Down Home Diner at the Reading Terminal Market
‘Fresh Home Cooking Farm Style’
Down Home Diner is located in the Reading Terminal Market on the corner of 12th and Filbert Streets, directly across from the Market East Station. Jack McDavid, the owner and Chef, opened the diner in 1987, and it has become a hit ever since.
The Down Home Diner Experience & Atmosphere
The diner’s appearance dates back to 1955. You can sit at the counter or in the comfortable booths in the dining area. Plenty of chrome trim gives it that genuine diner feel and look.
Chef Jack McDavid’s basic concept at Down Home Diner is home-grown food. Jack grew up on a farm and believes in fresh foods and supporting local farmers.
Ninety-five percent of the food comes from the Reading Terminal Market, from which comes the local farmers. Chef McDavid is a classical trained chef who brings you his authentic home cooking with a Southern twist.
Some of the diner’s products come from meat preparers such as Haltemans, Godshalls, and sometimes Martins for the sausage. How fresh are we talking about? So fresh to where the hamburger is delivered once or twice daily, and ground up. The diner only uses fresh foods. Some foods are soups, salads, bacon, scrapple, sausage, barbecue, eggs, fried chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and pulled pork.
I was greeted by shift manager Sherry Ryan, who made me feel at home. I had the Sawmill Gravy Buttermilk biscuit, which was topped with country sausage gravy, a sausage patty, and your choice of stewed apples or home fries. Of course, I chose the home fries, which had an excellent flavor. I also ordered the scrambled eggs. Jack even gave me some fresh cherries, which melted in my mouth. Overall, the meal was very good, and everyone was very friendly.
The Down Home Diner at the Reading Terminal Market is one diner that you don’t want to miss. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can have breakfast at any time of the day. There can be long lines during the weekend, but for good reason. And don’t be surprised if a waitress might address you as “hon.” Just bringing you that southern hospitality, with good food and company.
Down Home Diner Extras
- Seats 10 at the counter
- Seats approximately 90 in the dining section
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Location
51 N 12th St | corner of 12th & Filbert Streets in the Reading Terminal Market | View Map – Click Here (hover over map w/cursor)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hours
Monday – Saturday | 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday | 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Phone
(215) 627-1955
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