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Iconic 'Johnny's Lunch' in Jamestown is 83 and still a delicious family tradition

Secret to success may be their secret sauce
Posted at 6:31 PM, Sep 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-27 08:24:53-04

JAMESTOWN, NY (WKBW-TV) — Dianne Calamunci's parents opened 'Johnny's Lunch' in 1936. Dianne and her husband Gust took over the iconic Jamestown restaurant in the 1970's and have kept it running smoothly ever since.

They keep it simple here with Texas Hots, hamburgers and homemade milkshakes made with real ice cream. The big favorite is the rice pudding that Dianne learned how to make back in her high school days.

Dianne works out front and Gust is in the back doing food prep and dishes. The couple has been married for fifty-seven years.

In a huge crock-pot in the kitchen Dianne reveals forty gallons of Texas Hots Sauce. They have to whip up that amount every other day to keep up with the demand. She says "people buy it for their picnics and their graduation parties."

There are probably many reasons that 'Johnny's Lunch' has survived eighty-three years, but Dianne points to something her father taught her "always be fair to the customer."

Johnnys Lunch is at 966 Fairmount Avenue, Jamestown, NY There's more infoat their website.