The Club Diner is perhaps the most successful in the diners-we-tried-just-for-this-website category, because we have been back four or five times since we first went there in November. There are a few reasons for this: it is close, the food is good, and the decline we are starting to feel about the Phily Diner.

I like this picture, even though it is overexposed.

When we went to the Club Diner in November, they were undergoing renovations on the left wing, and I was a little apprehensive about it, because that is where they seated us. They only had these temporary folding tables and chairs, and to tell you the truth, I was not at all sure that this place was going to prove to be any good. Fortunately I was mistaken.

You can see Zac and Mike's reflections in the middle pane of the glass here - I think mine is to the left, holding up the camera.

Since it was November, the Club Diner (and almost every other diner) was offering Pumpkin Pancakes, and that's what Zac (Mike's brother) ordered. I may be mistaken, but I think these are not actually made with pumpkin, but are just spiced like pumpkin pie, with cinnamon and ginger, etc. Let me know if I am mistaken. Zac is a big fan of the pumpkin pie, and he was also a big fan of the pumpkin pancakes. There was lamenting all around that these were only available for a limited time each year.

Club Diner, renovations complete.

Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera inside for this first expedition, so I don't have any pictures of these mythic pancakes, nor of the chicken caesar wrap, french fries, milkshake, and omelet that Mike and I got, but all of these got the thumbs up. I recall (with the help of my notes) that the service was slow, which might have been due to the renovations.

We started going back to the Club a few months ago, and this time I brought my camera inside. The renovated dining area looks beautiful. I ordered the vodka penne, and Mike got the chicken caesar salad in a tortilla shell. My penne was preceded by a house salad, which was the only disappointing part of the meal - way too much iceburg lettuce and not much else. I also didn't really like their Thousand Island dressing. I think it is homemade, but still it's kind of surprising, since I've never had a problem with that kind of dressing before. I had much better luck later with the Honey Mustard.

Notice the also excellent (according to Mike) banana bread in the background. I don't like banana bread.

Here's the tortilla shell salad, again looking kind of bland in the picture. Maybe I should try taking the picture from above next time.

And here's the vodka penne, which I really enjoyed.

The Club Diner is located just down the Black Horse Pike from the Phily Diner, in Bellmawr. It has the feel of a local favorite; whenever I have been there, it seems that the place is full of regulars. I'm glad their renovations are finished, because the diner's architecture is very striking. I don't know any history about the place, but I will try to find out. It also has a cool sign...

..that lights up all fiery at night. Yay, Club Diner!

The sign alternates flames, and I got this picture with film, so I am glad it turned out lit up. I was trying to time it right. Yay me!

The Club Diner gets