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Media Credit: Glassy Junction An array of food that is served at the Glassy Junction in Carbondale. [Click to enlarge]

Glassy Junction Pub, Grill & Tandoor opened not too far from the SIUC campus and offers one of the few chances to sample Indian cuisine in Carbondale.

Located 717 South University Avenue, Glassy Junction considers itself to be an International Restaurant offering "a sophisticated atmosphere with fine wines and liquors from throughout the world, and a wonderful array of international delicacies," according to its website.

For starters, there are a variety of tasty appetizers to choose from, lobster rangoons, classic hot artichoke dip and grilled portabella blue cheese pizza are just a few of the choices. For the main course, try one of the traditional Indian cuisines, like the Chicken Curry or Chicken Tikka Masala, both entrees come with rice, yogurt and Indian pickle.

There are also vegetarian entrees, like the Chana Masala, which is garbanzo beans in masala curry or the Dal-Palak, which is yellow lentils with spinach in savory curry. If not in the mood Indian, try other flavorsome dishes the restaurant has to offer.

Charbroiled chicken breast with mango salsa, lemon pepper sole and classic charbroiled filet mignon are examples of some other delicious entrees. And make sure you save room for dessert! G. J. offers New York Cheesecake, coffee cake or a millionaire brownie that will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth.

There are also plenty of different drinks to choose from at the restaurant's bar, which is located downstairs. Whether you're in the mood for wine, champagne or a flavorful martini, G. J. has a long list of drinks to choose from. Whether you choose to dine inside or outside, G. J. provides a comfortable atmosphere to sit and enjoy a flavorful meal or drink.

Much of the food served at the restaurant is made fresh from the grill and tandoor, (a cylindrical clay oven used in the Punjab region, northern India and Pakistan in which food is cooked over a hot charcoal fire). Mr. PJ Dhillon and Mrs. Surinderjit Dhillon, and their two sons Gurpreet S. Dhillon and Dr. Rupinderjit S. Dhillon became the official owners of Glassy Junction on January 19th of this year after signing the contract for it in December. The Dhillon family decided to name the restaurant Glassy Junction, "Glassy," symbolizing glasses clicking in a toast and "Junction," meaning the place where travelers alike gather and share tales and adventures.

In contrast to the Indian cuisine, G. J. still has much of the décor and style of the previous restaurant, Chicago Underground.

Leif Eriksen, one of the waiters at G. J., explained that part of the restaurant is actually going to stay the same.

"The downstairs area and the bar are going to remain the same, severing Indian cuisine as well as a variety of other foods, while the upstairs part of the restaurant will have a full Indian menu which will change periodically so that guest may try a variety of Indian cuisine,"Dr. Dhillon further explained.

G. J. has its own website which provides a lunch and dinner menu as well as weekly specials, business hours, contact information and more. If you have a taste for delicious Indian cuisine or are interested in trying something new, Glassy Junction is somewhere you should dine.

As for the grand opening, Dr. Dhillon, says it should be happening sometime soon!

Fact Box: Full Menu ·G. J. Drinks (Link to Full Drink Menu)