Penn’s Grill

4.3 ( 332 reviews )
Checking... 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM See Hours
$10–20
128 E Commerce St, Whiteville, NC 28472, United States
+1 910-642-2779

Penn’s Grill, nestled in the heart of Whiteville, NC, is a charming American restaurant that masters the art of homestyle cooking and warm hospitality. Customers rave about its inviting atmosphere and nostalgic flair, reminiscent of a bygone era when tobacco was king. Mike Bregg captures this sentiment beautifully, noting the cozy vibe and friendly staff, which make every visit feel like a return home. While the food shines through, with popular offerings such as hearty breakfasts, classic burgers, and notably delicious hot dogs, the true gem lies in the details—like the expertly crafted biscuits and gravy that Matthew Limone describes as "perfectly balanced." The efficiency of the small staff doesn't go unnoticed; patrons like Wayne Sturdavant commend their hard work and quick service, while the tempting array of desserts lures even the strongest wills. Kimberly Jamison highlights the café as a perfect stopping point for travelers seeking a refreshing break and a taste of local charm. With each review, Penn's Grill emerges as a must-visit spot—delivering scrumptious dishes combined with a sprinkle of Southern hospitality that leaves lasting memories and something to savor. Don't miss the chance to indulge in this local treasure!

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • From the business
    • Identifies as women-owned
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers kerbside pickup
    • Has drive-through
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
    • No delivery
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
    • Serves great coffee
    • Serves great dessert
    • Has great tea selection
    • Has live music
  • Popular for
    • Popular for breakfast
    • Popular for lunch
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves coffee
    • Serves comfort food
    • Serves food
    • Serves healthy options
    • Serves organic dishes
    • Quick bite
    • Serves small plates
    • Serves vegetarian dishes
  • Dining options
    • Serves breakfast
    • Serves brunch
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dinner
    • Has catering
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
    • Has Wi-Fi
    • Paid Wi-Fi
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Quiet
  • Crowd
    • Family friendly
    • Good for groups
    • Popular with tourists
  • Planning
    • Accepts reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs available
    • Has kids' menu
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Free parking lot
    • Plenty of parking

Reviews For Penn’s Grill

Mike Bregg
Jul 1,2025
We're Florida residents coming to town for family business, and someone mentioned that an aunt had worked at Penns a generation ago, so here we are enjoying the homestyle breakfasts, burgers, and entries over our 5 or 6 visits. They don't seem to have a big staff, but the friendly smiles and positive feelings are just woven into the fabric of the people, and any small delay is worth waiting for. I love the historical atmosphere of a time when tobacco was king. We look for these hole in the wall places wherever we go, and when we return to Whiteville, we will be back.
Brian Bennett
Jun 21,2025
This is an updated review. My brother and I returned last Tuesday, mainly because we wanted to try the famous hot dogs. The last time I ate them, they were still doing curbside in the early 1990's. Guess what? They still taste delicious as I remember. I got the Nathan's Hot Dog box all the way. My brother got the Kent Hot Dog box all the way. We both LOVED what we got.
Matthew Limone
Jun 20,2025
This place is great! Right across the street from the AirBnb we stayed in which is why we tried it out for breakfast. We got seated right away and our waitress was super friendly. I got a biscuit with gravy. Biscuits and gravy is one of my favorite breakfast meals and theirs did not disappoint. It wasn’t so thick that it’s like Elmer’s glue and doesn’t soak into the biscuit at all, and it wasn’t so thin that it’s watery and causes a soggy biscuit. There was a hefty amount of sausage in it too. It was delicious. I’m usually disappointed when I order biscuits and gravy at restaurants because I make great gravy, but my only regret at Penn’s was not getting two orders of it. My wife got a double stack pancake which was also good. The over-easy eggs were cooked perfectly and the bacon was crispy. We also split a piece of cake because they looked so good and it was delicious as well. If you’re in Whiteville check it out.
Wayne Sturdavant
Jun 13,2025
I came in today, 3/8/2025 about 11 am. I ordered the grill steak sandwich. The young woman that took my order was very polite. She was also working very hard. The two ladies that were working the grill and food prep area, we're taking orders and getting them out very fast. This was my first visit to Penn's Grill. I am visiting from Raleigh. The food was great and cooked to perfection. My only complaint is that I had to fight off the temptation to order various slices of pound cake and brownies. That Pineapple and Strawberry Creme cheese pound cakes..had my mouth watering while sitting there..staring at them !!!
Kimberly Jamison
May 25,2025
Great local place and if you're traveling through and you need a spot of internet, it's a good possibility you can stop there and get a little bit of internet and a lot of love! The service was exceptional, the place filled with locals ready to chat with you and I got a wonderful bagel breakfast sandwich and coffee. Both we're fresh! Love stopping here, to give my dog a little walk, take a moment to breathe, complete a zoom call and have a little breakfast before I reach my destination of Topsail!
Reggie Hicks
May 21,2025
First time trying Penn’s Grill this morning, the service was awesome, I had the Chili Hash it was phenomenal the restaurant was very clean. I highly recommend this location.
Ivey Pope King
Apr 20,2025
Wow!! Who would have guessed that this little gem would have such wonderfully fresh food in Whiteville of all places?! Living in Southeastern North Carolina, many times we feel like we live in a food desert when it comes to healthy options. However, Penn's Grill is an exceptional find with super fresh food made with whole ingredients and tons of gluten-free options. I was shocked in the most pleasant way! If you are still in the mood for a great hamburger or hot dog, reminiscent of Penn's menu offerings from 20 years back, you can still get those here too! What a great mix to find in one place! They've got something here for everybody... literally.
Jason Hewett
Mar 19,2025
This place is beyond absolutely amazing they're fried steak sandwiches are absolutely to die for and their fries are amazing as well and they also have a plethora of baked goods and cobblers and quiches and just all kinds of things you would have not expected and I was highly highly surprised and very very happy!! Well definitely be eating at penns again

Add a Review

Quality
Location
Price
Space
Service

Location

Appreciated by Others

Kaka'ako Cafe
(153 review)
Kaka'ako Cafe
  • 725 Kapiolani Blvd c 125, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
Cafe
+1 808-492-1470
Pizza Man Restaurant
(216 review)
Pizza Man Restaurant
  • 2621 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230, United States
pizza restaurant
+1 410-644-4800
Iron Horse Cafe
(213 review)
Iron Horse Cafe
  • 107 N Main St, Hooper, NE 68031, United States
Restaurant
+1 402-654-2111
Noya's Kitchen
(1062 review)
Noya's Kitchen
  • 7 St James's Parade, Bath BA1 1UL, United Kingdom
Vietnamese restaurant
+44 1225 552582
Mains Of Balquharn Brewers Fayre
(969 review)
Mains Of Balquharn Brewers Fayre
  • Portlethen, Aberdeen AB12 4QS, United Kingdom
family restaurant
+44 1224 783856
Mila&Nesa
(315 review)
Mila&Nesa
  • C. Morelia 103 A, Roma Nte., Cuauhtemoc, 06700 Ciudad de Mexico, CDMX, Mexico
restaurant
+52 56 2460 5967
Yo Mommas Cantina
(238 review)
Yo Mommas Cantina
  • 18648 E Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO 80013, United States
Restaurant
+1 720-512-2767
Pico Pica Rico . Co
(280 review)
Pico Pica Rico . Co
  • 14834 Magnolia Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, United States
mexican restaurant
+1 818-212-6968
Bucks Dairy Quick
(553 review)
Bucks Dairy Quick
  • 1171 Tallapoosa St, Alexander City, AL 35010, United States
American restaurant
+1 256-392-3565
Savoy Tandoori
(784 review)
Savoy Tandoori
  • 79 Regent Rd, Great Yarmouth NR30 2AJ, United Kingdom
Indian restaurant
+44 1493 332727