Students heading to the former location of the Corner Diner will see a familiar name with a slightly different taste.

Jewel of India has opened a second location on the corner of U.S. Highways 51 and 13, but will offer a alternative dining experience with a buffet style restaurant and different menu than the drive-through location, formerly called Git Sum.

Owner Ramneesh Prabhakar said he would introduce customers to the foods of south India, as well as Indian-Chinese food, to add to the north Indian taste of the drive-through location.

‘South Indian food has different kinds of spices,’ Prabhakar said. ‘That taste, flavor, are 100 percent different than north Indian. These are two different concepts.’

Prabhakar said the restaurant would be open within the next week.

And while the Corner Diner has left its location, it has not completely left town. The former owner of Corner Diner, Joseph Suarez, has teamed up with John Karayanis to open Underground Pub and Grille and the Poblano Grill on the Island.

Karayanis said he originally had plans to reopen Underground Pub and Grille before Suarez wanted to collaborate. Suarez is in charge of the restaurant’s food while Karayanis takes care of all other aspects.

Suarez said the new restaurant, which sits on the same location as Karayanis’ former restaurant, Chicago Underground Pub and Grille, is serving gourmet Mexican food.

‘We will be bringing every week either specials or new dishes,’ Suarez said. ‘We’re always fresh and evolving and fun.’

Chicago Underground was open from 1998 until the end of 2006, and the new restaurant has been up and running since Aug. 1.

Both Karayanis and Prabhakar said their restaurants would have wireless Internet available to customers and both are looking to hire.

Prabhakar said his restaurant would initially serve breakfast and lunch only but could eventually be open 24 hours.

‘One corner there’s a Steak ‘n Shake open 24 hours. One corner there’s a Denny’s open 24 hours,’ Prabhakar said. ‘In the middle, I can catch that kind of crowd.’

Karayanis said he hopes his restaurant will be more welcoming to Carbondale natives while still being an option for SIU students to visit.

‘

‘The townspeople tend to avoid this particular area when the school is open, but they come to this area when the school is closed,’ Karayanis said. ‘We want to provide sophisticated service, civilized service and welcome everybody.’

Karayanis said he wants Underground Pub and Grille to be presented not as a bar, but as a place where people can go to converse in a quiet environment.

‘