Fishtown Diner — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Dining out has always been a shared joy between my wife and me. We’re big-time diner enthusiasts, and leaving reviews is something I’ve done for years to highlight both exceptional and subpar experiences.

My first visit to this diner was on Saturday, July 5th, during the late-night hours. The service was excellent for that time of night—quick, friendly, and efficient. Our waiter was attentive, the food was accurate, and the check came without delay. It wasn’t the best diner experience I’ve ever had, but it definitely satisfied a late-night craving for waffles.

However, my second visit left a mixed impression.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, who seated us at the first booth nearest to the counter. Unfortunately, the booth’s condition was noticeably worn and uninviting. I politely asked to be seated further in the back where there were clearly other open booths. The hostess declined, explaining that it would disrupt the seating rotation. I found this disappointing—especially as someone who believes guests should be accommodated when reasonable.

We chose instead to sit at the counter to have a quiet business conversation. The service remained polite, and our food was prepared properly. I especially appreciated the waitress not placing the syrup bottle directly on our waffles, which is a detail many overlook. That showed some attention to food presentation.

However, one small request was overlooked—I had asked for lemon on the side with my club soda, but it was dropped directly into the glass. While this might seem like a small thing, I’m particular about this kind of detail. Lemons are often not handled hygienically, and I prefer to squeeze them myself to avoid the rind sitting in my drink. It’s not about being overly picky; it’s about the cleanliness and the principle of following a simple customer request.

Lastly, a gentle note to management: placing items like syrup bottles, butter packets, or utensils directly on top of freshly cooked food isn’t ideal. These items often come from surfaces touched by many hands or exposed to less sanitary conditions—restaurants can have rodents or bugs without guests ever knowing. Attention to this kind of detail really elevates a dining experience.

Overall, the staff was kind and attentive, and the food quality was solid. A few tweaks in seating flexibility and attention to small requests would go a long way in making this spot a go-to...

Fishtown Diner Review

Google Maps leads you right to the front door. Street parking is available (when you can find it), or you can use a nearby shopping plaza a few blocks away and then walk a short distance to the diner. Upon entering, we were greeted by smiling faces, a warm dose of Philadelphia nostalgia, and murals gracing nearly every wall. We were seated in front of a mural featuring the Liberty Bell, a subway train car, a Fishtown bus, the Love Statue, and of course my favorite, the Rocky statue with the art museum in the background. Behind the register, another mural pays homage to local sports legends: the Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers, 76ers, and Phillies, celebrating the city's rich heritage. The diner offers a mix of tables, booths, and counter seating, while the menu boasts plenty of choices at reasonable prices. We arrived at 11:30 AM, and the atmosphere really picks up around noon, so I recommend getting there before 12 if you can.

Now, let’s talk about the food. I enjoyed this experience with my wife and kiddo. My kiddo ordered the cookies and cream milkshake, which was rich and creamy, and he also tried the boston crème short stack pancakes. Although the portion was so large he couldn’t finish them, so come hungry! My wife, who has a gluten allergy, opted for the salmon and grits served with a fruit cup instead of bread. The salmon was cooked to perfection without tasting frozen or dried out, and its flavor was spot on. As for me, I went with the Fishtown omelet, accompanied by home fries and rye toast. When the server asked if I wanted peppers and onions with the home fries, I couldn’t resist when in Rome, right? Overall, the food was fantastic and the dining experience was truly memorable. Shout out to our server, Kat, you...

My group was in walking distance to this place, so we went three days in a row. Food wasn't bad, but wasn't amazing either. My group went Thursday-Sat, and there were three of us. Each day we asked for separate checks before ordering. Thursday and Friday it was fine. On Sat at the end of our meal our waitress brought us one check and hurried away. She seemed irritated the moment we walked in. They were not busy. We bring our check up tot the counter and ask again for it to be split. We are then informed that checks can't be split on the weekends. Of course our waitress didn't disclose that. The poor girl ringing us up tells us she will do it for us since we didn't have cash. She rings up my part, and then the manager rushes over screaming that they don't split checks on the weekend and there's a sign right there. She points at an empty piece of glass where I guess a ghost sign exists. She starts screaming at the worker in front of us, it was really unprofessional. We asked to void the bill and we would figure it out amongst ourselves. They couldn't do that either and insisted we had to pay cash. They kept trying my friends card saying the system wouldn't let them split the meal on weekends and it won't go through. She ended up getting charged 5 times. I've never been treated so rudely or with such disrespect at a restaurant. We told them if they had just informed us when we originally asked we either would have gone somewhere else or figured it out between us. i would avoid this place, rude staff and...