Canteen Lunch in the Alley
Encyclopedia
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
. It opened in the 1930s and has been a local institution famous for their loose-meat sandwiches and homemade pies. Their loose-meat sandwich is commonly compared to the sandwiches available at the chain fast-food restaurant Maid-Rite
Maid-Rite
Maid-Rite is an American casual dining franchise restaurant chain. Before it became a restaurant chain, it was a single restaurant, opened in 1926 by Fred Angell. By the end of the 1920s, there were four franchises granted; these four restaurants are still in operation.Maid-Rite Corporation's CEO...
, yet locals are known to prefer the 'Canteen' sandwiches for various reasons ranging from the fact it's a family-owned restaurant for over 70 years to the pictures of FDR and JFK on the walls.
The restaurant's design is a horseshoe-shaped counter-top surrounded by stools. The meat for the sandwiches are prepared in the middle of the counter-top in a large meat steamer, constantly being stirred and mixed by the staff. Besides the sandwich, pies and shakes are the other items on the menu.
The Canteen was the model for the Lanford Lunch Box restaurant opened by Roseanne Connor (played by Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
) in the sitcom Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
. Barr was married to actor Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
, a native of Ottumwa, and they frequently visited Ottumwa during their marriage.
External links
- http://www.mytravelguide.com/restaurants/profile-32610005-United_States_Iowa_Ottumwa_Canteen_Lunch_In_The_Alley.html
- http://iowabackroads.com/2007/places/canteen-lunch-in-the-alley/
- http://chefmoz.org/United_States/IA/Ottumwa/Canteen_Lunch_In_The_Alley988582097.html
- http://LifeInIA.com/Canteen.html
- http://www.tvacres.com/restaurants_lanford.htm