Downtown Champaign was in desperate need of something different. Something fresh. Nearly two years ago, in April of 2023, The Space brought exactly that.
Simply put, The Space is weird.
(Photo by Jake Williams)
From the McDonald’s kiddie plates to the grilled octopus appetizer to the abstract artwork coating the walls, everything inside the restaurant-music venue is just a little bit unconventional.
The vibe of the restaurant is all-encompassing. Walking in, you’re immediately immersed in an eclectic diner atmosphere, complete with softly glowing colored lights and all the cooking happening on an open grill right behind the bar.
The restaurant itself is pleasant, tucked away next to Big Grove Tavern and Ladro Enoteca on East Main Street in Champaign. The narrow bar leads you to a cozy performance venue with a slightly elevated stage adorned with a drum kit and all the necessary pieces for the regular nights of live music, comedy and open mics.
(Photo by Clark Anderson/The Daily Illini)
Multi-colored chairs set a not-too formal tone. Coming from a hot sauce company, a food truck and a pop-up at Collective Pour, The Space pays homage to the Weird Meat Boyz’s humble beginnings.
The setting totally works, creating a perfect casual atmosphere for a prix fixe tasting menu dinner, burger and fries or punk show
Vibe aside, the real experience of The Space lies in the food. The venue’s menu is as wild as its appearance, sporting smash burgers — dubbed with the surname “McSmashFace” — a meatloaf sando and a rotating number of luxury dining-inspired items like duck confit, steaks, half chickens, roasted pork belly and more.
The restaurant is a notably accessible space for dietary restrictions —, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free modifications are available for most dishes, and the restaurant uses two different fryers for glutinous and non-glutinous items.
Drinks at The Space are fun and flavorful. There are abundant alcoholic and nonalcoholic options available, including nonalcoholic cocktails and NA options from a variety of bigger brands like Athletic Brewing and Liquid Death.
They carry local beer and Malört on tap, as well as local spirits from Silver Tree Spirits and a cocktail menu that offers basic classic cocktails executed well.
The smash burgers don’t disappoint. They’re well-portioned and well cooked with toppings like pickled red onion and pickled jalapeño. The classic Smashy McSmashFace is a standout.
Fries at The Space come with their signature Weird Meat Boyz ketchup, a tangy chipotle infused mix that compliments everything else on the plate. The small hit of spice from the chipotle peppers is a perfect blast of what makes this place weird and awesome.
If anything, The Space could lean into their weirdness more.The Space’s biggest strengths are found when The Weird Meat Boyz lean into what they know best: fun and unique flavors.
It’s fun to visit a spot that looks (and tastes) like absolutely nothing else in Champaign-Urbana. From the funky art to the regular rotation of talented musical guests, The Space is doing great work in bringing some vibrancy to the community.
If you want weird, there isn’t really a better place to go. Even two years in, The Space still feels fresh on the C-U food scene. When they fully grow even more out of their comfort zone, this restaurant will become even more spectacular.
(Photo by James Chen/The Daily Illini)
The far wall at the back of the restaurant, credited to Aaron Davidson, reads “I resent the term ‘normalize.’ Don’t wait for permission from the man. Let yer freak flag fly, baby!”
Dare I say The Space could let their “freak flag” fly even higher?
Maaike Niekerk is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the Managing Editor of The Daily Illini.