The Classic Diner (West Chester)

16 E Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380
(484) 947-0809
Website

Of all of the greasy meals and foods I love, I just don't have all that much love for traditional diners. Mostly, it's because they have shitty coffee. When you couple a basic breakfast platter/sandwich with Folgers, I think to myself, I should've just gone to WAWA. In the same vein, I pretty much hate brunch. It's not the brunch food that I despise, but rather the people who love brunch and the whole circus surrounding it. Also - why is it socially acceptable to drink eight mimosas, or three Bloody Marys AT BRUNCH, but when I order a shot and a beer at breakfast I get the sideways eye? Well, now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about The Classic Diner.

I had eaten bacon from the original Classic Diner in Malvern, but had not actually been there. The bacon is incredible. One day I was cruising around the burbs, butcher shopping, and looking for somewhere to grab food before heading to a party in Pennsport.

Now my love for all things Jewish American knows no bounds. But the Lox and bagel or whitefish and bagel combo takes the throne at breakfast time. Or really anytime. They had one on the menu, and I figured that would be a great starter. It was not cheap at $15, but it was also not small. And Oy Vey, that Lox was worth every penny. Served with a boiled egg topped with Salmon caviar (nice touch), a side salad, capers, caper berries, cukes, red onion, and tomato slices, this was a hell of a platter.

The bagel was nice and chewy, and the tomatoes were in good shape for being so far past season. The crispy cucumber, briny capers, and spicy red onion made every bite the "choose your own adventure" of eating.

These damn boiled eggs were incredibly good. Smooth, silky, with a "pop" of salty liquid in the caviar, I was left thinking about how I was suckered with hard-boiled, deviled eggs for all these years instead of soft boiling the things.

The "classic" eggs Benedict was just that. Fried Canadian bacon (hell yes), a nicely rich yet acidic Hollandaise, perfectly poached eggs, and a toasted buttery muffin. The potatoes were a thing of beauty. Crispy and salty outside, fluffy and hot inside, they were home-fry perfection. Not to mention, the playful olive placement let you make jokes ranging from anatomy to that emoji with the eyes looking to the side...

Look at the rich yolk, and the crispy edges of the ham. Delicious. You would be hard pressed to find a better rendition, and even I can't hate on the brunch here. Also - it is BYOB, so plan accordingly with a bottle of Yukon Jack and a 40 of Bud Ice if you want to keep it classy.

The Classic Diner

352 Lancaster Ave.
Malvern, PA 19355
(610) 725-0515
Website

I don't want to say I'm not a breakfast person, because that would be a lie (a buttery, over-easy fried egg between 2 slices of white with mayo and hot sauce is pretty much the best thing on the planet), but I will say that I'm definitely not a brunch person. I hate going out for late breakfast, standing around for an hour waiting to eat fancy eggs and potatoes and then pay handsomely for something I could have cooked & eaten in 20 minutes for $1 or less. That said, I had a friend visiting from out of town and being the early riser that I am, we were up and ready to head out by 8am on Sunday, so we knew we could beat the mainline crowds at The Classic Diner.

On the way to our seats at the bar (food bar only, no alcoholic bevs here), I was sure to take account of what other diners were having and it was your usual range from eggs benedict to oversized waffles piled high with sugary fruits and syrups. And then I saw a guy with a side of bacon that stopped me dead in my tracks. It was like 6 slices of thick cut, perfectly browned bacon on a regular sized dinner plate and I knew I had to try it.

But then I saw the menu and realized a side of that mouthwatering meat was $6.50. My dining partner wasn't into sharing (the cost, mostly) so I was resigned to saving money and getting 2 eggs over-easy with toast, homefries and bacon built right into the dish for only $11.50, which seemed pretty reasonable to me.

I was glad that I did because it came with 4 hugely thick pieces of deliciously salty slab bacon. I mean, the eggs were fine, the toast was fine, the homefries were good too – especially the smaller ones that crunched nearly all the way through – but like I said earlier, I could do that at home.

My mate was even cheaper than I (we had no idea the 'diner' would be so posh) and seriously ordered a cheese omelet. I mean, there was eggs and a couple of slices of American in there and that's it. I think it cost $7.50 or something. Likely the most basic item on the menu and was in need of some S & P love.

Same well-cooked homefries and toast with a side of jam, not much to say there.

I will also mention that the coffee was pretty delicious, it was fresh ground and not your usual diner-style Folgers or Maxwell House variation. They care about their coffee here.

All in all, it's above my price point, but a nice place for out-of-town visitors, so on my next visit, I'm throwing caution to the wind and going for the full-sized side plate of slab and not sharing it with anyone.

Cafe La Maude

816 North 4th Street
Philadelphia PA 19123
(267) 318-7869
Website

I have ridden past La Maude countless times, but if I am stopping for food on this block, it always ends up being Honey's. I figured it was high time that changed. This place is just a few doors north of the famous corner spot, and you can't miss it.

The façade is really nice, with a great awning and wood framing. According to their site, they "look like Paris, and taste like Beirut."

They had a wide selection of pastries and desserts. Although I was tempted, I was here for some brunch.

It's all about high quality presentation here.

Prices are a bit high, but there is a great ambiance. And the food has a lot of creativity.

Also, the coffee is fantastic.

The benedict was delicious. Their version was served over thin slices of Canadian bacon with a generous smear of Brie, fresh avocado and topped with a bright & citrusy hollandaise.

Not to mention the skewers of fresh fruit...

The eggs were poached to perfection, and served with a side of some nicely crisped potato wedges. Everything on this plate was prepared just right.

I also got the Halloumi press, which consisted of grilled halloumi cheese, roasted tomatoes, green olives, mesclun greens, and pesto served on a French baguette.

While it may not have been the largest sandwich I have eaten, it was among the tastiest. Simple, refreshing, and delicious. There was a level of acidity that made the ingredients come alive, and the crispy toasted bread held everything together nicely.

I have to say, the next time Honey's is too full, I wouldn't think twice about heading down to La Maude. Even if it means a few extra bucks. I actually may be craving that sandwich in the near future and head down that way for a coffee and a sandwich on the sidewalk. Weather pending.