Now that Labor Day has passed, it is officially my favorite time of year. None of those below freezing temps or heat waves that make us miserable. Being a senior, I have finally earned the legal right to enjoy Cowboy Monkey on a Friday evening for what it is –a great place to watch the sunset, have good conversation, delicious tacos and even better cocktails.
Located on Taylor Street behind Radio Maria, Cowboy Monkey is pretty much my favorite place to go in the fall. From their fresh bowl of salsa to my personal favorite, their Baja Steak Tacos, this Latin-inspired downtown bar provides a much different atmosphere than the Campus Town environment. It is also inexpensive compared to some of the other bars in downtown Champaign, or Urbana for that matter.
Best of all, the outdoor patio is open seven days a week, so if you have a hankering for great food that doesn’t break the bank or make you horribly full, then I definitely recommend going to Cowboy.
Another great part about Cowboy Monkey is that they have live music a lot of the time. From Salsa to light rock to cool DJ’s, it definitely offers that offbeat Urbana vibe, and not the Broville sensations most of us in Champaign usually wake up to on a Saturday morning.
When you do go to Cowboy Monkey, and everyone who goes to U of I should, remember to get an El Diablo margarita with Jose Cuervo Silver. My mom says that you should never waste Patron on a margarita. These are her exact words since she feels that Jose Cuervo Silver is only acceptable in a margarita, and that Patron is meant be served with lime and salt in a matter of 1.42 seconds.