Carbondale Bytelife

In response to Davex' s request (plus I like Indian food), I stopped off at Git Sum yesterday afternoon. Had to ask what the hours are (11-8) as they weren't posted anywhere I saw. The menu is limited to about half a dozen entrees, including currys and marsalas, and drinks. Price is $4.99 for a good sized meal, including rice, and everything is packaged to go. Service was fast, I got my food in under 5 minutes. There's no place to sit unless you want to walk over to Friendship Park next door. You do have to get out of the car and walk up to order, as they've sealed shut the drive up window. They do have their menu on the drive up menu board, with a lot more stuff on it than is on the menu by the ordering window, you just can't order from it.

It looks as if word has gotten around about the place as I saw another group going up to the order window as I was leaving.

Labels: restaurants

I see this has opened with out much fanfare in the old Rally's/Sambucca Joe's location on South Illinois across from 710 Bookstore. The banner that was hanging on the side of the building indicates some connection with the Indian restaurant located inside the Horizon Inn. Hope it manages to hang on longer than Glassy Junction did.

Labels: downtown Carbondale, restaurants

As Dave mentions, Councilman Lance Jack has cut his ties with the Lick Creek General Store (which in turn has cut ties with its website) and is looking to open up a burger place somewhere in downtown C'dale. He's somewhat circumspect as to the locations he's looking at since he's working with partners and nothing's been confirmed yet.

Labels: downtown Carbondale, restaurants

As Dave mentioned, I had the opportunity to speak briefly with new city manger Allen Gill at the the CCoC sponsored reception for him at True Value last night.

I was struck by his interest in downtown C'dale, especially his emphasis on the unique restaurants there. He commented, and I'm paraphrasing, that people expect to see an Appleby's, a McDonald's and a Buffalo Wild Wings in a larger community and eat at them because they are consistent in the quality of the food they provide. However, it's the unique restaurants (and stores), the Harbaugh's, the Tres Hombres, the Mary Lou's and Corner Diner's, of a community that provide food you won't/can't find at Ruby Tuesday's or Lone Star.

Labels: Carbondale, city manager, restaurants

Apparently, the rumor that the now closed Mugsy's was looking into the Crainville Pioneer's Cabin location as a place to relocate to has really hurt the restaurant's business. Heck, I even mentioned the rumor here. According to this article, business at the restaurant has dropped by half since the story started circulating.

Labels: business, restaurants, southern Illinois

Or reopens in this case. As China House closes its doors tonight (to a packed house I might add, leaving the tables at nearby New Kahala empty), Adelita's Restaurant reopened its doors tonight, adding another Mexican restaurant to C'dale's selection. Adelita's is more traditional Mexican rather than Tex-Mex like local favorite Tres Hombres. Adelita's opened last fall until the Christmas holidays, then closed with a sign saying the restaurant would reopen in February.

February came and went with no reopening. However, the doors opened today and the interior appears much less dark than the last time I visited. The owners advertise they are open for lunch and dinner and have added a buffet as well.

Labels: downtown Carbondale, restaurants

After 28 years in downtown Carbondale, Carmen's China House will close its doors for good this Saturday. Located at 701 S. Illinois, the China House served food with an ambiance not quite that of Hunan but certainly above that of New Kahala and China Express. Take this last opportunity to dine at a Carbondale institution before it shutters its windows.

Labels: downtown Carbondale, restaurants