The Abandoned Luncheonette (not the album)
by Michelle Tran
Co-owners and couple Jen Hilinski and Dave Khanlian outside of the Abandoned Luncheonette. Picture from Randhy Rodriguez.
Nestled among homes with rocking chairs on tiny porches the Abandoned Luncheonette’s teal trim and bright red door welcomes customers to its cozy corner of Moorestown, N.J. The bell rings above the door, and instantly I’m greeted by Jen and Dave and the smell of baked bread. Jen Hilinski and Dave Khanlian, married couple and co-owners, started the Abandoned Luncheonette in 2016. Its namesake comes from the Hall and Oates album, which is the band Dave heard at his first concert. According to one article the name is a “fun play on words with a nod to their passion for good food and music.” While Jen and Dave both work full time in schools they see it as a “fun and creative side-hustle.”
The tiny space is packed with crates of assorted vinyl and movies. It also has bar seating, two tables, shelves of books, CDs, and knick-knacks like a Spice Girls doll (any Baby Spice fans?) and ironic Santa dreidels. Although it is primarily a vegetarian breakfast and lunch restaurant the menu changes based on seasonality. It’s not the place for meat lovers or people looking for a traditional pancake breakfast, but it’s great for health-conscious folks looking to try loaded salads, vegan pastries, and assorted toasts.
Chipwiches made with vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip tahini cookies.
My go-to meal from the Abandoned Luncheonette is the avocado toast. At $7 two thick slices of sourdough spread with avocado and topped with pickled onions will fill you up. During the summer, Jen creates a classic chipwich made with chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream. Jen’s twist on the traditional chocolate chip combines tahini into the batter and tops off with sea salt. The frozen convenience store chipwich pales in comparison.
The Abandoned Luncheonette is one of my favorite places, but the downside is that it’s only open once a week since the owners have full-time jobs. The experience is also not quite the same during the pandemic. There is a certain charm to gossiping at one of the tables with my friends over a meal and laughing when we realize Jen and Dave have inevitably overhead us in their tiny shop. The Abandoned Luncheonette is a pillar in the community that has imprinted onto many hearts (and stomachs). I hope that they will never lose their passion for the restaurant as they continue to fuel us into a seemingly hopeless COVID-filled winter.
Rating
★★★★
The Abandoned Luncheonette
235 Mill Street
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Atmosphere
A tiny shop with two tables and bar seating. Surrounded by shelves of vinyl, CD, movies, books, and assorted knick-knacks.
Recommendations
Avocado toast, original chipwich, and peanut butter and fluff banana sandwich.
Price
$ ($1-$10)
Hours
Vary, generally Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Check their Facebook
Stars Meaning
Ratings range from zero to five stars.
Zero is poor: Avoid. One is fair: Visit if all other restaurants are closed.
Two is satisfactory: Visit if you’re hungry and don’t mind some drawbacks in food, atmosphere, and/or service.
Three is good: Visit to enjoy decent food, a nice atmosphere, and dependable service.
Four is very good: Visit and expect quality food, a memorable atmosphere, and attentive service.
Five is excellent: Visit and experience high-quality food, a compelling atmosphere, and impeccable service.
Bibliography
Biddle, Chris. “The Abandoned Luncheonette Opens a World of Fine Food and Music in an Unlikely Corner of South Jersey.” Biddle Communications & Public Relations, 12 Aug. 2017, biddlepr.com/2017/08/03/the-abandoned-luncheonette-opens-a-world-of-fine-food-and-music-in-an-unlikely-corner-of-south-jersey/.
Rodriguez, Randhy. Abandoned Luncheonette. Moorestown, NJ, 11 Oct. 2019.