Locally known as the "Bird," this former ice cream parlor opened in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood in 1954. The Penguin regularly wins the city's awards for Best Onion Rings, Best Burger & Best Late Night restaurant. They do, however, stop serving food @ midnight. The Penguin still has its original 1954-pine paneling and now it also has a complete bar. Lunchtime @ the Penguin draws a diverse and packed crowd. From businessmen to construction workers to members of our armed forces to healthcare workers to college kids and families with babies. Blue collar, white collar and no collar the Penguin feeds the city and its workers well. I had a RaceTrack Dog, a side of Brunswick stew, onion rings and a Winky-Dinky Dog. The RaceTrack Dog came with chili, mustard, onions and sweet slaw and it was excellent. The Winky-Dinky Dog came with chili and pimento cheese and it was very good. The thin sliced onion rings are very addictive and the Brunswick stew alone is worth a visit to the Penguin. On my next visit I'll try the burger and Elvis's favorite the peanut butter and banana sandwich. What a great place! They have a take-out menu and they do take Visa.

Note: Visit the new Uptown location inside the Alley Cat on College St. between 6^th & 7^th.