Hungry for the ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel? This Lawrenceville Restaurant Will Whet Your Appetite

Main Street Diner & Kickback Cafe just might be your new favorite haunt.

July 15, 2024

Kristy Graver,

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Brian Mendelssohn gazes up at the damn sandworm above him.

“I haven’t had a chance to turn the eyes on yet,” he says with a sigh.

The devil’s in the details at a new Lawrenceville restaurant that kind of reminds me of a Tim Burton movie I saw back in ’88 starring Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Main Street Diner & Kickback Cafe is in its weekends-only stage of existence. By mid-August, it’ll cross over into expanded hours that include brunch service. Better jump in the line.

I couldn’t make it to the eatery’s Independence Day Weekend debut, but I was the first customer to draw a door when it opened for business on July 12. My brooding, teenage daughter, Sarah, accompanied me to the dark room in the basement of Lawrenceville Market House.

I ordered food and drinks at the bar. She wanted a burger, fries and a chocolate milkshake; I opted for a Polish platter and a Strange & Unusual whiskey cocktail.

Main Street Diner Polish Platter Kristy Graver

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Mendelssohn, whose Polish mother-in-law was in the kitchen teaching the staff how to make pierogi, flipped a switch that makes the sandworm’s eyes glow red. He’s the host with the most, babe.

In addition to running businesses relevant to my interests, including Row House Cinemas and Simply Burgers & Fries, both in Lawrenceville, his Fulton Commons Food Accelerator program in Manchester is making one of my foodie dreams come true. On Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17 from 4 to 8 p.m., Franklin Street Markets will be held in Manchester to give emerging local food and farm producers a chance to sell their goods. I hope all of his buildings go condo!

Once our hunger was gone, split, outta here, we hit the arcade.

There are a bunch of pinball machines, including a “Jaws” game. After we dropped some tokens, Sarah and I walked a few blocks up Butler Street to Allegheny Cemetery to pay our respects at the “Jaws” tombstone.