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Mark Gears, owner of Smalls' Provisions, Memphis St., Philadelphia on Monday, October 6, 2025. He is holding the Smalls’ Cheeseburger.
Mark Gears, owner of Smalls' Provisions, Memphis St., Philadelphia on Monday, October 6, 2025. He is holding the Smalls’ Cheeseburger.Read moreAlejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

Smalls' Provisions

Breakfast, Sandwich$

After working at Parc and Le Diplomate, this corner grocery and takeout shop in Kensington is something of a gear shift for chef Mark Gears. As a short-order cook at Smalls’, he turns out breakfast sandwiches, cutlet sandwiches, patty melts, and hot dogs on a flat-top in a minuscule kitchen.

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The Inquirer aims to represent the geographic, cultural, and culinary diversity of the region in its coverage. Inquirer staffers and contributors do not accept free or comped meals — all meals are paid for by the Inquirer. All dining recommendations are made solely by the Inquirer editorial staffers and contributors based on their reporting and expertise, without input from advertisers or outside interests.