Original House Of Pancakes

OK OK its a chain.. Jacksonvilles new Town Center is a huge shopping center just a short drive from home. Yesterday the youngest daughter wanted to treat us to "dinner" at The Original House of Pancakes.
An almost brand new restaurant the place was clean and sparkling but far from busy at 6:30 pm. I was stunned by the prices.. almost $8.00 for an omolet with a side of 3pancakes or toast! The menu states they take approximately 20 minutes to make. I ordered a cheese and bacon omolet with a side of "homefries" ($3.00!) Well the omolet WAS impressive, nearly filling the dinner size plate and almost 2" thick, the "homefries" where nicely browned chunks of potato piled high on a 6" plate. I ordered toast instead of pancakes and it arrived unbuttered with little containers of jelly. Everything was very tasty and I couldnt finish the entire omolet.
The Mrs ordered waffles but a glitch with the wafffle maker had the waitress apologizing that the meal would be delayed, a few minutes later she returned , saying the waffle maker had totally died and offered a belgian waffle in its place. The Mrs was satisfied with her plate of "homefries" so said ok but make it to go. (the aroma filled the car on the ride home, almost making me hungry again)
The daughter had a strawberry blintz, another huge plate with 4 blintz's piled high with strawberrys and whipped cream, she ate about half and asked for a TO container. I sampled from her plate, tasty but for $7.59? and the strawberries weren't even fresh!
The bill with tip was $40.00
All in all it was rather enjoyable but.... I doubt Id go on my own, Waffle House is just as good and much less expensive altough admittedly the portions are smaller..

You raise an interesting issue. Is it better to be served (A) a huge portion at a higher price (resulting in your taking the balance of it home), or (B) a more modest portion at a more modest price that enables one to finish the dish (and also works against the tendency to overeat). "Hey, they served it and I don't want to bring it home...I'll probably just throw it out anyway because I'll forget it's in the fridge." Besides, do breakfast foods taste good when reheated? Maybe, depending on the item. Personally, I go with (B). A lower cost may encourage folks to go out more often. What's your view?

I love their blueberry waffle. Whole blueberries in the waffle, fresh blueberries sprinkled on top of the waffle, and warm blueberry compote to pour over the waffle. They also have blueberry syrup, but I think that is overkill. The waffle, coffee, and a large fresh squeezed orange juice sets me back about $14 so I only occasionally have breakfast there. But I definitely enjoy it every time I go.

I assume you are in fact talking about OPH, Original Pancake House. Yes, it's a bit on the expensive side, but then IMHO it's so much better than many breakfast places. And while you may have lunch after a breakfast at Waffle House, I doubt that you will want to after a filling breakfast at OPH, so figure that into the dollars and cents equation.

I usually get just a couple of eggs with home fries, but the pancakes served instead of toast really make it a feast, and that's around six bucks. A fair price in my book for a very good and very filling meal.

You've got to go back for the Dutch Baby and Apple Pancake. After consuming one of those, you may not even want dinner. Take a look, http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/

The name is The Original House of Pancakes, the sign and menu both include "The" in the name.

Ciao hit it right on the head, rewarmed or nuked omolets lose a lot.

I seldom leave WaffleHouse in any condition for another meal in the near future. The omolet,"homefries" and a drink ran around $12.00 for around that price at WaffleHouse I get a bacon/cheese omolet, side of bacon, hashbrowns~covered,smothered,scattered~, cheesed grits, toast, silverdollar pancakes, coffee and a cherry coke. Smaller portions but more variaty

oops.. it's Perkins that has the silverdollar pancakes or is it IHOP, getting my breakfast for dinner eateries confused.. Both of these places however offer smaller portions but more variaty for around the same price

The Original Pancake House in Portland is THE original Original Pancake House. One of the best spots in Portland for Sunday breakfast. And there is always a line.

As much as I dislike chains, I will eat at The Original Pancake House. Even though there is no denying that they are expensive, I have never had anything that wasn't well above average.

The OPH in Cincinnati has the best bacon I have ever eaten. Very thick, great taste and always cooked perfectly. After eating there about five times, I finally asked the manager why their bacon was so good. He told me his store and the one in Dayton get special cuts of meat. He did tell where from, but I can't remember.

And I agree with Mr. Chips about the original OPH in Portland. It sure doesn't have the feel or look of a chain. Just make sure you get there early!

I walked into a OPH one time saw the menu prices. I was sitting in a WH within ten minutes. Triple the prices? Sorry but from what I saw on other customer's plates I left.

quote:

Originally posted by dreamzpainter

oops.. it's Perkins that has the silverdollar pancakes or is it IHOP, getting my breakfast for dinner eateries confused.. Both of these places however offer smaller portions but more variaty for around the same price

See link below. they havd Silver Dollar Pancakes on their Pancake menu:

http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/

first of all the only good one is in wilmette illinois where the pans are saturated with years of flavor, the apple pancake is a must as well as the dutch baby with lemon and powdered sugar otherwise dont go there

quote:

Originally posted by phatphil

first of all the only good one is in wilmette illinois where the pans are saturated with years of flavor, the apple pancake is a must as well as the dutch baby with lemon and powdered sugar otherwise dont go there

Really? You've been to them all? and of them all, only one is good?
How about the one in Poway? It's no good? Crap! All this time, I thought it was ok, and now I learn different! I guess I won't go back there again.

Whenever I get back to the States, I'll happily drive at least an hour or more to go to an OHP.

The problem is it's usually in Indiana, and none of them around there (until you get as far as Illinois) have sourdough pancakes, which are one of the best things they do (IMHO of course, YMMV).

Doug

I have enjoyed the Champaign IL OHP for years. If you are not watching the menu the prices can indeed be expensive, but if you are careful you can do better. They have a combo with 2 eggs (love their poached) three buttermilk pancakes, and either bacon, sausage, or Canadian Bacon (!) for $6.75. I would say you could save $1-$2 elsewhere, but the quality is excellent and, for example, they give you a decent portion of your meat choice, unlike some other places. Even the butter and syrup for the pancakes is better than the usual. They must vary in quality a little, though, as we went to one in Denver and it was not as good and the menu was different.

We have three locations in our area, Williamsville, Amherst, and Orchard Park, New York. The Williamsville location usually has long lines on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The portions are huge, the quality of food is outstanding and the pancakes are what they are noted for. If you want eggs, toast and bacon, I suggest another type of restaurant that specializes in breakfasts for $6.00 or less. If you want the what The Original House of Pancakes is noted for, order the Apple Pancake, Strawberry Waffle or the Dutch Baby. In addition, any omelet you order is enough to feed two adults.

I love Original. Their pancakes are better than 90% of the mom and pop joints out there. I don't mind the higher prices- breakfast is still the least expensive meal of the day. I'll pay for the quality any day of the week.

Loved the Original Original in Portland, disappointed by the one at Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas--the worst surprise was little containers of half and half for the coffee instead of Original's usual pitcher of whipping cream to float on top of the coffee. The omelets are good though, and overall I think the Original Pancake House is worth it for a special treat, especially for those of us who don't have one nearby.

We had one on Mesa Drive many moons ago in Austin. I went there often for Blueberry pancakes. (Pancakes aren't an Austin thing.) It closed, and I was sorry, because I used to eat there often on my way to work.

We had one open up a year or two ago at the corner of Parmer and Medical Parkway in Austin.

Since Austin is not really a pancake town, I like to eat at OPH. I can get fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice (I usually get grapefruit) with an awesome waffle.

There used to be an Original House of Pancakes here in Sarasota when we were coming here on vacation in the 60's. Family of 4 could eat for less than $10...It's amazing how much everything rises in price through the years...

FLUFFY

As mentioned earlier, the original, OPH on Barbour Blvd in Portland, is a must stop for foodies.

The ironically named Dutch "Baby" (Dutch Godzilla might be more appropriate) falls over the sides of the platter on which it is served. What a meal.

But the wait can be long, particularly on weekends.

quote:

Originally posted by phatphil

first of all the only good one is in wilmette illinois where the pans are saturated with years of flavor, the apple pancake is a must as well as the dutch baby with lemon and powdered sugar otherwise dont go there

I didn't know there was an Original Pancake House in Wilmette, only Walker Bros.

I have been to at least a dozen OPHs in different cities and I had my first bad experience last weekend. It was at the one located in Amherst, NY, outside Buffalo. The place was empty, the food tasted old and even the bacon, which is usually excellent, was terrible here. If I do go to a OPH in the Buffalo area again, it will be at the Williamsville location, where I have had much better luck.

An OHoP moved into the neighborhood last year. I haven't been in it because it closes at 2 pm for the day!

We have a couple of these in Indianapolis, and I've honestly never been that impressed by it. Huge wait, overly efficient waitresses who don't encourage lingering, enormous portions, etc. We also have LePeeps and the outstanding (and locally-owned) Cafe Patachou which are in about the same price range, and for my money I'd rather have LePeeps' granola pancakes or Patachou's Broken Yolk Sandwich with smoked salmon. They don't mind if you linger over coffee, the restaurants are bright and tidy and welcoming, and the portions are a bit more manageable. I order off the kid's menu when I can get away with it, so I'm on the side of smaller portions anyway, but three people could eat OPH's breakfasts. My husband and I go out and make the rounds at local breakfast places (and Waffle House! Love it) every Saturday, and while Waffle House, Patachou, and a couple of others are on steady rotation, we've only done OPH a couple of times. Meh. Guess ours isn't that good, compared to the Original OPH.

Stopped in for breakfast at the OHP in Brookfield, WI last Sunday at 1:30pm. They close at 2:00pm. Before we had a chance to order, the wait staff brought out a piping hot Dutch Baby and said it was on the house. I've had this happen to me before at other OHP's. For some reason or other, I get fed for free. Go figure! I usually order the 49er Flapjacks, the apple pancake, or the Danish Garden. I love the OHP's. In Illinois, they known as Walker Bros.

CSD

Unfortunately, this chain has been ruined by the franchising. very inconsistent as is the case with most franchises. I remember going often to the one in Wilmette when i was a kid in the fifties. At that time, there were only 2 locations ( wilmette and portland). There is no comparison between these 2 and the rest.Only go to these 2, the others are overpriced and mediocre.

I was at the Jacksonville location in February, 2009. I really miss O.P.H. Want to point out that the Jax location is their new and improved image with the reduced menu. I first encountered them in 1987 (?) when the Detrot area local freebie tabloid rag did a series on the best breakfasts in the area. At that point in time, they used pre-existing restaurants. I went to one in a former hunt lodge theme place in Southfield (?) driving up from Plymouth in an era before i-696. I really liked 'em and followed them when I moved to Georgia and then to Florida. The Atlanta location was a former fast food places with two entranceways, both on the sides. There was only one lcoation in all of south Florida and it was in a hard to reach location in Miami. There was one on S.O.B.T. on the very s. side of Orlando as well. When I lived in Royal Oak (Mich) 1989-1996, a big treat was breakfast at the Birmginham location. Here, O.P.H. had taken over another pancake house, one with a lot of varnish and brass in its decore. They used to have a line that snaked through the lobby, out the door, and literally around the block. If you didn't vacate within 15 or so after completing your meal the manager would ask you to leave - very nicely, but pointing out the poeple waiting for a table.
That was in the good ol' days of the extended menu and the free yogurt sample
Since then they've come up with the standard restaurant format and timmed back several things from the menu like the German pancakes. I still faithful patronize them when I can in Miami or Ft. lauderdale. They also no longer refer to Saigon cinnamon as the ingredients to one pancake.
I think that they've followed the example of IHOP. In the '60s IHOP had all sorts of exotic pancakes, which have been dropped in favor of an expanded menu of variety.

chicagostyledog


Stopped in for breakfast at the OHP in Brookfield, WI last Sunday at 1:30pm. They close at 2:00pm. Before we had a chance to order, the wait staff brought out a piping hot Dutch Baby and said it was on the house. I've had this happen to me before at other OHP's. For some reason or other, I get fed for free. Go figure! I usually order the 49er Flapjacks, the apple pancake, or the Danish Garden. I love the OHP's. In Illinois, they known as Walker Bros.

CSD

We frequent the one in Montgomery in the greater Cinci area - I love their blueberry pancakes.