06/26/07

the pride of oregon

by j_gentile

the best breakfast in chicago? Walker brother's pancake house and the original pancake house.

the best breakfast in orange county? the original pancake house.

guess where these restaurants came from? THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE from OREGON. they actually give props to the "original" original pancake house from oregon on their menus.

i have been to all these places personally and they all taste very similar, especially omelletes.

Yes, the service can be slow and long. all these places i mention (and i'm sure there are way more than what i mentioned) are busy and takes forever to be seated. but it's always packed. for a good reason. the best breakfast anywhere.

• Pros: awesome breakfast. fresh everything.
• Cons: long waits

10/07/09

After and absence where did the quality go

by nrkmann

I have been going to the Original Pancake House since the 50's with my grandmother. After a tour in Europe my wife and I went back and what a change in a few years! Crowded, like they squeezed in every table possible, horrible coffee, mediocre food, poor service and way over priced. We will not be going back.

• Cons: poor quality, crowded, poor service

08/22/09

Watch out

by JPPLL

We had a cup of tea and a cup of coffee totaling $6.50. Oh and my $4.00 tomato juice. $10.50 in beverages. When I asked what the $6.50 was for, they said it was for the tea and coffee. She also mentioned it was because they have a special coffee. Makes sense when it comes to the "stash" tea I got for $3.25. Bet that was a "real special" blend just for them! My meal was overpriced as well. I ordered an omlet and I guess it comes with a side of pancakes. That way they can justify it being an $11 omlet. If you want to eat way too much, this is probably the place.

• Pros: Pancake Options
• Cons: Beverages and portions

06/05/09

Rip off

by amygard

I have always loved this restaurant and have been to many of their locations across the country. I usually get the Dutch Baby when I have the extra time to wait. What I don't understand is why the prices at the Portland location are 50%+ higher than any other location. I had breakfast by myself and the bill was $20 for a small waffle, a bowl of strawberries, and cup of coffee. While the food was decent, it didn't knock me over, particularly to the point that it justified a $20 bill and I was still hungry when I left (and I'm not a particularly big eater, I usually take 1/2 of my restaurant meals home for leftovers). And this was after waiting 15 minutes to be seated on a weekday morning and being stuck in a corner seat that I could barely get into because of the cramped quarters. I will not be going back to the Original Pancake House again unless I travel back East where the prices match the quality and quanity of food you receive.

• Pros: Decent food
• Cons: Take out a second mortgage before you go

01/21/09

GREAT Food, but where did server go?

by francisfamilyPDX

I'm responding to the other inquiry about the server who used to work at this restaurant. Her name is Caitlyn. I asked another server what happened to her on our laast visit, but got a bit of an attitude and no info. Our family has been coming to the Pancake House for years, but after being served by her and experiencing her charismatic and caring attitude, we waited only for her tables/section. It's rare to find good customer service but this girl really shined. I watched as she embraced customers as if they were family, not just to us but every customer. Of course, the quality of food is incredible and the coffee is to die for. Needless to say, this restaurant comes highly recommended. However, without this particular young lady, it seems dull. She used to make such a fun production out of our twin boys birthdays every year! We are saddened by her departure and I speak for our entire family when I say that she will be missed.

• Pros: Great food and coffee
• Cons: Saddened by missing waitress

01/14/09

Inquiry- Can Anyone Answer?

by jovi360

I apologize for asking a personal question in this particular forum, but I was wondering where a particular server went. Unfortunately I don't recall her name, but she was employed at this restaurant for a few years. I was wondering if she had moved to another establishment. I, along with my family, have been in on several Saturday mornings and she has not been there. If another employee or manager sees this, I'd be pleased to know if she was simply on vacation, or if she had indeed moved to another restaurant. She was so sweet to our family, I can't believe I never caught her name! My 3 year old daughter adored this young lady, so any knowledge about where she went would be greatly appreciated. She had brown hair, average height and always wore a bow in her hair when we saw her. Thanks for any info!

• Pros: GREAT food, GREAT service
• Cons: Wondering where GREAT server went

01/13/09

Worst service ever/too long of lines to be treated so poorly

by girlver

My fiance and I came in because of hearing such great things about the food and ended up waiting AN HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES. We finally got sat down and our server seemed a little off-she wouldn't make any eye contact with us and obviously was new at her position. She didn't know answers and seemed really anxious to get away from our table to help another. It's a really busy place but we were not checked on once. Only when our food and check was brought to us. And she got my order wrong-I didn't want to wait so my fiance just ate it. It was awful service and the food might have been good if the server paid any attention to what I had said. All the servers seemed a little flustered and uncomfortable. It was an awkward environment to be in. Like we were being rushed in and rushed out. It was awful. And I am preschool teacher and babysit all the time-so from the previous reviews, I wont be bringing any of my kids in. Don't waste your time. We had a wonderful experience at the Stepping Stone Cafe in Portland. Very fun, Kid friendly and no scary waitresses.

• Pros: We got our check as fast as our food
• Cons: Awful customer service, long waits, overpriced, awkward environment

12/18/08

GOOD not GREAT

by brkfstluvr

Let me be perfectly clear- this is a good place. Prices are a little up there, but the quality of food backs it up. I like to go early to avoid the wait, but since this unfortunate economy, it's not as thriving as it used to be. I've been a semi-regular customer for a few years. I was in 2 weeks ago in fact. What I like most, besides the GREAT coffee and food, is the atmosphere. I swear, the place hasn't changed in years. I guess I'm not big on change so it appeals to me. There are so many great things about this family owned establishment, I have only one con- customer service. I'm not singling any one of the ladies out, I've just noticed a swift decline in the way they used to genuinely care about the title of "customer service." I don't mean to speak poorly of employees, it just lacks the appeal it once had. If an employee or supervisor reads this, I would suggest some kind of workshop, or lesson on the extreme importance of caring for customers. That's what keeps people coming back, besides the food, of course. If I am speaking with complete honesty, I would rather enjoy my meal alone in silence than listening to, at times, very inappropriate discussions, vulgar language and the lack ( and laughs) of caring for customers. It's a place worth going to, but I was very disappointed in the majority of the staff.

• Pros: Good food, Good Ambience
• Cons: Poor Customer Service, Lack of Care, Parking, Long waits on the weekends

12/15/08

Birthdays, Mothers Days, and Fathers Days!

by Pandygurl11

This place is amazing. I think this place was the first place my parents took me to get breakfast. Now that I've been to other places I don't want to go to other places. We spend every Fathers Day and Mother Day there. The service might be alittle off, but at least they aren't stuck-up! The food is fantastic, the prices are pretty acceptable, and gosh darn it, if people like it and want to try it, don't stop them! They might like it, they might not! So what! Is that your problam? Everyone ahs different oppinions and I think its pretty darn great!

• Pros: Good food, normal prices, it was original
• Cons: Service was a tiny off, but not too bad

12/03/08

NOT for families

by cheatingwife

I, along wih my husband and two sons, have been to this establishment a few times, but regretfully will not be back. My parents were regulars at the "Great Original Pancake House" in "the old days" and would rave about stellar food and customer service, so naturally I brought my family. Besides the long wait, which honestly was expected, given that it was a Sunday. My family and I were ignored for at least ten minutes before our server even looked at us. I know that this restaurant is busy, so obviously I didn't fuss over it. Our food took (no exaggeration) 45 minutes and we got not one refill of coffee. All of this was NOTHING compared to the language we heard from 2 of the servers, one of them being ours. Our server had short dark hair, and I actually heard her say something about doing white powder, and "nose candy", loudly in the kitchen while the other young lady actually laughed about it! Now maybe in some truck stops that language is appropriate around people, or maybe I am making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I know their reputation is tarnished to me, and anyone I know. I'm thankful my sons didn't hear it, but frankly I'm outraged. The food is good, the wait is long, but please do NOT expect good service. NOT a place for children or families, not with that kind of trash working there.

• Pros: ORIGINAL STRUCTURE IS BEAUTIFUL AND IS A PLUS
• Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE, BAD LANGUAGE, POOR PERFORMANCE

12/03/08

Worst service ever, waitress was sloppy/drunk and it was extremely over priced

by Browncow28

I heard so many wonderful things about the restaurant so I took my two children and husband in to experience the great reputation. After waiting for about 45 minutes, my family and I were pointed to our table and were handed menus. Our waitress came over smelling of alcohol and her appearance was a disgrace. My husband and I could literally smell her evening from the night before, that is a problem. Other than our drunk waitress, she had forgotten to refill our coffee for about 20 minutes, so another kind waitress stepped in and apologized. The food was undercooked, over priced and seemed very disorganized for a restaurant I have heard so much about. I am in public relations and I am extremely dissatisfied with a restaurant I wanted to give a great review. And I will be talking to the manager about the waitress so that no other family has to witness that kind of behavior and disrespect.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Hungover waitresses, long wait, over priced food, overall terrible customer service. If you have children, stay out of that restaurant.