked the bartender if that table was for us and were we to be seated there? He said yes it was. It would have been nice to have known that. And after ordering a couple of rounds of drinks it was very obvious that he didn't really want to be working either. So we were seated and after about another 10 or 15 minutes menus were finally brought over to us and one of the members of the party asked for a gluten-free menu and we were told he would be right back. So another 10 minutes passed and the bartender came to take our order, at which point we asked if we could get the gluten-free menu he was going to be right back with. He said yes and another 10 minutes passed and he came back with a gluten-free menu finally. And 15 minutes later he still hadn't come back to take our order. Finally the manager walked through and after some very displeased looks to him he went and asked the bartender what was going on. So the bartender came back over and took our orders. And after half an hour we finally got our food. These times are not exaggerated. The food was excellent, no complaints about that. The prices are okay as well. It's a nice place. But lousy service ruined the entire evening. If they had been exceptionally busy I would have understood. But as I said, the dining room was half full at best and the bar area had two people sitting at the bar and and no one seated at the tables. It wasn't like they were overworked. It was just very obvious nobody really gave a darn. I won't say we will never eat there again but there are much better choices in CU. We were very...