jimgould

These guys have NO idea how to run a steakhouse. Period.

I got engaged here and the staff really helped me set everything up the night before. Even as to holding the engagement ring in their safe. We sat next to the fireplace and it was an awesome setting. I again came after our wedding,(party of 6) and once again on our one year wedding anniversary. Great service, Jim is good to me, even recognized me when I was there almost a year later. His wife Tanya is awesome too. Really nice people. I reccomend not going on an EXTREMELY busy night if you want "great" service. 7/12/10

I went there with my girlfriend and her family to celebrate her graduation (table of 6), and we left very disappointed. Before making our reservation, we looked online and saw it was a pricier restaurant. Very similar to prices you'd find in Chicago, but in Downtown Champaign. I have no issue with paying these prices for a meal...except, I like to feel the experience was worth it. This experience was NOT worth it. I ordered the Pasta Primavera for $20 (and that was one of the cheaper entrees on the menu). The sauce was very watery and had little flavor. There are several other restaurants I know in the area that make a much better dish of Pasta Primavera for only about $15, and you get soup or salad with that meal. $20 for this bland meal with no soup or salad was hardly worth it. To be fair, my girlfriend's father said that the lasagna was pretty good. It is possible that maybe they don't excel in certain dishes, or maybe the chef was just not on his A game that night, but when you're charging $20+ per plate, you should be pretty consistent in making your recipes. The restaurant itself is a very nice atmosphere. The bus staff was a little slow at filling water glasses, even though I saw them walking around the restaurant looking for something to do. However, the server was willing to bring a carafe of water upon request. I don't see myself, or my girlfriends family, going to Jim Gould's again. There are plenty of other restaurants in the downtown area that can offer a better experience for a better value.

I travel a lot to New York and Chicago, as well as, elsewhere, and I can tell you nobody does a steak- and they have many cuts to choose from- like they do. My wife loves the Tuna tartare and the Tuna steak cooked rare is great. I love the Wedge salad also. Because I work in the building I often have breakfast and lunch. The pancakes are great and all the soups are just fantastic. The potato & sausage soups is a personal favorite. The deserts are delicious and the portions, huge. Great wines and they know how to make a Vox Gibson. Great staff and Jim & Tanya always go the extra mile..