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Best Diners in PA?

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blion72

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Oct 30, 2021
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do you guys have favorite diners for PA, especially central PA?

we are visiting relatives in Iowa City this weekend, and ate at Pullman's Diner (would give it an 8/10, and going to hit Bluebird tomorrow. there was a place we ate in 2004 after BW game in SC that was great but we cannot recall the name. that was a 10/10. we have tickets for Del game and looking forward to one of the home cooking style diners in SC area.
 
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Midnighter

Midnighter

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blion72 said:
do you guys have favorite diners for PA, especially central PA?

we are visiting relatives in Iowa City this weekend, and ate at Pullman's Diner (would give it an 8/10, and going to hit Bluebird tomorrow. there was a place we ate in 2004 after BW game in SC that was great but we cannot recall the name. that was a 10/10. we have tickets for Del game and looking forward to one of the home cooking style diners in SC area.
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Used to go to Faye’s Country Kitchen in Carlisle, PA when my wife was a student there. Very good - love places that have random coffee mugs.
 
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A2nit

A2nit

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Roy Ann Diner in Sellersville, hot turkey sandwich with gravy, gravy on fries. It’s been 25 years, took my Grandparents to lunch to meet my future wife back visiting PA…
Could name 10 or so others from Allentown to Montgomeryville
 
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step.eng69

step.eng69

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blion72 said:
do you guys have favorite diners for PA, especially central PA?

we are visiting relatives in Iowa City this weekend, and ate at Pullman's Diner (would give it an 8/10, and going to hit Bluebird tomorrow. there was a place we ate in 2004 after BW game in SC that was great but we cannot recall the name. that was a 10/10. we have tickets for Del game and looking forward to one of the home cooking style diners in SC area.
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Ate there several times after games on the way home....northeast along 220. About 30 miles east of State College.

FOOD WAS GREAT prior to the 2019 covid. I understand the Belmont area has several new establishments opening. Start making calls.

maps.app.goo.gl

Restless Oaks Restaurant · 119 Pine Mountain Rd, McElhattan, PA 17748

★★★★★ · American restaurant
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
 
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DTownlion57

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Nov 1, 2021
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blion72 said:
do you guys have favorite diners for PA, especially central PA?

we are visiting relatives in Iowa City this weekend, and ate at Pullman's Diner (would give it an 8/10, and going to hit Bluebird tomorrow. there was a place we ate in 2004 after BW game in SC that was great but we cannot recall the name. that was a 10/10. we have tickets for Del game and looking forward to one of the home cooking style diners in SC area.
Click to expand...
PA Dinners are OK but more of a Jersey thing. I'm 34 years in PA, 31 in NJ. Speaking from experience.
 
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Nitwit

Nitwit

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DTownlion57 said:
PA Dinners are OK but more of a Jersey thing. I'm 34 years in PA, 31 in NJ. Speaking from experience.
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Ponzio’s, South Jersey’s best-known diner, has a complicated history. The original Ponzio’s, in Brooklawn, opened in 1949. The former Ellisburg Diner, later the Kingsway Diner, became the next Ponzio’s; that diner would be moved to Medford, where it became known as the Medport Diner. That was 1979, when the current Ponzio’s opened. Which brings us, somehow, to the diner’s snapper soup, made with 10-pound snapping turtles, wrapped in cheesecloth and bubbling away in a giant vat. Snapper soup is a South Jersey thing: I’ve yet to find it at any diner north of, say, Jackson. I love the blackened prime rib, and chicken pot pie at Ponzio’s. And I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve stopped to pick up a loaf of their cinnamon bread.
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PSU1969A

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Nov 3, 2021
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Colonial Park Diner outside Harrisburg near the Colonial Park Interchange for I83. Have not been there in 14 years, but it was packed with long lines ala the Waffle Shops in State College.
 
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Fac

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Oct 12, 2021
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Nitwit said:
Ponzio’s, South Jersey’s best-known diner, has a complicated history. The original Ponzio’s, in Brooklawn, opened in 1949. The former Ellisburg Diner, later the Kingsway Diner, became the next Ponzio’s; that diner would be moved to Medford, where it became known as the Medport Diner. That was 1979, when the current Ponzio’s opened. Which brings us, somehow, to the diner’s snapper soup, made with 10-pound snapping turtles, wrapped in cheesecloth and bubbling away in a giant vat. Snapper soup is a South Jersey thing: I’ve yet to find it at any diner north of, say, Jackson. I love the blackened prime rib, and chicken pot pie at Ponzio’s. And I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve stopped to pick up a loaf of their cinnamon bread.
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I don't eat turtle soup, it slows me down.
 
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Mr. Potter

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Oct 18, 2021
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In Northeast Philadelphia you have Tiffanys but I haven't been there in years.
 
Tom_PSU

Tom_PSU

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This is so nostalgic for me. Having spent the last 40 years in the Deep South, diners rare a very commodity here. Being raised in Eastern Pa I loved diners. Most were run by Greek families with everyone part of the crew. They had (and hopefully still do) enormous menus, and you could order anything you wanted night or day. Our local Waffle Houses are the same. As long as you order a waffle, eggs, cheese home fries and Texas Toast.
 
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Woodpecker

Woodpecker

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Nitt1300 said:
used to be, stopped there last year- not so good, and the menu wasn't huge anymore
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I used to stop at the Red Line Diner an exit from there and at the Eveready Diner toward Brewster back when I was on the road. Have they held up?
 
Nitt1300

Nitt1300

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Woodpecker said:
I used to stop at the Red Line Diner an exit from there and at the Eveready Diner toward Brewster back when I was on the road. Have they held up?
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Don't know, but the Roscoe Diner on 17 isn't what it used to be. Finding help seems to be an issue in that business.
The Miss Monticello Diner is still very good.
 
Nitwit

Nitwit

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The Capital Diner on 283 just outside of Harrisburg is pretty good. The portions are enormous and it’s real home cooking with specials that change daily. It’s a good stop when traveling to State College from the Philadelphia area. Some days the specials are chicken with waffles, pot roast, pork and sauerkraut, or stuffed cabbage, and include soup or salad, and two side dishes. I’m getting hungry just writing this.
 
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TiogaLion

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Oct 31, 2021
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Nitwit said:
Ponzio’s, South Jersey’s best-known diner, has a complicated history. The original Ponzio’s, in Brooklawn, opened in 1949. The former Ellisburg Diner, later the Kingsway Diner, became the next Ponzio’s; that diner would be moved to Medford, where it became known as the Medport Diner. That was 1979, when the current Ponzio’s opened. Which brings us, somehow, to the diner’s snapper soup, made with 10-pound snapping turtles, wrapped in cheesecloth and bubbling away in a giant vat. Snapper soup is a South Jersey thing: I’ve yet to find it at any diner north of, say, Jackson. I love the blackened prime rib, and chicken pot pie at Ponzio’s. And I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve stopped to pick up a loaf of their cinnamon bread.
View attachment 364240
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Snapper Soup is really a Philly thing. I used to catch a sell turtles to the All-Star Diner in Langhorne. A large turtle would get me $10 back around 1971-1974. I'd put a trot line in the Neshaminy Creek and leave it out overnight and usually get one or two for my effort. The manager wanted me to bring them in alive or he wouldn't purchase them. I just checked and the All-Star Diner is now some type of crab restaurant. 🤷‍♂️
 
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Mstan85

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Nov 29, 2022
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Not sure what qualifies as a Diner, but prospect Diner near Columbia, PA and Lisa's in Milton are two I like.
 
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dgclover

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DTownlion57 said:
PA Dinners are OK but more of a Jersey thing. I'm 34 years in PA, 31 in NJ. Speaking from experience.
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I've had the same experience, though I only spent the first 18 years of my life in NJ. I've had some bad diner food in PA, unfortunately.
 
Nitwit

Nitwit

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TiogaLion said:
Snapper Soup is really a Philly thing. I used to catch a sell turtles to the All-Star Diner in Langhorne. A large turtle would get me $10 back around 1971-1974. I'd put a trot line in the Neshaminy Creek and leave it out overnight and usually get one or two for my effort. The manager wanted me to bring them in alive or he wouldn't purchase them. I just checked and the All-Star Diner is now some type of crab restaurant. 🤷‍♂️
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Bookbinders in Philadelphia was ledgendary for their snapper soup and you used to be able to buy it in cans in the supermarket. It’s really a Philly thing.
 
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Indian rocks rich

Indian rocks rich

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A2nit said:
Roy Ann Diner in Sellersville, hot turkey sandwich with gravy, gravy on fries. It’s been 25 years, took my Grandparents to lunch to meet my future wife back visiting PA…
Could name 10 or so others from Allentown to Montgomeryville
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What would be the diner near Allentown you are referring to?
 
dshellpsu

dshellpsu

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Nitwit said:
The Capital Diner on 283 just outside of Harrisburg is pretty good. The portions are enormous and it’s real home cooking with specials that change daily. It’s a good stop when traveling to State College from the Philadelphia area. Some days the specials are chicken with waffles, pot roast, pork and sauerkraut, or stuffed cabbage, and include soup or salad, and two side dishes. I’m getting hungry just writing this.
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Good chicken croquettes there too!
 
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nittanyfan333

nittanyfan333

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Oct 6, 2021
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in York, Stoneybrook Diner

In Red lion, Lions pride

In Raleigh, State Farmers Market Restaurant

In Fayetteville, NC, MaryBill's cafe

and @Tom_PSU is spot on about the South. Down here, it's Waffle House or nothing (everything smothered, covered and chunked, FTW). MaryBill's and State Farmers Market are diamonds in the rough.
 
razpsu

razpsu

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I’m surprised that No one said waffle shop on this thread. Wow. That is amazing.
 
S

s1uggo72

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Oct 12, 2021
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nittanyfan333 said:
in York, Stoneybrook Diner

In Red lion, Lions pride

In Raleigh, State Farmers Market Restaurant

In Fayetteville, NC, MaryBill's cafe

and @Tom_PSU is spot on about the South. Down here, it's Waffle House or nothing (everything smothered, covered and chunked, FTW). MaryBill's and State Farmers Market are diamonds in the rough.
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that's not true , you got your Cracker Barrel , got your Bob Evans, got your Shoney's and if you are really lucky got your Tudor's biscuit World.
 
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