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“We have some people that eat here three times a day,” said Bill Dovas, a Packer Park resident and the manager of his family’s Penrose Diner, 2016 Penrose Ave., a perennial Reader’s Choice winner for best diner. “You know their order before they even sit down.” The anchor of the neighborhood, the diner’s been in business for over 60 years but has lived in the space that used to be a gas station for about 16 years. They redid the outside’s facades about 5 years ago and continue to expand, now capable of seating almost 250 diners at once.
The success of the place, however, is almost entirely because of his staff, Dovas says. “They make it a friendly and inviting place. They feel comfortable here and bring their families and their children here,” Dovas professed.
The busiest days are brunch days, which also tend to tie into Eagles days, a day where plenty of Omelets get ordered, earning them best omelet selection honors in addition to best diner. The No. 1, though, is probably the South Philly Omelet (“Italian sausage, provolone cheese, sweet peppers and onions,” reads the menu). The three-egg omelet selection certainly brings thousands of eggs in weekly and only shells leaving the location.
With the love and devotion Philadelphians have for their diner food, it’s quite an honor to nab the top spot from South Philly readers. And while their massive menu is pretty standard, the Dovas family’s Greek heritage and business partner Manwell Baroody’s Syrian background have included “standard Greek stuff: Baklava, Spanakopita, our Greek salad’s fantastic, Lamb on Sundays,” Dovas lists the diner’s international influences.
He started as a dishwasher at age 15 (“You don’t really have a choice,” he jokes) in his father’s North Jersey diners, isn’t unlike another mainstay at the diner – Sandy McKay. “She’s been here for about 50 years,” Dovas boasts. She started as a waitress and now manages.
“I think it says a lot about us,” Dovas said of their victory, “but it’s also about the way we treat our customers. People take pride in the fact that they have a great diner in their neighborhood.”
Though second and third (Melrose and Oregon, respectively) didn’t really stand a chance, the race was one of the more hotly contested ones. Green Eggs came in a close second for omelet selection, with Sabrina’s finishing third.
Contact Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
2014 Readers’ Choice Awards
Cuisine
Steak ‘Em Up French fries
Philip’s Steaks and Geno’s Steaks (tie) Cheesesteak
PrimoHoagies Hoagie
Lil Nick’s Deli Specialty sandwich
City Pizza Pizza crust
Green Eggs Cafe Brunch menu
Penrose Diner Omelet selection/Diner
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant Date night/BYOB
Ristorante Pesto Italian restaurant
Johnny Chang’s Ethnic restaurant (non-Italian)
Breezy’s Café New restaurant (January 2013 to present)
Stogie Joe’s Tavern Bar menu
Nick Elmi Top chef
Sweet Tooth
Isgro Pastries Cannoli/Bakery
Pop’s Water Ice Gelati
Potito’s Cupcakes
Termini Bros Cookies
People
Jason Douglas DJ
The Business Local band
Bobby Rydell South Philly celebrity
Dana Smith Elementary school teacher
Vikings Mummers Brigade
Carl Arrigale High school coach
Neumann-Goretti High school team
Bryan Hughes Youth/recreation league coach
Nick Foles Philly pro athlete
Places
DiBruno Bros. Italian specialty store
Galdo’s Catering Hall
Ten Pennies Florist
Monti Rago Funeral Home, Inc., Funeral home
Packer Park Neighborhood
Epiphany of Our Lord Church Church
Lombardi’s Prime Meats Butcher shop
TLA Music venue
On the Move
Planet Fitness Gym/health club
DanceAdelphia Ballet program
Barry Playground Community pool
Fitness Works Place to take a Pilates class
And Let’s Not Forget
Bartender Category not on this list
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