The Literary — Restaurant in Champaign

I actually really love Lit. Their coffee is great, and their food is really delicious. I like the atmosphere and the friendly staff. However, i do feel it's time to give some constructive feedback about a couple of things I thought were disappointing lately and didn't converge with what i was used to from them. This way, they can keep their standards as high as they had been all this time.

So the first thing i find pretty frustrating is that their announced dining times are constantly being violated. They say their kitchen is open until 4pm. I came at 3:45 the other day though and the kitchen was already closed. Then i came at 3:30 and the kitchen was closed too. And today i called at 3:10 to make sure my order gets in before the kitchen closes. First the person on the other line said i should just make the order in person, since the kitchen closes at 4, but after talking to her colleagues she told me that the kitchen had actually already closed! I get it that you might close things if there isn't enough business, but if you constantly close your kitchen at around 3 instead of 4, just don't falsely advertise it on your platforms and say instead that the kitchen closes at 3.

This leads to the other frustrating issue. Again, I love Lit's food, and although it's slightly pricey, i think it's worth the money---the tastes are always great and you see that actual work goes into the dishes, so I'm happy to pay for that! But when one of the days their kitchen had closed early, they told me i can choose something from their grab and go menu. I chose a ham and cheese sandwich and was really shocked by what was served to me. It really did not correspond to the quality i was used to from them. What i got was not really a sandwich---it rather looked and tasted like a huge loaf of dry bread. Because there was so much bread and such a miniscule amount of cheese / ham, i took off one slice of bread, and it still tasted like I'm just biting into dry cold bread. I was actually really disappointed i wasted money and my hunger on that.

In sum: lit is great, but there are a couple of issues i think need fixing. I'm confident they'll get fixed...

This is primarily an accessibility review, as an ambulatory wheelchair user, as the location was advertised online as accessible. So, upon arriving to use the accessible entrance, the exterior push button malfunctioned. Staff had to assist with entry. Staff reported it has been broken for some time but they will attempt repair and are working on it currently.

Door width about 32" which is fine, but bare minimum. Space is tight with furniture and some elevation changes. Checkout counter for food and beverage is VERY high up and card reader is not adjustable.

Many, many rugs of varying widths, some with tassel edges, on the floors. My casters got caught in one of the thick ones. Next to a glass coffee table. Eek! Not great. Tables also sometimes block access to bookshelves. It's just tables, tables, tables and chairs everywhere. Definitely runs a bit less than 32" in some spots for passage. Ideally would be 36" for ease of movement everywhere.

Bookstore checkout counter is lower, decent. However, a large garbage can does impede ability to get close to the card reader. To their credit, a staff member asked what they could do to make it more accessible. I explained re: le garbage. They may fix that.

Manual door has a wider width which was actually quite nice while leaving (someone held the door) and thresholds weren't too bad.

Food was yummy, literature was modern, and I found some good items. However, I gotta give them a rating of limited accessibility. What feels cozy to able bodied people is prohibitively crowded for some of us (especially if your chair or rollator is like 20" or more for seat width, as mine is, or if you are pushing a stroller). 3 stars overall. Very sweet people there, but the litany of apologies soured my experience. Certainly not a universally designed space. Hope that changes.

Edit: They made a lot of changes to improve accessibility!!! I've gone back a few times and it's easier to navigate and safer. I am ecstatic. They...

This coffee shop with a bookstore is absolutely amazing! The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with beautiful colors and cute modern decorations. While the book selection isn’t huge, it offers a great variety of key books reflecting current trends, perfect for browsing and finding something new. I was particularly impressed by the shop’s apparel and other items featuring the shop logo. They felt very authentic and were made from high-quality materials. Though the shop can get a bit crowded, there’s still plenty of space to relax and enjoy your time. We ordered the absolute must-try drink: the London Fog. This delightful concoction of Earl Grey tea with hints of vanilla and lavender, topped with milk, is pure love in a cup! It was incredibly tasty, and I highly recommend it. I only wish they had larger size options for drinks!! We highly appreciate the good quality and style of the to go coffee cup. The restrooms were spotless, and I appreciated that the women’s restroom was stocked with tampons and sanitary pads. The staff were friendly and welcoming, making the experience even more enjoyable. Whether you’re here for a drink with a partner, family, or friends, this is a fantastic place to unwind and enjoy a great atmosphere. Highly...