Penny Ann’s Café is the neighborhood diner/cafe that TV shows are made from. Not only does Penny always know your name, the food is scratch-made, delivered with love and kindness and the prices are downright cheap.
And given the frequency that I visit Penny Ann’s, it will come as no surprise that it’s one of my favorites—and I haven’t even been there for breakfast—yet! But it’s a mainstay in my lunch rotation and I adore Penny and her family so much, it’s a pleasure to visit every time.
I love Penny Ann’s grilled Reuben ($.6.99) enough that I featured it as one of my favorite cheap eats in The Salt Lake Tribune this fall. This baby is loaded with thinly sliced corned beef, juicy sauerkraut, and melted Swiss cheese. Although I hold the Thousand Island dressing on mine, it is a traditional staple as is the two slices of marbled rye bread. For an extra $2.49, get the Penny Saver Combo with a choice of chips, fries, soup, coleslaw, or a garden or Caesar salad and a drink. Or, for $3.79, add sweet potato fries, 50/50 fries, spinach salad or onion rings and a drink.
Onion rings, soup and salad options are all solid choices, with lots of fresh ingredients and generous portions. In fact, no meal I’ve ever eaten at Penny Ann’s hasn’t included those batter-coated and fried rounds of juicy onion. Meaty and crunchy, they are a nice delivery method for the fry sauce served on the side.
The Philly cheesesteak is another popular choice with lots of thinly sliced beef or chicken along with sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms covered with your choice of Cheese Whiz (the traditional), American, Swiss, provolone or pepper jack cheese on a nice chewy Amoroso roll for $6.99.
Another requirement for dining at Penny Ann’s would be to save room for pie. It’s not a suggestion. Homemade selections change throughout the week and from season to season but some all-time favorites are the key lime (my number one choice) with a creamy, citrus-packed filling to the ever-popular peanut butter pie. At just $2.99 a slice (add $.99 for a la mode) or $15 for a whole 9” pie, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, I often am completely filled by just half the Reuben so I get the remainder of that and a slice of key lime pie packed up for dinner later. It’s the value meal that just keeps giving.
If you haven’t yet stopped by Penny Ann’s Café for breakfast or lunch, get there soon, you’ll be happy you did. And don’t forget the pie.
Breakfast: Monday-Friday 7-11 a.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-noon, Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Lunch: Monday –Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday noon-4 p.m.
1810 S. Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
801-935-4760
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