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Page 2 Thursday, February 25, 2010 FLIPSIDE
Top 20 Restaurant of the Week: Centralia House BY DAVID ZOELLER SPECIAL ADVERTISING COPY
CENTRALIA — The relationship between the Centralia House Restaurant and the railroad is part of a rich heritage that spans more than 150 years and continues today. In its early days, the restaurant was a fixture along the Illinois Central Railroad line before the advent of the dining car. Each train that passed through town was met by a waiter who announced the meals with a large brass gong. The fine dining experience that awaited those patrons is still available to today’s customers, in a setting that has changed remarkably little. And they can still arrive by rail, if they so choose. Centralia House draws customers from a wide radius, according to owner Chris Ramey. “We pull people from Effingham, Vandalia, all the way as far as St. Louis,” he said. “One of our major draws is people who come up from Marion, Carbondale and Du Quoin on Amtrak. They catch the train and come up and have dinner. The train is here at 6 p.m. and picks them up at 8 p.m. It provides them with a unique experience.” The main dining room is much like the original, including its pre-1900 bar and back bar. A banquet room and middle bar were added about eight years ago and are used to accommodate private parties and gatherings and to serve overflow crowds. The atmosphere is much like it would have been years ago, including the lighting, artwork on the wall and live piano music. Patrons can dress up for
DAVID ZOELLER / THE SOUTHERN
Fran Garrison (left) and Betty Boles of Centralia enjoy the food and the ambience at Centralia House, which features fine dining and Cajun cuisine.
‘I’ve eaten here since I was 16 years old. It’s almost like a step back in time.’ ANNETTE WALKER REGULAR AT CENTRALIA HOUSE
dinner if they choose, but more casual attire is also welcome. “The important thing is to be comfortable,” Ramey said. Just as he did with the look of the dining room, Ramey made few changes to the menu. “We made keeping the Cajun/Creole cuisine a top priority,” he said. As the times — and customer’s tastes — changed, other offerings, such as steaks and seafood, were added. That blending of old and new is what keeps local customers like Annette Walker of Centralia coming back. “I’ve eaten here since I was 16 years old,” she said, indicating her fondness
Buy one entrée and get one free at this restaurant and other featured restaurants across Southern Illinois with the 2010 Top 20 Dining Card. Top 20 Cards are available for purchase at The Southern offices in Carbondale and Marion by calling 618-529-5454 or online at www.thesouthern.com/top20. Cards are $20 each plus $1 per order for cards to be mailed. Some exclusions may apply. See card for details.
DETAILS Who: Centralia House What: Fine dining, steak, shrimp, Cajun cuisine Where: 111 N. Oak St., Centralia Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday; 4-10 p.m. MondaySaturday; private parties can be booked for Sundays. Phone: 618-532-9754
for the Centralia House shrimp. “It’s almost like a step back in time. That’s one of the things I like about it.” Her husband, Mike, frequently brings business associates to Centralia House. “It’s a nice place to sit and talk, and they have very good food,” Mike said. The commitment to
quality food, service and atmosphere is shared by his staff and is what keeps customers coming back, according to Ramey. “Everybody appreciates what we do and the kind of business we try and operate,” he said. “Centralia House has been here for 150 years and hopefully, if things work out, it will be here another 150 years.”