A pancake house, pancake and waffle house or waffle house is a restaurant that specializes in breakfast items such as pancakes, waffles, and omelettes, among other items. Many small, independent pancake houses, as well as large corporations and franchises, use the terminology in their establishment names, most notably the International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Waffle House and The Original Pancake House. Most pancake houses are dine-in, although most will offer carry-out as well. Many are open until around 3 a.m. Exceptions to this are large chains such as IHOP and Denny's, which are usually open 24 hours. Some independent pancake houses are found in strip malls, or exist as stand-alone structures that have been re-fitted, such as a closed-down diner or retail store.
Fare
Pancake houses in the United States may offer various pancake styles, such as buttermilk, buckwheat and sourdough, along with pancakes blended with fruit, nuts and chocolate. They will also commonly offer different styles of pancakes which originate in different parts of the world, such as German pancakes, Swedish pancakes, Dutch Apple pancakes, crepes, 49er's flapjacks, and others, as well as Belgian waffles, buttermilk waffles, and French toast. In addition, a wide variety of breakfast foods are common at pancake house restaurants, which includes grits, oatmeal, omelettes, egg dishes, breakfast meats such as bacon and sausage, and combinations such as pigs in a blanket and eggs benedict. Some also offer lunch items such as chicken, steak, chili, salads, hamburgers and sandwiches.[1]
In Europe
Netherlands
In Amsterdam, Netherlands, some pancake houses offer up to 70 pancake varieties. In Holland, a region in the western part of the Netherlands, some pancake houses serve poffertjes,[2] a traditional Dutch batter treat that resembles small, fluffy pancakes. Moreover, Dutch pancakes are generally eaten as full lunch or dinner meals, and not as breakfast items like in the United States.
In the United States
There are many pancake houses in existence throughout the United States. Some restaurateurs in the United States have focused on offering breakfast foods for consumers to eat at times of the day other than in the morning, to make pancake and waffle houses more competitive.
Some U.S. cities have a significant number of pancake houses. For example, Williamsburg, Virginia, has the highest per capita ratio of waffle and pancake houses in the world.[6] Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has a significant number of pancake houses, numbering over 10 in a two-mile distance.[7] The Grand Strand, a large stretch of beaches on the East Coast of the United States that consists of over 60 miles of beach land, has been noted for having a considerable number of pancake houses.[8]
Notable pancake houses
As of 2012, Cracker Barrel
See also
- Cracker Barrel
- Golden Nugget Pancake House
- Honey Jam Cafe
- List of breakfast beverages
- List of breakfast foods
- List of pancake houses
- The Original Pancake House
- Walker Bros.
Further reading
- Eliazar Piedra, Jose (1974). A Feasibility Study and Consumer Attitudes Towards a Pancake House in Pasadena, California. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Department of Economics.
- Ciao, America!: An Italian Discovers the U.S. - Beppe Severgnini - Google Books
- Explorer's Guide South Carolina (Explorer's Complete) - Page Ivey - Google Books
- The Route 66 Encyclopedia - Jim Hinckley, James Hinckley - Google Books