No one moves to Carbondale for the pizza. We stay for the rent, the arboretum’s judgmental opossum, and the stubborn hope that the crust will finally crisp.

This list runs from the deep-dish slab at Quatro’s that demands a nap to the thin, suspiciously generous slice at Simply Slices you eat standing up. I have personally confirmed the chorizo at Branch Cafe is worth the hype, and I ordered it twice in one week because I lack restraint.

There is no middle ground here. Choose your carb-based allegiance and read on.

Branch Cafe & Market

Highlights
Brunch worth the hype
Chorizo with reckless swagger
Coffeehouse nostalgia, refreshed
Staff fast and friendly
Takeout worth repeat visits

I walked into Branch Cafe & Market expecting a decent brunch. I left wondering why I ever doubted the hype. The chorizo arrived with reckless swagger, unapologetically spiced and perfectly crisped. The coffeehouse nostalgia felt refreshed, not dated. Staff moved fast and friendly, even when the line stretched. My takeout box survived the drive home, which is more than I can say for my self-control. I ordered again the next day. It was a mistake. Not because the food failed, but because I have no restraint. Branch is a repeat offender. I will keep returning.

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Cummare’s

Highlights
Fantastic food, small spot
Reservations strongly advised
Delicious offerings overall

Cummare’s is a small spot that punches well above its weight. I arrived without a reservation and was gently, firmly turned away. The lesson was learned. The food, when I finally got in, was fantastic. Every dish tasted deliberate. The staff remembered my name after one visit. That is either excellent service or concerning surveillance. The menu offers delicious offerings overall, but the real draw is the intimacy. You are not just eating. You are participating in a ritual. Bring patience. Bring friends. Bring a phone number for reservations, because you will need it.

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Marberry Arboretum

Highlights
Wild blackberries and bamboo grove
Short walk, twisting pathways
Pond with witch hut
Biodiversity: birds, mushrooms, opossum

Marberry Arboretum is not a pizza place. I know this. But I wandered its twisting pathways after a heavy slice, and the wild blackberries tasted like redemption. The bamboo grove whispered secrets. A pond hosted a witch hut, which I suspect is not in the brochure. Birds sang. Mushrooms sprouted. An opossum judged me. I did not feel welcome. I felt observed. Still, the short walk cleared my head. If you need to digest a deep dish, this is the place. Just do not expect a menu. The biodiversity is the appetizer.

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Project Human X

Highlights
Unique stained glass classes
Fun escape room adventures
Welcoming to art skeptics
Knowledgeable, helpful staff
Creative clay coaster sessions

Project Human X lured me in with stained glass classes and escape rooms. I consider myself an art skeptic. The staff did not mock me, which was generous. They guided my clumsy hands through a clay coaster session. My coaster is crooked. I treasure it. The escape room was fun, albeit humbling. I solved zero puzzles. The staff laughed, kindly. For a person who avoids creativity, I felt oddly welcomed. The classes are unique. The energy is patient. I left with a new coaster and a bruised ego. I will return for the glass. Maybe.

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Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza

Highlights
Taco deep pan excels
Pesto turkey sandwich standout
Friendly hometown service
Fast delivery, generous portions
Better than a decade ago

Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza has improved since my last visit a decade ago. That is not a compliment. It is an observation. The taco deep pan excels, with a crust that holds its own against the toppings. The pesto turkey sandwich is a standout, though I ordered it mostly to avoid another slab of cheese. Friendly hometown service delivered fast. Portions are generous, almost aggressive. I ate too much. I felt heavy. Yet I ordered again online. The delivery driver arrived quickly. I am part of the problem. Quatro's is the solution.

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Pagliai's of Carbondale

Highlights
Heart-shaped pizzas for showers
Hot pizza on arrival
Accommodates special requests
Manager honors advance orders
Reliable for intimate events

Pagliai's of Carbondale does not get enough credit for its reliability. I ordered heart-shaped pizzas for a baby shower, and they arrived hot. The manager honored my advance order without a single eye roll. Special requests are met with a nod, not a sigh. The pizza itself is fine, solid, dependable. It does not dazzle. It delivers. For intimate events, this is the safe bet. I have hosted dinners here. Friends left satisfied. I did not have to apologize for the crust. That is a small miracle. Pagliai's is the quiet professional of Carbondale pizza.

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Italian Village

Highlights
Tavern-style square-cut meats
Lasagna loved by family
Decades of local memories
Chicken wings crowd-pleasers
Order-at-counter confusion persists

Italian Village is a Carbondale institution, and I respect it despite the confusion. The order-at-counter system remains a puzzle. I still do not know if I should tip before or after. The tavern-style square-cut meats are salty, greasy, and glorious. The lasagna is a family favorite, though my family has argued over it for decades. The chicken wings are crowd-pleasers. I ordered them, then ate them, then ordered more. The memories here are heavy. So is the pizza. The service is fine. The confusion persists. I will keep coming back. It is tradition.

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Newby's Pizza

Highlights
Deep dish feeds four
Five-dollar slice with drink
Specialty pizzas never disappoint
Thick crust, hefty toppings
Best lunch value in town

Newby's Pizza offers the best lunch value in town. Five dollars gets you a slice and a drink. The slice is thick. The crust is hefty. The toppings are generous. I have eaten the deep dish that feeds four. It fed four, plus me, plus my regret. The specialty pizzas never disappoint. I have tried several, and each one leaves me full and quiet. The staff knows the menu. The service is fast. If you are on a budget but not a diet, this is your place. I left with a box, but no shame. Mostly.

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Simply Slices

Highlights
Clean, bright, friendly service
Thin, crispy, flavorful crust
Generous slice sizes
Quick service under five minutes
Kid-friendly slushes and shaved ice

Simply Slices is exactly what its name promises. Clean, bright, friendly. I ordered a slice, and it arrived in under five minutes. The crust is thin, crispy, and flavorful. The slice size is generous, almost suspiciously so. I ate it standing up, which felt wrong. The staff smiled anyway. The slushes and shaved ice are kid-friendly, though I saw adults ordering them without shame. I was one of them. The service is quick and polite. I have no complaints. That is rare. I will be back. Probably today.

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Carbondeli's

Highlights
Fast, friendly morning service
Generous, evenly layered sandwiches
Excellent value with combos
Top-tier toasted rye options
Worth a return trip

Carbondeli's morning service is fast and friendly. I arrived before I was fully awake. They handled my confusion with grace. The sandwiches are generous and evenly layered. No one bites into bread and finds empty space. The toasted rye options are top-tier. I ordered one, and it held together beautifully. The combos offer excellent value. I felt like I was getting away with something. The staff does not judge my order. They just make it. I left with a full stomach and a lighter wallet. That is a win. I will return tomorrow. Do not tell my cardiologist.

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MOD Pizza

Highlights
Brick-oven authenticity
Exceptional food value
Friendly, welcoming staff
Enjoyable dining atmosphere

MOD Pizza brings chain inevitability to Carbondale. I walked in with low expectations. They were met. The brick-oven authenticity is real, though the assembly line feels clinical. The food value is exceptional. You get a lot for the price. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and patient. I customized my pizza with too many toppings. They did not blink. The dining atmosphere is pleasant, if generic. I ate my pizza. It was fine. I did not feel moved. I did feel full. For a quick fix, MOD works. For a passion, look elsewhere. I will return when I am lazy.

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Sal's Bistro

Highlights
Spotless, bright, comfortable seating
Generous portions, fair pricing
Customizable burrito and sandwich bars
Fresh ingredients, including spinach
Quick, professional, welcoming service

Sal's Bistro is spotless, bright, and comfortable. I felt almost guilty sitting down. The seating is generous. The portions are more so. I ordered from the customizable burrito bar. The spinach was fresh, which is rare for Carbondale. The sandwich bar offered similar options. I built a monstrosity. It was delicious. The service was quick, professional, and welcoming. I did not have to flag anyone down. The pricing is fair, almost ridiculous. I left full and suspicious. Why is this not busier? I do not know. I will keep it to myself. Let the secret stay small.

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