Down Home Diner Reviews

Great food in great prices! All the dishes and plates were delicious especially those with scrambled eggs. Eat there twice on a day. It's very close and convenient to the bus terminal.

This is just across the road from Jefferson Station. Perfect for the travel weary. Ambiance is warm and relaxed, service is good, quick and responsive. Coffee is reasonable (for Melbourne standards) and prices seem reasonable. Planning to come here regularly for my coffee fix when I’m at the nearly Convention Centre.

There are many places to eat at the Reading Terminal Market and this is one of the best. Service was very good and the menu offered local favorites and local ingredients. I had creamed chipped beef on toast. My husband had an interesting bowl with sausage, eggs and gravy. Portions are huge!

I visited the Reading Terminal Market as a tourist with no expectations to eat. However, I can't resist a diner and chose to dine at Down Home Diner. I ordered the Crab Cakes Benny with lava sauce and it was so delicious - both fresh and light! I wish I could start every day with this meal! The server was friendly too which was something I found lacking in Philly. It was much appreciated!

Had breakfast here and found the experience mostly poor. Staff pleasant enough but much of the food leaves something to be desired. Was a very early customer, just after opening and when used bathroom had no toilet paper and no paper towels, and heat dryer not working. Hot chocolatier very watery. Hash served greasy and burnt. Food asked not be served was nevertheless brought to the table. Prices not cheap for what one gets. Corn hoes were, however, quite good.

We walked for a while heading to the Terminal. My daughter was extremely exhausted so the only place with a readily available seat was the Down Home Diner. We sat at the counter and since nobody was really hungry we just ordered a cheese steak and fries so we were "patrons". The Cheesesteak was named "best" like all of them in Philly and it wasn't impressive. The roll was nice, you can tell it was from a bakery but over all, kinda tasted like any other. Mike was a huge help pointing out areas in the Terminal based on our wants, even gave us his own map. If you want simple quick food, make a stop.

Worth the visit for the bacon. Food is great. A nice slice of Americana to sit in the diner with the surrounding noise of busy people in the morning. Food was great.

We were in town for three days and ate breakfast here each morning. Partly that's because the restaurant was only a block from our hotel, and partly it's because the food and service were good. All the dishes (eggs, pancakes, corned beef hash) were good, but I especially liked the baked Virginia ham. It was the real thing, which meant that it was salty, but, hey, isn't that what my cholesterol pills are for? The fresh-squeezed orange juice also was excellent (big glass for $2.99). The bacon was overcooked one day, but fine the next. The fried potatoes were in bigger chunks than I would have liked, but that's why we got a knife and fork.

This is a "diner" type restaurant in the Reading Market. It is the only place open after closing, but go somewhere else. While the veggie burger and cheese-steak weren't bad - they were not all that good either. Pretty bland stuff. I must say the french fries were hot and crispy, but that's not what I went there for. They did not have any chocolate for their cream soda which was a big disappointment. It looked to be really good, but I'll never know.

Diner setting, good diner food. Fast, efficient service. Good coffee. If you're staying downtown, skip the hotel breakfast and stop in here.

Stopped in here on a Friday night. Service was incredibly slow - it was not the server's fault as he was hustling, but they seemed understaffed. We got our own menus because the server was too busy. The time from when we ordered our meal to when it was served was over 45 minutes. The salad was fine, but the pasta was overcooked & dry, and it was cold. Definitely a huge waste of time for mediocre food.

We enjoyed out big breakfast at the Down home Diner. All the food options tasted a bit different to our New England palettes. The hash tasted like it had sausage in it for example, but it all tasted great.

met up with 2 groups of cousins from Colorado & Buffalo at “down home”. delicious Blt, crunchy fries, big burgers & laughs. Waiter funny, patient & helpful. No feuds here. All good!

Had breakfast at Down Home 3 mornings and it was great each time. Plate full of food done in classic diner fashion. Had to work a little for more than 1 cup of coffee on morning, but excellent service otherwise.

Hand breaded crispy chicken sandwich. Grilled cheddar cheese with tomato bisque soup. Brunswick stew. Fresh ground turkey burger melt!! Everything was fresh and delicious. Perfect portion sizes. Busy lunch. Servers were a little stretched but food came in a reasonable time. I’ll be back! Don’t let the crowds scare you away.

Since we were not thrilled with the breakfast at our nearby hotel, we had two breakfasts and one dinner here. The prices are much more reasonable and the food tasty. A diner, mind you, not upscale cuisine. The turkey dinner I had hit the spot and the service was cordial.

Needed breakfast. Funny little cafe, diner, literally a HOLE IN THE WALL inside the Reading Terminal Market. I really enjoyed my simple fare of eggs and home fries. (Side of fruit was fresh cut.)Homemade Cherry jam for the biscuits was a nice treat. Little screw up on our bacon side. Waitress acted reluctant when we questioned how many slices come in a side order. 3 she said. Well 2 were on the third plate, who didn't order bacon. It was confusing. Server did take it off the bill. One order of scrapple friend ordered was not Special like she'd hoped after not having it in years. But, I'd pick this spot again for breakfast.

But good food....had breakfast on a busy Sunday morning. Eggs benedict with crab cake was tasty. It's a diner....and not too pricey.

WE had breakfast at this restaurant , the service was fast since we were at the counter and the portion was adequate but poor service ,no coffee refill note the coffee or tea is $2.99!

We arrived too late to enjoy Reading Terminal Market but thank goodness, the Down Home Diner was open. The atmosphere is authentic and the booths are so cozy. My 14 year old went crazy for the (free!) jukebox loaded with great retro music. He loved his cheesesteak and the fries were straightforward and delicious, the kind of classic fries you can't find many places anywhere. My daughter had a biscuit. I'm guessing that other comments about choosing food carefully are based on experience, and would proceed accordingly. When this place opened, it was a foodie destination-- maybe that's no longer the case (alas I no longer live nearby). But it's solid value and a truly great location and atmosphere. Breakfast all day as well as diner fare. Our waiter was extraordinarily kind, too.

located in the terminal market which is a wonderful collection of small businesses that sell just about everything this is a very nice diner with seating available and great southern cuisine . I really liked the Brunswick stew which has a slight touch of spice. Yummy

We found this place at the back of Reading Terminal Market on day one of our stay, and had breakfast there 4 days straight. It set us up so well that we didn't need lunch even with all the walking afterwards. The waiting staff were terrific and attentive, and patiently talked my wife (who isn't so familiar with US breakfasts) through the menu. Highlights were the French toast with anything, the scrapple bowl, blueberry pancakes with bacon, and the fried/scrambled egg sandwich with fried potatoes. But mostly it was being able to sit in a comfortable booth, safe amongst the sports fans and shopping-trippers, and the hiss of the griddle somewhere in the background.

We wanted to eat at a place in Reading Terminal Market, but we were too early. We walked past the Down Home Diner (on the outer edge of the market) and it looked very inviting - so we went in. Seated straight away. Plenty of choice on the menu. We both had crab cakes with poached eggs and lava hot sauce - delicious. The dish came with potatoes which were only warm so that let it down a bit. Fast friendly service. I would return.

Reviews were great, Loved the place, great friendly helpful staff, fantastic food, ate there twice on our visit. a must to go too.

Terrific diner in the Reading Terminal Market. The food was excellent & the service great. We enjoyed all the selections, which are traditional & also creative. Energetic space, conveniently right inside market entrance.

With seating and table service, this was a welcome sight to take a load off our feet within the busy Reading Terminal market. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the area. Most importantly, the food was really good. It had some nice southern flair, which is often hard to find anywhere in the northeast. The fried catfish was the best restaurant catfish I've had in a long time. Plus, homemade mashed potatoes and collard greens were a hit too. Good size portions as well. If I'm in the area again, I'd definitely go back.

Came here for lunch on a Tuesday around 1:30. Lunch rush was just ending. Small but lots of tables. Food quality, prices and service were all great. Very pleased.

We went here for bfast based on prior reviews and our food was not edible but waitstaff seemed indifferent. Hash was made with sausage vs corned beef and so salty. Some of the sausage was pink and not cooked all the way. Eggs were scrambled but as though they forgot to whip them and served runny. My husband got sausage with biscuits and gravy. Clumps of flour in the heavy white gravy served w a sausage patty so not what he thought it would be. At 2.99 for a coffee he was never once offered a refill in his 6oz cup. Then our $24 breakfast and $5 tip cost us an extra $10 as we were short changed by $10 and didn't realize it till later in the morning.

The food was as advertised. The cheesesteak was made fresh in front of us after we ordered. The beverage size and cost was in line with other vendors in the Reading Terminal Market. This was the first Cheesesteak I had in Philly so I don’t know how it compares but everything about the sandwich was awesome. Choose their Homemade Wiz! You won’t go wrong here.

I would give this cheesesteak number 2 in the city status! Yummy and good prices. FYI The diner can be accessed outside of normal operating hours for the market.

The food was good and although the service started out extremely slow it did get better near the middle. All our food came as ordered and was very good. Probably could have been a 5 if multiple customers hadn’t been waited on before us even though they were seated after us.

I came here twice while in Philadelphia for a conference. I was impressed with the number of locals who also frequented the diner. The staff remembered them and their orders. The staff was friendly and orders came out quickly. The food was delicious. Highly recommend and afterwards you can wander the Readinb Terminal Market.

Friendly staff and great breakfast. Make sure to get the cherry butter for your biscuit- sooo good. Breakfast burrito is BIG- filled up my husband who is a bottomless pit. Make your own omelet was a hit with my 10 year old. Good portions for the price.

At the Filbert St. entrance to Philly's fantastic Reading Terminal, Down Home Diner offers homemade delicious breakfast or sandwiches/limited dinner menu in a relaxing booth & table room sheltered from the hustle of the Market. I recently had a hand-packed burger and their fresh-cut fried potatoes (with a side of fruit) and 200-mile coffee. Can't beat the price (less than $15) and the service is friendly but not intrusive. Coffee jones? Have all you want - just like a roadside joint off I-10.

My companion and I had a late lunch today. I chose this place because it was close to the Bus Terminal and had seats where we could chat. I ordered their Hot Turkey platter which was advertised to come with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. Along with my platter I ordered a fresh brewed glass of iced tea filled with ice and 6 pieces of lemon. The tea arrived with very little ice and one piece of lemon. When I brought this to our waiter he admitted not paying attention to my request. When my order arrived it had two thin slices of turkey, a dollop of stuffing, and a large portion of mashed potatoes that were tepid. I brought this to the attention of our waiter and suggested he communicate my comments to the Chef. The turkey was tasteless and rubbery. Our waiter indicated that the Chef apologized, but not to me. We were billed the listed price on the menu even though I left most of my platter uneaten. Lastly, I informed our waiter that I would be writing a scathing review of my experience with No response. Save yourselves a major disappointment, AVOID this food joint!

We stayed at the Marriott Downtown right across the street from the Market. As in past years, we always stop here for breakfast. Food is always reliable and service is really quick. You might have to wait a little bit for a table but it's usually not that long. Love the decor inside.

My boyfriend and I wanted to visit the food market at the Reading Terminal, however it closed just before we got there. The only place that was opened was the Down Home Dinner, so we ended up eating here. We ordered a tomato bisque, pumpkin soup and pulled pork BBQ sandwich. Soups were OK - nothing spectacular, the sandwich was very POORLY made - cold, white sandwich bread, cold meat, with an OK flavour. We had higher expectations for this place but definitely did not meet them. For $9 I wanted a real pulled pork sandwich with fresh and tasty bread, not what I received. Will not come back nor recommend this place. Better order seamless and get good food deliver to your hotel.

The staff are friendly. The food is great and a good value. I would recommend the cheesesteak sandwich. There is a large seating area if you want to stay and eat or you can sit at the countertop

If you want a simple, diner breakfast, this place hits the spot. Great, non-fancy coffee is nice for a change. I had the biscuits and gravy and they were very good. Friendly wait staff too

I haven't been to the Down Home Family Diner for years but had a chance to have breakfast/brunch there a number of times during a visit to Center City Philadelphia with my daughter and her boyfriend. The scrapple is better than I remembered and the service is good. Fine dining it ain't but for a Philadelphia boy returning home, it was great!

Stopped for breakfast, food was okay. My son had the strawberry French toast. The challah bread was fantastic, but the strawberry sauce was so so… wish there were some fresh strawberries in it. I had the biscuit and gravy. Gravy was a little bland for my liking. I’ve had much better elsewhere. The biscuit was great. Also had some thick cut bacon… it was good, but again, I’ve had better bacon in my life. Next time we are in town I’d pick another one of the restaurants in Reading Terminal to try. This one was just so so.

Had the basic eggs and homefries breakfast, which was very good. But the highlight for me was the biscuit and the homemade cherry jam. Best jam I have ever had - tasted like having a bite of cherry pie. And the biscuit was amazing!

We were looking for a table for 4 to eat at the crowded Reading Terminal Market and the seating in the common areas market was very full. The diner was able to seat is pretty quickly and the food was decent, the service pretty good, and the atmosphere was what you might expect at a market.

Thi is an actual diner within the market, delicious breakfast and very reasonable prices. Well worth the visit~

We were looking for a restaurant still serving breakfast (after 11am) and were told about this place. It was a Friday morning and busy. There was one empty table that hadn't been cleaned yet. It took a few for one of the servers to acknowledge us (even though she looked at us on several occasions and was aware of our presence). After around 5 minutes of waiting a gentleman made it a point to clean the empty table and get us seated. Everything about this meal & experience was eh. The service after being seated was just ok. I ordered buttermilk pancakes and it was the first time in my life I didn't like the taste of pancakes. I've had better pancakes from a box. My friend ordered eggs and toast and also said it was average. I would not eat here again and I certainly would''t recommend it.

Reading Terminal Market has an incredible array of food vendors to choose from for lunch, snack, take home, etc. But if you''re in the mood for breakfast - eggs, bacon and a home made biscuit with strawberry Jam - this hits the spot.

They know how to properly fry an over medium egg. The grits and bacon were good. Get the toast - don't bother with the biscuit if you are as picky about your biscuits as I am. It was a "drop" biscuit and they served it cold.

In town for a conference a couple of weeks ago and this was the first pick of people who were familiar with the area. We had a great breakfast and I only wished I'd made it back for lunch. I had the corned beef hash with over medium eggs. Very different from my other experiences but turned out I loved every bite. Being in vacation mode when she asked if I wanted a short stack how could I resist!?!? I went with the buttermilk version and I'll have to say some of the best pancakes I've had in a while. Just the right thickness and texture. All this with a d cent cup of coffee made my first morning in Philly a great start.

This place left me wanting more or wishing I had other options. I’m not sure what it’s like in peak time, but we arrived about 30 minutes before close. I had the fried chicken salad. I wasn’t impressed. People next to me ordered chocolate pecan pie, and as a Georgia boy, I wanted a slice. But I saw them struggling to cut it with their fork. I asked if they liked it. They said it was tasty but were nervous about their teeth. Needless to say, I passed. The fries were excellent. There is always a bright spot. I’d have to say that this diner won’t make Guy Fieri’s show.

Sandwiches were good. I particularly enjoyed Philly cheesesteak, very flavorful. Turkey plate was awful though, to my taste.

We visited here for breakfast after walking around the market a few days before. We were very pleased with our orders. We pigged out and got a two course breakfast to set us up for the day! My friend had eggs, home fries, toast and fruit and I had the breakfast burrito. We finished with French toast which was delicious - would recommend. Toilets a bit ropey but the main ones in the market hall are fine. Good service and tasty food

This place was great to get away from the crowds in the main area of Reading Terminal. Although it was in the same building, its location hid it and made finding seating super easy. I ate there twice while I was in Philly and both times the staff was great, as was the food. Really recommend.

Thank you Casey for your service, recommendations and conversation. A must eat in the market, before it opens. The country benny was bowl licking good. The side of ham was a great top. The coffee was strong and good. Like Arnold says, I will be back.

We stayed in a hotel around the corner and heard about the market and had to try it out. This place was right near the entrance and we decided to try it out. The server was very pleasant and helpful. The food was really good and the portions were big. Unfortunately it’s only open for breakfast and lunch so make sure you get there before 3pm. We highly recommend this place.

Try the egg and cheese biscuit breakfast sandwich. This is without a doubt an exceptional biscuit. The egg and cheese were also wonderful The decaf coffee was rather weak We will go again

Had two meals here recently. Lunch which was the brisket sandwich and mac and cheese. The mac and cheese came out cold and the brisket was overcooked. Tried breakfast a few days later. Eggs and hash were good but the portion of has was tiny and the toast was cold. We used to love this place but it seems to have slipped. Service was fast and friendly but the kitchen is off from past years.

Nestled in an easy to reach corner of the Reading Terminal Market, this cozy diner is perfect for meeting up with friends and family for breakfast or brunch. Be forewarned that this place is popular and busy. The fare is classic American with a few local twists like cheesesteaks. I went right before noon on a Sunday and was able to snag a table to two within about 5 minutes. We both opted for breakfast menu items. The French Toast was made with a brioche style bread and was airy and light. I saw several other items that I'd like to try. Tip - go early or be prepared to wait at peak meal times.

I had not been to Down Home Diner in a few years and the food is still consistent. I had the Apple French Toast with a homemade sausage patty for breakfast and everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. The French Toast was perfectly caramelized and loaded with a sweet apple compote and was dusted with sugar. The sausage was a freshly made patty by a local purveyor and had a nice sage flavor to it. The whole breakfast was delicious. My brother had a scrapple that he thought was great. The service was very friendly and very quick and the portion sizes and price were very fair. It was a nice breakfast.

Me & my friend we’re limited on time in Philadelphia arriving by bus before going to watch the 76ers. We were disappointed that Reading Terminal Market was closed but on the outside you could still get into this Diner. The waitress was polite and very helpful. Food was very well priced & didn’t take long to come. I had a cheese steak & it was excellent! Well worth a visit!

Crowded place. My corned beef hash was burned so i had to send it back. The biscuits were home made and good. I probably wouldn't go back.

I dine at this diner pretty much every time I’m in Philadelphia!! I have been going here since I was a little tiny facial hairless 8 year old and still go to this day!! I think the pancakes and French toast are so good!! The last time I went was during the February break and I got a very good blt on whole wheat bread!! I thought it was so good!!

A diner in the middle of downtown. The food tastes diner and can be recommended to everyone who loves diner food. Try it, you won't regret it

I went to this restaurant on April 30th at 11:10 am to enjoy a cup of coffee while I completed my assignments for the day. I was seated, brought my cup of coffee, then continued to put my headphones in and work while I let my coffee cool. My waitress Grace then asked me if I would like anything else at the moment. Where I then replied with “Not right now, but I do plan on getting breakfast once I am done with my coffee”. She replied with an okay and left me to do my work. I then placed an order for a cup of hot water for my friend that plays the guitar outside of the establishment. I left my table to bring her the cup of coffee, then returned to my seat being investigated by the staff. I asked Grace and the other employee if there was an issue and received the response of “No, just trying to figure out where you went”. Confused by the response, I sat back down to continue drinking my coffee. A kind waiter then came and refilled my cup. Grace then brought me my receipt at 11:49pm. Confused as to why I would pay this early, I payed per her request. She then proceeded to remove my menu from the table. 5 minutes later I was then approached by Grace who notified me that I then had 5 minutes to finish my coffee before she was going to have to ask me to leave due to how busy the restaurant was. I reminded her that I was going to order food, where she then responded with “really? You’re going to order food?” and dismissed her initial claim by saying “forget it, you can stay”. During this time the surrounding tables were cleared by the working employees. I was then greeted by the owner of the restaurant at 12:20, Jason. Where he notified me that he was going to have to ask me to find somewhere else to sit because of the fast-paced nature of the restaurant and that I was taking too long to finish my coffee. Being that I was a paying customer who had not been in the restaurant for more than an hour, with the intention to still order breakfast, Coffee still hot. I was so confused as to why me- A quiet girl in the back of the restaurant was being asked to leave for drinking my coffee at my pace, while there were multiple tables around me that were present from the duration of the time that I arrived. I replied to his request by stating that if he wants me to leave, he will need to kick me out as his request is unethical and biased. Jason then informed me that I was now trespassing in his restaurant, and then proceeded to call 5 security guards to escort me off of the premises. I, Brianna Cadet, am a senior philosophy major graduating with Honors from Temple University this May with the intention to attend Medical school in 2024. On April 30th, I was kicked out of this establishment for sitting quietly and “taking too long to drink my coffee”. This experience can be defined as an event of racial discrimination and bias, for while the owner has openly admitted that there is no set time limit for how long a Patron can take to enjoy their meal. I was the only table singled out and removed from the premises at that time. Racial bias: a probable cause because the owner of the restaurant assumed that I did not know my rights as a consumer. I could have been a restaurant critic, ceo, but I AM a valued member of the community who is loved and is well-known. I don’t know of any establishment that has had a patron removed by security and accused of trespassing for drinking a coffee, studying, and minding their own business. Therefore, This is a story that will not go unheard as the owner of this establishment has violated my civil rights.

Good home cooked meals. Very reasonable prices. No alcohol. Fresh foods made when you order. Busy at breakfast and lunch. Nice selection on the menu. Creamed corn had a seasoning that over powered the corn flavor.

You can get good and simple food for a small amount of dollar. I got some garlic chicken with Brokkoli and Mac & cheese. Very nice.

Very crowded restaurant, but service was good and everyone was friendly. Nice selection for breakfast- food came fairly quickly and was very good, but not great. Prices were reasonable and much better than at the hotel.

The Down Home Diner served good home-style food with kind of a 50’s diner feel. We had a long delay with our order, which the server apologized profusely for, and a mistake on my husband’s order. The food was good, and it was a little quieter and calmer than in the rest of the market. We had some difficulty with our payment the card had to be tapped instead of swiped, which wasn't working. We ended up having to pay with cash.

Terrible place, incredibly rude waiters. They touch money and food with the same unwashed hand, there's simply no washing hand protocol, people with long hair in the kitchen near food. Gordon Ramsay should visit it.

Six of us ate there for breakfast before wandering around the market. The food is rib sticking, the eggs are cooked just the way you order them, and the potatoes are good but greasy. One does not leave the table hungry. The basic egg dish with sides of bacon and toast are more than enough. Service is good, the place is crowded and it has a diner's atmosphere to fit the name.

Having worked a block away for nearly 20 years, I frequently visited the Reading Terminal Market, but I never ate at one of their long term stalwarts, the Down Home Diner. After a visit to PAFA, my wife and I stopped there and were very pleased with the food. My wife had a chicken salad, which she said was delicious. I had the chicken breast with macaroni and cheese and creamed corn, and it was very good. We may return on our next trek through the market.

Had breakfast at the Down Home Diner. Food was delicious. Our party had the Philly Cheesesteak which was superior to Geno's, the scrambled egg with ham and cheese were outstanding. Highly recommend this place.

It's strange to think you'd want diner food in an absolutely amazing market filled with so many other options for breakfast. But we like visiting diners, so we gave this one a chance. It was good, not great, not bad, but good. The food is greasy and the price is a bit too high for the amount given, but you can actually sit down there. Don't lounge around because there always seems to be a line to get in. With all the other options, I don't know that I'd come back here again purposefully.

We stopped here for breakfast. The food was delicious & filling. Our waitress was very friendly & knowledgeable about the menu. We didn’t need anything else to eat until dinner.

Went here for breakfast, Madison was my waitress, she made sure everything was to my liking and provided superior service, will go again.

Several years ago I wrote on my travel Philly page, to try the Blueberry Pancakes. So when we got to Philly it was a must do. Luckily, the Redding Market is across from the Downtown Marriott, so we headed over one morning for breakfast. I order the Blueberry Pancakes with scrambled eggs and coffee. I did like the pancakes, and they were more than I could eat. while tad heavy for me (prefer.a lighter batter); the blueberries were wonderful, as was the fresh cherry jam which I used on a bit of toast I stole off my husband's plate. Great products representative of PA. My husband ordered an omelet choosing fried onions, roasted peppers and mushrooms. He enjoyed the potatoes and sourdough toast, alight version, not reminding us of CA sourdough but good!

Stopped in after finding out Maggianos had a 2 hour wait the night before the Super Bowl. While the Diner is in Reading Terminal Market it stays open after 6pm when the rest of the Market closes. Breakfast is served all day but we wanted "Diner Food" I had Meatloaf and my companion had Fried Catfish. Meatloaf had large diced onion and green pepper in it and brown gravy. Sides were fresh mashed potatoes and grilled green beans. I've never liked my green beans 'crunchy', coming from the south where beans are simmered with ham for about 2 months until they are grey-green, soft and free of any vitamins. So it's a acquired taste either way. The Catfish was good although there was only one filet. I the south "fried catfish' usually means several pieces. Sides were greens and beans, both a little too spicy for my companion. Waitstaff was fast and friendly but charged us for a drink were didn't order and didnt notice on the bill till the next day, ($2.99 for iced tea ? i guess you have to make money somehow) Place is unremarkable but busy, at least it was during the auto show and pre- Superbowl. If I'm ever back in Philly I'll be trying somewhere else.

Went here for breakfast twice during my stay the Marriott Downtown (just a 90 seconds walk from the main entrance of the Marriott). This place is great as it serves down to earth American breakfast of a great quality (ingredients are fresh and seem to be locally sourced). I would say the only drawback is that they do not serve a granolla/yoghurt breakfast which I like a lot, however the spinach omelette seemed to be a great alternative. Great value for money BTW, a lot cheaper than a hotel breakfast and probably a lot better.

Very courteous service and menu with typical local dishes. Important quantities at the expense of quality. Affordable prices and well-kept local

I want to give kudos because it was the only Reading Terminal Market restaurant that was open on Memorial Day. The rest of it was closed off. The food met expectations for a diner, nothing worse. I came to order takeout. When I asked for a breakfast sandwich with the scrambled eggs "on the side", they accommodated me. Or at least they tried: the cheese ended up mixed/melted in with the egg, outside the sandwich. Culinarily it makes sense to cook it that way, but my daughter wanted the cheese with the bacon and without the egg. But I give them props for trying. My breakfast burrito was pretty good, and was filling enough. My wife and my other daughter seemed to enjoy the French toast. Not a mind-blowing experience, but it fulfilled our need for a breakfast on a holiday. In summary, the food was OK, but they earned my four stars by staying open on a holiday and for good service.

I've eaten here a few times, and its average food at best. The wait-staff is nice, but the food is most likely pre-cooked and simply heated up. The terminal market is where its located and if your in town and want a seat (the terminal is usually packed) , its a good place.

You can't get gluten free pancakes everywhere, so I was pleasantly surprised to see them on the menu. They were a little overdone, but I was still happy to be able to try them.

A sitdown diner in the Reading Terminal Market is a pretty unique thing, and there are also restrooms in this corner nook. The food was good, and service was attentive and quick. I'd go again.

It was ok. Nothing grand, nothing horrible at this little place in Reading Terminal. Our waitress, Jen P, was very nice and took great care of us. I tried scrapple for the first time. It’s made of liver which isn’t my favorite but I like trying new things. The pancakes were good but my husband’s scrambled bowl of eggs, sausage, peppers, and onions left him unhappy. There was little sausage and the peppers tasted pickled. It didn’t set well with him for rest of the day. :(

In reading market, had pretty good Philly cheese steak sandwich for the price, liked it better than Carmen's. One of few places with seating right at restaurant in terminal. Other person had salad that they liked, except dressing not to their liking. Overall, good place to catch your breath & enjoy decent options. Nice server too.

Nestled in the far corner of the Terminal Market is the best diner! The service was excellent, the eggs were hot (that doesn't happen very often!), and the coffee kept coming. All the ingredients for a 5 star review. Down Home Diner will be on our "always visit" list for sure.

I see reviews here are very mixed but have to say three of us went here for breakfast after a concert and we all loved it. We had good service and the food was great. I had the crab and eggs and it was delicious - would love to go back and have it again! Good coffee, good sides (potatoes and pancakes). Hit the spot for us. No complaints.

We did an overnight in Philadelphia and weren't sure where we were going to have breakfast when we realized the Down Home Diner was located at the Reading Terminal Market. What a pleasant surprise! The staff was so friendly and the breakfast, OMG, it was delicious!!! I opted to have a biscuit with breakfast instead of toast and they served it with butter and freshly made cherry jam which was out of this world. I am so happy we stumbled on this spot. I was told that the cheesesteaks were exceptionally good as well but I'll save that for my next trip there. We had the most helpful server, Kaitlynn. I overheard her speaking to the couple in the booth next to us and they were asking her suggestions on where to go and what to do, so when she came over to us to ask how we were doing, we started asking her about some of the places to go and she was so helpful. I love this place and would recommend it to anyone who decides to take a trip to Philly!!!!

I don’t understand why this place isn’t rated higher. The food is all scratch made and delicious. I had some of the best challah French toast I have ever had. The service was friendly and fast. Everyone who works there seemed to be happy to be there.

This is in Reading Terminal so it always our breakfast stop while visiting. Small diner but they pack you in - feed you well, quick, accurate, send you on your way with w full belly and bills still in your pocket. What more can you ask for!

If this was a stand alone place I’m not sure how it would fare. The food was ok but portions were mediocre at best. I would not recommend this place, especially when there are so many other choices. I’m sure they stay busy because they have a sit down place and there are toms of people coming through. But if you are discerning this is not the place for you.

I wanted to grab something quick around 10 AM. I thought it would not be busy at that hour on a Saturday. I was very wrong. The restaurant and the Reading Terminal Market in general were packed. I had to sit at the counter instead of joining the line for a table. The food was the usual comfort type offerings such as French toast---nothing fancy, but good enough.

The Down Home Diner has drifted downward. One can do better in Reading Terminal Market by just browsing. The food is okay, but not as good for comfort food as the typical New Jersey Greek traffic circle diner. $3.49 plus tax and tip for a cup of coffee is only "down home" in Manhattan or London. Hash browns/home fries are undercooked and missing onions, a symptom of an overworked or indifferent cooking staff. Over-medium eggs come out over-easy. >> Service is amateurish. Refills for soda pop must be requested. Someone else's meals show up instead of what we ordered. Above all, there is a fake "down home" feeling. On one hand, the menu is grits and home-made biscuits and jes' folks. On the other hand, you have to pay electronically and your receipt is emailed even though I don't recall giving anyone my email. The email service wants you to open an account with your personal information to unsubscribe. Tip is automatically calculated.

We went to Down Home Diner while at RTM. It’s tucked away and has a decent amount of seating. The staff was friendly. Two of my companions ordered omelets, which didn’t look great, but tasted good. One of us got a breakfast combo, which was okay. The final person got biscuits and jam. The biscuits were very good. What was a total shocker was that the bacon was awful. It had an odd texture and seemed like it had been reheated several times. Not a bad experience, but pretty average.

Food was great and reasonable, had places to sit down in a more private area from the massive market.

Great food and service, place is surprisingly clean. I had eggs and toast but my son had a challah apple french toast that looked amazing. I would go again if in the area.

Near our hotel, one of few places serving sit down breakfast in Reading marketplace. Busy Sunday morning, staff was efficient and friendly. Food pretty good. Loved the thick bacon.

A chicken salad sandwich on stale bread that was falling apart with little to no chicken on it Remarkably bad food, although the server was quite pleasant

We ate breakfast here twice. It was good! First time we ate at counter and service was great. Food came out fast. Table service - not so good. They forgot my meal. (??) Had to ask 3 times for water. So go if there is counter space.

We try to eat at least one breakfast there when we are in town. Very good and I love their scrapple...good ole southern side with eggs. They open at 7 am and is way less expensive than the hotels.

Dinner was boring or maybe my chicken wrap was a poor choice but I tasted the fried chicken salad and it wasn’t much better. They are short staffed at the moment and the poor server is being run ragged! It was nice to find a dinner place open past 6 and close by since the Reading Terminal Market closes so early but the dinner at the diner was nothing special

We ate at the terminal every meal! Great breakfast. Lots of places for seating. We had the eggs, toast, fruit, potatoes.

When my wife and myself are visiting Philly even if we can eat in our hotel we choose to visit the Fabulous Reading Terminal Market and eat breakfast at the Down Home Diner. This past New Years Day and the day after we went in twice. The service is always friendly and very efficient. The Lacas Coffee is hot and strong. The scram bowl of eggs, potatoes, onions, peppers , sausage and cheddar is impressive. Wonderful biscuits, the Corned Beef Hash is obviously homemade and of course the Scrapple is perfect. We’ve had it all here, pancakes, omelets, sausage and gravy. The only item I miss is the corn cakes they used to offer. Great place. We will be back again and again. Thank you.

Two seats at the counter and they were ours. It's Sunday and you have to be prepared to wait or else sit at the counter. The counter is in front of the kitchen which is fun to watch but across the aisle from the restaurant so you are being bumped by passersby...watchbyour purse or personal belongings! At any rate, the wait staff is friendly and the food is fairly good...it's not hard to do good breakfast but go fornthe atmosphere!

I love so much at DHD. The staff is wonderful, the pancakes divine, the coffee good but I ordered the maple syrup ($1.25 addition) for my pancakes and sadly it was not real maple syrup (trust me on this one.) While it was better than the pancake syrup on the table, what I got was some sort of mix that probably include “some” maple syrup but was definitely mixed with something else like Karo. I was disappointed. Pennsylvania makes REAL syrup. Please use it.

We stopped inside the diner at Reading Terminal because it was so crowded elsewhere. I had the chicken salad wrap, it was just OK,. My wife had the greens, she wasn’t that hungry, but it was too spicy for her and had my fruit cup instead. My daughter had the toasted cheese and tomato soup but complained that the bacon was burned. My son had the blueberry pancakes, they were average. My daughter’s boyfriend had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and greens along with Mac and cheese. He said it was just OK. The only thing I can rave about was the service was very good.

Not all dishes at Down Home Diner are created equal, so be wary when you place your order here - what you decide on could monumentally determine your experiance for the better or worse. For example, the grilled cheese sandwich featured barely melted cheese and was cloaked in a thick layer of thoroughly unappetizing grease. Yet the Philly cheese steak ordered by my my accompanying diner was reportedly quite delicious.

Inside the Reading Market, the Down home diner has a wide variety of foods to offer. We chose the orange cranberry and blueberry pancakes. A normal stack is three med-large pancakes, but you can ask for just one or two. We especially like the orange cranberry ones. Clean and friendly place.

We love stopping in for breakfast. The food is fresh and cooked just right. We will continue to return.

One of my obligatory stops when I visit my old home down is for breakfast at the counter at the Down Home diner. I stoped in today after an AM run to Penn Treaty park in Fishtown and refueled. I love the menu. Everything is fresh , well prepared and very reasonable. Lots of locally sourced foods including my local favorite Srapple , eggs and home fries. The service today was excellent , the counter server Andrew took care of a full counter and did a super job , plus he had a great friendly attitude . The place is located in the Reading terminal market which has operated since 1893, great for shopping for fresh food or for dining. The Amish set up shop there over the weekend bringing local foods and baked goods from Lancaster county.

We ordered fried pickles, chili cheese fries, pulled pork sandwich, chicken tender platter with collard greens and yams, and a cheesesteak with Mac and cheese. The food was delicious, as it has been every time we eat at the diner. We were here for lunch on Sunday, around 1:30pm, during the flower show event so it was very busy. Staff did their best and service was quick. One weird thing was our meals arrived about 7 minutes before the appetizers. A random occurrence. Definitely recommend lunch here, we have breakfast here about once a year and never lunch so this was a nice change.

My husband and I came across this place on our last day in Philadelphia. This is the only place that I have found does poached eggs and they were delicious. My husband had a crab and egg breakfast which he said was lovely. Staff friendly, service excellent and good value for money. Just a shame it’s our last day here otherwise we would be visiting again.

Lovely breakfast, I had corned beef hash and my wife had the breakfast burrito. Both were lovely and it’s really reasonable $. Would definitely go back.

After walking around terminal - we came upon a place that we can sit and have a table - ordered the traditional philly steak sandwich and fries - not bad....

Fantastic Food and great service. Be sure to stop in for food like your Grandma cooked...so great that you will think about it for a long time.

We enjoy traditional Diners and we had noted “Down Home” when we strolled around the Reading Market yesterday. They run a typically huge menu, and whilst it was between the busy times when we called, there was a steady flow of customers. The soup and corned beef hash were excellent and well price and we would certainly call again. Thank you to Kristina for looking after us so well and adding to our experience.

Hubby's first time in the east coast was a shocker to him. The food the people the ambiance. Reading terminal is a must, but Sunday on holiday weekend is hard because things aren't open. This place was packed and waiting in line like good children we did... wait. Once we were seated we were offered beverages to get us settled before ordering.Food came quick but refills or attention hard to get after that, but she made effort. Humbly it was good. Diner /fast food sit and eat place. Good breakfast. Good price and good portion. No complaints. The hard thing was watching all the homeless sit directly outside of diner and watch you eat. Broke me heart. I offered food we had to one family, but declined.

Inside of the Reading Terminal Market, this is an easy-to-access restaurant when in downtown. Very good (and popular) spot for breakfast. Any of the meals we had were tasty and the fresh-squeezed orange juice is terrific.

I was able to see the cook while preparing my philly cheese steak,which I really liked. The cheese steak was really tasty and the staff was very nice!

Usually walk right by or through this diner on my way into the Reading Terminal as it is the first shop you come to when you enter the middle of the market across from the train terminal. This time instead of heading to the Amish counter on the other side of the terminal I stopped and read the breakfast menu. The food was varied, sounded good, and very reasonable. I sat in a booth, finding it much more comfortable than sitting at the counter where I usually eat breakfast. Ordered something new - poached eggs on scrapple. Yes, I know what scrapple is, how it is made and how it should be cooked. They certainly did it justice. Nice large piece of scrapple arrived with two perfectly poached eggs on top of it. The yolks spread all over the scrapple and it was delicious. I know it is not for everyone, but if you like those two - try them together and only $6.99. Came with tomato slices and a choice of toast or a biscuit. The largest biscuit I have ever seen at breakfast was served with butter and their own homemade cherry jam. Breakfast was delicious and reasonable. The service was friendly and unhurried but food did not take long to come out. Will certainly eat there again and try some of the other offerings.

Had a great meal at Down Home Diner. I had the 2 eggs/home fries/biscuit platter (and a half-order of French Toast) and my husband had the flounder platter. The biscuits were so delicious. We had really good service from our waiter, Justin.

I was visiting the area solo for the Philadelphia Flower Show at the Convention Center & stopped into the Reading Terminal Market looking for some breakfast. (its right across the street) I picked this diner because there were tables. I didnt want to stand to eat. I got there a little before 11 a.m. which seemed to be a great time. It was busy but they managed to get me a small table. I ordered 2 eggs over medium with bacon and white toast and hot tea with honey. My waitress delivered 2 dishes to me. One had 2 giant pieces of white toast with butter on the side and some kind of small container with a jelly in it. Not sure what kind as I didnt use it. The other plate had my eggs, home fried potatoes, 2 thick slices of bacon and fruit slices. I asked the waitress to take my plate back as my eggs were way undercooked. No big deal. She brought me out a whole new plate and the eggs were done great. My bill came to $12.something. I'm sure the prices are normal for the Philly area. As I was walking out, there was a line approx. 20 deep. so you might have a hard time getting a seat here but the food is worth it.

This afternoon Myself and two friends decided to eat lunch here. We had a very friendly waiter Andrew who was pleasant and attentive. My friend and I had the turkey platter that was delicious. Plenty of food that neither one of us could finish. We would have liked to take the rest home but having to drag the food on the train we decided against doing this. Next time we come back to Philadelphia we definitely will eat here again.

Our breakfast at the diner was rather sad. First of all it was very drafty, so luckily we were seated near the back. Some were not so fortunate as they were near the door or sat as the waitstaff tried to fix old wobbly tables. What they need to do is replace them. After a 30 minute wait our breakfast was served basically cold. The eggs were barely warm and the French toast was cool. They reheated the French toast, but the thick bread and thin syrup was not impressive. I definitely make better at home. Furthermore, I didn't have time to finish my breakfast as we had to leave for an appointment since we waited so long. They need more staff to provide better we vice. There are definitely better places in the Reading Market for breakfast.

In center city Philadelphia on a business conference. Some colleagues and I wandered to the Reading Terminal Market in search of some lunch. Stumbled upon the Down Home Diner. The place has a very casual atmosphere. Kind of find your own seat sit down, and wait for someone to come and take your order. Wait staff is very friendly and courteous. I ordered the breakfast burrito, since they serve breakfast all day long. It was quite good, and the sausage had just the right amount of spice. My friends each ordered something different: one ordered fried chicken, another ordered a chicken sandwich, and I can’t remember what the other person ordered. Everyone had great things to say about their meal. The most remarkable piece of the experience was very highly reasonable price that we paid for our food. I paid less than $10 for my entire lunch. If you’re wandering through the Reading Terminal Market, I highly recommend stopping at the Down Home Diner.

This is a no nonsense and no frills place adjacent to the reading terminal market and open any time you want to eat. Service was friendly and fast. The food was great diner food with some great surprises, like availability of turkey bacon and homemade buttermilk biscuits, which are the best bread option with your eggs. If you like diner food and have to stay in downtown Philly, this is a great find!

My wife and I had been looking forward to having dinner here on Monday August 7; we had a tight time frame, it was close by, looked really good, she was all set for some blueberry pancakes. Walked over there at 6:30 pm, big neon sign outside said it was open, smaller neon sign in the window said "Open", the listed hours said it was open 11am-9pm, we had even asked a waitress there the day before and she assured us it was open weeknights. So we go strolling up to the door...and the door is locked, chairs up on the tables, counters clean and shiny ready for the next day. No note on the door, no sign of any problem--broken water pipe or electrical outage--as to why it wasn't open. Not cool! We scrambled around, found someplace else to eat. But if you are supposed to be open, have neon signs saying you are open, then you should be open. Plain and simple. No sign or notice as to why it wasn't open. Only conclusion I can come to is they just decided to close early. There are a lot of dining options right nearby-not a good way to run a business.

Looking for breakfast before a walking tour we found this place and what a find. Friendly staff, good portions, well priced for value. Husband had the omelette which was huge and I had the blueberry pancakes which was a lot! Couldn’t possibly finish them. Our only issue was the terrible coffee - this is not unique to this place, we just find diner/drip coffee is brown hot water and not to our taste.

This little corner of the Reading Terminal Market is a good place to stop and get some delicious "down home" food without the hustle and bustle of the rest of the market. The food is very good, and the staff is personable.

We went to the Reading terminal hoping to find a place for breakfast and struck gold. This cheeky little diner is tucked away but serves a fantastic breakfast menu with all the typical US breakfast items on it. We’re a family of 4 with two teenage sons and they were both beaten by the size of the pancakes. I had bacon, eggs, home potatoes and this home made biscuit which is basically a fresh scone but delicious all the same. My wife had blueberry pancakes and barely put a dent in them. Coffee was decent although could have done with one more refill (the guy only came around once for the refills which was why I marked it 4/5 stars!) Highly recommend, lovely unassuming place with top food for under $50

The prices are way too high for the amount of food you get. The chicken salad was gross and the cheese steak was nothing great. The friestimated were just ok. Never again

The good news: they’re open early and the biscuit was good. On the other hand, the staff was slow to take my order, but the food came out quickly once I finally ordered. The meal was unimpressive - oily tasting scrambled eggs and fruit was anemic looking (yet the produce section of the market is a few feet away). Overall, meh.

My wife’s breakfast was not good as the over-easy eggs were undercooked. She does not send food back in a restaurant, so she skipped the meal. My smoked salmon omelet was very good as well as the fresh biscuit. I do appreciate they serve a small cup of fresh fruit with the meal. Service was fast and friendly.

Awesome egg cream. Great service by Shojai. Great soup- white bean with veggies. Never had a bad experience Inside reading terminal market Quiet. Good atomlhere

The food is blaaah, the service unattentive, cleanliness leaves to be desired... There's so much else in the area (Dutch Eating Place for instance). I'd never go there again!

We stopped at the Down Home Diner because we were in the mood for a informal sit down dinner. This is the place for that! I had the Pulled Pork, Baked Beans and Cole Slaw and my husband ordered the Short Rib Platter, which came with Mac & Cheese & String Beans ($13.99) and a side order of collard greens. Service was good and the food tasty. They do have a menu listed online at their website.

They also serve lunch. Great place to try scrapple, as we travelers do not have a way to cook in hotel, and may not want to purchase a large block. Basic, done well food. Service was excellent. After the hustle of the market, great place to sit down and order a meal.

This used to be an amazing place--and lines will still suggest it is, at least for breakfast on a weekend. But the quality has slipped, and the service is indifferent at best. Take something basic like scrambled eggs, scrapple, and toast. It comes out fast, but it's done without a lot of attention or thought, served warm, but far from piping hot. Coffee is good, but in a city of fantastic coffee options--especially in Reading with Olde City Coffee just steps away--it could be so much better.

We stopped in here for an early dinner, as things were winding down for the day. But despite the fact that there were few other customers, service was very slow. I had the meatloaf, which was unremarkable, and my wife had the roast turkey platter which she said was nothing special. I can't say anything really bad about the experience, but there wasn't anything remarkable about it either.

Our first trip to Philly and really wanted to try out scrapple and scram. Found this place as open early for breakfast, owing to our jet lag and wasn't disappointed. Lovely unpretentious place in Reading market with all your breakfast favourites and more all freshly cooked to order. I love these places so much more than the regular chain places. Service was spot on too

We went for breakfast and enjoyed our omelettes. The food and service was very good. The homefries were done just the way I like them; flavorful with a little crisp.

Food was good! Loved the scrapple fries. I like crunchy scrapple and this successfully met my expectations. I also had the huervos rancheros which was good too. My husband had the corned beef hash which he enjoyed. Nice to be able to have a sit down breakfast without fighting for a table. Would come back again and try the biscuits and gravy.

I recommend the Tomato Bisque Soup and Grilled Cheese sandwich which has bacon and tomatoes on it. Excellent blending of flavors and perfect for cooler weather. The service is quick, friendly and efficient and the price is right.

I popped into the Reading Terminal Market for lunch. So many options, so little time. Read a few reviews because I wanted a regular, plain old cheesesteak sandwich with provolone cheese. One bite and I found myself in cheesesteak heaven. I had to stop my conversation so I could enjoy my bite of sandwich. My sandwich came with fries and nice service. Stop by and enjoy a good meal.

Had breakfast here and it was what you would expect from a small town diner and it would have been just fine. Being in the Reading Station Market they should really step up their game and I don't think it would take much.

After spending the day walking around Penn's Landing and Historic Philly, our group of 4 headed to the Reading Teminal Market to grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately we were not aware of the closing time of the market, which left us tired and hungry with very limited options in the immediate area and rain looming. The Down Home Market was "right there", so we decided to take a chance. First, the staff is very friendly and the inside is clean. Service is prompt but perhaps the cook was having an off-night as the food was average at best. 2 in our party opted to try the "best cheesesteak in Philly" (per their menu), but let's be honest, with Pat's, Geno's and Tony Luke's in town, this cheesesteak didn't compare, average at best. I had the burger - nice portion and very good. The fries that are included with the meal were extremely over-cooked. My wife ordered the turkey club and, while good, her only objection was she wanted the bread toasted slightly dark, it wasn't toasted at all. With so many options available when the market is open, I can't say with confidence that I'd return.

Come early to get a seat at one of the booths or tables. crab and eggs without the lava spicy sauce - home fries were very good, biscuit sopped up the eggs :) and the crab had a bit of tang. The service was average, food and at atmosphere were good.

Had a decent breakfast here one morning. Pancakes were good, egg portion could have been larger ( no way it was 2 eggs) and bacon was good. Also had an apple biscuit which had a very floury and undercooked taste but was somewhat hidden by the delicious apple topping. The service was ok, server was always in a rush.

We went here every day for breakfast , which set us up for the day. Varied menu and always topped up with coffee and water. The staff were very good and great service.

Love the Down Home Diner. We try to go here every time we are in town. The food is great and the service is fast and friendly. Great place to go if you’re hungry, especially for breakfast.

Great spot for breakfast inside Reading Terminal Market. Service fast and friendly. They have high chairs for little ones. Prices are good and portions generous. If you like scrapple- get it here.

Our second time here and you can’t go wrong. All day breakfast was very good. We had the ham and cheese omelet, scramble bowl with sausage, cheese and onions. Yummy home fries. Toast. Simple breakfast. Down home taste.

Found this while walking around. I always love finding little diners. This one is located in the Reading Terminal Market but it is accessible directly from 12th St. Since I was in Philly, I had to have a Philly Cheesesteak. My server Eliie was great and very friendly, the service was fast too. The food was great and I recommend coming here.

EXTREMELY RACIST. Horrible service from both the waitress named grace and the owner of the establishment. If you are black or person of color, I suggest not eating here.

Reading Terminal was packed and you could not really sit and eat anywhere but here. The wait was not horrible given the crowds at the terminal so we were grateful. Got seated in a booth in the back. I got the chipped beef and we had to sample the scrapple fries since we have never even heard of scrapple and learned that it was a regional specialty. I enjoyed my chipped beef. Lots of flavor and a good portion. I was glad to have tried the scrapple as I like trying the regional foods but it is not something I'd go out of my way to eat again. I wouldn't buy it again but if someone were to make it for me, I'd eat it. All in all, I was grateful for a chance to try a local favorite and this was a good solid meal.

The scramble bowl sounded so good (and it was recommended by our waitress). I skipped the meat (which was included), every bite was delicious! I loved the atmosphere, the seating was comfortable, and the portions were reasonable. It truly felt like a down-home diner and I would eat here again in a heartbeat!

Had burger and fries here which were excellent. Had breakfast the next afternoon but it was just so-so. Eggs were undercooked and so was the bacon, limp, not crisp. Home fries were just ok. Biscuits were very good though.

Reading Terminal Market has so many great choices, but we wanted somewhere to sit and talk over breakfast, and DHD proved to be a great choice. Omelet and potatoes were both as good as expected, and the waitstaff was friendly and generous with coffee. The market can get loud, but this place was quiet enough for easy conversation. It's open for all meals, but I can only rate their breakfast.

Menu, seating, staff are all typical diner food. Familiar and good. I got an omelet, served with a homemade biscuit and fresh tart cherry jam, I'd go back just for that, slathered on everything! Our waiter was such a delight!

Had breakfast on Sunday and we were Seated after a short wait. There was food debris under my table that had to be swept up before I could be seated and a wedge of butter managed to get smeared all along the floor creating even more work for the poor server the place was busy and some of these things happen. The menu is innovative ordering things like crabcakes and eggs which I ordered and home made pork sausage. At best the food was adequate but the one common denominator pointed out by my less than sophisticated dining companion was that the food was simply slapped on the plate. Breakfast potatoes were cold and stale and unremarkable. Sausage patty was juicy and flavorful but greasy. I've always respected and admired owner Jack McDavid but I really think he needs to tweak the Sunday morning crew.

Came here for breakfast on a Wednesday and it was packed. We wound up sitting at the counter in front of the kitchen which was cool. I got the pancakes with bacon and eggs. The pancakes were huge. My mom and grandma also enjoyed their meals. My grandma and I definitely could of shared instead of getting our own pancakes though.

After a rainy day touring the Independence area, we took the subway near here for lunch. It was crowded on a Wednesday afternoon around 1, as you'd expect. Luckily, this diner in Reading Terminal Market has seats for their patrons. Food was above average and service, despite being busy, was good and quick. Tips: They have their own bathroom, but only one so lines can form. Also, they seem to run out of biscuits around lunch but try to score one if you can - they are good!

Good staff and good food. What is not to like? Ingredients are locally sourced and the food prep is spot on. It is my favorite breakfast place in Philly.

I came to the Reading Terminal and the Down Home Diner regularly when I lived in Philadelphia in the late 80's, and am absolutely shocked that this restaurant is still here. Not because they don't deserve to be here, but because so few restaurants last this long! I'm also amazed that their formula for success has remained generally the same...locally sourced ingredients, simple but quality preparation, and friendly service. Breakfast, served all-day, begins every morning even before the market opens. All the classics are here: eggs all ways, meats (bacon, sausage, scrapple) from PA Dutch farms, and house made breads and jams. Not to be missed is either a side of scrapple, or the perfectly-cooked scrapple fries! If you're not from around here, and don't know what scrapple is, don't look it up and don't think too hard about it. If you DO know what it is, forget all preconceived notions you have about scrapple. Just try DHD's version, and it will change your life. The scrapple fries come with homemade apple butter for dipping. Oh my. Lunches and dinners are standard fare diner food, but done very nicely. Any meal you get here will more than just fill you up. You'll leave satisfied.

We ate blueberry pancakes with turkey sausage. The maple turkey sausage was delicious. Order was delivered in about 10 minutes. Service was great!

Great service,staff, and food. Love the location will visit again once I am back in the Philadelphia area.