Park Place Diner — Restaurant in East Cocalico Township

Park Place Diner is a local gem that strikes the perfect balance between traditional diner classics and creative, satisfying meals. Whether you’re craving breakfast all day, a hearty burger, or a comforting dinner plate, this diner has something for everyone. Here’s a closer look at what makes Park Place Diner worth the visit.

Food: The menu at Park Place Diner is impressively large, offering a wide variety of options that cater to all tastes and appetites. One of the highlights is the Smokehouse Burger—a must-try for burger lovers. This beast of a burger comes loaded with juicy beef, smoked bacon, melted cheddar cheese, crispy onion rings, and a generous drizzle of tangy barbecue sauce. The burger is hearty and packed with flavor, easily one of the best in the area. If you’re a fan of bold, BBQ-inspired flavors, this one’s for you.

For those seeking variety, the Park Place Saver is another popular option. It’s a combo platter that includes a little bit of everything—eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and toast—making it perfect for indecisive diners or those who want to sample several breakfast items in one go. It’s a classic diner breakfast served in a portion large enough to fuel you for the day.

Beyond burgers and breakfast, the diner excels in delivering comforting, home-style meals like their Chicken Parmesan, which is served with a generous side of pasta and garlic bread. The chicken is crispy and well-seasoned, topped with just the right amount of marinara sauce and gooey mozzarella. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, their salad options are fresh and flavorful, like the Greek Salad, which comes loaded with olives, feta, cucumbers, and a tangy dressing that’s perfectly balanced.

Portions at Park Place Diner are nothing short of generous. Whether you're ordering a sandwich, a dinner entrée, or even dessert, you’re sure to get your money’s worth. The desserts, especially the house-made pies and cakes, are a fantastic way to end your meal on a sweet note. Their portions make it easy to share with a friend or take home for later.

Service: The service at Park Place Diner is truly one of its standout features. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and always ready with a smile. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like family. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, the service feels consistently attentive and genuine. They’re great at making personalized recommendations based on your preferences, and they are more than happy to accommodate dietary requests or substitutions.

The waitstaff is also remarkably efficient, ensuring that your food comes out quickly, hot, and exactly as ordered. One notable aspect is how well they manage to keep the diner running smoothly, even during busy times like weekend breakfast or brunch rush. Despite the hustle, they remain attentive to every table, checking in regularly to refill drinks or see if you need anything.

Atmosphere: Park Place Diner has a warm, nostalgic diner feel, with booths and tables spaced out for comfort, giving a sense of coziness without feeling cramped. The décor is classic, with retro touches that remind you of old-school diners, while the overall ambiance is relaxed and inviting. It’s the kind of place where you can easily settle in for a long, leisurely meal with family or pop in for a quick bite. The diner is well-lit, clean, and has a bustling yet comfortable vibe, making it a great spot for everything from casual breakfasts to laid-back dinners with friends.

Overall: Park Place Diner is a standout in all the ways that count. It is worth a trip, but the diverse menu means there’s something for every craving. The portions are large, so you’ll never leave hungry, and the Park Place Saver is a fantastic option if you’re looking for variety at breakfast. The friendly, attentive service and cozy atmosphere only add to the overall experience, making it clear why this diner has so many repeat customers. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Park Place Diner is a place you’ll want to visit...

Alright, folks! Strap in because we’re about to take a ride through the culinary wonderland that is Park Place Diner! If you’re looking for a place that serves food with a side of "who the heck thought this was a good idea?" then you’ve hit the jackpot!

First off, let’s talk about the ambiance. It’s like stepping into a time machine that only goes to the 90s, but if that time machine was powered by coffee and grease. The decor? Think less “chic bistro” and more “grandma’s kitchen, but she forgot to clean.” It’s charmingly chaotic, like my love life!

Now, onto the menu. You’ve got your classic diner fare, which is great, except that it feels like they threw a menu into a blender and hoped for the best. I mean, where else can you order a cheeseburger, a slice of pie, and an entire lasagna all in one meal? It’s like a culinary game of “Would You Rather” but with calories.

Speaking of calories, let’s chat about the portions. They’re massive! Seriously, I had a plate of pancakes that could have doubled as a shield in a superhero battle. You could feed a small village with one of their breakfasts. And don’t get me started on the fries—if you need a new workout routine, just try lifting one of those baskets!

Now, the service! The waitstaff is like a rollercoaster ride; sometimes it’s smooth, and sometimes you’re just hanging on for dear life. They’re friendly enough, but you might feel like you’re in a sitcom where the punchline is “Oops, we forgot your coffee for the third time!”

And let’s not forget the food! It’s comfort food, folks, but it’s the kind of comfort that gives you a hug and then suddenly realizes you’re ticklish. The burgers? Juicy and delicious, but you might need to take a nap afterward. The pie? A dessert experience that could make even the toughest superhero shed a tear. Just don’t ask me about the mystery meat special—I’m still having nightmares.

In conclusion, Park Place Diner is like that quirky friend who always brings the best snacks to the party but occasionally shows up wearing socks with sandals. It’s a delightful mess, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything—except maybe a chimichanga. So if you’re in the area, swing by for a meal that’ll leave you laughing, stuffed, and slightly confused. And remember, folks: Life is too short for bad food!

Agradecimiento especial a los chicos...

Food: How disappointing the food was. The potatoes for home fries, the bacon, I believe they were both from premade frozen bags. Paper thin microwavable bacon and pre seasoned and cooked potatoes. The French toast was flavorless. All you could taste was the cinnamon and sugar caked on top. Doughy and bland. Even the butter was like some kind of shortening or margarine. Tasted off and was clearly meant to be cooked with over being served plain at the table. Coffee was just hot water. To be in an area so full of fresh produce and farm animals, to rely on frozen or premade garbage is inexcusable.

Service: The saving grace of this diner is their staff. Friendly and attentive, they were all so lovely and helpful, it was very pleasant just sitting there even if the food was awful.

Atmosphere: Very standard diner feel. Pastry chest, diner bar, booths and lots of glass. Feels like every diner you've ever been to. Clean and warm if maybe a little over crowded.

This place is just a cost cutting, turn over machine. They just want to make money by turning over high number of tables while sending out uninspired, frozen/premade dribble. As a local, I'll probably never be back, but that's ok with them since they're just preying on people passing by on the highway.

REPLY to OWNER: Unfortunately, even allowing all of that to be true, the fact is that everything we ordered was poor in one way or another. Nothing positive stood out and all the food was rather bland. Now, for the majority of customers in this area, maybe larger portions without as much attention to food quality is preferred but I was expecting better for such a busy and well maintained diner in the area.

I'd love a tour of the kitchen, though. I want to open my own restaurant some day so it's always great to see the inner workings. I doubt I would have much to add of value because I am very much not an expert on any...