Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives: The Penguin

[JonO387]

I used to live 1 block from the Penguin, back when it was good. I stumbled home drunk many nights from this place.

[jkrizzyboston]

The cook looks like he was a member of the aryan nation in prison lol

[shane8109]

They should come to the Starlite Drive In in Bethel, Ohio. Great place.

[1q2w3eqq]

6:53...business suit? Ha Ha, dude looks so terrible. Is he serious, WTF?

[FOODJOINTS101]

This place rules ... stop in ! ....... Love Diners Drive Ins & Dives ! ...... Also check out our Videos at FOODJOINTS101 here on YOUTUBE .....

[63jokerman]

That's me eating the Full Blown Hemi. Was alot of fun ! Guy was really cool. I STILL have people here in Charlotte stopping me saying they saw me on this show even though this was aired on "Diners,Drive-Ins,and Dives" years ago. How cool is that! What would have been even greater if I had gotten paid to do it, or "at least" a free meal from the Penguin as many times it has aired here in Charlotte.

[fenixfoto]

The Old Penguin is no more. The actual property owners, deciding to cash in on the years of hard work of the guys in the video, didn't renew Jimmy and Brian's lease, so they could run the place themselves (apparently the name was part of the lease, but the menu they developed wasn't). I and most of the neighborhood regulars have been boycotting.

Most of the old crew moved around the corner to the DIAMOND. Go to the Diamond if you want the menu items in the video as well as some new ones.

[yreed5]

we went there yrs ago and this yr when we were down there the lady from the Dish told us about it and the Black Diamond is really right around the corner

[starmst]

They have really good food there...My co-workers and I go there every Monday lunchtime...and I'ts always packed.....love this place.

[EvilMonKiki]

Yes the deep fried pickles are FANTASTIC!

[MrEeek1]

i didnt know james hetfield makes fried pickles.

[6440542]

i dig it. your the best guy.

[bamsowner]

Ok where do I start. First off I chose this place because of guy fieri. I drove 30mins and im not from here. Not knowing the menu and the owners has changed. I was so disapointed. they advertise on there menu he has been there but none of the food he had was on the menu. let alone the service sucked, takes for ever just to get drinks, and then any other type of service forget it.Iwillnever recommend it to anyone.

[ilvenyc89]

That guy eating the hemy looks like dwight sometimes

[bamsowner]

@ilvenyc89

they dont have any of those burgers anymore.I was disapointed when i went bc i went for one reason

[Noah97]

Love that guy in the "business suit"!

[an50331]

i watch this show to get me pumped up to eat

[someonecalledkira]

0:15 Ferry stole Cameron's dads car. 

[sparkl1nwat3r]

Wow, I want to try the fying pickles. Gosh, why can't they have all that delicious junks like that here where I live?

[broccolihart1]

LOL...Dude in the green shirt and baby tie looks like a total re-tard.....

[thatfarriskid]

pinkey's is great too! almost like the new penguin!



[thatfarriskid]

my great grandpaw used to own the penguin before he sold it. i love this place sucks it closed. but Pikes in charlotte is my new hang out you all should try it. ALMOST as good!

[TheSmash4cash]

People are complaining about the atmosphere in the new penguin...to be honest I haven't been into the new penguin but the old penguin had a shitty atmosphere if you ask me. You had to yell to talk to someone across the table from you and it is only cool to have your food served by people with too many tattoos if you are 12 or under.

[foodparadisetv]

Wow! Look at you! This is an amazing channel! Also truly fun!! Let's stay in touch. Visit me sometimes!

[wolfraider17]

live in LA now, learned about the closing of the Penguin as I knew it. The new place, from what I hear, is dead and the food isn't half as good. drove by to check it out around lunch time, the place was a ghost town. try the Diamond!

[Zephilindrum]

The first and only burger place I'll ever go to in Charlotte. I feel so out of place when walking into this place but the food and friendly staff makes me not give a damn.

[seregarn]

6:51 EPIC FACE !!!!!!

[Destructerator]

did they succeed in franchising this?

there seems to be a lot of chagrin about it but I swear I saw a restaurant similar to this in bethany beach, de. overpriced as hell

[Destructerator]

did they succeed in franchising this?

there seems to be a lot of chagrin about it but I swear I saw a restaurant similar to thing in bethany beach, de. overpriced as hell

[toribjork10]

man... i miss my hometown charlotte and penguin so damn bad. this video brings back major food memories! getting a beer and fried pickles and listening to some ramones on the jukebox...

too bad guy douchebag had to annoy the staff. i like how he's giving the chef his well known lime nuking "tip" and the chef has this "no shit sherlock" look on his face. priceless.

anyway, i miss that joint.

[SunnyDoll38]

Ha! at the guy with the small tie xD

[louistov]

What's up with that guy and his short tie lol

[NdCabal]

Pinky's westside grill :-)

[geh1985]

I went there yesterday (for the first time since they re-opened) NOT the same! The energy, the food, and service is lacking! It's like they are trying to copy what they once were and it ain't working!

[toribjork10]

@geh1985 dude that's a shame! the penguin was my spot years ago when i lived in charlotte. i hate it when awesome private owned places go down. sad day for the queen city.

[ohnojflow]

RIP Penguin.

[bough1995]

my names Willy... I like turtles.

[cinnamonsquirl]

There used to be an Origanal Penquin restaraunt in Carson City Nevada years ago! The land owner refused to renew there lease! They were forced to go out of business! The only thing the land owner did with the land was tear down the restaraunt and pave the land over to give the AM/PM gas station more parking space!

Real Dumb!

[macman237]

Anybody know--have Brian Rowe and Jimmy King got the Diamond up and running?

If so, I can't wait to stop in next time I get up to Charlotte!

[vinylspun]

@macman237 soon! this month maybe? not announced yet - I can't wait! :)

[Albeleo]

This place looks rad. I hate to read comments that it's being taken over. That's just downright tragic.

[EvansMama82]

It will never be the same...the fried pickles and the Dixie Chicken Sandwich were awesom!

[EvansMama82]

It will never be the same...fried pickles and the Dixie Chicken Sandwich was awesome!

[Kidturbo1]

nice tie jerk

[losingzoe]

guy is a poser

[maxti6]

Auten will remain with the Ballentines to carry into the new opening.

[cigarsmoker26]

the food at the penguin is awsome. long live the penguin

[changed1mg]

I understand that Rowe and King are taking some of the Penguin menu items, business model, and employees (basically, everything thing that made "The Bird" great) and taking them to The Diamond - literally around the corner from the Penguin. I can't wait to check that place out when they get a hold of it!

Oh, and seriously, the fried pickles are A M A Z I N G .

[dratband]

The Penguin Drive-In as we know it will be over on Oct. 24th. The Ballentine family has REFUSED to resign the lease on the Plaza Midwood icon. In conjunction with a franchiser, they are pushing Brian Rowe and Jimmy King out and trying to steal everything they were responsible for (business model, menu, success, e.t.c.).... So, enjoy The Penguin UNTIL OCT. 24TH. After that - BOYCOTT IT!!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS.

[69adrummer]

I don't mean any disrespect when I say there is something out of this world sexy about a good looking girl chowing down on greasy hard core burgers and fries! God bless 'em!

[toolski678]

the best burger i have ever eaten.

[patkerri]

Bad part of town? You cant buy a home in Midwood for under $200,000. Its filled with familys walking to Zada Janes, runners, dog walkers, art crawls, 4 yearly neighborhood festivals that pack the park with music and kids. Sorry, Dilworth has higher crime than Penguin.

[hailtanner]

The Penguin is absolutely delicious. It's fantastic, but its in such a bad part of town.

[NinerGreen]

@hailtanner the penguin IS NOT in a bad part of town. are you kidding?

[southernprep5]

@NinerGreen Are car got broken into by the YMCA around the corner from the penguin. The art district is cool and all but not the safest area in the city

[cigarsmoker26]

@southernprep5 thats the reason I carry the glock with an extra mag when I go to the penguin. your right thats a ruff part of town.

[MountainDewGirls]

i luv the penguin!

[MountainDewGirls]

southernprep5 no it is not are u crazy

[Duschmon7]

@cd123ism I envy u.

[southernprep5]

thomas street tavern is better

[whomejohn]

Full blown mullet?

[writertrump]

LMAO.

[cd123ism]

i live in charlotte never been here its a shame i have been to south 21 and bbq king

[aragorio]

shouldnt have watched this with a stomach flu

[AdrianCloud5513]

I just went here today. Holy shit, that place is awesome :D

[SunnyDoll38]

The Guy At 6:50 Has A Lil Tie Lol

[shitfuck462]

where was G-dubs??

[brokenholmes712]

God I miss this place. I don't live in Charlotte anymore, but I guarantee I will stop by this place at least once whenever I'm in town. Hands down a Charlotte landmark.

[teufelstaub]

You can see the wheels turning over that Valley of the Dog creation!

[maxti6]

I remember this place from years back. At one time it had plyboard in the windows and was aged terribly..but the entire area went through a makeover and the transition came. Charlotte's dark side soon came back into a sunny realm of great food and local hot spots!

[Duschmon7]

I want soma those fried pickles, the cheese sandwich n a burger n I'll b str8

[fresh42jazz]

That hummus on the falafel sandwich is delicious... my mouth is watering. :)

[Pokygirl2001]

What the hell is wrong with the guy's clothes at 6:50 ?

[airsoftlrd911]

dude i went hear i got a double cheeze burger with bacon i live in nc!!! it was bout a foot thick i got 200 dallars for eating it all with frys

[leighsoucy]

this place looks fantastic, however nothing beats the fried pickles from Muddy River Smokehouse in Portsmouth, NH! :)

[GisforGinelle]

this is me and my boyfriend's favorite spot. :)

[TheDancevideos]

i had lunch here today. the full blown hemi made a badass lunch. and dinner. haha

[firethower99]

Man, there's nothing like an old fashion American dinner. This place looks friggin awesome.

[dratband]

My boys! Killin' it in the Queen City!! If you don't know....now you do!

[brokenholmes712]

Man I miss the Penguin. Been in Orlando for five years now and a trip to the Penguin is a must whenever I go back to visit.