Everything your mom ever told you about breakfast being the most important meal of the day is confirmed at Morning Glory Diner.
This South Philadelphia corner eatery delightfully combines the atmosphere of a bustling neighborhood diner and a snug country-inn kitchen to create a homey and relaxed environment that is well worth the train or taxi ride from Penn's campus.
"It's not the typical diner look, but it has that feeling of familiarity," said veteran waiter Ray Doskus. "It's laid back, friendly."
The diner is busiest during Weekend Brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, but is relatively quieter during the week.
Opt to sit in front of the cooks at the bar, or sip on a steaming mug of freshly-brewed coffee and read the morning paper at a booth or table.
Fresh and flavorful, everything on the breakfast or lunch menus is worth a try. Customer favorites include the neighborhood frittata ($7.50), pancakes with fruit ($6.50), the pecan waffle ($6) and the Monte Cristo sandwich ($7).
There is also a specials' menu, from which I ordered a prosciutto frittata with layers of baked apples and brie that was so sinfully good I felt guilty not being able to finish it.
Be sure to try a crumbly biscuit spread with one of Morning Glory's homemade jams and drizzle your eggs and potatoes in their original ketchup recipe, cooked in large vats every month in the diner's kitchen.
"People either really love it or really don't," Doskus said.
Take my word for it. You'll never look at a Heinz bottle the same way again.
Open since 1998, Morning Glory has continually been recognized for the quality of its food and service by reviewers such as Best of Philly and Zagat's Review.
The diner makes a concerted effort to support local producers vendors such as the Reading Terminal Market and the Italian Market, and their commitment to fresh ingredients in their dishes shows in their dishes.
So while a trip to Morning Glory certainly isn't as convenient as reaching for a dusty cereal box, your mom will be happier knowing you've had a wholesome - and, indeed, glorious - meal.
