Ann Vinciguerra: The A-List Eats: Allamuchy General Store

1.03.2021

The A-List Eats: Allamuchy General Store

The first time I entered the Allamuchy General Store I found myself in a cliched moment.

"I've discovered a 'gem' in a place I least expected to" is the tired and overdone thought that crossed my mind.

After my meal, I did a web search to find out more and was surprised that other than Google and Yelp reviews not much is written about the Allamuchy General Store. With great food and a captivating vintage atmosphere, it wouldn't have surprised me if I had come across a New York Times article about it or a story about a visit from Anthony Bourdain - it is that good and that unique of a place. But nothing, not even a local newspaper review.

(Interestingly, I did find out that the Allamuchy General Store was remodeled in 2017 after a tractor trailer barreled through the front door. Click here to read the story.)

Below is my first-hand account of breakfast at the Allamuchy General Store.

Breakfast with a Soupçon of Attitude

Allamuchy, population 4,300, is the kind of place some would be surprised to find in densely populated New Jersey. A few state parks nearby draw hikers and visitors pass though on their way to the Delaware Water Gap, but overall it's a quiet outpost with no real center of town. The Allamuchy General Store sits unassumingly at a crossroads and is easy to miss.

Established in 1827 as a post office and general store, it’s now a restaurant. From the outside, Allamuchy General Store is nothing out of the ordinary; old buildings like these are common place in New Jersey. But once inside I realize I’ve stumbled onto a gem.

It’s a quiet Monday when I arrive for breakfast with my father and several relatives, and the restaurant boasts a mellow vibe. 1940s big band music floats from the speakers, its swingy beat helps set the tone. The walls are covered in old signs, utensils and photographs.

The waiter, dressed in cropped dungaree pants, a denim shirt and suspenders, seats us in a booth covered in blue jeans. Although his style matches the décor, he’s able to pull it off without being corny. Someone put a lot of love into creating this space, and I’m instantly taken in with the old-timey atmosphere.

The extensive breakfast menu features a number of skillets with regional and globally inspired names such as Coney Beach and the Mayan. The waiter, as only skilled waiters know how to do, knows exactly how much time to allow us to linger and comes to take our order at the perfect moment without being prompted. Service is efficient but a bit gruff, and the only small talk with the waiter is instigated by me.

“Can you believe my father has lived nearby for over 20 years and today is the first time he’s taken me here?” I say.

I tell him I’m from Montana and he doesn’t react. He’s got a job to do and there’s no time for small talk. Even though Allamuchy has a middle-of nowhere feel, some would remind you it’s New Jersey and attitude is part of the package. Either way, the tone by no means detracts from the experience.

Bulky pieces of chalk are spread on the butcher paper covered table and we leave our mark as we wait for our meal. Coffee and cappuccino, served in mason jars, comes first and they are excellent. Not all baristas know how to work an espresso machine, so you never know if you’ll get what you asked for or some milky coffee monstrosity. My cappuccino, I’m pleased to see, is artistically layered with the perfect coffee/foam/milk ratio.

The food comes efficiently and exactly as we ordered it. The portions are ideally sized and come in mini cast iron skillets. In a creative touch, the bacon comes hanging on its own wooden rack.

The waiter doesn’t fuss with a lot of checking in to see if we’re okay, but we are by no means neglected and have everything we need when we need it. It’s a nice change of pace from the sickly-sweet (but often poor) service waitstaff like to pour on in my trendy Montana town. We’re left to enjoy our meal, the atmosphere and one another’s company.

The restaurant is busy enough to feel lively, but quiet enough so we can linger. It’s a great meal in a surprisingly fun setting. On the way out, we’re kind of silly as my family can sometimes be.

“You have the best cappuccino in Allamuchy,” I say to the waiter. “Probably the only cappuccino in Allamuchy.”

“And you have cappuccino on Montana?” he says with a snarl.

Homey and rustic but put together with style and a lot of thought and care, the Allamuchy General Store is a place worth going to even if your meal comes with a soupçon of attitude.