Esquire Lounge

Inexpensive, decent food, fun. Yeah its messy, and service is spotty, but it’s a good hangout spot.

This is one of my favorite spots in Champaign. So many drinks to choose from, and I e never had a bad meal. If you like tomato soup, you have to come here. They have a tomato bisque soup that is incredible! Definitely a most go to place

I only put one star because it will not allow me to write a review without it– otherwise 0 stars. Will not return or recommend anyone else visits this establishment. Service was horrible on a night that was no more busy than the average, the place was filthy (not just peanuts on the ground) and the employees were RUDE! We asked for 2 waters and one server said «sorry I’m too busy for that right now». The food was average, nothing like what the other reviews here say.
We visited due to the outstanding Unilocal reviews, but were extremely disappointed.

Best Neighborhood Bar in CU by a long shot. For a bar food bar, their pizza is ridiculously good. Try the Blue Pear (warning, no red sauce). The bar tender with the beard will take care of you. We meet there regularly with a large group, and they handle the crew very nicely. Crooked Tree is always on tap! Why not five stars? Cause the food isn’t free? not sure.

I go here whenever I’m downtown and need smokes. Last night, was standing in front of Seven Saints doing «outside things» and a guy comes up and asks where he can buy a pack of smokes, and I say, «you can go right there, next door and buy them there. They are $ 8, but it’s right there. Or you can go about 4 blocks that way (points south west) but you might get robbed there. Or you can go about 4 blocks that way (points north west) but you might get robbed there too… or you can go right there and for $ 8 get a pack of smokes».
Last night was in there for dinner. The lady again asked «what do you want?» we were undecided, I usually leave it to her to decide because she never really wants anything I want. As we were leaving kohls (more on that later) we saw a car with license place MICA, so I offered MIGA, but she said no, because she’s not that adventurous. So, we settled on Esquire. But is it really settling on Esquire? When this is your fall back of «i don’t know what to eat», you are actually living a pretty decent life.
The cheese sticks here are some of the best in town. Not sure why, everyone probably has the same opportunity to get these version from whoever their supplier is, but they don’t, so these are the best. The Asian dumplings are what makes me eat here. Don’t know why, but they are awesome. The sauce is great too, and there’s never any left when I get done, because I suck it out of the paper cup. She gets a grilled cheese. I get the ribeye steak sammich. It’s definitely a serviceable ribeye steak sammich. It’s not a steak place, so don’t ever get a steak rare from not a steak place. I went with medium rare. There’s enough juice (fat/​blood/​whatever) to make the bun deliciously soggy, and the steak is tender and flavorful. The grilled cheese is a grilled cheese. Nothing fancy, nothing bad.
They have Triptych Pretty Nice Little Saturday on tap. They ALWAYS have PNLS on tap. Did you want a pitcher of PNLS, because you can get it here! Within the past 2 years, their craft beer selection has vastly improved. That’s probably to the dismay of several of their regulars. Esquire is the TOWNIE bar downtown. It probably has the most eclectic mix of people. After sporting events, the place is almost all orange on the inside. Not too many other bars downtown are that sports friendly. It’s kind of the place that people who went to school at U of I 20 – 30 years ago go to, after they come to a game.
It’s a comfort bar. Even though the chairs aren’t that comfortable.
There’s pool. There’s peanuts. There’s the asshole in your group who thinks it’s funny to fill your pockets with peanut shells.

I wanted Pizza — I wanted Good Pizza — Lady Di posted a picture of her lunch on facebbok — and the picture was PIZZA from Esquire Lounge! It looked DMN Good! So on Saturday I ordered one — Sausage Cheese and Mushrooms. I have traveled from Coast to Coast — my dad loved tasking me to a place in chicago and spending upwards of 80.00 on what is known as Chicago’s Famous Pizza … Can’t touch Esquire Lounge Pizza — Too Bad I don’t drink… So (5) Star! When I walked in the female bar attendant ingnored me TOTALY — Then a kind gentleman from the back came over drying his hands — all smiles and was California Kind! Sorry I did’t tip him… But the female waitress had me SHOCKED! This is 2015 — THIS PLACE WILL SEE ME AS OFTEN AS I WANT A SNACK! LOL! HAPPY !

This place is great for what it is. Cheap food, cheap beer and alcohol (hefty wine pours!), and a nice atmosphere. Service was super fast. Salad was surprisingly fresh (and only $ 3.50!). Pizza was great. Throwing peanuts on the ground was fun. Overall, great experience.

Literally what it’s advertised as. Cheap, solid food, no frills. Great beer selection, nice crowd mixed between the locals and the (typically grad) students. Super convenient location near the terminal.

I’m not exactly what keeps me coming back to Esquire, I just really like the place. They don’t seem to do anything special, but they serve good bar food in a quiet little restaurant. The super relaxed environment is definitely part of the appeal for me. My wife and I were able to go out for a cheapish, chill date night.

So me and my husband go here all the time and we gambell if we got it. seldom drink more less eat and run. most the time my husband orders same pizza everytime depending on who takes his order if it comes out right and i flip flop between pizza a hamburgers with fried broccoli. i most the time i have a great experience when everything pans out…

Cheap, good pub food. Don’t expect fancy.
This is a great little local watering hole with pretty good food options for an extremely reasonable price.
They have a surprisingly good beer selection and infuse their own liquors. Seriously a must-​try in Chambana.

Although I enjoy coming to the Esquire, I have sat on the side where the bartender Rich works. On more than one occasion this man acts as if we are in his way rather than welcoming us as guests. Last time we were there he was in a particularly bad mood, being nasty to his fellow workers and acting as if the patrons were in his way. I come to a bar to have a relaxed fun evening, Rich has more than once made the evening very uncomfortable.
I have been in the bar when Rich wasn’t working, and when he is not there the people behind the bar are relaxed, they smile, and seem to have fun, but when Rich is there everyone is on edge and grumpy. God forbid anyone does anything in his «territory», they get a nasty look.
This man is more worried about making sure that everything behind the bar is in its place and perfect, than he is about giving good service to his customers, he will walk by an empty glass many times without asking if you need another drink, you have to flag him down.
I think he has been there much too long, and has lost the knowledge that the customer comes first.

Great alcohol. However I was with a group of 3 and we ordered multiple drinks because we are all semi alcoholics and they told us we could only have one drink each. You all have lint butt.

I frequent the bar next door, so I thought I might like this place. Erm. I was floored when I walked in, and the first time I came here, I left immediately. Esquire is rather hideous with an atmosphere not to my taste. Light wood? Really? Okay, that’s not a big deal. I guess I’m just not used to this feel. I personally think their drink menu is shot. The positive: this is the only place I’ve found near campus that serves chicken tenders! Kudos.

This is a great place for quick cheap bar food and drinks. The ambiance can be a little trashy at times but whenever we find ourselves downtown and craving some quick food, this is our go to. The menu is surprisingly diverse and high quality for the prices and you can’t beat the free peanuts. Their drink specials are pretty great and they have a pretty impressive selection of beer. I wouldn’t make a special trip for it but if you want a cheap place to meet up with friends or find yourself hungry in downtown champaign, it’s worth checking out.

Came on a Friday night and it was really packed. Our waitress was really busy and it took her about 20 minutes to ask us what we wanted. The seating area is kind of cramped; chairs were often back-​to-​back. Their pizza is good, though, and they had decent drink prices.

Their pizzas are pretty good — thin crust. Get the BBQ chicken. The food isn’t amazing but it’s pretty good for a lounge/​bar. I’ve tried their sandwich as well with pulled pork. This was very tasty! Had it during lunch time when it’s not too busy. Apparently they have a buffet lunch or something. Cool, chill place to check out in downtown Champaign.

Why, yes, I would like to drink a lot, play pool, AND watch the game, all at the same time! Because, really, they have everything here at the Esquire.
Cheap drinks, good service, pool, and TVs everywhere; what more could you ask for?!
I love the peanuts thing they do, and I love the whole feel of throwing the shells on the floor! I feel like a rebel for making a mess, hehe. Their fries are wonderful to chow down on when you’re feeling pretty happy, and their honey mustard is ridiculously good (not sure what kind they use, but I need that in my life!).
I was a little disappointed they didn’t have Bulleit bourbon, but it could just be a southern thing. I got over it quickly, Makers is a good substitution in my Old Fashioneds.
Two thumbs up for Esquire! Will definitely be back next time I’m visiting Champaign

Gotta admit that the name of the place belies what’s actually inside. When I hear the word «Esquire,» I think formal and gentlemen. What I got was scattered peanut shells all over the floor and a normal bar scene.
Despite this, this place features some cool billiards. It’s a great place to watch sports games and the prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food they serve. They have a condiment bar so you can put as much tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and/​or onions on your food. My burger and fried mushroom meal came out to be $ 8.49.
And if you’re feeling like a hipster, they have PBR pints for a dollar on Sunday.

There’s something quite nice about this place. I’ve heard they’re quite cheap with the drinks here, but I’m more a fan of the food. Every pizza I’ve had here has been really delicious. The ambiance is worth the visit as well, a traditional joint with pool tables on the side.
But the bathrooms… avoid the bathrooms.