Nando Milano — Restaurant in Champaign

I am not normally one to leave restaurant reviews but we wanted to share our dining experience. To say our experience was a disappointment would be an understatement. We were contacted a week before our graduation weekend reservation and were told that we needed to “pre-order” our meal and that there was a $75.00 minimum per person. Because of the fact that it was too late to make reservations elsewhere we went ahead and pre-ordered our meal.

When we arrived for our 4pm reservation we found the atmosphere to be very nice. However, things went downhill pretty quickly. We noticed that there were several empty tables and there were people actually ordering off of menus with apparently no requirement to “pre-order".

The appetizers were of average quality at best. The $12.00 bread baskets included bread must have been sliced a fair amount ahead of the time it was placed on our table as the bread was dried-out. We felt very rushed fairly quickly into our meal with the serving staff trying to prematurely clear the table while people were obviously still eating and plates still having more than a little food remaining.

The chicken parmesan seemed premade/warmed-up prior to serving and the cheese was on the hard side of things with the chicken having an unpleasant texture. A fair comparison would be a self-serve catered food experience with chicken parmesan that has been sitting out in an aluminum pan for some time.

An order of spaghetti in tomato sauce would best be described as bland with a sour type of flavor. The Rigatoni in tomato cream sauce with crumbled sausage had an unpleasant texture but was edible.

An $80 NY Strip was served sliced and served incorrectly rare. After some hesitation we decided to mention to a server that it was rare. They took the plate back and must have placed it into an oven. Placing the sliced steak into an oven to bring to temperature did not result in a satisfactory result (especially considering it was an $80 steak) and very little of it was eaten.

An order of Gnocchi with braised short ribs was actually a meal that was enjoyed and the tiramisu dessert was enjoyed as well.

After being rushed through our meal we waited an extended period of time for our dessert. Then, just wanting to leave the restaurant, we waited an extended period of time for the check (with the check not going to the person who requested it to be given to them). We’d typically be understanding of having to wait at times during a restaurant experience, but it was very frustrating after having being rushed through our meal.

I wish I did not feel compelled to leave this review. However, given the manner in which management handled our reservation along with the food experience relative to the prices charged, I’d like to spare another family a similar experience in the future. Maybe a non-graduation weekend would result in a better...

Without hyperbole, one of the worst restaurants I’ve ever been to. The general atmosphere of the restaurant had my hopes up, but $250 dollars later (for a table of three, in which we ordered a total of 5 menu items, one of them being bread) I’ve come across what is maybe one of the biggest disappointments in recent and not-so-recent memory. From the reviews, this place looks pretty good. I can only surmise that they were paid off and bribed into giving over their souls, maybe in return for less than their mediocre food.

Keep in mind, I don’t write reviews often. If I find a great restaurant, I spread the word personally. I’m tempted to end the review here, but if it means saving someone else the travesty of eating here, I’ll go into more detail.

Anything that touches their version of a “red sauce” is instantly ruined. The flavor profiles remind you of somebody experimenting with food for fun; destined to be thrown out after laughing at how either bland it is, or how its just gross- which is an accomplishment, considering how I ran into both sides of the spectrum in just one dinner. Their chicken tastes like it was abused physically, and verbally during a short and miserable life. Their bread is pretty good, actually. Their pasta tastes like how it feels to get turned down on a marriage proposal. And the worst part, is that it sticks with you- every time I think about simply closing out this tab and forgetting about it all, I can taste the worst chicken parmigiana I’ve ever had in my life in the back of my throat, taunting me and my stomach- laughing at me, almost. Please. Save yourself the money, and the time. It’s right next door to some other restaurants that, even if bad or unnoteworthy, can’t be worse than this place and will at least cost you less time and money. I personally recommend buying dog food from the local pet store and eating...

My visit to Nando Milano was a very pleasant surprise. Tucked away in the heart of downtown Champaign, this restaurant is nestled in the perfect location for an evening stroll, live music or other festivities surrounding the area.

The restaurant manager, G, was an amazing host who assured every aspect of the experience was enjoyable. Staff like Giuseppe, Jackson and Owen were super attentive and you could see the effectiveness of their team-oriented approach to offering a stellar dining experience.

I was served by the bartender with mermaid colored hair (can't recall her name) but she was super helpful in making drink selections, all of which used fresh ingredients making them a cut above the rest. She also made suggestions to assure I didn't miss out on Nando's tasty dessert options, like the Panna Cotta Ai Frutti Di Bosco, a tasty and refreshing custard treat.

Fresh bread and olive oil were a perfect starter option, preparing the palette for the succulent flavors of Aragosta Imperiale, a generous portion of Maine lobster, presented resting on a bed of spaghetti. This paired perfectly with Nando's Aragosta white wine for an exceptional culinary experience.

Not pictured, but certainly not to be counted out is Nando's Gelato. My personal favorite is the passion fruit.

Whether a night out with family and friends - they have a full dining room and furnished outdoor patio, a solo dinner at the bar like me or a simple visit to quench your desire for an experience fit for a King/Queen, Nando Milano's does an excellent job of bringing a taste of Italy to the heart of Champaign. A...