Emma Brumbaugh ’14, Carli  Grims ’14: The Main Line offers a wide variety of cuisines. We all know of both the popular chains and the independently-owned restaurants that we have come to love.
Scholium has explored some lesser-known local gems that offer original, in-house delights. If you are interested in straying away from your normal dining routine, we suggest the following spots in our area, all within a short drive.
The first spot on the list is a breakfast nook on Lancaster Avenue known as Joe’s. Located in Wayne, between Saint Katherine’s Church and Capri Water Ice, Joe’s attracts many locals looking for a morning bite. This spot exemplifies the restaurant term “a dive”: a quaint and small local establishment that serves above expectations at a low price.
When customers arrive at Joe’s, they are greeted by overwhelming smells of bacon, toast, and eggs on the grill. Set up like a classic diner, bar seating lines the front of the diner, with tables occupying the adjacent rooms. The diner buzzes as chattering customers talk to the owner, Marty, as he cooks the majority of the breakfast items. Pictures of past Villanova University basketball teams and other local memorabilia cover the walls. The menu ranges from breakfast sandwiches to eggs served any way one could imagine. The scrapple and egg sandwich is a customer favorite.
At Joe’s, the employees make the experience. Your server is a family member of the owner who playfully throws the food at you and makes sure you are comfortable. These friendly waiters and the small, intimate space add to the restaurant’s charm. Each person that works there is a caricature of someone from a different time. Dining at Joe’s truly feels like stepping into a by-gone era.
Also found in Wayne, adjacent to Margaret Kuo’s, is a traditional Italian market, Tredici. Scholium sat down with Madeleine Blommer ’14, who discovered the Italian market four years ago.
Blommer commented, “It’s an unknown market in the heart of Wayne with great sandwiches, salads, and traditional Italian specialties. All of the sandwiches are made to order with a selection of meats and the option of cold or hot sandwiches.”
Blommer noted, “When I walk in, I feel as though I am in Little Italy.” If one enjoys Italian specialties made to order, Tredici is the ideal sandwich spot in Wayne.
These locations are just two of many local gems. Tredici and Joe’s both offer great food and a cozy, friendly atmosphere. Next time you’re looking for a new place to eat, be sure to check out one of these hidden Main Line spots for an excellent dining experience!

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