Affordable, Fast and Made From Scratch, Jean's Luncheonette Offers All That and More

When I think of luncheonettes I think of business men in the 1950s grabbing a tuna sandwich and black coffee on their lunch breaks and then heading back to their insurance or advertising company. I also think of women named "Madge" or "Pearl" working the lunch counter and taking the orders with a pad and pencil. 

You don't see luncheonettes too often these days. They are being overtaken by fast food joints and sandwich shops, which is a shame because luncheonettes typically offer affordable food made from scratch. is a bona fide luncheonette that serves light lunches and breakfast.

I went in for a mid-day breakfast and was struck by how cozy the place is. There is a counter to your right and approximately six to eight tables in the dining area. The tables are close together and you can hear each other's conversations. A fun aspect of the place is that you can see into the kitchen area where they prepare your food. It's not a sparkling clean establishment but more of a greasy spoon. 

I sat down at a table by the window and looked over at the breakfast. Despite the alluring sound of pancakes, french toast and "breakfast hoagies," I opted for the spinach and feta three-egg omelet with homefries and toast. I ordered an iced tea and read the local paper while I waited.

While I waited, I could hear the banter between the server and the regulars seated to my left–it felt like a scene straight out of a movie.

My food came out within five minutes. The steaming hot omelet was brimming with bright green pieces of fresh spinach and huge cubes of feta cheese. The omelet was cooked all the way through with well done brown spots on the outside. A simple sprinkling of salt and pepper on top was all it needed. I enjoyed the omelet very much but couldn't finish it all.

The homefries were cooked well–the potatoes were not underdone or overdone and burnt. They were tender on the inside and had just a slight crispness on the outside. The potatoes had cooked up a nice golden color on the griddle and tasted great with ketchup and some added salt and pepper. 

The white bread that came on the side was darkly toasted and came with butter and grape jam, which I didn't care much for.

My food came out fast and hot, and the service was otherwise polite and efficient. My server brought me everything I needed in a timely fashion. It's a very relaxed setting with regulars from the neighborhood trickling in and out throughout the day. Some looked like construction workers, others looked like students and I even saw some business men coming in for a tuna salad sandwich on their lunch break. I guess some things are still the same.

Stop into Jean's Luncheonette for breakfast or lunch, you'll be in and out in less than 20 minutes and spend under $10–that's a deal that anyone can appreciate.