I kept hearing that Farren's had the best burgers in town, so my friend and I decided to go check it out. We went for lunch one Friday afternoon. Although located in downtown Champaign, parking was not an issue. I found a spot across the street and my friend found one around the corner.

Farren's is downstairs in the basement of the building. I was a little dubious at first. The place looks like a dive when you enter and when you start down a ramp into the basement room, but the space was open and airy. I was pleased to note that Farren's had already gone smoke-free. The atmosphere was still pub-like with the bar dominating one wall.

The menu included salads, sandwiches, and, of course, the hamburgers we'd come to try. My friend ordered a vegetarian black bean burger she had it with spicy toppings. I ordered the traditional burger with swiss cheese and mushrooms. The burgers come with chips and salsa, which my friend liked. I upgraded to fries for a dollar more. The wait for the burgers was short. The burgers were huge and we both agreed they were very tasty. The fries were English pub style--soft, not crispy--but Farren's conveniently supplied malt vinegar so you could flavor them the English way. I was a little surprised because they looked like they'd be crispy, but once I got over the shock, I found the fries were good too.

My burger, fries, an iced tea, and tax and tip were $12.00. It made a nice change and I'd eat there again. I think the atmosphere is more adult--there were no kids in sight--but I recommend it as a place to eat out with your spouse or friend.

Farren's is located in downtown Champaign at 308 N. Randolph.