Dottie’s Dinette

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Last month, when I was reminiscing about restaurants I loved when I was a girl, I omitted a few that need a mention.

Horn & Hardart was one of my favorite places. The automat was a wonder for small children, but these restaurants also offered sit-down waitress service. The food for breakfast, lunch or dinner was simple, tasty and wholesome.

The Howard Johnson chain dotted America. It was known for its fried clams, dinners, sandwiches and ice cream. We always ate breakfast at a Howard Johnson when we traveled by car. Eggs, bacon and toasted cornmeal cakes was my usual order. Like Horn & Hardart, Howard Johnson offered simple, tasty, wholesome food.

Customers will find this on the bill of fare at Dottie’s Dinette, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant on North Delaware Avenue just across the street from SugarHouse Casino. The decor is a throwback to the 1950s with its long counter, large clock on the wall and the stainless steel seats that are covered in bright and shiny shades of red or blue.

Strong and piping hot mugs of Green Street Coffee ($1.85) warmed us up on a cold morning. The headquarters for Green Street Coffee is located in South Philly, and I believe people can purchase it in some markets.

Our waiter told me Dottie’s pancakes ($2 each) are large, so two would be ample for me. He was right. These are homemade and do not resemble anything, in taste and appearance, one would get from a mix. They were so hot that I almost burned my finger holding one up when I slathered them with rich, soft butter. Real honest-to-goodness maple syrup from Lancaster County added the right touch of natural sweetness to these hot cakes. It was poured into a cruet, so when I added it to my pancakes, it drizzled out into a small stream. This was a nice touch.

Dottie’s has two types of bacon — turkey maple or pork from Benton’s ($3). Benton’s pork products are popping up on restaurant menus. I have tasted their ham, and it was uncommonly good. Their bacon meets my standards — crisp and free of grease.

A make-your-own omelette ($9) is also on offer. The cheese omelette was folded over almost like a blintze. It was golden on the outside and creamy on the inside. Sometimes I like a plain omelette prepared with American cheese. Most restaurants offer oven-roasted potatoes with eggs. Dottie’s offers old-fashioned hash browns. They are shredded and sautéed almost like a potato pancake. A wisp of salt was all that was needed. I also liked the rye toast because it was Jewish rye with a nice, hard crust. I have become a scrapple lover. Most people do not want to know what goes into the making of this Pennsylvania Dutch staple. It is pig’s liver, leftover parts of the pig and oats. It is highly seasoned, formed into a log and sliced thin before it is fried. Dottie’s version ($3) was done just right.

A woman, who may have been the owner, told us about the restaurant’s name.

“I think everyone has an Aunt Dottie in their family,” she said with a smile. She also told us she wants to get small jukeboxes for the tables.

I plan on making a return visit to try the Cobb salad or a burger, fries and a milkshake.

There are times when I do not want a froufrou fancy breakfast or brunch. Simple, tasty wholesome food fills the bill nicely at Dottie’s Dinette.

Three tips of the toque to this pleasant location. 

Dottie’s Dinette

1080 N. Delaware Ave.
267-457-2431
dottiesdinette.com

Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.

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