Watson’s Shack & Rail
Downtown Champaign’s Chicken Shack
After 10 years of service in downtown Champaign we are sad to announce that we will be closing the Watson’s Shack & Rail location. This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make. We have spent the last 3 years trying to navigate the current downtown landscape, economic hardships and ever-changing hospitality trends. With our lease coming to end in November we have opted not to resign.
The Watson’s Chicken Food Truck and Watson’s at The Yard will remain open as well as our booth at Gies Memorial Stadium with an additional location in the horseshoe this year. Our goal is continuing to serve our community and grow our catering, events and mobile experiences.
The Shack & Rail will remain open until September 26th, all special events will continue as planned. Please be on the lookout for updated open hours and a final whiskey sale event.
Thank you all for being a part of the Shack & Rail story and for all the support over the last 10 years. We appreciate and love this community.
—All of us at Watson’s
Hours
Sun-Tues CLOSED
Wed-Thu 4pm–10pm
Fri-Sat 11am–10pm
Final day of service Saturday, September 26
211 N Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820
CHECK OUT OUR
MERCH Store
Featured
$25.00
This is a recreation of our first t-shirt!
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
$25.00
Our popular "Langston Chicken" design, this time reversed on a blue heather tee...a popular option around the Shack is finally available online!
• Popular Bella+Canvas 3001 blank
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
Read more →
• Popular Bella+Canvas 3001 blank
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
$28.00
Rep the orange & blue with this vintage 90s style script snapback cap!
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
Read more →
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
MENU
This location is closing soon, with final service on Saturday, September 26th. This menu is subject to availability.
Table Snacks
$8.00
hushpuppies
comeback sauce, scallions, lemon
$8.00
$11.25
bavarian pretzel
served with beer cheese
$11.25
$13.75
corn ribs
served w/ ranch
$13.75
$14
fried brussels sprouts
served w/ spiced aioli
$14
$15.50
pimento cheese & crackers
made w/ prairie fruits farm cheese. served w/ saltines & pickles
$15.50
$10.50
fried wings
8 wings tossed in carolina gold bbq or buffalo
$10.50
$16
gravy fries
waffle fries, ropp's cheese curds, chicken gravy
$16
add fried or grilled chicken $4.25
add shrimp $5.50
Handhelds
all sandwiches come a la carte
$12.50
chicken sandwich
fried or grilled chicken, herb mayo, lettuce, pickles, brioche bun
$12.50
$13.50
watson's hot
fried or grilled chicken, nashville hot dip, coleslaw, pickles, comeback sauce
$13.50
$13.50
buffalo starchild
fried or grilled chicken, buffalo sauce, maple-glazed chopped bacon, ranch, blue cheese crumbles, lettuce
$13.50
$13.50
chicken bacon swiss
fried or grilled chicken, maple-glazed chopped bacon, swiss cheese, honey mustard
$13.50
$12.50
Watson's po’boy
herb mayo, lettuce, pickles. choose fried or grilled chicken, tofu, or shrimp (+1.50)
$12.50
additions
MAPLE-GLAZED CHOPPED BACON $3
MAPLE-GLAZED PORK BELLY $4
EGG* COOKED YOUR WAY $2
CHEESE (AMERICAN, CHEDDAR, SWISS) $1.50
BEER CHEESE $2.50
PIMENTO CHEESE $3
Entrees
$9
house salad
mixed greens, croutons, cherry tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, red onion, cheddar cheese, choice of ranch, honey mustard, or citrus vinaigrette
$9
add fried or grilled chicken $4.50
add shrimp $6.50
add fried tofu $4.50
add 3 hushpuppies $2.00
$16.50
Watson's rice bowl
dirty rice, fried egg* cooked your way, pickles, mixed greens, watson’s white sauce, scallions. choice of tofu, fried or grilled chicken, or shrimp (+2)
$16.50
$15.75
watson's hot chicken
fried chicken dipped in our spicy nashville hot, thick-cut dill pickles, texas toast, & waffle fries.
$15.75
$17.50
chelsea’s shameless plea
fried chicken, belgian waffle, chilled apple compote, whipped maple butter, maple syrup
$17.50
$13.50
tofu basket
panko breaded tofu triangles, waffle fries, and choice of sauce
$13.50
$14.50 reg
/
$18.50 lrg
shrimp basket
watson’s popcorn shrimp, waffle fries, and choice of sauce
$14.50 reg
/
$18.50 lrg
$12.50 reg
/
$16.50 lrg
tender basket
fried chicken tenders, waffle fries, choice of sauce
$12.50 reg
/
$16.50 lrg
add beer cheese or gravy cup for $2.50
Sides
$4.25
cajun green beans
$4.25
$4.25
creamy coleslaw
$4.25
$5.25
mac & cheese
$5.25
$4.25
dirty rice
$4.25
$4.25
waffle fries
$4.25
$4.50
side salad
choose ranch, honey mustard, citrus vinaigrette
$4.50
Sauces
all sauces $1.25
buffalo
Carolina gold bbq
comeback
honey mustard
ranch
$5
all sauce flight
$5
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 21 seeds 100% agave jalapeño tequila
$13
$10
watson’s famous wabbit
gin – carrot – ginger – honey – epiphany
$10
add extra 1oz of warner’s gin you wascally wabbit $3
$10
unclouded day
vodka — cranberry — lemon — mint - bliss
$10
$12
mezcal negroni
a bonfire for your soul with los vecinos mezcal + peychaud’s aperitivo
$12
$12
violet femmes
misfit house g&t lit with violet and citrus
$12
$10
Bloody Mary or Midwesty michelada
beloved secret recipe.
$10
light it up - make it watson’s hot $2
$11
Espresso Martini
future you deserves our space-age glow-up on a modern classic, smoothed with dr. mcgillicuddy’s vanilla
$11
Whiskey Drinks
$11
huck yeah
a sweet-tart bourbon + huckleberry cooler. “the easy way is just as good, and sometimes better.”
$11
$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
$11
campfire mule
a sweet-tart smokey bourbon + ginger cooler. “truth like fire cannot be hidden.”
$11
$12
extra perfect manhattan
spicy sazerac rye & two vermouths. up or on the rocks.
$12
$15
smoked fig whiskey sour
suave & luxurious thanks to old forester statesman bourbon & egg white
$15
Old Fashioneds
$11
watson’s old fashioned
ours is off-dry & spicy thanks to buffalo trace bourbon, raw cane sugar, & a generous slug of bitters.
$11
$12
king cake old fashioned
whiskey, almond, vanilla, and orange. classic cocktail with a nola twist.
$12
$35
Blanton's old fashioned
extra special old fashioned with extra special bourbon
$35
Zero-Proof
$6
CREME SAVER
raspberry - cream - regular or diet mt. dew
$6
$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
$7
seasonal na slush
ask your server what wild teetotaling slush in on right now
$7
$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)
the best ethanol-free beer. like beer-flavored la croix, darling.
$5
lite or ipa available
$5
thirst mutilator lemon lime hop water (12oz)
billy strings’ citrusy, bubbly bluegrass fuel.
$5
Wine & Such
all wines thoughtfully curated by our award-winning sommelier. please ask your server for details.
g $8
/
b $25
bubbly or rosé
g $8
/
b $25
g $10
/
b $32
red or white
g $10
/
b $32
$125
champagne
christian gosset brut A02 grand cru
$125
$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
stone buenaveza lager, riggs hefeweizen, triptych dank meme, guinness
$5
montucky cold snack
$5
$5
coors light
$5
$6
modelo especial
$6
$6
Michelob ultra
$6
$8
half acre daisy cutter pale ale
$8
$8
half acre bodem ipa
$8
$8
WHITE OAK RIP’N LIPS IPA
$8
$8
WHITE OAK SEASONAL HAZY IPA
$8
$8
WHITE OAK EXTRA MILD DARK ALE
$8
$8
BRICK RIVER PEACH CIDER (12oz)
$8
Whiskey Czar Recommends...
$16
Bhakta 1928 "Rye"
$16
$9
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
$9
$12
Cow Creek Bloody Butcher
$12
$22
Dark Arts Ambruana Rye
$22
$14
Dead Drop Pecan Bourbon
$14
$13
Eagle Rare 10yr Bourbon
$13
$19
Frey Ranch Rye
$19
$17
Hard Truth Bonded 4 Grain
$17
$22
High West Campfire
$22
$22
Huling Station Trolley Stop
$22
$12
Paul John "Nirvana" Whiskey
$12
$49
Johnnie Walker Blue (50ml)
$49
$22
Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon
$22
$15
Michter's American Whiskey
$15
$8
Mellow Corn Bonded
$8
$16
Nelson Bros. Reserve Bourbon
$16
$11
Old Dominick Bourbon
$11
$15
Old Forester Statesman Bourbon
$15
$22
Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt
$22
$33
Preservation Pot Still Bourbon
$33
$13
Col. E.H. Taylor Bonded Bourbon
$13
$9
Weller Special Reserve
$9
$9
Old Dominick Tennessee Whiskey
$9
$19
Rossville Union BP Rye
$19
Fountain
all fountain drinks $3.50 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 Coffee
$3.50 w/ free refills
peach tea
peach sweet tea
hot tea
coffee
Bottled & Juice
all $3.50 - no free refills
freddie's root beer
freddie's ginger beer
orange juice
mango nectar
guava nectar
strawberry-banana nectar
*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.
We Cater!
Follow Us!
Visit one of our locations
-
Shack & Rail
CLOSING SOON
LAST DAY OF SERVICE SEPT 26211 N Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820Hours
Sun-Tues CLOSED
Wed-Thu 4pm–10pm
Fri-Sat 11am–10pm -
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.
Imagine if Watson’s was 75 years old and the sign was our logo? This might be what it was. A fun thought experiment for our 10 year anniversary!
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!