Wolfes Diner

This place was recommended by our Realtor — Christina Bailey. Good food & great service. The wait staff had a lot of personality making it a fun dining/​breakfast experience.

My experience here at wolfes less than pleasant. My waitress, Deborah dirt was very rude and never came to check up on me. The salad I ordered only came with 2 roaches when I very specifically ordered 4 cock roaches. The atmosphere was not what I expected. From the outside, it looks like fine fancy dining but that’s not the case. Several incest truckers, they called themselves joyel’s. Whatever that means. Were very loud and obnoxious and the music playing, Jfox? I think it was called. Just awful. Will not be returning

Yuck! Their non-​compliant restaurant inspection on 1÷5÷2016 really ought to make a person think twice before dining here because of what’s apparently going on in the back of the house. The details of that public inspection record are as follows:
1. The person in charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-​compliant inspection.
2. Observed one live roach-​like insect on a glue trap in the kitchen area, and two live roach-​like insects in the back prep room.
3. Observed three dead mice in glue traps in the basement area.
4. Observed several fruit fly-​like insects around the potato peeler in the back prep area.
5. Bottles of Windex and air freshener were stored above food equipment in the ware wash area.
6. Observed a wiping cloth hanging from a cook’s apron in the kitchen area.
7. Observed a fly-​strip hanging above a prep area in the kitchen.
8. Observed a phone stored on the prep table next to the bain-​marie.
9. Observed broken door gaskets on the small bain-​marie in the kitchen and on the reach-​in refrigerator in the back prep area.
10. The door on the chest freezer in the basement area is broken and exposing insulation.
11. Observed dried food residue on the blade guard of the deli slicer.
12. Observed dried residue on the blade of the table mounted can opener.
13. Observed a leak underneath the two-​bay sink in the kitchen area.
14. Observed broken and missing floor tiles throughout the kitchen area.

We had high hopes for this classic diner. There aren’t many of these beauties left and it’s always exciting to find one on our travels. We don’t expect fine dining, but are always looking for solid diner food– open-​faced hot sandwiches, Salisbury steak and gravy, turkey and dressing. Food that, at the end of the meal, satisfies belly and soul. And coffee. We like a hot cup of strong coffee. This is what we hoped of Wolfe’s, but sadly, this is not what we found.
The space is small and a cheery waitress whose voice and happy spirit filled the space directed us to seat ourselves. The lone empty booth was a crumb-​filled mess which we promptly brushed aside and our joyful friend quickly brought us menus and place settings. If it wasn’t for her super service, this would be a one-​star review. But she is the star of this place, treating customers like old friends who she is just thrilled to see again.
She brought my husband a cup of their «Maxwell House» coffee, named on the menu as maybe a vestige of times gone by when that brand signaled quality. The watered down brew was piping hot, but had no body, even for such a supposedly deeply roasted bean.
I ordered the Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes (homemade, the menu exclaims), lettuce with bacon dressing and my all-​time favorite: coleslaw. My husband, after much deliberation with their extensive menu, chose the chicken and waffles. Our coleslaw came out first and was followed by my lettuce with dressing. I’m not from this part of the country, but my husband is and I made him taste the salad. The dressing was like a cornstarch slurry made with sugar water with bits of bacon it. I wondered if this was just what bacon dressing is like here. He confirmed that, in fact, it was not. That coleslaw though! O! That coleslaw was wonderful. Finely grated cabbage and carrots in a perfectly balanced creamy sauce. I should have just ordered the coleslaw. Just the coleslaw.
My Salisbury steak arrived with a prepackaged-​just-​add-​water brown gravy covering a tough hamburger steak and canned mushrooms. The mashed potatoes did indeed seem homemade. It wasn’t terrible. I’m not saying it was amazing or maybe even good, but it was palatable enough to make a quick meal of at only $ 6.75. My husband’s chicken and waffles though? That was a mess of an entirely different proportion. Imagine two thin Eggo waffles covered with sliced, roasted chicken and the oddest yellow-​colored goop that you’ve ever seen trying to masquerade as gravy. The waffles were soggy and the meal felt more like salty baby food than a dinner entrée. He sent it back and asked instead for a bowl of ham and bean soup. The soup was okay. It was watery and really had none of the delicious beany flavor for which Central PA’s ham and bean soup is known.
Perhaps we should have stuck with breakfast, but we truly love diner classics and we’re just looking for a diner experience that was not merely a sad replica of a menu from a time before interstates when diners like Wolfe’s lined our country’s highways, drawing in locals and travelers alike who were seeking great meals, hot cups of coffee and good conversation.
We might stop back in for some of their coleslaw and perhaps to give breakfast a chance. But we won’t be ordering dinner here again. We’ll have to look for our diner fix elsewhere. And that’s a bummer because places like Wolfe’s are rare and we want them to succeed.

My favorite place to eat in Dillsburg. Do not let the outside fool you. It is home cooking at great prices. The juke boxes in the table are authentic and yes — they usually are working. One quarter gets you two songs. It is a real diner.

Excellent surprise on the drive home. We stopped for a late lunch. Home made soups the turkey club was great and my fries were wonderful. Service was fast, fun and did an outstanding job. Plus it’s a REAL Diner!!!

Love this place for what it is, and what it isn’t. Get some coffee and eggs and toast for $ 3 (three bucks!) Chat with the friendly staff and local patrons. This place is a time warp, in a good way. I remember it from when I was a kid in the 70’s. South Mountain and Wolfe’s Diner… Welcome to beautiful Cumberland Valley in Central PA.

Came here Saturday morning for breakfast. Cute 50’s style diner. Were there at a busy time with just2 waitresses. It took a while to get noticed, give our order and then finally get coffee. The eggs, toast, and potatoes were 1.89 and good. Fine place for breakfast. If you are tall the booths are cramped so beware.

Complete disappointment. Came here because diners usually have great homemade pies. These all came out of a box. Nasty. What a rip off for a slice of mass produced, frozen stuff I can buy at grocery store. Ugh. I only give them two stars because they make a good dive diner breakfast.

Meatloaf very tasty, turkey gravy was great and the portion was HUGE!
The shakes are also worth trying!
Overall good food and good attentive service from Shelly

Not the sort of place you might usually go into without a Unilocal recommendation to draw you here. You’ll try it for the nostalgia, you’ll come back for the decent basic food and the more than decent prices.
My test of a good old fashioned diner is a cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milkshake. I was not disappointed. Although not the gourmet burger you might find at that place up the road, it reminded me of the burgers my mother used to fix, complete with lettuce and tomato. The fries were hot and the milkshake just right.
The waitresses are very friendly and attentive and remember the regular’s orders when they walk in the door. I might consider becoming a breakfast regular or a pie and coffee regular if it were on my daily route. I will come again on a different day at a different time to try something else from the menu. I agree with a previous Unilocaler; support these local pieces of history before they are all gone.
Now, to see what is showing at the Drive-​In Theater across the road…

I have no clue what the reviewer did not like about this place. Wolfes is not a place that I frequent a lot because it is sort of out of the way. I live north of Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg is just not my route. I remember when I ate there over 20 years ago. I just came to America, being used to its cousine I did not expect to see «white» gravy on a roasted Turkey dinner. I thought «eek» but the moment I digged into it it was truly good. We go to Mt. Olivet Church camp so there is more than opportunity to stop at Wolfes. I ate three meals during Boy Scout camp this year because I missed out on some of their meals. Every time it was great. Not fancy but good tasting food. Wolfes I recommend anytime.

Food was fantastic, very homemade and fresh. Service was friendly and prices were very inexpensive. We’ll be back

Where. To. Begin.
Call me a jerk, but I don’t get the hype. On very few occasions have I been led astray by Unilocalers, but this was one of them. This was the kind of place that looked clean, but felt dirty.
We landed here after being at Ashcombe’s and well there are very limited options for dining in the area and we were starving. After reading all the positive Unilocal reviews we actually left the bar area at TJ Rockwells to come here. Big mistake.
I guess I was expecting was «Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives.» You know… awesome food even if it isn’t prettiest place. What I got was 80s TV dinner.
After stewing over the menu of comfort food dinners, we both opted for the turkey dinner with «homemade» mashed potatoes, filling/​stuffing and a veggie. This is not something I would eat on any other day of the year than Thanksgiving, but it felt right given the setting and choices.
The meal came out. I tried to remain positive despite becomingly increasingly unsettled by my choice of place and meal. The gravy was practically fluorescent yellow and there was a pool of it on top of the relatively dry turkey. The popular «homemade» mashed potatoes tasted like they were «homemade» from a box. And the stuffing! It was literally torn up pieces of white bread (that I’m certain were never baked) with a few shakes a dried parsley doused with the glowing gravy. Green beans… they were from a can. As we choked down our food we saw another couple come in and look around warily before they scurried out the door.
Sure the service was fast. The waitress was nice-​ish. That’s about all I can say.
I’m really perplexed by all the positive reviews. I would not go back.

Pleasantly surprised with this little diner. I personally only dine at diners when no other options are available, but the atmosphere here was such a throwback! I don’t think it’s been updated since the 50s.
Normal diner breakfast items and such, big portions and cheap prices. If you like a good diner, check out Wolfes!

We may a pit stop at this retro diner on the way to visit my brother. Chicken and Waffles Dinner w/​2 sides and a dinner role for under $ 8.00. The kids split a Burger Royal w/​fries and we also had a small ham & bean soup.
Chicken was moist and tender. Waffles and gravy just right. Peas were army green, but kind of expected it with the whole diner throw-​back thing going on.
Service was attentive. Desserts looked good, but we didn’t get any as we were in a hurry to get back on the road.
Loved the sign that says «$ 5.00 charge for Whining»
Jukeboxes provide atmosphere, but they are «out of order».
The total bill came to $ 13.65 before tip.
Rachel Ray would be proud!!!

Great place! A friend and me stopped in on our way back to Virginia. We both tried their Pa Dutch Pot Pie and glad we did. I highly reccomend you try it.

If you like diners and homemade food at diners, try this place. This is my go-​to place for Turkey Clubs. The turkey they used is carved turkey (the same stuff they use for the turkey dinner) and it’s all fresh.
My husband loves the pancakes (I hate pancakes). Fluffy and huge. I’m a fan of the breakfast special. They cook eggs properly. The service is good. The Saints R. review seems completely off to me. I find the service pleasant, helpful, and kind. I haven’t seen anything I’d consider unsanitary. This place really is clean!!!

This place is great! Fast, friendly, authentic diner service. The food was good, the price was right, and there are some superb food options here. Ask what’s home made (most of it) and what they recommend. The prices for all of the lunch specials just can’t be beat.
I got a staple menu item which was the Wolf Burger…¼ lb. cheese burger with onion rings for $ 3.50. That’s a good deal. Next time I’ll add bacon to it, though.
Also had some of their home made soup (chicken and rice) which was very good. Can’t beat a bowl of home made soup from a diner and as I already said, the service was extremely fast.
Keep patronizing these places or we’ll continue to get overrun by fast food chains. Wolfes Diner is a classic! This is a local place where they know everybody’s name and the regulars don’t have to look at the menu.
CASH ONLY, though, so stop at an ATM first.

This is a truly authentic diner. It is owned by a wonderful Greek family who will treat you as one of their own if you are kind, but if you are rude, will not take your guff, nor should they!
The food is fresh and mostly homemade, the regulars in there are like one big happy family, and you will be hard-​pressed to find such amazing value for money ANYWHERE!
Try it on a Friday night around 7:30 for the best service and full experience, and DO NOT MISS the homemade tztasiki (garlic yogurt) sauce. To die for!