The food, service and ambiance was outstanding. Such a special place. You can see the love and care…read morethat goes into every dish that is prepared as well as the personal treatment they give to every guest. We met the owner, who cooks many of their signature dishes, his daughter who manages the restaurant, and his granddaughter who was the hostess that night. We happened to be traveling through the area, celebrating our 50th anniversary, and they went out of their way to make it a memorable night for us! The restaurant has the feeling of a your smaller, neighborhood Italian restaurant that makes their dishes from recipes that have been passed down from one generation to the next. By the time we left, they made us feel like we were part of their extended family, if only for an evening. And when you're traveling on the road, that's a mighty nice feeling! Do yourself a favor, the next time you are in the area, plan on making this a destination. It's well worth it! (Consider making a reservation or at least calling ahead because they are pretty popular.)

The good: The food was absolutely magnificent. The chef is likely classically trained. Presentation…read morewas excellent. The sauce was as good as i have ever had. The bad: The wait staff was not very engaged. I wanted this review to be about the food but that just wasn't meant to be. The Ugly: I am very well travelled on 3 continents. I've dined elegantly as well as from street vendors and I have NEVER had service that was this off putting to the point of being overtly rude, and I am an American who has eaten in France and doesn't speak much French. When we wouldn't sit at the bar, even though the main area was only 1/4 occupied They moved our party of 2 into the side room with chairs up on tables. It went downhill from there. Due to this, it wasn't possible to really enjoy what should have been a fine meal. I will say it is a wise policy to ask for payment and tip ahead of this type of service before it is provided.

Pizza was fabulous! Service was fantastic. Only thing that would have made it perfect, if they had…read moreCoke instead of Pepsi.

Overall, great food and good service. The mild Wings were surprisingly good. Big food portions.read more

We were in Effingham and saw they have a Pizza Man. I hadn't had Pizza Man in a long time. It was…read morejust like I remember. Very tasty. And very reasonably priced. We got two large pizzas, 12 wings, and garlic bread for $50. Not bad. The pizza hit the spot.

While passing through Effingham, Illinois, I had the pleasure of dining at a local favorite--Pizza…read moreMan--and I'm glad I did. This cozy, unpretentious spot delivers exactly what you hope for in a small-town Italian-American restaurant: hearty portions, comforting flavors, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. I ordered the meatballs, and they did not disappoint--tender, well-seasoned, and served in a rich marinara sauce that tasted homemade. My dinner companion went with the cheese ravioli, which came piping hot and generously smothered in sauce. Both dishes were satisfying and full of flavor. One of the highlights of the meal was the salad bar-- while a small salad bar, it was fresh, well-stocked, and a perfect way to start the meal. The bread sticks were another pleasant surprise: warm, soft, and just the right touch of comfort on the side. Whether you're a local or just passing through Effingham, Pizza Man is a great stop for a relaxed, hearty meal that leaves you full and content. Definitely worth a visit!

Holy Moly this place is fan-freaking-tastic!!! Traveling thru Illinois on our way back to Texas…read moreand the hubby and I were craving Italian. The hostess was fabulous and recommended her favs. She was very knowledgeable about the food and preparation. Started off with deconstructed grilled cheese and added a side of sweet butter. The hubby had lasagna and we had a front row seat to watch its preparation and baking in the wood-fired oven. I had the Bucatini Amatriciana. OMG, Heaven. As we were leaving they provided us with a free dessert. It was a chocolate cake with vanilla gelato. It was the chef's grandma's recipe. I brought tears of joy to my face. I wish I lived closer. I would be here once a week.

Drove 40 minutes to try this place out and it did not disappoint!! Great food and great service. I…read morehave had authentic pasta from Italy and this is the most authentic I have had in America. They also have a rotating menu. I am very excited to come back and try something else on the menu! Loved it

Waited an hour while people that arrived after got their food before us including a party of 12…read morethat's got their food before us as well. Waited an hour for them to tell us our pizza hadn't even been put into the oven on top of that they didn't give a full refund for the food absolutely poor customer service

I ordered a cauliflower pizza an a salad,the salad was good but my small cauliflower pizza wasn't…read moretough as nails I'm very disappointed!!

Out of state visitor, wanted to order the spaghetti dinner to go, but they only sell the 1\2 gallon…read moreto go. i got it and i am glad i did, it fed me for 2 nights. sauce made just whe way i like, nice and meaty. Great family vibe and atmosphere here. service was quick, ready when i arrived. love it here, coming back next time in town! thanks

Get the house pizza if you wanna have the worst burbs ever. It's like you are reliving eating…read morethat garlic sausage with every burb...

We were staying nearby and a friend recommended we try Carl's and I'm glad we did. We ordered…read moretakeout. The service was not so good and they were not very friendly or I would have given them a 5. The pizza however was delicious. We got a thin crust, cheese with bacon. The cheese had a great flavor and the crust was extra crispy. I would definitely go back and order takeout if we were close by.

Wow! The pizza was absolutely great! We had 1/2 cheese and 1/2 sausage mushroom and I must say the…read morecheese was better. We came on a Greenup Car Cruise night and sat in the patio. And watched the rides roll by. Great stop and completely unexpected taste!

I read so many reviews of travelers finding this place and loving it. I was excited to try! Sadly…read moreour pizza was burned around the crust and soft on the middle. I did enjoy the parmesan bites! Staff was friendly.

Overall really clean and an amazing stop to come off of the highway from! The sauce is a bit on the…read moresweeter side but overall amazing taste! Really large portions for us but that means we don't have to cook when we get home! Win win! The service feels a tad bit rushed but that's alright! Definitely would stop again if we are out this way again!

I'm from Columbus, Ohio where we know a thing or two about a thing or two. Winning traditions and…read morePizza. So I found myself in Onley, Illinois on a Tuesday night. Hungry. Tired. And did I mention hungry. Based upon some recommendations I came in and wanted to see if the spot was what I wanted and it delivered. Well I did not have the pizza deliver but well you know. In a single room I walked in and found the spot crowded but still had a space for me. I sat down and was greeted promptly. Ordered some toasted ravioli and then followed up with a thin crust Joes Deluxe. Ravioli arrived and a whiff told me things my sight could not discern. Aromatic equated to delightful. At first sight this must have been made in house. A bite. Come on man. Packing a serious punch. Dipped in the accompanying sauce meatier à la plentiful. I devoured the order. Then the pizza arrived. Let me pause here. The toppings underneath the cheese. Is it possible they were sautéed? For me??? The sausage just spicy enough to keep it interesting. The pepperonis bathed in a sweetness of saucy perfection . Is that hints of basil, simmered perfection? Maybe a family tradition and the only way they could figure out to make it. Like it was a real functioning kitchen. The prep line was not just any prep line. Like Leonardo didn't have just an ordinary paint studio. This was not a Ford pizza factory. They are making some serious Maserati's up in this piece. The ambience. Circa Pizza Hut 1972 or so. I loved every second of it. Thank You for being true to the art, true to the best pizza in town, to the heart of what makes a pizzeria a place where the town gathers even on a Tuesday night.

Talk about some of the best pizza and pasta around. This place is amazing. The sauce is a little…read moresweet which makes it different then most. Do a joboli or any of their pizzas. Their bosco sticks with the red sauce and cheese mix is great.

After a long day of driving was ready for a bite to eat and came to Monical's to grab some pizza to…read morego. I've really only seen their name on the highway food/restaurants signs, and those restaurants I feel like tend to be a little meh so my expectations were dampened. BUT all the reviews here were so high I didn't know what to expect. Didn't realize I was going to have one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten before. We ordered the Rams Special which is like a supreme pizza but with bacon which makes it the best supreme pizza I've had. We demolished that pizza. Besides that we ordered at the counter and they were very quick with the order, I feel like we didn't have to wait very long for the pizza, especially considering this is a sit down restaurant as well. They had lots of local decor on the walls which was fun to look at and pass the time.

My husband and I went there for lunch. The whole experience was great. Pizza was out in no time and…read morethe BEST I've had since going home to Effingham. Definitely worth the drive from Ashley. Definitely will return.