Black Dog Smoke & Ale House

12-6-25 Very good! Very welcoming from the time you enter til you walk out the door. Everyone is amazingly friendly and helpful! Our server Barb was the best! We had the 3 meat platter... Burnt ends, rib tips and hot polish sausage. All excellent! Sides .. mac-n-chesse and sweet potato fries. I prefer my Mac to be al dente. The texture wasn't much to my liking either. Fries were excellent! Had a cup of their brisket no bean chili and it was great. I do like beans in my chili but it was still really good. It is on the spicy side so if you're not into that just beware. I loved the the spice! The atmosphere is great! It's an old train station, so much history for sure. The price is fair for the quality and quantity of food you get. Nice bar with many different drink options! We didn't get dri

Great spot for some smoked deliciousness in Champaign. Open feel with very small bar seating area with some high tops and then a couple general seating areas. Super friendly and attentive service. Great beer list with a decent tap selection and a good mix of cans as well. Nice selection of cocktails and bourbons. Meats have a deep smoky flavor and pronounced smoke ring. Ribs super tender and juicy. Burnt ends definitely different from what I’ve had in the past and essentially just the first few slices from the brisket end. Apple sauce way too cinnamony for me. Fries and corn dip tasty.

Visiting my alma mater with my family, decided to try smoked meats far from Chicagoland for comparison, especially seeing burnt ends on the menu. The food here is bery good, but the burnt ends was not quite like the traditional cubed meat with majority of it the camelized bark. Nonetheless, worth the visit especially very far from home.

I had a really great experience at Black Dog in Champaign. The food was genuinely delicious, and the burnt ends were the clear highlight of the meal for me. They were tender, smoky, and full of flavor in a way that’s hard to find anywhere else. It felt like every bite had the right balance, and it made the whole meal really memorable. The price was reasonable. The place itself has a warm and comfortable feel. It’s casual and relaxed, and it’s the kind of restaurant where you can enjoy a meal without feeling rushed. Even when it gets busy, the atmosphere still feels easygoing, and the staff handles everything with friendliness and good energy. The service was quick, and everyone seemed attentive without being pushy. The location also near the station so very convenient. Overall, Black Dog

Excellent food. Rivals the great BBQ places in Kansas City. Great flavor and generous portions. Good service. Definitely worth a visit. We went at lunch and there was no wait for a table, but I'm guessing it gets very busy during dinner.