It's a sad fact that University City lacks a real diner. Philly Diner only succeeds because it has a monopoly on Penn's campus, and the Triangle Diner is not even worthy of the honorable name "diner". If a real diner is what you're yearning for, leaving campus is your only option. Midtown IV on 20th and Chestnut is a perfect place to travel the morning after a long night of imbibing. Walking through the front door, you might feel like Marty McFly from Back to the Future, but not in the gimmicky way that Triangle Diner has opted for. The decor is from a previous era -- somewhere between the '50s and '70s -- not some retro gear bought at IKEA. Wood paneling, funky lights and old-school booths make this place immediately like home. The waitstaff encourages this aura, from the old man who pretends to be the "host" and points you to a table from his post at the front door to the friendly younger waitresses who chat pleasantly with you and each other while they bustle around. The open atmosphere includes smoke, since there's only a three-foot high wooden barrier separating the non-smoking from the smoking section. However, if you're there after a night of drinking and being saturated with carcinogens already, even non-smokers won't be bothered.
The food at Midtown IV will quickly put a satisfied smile on your face and ease your pounding head. It's good, inexpensive and comes in huge portions. If you can't find something you're hungry for on the menu, you're a picky bastard and you probably shouldn't venture outside anyway. They serve breakfast all day, but that's the just the start of their offerings. They have tons of dinners, desserts, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, Mediterranean dishes and lighter fare options. Highlights include the milkshakes, cinnamon buns and their larger-than-life hoagies. If you give it a try, Midtown IV could become your favorite hangover cure faster than you can say 'coffee.'
Midtown IV
2013 Chestnut St.
(215) 567-3142
