Yuppie Sandwich Shop in Robinson! What?!

Fine dining is rarely associated with suburban living. Anyone who has ever visited the suburbs would probably assume the only eateries available are either chain restaurants or fast food joints.

Personally, I have spent the better part of a year trying to find the hidden gems in the Moon/Robinson area. I’m a self-proclaimed “foodie” so I take this stuff pretty seriously.

For me, it’s hard to find that perfect blend of a clean dining environment combined with delicious, healthy food fused with a friendly staff.

Last week I stumbled into a local cafe that had it all.

Located at 5500 Steubenville Pike (directly across the street from Burkett Elementary school) sits J Lynn’s Cafe.

Dare I describe it as a “yuppie” sandwich shop?!!!

The ambience at J Lynn’s Cafe is perfect. It has a very small dining area with minimal tables. Hanging from the ceiling are these big, spherical, origami-style lamps, which give it a trendy, east-side-of-the-city look.

The menu consists of salads, sandwiches, hoagies, wraps, speciality coffee drinks, smoothies, soup and pretzel sandwiches.

Oh, and the best part? They deliver! (With a minimum $10 order.)

I have now sampled several of their menu items and I have some delicious recommendations.

Starting with the Tuscan Chicken Salad ($9.99). It’s herbed roasted chicken tossed in basil pesto with roasted red peppers, red onion, black olives, shredded carrot, feta cheese served on a bed of mixed greens and topped with balsamic vinaigrette.

As a lover of all things Mediterranean, it’s the perfect salad packed with protein and delicious flavor combinations. The sweet vinaigrette combined with the salt from the olives and the little kick from the roasted red peppers. Mmm. Delizioso!

Another recommendation that I have for you is the J Lynn’s Steak Hoagie (half:$4.75, whole:$8.99). It’s a toasted hoagie bun with certified angus beef, smoked cheddar cheese, red onions, lettuce, horseradish sauce with the side of a dill pickle. 

It’s not necessarily “yuppie”, but it is certainly yummy. I am a sucker for horseradish in any context, but combing it with roast beef and smoked cheddar it becomes a food symphony in my belly.

Finally, I want to suggest the Mango Chicken wrap ($6.99). For lunch, I tend to prefer wraps to sandwiches. I hate being weighted down with carbs all afternoon. This wrap consists of roasted chicken, honey mustard, mango chutney, feta cheese, craisins, red onion and baby spinach. It’s so delicious that I have eaten it twice in the same week.

As for negative comments, I do have a couple. Due to it being a sandwich cafe, it closes at 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and it’s closed on Sundays. This is not convenient for me on nights when I feel lazy and want to order in dinner. 

Also, they don’t have a website so can’t view their menu online. You literally have to walk into the establishment to get a to-go menu like it was the 90s! A little passe for my taste.

In their defense, they do have a Facebook page, but you can’t view the menu on it. They do post their daily specials each morning so there is value to “liking” it.

As for me, I like any sandwich shop that delivers to my house and offers me the option of an Acai Berry smoothie. Normally in the suburbs “smoothie” proves to be a provocative word. Toss Acai into the conversation and we may as well be transported to Shadyside. 

Bravo J Lynn’s Cafe! Bravo!