This and few other diners in Philly always remind me of a great summer day. You eat brunch, and the rest of your day is fantastic. Penrose is great for that, because the inside is nice and cozy, and the employees are super attentive. They were showing a few games on the tv which was cool, but I was intrigued with their menu. I'd love to try lunch here or at least one of their sandwiches. The quesadilla was great and I even ate part of it the next day for lunch. Hashbrowns were great as well, and the cheesesticks were awesome. Love trying those out at diners. The waffle, eggs and sausage was very tasty as well. read more

Penrose Diner - Waffle w/ sausage and eggs - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

we tried sandwiches from euro to roasted beef and soup & salads. service was very good. provided takeout containers & bags Diner was convenient & close to our location Ambiance was light & bright. Delicious looking desserts at the front door to start salivating ! read more

Was excited to order breakfast and the reviews online was all good. Love me a good pancake; excited to eat pancakes in Philly since we are on vacation and visiting. How can you be a cook at a diner, cooking the same items everyday and burn pancakes. Not only do you burn it, you send it out to the table for consumption. No thank you burnt pancakes. Smmsh read more

Penrose Diner - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A decent late night spot with a large menu of options. The standout of our meal was definitely the stuffed pork chop, it was phenomenal. Everything else was average I would say. The spaghetti sauce has a sweet almost cinnamon like taste to it, not my favorite, but OK. I recommend coming here if you're looking for a place with a large menu which also serves breakfast all day. read more

See all

Classic South Philly environment. Staff is friendly but not corny friendly, they are Philly friendly. If ya dont know difference you will after you visit here. The service was fast and my order was perfect. 4 eggs over medium (white was cooked and yolk was dunkable), hash browns with onions, toasted English Muffin, and sweet Italian sausage. The Coffee was diner good. The interior was clean as well as the men's restroom. If you are expecting a gourmet dinning experience you are going to the wrong place. What you can expect is a good meal, decent portions, and its served fast and fresh. read more

Penrose Diner - Coffee Two Cream and 1 sugar - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went in for breakfast and well quite satisfied. All was delish. Service was pleasant and efficient.

Great breakfast diner in South Philly! Very close to the stadiums, has a parking lot. This place is huge. Great diner breakfast. Always stop here when heading to the Pro Shops early on the weekends. The Hashbrowns are delicious. Great service and fun atmosphere. This place is a well oiled machine. So come on down the next time you want a breakfast in the city. read more

This is classic South Philly and most likely was the haunt of my boss. I imagined he collected a number of watresses' digits back in the day. We were here for team dinner and the overall experience was okay. I had french fries as the possibility of cross contact for me was high. I'm glad I brought my own prepped meals. The french fries were good though. The team's meals looked okay and the portions seemed very large. Overall, it was okay and must have been 'the' place back in the day but those days are gone. read more

I came in for dinner, this place struck me as a neighborhood place. My waiter had quite a conversation with the table next to mine about growing up in the area and the business his grandparents owned which the couple at the table were familiar with.... Anyway totally a neighborhood joint. I think most everyone there was a local from the surrounding neighborhood but even though I wasn't everyone was very friendly. Upon entry there is a big bakery case which had a ton of delicious looking pastries. I was seated right away, I went with the chicken parm alla vodka sauce. It came with penne and garlic bread. Also you get a bowl of soup with it (I had beef barley) and a bowl of pudding for dessert (I went with chocolate). Good cake really quickly and was nice and hot. Very tasty as well. Entree was a really big portion - I initially was going to halve it all and bring some as takeaway however it was tasty so I finished it all. Would definitely return. Several good looking items in the menu. read more

See all

Plenty of tables and reasonably comfortable seating. Staff were quite patient even though it took us a while to decide on our orders. Lots of parking space available. Food itself was only OK, the turkey on my sandwich was pretty dry, although I appreciated the large portion sizes. read more

Penrose Diner - Turkey Club Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Maybe I chose poorly. I recall being dragged to this place by my friend Maggie, back before it had a remodel; that's how cool and OG I am. I'm sure we went at least a couple times, but I recall not being impressed back then, despite Maggie's insistence on its awesomeness. I'll have to say, I was unimpressed back then, and unimpressed now. The turkey club left no impression on me at all, although the fries are really good. The counter service was funny, she filling me in on the hat-on-the-counter superstition and troubled to the point in actually asking me not to keep my hat there. Superstitious to me, or to her? Is it better to wear my hat on inside like an uncultured swine? Anyway, she was sweet and friendly, so it didn't bother me. I feel like the Philly faithful love this place and will probably stand by it to the end, but for me, an outsider who merely spent a few years in Philly... does nothing for me. read more

Penrose Diner - Turkey club. - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food taste much better than it looks. My wife told me not to get the chicken cheesesteak but I did, it was the blandest looking, most unattractive thing to set eyes on but it was surprisingly tasted flavorful & decent, it had no peppers and the onions looked like plastic, the chicken was shredded in a way that made the whole thing look unattractive, the bread tasted very fresh. The entire sandwich looked like plain white crackers. The sandwich tasted way better than it looked & somewhat healthy but it's hard to get over how disappointedly unattractive it looked when maybe that was exactly I needed. I wanted color & grease. I would hesitantly recommend this place and we got same pastries that tasted above average but were also unattractive. Service was definitely 5/5 read more

Penrose Diner - Chicken Philly sandwich - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great service! Food could have been hotter ... tasted great just the inside temperature was cold . read more

Penrose Diner - The gobbler , maybe ask for it extra hot mine was cold inside - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Gone here several times and was always decent, but our last visit was not so good. All the employees are always so friendly which I really appreciate, but the food is just ok. I ordered a cheesesteak panini and it was not good at all. I wish I took a photo. It was literally a slab of steak-um type steak, not even chopped up on barely grilled plain, soggy bread. It was not a panini by any means. My husband had a flavorless, dry burger. We thought it was odd that neither sandwich came with pickles or coleslaw. I don't think we will be rushing back to Penrose. read more

Everybody who knows goes to Penrose!! I remember an old lady telling me that when I overheard her arguing with another lady about the better diner. (Melrose Diner used that slogan in their ad's when I was a kid.) RIP Melrose Diner. With the current round-about construction going on out front the approach to their parking lot can be tough, but overall the lot usually has plenty of spots open. I have always held the Penrose in high regard because of their servers being a superb sample of South Philly dialect. You'll get lots of huns and babes during your time inside. Although I've sampled quite a few dishes over the years my most recent two trips were for lunch. I believe you can get breakfast all day here which is a big draw. The inside is large with every seating option you can imagine. I enjoy sitting at the "bar" area. You get a great view of how fast they run their operation. The customers are a melting pot of people throughout their day, friends of the servers grabbing a quick bite, workers, families, older folks .... etc. Food wise I've never been blown away by anything I've ordered. It's just ok-good. The Italian cutlet sandwich - came with plenty of melted cheese, spinach, tomato on a fresh toasted roll with sharp provolone. It was a large portion for the price, but was missing a snappier sharp provo to give it a great sandwich. The chili I had was full of stringy cheddar, ground beef and kidney beans. The pulled pork has a big piece of fat I had to remove, weak sauce and the house made coleslaw was very generic. The Brioche roll saved it, but otherwise it was just ok-good. The fries are ok and average, but you usually don't get to them because of the size of the sandwiches. If you want quick service in a clean environment with big portions/decent food hit up the Penrose. read more

See all

This place is the epitome of a solid and consistent diner! I've been here countless times and had everything from breakfast to dinner food. Every single thing has always been fresh and delicious. There's also such a welcoming environment with the whole staff having that south philly vibe. They make you feel right at home! Will always come back. read more

Penrose Diner - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Late lunch at the counter. I had a salad with double grilled chicken. Food was excellent. Service was quick and excellent. Only problem No Coke , Pepsi. read more

Penrose Diner - Garden Salad with double grilled chicken - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Two items to make sure you try while at the Penrose: Sticky Buns with nuts-best sticky bun ever. Fudge covered cheesecake and I'm not even a cheesecake fan! Stopped here to grab a late lunch and to have some leftovers for a bite to eat before heading to an event. Awesome and friendly service. Our waitress's name was Dana but another woman with shirt blonde hair also helped us out and she was great as well. For food we tried the following: Roast Beef club-average club but fries great Salad-loved the egg and cheese and crotons and lots of other veggies Appetizer sampler- the buffalo wings, fries and the mozzarella sticks were my favorite on this platter! Everything was fine but just those items stood out! It was a nice size for the price. It's your typical diner inside and even has a counter you can sit at. Nice dessert case when you walk in to tempt you for later! read more

See all

You know something's good at a non chain restaurant when the parking lot is full. Check menu on Yelp and decided to try. Not disappointed. Ate there for dinner snd breakfast. Was at hotel across street. Good food and always my pet peeve, clean restroom. read more

In spite of having not visited Penrose Diner during the two visits I have had to Philadelphia for the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run; I vowed to visit it during my third trip to the city since it sits right across from the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Arpt-Stadium Area where I typically stay. I must say that I finally realized that Penrose Diner is a hidden gem in South Philadelphia; this classic diner has been around for more than 50 years in Philadelphia which is why I had to visit. And I put off getting in an early morning run, just so I could visit once the diner opened because I have seen how busy it gets! In fact, that is a reason why I was deterred from visiting in the previous years. Once I entered the location, I waited, then proceeded to the bar area for a seat, rather than a booth seat in the dining area. The server, Colleen, did her tasks behind the counter, acknowledging me by asking me if I needed anything to drink and a menu in-between doing her tasks. Once I was ready to order after looking at the menu, I ended up ordering a short stack of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and a small orange juice which was presented to me within an acceptable time frame. I enjoyed sitting at the bar because there was a television plastered ahead which gave me something to look at. Prior to taking my first bite of the scrambled eggs, I smirked as Adele 'Hello' played in the background because it is a song I absolutely adore! The scrambled eggs tasted fantastic! And the short stack of pancakes did not disappoint as I knew they would not; there were plenty of syrup containers given to make it taste just the way I like. My only regret with the short stack was that I should have ordered just one pancake rather than the short stack, because I ended up not eating all of it. In-between eating, I could not help but overhear the genuine employee interaction with one of the regular customers. Oh my, these Philadelphian accents, I always look forward to hearing them when I visit Philadelphia because it is a breath of fresh air in comparison to midwestern accents in Chicago. In closing, I am quite positive that I will revisit Penrose Diner being that I frequently stay at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Arpt-Stadium Area, plus I enjoyed my meal! With that being said, I most definitely recommend this diner if you plan to visit Philadelphia. ~ Be obsessively grateful. ~ Thomas G read more

See all

The food was sub par at best. The chicken croquettes were horrible. They look like egg rolls. Cole slaw was just awful. No bread basket? What?? Had to ask for bread and all they had was Italian bread " from the back". Chicken parm was eh. They won't see my $ again. Service was OK. read more

The Penrose diner is exactly what I remembered when I was a kid but 10 times better. I had one of the best chicken Parmesan's there and my friend had a Reuben. This is an original traditional diner with diner food and outstanding service. The atmosphere is traditional diner just a little bigger. read more

This is hands down the best diner in Philadelphia. The staff are so friendly and make you feel like you're dining in your own home. Everything is so fresh and the portions are huge. I think it would be impossible to have a bad meal here. If you're looking for an authentic diner experience this is the place to go! read more

Penrose Diner - Bread Pudding - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Utterly disappointed as I heard this is the best diner in Philly, that was not the case for me and my experience, firstly my order came with no utensils which is a shame because I am staying across the street at the holiday inn hotel and much needed those utensils but no condiments like ketchup was included for fries. $22 for penne vodka and the portion was absolutely absurd. $20 for chicken tenders and fries that was cold. Unsatisfied, disappointed and never again will spend my money at this establishment, what a shame. read more

See all

Best diner breakfast I have ever had. Great tasting omelet and hash browns for me. Wife had french toast hash browns as well. She said it was delicious. Friendly and fast service. Mine was awesome. Traditional diner decor with large booths, counter area with stools and large tables towards the back for families and large groups. Average loudness for a diner. Also came back the next day for a breakfast. I had the French Toast with eggs, ham, sausage and bacon. It was to die for. The service was friendly and fast again. That breakfast was delicious too. Come check them out and Enjoy!!! read more

See all

Love love love the oatmeal, neighborhood South Philly vibe and Debbie our personable server!!! read more

See all

Great diner right next to the stadiums, all the classic breakfast foods! Always a good stop in the morning the day after a game.

This is a nice diner with good service and good food at good prices. What more could you want from a diner? I had a cheesesteak that was, honestly, as good or better than the one I had in the Reading Terminal Market. We picked this place because it was close to the airport (flying out in a few hours) and close to a Tesla Supercharger to charge the Hertz rental car on the way to PHL. This was a perfect location for all of that, and we will be back. read more

Decent diner. Came here for quick breakfast. We had the pancakes combo and French toast combo. My French toast could've used more powdered sugar. I wasn't a fan of their regular sausage, it could've been cooked longer for more crispy skin. They have cute holiday specials. The service was fine, our server was attentive. There wasn't anything that stood out to make it a spectacular visit but I would come back for a quick bite. read more

See all

The Penrose is a good place to eat; there are ever-fewer diners, oddly, in Philadelphia anymore: the Melrose is gone after ten-plus years of decline under its final owner (after 75 years of being one of the best, period), and most other diners, also like the Penrose, don't stay open that late anymore or 24 hours at all, unfortunately. So I'm glad it's there and I am sure I will return. However, today I brought two relatives to the Penrose to eat breakfast. It was very clean, as always, and the service was friendly enough. Two of the three in my group ate; both got creamed chipped beef, one added a fried egg to the order. One had a diet coke and the other a lemonade. I was astonished that the total for this not-so-big order was just over $42.00 before a tip. I realize costs are up, but this sort of bill for what they had gets to a point where one pauses about coming back on a regular basis. Whatever, inflation or supplies cost now, the only thing overpriced as a component of chipped beef is dried beef itself for the quantity one gets (check any grocery store), though it should be a low-end food. Had I eaten a meal it would have been over $60 for three people and that's especially absurd for breakfast food. Good diner, good food, but I was surprised at the cost today. read more

By far one of the best diners in terms of food and service that I've been too. There is a parking lot specifically for the diner. There was a ramp in the entrance way for accessibility entrance. Right at the entrance, you're greet with a case of desserts full of an assortment of sticky buns, cheesecakes, and cakes. There's bar seating and booth seating. The burger was the biggest burgers I've ever seen at a dinner. They were really generous with the BBQ sauce for the BBQ BLT burger. Penrose also knows how to cook burgers correctly. One of the few diners that will actually cook a burger medium rare. The onion rings were bomb, prefect crispiness on the outside with cooked onions on the inside. It wasn't drowning with oil either (which is much appreciated for a diner). I also got the "all the meat" omelette with well done hash and rye toast on the side. The omelette was a bit salt for my taste since it included ham, sausage, and bacon. I would definitely opt for a lighter version with veggies next time. The hash on the other hand was cooked to prefect crispiness BUT lacked any type of flavor (definitely add some salt and pepper). *Coffee is 2.99. Free refills. **Make sure to count your change when you pay up front. It wasn't until I got in my car that I realized I was changed $2 less than I was suppose to get back. read more

See all

Food was good- nice portion sizes. Busy place during the lunch hour. Simple diner with booth seating.

What a place In Phili for Metalica Concert This place is just accross the street of our hotel Everything is great Nutella French Toast Avocado BTL And yes Bloody Mary They all one of the best we had ever read more

Ordered eggs bacon and French toast. I got the eggs fried over easy they very pretty good and the bacon helped with the seasoning . The French toast was good a light over cooked. If they wasn't over cooked the whole meal would of been a 5 star the customer service was ok at 1st but became very good we had a big party of people and she did it by herself. read more

Touched down from LA on the red eye this morning and of course, wanted to get some breakfast for my daughter. Penrose Diner was just a few minutes from the airport and it was perfect timing! We were seated immediately and Dotty was very cheerful and helpful which is a refreshing early in the morning. She got our orders right away and brought drinks within minutes of sitting down. Got the Lox Special and it was a huge platter with plenty of smoked salmon, a boiled egg, greens, peppers, onions and olives. This offered a nice surprise from the traditional lox bagel breakfast typically served in most places. My daughter got the kid's special which came with a pancake, bacon and eggs. Nothing special but it was served hot and scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly. If coming to Philly and staying near the airport, Penrose is well kept and the restaurant is clean and follows Covid protocols. They have an extensive menu with diner classics and other options for breakfast, lunch and dinner items. read more

See all

I don't know. People talk up this place, but I've been several times for dinner meals and I never left feeling really satisfied with eating there. The food is usually dry and not really tasteful. The service can be kind of slow at times. I wish I could give it a better rating. read more

Penrose Diner - Omelet with home fries - Diners Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When I was younger I ate at the same diner every week for years. My parents are creatures of habit and they loved a diner experience. Extensive menu, low prices and quick service. How can you go wrong? This place is very much the typical diner experience. They even take an extra step to keep things clean, which everyone appreciates. I've been here a few times and they've never let me down. This diner gets an extra special star because of Maryann. This specific server is super sweet and gives the perfect amount of attention to all of her tables. Even better, when me, my wife and our 2 kids sat down to have breakfast on April Fools Day 2023, Maryann made it a point to acknowledge our family by continuing to address us as "moms." This made us feel more comfortable and definitely added to our family dining experience. Thank you Maryann. We appreciate you. read more

The food was great. The drinks were delicious. This was my second time eating at this restaurant. I took my son and friend to a nearby concert at Wells Fargo. This is the place to stop before an event. So many choices, food, desserts, alcohol drinks too. Waitress was great and friendly. The food we had was a turkey wrap and fries, beef gyro and fries, monte cristo with fries. The fries were so good. I love fries. I had a pineapple margarita and it was tasty. The food came out quickly about 15-20 mins. We recommended this restaurant. So good! Enjoy! read more

See all

I've been coming here five or six years and I have never had anything other than a good experience. The wait staff are accurate, attentive, friendly and know the menu well. The food is served up piping hot with very nice sized portions. The entire diner is immaculately clean. One of the really good things is that they have an on-site bakery that provides the pastries and rolls and cakes and cookies that are sold by the checkout counter. And speaking of the checkout counter - you don't have to wait for waitstaff to be free to ring you out like some places because they still have a dedicated cashier. It's the little things that add up that brings both my daughter, myself and my significant other back here many times a year read more

See all

Great diner! I've been meaning to stop in for a really long time. The space is large and has an old school diner feel. We were seated immediately and our server came over right away to take our drink orders. To start, my partner and I both ordered a French onion soup and it did not disappoint!! It was cheesy, flavorful, and the perfect temperature. For my main course I had the chicken Caesar and my partner had a chicken sandwich. Both meals were fresh and delicious. And the portions were huge! Their menu is extensive so I need to return to try different things but it was a great visit overall. read more

See all