A new dining spot with ties to Principia College opened in early September, just a short drive from campus.
C-Rations GrubHub, in Alton, is owned by Christina Harvey, the mother of sophomore Dachelle Carter and senior Deija Carter. Despite being dedicated to their schoolwork, Carter and her sister still help their mom at the restaurant whenever they can. “We do work there, but not as much since my sister and I are in school,” Carter said. “We have been working with our mom for years and I mean years, and we enjoy it because we get to work together as a family”
The restaurant’s patrons say it offers a welcoming atmosphere and a menu filled with homemade comfort food, creating a perfect blend of family and community for both students and locals to enjoy.
Harvey, a 20-year retired veteran, bought a food truck in 2019 and ran it for several years before opening the restaurant. “At first, I just wanted to operate my food truck, but you can only run it so many months out of the year,” she said. Although she had considered opening a restaurant, she wasn’t actively looking for a location when she came across this one. “When winter came around, I needed something else to do, and that’s when this opportunity found me. I didn’t go looking for it.”
According to the owner, the restaurant’s menu is inspired by family recipes and a commitment to using fresh local ingredients.
Upon entering the restaurant, the aromas of sizzling quesadillas, burritos, nachos, gumbo, tacos, jerk chicken, and more will slap your face. The most popular item on the menu has shifted from deep-fried burrito to chicken wings and now burgers, said the owner. “This is because I do everything fresh, nothing is frozen,” Harvey said.
At the C-Rations Grubhub, everything costs less than $17, according to the menu.
The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. every day. Sunday through Wednesday, it closes at 8 p.m., while on Thursdays, it stays open until 11 p.m. On Thursdays, the restaurant offers karaoke starting at 9 p.m. Also, college students can come in on Wednesdays to special deal for food and a drink. Don’t forget to bring your student I.D.
“The food is really good, the chicken is delicious, and the flavor is unreal,” said John Heavy, one of the customers.
C-Rations Grub Hub is situated at 204 Eastgate Plaza in East Alton.
