I haven't had this in a while, and it was before I cut out red meat for health reasons…read more I went during the Apple Festival and so everything was pre-made to help with the demand. It was Saturday night and the area was BUSY. I asked for a Monte Cristo without ham (cause red meat). Monte Cristos are one of my FAVORITE food items. The owner said she couldn't because of the pre-made situation. It was hard to hear, but she made sure it was ok for me to still have it and was sincere. This says a lot about her character -- which often shows up in other areas of business (ie, cleanliness, quality). I was able to pull the ham off easily because it was neatly assembled, which was GREAT! Made it so easy. Sandwich was fantastic, a flavor I remember. And consistent to a previous one I had years from before from Haute Wheels. Service was FAST, and made fresh! Just an overall stellar experience. It was so delicious I kept talking about it after I got home. Looking forward to the next time I can visit this truck! Thank you!!

Best Bacon Ranch Fries Ever Had Even After You Save Them For Next Day They Are Still So Good...read more

Did someone say Taco Tuesday? Well, I don't care what day it is, when I'm craving a little…read moresomething with flavors "south of the border," I'm heading to La Jarochita Mexican Grill! I have passed this little red food truck parked perched on the hill in the parking lot of the Shell Gas Station on Reed Station Road in Carbondale, IL for the last three years, but never stopped in. I would often wonder what they served, but figured that it must good be because they stayed in business and I would see customers lined up at different times. Today was my day to experience La Jarochita! I took my time looking over the extensive menu of options and asking questions. The menu consists of individual items and larger plates/dinner sizes. I found the prices and portions very reasonable. The sweet young lady at the window did her best to answer my questions while waiting for other customers. Once I decided on the Steak Sopes (something new for me), she told me it would be about a six-minute wait to get my food. As customers came and went, I took note of the quaint and clean picnic tables with umbrellas placed as a sit-in eating option. There are accessible parking options in the parking lot, and bathrooms are located in the gas station. When I received my order, I could hardly wait to try it. I opened the neatly packaged bag and the aroma of well-spiced beef hit me instantly. I can't express how delicious this little dish was. I have never had anything like it! The thick tortilla-like bottom layer was covered with tender beef, beans, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo salad, and lettuce-- it had a dance party in my mouth. Word to the wise, the sauce in the bag is literally FIRE. Unless you like spicy, leave it closed. LOL I cannot wait to go back to order something else, and I won't be waiting for Tuesdays to support this local minority-owned small business. I highly recommend you stop by this little red food truck for some yummy, fresh, and authentic Mexican food at a great price. When you stop in, tell them Kindra Speech sent ya!

I love authentic Jamaican food, and when I see The Caribbean Hut Food Truck parked in the parking…read morelot of the Staples store in Carbondale, IL, I always stop for some good food. The owner, Freeman, brings the flavors from his restaurant located at 300 S Maple, Cambria, IL 62915, to Carbondale and surrounding areas on the food truck. Let me tell you something: the food is fresh, hot, and flavorful! The service is always friendly and prompt, the ambiance created by eager customers is lovely, and the portion sizes are plentiful. I can usually eat my meals for two days. The food truck menu varies weekly, and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend you stop by when you see this little food truck in town or head to the restaurant. When you go by, tell them Kindra Speech sent ya!

Husband and I shared a platter and could not have been more impressed!…read moreSooo much food, we will have leftovers for days! The platter comes with your choice of two proteins and three side dishes. We ordered the shrimp, pork and chicken. All was outstanding, our favorite was the shrimp. For our sides we had plantains, conch fritters and lobster mac. The fritters were the bomb, but so were the plantains. To top it all off, we were offered one free, slice our choice, of cherry or sweet potato pie. So nice of them and tasty, too! We will be back!

If you have never heard Winston's Bagels, let me introduce you...Foodie, meet Winston. Winston,…read moremeet foodie. You can now fall in love. Winston's Bagels are LEGENDARY in Carbondale, IL. The genius behind the tasty treat is Winston. He's a hippy 60(?) something man with a food cart who, in my day set up his mobile shop on "The Strip" - Carbondale's main bar scene. I hear he's moved onto Grand now, but wherever he is, YOU NEED TO BE THERE TOO. Here's the scoop... Winston comes out at night, just about the time the college kids are bar hopping. He sets up his small mobile cart, and starts cranking out The. Best. Bagel. Treat. You. Will. Ever. Eat. Winston grills the bagels over charcoal, which gives the bread a traditional char taste and creates this fantastic crunch when you bite into it. He drizzles the bagel with margarine (I think it's Parkay from the yellow and blue squeeze bottle), and generously tops each bagel side with plain cream cheese. Then the magic happens. You choose your toppings. I'm partial to the Everything: apple, cinnamon, sunflower seeds, cucumber, red onion, garlic powder, bacon bits, and raisins. It's the perfect morsel to have when you're out drinking in Carbondale - every college student learns this lesson to perfection at SIUC - or even if you just have a late night craving for a sweet / savory treat. Of course as alumni (Class of '95!), we all crave a Winston Bagel now and then, and when we go back it's a must eat treat! I've tried to make them at home, but it's just not the same. It's missing Winston's je nais se quoi. He generously doles out hugs, stories, jokes, and charm along with his bagels. Plus the man is a total genius. He charges $2.25 for a bagel. That fits any pocket book - and more often than not - you give him three dollars and tell him to keep the change. The man is making some dough. I hear he takes a couple vacations a year just with his tip money. Go fall in love with Winston The Bagel Man. He'll be there in Carbondale grilling his bagels into the wee hours of the morning!

I noticed that Winston's Bagels has 5 stars with 11 reviews, and I am not surprised one bit. This…read moreis the ONE THING every SIU-C graduate talks about and craves after they move away. At last visit, they were $2.25 each and still worth every bite. Winston sets up shop across the street from Pinch Penny Liquors near Saluki Bookstore. Options are the same as I remember: Cream Cheese, Garlic Salt, Butter, Ground Cinnamon, Cucumber, Apple, Raisins, Sunflower Seeds, Bacon Bits, Onions. I used to get sunflower seeds, butter, and cucumber but recently tried all-but-onion and am not quite sure I can go back. Remember cash only, and they don't break $20s. Definitely tip Winston or any of his helpers running the cart! Truly an institution in Carbondale!

Popped in for Thurs lunch favoring Pat's with fewer but better ratings and less expensive option in…read moreMurphysboro. First time...so went withh the sampler at $18 and most of their meats are included except the pork steak (makes sense to me since that's usually a separate feature in these parts along with Kentucky). It was three of us and we were given the heads up that the sampler can feed two. Figured we could start with that and order more. The order was a very generous helping of two large rib tips, two pork rib bones, two wing pieces, and pulled chicken, pork, and chopped brisket. Our choice of two sides were slaw and mac & cheese. Three buns were thrown in given the three of us in the party (thanks for the flex). Local bottled Big Muddy root beer is the same $1.50 as the can sodas in the case and it is made with honey and cane sugar. Of the things I tried, I thought the rib tips were excellent - smoked pink and moist - got a meaty piece with only a small piece of cartilage. The chopped brisket isn't my thing - I prefer sliced. My daughter said the ribs were great (figured would be as good as the tips). The wings I believe were smoked too rather than grilled and the taste from the rub/marinade wasn't something I was familiar with. Tender and not dry. Pulled pork and chicken were solid. We still had leftovers - so I'll get my chance to try the ribs and focus on the flavor of the wing. Will have to get the pork steak next time and order plates next time focusing on our faves. Roomy dining area with some tables near the windows. It was getting warm out there so having plenty of indoor seating on a quieter Thursday lunch was welcome over overflow seating outside at the covered picnic tables.

I live in the Midwest, in a small city. Our BBQ places are easy to find: look for a big, shouty…read moresign; the owner's $120,000 extended F250 taking up a space right in front of the door; and an ambiance that includes corrugated steel walls, self-consciously Texas-y lamps over closely huddled booths, and servers all wearing the same hat and shirt. Oh - and the food is usually fine, except no fried okra. Pat's is not in a city. It's outside a small southern Illinois town. Pretty far outside, in fact, which is where true BBQ is supposed to be located. The parking lot is gravel. The only pickups there belong to customers, and their worth is more in the range of $12,000, except to their owners, who use them as trucks. And the sign is a sign. It tells you where you are. Oh, wait - there are BBQ competition trophies in the entryway. Stand and marvel. There are more inside. Marvel more. Because other than these and some pics of family and locals and celebrities I didn't recognize on the walls, that's about it for decoration. Stare at the menu, menu board and signs. Pay attention to the happy person behind the counter when she tells you what they're out of, because the best BBQ places are out of something you want. Note the teasing banter between local customers and the kitchen staff, because everyone knows someone back there. And order. We got the pulled pork plate. My sister got potato salad and green beans. I got the fries. I got the local(?) root beer. They don't do fried okra, but this IS the Midwest. It all came to our table in a reasonable amount of time. The BBQ sauce came in a cup on the side. Ketchup was brought to us. So why only four stars? Everything was perfect, right? And prizewinning? Yeah, but BBQ is personal. Everyone has an opinion. I lived in northern Alabama, which styles itself as BBQ Country. As does Texas and Kansas City and Memphis and everywhere. Pat's, much beloved by regulars for its mild smokiness, juicy juicy soft texture and other features, seemed a bit too mild and even soggy to me. I know - I have no taste. And it was good. Just not five stars great. And not enough sauce in the container, though I could have gotten up to ask for more. And the potato salad was fine and the fries a little too starchy, but only a little. That said, the beans were the wonderful dark green juicy soft salty ones that are too ... wonderful. Get those. The root beer, brewed with honey, y'all, was the best ever. Get that, too. The dessert was what they were out of, dang it! Overall the experience was just great. Someplace to go back to. And you should go there.