The inspiration for Roseanne's "Lunch Box" restaurant on her hit TV show was this little restaurant located at 112 East 2nd Street in Ottumwa, Iowa called Canteen Lunch. Many of the items used on the Roseanne show were inspired directly form the interior of Canteen Lunch, who specializes in loose-meat sandwiches and pie. This building is such a historic part of Ottumwa that when a new city parking ramp needed to be built, the ramp was built over the top of it so the building wouldn't have to be torn down.
I stop here every time I am in town. The facility has undergone some well-needed updates and the new owners (since 2015) have done an excellent job keeping the same quality in their amazing sandwiches and have improved the customer service dramatically. I can't recommend this establishment enough! I have even nominated this restaurant numerous times to the "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" television show. Canteen Lunch is a gem and should be recognized nationally.
