I was fortunate to dine al fresco at Farren’s last week on a day I wasn’t in the mood for a burger. Why fortunate? I find it very difficult to order anything but the Motherlode when I have Farren’s, so this time I felt free to explore more of the menu.
I chose the grilled scallop salad, swapping the strawberry vinaigrette for the house dressing, and it was delicious. The salad was enormous, with a satisfying number of scallops, and was also topped with walnuts, strawberries, grapes, and shredded parmesan. There was a nice balance of flavor, with the parm and scallops offering a savory compliment to the sweetness of the fruit. It’s one of the pricier items on the menu, at $20, but that isn’t surprising for a dish with scallops. It was worth the splurge.
Of course, it was also necessary for me to order the fried truffle chips with a side of blue cheese sauce because I can’t let go of all of my regular choices.
Photo by Julie McClure.
Farren’s Pub and Eatery
117 N Walnut
Champaign
Su-Th 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fr-Sa 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Top photo by Julie McClure
