If you weren’t in the know, it would be easy to miss Luncheonette entirely. When you walk in the Europa Center, Luncheonette is located downstairs, tucked out of view with unassuming seating scattered around an atrium filled with greenery and natural light. A little exploration uncovers this semi-hidden gem of a restaurant.

All glass and granite, the Europa center isn’t the sort of building one would expect to find slightly upscale dining, much less with a rotating menu inspired by the seasons and available ingredients. Chef Adam Rose founded the restaurant, and continues to have a hand in both back-and-front operations. Only open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays, Luncheonette’s hours of operation and location contribute to an air of something that isn’t quite secrecy, but also doesn’t feel easily accessible.

It’s difficult to figure out what the Europa Center is. Office building? Casual meeting space? Restaurant? Luncheonette feels like it primarily caters to the people working and spending time in the center, and it certainly would be luxurious to walk down for lunch most days of the week. If you’re looking to rent space in the building, Luncheonette could certainly be a strong selling point in terms of quality of life for employees and employers alike.

The pastas and salads are certainly features of the menu. A spinach and bleu cheese salad topped with balsamic onions and candied walnuts comes out nicely, and seasonal pastas ranging from linguine primavera to butternut squash ravioli are well-known specialties of Chef Rose. Thick house-made tortilla chips and guacamole are an obvious standout when it comes to available sides, with the guacamole easily beating out the salsa alternative, which presents more as adobo-flavored ketchup than anything else. A range of sandwiches fill other lunch-friendly menu spots, from burgers to the “bahn mi of the day.” The crispy pork bahn mi is sure to satisfy, with crusty bread and just the right ratio of meat to vegetables. All salt and savory with just a touch of heat from fresh jalapenos, it’s a solid choice for a workday lunch.

It’s easy to see yourself eating either at a diner-style table or out in the atrium if you were able to pop down for lunch from your office, and ample parking out front makes getting to Luncheonette a good deal easier than a lot of similar lunch spots. With prices that don’t hit bargain-basement lows or downtown highs, Luncheonette puts itself in square competition with the sort of food you’d make for yourself at home – if you had enough time to put in the effort to make something you actually want to eat.

 

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