Watson’s Shack & Rail
Downtown Champaign’s Chicken Shack
Located in the Heart of Downtown Champaign, Watson’s Shack & Rail serves up Southern and Cajun inspired dishes with a special emphasis on our fried chicken sandwiches; try out the Watson's Hot dipped, if you dare!
Wash it all down with a cold beverage from our full bar featuring a wide selection of craft-local beer, handmade cocktails, adult slushies, and a killer bourbon list.
don’t forget to ask us about joining our whiskey club!
211 N Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Hours
Mon-Tues 4pm–9pm
Wed-Thur 4pm–10pm
Fri–Sat 11am–10pm
Sun 11am–9pm
CHECK OUT OUR
MERCH Store
Featured
Crispy Chicken Society Shirt
MENU
Table Snacks
$10
Bavarian Pretzel
Served with beer cheese
$10
$13
Corn Ribs
Eat just like a bone-in rib. Crusted & dusted w/ our house seasoning and served w/ Black Pepper Ranch
$13
$15
Crab Hushpuppies
Comeback Sauce, Scallions, Lemon
$15
$14
Pimento Cheese & Crackers
Made w/ Prairie Fruits Farm Cheese. Served w/ Saltines & Pickles
$14
$14
Fried Brussels Sprouts
Shallots, Spiced Aioli
$14
$15
Gravy Fries
Potato Wedges, Ropp's Cheese Curds, Chicken Gravy
$15
-Add fried or pulled chicken $4
$8 Half
/
$11 Full
House Salad
Mixed Greens, Croutons, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onion, Cheddar, Choice Of Ranch Or Citrus Vin.
$8 Half
/
$11 Full
-Add Firecracker or Grilled BBQ Shrimp Full (4) $8, Half (2) $4
-Add Fried or Pulled Chicken $4 for full, $2 for half
$10 small
/
$16 large
Fried Wings
Tossed in Carolina Gold or Buffalo Sauce
$10 small
/
$16 large
$12
Fried Okra
Served w/ house-made Watson’s White Sauce
$12
$16
Firecracker Shrimp
6 Panko Breaded Tiger Shrimp tossed in Firecracker Sauce
$16
Sandwiches
All Sandwiches served w/ Choice of One Side
$15
Chicken Sandwich
Fried Chicken Thigh or Pulled Spit-Roasted Chicken, Brioche Bun, Herb Mayo, Lettuce, Pickles
$15
$15
Watson's Hot
Fried Chicken Thigh, Nashville Hot Dip, Brioche Bun, Coleslaw, Pickles, Comeback Sauce
$15
$16
BUFFALO STARCHILD
Fried Chicken Thigh, Buffalo Sauce, Sorghum-glazed Bacon, Black Pepper Ranch, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Lettuce
$16
$16
CHICKEN BACON SWISS
Fried Chicken Thigh, Brioche Bun, Sorghum-glazed Bacon, Swiss Cheese, Honey Mustard
$16
$18
DU VELO
Watson's Hot Fried Chicken Thigh, Brioche Bun, Herb Mayo, American Cheese, Crisped Pork Belly, Fried Egg*
$18
$15
TOFU PO’BOY
Battered & Fried Organic Tofu Slices, Hoagie Roll, Lettuce, Red Onion, Pickles, & Vegan Remoulade
$15
$16
Watson's HOT FISH
Fried Perch, Nashville Hot Dip, Hoagie Roll, Coleslaw, Pickles
$16
$17
FIRECRACKER SHRIMP PO' BOY
Panko Breaded Tiger Shrimp tossed in a Sweet & Spicy Firecracker Sauce, Hoagie Roll, Lettuce, Roma Tomato, Red Onion, & Black Pepper Ranch.
$17
Additions
Sorghum-Glazed Bacon 2 | Sorghum-Glazed Pork Belly 3 | Tomato 1 | *Egg Cooked Your Way 2 | Cheese (American, Cheddar, Chevre, Smoked Gouda) 1.50
Entrees
$15
Watson's Hot Chicken
Fried Chicken dipped in our spicy Nashville Hot, Thick-Cut Dill Pickles, Potato Wedges. Choice of Tenders or Boneless Thighs
$15
$17
Chelsea’s Shameless Plea
Fried Chicken, Belgian Waffle, Apple Compote, Whipped Sorghum Butter, Maple Syrup. Choice of Tenders or Boneless Thighs
$17
-Add Sorghum-Glazed Pork Belly $3
$16
Watson’s Rice Bowl
Dirty Rice, Pulled Spit-Roasted Chicken or Fried Chicken Tenders, Fried Egg* Cooked Your Way, Pickled Okra, Mixed Greens, Watson’s White Sauce, Scallions
$16
-Add Sorghum Glazed Pork Belly $3
-Sub Firecracker or Grilled BBQ Shrimp (4) for Chicken $4
-Sub Tofu & Vegan Remoulade to make vegan
$15
Watson’s White Chicken
Spit-Roasted Chicken dipped in our Watson's White Sauce, served w/ Texas Toast & choice of side. Choice of White or Dark Meat
$15
$6 Cup
/
$8 Bowl
CHICKEN & ANDOUILLE GUMBO
$6 Cup
/
$8 Bowl
Chicken
$15
Spit Roasted Chicken
Choice of Light or Dark Meat, choice of one sauce, choice of one side
$15
$12 small
/
$16 large
Tender Basket
One sauce w/ small • Two sauces w/ large. Served w/ choice of one side
$12 small
/
$16 large
Sides
Large: $6 | Small: $4
Cajun Green Beans
Creamy coleslaw
Dirty Rice
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Potato Wedges
Mac & Cheese
Sauces
All Sauces $1
Buffalo
Carolina Gold
Comeback
Black Pepper Ranch
Watson's White
Cherry Cola BBQ
Honey Mustard
Firecracker
Dessert
$12
Maple Bourbon Bread Pudding
w/ Vanilla Ice Cream & Caramel Sauce
$12
*ICE CREAM NOT AVAILABLE FOR TO GO ORDERS*
$14
Waffles are my Jam
Belgian Waffle topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, Dutch Chocolate drizzle, house-made Strawberry-Bourbon Jam, Powdered Sugar, and fresh Strawberries
$14
Adult Slushies
$10
PROTECT YA’ NECTAR
Rum, Guava, Mango, Strawberry, Banana & Lime
$10
$12
SLUSHIE FLIGHT
A 2 oz pour of four of our available slushies!
$12
MRKT
ROTATING SLUSH
Ask your server what wild concoctions are on now
MRKT
Cocktails
$13
POMEGRANATE JALAPEÑO MARGARITA
Starring pepper-infused 100% Agave Tequila
$13
$10
UNCLOUDED DAY
Vodka — Cranberry — Lemon — Mint - Bliss
$10
$10
WATSON’S FAMOUS WABBIT
Gin – Carrot – Ginger – Honey – Epiphany
$10
$13
WASCALLY WABBIT
Chase the stars & upgrade to Warner's Harrington Gin
$13
$12
MEZCAL NEGRONI
A bonfire for your soul
$12
$13
Red Junglefowl (Gallus Gallus)
George Bowman Rum navigates refind refreshment.
$13
$6
House Shots
APB (Paddy's Green Tea) or PAMA (vodka or tequila)
$6
Whiskey Drinks
$15
Smoked Fig Whiskey Sour
Luxurious w/ egg white & Old Forester Statesman Bourbon.
$15
$11
Espresso Martini
Our Bourbany take on a modern classic w/ Grind Espresso, Dr. Mcgillicuddy’s Vanilla, & a little space-age technology.
$11
$11
Huckster's Hootenanny
“It’s the little things that smoothes people’s roads the most.” Take a dip in the cool waters of Huckleberry Bourbonade.
$11
$12
Extra Perfect Manhattan
Spicy Sazerac Rye & two vermouths. Up or on the rocks.
$12
$11
DEVIL'S DREAM
A sweet-tart bourbon & peach cooler. “The Devil went down to Watson’s; he was looking for a peach to peel…”
$11
King Cake Old Fashioned
Whiskey, Almond, Vanilla, and Orange. Classic cocktail with a NOLA twist.
$11
WATSON’S OLD FASHIONED
Ours is off-dry & spicy thanks to Buffalo Trace Bourbon, raw cane sugar, & a generous slug of bitters.
$11
MRKT
We also recommend Old Fashioneds made with
MRKT
Old Dominick Bourbon $13
Rowan's Creek Bourbon $16
Russell's 10yr Bourbon $15
Misunderstood Ginger Whiskey $11
Gooderham & Worts 4 Grain $15
Michter's Rye $17
Bloodies
$10
BLOODY MARY
Our Secret Recipe w/ Vodka vodka
$10
$12
WATSON’S HOT BLOODY MARY
Light it up w/ Absolut Peppar Vodka & Hot Chix spices
$12
$12
Bacon Bourbon Bloody
Bacon-infused Bourbon + Sorghum Bacon
$12
$12
Northern Lights
Linie Sea-Aged Aquavit adds invigorating intensity.
$12
$10
Midwesty Michelada
Crisp Pilsner + Tajin & Lime.
$10
Zero-Proof Cocktails
$7
Peacemaker
Mango - Lemon - Raspberry - Spritz - Delight
$7
$5
Orange-Mint Cooler
Citrus - Mint - Simple - Spritz - Quench
$5
$7
Virgin Mary
A lighter version of Watson's Famous Bloody Mary
$7
$8
Pathfinder & Tonic (P&T)
The Pathfinder Herbal Concoction +Tonic. Fend off malaise, ennui, & malaria?
$8
$7
Dirty Soda
It’s a thing. It’s both awesome & weird. Lime, Coconut, & Cream with your choice of soda: Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, or their Diet varieties.
$7
$5
Athletic Beer Co. NA Brews (12oz)
A+ ethanol-free beer. Like beer-flavored La Croix, darling.
$5
Lite or IPA Available
$6
Thirst Mutilator Lemon Lime Hop Water (16oz)
Billy Strings’ citrusy, bubbly Bluegrass fuel.
$6
Wine & Such
All wines thoughtfully curated by our award-winning sommelier. Please ask for a full list.
G $8
/
B $25
Bubbly or Rosé
G $8
/
B $25
G $10
/
B $32
Red or White
G $10
/
B $32
MRKT
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, & More
MRKT
MRKT
Grand Cru Champagne
MRKT
$8
Mimosa
Make it Strawberry/Banana, Mango, or Guava for an extra buck
$8
$29
DIY Mimosa Kit
Bottle of Bubbly + your choice of juice
$29
Beer & Such
all beers 16oz unless specified otherwise
$7
Draft Pints (16oz)
$7
Krombacher Pils, Stone IPA, Riggs Hefeweizen, Triptych Dank Meme
$15
Krombacher Boot (1.5L)
$15
$5
Montucky Cold Snack
$5
$5
Coors Light
$5
$8
Illuminated Orange Sunshine Saison
$8
$8
Half Acre Daisy Cutter Pale Ale
$8
$8
Pipeworks Lizard King Pale Ale
$8
$8
Pollyanna Seasonal IPA
$8
$8
Hop Butcher Seasonal IPA
$8
$10
Equilibrium Seasonal IPA
$10
$8
Heavy Riff Velvet Underbrown Ale
$8
$8
Tandem Smackintosh Sweet Cider
$8
$7
Eris Pedestrian Dry Cider (12oz)
$7
$9
Seasonal Sour Ale
$9
Breakfast
$15
Black Bean Bowl
Breakfast Potatoes, Cumin Black Beans, Roasted Corn, Roasted Poblanos, Salsa Roja, Sliced Avocado
$15
-Add 2 Eggs Your Way* for 3.50
$15
AVOCADO TOAST
CIB Multigrain Toast, Avocado Two Ways, Greens in a Citrus Vinaigrette, Toasted Sunflower Seeds, Chimichurri
$15
-Add 2 Eggs Your Way* for 3.50
$14
CLASSIC DINER
2 Eggs* Your Way, Breakfast Potatoes, Bacon; with Toast and Jam
$14
-Add a Half Order of B&G for 5.
$18
WATSON’S BENEDICT II
Fried Green Tomatoes, Crab Salad, Poached Eggs*, Hollandaise; your choice of Dressed Mixed Greens or Breakfast Potatoes
$18
$17
CHELSEA’S SUNDAY PLEA
Waffle, Fried Chicken (Light or Dark), Apple Compote, Whipped Sorghum Butter, Maple Syrup
$17
$15
AJ’S BREAKY SAMMY
Canadian Bacon, Bacon, Spicy Mayo, American Cheese, Fried Egg*, CIB Brioche Bun; served with Dusted French Fries
$15
Lunch
All items served w/ Dusted Fries
$17
CHICKEN CLUB
Fried Chicken Thigh, Bacon, Swiss Cheese, PFF Chevre, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Honey Mustard on Texas Toast (try it Watson's Hot Dipped!)
$17
$15
DOUBLE SMASH BURGER
Two Beef Patties, American Cheese, Mayo, Ketchup, Mustard, Onion, Pickle, on CIB Brioche Bun
$15
$18
HUNGRY BOY POUTINE
Chicken Fried Steak, Ropp’s Cheese Curds, Country Sausage Gravy.
$18
-Add 2 Eggs Your Way 3.50
$15
FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH
Fried Chicken Thigh, CIB Brioche Bun, Herb Mayo, Lettuce, Pickles.
$15
Additions
Sorghum-Glazed Bacon 2 | Sorghum-Glazed Pork Belly 3 | Tomato 1 | *Fried Egg Cooked Your Way 2 | Cheese (American, Cheddar, Chevre, Smoked Gouda) 1.50
Extras
$10
CINNAMON ROLL BREAD PUDDING
WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING.
$10
$7 HALF
/
$12 FULL
BISCUITS & GRAVY
House Made Buttermilk Biscuits, Country Sausage Gravy
$7 HALF
/
$12 FULL
Wraps
All wraps are served in an El Milagro tortilla w/ a side of ranch & choice of one side
$15
Watson's Hot
Fried Chicken Tenders, Nashville Hot Dip, Coleslaw, Pickles, Comeback Sauce
$15
$15
Buffalo Starchild
Fried Chicken Tenders, Buffalo Sauce, Bacon, Black Pepper Ranch, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Lettuce
$15
$15
Classic Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken Tenders, Herb Mayo, Lettuce, Pickles
$15
$15
Popcorn Tofu
Battered & Fried Organic Tofu Slices, Lettuce, Red Onion, Pickles, & Vegan Remoulade
$15
Salad
$17
Blackened Salmon Salad
Our House Salad, served with a Blackened Salmon Fillet. Choice of Ranch or Citrus Vinaigrette
$17
Drink Specials
$5
Draft Beer
$5
$5
Protect Ya Nectar Slush
$5
Fountain
All fountain drinks $3 w/ free refills
Pepsi
Diet Pepsi
Wild Cherry Pepsi
Starry
Mountain Dew
Diet Mountain Dew
Dr. Pepper
Diet Dr. Pepper
Pink Lemonade
Gatorade Fruit Punch
Tea and Bottled
free refills on tea only
$3
Peach Tea
$3
$3
Peach Sweet Tea
$3
$3
Hot Tea
$3
$3
Coffee
$3
$3
Freddie's Root Beer
$3
$3
Freddie's Ginger Beer
$3
Juice
No free refills
$3
Orange Juice
$3
$3
Mango Nectar
$3
$3
Guava Nectar
$3
$3
Strawberry-Banana Nectar
$3
*The Department of Public Health advises that eating raw or under-cooked meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood poses a health risk to everyone, but especially to the elderly, young children under the age of 4, pregnant women, and other highly susceptible individuals with compromised immune systems. thorough cooking of such animal foods reduces the risk of illness.
The Watson’s Way
We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and our appreciation for the small, simple pleasures in life.
Our goal, each and every day, is to create a family like environment for our entire team as well as our restaurant patrons. Come on in and join the family!
We Cater!
Join the Club.
Follow Us!
Visit one of our locations
-
Shack & Rail
211 N Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820Hours
Mon-Tues 4pm–9pm
Wed-Thur 4pm–10pm
Fri–Sat 11am–10pm
Sun 11am–9pm -
The Yard on Broadway
401 N Broadway Ave
Urbana, IL 61801Hours
Sun-Thur 11am–9pm
Fri–Sat 11am–10pm -
Food Truck
Serving Chambana & surrounding areas weekly.