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    Down Home Diner

    3.0 (498 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Down Home Diner Photos

    DOWN HOME DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Down Home Diner

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    Jolanta L.

    Not very high quality Philly cheesesteak, miss some flavors, pretty plain, even the cheese fries. A lot of crowds due to the location, but the food is not very good.

    Beautiful Blueberry Pancakes Platter
    Tawna S.

    This place was packed since it was Fourth of July. Service and food were great! Those blueberry pancakes were bomb and the jar of honey on the table is actually syrup lol.

    Philly cheesesteak and fries.
    John M.

    I stopped at Reading Market on a busy Friday afternoon to do some to grab a quick bite. The place was very crowded and there weren't many tables at the public seating areas, so I decided to give Down Home Dinner a try. The experience was okay overall. The interior is simple, large, and more cafeteria style than a diner. My server was very efficient, but not particularly friendly, but the cheesesteak I had was hearty and delicious. I think the best question whenever you go to a restaurant is, would I go there again? I probably won't.

    Cheeseteak omelette with Biscuit & Jam
    Hayden D.

    Went here after st paddy's day weekend. The food is pretty solid but had some variance in quality. Some items are great but some are a little weird. Although each visit the same food is consistently the same so if you like an item it will always be good. I am always amazed at how fast we are seated but oftentimes feel neglected once we are sat with missing silverware or long waits. Overall a good place to get a solid breakfast or lunch

    Menu
    Jennifer M.

    We had a great breakfast at 10am on a Sunday. The diner was packed but we only had to wait about seven minutes for a table of five. Both servers we interacted with were amazing. We were able to order quickly and receive our orders quickly. Our server was well versed in our gluten free options. I enjoyed my Shrimp and Grits and everyone loved their meals including French toast and scrapple! The diner ambiance was spot on with neon lighting. We've never been to the Reading Terminal and it was a treat.

    Barnyard Platter (bottom) | Crab Cake and Egg Hash (top)
    Chi C.

    Near the eastern exit of Reading Terminal Market sits this diner, where its decor and aesthetic allows you to escape the bustle of the other vendors and into its own nook. I'm a huge fan of diners and was excited to try this for my weekend brunch, but I left feeling desired for a bit more in quality. Prioritizing the positive: Our waitress was kind, patient, and courteous amid the heavy Saturday rush. The diner is open all day, but service was great and carries this rating into the three-star category. Unfortunately, I did feel that the food had room for improvement. My small sausage patty was dry, and the buckwheat-based pancakes could've been softer. However, the biscuit for my partner's dish was delicious, the crab was tasty, and my grits were flavorful. We left with mixed feelings about the food itself, but with positive remarks on the customer service and how the staff sought to treat the many visitors.

    Pro S.

    Of all the places at reading terminal, this is probably the last place to get food. We were up early and walked around Philly for a while and waited for the terminal to open. Most of the shops were barely opening so we grabbed a seat here and had very basic breakfast. They couldn't serve alcohol yet so we couldn't order bloody Mary's

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    Troy L.

    Since I was in Philadelphia, I wanted to try a cheesesteak. I saw that there was a line at Down Home Diner and figured it might be good despite the yelp reviews. I ordered the cheesesteak with American provolone cheese, onions, mayo and tomatoes (recommended by the cashier). The tomatoes were extra and I didn't realize it until I saw extra 0.69 charge on my receipt. The cheesesteak was fine and would've have probably been better without the tomatoes and better with peppers.

    Potato salad
    Paige S.

    Cute inside. Not super crowded and we were able to seat a party of six on the weekend. It's table service not a cafe, so that was nice. Our server was really kind. The food was decent, the biscuits weren't the best I've had but still fluffy, we might've just had a not so great batch. I loved the potato salad though!!

    Cheesy grits. Not really cheesy at all
    Nisha B.

    This location is in the Reading Market Terminal. Right outside of the street door. We had 3 people service our table, and each one kept handing me things over my friends plate. GROSS! I had the Bunk Breakfast. Everything comes ontop of each other. Medium easy eggs. I moved to a second plate. The Thick bacon was good. Pancakes were good.

    a man standing in front of the counter
    Steve H.

    If you're shopping at Reading Terminal Market, this diner is the perfect place to take a break. Grab a hot coffee and enjoy a delicious, hearty breakfast while soaking in the market's lively atmosphere. I highly recommend the scrapple--a true Philly favorite! Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and even better when paired with their apple dipping sauce. It's the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Great food, quick service, and a classic diner feel right in the heart of one of Philly's best spots. A must-visit when you're at the market!

    Philly cheese steak omelette with toast and strawberry fresh jam
    alan w.

    The Philly chew steak omelette is an absolute must. One of the best I have ever had. The food came out quickly and the staff is nice and fast. Especially, Blake, walking fast with tons of plates but keeps an eye on your water. Even filled up my jug! In the market so you can walk it off after and get some juice, ice cream or so many other options! If I was a local I'd be here often. Price is great also!

    Fried flounder, cheese grits, & scrambled eggs.
    Kenny R.

    Had a great experience at Down Home Diner in Philadelphia. The fish & grits were hands down a 10 out of 10--so flavorful and satisfying. Angie was our waitress and she was attentive, friendly, and made the experience even better. Highly recommend this diner, and I'll definitely be returning!

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    4 months ago

    Great pancakes and eggs. Service was fast and friendly. We didn't get the biscuits they sold out.

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    4 months ago

    Cheesesteak sandwich was bland. Not worth nearly 20 bucks. The coke was also flat... not impressed

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    The Wayward

    The Wayward

    4.0
    (179 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I stopped in with 2 friends to escape the rain with a happy hour drink. It was nice to be able to…read moresit at a table for Happy Hour instead of the bar. The restaurant and bar have dark wood with soft lighting. It was a relaxing atmosphere. The host/server was super nice. He brought water over and took our order. He also helped us pick a good cocktail! We each had a different cocktail. All were expertly mixed and very good and also strong! The cocktails were $11 at Happy Hour. We didn't eat but plan on going back to try the food! The Wayward is participating in the 250th cocktail trail. Different hotel have a specialty cocktail celebrating the 250th birthday of the US. The cocktail was a little pricey, but they do donate $2.50 to a charity organization. The same cocktail under a different name was on the happy hour menu.

    The Wayward is a participating bar on The Philadelphia Cocktail Trail in commemoration of America's…read more250th birthday. I've walked by here many times, but yesterday was my first time actually going in. I visited with a fellow Yelp Elite and one of her co-workers for Happy Hour. We were seated at a table near the bar and our server, who was also at the host podium, was Dontay. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. We each opted to get one drink and no food. If you want to get the wind knocked out of you after one drink, this is your spot. The drinks were STRONG. I ordered the Market Street Muse and I could barely taste the limoncello. The vodka and basil were the most prominent flavors. I was feeling good. I'm rating this establishment four stars because the drinks on The Philadelphia Cocktail Trail were essentially existing drinks they had on their current menu but with different names. Same ingredients. I was hoping to see something new or related to America's 250th. Overall, though, the space was very calm and clean and I enjoyed being there. All the menu items sounded great, too. I'll have to pop in here for a bite to eat next time.

    Photos
    The Wayward
    Chicken Tinga Tacos
    Chicken Tinga Tacos
    The Wayward

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    Bud & Marilyn's

    Bud & Marilyn's

    4.2
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    5 stars for Bud and Marilyn's? I recently gave The Love 5 stars for its fried chicken!…read more The Marilyn's Fried Chicken I had this evening was every bit as good! I'm not sure why I waited so long to try the chicken at Bud and Marilyn's, but better late than never! They serve a LARGE 1/2 chicken. I started with the thigh. I was smitten by the first bite. I was told the chicken is soaked in a buttermilk brine for 24-48 hours - dipped in a buttermilk dredge - covered with their 'secret recipe' seasoned flour - and fried in a 'pressure fryer' that cooks the chicken in 12 minutes. It was perfectly fried - so crispy - the texture and seasoning of the exterior coating was incredible. The chicken was tender and juicy - the thigh was the juiciest - I didn't get to try the drumstick as I was too full! I had the thigh and 1/2 the breast. The breast is my favorite and I savored each large delicious piece I broke apart. It's important to pick up the chicken and eat it by hand - I did cut mine in half for a picture - but didn't use a fork to eat it - you lose the 'panache'of the meal. I didn't use the hot sauce served with the chicken - I brought my own bottle of honey and poured it over the chicken and biscuits. It was heavenly! Which brings me to the Biscuits! The dish comes with 2 large fluffy buttermilk biscuits - they were golden brown on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside! They had such a rich, buttery flavor. I took several pieces of chicken and layered them on pieces of biscuit, drizzled with honey! It was truly a 5 star fried chicken and biscuit dinner!

    I've been here a couple times. Loved it. Plenty of options and everything was well made…read more Everything I ate had a hint of decadence without being gross or unhealthy. This is my new go-to for chicken & waffles. Concise, excellent beer selection. And interesting, well-made cocktails. The banana cream pie is one of my favorite desserts anywhere. Staff is friendly. Prices were very reasonable.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    MARILYN'S FRIED CHICKEN
    MARILYN'S FRIED CHICKEN
    Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned
    Talula's Garden

    Talula's Garden

    4.5
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    We enjoyed a wonderful brunch at Talula's Garden today. Our waiter, Kenny, provided exceptional…read moreservice making my daughter's birthday even more special. We sat in the outdoor garden on an unusually pleasant July afternoon (by Philly standards). It was very comfortable, even though the restaurant was full. We enjoyed several of the brunch entrees, to include the salmon eggs Benedict and Huevos Rancheros. The food was fresh, hot and perfectly prepared. Finishing with a sampling of their wonderful desserts made it a perfect meal on a perfect day. Well done and highly recommended!

    Okay so a few of us from work had been saying "we should go there" for like a month and we finally…read moreactually did it. The whole reason was the garden patio and oh my god, yes, absolutely worth it. We picked the right table too, right in the middle of everything. We ordered cocktails, got a bunch of things to share, and just kind of settled in. The scallop and shrimp risotto? My favorite thing we ordered. It sounds like it's going to be super rich and heavy but the pickled vegetables on top balance it out perfectly and I cleared my plate. We also got the biscuits to start and the salted honey butter that comes with them is actually dangerous because you will not stop eating it. We debated ordering another round. The cucumber salad I honestly almost said no to, but it ended up being so refreshing and it went with everything else really well. Glad someone talked me into it.

    Photos
    Inside bar area
    Inside bar area
    Eggs Royale with Smoked Salmon Benedict
    Eggs Royale with Smoked Salmon Benedict
    Cocktails

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    Cocktails
    Time

    Time

    3.8
    (694 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    My sister is local to the area and insisted that our trip to visit her included an evening at Time…read more We arrived on Monday night around 9:30-10 pm. Everyone we interacted with was absolutely wonderful and pleasant, ranging from the team members to our fellow patrons. I had a gin and Sprite to drink and I ordered the burger for some grub. The drink was standard but on the strong side. I enjoyed the burger very much and found the fries to be hot and crispy, just as a good shoestring fry should be. Of course, we enjoyed the live music that swirled around the bar that evening. The band was great and upbeat. I would definitely return!

    I've been to TIME multiple times over the last month alone and have always loved the food, music,…read moreatmosphere, and service, which is exactly why I chose to bring friends visiting from out of town here on a Friday night. Unfortunately, this was by far the worst experience I've had. We had a 7 PM reservation and arrived at 7:15 PM. I acknowledge that we were late and apologized to the host. However, we arrived within the stated grace period. When we checked in, the hostess explained that because we arrived later within the grace period, our 90-minute seating window would still end based on the original reservation time. We acknowledged that and had absolutely no issue with it. What made the experience uncomfortable was how aggressively we were reminded about the time throughout the entire meal. We were reminded at least 5-6 separate times how much time we had left. Comments like "just so you know you have 25 minutes left" and "our next party is coming in 5-10 minutes" made it feel like staff was actively trying to rush us out before our reservation time had even ended. Mind you, we already understood the policy. One reminder would have been enough. Instead, it completely changed the energy of the evening and made us feel unwelcome and pressured to leave. We had originally planned to stay through our reservation and then move to the bar for the live music afterward, but after being repeatedly rushed, we decided to leave entirely and spend the rest of the night elsewhere. The most disappointing part was the interaction with the manager, Eric. Rather than listening or showing any understanding, he immediately became defensive and aggressive. He repeatedly insisted we were "15-20 minutes late," which was simply not true -- we arrived during the stated grace period. The issue was never the policy itself. It was the way we were treated throughout the night. It's unfortunate because this has genuinely been one of my favorite spots in Philly, and I've recommended it to multiple people. But this experience left a really bad impression, especially when bringing guests from out of town.

    Photos
    Live band
    Live band
    Fried Chicken Sandwich w/ Bacon
    Fried Chicken Sandwich w/ Bacon
    Whiskey bar

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    Whiskey bar
    Friday Saturday Sunday

    Friday Saturday Sunday

    4.5
    (424 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$$

    Literally one of the best meals I've ever had!…read more So this is definitely a splurge, it's expensive. But you are getting not only spectacular food, but exquisite service, a gorgeous and intimate environment and a long and lingering meal - they aren't rushing you out here, they want you to rest between courses and have an excellent experience. It's a set prix fix menu that changes regularly of seven courses plus an opening snack and two desserts. Portions are tiny but it adds up and you will not leave hungry! I am a vegetarian and they easily accommodated me with advanced notice. They also offer a wine pairing, which we skipped, but know friends have done it and said it was fabulous (but be forewarned... they give full pours so you will be very tipsy!). We saw some couples sharing a single wine pairing and that seemed like a smart idea. It's very hard to get a reservation- on the first of the month they open up reservations for the following month, and they go fast! It's on the second floor of an old townhouse so there are stairs to climb. The first floor is a bar with first come, first serve seating. At the bar they have a different menu with full sized portions. Can't wait to go back and try that out! Highly, highly recommend and I can't wait for an excuse to go back!

    I was so excited to go to FSS after they won a Michelin star. However, I left disappointed and will…read morelikely not be returning. We got the tasting menu (with the additional lobster snack), and got 3 drinks total. After tax and tip, this meal cost us ~$600 dollars for 2 people. At that price point this should've been the best meal I've ever had in philly - or one of the best in my life tbh. But I was so disappointed in each dish. Almost everything fell flat to my palate. With small bite presentations such as this, I firmly believe that each bite needs to taste like a flavor bomb in my mouth. Instead, it all tasted very 2 dimensional and was severely lacking in some acidity or spice. Didn't even bother taking a picture of all the dishes. I don't believe FSS is on par with other Michelin star meals I've had, especially not at this price point. Overall, don't waste your money at FSS if you want to celebrate an occasion. You're honestly better off going to a starr restaurant and paying less than half the price ‍

    Photos
    Bar Area
    Bar Area
    Shrimp Cocktail
    Shrimp Cocktail
    Snack Course. Tomato tart and scallops

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    Snack Course. Tomato tart and scallops

    Down Home Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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