For the past 80 years, residents of Delaware County have made the Llanerch Diner their home away from home. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week it is the go-to place for great all-American food.

Over the years, diners have been a staple in this area, places you could rely on for a consistently great cup of coffee, terrific comfort food and delicious desserts. Of those diners the Llanerch stood out as the cream of the crop and for this reason it holds a special place in our hearts.

The menu is expansive and has something for everyone. Breakfast choices include egg platters and omelets complete with home fries and toast for between $3.50 and $11.95, depending on the sides you order with the meal. Selections of breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles and muffins ensures that whatever you’re in the mood for you’ll walk away happy and satisfied.

The sandwich menu is even larger than the breakfast menu. Hot sandwiches such as Sirloin of Beef ($6.75), Steak Sandwiches, Chicken Steaks and Charbroiled Chicken Deluxe are offered. There are 15 specialty sandwiches ranging from $6.95 to $8.95 plus more than a dozen wraps at approximately $6.95.

Trying to watch what you eat? Choose something from Llanerch’s Healthy Choices and Salad platters. Their spinach salad with Cajun-style grilled shrimp definitely caught my eye. Nobody does burgers better – try a Black Angus burger in one of three ways. Regular, which includes cole slaw and pickle; Deluxe, with lettuce, tomato, french fries, cole slaw, pickle and onion rings; or a Twin, which boasts two burgers plus all the fixings you get with a Deluxe.

The dinner menu looks like something from a high-priced gourmet restaurant, but the prices are easy on your pocket. On the night Mark and I were at the Llanerch there were 14 appetizers ranging from $5.75 to $13.95 including a Greek Sampler ($13.95) of moussaka, pastichio, spinach pie, grape leaves and rice pilaf. We ordered the Fried Clams with tartar sauce for $7.95.

A large selection of chef specials included Mihos Salad ($10.95), Stuffed Flounder ($12.95), Chicken Orgeganto ($11.95) and Chicken Francaise ($10.95). I opted for the Broiled Shrimp with Maryland Crabmeat ($17.95) and Mark selected Sauteed Beef Liver with sautéed onions ($10.95).

Both meals came with our choice of soup, a salad and two side dishes. We both selected sautéed carrots and yams. The soups were served first: Seafood Bisque for me and French Onion for Mark. Hot and creamy, the bisque was the perfect comfort food to warm me from the cold weather outside. The French Onion had generous quantities of cheese melted over it and large pieces of onion.

Next came crispy salads with our choice of dressing followed by our main entrees. My shrimp had generous portions of crab and there were not one, but two large pieces of sautéed liver for Mark. I was genuinely surprised when our server brought the heaping bowls of vegetables – never had I seen such large portions. Needless to say we were unable to finish everything in one sitting and were happy to bring home the leftovers, which we had for breakfast the next day.

During our meal we were seated across from the display case which housed the desserts. Although we were full, nothing was going to stop us from trying the tempting cakes. Llanerch is known for their delicious cakes and pies, all of which are available for order. With the holidays upon us, our server suggested ordering at least a week in advance to ensure availability. Some of their specialties include Pumpkin Cheese Cake, Strawberry Short Cake, Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Pie and Chocolate Layer Cake. Pies include Lemon Meringue and various fruit pies. Call The Llanerch at 610-789-6057 to place your order.