Mayfair Diner (7373 Frankford Avenue, North Philly, 215-624-4447)

by Patrick Coyne

Photography By J Kel

Tucked away from the high volume traffic and crowded sidewalks of Center City is the good food and ample parking of the Mayfair Diner. The Mayfair has been a gem of Northeast Philadelphia since its first incarnation in 1932. The eatery is still going strong and remains a relic of Americana, despite the inevitable modernization. In a world where the “faux-dive” diner serves as a second rate substitution for the American dining car, the Mayfair Diner is an anachronism, and proud of it.

The chrome exterior serves as fair warning to any patron: The Mayfair is equal parts restaurant and time machine. The booths still have individual coat and hat racks, the counter is inviting, and lined with freshly made desserts and even a few of the waitresses and regular customers look as if they’ve been coming to the Mayfair since the first Great Depression.

The menu serves up the standard diner fare: meatloaf, burgers and fries, club sandwiches and breakfast all day. The real treat is the $3 breakfast special which includes two eggs, toast, potatoes and bacon or sausage. It’s a simple, no frills kind of breakfast, and for that price, it’s quite possibly the best deal in the Great Northeast.

The dinner and lunch menu offers a number of great eats without pulling any punches. The cream chip beef served over toast is a hot mess, but it taste much better than it looks. There’s even a dinner special: One entree with soup or salad, pasta, a side, a drink and desert for $10.95, and you must save room for dessert.

The diner offers over 20 classic sweet treats, including homemade chocolate éclairs and a variety of pies, all baked on the premises. Plus, the Mayfair is open 24/7, a true sign of a classic American diner, and a godsend for any late night patron in a city that shuts down after 2 am.

The Mayfair diner seems to pride its self on its simplicity. It’s certainly not a fancy restaurant by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a reflection of the neighborhood that has grown around it and the time in which the business first came to fruition. It’s good food, served by nice people for a fair price without all the superfluous details that can bog down other restaurants. It may be simple but The Mayfair Diner is still a great eatery after 70 years- and that is pretty special.

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