Old-School & Throwback Restaurants in Delco

There are plenty of exciting new restaurants opening all over Delaware County, but sometimes there’s nothing more comforting than a place that hasn’t changed much in decades. The kind of place your grandparents might have been regulars at back in their day, where the menu is simple and the service is homey. 

 

Though food establishments come and go, we’re lucky that a handful of Delco favorites have stood the test of time, feeding generations of locals, often without much fuss or fanfare. They’re the kinds of places that longtime residents get nostalgic about, and newcomers are thrilled to discover. From burgers and hot dogs to diner breakfasts, seafood and ice cream, here are a few of our favorite old-school hidden gems in Delco.

 

 

The original Jimmy John’s Pipin’ Hot Sandwiches has been serving frankfurters on Wilmington Pike since 1940. The roadside landmark is famous for its natural-casing Special Frankfurter, which you can load up with a variety of self-serve toppings, plus burgers, breakfast sandwiches, fries and other classic drive-in-style fare. There’s also a particularly charming bit of old-school Americana inside: Kids can watch the electric trains chug along a track above their heads while they eat. The business is still locally owned and operated; its current owner has been working there since 1974.

1507 Wilmington Pike, West Chester; (610) 459-3083.

 

Delco’s has plenty of great diners and Llanerch Diner is one of its most iconic. This Upper Darby institution has been a local gathering place for generations, with an enormous menu covering everything from pancakes and omelets to seafood and hearty dinner entrees. It’s also famously one of the locations featured in the film Silver Linings Playbook, but the diner was a Delco mainstay long before Bradley Cooper came calling. And because it’s still open 24 hours, you can stop in any time for a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and some good old-fashioned people watching.

95 E. Township Line Rd., Upper Darby; (610) 789-6057.

 

 

Pinocchio’s Restaurant & Beer Garden has been a Media go-to for decades—it just celebrated its 70th anniversary last year! It opened as a pizza and taco shop in 1955, and three generations later, it remains a family-owned neighborhood favorite. The menu has expanded considerably since those early days, with pizza, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, burgers, wings and more, plus an impressive craft beer selection. The popular outdoor beer garden is one of the best places around to soak up the sun while sipping a local IPA. But, for a true throwback experience, grab a table inside, order a pie and a basket of curly fries, and enjoy one of Media’s most enduring restaurant traditions.

131 E. Baltimore Ave., Media; (610) 566-7767.

 

 

Stepping inside The Original Clam Tavern feels like you’ve traveled back in time in the best possible way. The wood-paneled walls, nautical decor and real fish tanks give this Clifton Heights seafood institution a distinctly old-school, fish-house feel. While the menu is packed with classic seafood favorites, the baked clams, chowder, crab cakes and seafood pastas are standouts. Whatever you order, pair it with a cocktail from the bar menu; it will come with a small cocktail shaker so you can refresh your drink (an amazing old-school touch!). Clam Tavern is dinner-only, and reservations are recommended.

339 E. Broadway Ave., Clifton Heights; (610) 623-9537.

 

 

R. Weinrich German Bakery has been operating in Newtown Square since 1961—it’s our own little piece of old-world baking history. This family-operated bakery specializes in traditional German-style sweets and pastries, including cakes, cookies, pies, doughnuts and cinnamon buns. It’s particularly beloved for its European-style breads, seasonal specialities (such as pfeffernusse cookies at Christmas, and hot cross buns at Easter) and specialty cakes. Whether you’re picking up a treat for a celebration, or just need an excellent pastry with your morning coffee, this is a bakery worth seeking out.

3545 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square; (610) 356-9918.

 

Zac’s Burgers may have several locations now, but its roots are firmly planted in Delco. The family-operated business got its start in Crum Lynne in 1984 and has since expanded to locations in Aston and Folsom, as well as a stand in Section 124 at Lincoln Financial Field (go Birds!). Zac’s offerings are reassuringly familiar: made-to-order smash burgers, hot dogs, wings, fries, shakes and other classic fast-food favorites. Locals love Zac’s double burger with cheese with a side of crispy fries and an extra-thick milkshake.

1301 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom; (610) 532-6766; 3600 Concord Rd., Aston; (610) 485-8511; 1505 Chester Pike, Crum Lynne; (610) 833-2233.

 

Delco is blessed with a second stellar old-school burger joint: Charlie’s Hamburgers. This Folsom icon has been serving throwback burgers since 1935, and the menu is still wonderfully straightforward. The beef is freshly ground and the patties are made in-house daily, then served on toasted buns. The Charlie’s Special is a burger in its purest form: yellow cheese, fried onions, tomatoes and pickles. Fries, onion rings, hot dogs, chicken fingers and handspun milkshakes made with Pott’s ice cream round out the no-nonsense menu.

237 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom; (610) 461-4228.

 

Since 1940, Dairy Cottage has been a Springfield fixture, and the quaint building still carries a lot of its original character, including a working fireplace! These days, this family-friendly restaurant serves a full menu spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. They make a mean cheesesteak, great pizza and stromboli, solid hoagies and offer plenty of ice cream treats to top off your meal. The malted milkshakes and towering sundaes are especially popular.

328 W. Woodland Ave., Springfield; (610) 328-4875.

 

 

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Want to know more about everything Delco? We’re more than just your source for good eats — we’re your source for where to stay, what to do and more in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We’re Visit Delco, PA. They say we’re A LOT…and they’re right! Contact us at (610) 565-3679, by email or online.

– Emily Kovach

 

Featured photo courtesy of Zac’s Burgers