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Whether serving the morning rush or catering to late night patrons, Penrose Diner, 2016 Penrose Ave., continues to be a favorite among South Philly residents, and it shows through the streak of Readers’ Choice Awards the establishment has earned since 2006. Its award-winning menu ranges from classic diner fare like club sandwiches and burgers to more up-scale offerings such as surf and turf and stuffed manicotti parmesan.
While the Packer Park-situated eatery sports diverse dishes, the classics still prevail with an assortment of special three-egg omelets like the western, farmers and the aptly named South Philly omelet. For the customers’ enjoyment, breakfast foods are also available all day and when Penrose is operating 24 hours a day on weekends, few things are more appealing than a well-made omelet and home fries close to dawn.
To have Penrose’s longevity though, a restaurant must have more than just good breakfast, and South Philly residents and visitors continue to rave about the lunch and dinner menus. The crock of French onion soup is a diner staple.
Amassing the following that the location has won takes consistently good food and dedicated employees, which manager Bill Dovas acknowledged by saying “We pay a lot of attention to staying on top of our game, continuously giving good quality food, good service, a clean atmosphere and a friendly atmosphere.”
Though exquisite cuisine sets a restaurant apart, it does not overshadow exceptional employees who create a family-like feeling for complete strangers and regulars alike.
“(Our success) is largely due to our staff,” Dovas said. “You hear the customers coming in talking about how inviting they are and how friendly they are, and I think that is a true testament to why we have stayed on top.”
The Oregon Diner ordered a second-place finish, while The Melrose accepted a third-place gratuity.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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