luncheonette

American  

[luhn-chuh-net] / ˌlʌn tʃəˈnɛt /

noun

1. a small restaurant or lunchroom where light meals are served.

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luncheonette British  

/ ˌlʌntʃəˈnɛt /

noun

1. a café or small informal restaurant where light meals and snacks are served

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Etymology

Origin of luncheonette

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; luncheon + -ette

Explanation

A luncheonette is a small restaurant inside a store. During the 20th century, most dime stores and department stores had luncheonettes so shoppers could take a convenient lunch break. A luncheonette, or lunch counter, has a row of stools like a diner, but it serves a more limited menu — mainly sandwiches and salads. In their heyday, luncheonettes were found inside most five-and-dime stores, and some bigger department stores had them as well. The best-known dime store chain, Woolworth's, closed its last store in 1997, and while a few luncheonettes remain, the lunch counter tradition largely ended then. Luncheonette is from luncheon, "lunch," and -ette, "little."

Example Sentences

Follow award-winning food writer Andrews and chef-proprietor Clark as they start at the latter’s Dad’s Luncheonette in Half Moon Bay and wind up in Ventura County, missing nary a delicious stop along the way.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025

Sotiria Ioannidis, a server at Maria’s Luncheonette, said the work has definitely slowed the flow of new customers.

From Washington Times • Dec. 6, 2019

After the failure of his first restaurant, Moby’s Luncheonette in Bethesda, Md., Daryoush ditched the diner’s American fare and embraced the cuisine of his homeland.

From Washington Post • May 29, 2019

One morning not long ago, I went with McMillan and Morin to their latest venture, McKiernan Luncheonette, across the canal from Joe Beef.

From The New Yorker • May 20, 2019

I wish I could sit and talk with them over coffee in the Campus Bowl Luncheonette when they get together to argue about books and politics and ideas.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes