Although I know Silk City had its niche market, I ate there once and hated it.

Although I realize it was one of the filthiest places on the planet, I used to meet a group of friends there once a month for breakfast. This monthly gathering had gone on for decades... long before my time, up until the day they closed. I've eaten more of their eggs bennedict than I can remember. Surprisingly, I never once got sick after eating there.

If I found myself there in the evening, I usually ended up with a chicken cheese steak, and an order of wet fries.

I've noticed that people *love* to gripe about the food there. IMHO, it was typical greasy-spoon food, not unlike any of the other greasy-spoons I've eaten at over the past 30-some-odd years, in various parts of the country. It was what is was, and you got what you paid for... and sometimes, it was exactly what you needed. I liked the place.

__Jason

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i liked the food at Silk.... or at least liked it enough that it was a valid place to go late on the weekends. i guess i rarely went there while it was light out, but for late late night eating it was great. it has been missed.

GOD SAVE THE SILK!!!

My missus and I loved the place for what it was; a hipster joint that was a old schoolin' greasy spoon cafe with loads of atmosphere and all sorts of locals in there. You will deffo not find that kind of rough charm at a sad chain diner. The food was actually good, I mean it is a friggin' diner car people and not a suburban "double T" corporate diner that has tries but fails to recreate the real deal for suburbanites afraid of some grit and personality. Having been to automats and city diners in Chicago as a kid this place had that feel. Bathrooms were 'orrible but people, your not there for the restrooms... if you want fancy loo's hit up El Vez or Morimotos.

I have no idea what Marc from N 3rd will do with it but I hope he saves some of the interior of the diner car side.

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"i live my life in the city"

I don't think I ever felt it was dirty, and I don't think the bathrooms were ever that bad -- of course, I always went in the daylight.

I liked their breakfast foods -- hotcakes, sausage, etc. That was another place you could barely get into after 10 a.m. on the weekends without waiting in line for eons.

The first time I was there was about 12 years ago, in the middle of a weekday. For some reason, my friend and I were the only customers. I still don't know why we were the only ones. I think it was lunchtime.

I hope they don't change it too much. If anything, I hope maybe they make it more neon inside, like neon blue stripes across the entire inside of the diner.

-PA

Word on the street is that it will be different... more "restaurant", less "diner". For instance, I don't think they are planning to be open for breakfast.

__Jason

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the rumor as of a few months ago was no breakfast (at least initially). it would seem crazy to give up those saturday/sunday brunch crowds?
hopefully with the bar being there they will keep the kitchen open late, at least on weekends. i did hear they posted ads and are starting to hire so maybe the reopening is not tooooooo far off?
all the renovations must have killed off the old charm. if there really was enough money in it, i am sure somebody could round up another old diner car and move it. there are a few abandoned ones around Philly. offhand the old Wayne Junction Diner is still physically there. it's a mess and has been closed for maybe 20 years, but it's still sitting there on Wayne Ave. how about that weird Steak and Bagel Train on Broad? i love that thing.

I heard a rumor from a job seeking waitress friend of mine, that in her job search, she saw an add seeking waitress for a new incarnation of Silk City at a different location...That's all the detail I have though.

Edit: Here's the job posting: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ret/264772828.html

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Is this a news report or a trailer for a motion picture?

Silk City definitely isn't moving... curious why she thought that.

__Jason

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I heard that the *new* silk will have a german-style beer garden where the side parking lot is. Has anybody else heard about it? Hmm... litres of dunkle while passing the afternoon away! Maybe it could be a wine garden ala Wurzburg and you get your wine in a coffee mug?

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Teahead215
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