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Unlike hotels, Carbondale restaurants still have openings graduation weekend.

Jordan Wilson

Daily Egyptian


While families of graduates may be left scrambling to find a hotel during graduation weekend, finding a place to eat should be easier to come by.

Even though many restaurants in Carbondale do not take reservations, most that do said they still have tables available for the May 12-13 commencement weekend.

Jonathon Deutsch, a manager at Houlihan's, said graduation weekend is by far the busiest weekend of the year, given it is at the same time as Mother's Day. He said Houlihan's, which does not take reservations, was busy during last year's graduation.

Deutsch said the waiting time for larger groups could be 60 to 90 minutes and patience is the key.

"There are so many variables," Deutsch said. "It's hard to predict waiting times like that."

Some places, such as Alongi's Italian Restaurant, The Newell House and Giant City Lodge and Restaurant still have some reservations remaining for that weekend.

One other restaurant that is taking reservations is the 17th Street Bar and Grill in Murphysboro. Manager Shannon Ryan said the bar and grill usually does not take reservations, but they have a special graduation weekend buffet planned in the restaurant's warehouse down the street. The 17th Street in Marion will not have the buffet.

Ryan said she is expecting the special event to be a hit.

"People are always coming in and wanting to see what special events are going on," she said. "And every year on graduation, we get really busy so hopefully this is big."

Debbie Moore, the director of the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau, said a person visiting the area during graduation weekend spends an average of $150 a day.

She said even though she knows restaurants are busy, most people call about hotel information.

"We know restaurants are packed," Moore said. "But we don't get a lot of calls necessarily about restaurants. People are frantic looking for a place to spend the night. (Parents) think we have some secret rooms."