Writer's Room — Restaurant in Urbana

I was really looking forward to breakfast at the new Writer's Room with my mom for Mother's Day. The restaurant is lovely, decor is tasteful and music pleasant. I wasn't able to see where all of the seating is but appears to be somewhat small. Unfortunately, there was not enough staff to take care of guests well - two servers and a maitre d, who also was serving. To their credit, they were all very pleasant and did the best they could.

We sat at a too-small table for our meal. Had there been side dishes, there would not have been room. There were bigger tables but there are many tables more suited for cocktails only. There should be gliders on the chair legs as it was nearly impossible for my 80 year old mother to scoot her chair up to the table over the thick carpet.

My mom ordered the French toast, which was pretty good, but nothing exceptional. She said the coffee was very good. Save your money if you drink decaf. Underwhelming. And maybe slip in your own creamer in a flask - you'll be served Coffee Mate. I ordered scrambled eggs with hash browns, bacon, and pancakes. Very disappointing. The eggs were dry and overcooked, the hash browns were pucks just like McDonald's and were quite greasy. Pancakes were room temperature and dry. Bacon had good flavor but was also greasy.

With a tip, our meal was almost $48. It will be a long while before I return. They will really need to step up their game to draw repeat customers. For a Hilton hotel, this was an incredible...

Tucked inside the beautifully restored Hotel Royer in Urbana, The Writer’s Room blends historic charm with a fresh, modern feel. The ambiance strikes a perfect balance—plush seating, warm lighting, and thoughtful decor that nods to the building’s past while creating a cozy, elevated dining space. Service is warm, attentive, and well-paced, rounding out the experience with genuine hospitality.

On the table, a few standouts truly impressed. The truffle parmesan fries arrived golden and crisp, served in a chic rose gold basket, with just the right amount of earthy richness. The Summer Sonata Salad was light and bright, featuring fresh seasonal ingredients and a tangy vinaigrette that brought it all together beautifully. But the real showstopper was the lamb ribs—titled Prologue of Smoke and Silk—tender, deeply flavorful, and glazed to perfection. Each bite lived up to its poetic name.

The bar deserves its own mention, offering a thoughtful selection of craft cocktails, wines, and creative drinks to suit just about any mood. If there’s one area where we were left wanting, it was dessert—while fine, the options didn’t quite match the flair and flavor of the rest of the menu. Still, it’s a minor note in an otherwise standout dining experience.

We’ll definitely be returning whenever we’re...

an attempt at class in an environment completely devoid of it. we had our reservations; not the kind u make in advance, the kind you get when the first thing you see is a HEALTH CODE VIOLATION they received 2 days prior for FAILURE TO COMPLY to a previous inspection. none the less, this was where my wife and i were directed to wait when we first spoke with the “hostess”. we also reconfirmed that we were there to eat to make sure we weren’t just loitering in a really odd spot. after 15 minutes another couple walked in and are immediately met with a totally different vibe and seated immediately. we could have just walked out then and there, but i felt need to point out the shortcomings of their service, especially whilst under the cloud of a very recent HARLTH CODE VIOLATION. just do urself a solid and just skip this place, let them join the long line of failed attempts to find any sort of success making this fetid place any thing but what it is…totally...