So where do you go after an evening of drinking, dancing & ...? in Birmingham? Hey, it WAS a wedding (just not mine). Seriously, get your hung-over self to the O.G., Original Pancake House and supplant the alcohol in your veins with some maple syrup and coffee. I liked the Apple Pancake with fresh granny smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze. Should you want something with a bit of 'the hair of the dog' try the 'Tahitian Maiden's Dream' which is "A tender crepe filled with golden ripe bananas sliced in sour cream and tempered with Triple Sec, sherry and brandy. Topped with diced bananas in our apricot sauce.", my friend had one and we were all jealous. *afterwards you can head over to Charlemagne Record Exchange-best record store in the city.
(5)
Luke E.
It starts like this. We sit down and don't see our server for, no joke, 10 minutes. It's not her fault, because the couple directly next to us said their omelet was terrible and wanted it to be taken off the bill. (They didn't eat it.) They told us that the ham was HARD. Yuck. Now, the server wasn't allowed to take the meal off the check, but only to substitute something else. Unsurprisingly the couple didn't want to substitute something else. So back to the manager, back to the table etc trying to figure this out. No surprise the server didn't have time to get to us. I'm sorry, but whoever manages/owns this place should empower their wait staff to TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE CHECK IF IT SUCKS. You can offer a substitution but if they say "No" eat the loss (no pun intended) and move on. Don't waste your server's precious time with inane policies. OK, so we finally get to talk to our server. She is nice. A good server. But she is working in some strange constraints. I'll say this - If we hadn't had to wait 10 minutes to see our server and hadn't been privy to the experience of the folks next to us, the following might not have pissed me off so much. But, here goes: I want the veggie omelet w/o mushrooms but with spinach instead. No go, because the spinach is 1.75 (!) and the mushrooms are 95 cents. I'm annoyed, so, forget the spinach. No big deal I suppose, but how many breakfast places do you know that won't let you substitute one veggie for the other. I mean even Subway doesn't charge you more for spinach. The pancakes, actually, we the best pancakes I've ever had. No joke. So, if it hadn't been such an annoying experience, this would be a 5 star review. Ha. But the omelet was strange and huge and fluffy, like a mutant calzone. It was good, but I had no warning that it would be the strangest omelet I'd ever seen. Of course, I don't think our server had too much time for good service because she was too busy trying to side-step inane management policies in order to keep service going. Then the bill. The coffee was 2.05 a cup. Again, I wouldn't have even noticed this, but I was frustrated. I mean, my local coffee house that roasts its own fair trade beans charges 1.41 for a cup of coffee - in Nashville, with an economy that is slightly more pulsing that Birmingham. So, 2.05 seems excessive for mediocre diner coffee. Then, I've been charged 1.25 because I got cheese in my omelet. Huh? I mean, it's on the menu, but who the hell has ever heard of charging 1.25 to put cheese in an omelet? Don't omelets have cheese by default. Whatever. As a joke when I checked out, I asked why they didn't subtract 95 cents for the mushrooms I didn't eat. If you're going to nitpick about pennies, why shouldn't I? Anyway, I paid my bill, tipped 25% and vowed never to go back. Even though they were the best pancakes I've ever had (with sourdough yeast!)
(1)
Pat W.
The pancakes were light and fluffy. But the canadian bacon was dry and sausages were a little on the salty side. The toast was cut on the big side which was good and filling. I wish the chairs were square on the back so women with purses can hang them on the chairs. It was awkward eating with a purse on your lap. Service was great and attentive. At 9am on a Sunday we didn't have to wait for a table.
(3)
Elizabeth W.
I love breakfast--any time of day. Well, I have found a new favorite spot. The Original Pancake House is located in the Five Points area. Oh my goodness! It was great. The wait was very reasonable for a popular spot on a Sunday morning. The service was good, and we had a great waiter. My Western omelette filled my plate and was a mile high. The pancakes were to die for. So good that syrup was an afterthought. Our drinks were never empty. I'll definitely find an excuse to make the drive to Birmingham again soon.
(5)
Chris C.
The service was so terribly slow on this Sunday that I would reconsider going on a Sunday again. The food was actually very good but not deserving a 5 star. I had the Potato Pancakes and they were very, very good. The rest of my family had the regular pancakes, sourdough pancakes and my daughter had the dutch concoction (forgot the name of it) that is like a "fallen down"-type pastry. It was excellent. My Potato Pancakes were very light and, thankfully, not greasy. It came with apple sauce and sour cream on the side (except not the salsa I had requested). I tried the regular pancakes and they were very good but not exceptional. The sour dough pancakes were an interesting alternative and really good. The grapefruit juice was fresh squeezed and tasted such. After we ordered it took about 45 minutes, maybe longer. The waitress was busy and could not speak good English and you can forget asking her her recommendation. She either pretended to not understand English well or, when asked what she recommended, she answered - "Everything". Well, that ruled it back down to the ENTIRE MENU again. One other thing is there were several vagrants bothering the patrons who had to wait outside. This is a hip (for B'ham) area called 5-points and I was approached 4 separate times by 2 different people for money or just yelling at me "Hey!" trying to catch up to me. Not to sound insensitive, but I started feeling unsafe with my children.
(4)
David p.
Overall I like this place as your average local breakfast establishment. No frills, but there's nothing significantly bad to take away from it. Pro's - Price is good - The pancakes are good - Clean and comfortable atmosphere Con's: - I thought the menu was, although not bad, lacked significant imagination - The eggs and Canadian bacon came on a huge plate making them look small, overall presentation is just so-so
(4)
Taylor H.
The quality of food is ok but, the quantity of food that you receive is amazing!
(4)
Kim R.
You will not find better pancakes or french toast in this city. Period. Don't argue. I am a HUGE breakfast fan and this is when I will get up and drive 25 minutes on a cold morning to get french toast. Do not expect gourmet presentation. It's early, just order, have some coffee, read the paper and wait like a good boy ( or girl) and enjoy. Thank someone up above and be grateful for carbohydrates.
(4)
Dena M.
I loooove breakfast. There is always a wait when I go on saturday morning- its packed so go early. Due to said packed-ness the place feels cramped, the servers are sometimes overwhelmed and the food comes out a little slow. Once it arrives though...mmmm. The banana pancakes were fantastic and the potatoes were out of this world! Combo options arent that great but I suppose IHOP should not be my measure. If youre in town make the effort to swing by.
(4)
Lori T.
Delicious pancakes, great coffee,bacon cooked to perfection. There's not a lot going on with decor. Nothing flashy. Seating can be tricky. Tables are super close together. However, it gives you an opportunity to meet new folks. Definitely deserves a repeat visit.
(4)
Jeremy E.
I am not a big breakfast person, but when I am in the mood for some...this is the first place that comes to mind!! The pancakes are truly delicious, but be prepared for a HUGE portion. I always end up taking a good bit back home to eat later. There will be a wait on the weekends, but it is worth it. The only complaint I have is the noise level, and that the tables are really close together.
(4)
Monique M.
Not to be confused with IHOP, but if you had to ask which one is better this place by far is. I went with about seven other people so our service was a bit slow and I'm sure since most of us ordered the famous oven omelettes that takes a good 30 minutes had something to do with it. We went on a Sunday right before the end of church rush, so for eight people we got seated fairly quickly. The omelettes are great, but beware they will charge you for adding things like tomatoes, spinach, cheese ..... That's right they will charge you for adding cheese to your omelette because these omelettes do not come with cheese. Instead they put all of the cheese into the cheese grits which was really more like a bowl of cheese with a dollop of grits. The server was nice enough to bring over a bowl of regular grits for my aunt and sister to add into the cheese grits to make it less cheesy. Overall it's a cool joint, clean, and friendly enough staff. The food is delicious. I always have leftovers because of the big portions. You could honestly order one omelette which comes with pancakes, split down the middle, share with a partner and still be full.
(4)
Jen A.
My service was great- but my food came out wrong and I waited about 40 minutes before taking my first bite. Once I received my egg white omelette- oh my was that fluffy and delicious! A normal breakfast restaurant. Wish their French press coffee was so expensive.
(3)
Jacob W.
There's a lot right with this place, yet there's a lot wrong as well. I love the many types of pancakes they offer, I'd love to try them all. The quality of food was good, and tasty too. We had good service, and I will be back. However, I wish their hours were expanded, and I really wish I didn't have to step over 3 homeless guys to walk inside! The staff were polite, but they looked like they'd been wearing the same outfits for a week. One guy looked like he rolled around in the kitchen floor before coming out. Maybe a more strict hygiene policy would benefit us all. Definitely a step up from Waffle House, but it could be better.
(3)
Rikesha F.
Biggest omelette I've ever had! Pancakes were amazing too! Typing this makes me want to go there for breakfast this morning. Great price point as well. Parking is tricky though. That's my only complaint.
(4)
Catesby D.
Delicious! I had the half order of strawberry pancakes and a small cheese grits. The pancakes were awesome and the whipped cream was delicious. Couldn't even finish the half order. My brother had eggs, cheese grits and buttermilk pancakes. Very fast service and the waitress was attentive.
(5)
Tammy B.
Most amazing french toast - ever. Real french bread and the Dutch part of me glee'd with the sprinkling of the powdered sugar on top. Simple, yet delicious - and the bacon wasn't greasy or fatty, nice and crispy. Coffee was pretty good too, I'll definitely be back, but will avoid weekends as I think it would just be crazy crowded. The service was a little slow, but overall not bad.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Upon my first visit while visiting the Birmingham area, my family and I thoroughly enjoyed the service and food. Unfortunately, on our second visit we decided to try one of their huge omelettes but wasn't too thrilled as the egg was overlooked and runny. Upon telling our waitress we were unhappy with the omelette and why she took the omelette back. All of a sudden this lady appears with poor customer service asking if we wanted something else because she will have to charge us for the uneaten omelette. Although my boyfriend decided not to get anything else we were so displeased at this lady who we found out was the owner that while the pancakes are very good, I won't look forward to visiting this restaurant again. I asked if there was a sign stating uneaten food that is not to the customer's liking will be charged to the customer anyway - we were still charged for the omelette. My advice - if you visit this pancake house know what you want. If you're looking for good customer service stick to the waitresses but don't ask to meet the bully ass owner!!
(3)
Jessica G.
With a gluten allergy I was hesitant but they really proved me wrong. I had the gluten free pancakes with pecans and powder sugar. They were fantastic and left me full for hours. They staff was nice and helpful. For those that can eat anything the options are endless. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Azie S.
The Dutch baby was yummy and I like the fact it comes with extra lemons and power sugar so you can adjust it to taste. The Georgia pecan pancakes tasted like instant pancake mix they dumped pecans in it. I was hoping for homemade tasting pancakes not IHOP tasting. We also got the spinach omelette it was very bland (I had to add salt and pepper) and the sauce that comes with was like a cold bland gravy with sherry in it. In all I would say it is a star above IHOP.
(2)
Paige L.
I've been to this location twice and one in Atlanta a handful of times as well. Both times we've been to this location, the staff were friendly and accommodating. Our food arrived quickly and was soo delicious! Be prepared for a lot of bang for the buck, though. We over-ordered and had so much left over. The pancake servings are very large; even a half order was too much for me (but just right for my boyfriend). I'd recommend the peach compote pancakes or the sourdough flapjacks. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the Dutch Baby - they're light and airy, but very sweet! The tables fill up fast on the weekends, so get there early or be prepared to wait for a little bit.
(5)
Tameka J.
in town on business and I had the urge for pancakes. I've never had a bad meal at an Original pancake house and this time was no different. We were a party of 6, our server was attentive and pleasant. We had a very picky eater in our group and she had lots of questions and special request all were answered or accommodated. The strawberry pancakes are my go to whenever I dine here and they are always light & fluffy; the strawberries were fresh and the bacon was crisp.
(4)
Octavia H.
One of my favorite breakfast spots. The staff is friendly and they remember you if you're a regular dinner. The Omelets are oven baked and they are delicious and its big enough for two people. The pancakes are delicious as well. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Bruce K.
There's a Waffle House nearby, but why would you want that when you can have THIS? Delicious pancakes, eggs, crepes, omelets, better bacon, better sausages, and yes, the pancake house does have waffles too. With yummy whipped cream (not from a can) and fresh strawberries (also, not from a can). I went with the hash and eggs. Three eggs cooked how you like 'em (I prefer poached) on top of a decent half pound or so of grilled corned beef hash. Yummy. A little dash of Tabasco and some ketchup and I'm in hog heaven. And then a huge stack of four of their best pancakes. A spread of strawberry jam on two of them, a dousing of maple syrup. What's not to love?
(4)
Allison S.
The coffee and French toast are both really good. The spinach omelette is okay. The corned beef hash is from a can and the poached eggs are overcooked. Grits are meh. Overall, not worth the wait. Pop's up the street is better.
(3)
Daya' M.
A little pricey, but great!! Big light fluffy pancakes!! Whether you like blueberry or Huge buttermilk pancakes smothered with strawberries and whipped cream. I personally love their buckwheat pancakes. Staff is always friendly and very attentive food never takes long hot and delicious.
(4)
Matt C.
Hungh... well... Well.... hungh.. Not really... Very standard. They advertise Hormel in their menu... IMO Hormel is pretty low grade stuff. My GF had the ham (with her eggs).. I had the bacon (with my eggs) neither swine product was very good AT ALL. Bacon, too too greasy. Just didn't care for it. It was too much food. Huge pancakes, that were very average. Is it edible? Yes. Will it satisfy most people's needs? Yes. Is it a home-run? Nope. Boom!
(2)
Denis N.
Delicious pancakes! After a 20 min wait outside on a Saturday we finally sat down. Very busy so don't expect quality service. Actually don't expect decent service at all. You'll get your food and you'll eat it. With that said, the food is delicious! Pancakes are great and so is the salami with eggs. Make sure you drink enough coffee cause they are not shy with their prices. Enjoy this place. Much better than a Waffle House Happy eating
(4)
Darryl L.
I have tried an Original Pancake House in California and it was awesome. Tried this one and was not impressed. Very simple unimpressive decor. Lots of "street people" hanging around the entrance. Average food and service that is over priced. I won't be back.
(2)
Brian H.
Food was excellent. I had the Western omelet which comes with 3 buttermilk pancakes with coffee. My mother had the Senior plate, which was one egg, meat and three pancakes. She was able to get gluten free. My Father had the 2x4, which is 2eggs and 4 pancakes. Service was good. They key here on the weekends is to get there early. We arrived at 8:30am, walked in and was seated. The later you wait to arrive, there will be a wait time. Overall, the place was clean, the food was excellent and our overall experience was a gastronomical epicurean delight. I would recommend it highly. Thanks.
(4)
Paul B.
Watch out for the bathrooms... U will make a wrong turn into the kitchen if not paying attention when going to the restroom. Food was good, place was busy. Grits were better than advertised. Will return again when I come back .
(4)
Tushar R.
THEY WILL NOT SEAT YOU UNLESS YOUR ENTIRE PARTY IS PRESENT! Don't make the same mistake our group made today. I guess the policy is understandable since they are always so busy. As for specific food to order, I typically get an omelet and eat about half of it. It's literally impossible to eat all of it by yourself, especially since they give you 3 pancakes along with it.
(4)
Tonya K.
Just went here, crowded, air conditioning must have been broke because it was hot and not very comfortable conditions to eat in. The food was typical and ordinary but not much flavor. The grilled marinated chicken was dry and no flavor. The pancakes are no better then the frozen ones you buy at the grocery store. The place was dusty and unkept, the floors were oily and slippery and thank goodness I am thin woman because if your not you can fit in the bathroom stall. The wait was not worth the meal. I was very disappointed. I stopped eating after two bites. I am really tired of spending my hard earned money on meals that just don't merit payment, let alone the price they charge for what they serve. All in all the wait staff was very friendly and we had good service but the food was dull. You can get the same meal at a Waffle House for less wait, less money and better flavor.
(2)
Ryan B.
Great food. I love poached eggs so the eggs michael is a good choice. I'm not sure what that mushroom sherry sauce is supposed to bring to the table but it is not good. I order the dish without it and it is delicious. There also seems to be an unusually large collection of homeless people outside the door. Definitely worth the wait tho. I've never had a bad meal there.
(4)
A R.
The food was very good the waiter provided good service but was drenched in sweat, wiping sweat with his hand from his brow as he took orders. I requested a manager at the hostess booth and she rudely asked "what's wrong?" Cutting me off mid sentence. I shared my concerns about the sweaty waiter(whose shirt was wet and hair was wet with sweat). She stated that the restaurant was hot and he is a good waiter and then walked away. I was not able to find a comment card but this description of my experience should reach the right eyes/ears.
(2)
Evan T.
A mainstay of 5 points. Great pancakes. Lots of diff types. Also crepes and waffles. Omelettes are just ok, but enormous. In my opinion, bacon and eggs (comes w/ 3 buttermilk pancakes is best value). Service is great. Can get a bit crowded on sat & sun mornings.
(4)
Madeline S.
Having been to the Atlanta Original Pancake House our expectations were pretty high. Maybe that's why we were so let down? We had no wait during brunch time so that should have been a red flag, but we were hungry! As soon as went further into the place I quickly realized how filthy the place is. Trying to stay positive we decided it must be a gem of a dive restaurant. I ordered the apple pancakes and man friend an omelette. Both dishes we're nothing to write home about. The apples tasted like canned apple pie filling. We both got the nastiest truck stop burnt coffee. We told the server and she apologized and said she would brew us a fresh pot. Unfortunately they must have an ancient coffee machine. The new coffee arrived as we were looking to get the check. Which was pretty hefty for the lack of quality food. I would rather make pancakes than go here again.
(2)
Scott G.
My wife, the kids and I found this place on our way to Florida for Spring Break 2013. We enjoy eating at more than 'the usual' places, so we decided to try it. My wife ordered a Dutch Baby, and if you've never tried one, I recommend it....unless you don't like eggs. It is very eggy, but when they bring it, the thing is absolutely huge. It is hard to describe, but oh-so-good. Everyone of us enjoyed our food. The staff was pretty friendly. I will say that the prices are a bit higher than IHOP or something like that, but the food is worth it. I recently took our small high school there on the way back from a field trip and the general feeling was that everyone enjoyed the food. I had the french toast this time and it was amazing.
(5)
Patsy B.
I went during the week, I ordered steak and hash browns and grits and a side order of pancakes I was really hungry. The food was excellent. Cooked to order and fresh. Fast service. If you want a good hearty breakfast go to the original pancake house. There Georgia Pecan pancakes are outstanding. And I had their pecan waffles in the past they are so good.
(5)
Violet C.
went to this place while celebrating our anniversary in five points. it was packed. seemed to be a long line but they got us in fairly quickly. cute decor. sitting elbow to elbow with other diners and that's part of the charm. also a good indicator of just how awesome the food is. I love pancakes. tried lots of pancakes. their's are the best! the coffee is delicious. and the service is possibly the best service of all time. our server was Jackie. she was phenomenal. will definitely return.
(5)
Lee C.
The pancake house is just as you imagine it. A whole bunch of tables in a large room with people eating pancakes on a Sunday morning. We had to wait over 30 minutes to get a table, after having fought for a parking spot on the street. But, the pancakes are very good. I had the Swedish pancakes, which are very thin pancakes with a lingonberry sauce on the side. They were a little disappointing--hard to eat--and left me hungry. Other meals people got seemed well sized. In fact, the omelettes are huge. The decaf coffee wasn't remarkable. All the staff seemed in a good mood, and the servers were fairly attentive considering how packed the place was. It was a pleasant experience. I won't rave about it, but I recommend it.
(4)
Andrew N.
As a tourist of both home and around the U.S., one thing we put emphasis on as an important factor is the food quality. This morning, as we were heading home from vacation we stopped at this establishment. My family and I were definitely disappointed with our meal. It tasted of chemicals in the eggs, and almost metallic with the ham. For myself, the French toast tasted like cardboard. In addition, it was an outrageous bill for such terrible and frankly disgusting "food". As for me and my family's sake, we will NEVER submit our stomachs to this restaurant's "food" ever again.
(1)
vimal p.
This place is amazing! Portions are huge and reasonably priced. Everything we ordered was delicious! Omelets are big enough to share with 3 people! Our favorites were the egg sandwich, thick cut bacon and blueberry pancakes! The food came out quickly and our waitress was very sweet!
(4)
Tonja F.
5 stars for everything. Food, parking, pricing, customer service, location all wonderful. Eat breakfast here when in town. I believe you'll like it.
(5)
Velvet B.
If you have never had the Dutch baby you are missing out on one of the best things on earth. Eggs and hash yummy too. Coffee is delish, servce is good. Parking is hit or miss but check the back parking lot.
(5)
Ashley W.
The absolute best time to go to the Original Pancake House is Saturday mornings before 8 am. You'll get a great parking spot on the street, there's a slight crowd (but not too crowded) of morning people in the restaurant, and it's just the perfect setting to have a relaxing Saturday morning breakfast. Also, you sure won't leave hungry. I have great memories of going to the Original Pancake House with my dad on the occasional Saturday morning when I was in college. After trying at least ten different varieties of pancakes, I can safely say that anything you order here is safely delicious. My absolute favorite are the Hawaiian Pancakes with the Bacon Pancakes as a close second. The coffee is nothing to write home about, but the delicious food more than makes up for that. The service is spot on and you'll be checked on several times to see if you need anything else.
(4)
Gina M.
I love old places like this. Places I would have gone as a kid in the 60's and 70's. The food is good, the choice of pancakes out of this world and I didn't try the french toast but someone did at the table next to us and it looked amazing. It is a bit loud inside but not so distracting that it isn't part of the experience. In a world of IHOPs and Denny's this was a refreshing change. And over a Waffle House this would win that competition. I would return in a heartbeat.
(4)
Boo L.
My first visit, during Mother's Day weekend. Walked up to find a crowd waiting both inside and out. Imagine our surprise when we walked in, asked how long the wait would be, the hostess looked around and immediately seated our party of two! Our waiter came to us pretty quickly and took our drink order. He remained friendly, attentive and efficient the entire time we were there, despite the fact that he was completely busy because the place was packed! The menu has a large selections of breakfast goodies, and I initially thought I'd get crepes. But I noticed "yeasty buckwheat pancakes," and I love buckwheat pancakes (and this is The Original Pancake House, after all) so buckwheat pancakes it was. They were delicious and, even with the so-called short stack, more than enough. Great spot!
(4)
Kelly M.
Just drove up from Montgomery only to find out they closed at 2:30. Website and even Yelp! states they close at 3. Got here at 2:35 and their doors are closed. Lose money.
(1)
Jason H.
Although the pancakes are great try swapping them out for the French Toast! Possibly the best I've ever had. Coffee is great also. Quality ingredients. Weekend rule #1 beat The Church Crowd whatever you do or you will be waiting for a while
(4)
Trevvor C.
Original Pancake House is a slight step up from Waffle House in the Five Points area (and even that may be debated). There's a broad selection of pancakes, in addition to numerous other breafasty options: eggs, omelets, grits, oatmeal, toast, hash browns, corned beef, etc., etc., etc. My go-to is been the buckwheat pancakes, which are hearty without being heavy. The crispy potato pancakes and the sourdough pancakes are also yummy choices. A full order is plenty of food for most hungry folks, and a half-stack (which knocks a buck or two off the price) will suffice for the rest. Prices are pretty good, though the coffee (a $2.50/cup w/ refills) and corned beef ($6/very small plate) are on the pricier end of the spectrum for items of mediocre quality and quantity.
(3)
Mike J.
Holly Cow!!! I just walked out. I love the original pancake house but this location needs to set some standards for its servers. Either the AC was broken or... who was about to be my server had a sweating problem. I mean sweat beads in his hair, shirt drenched in sweat, dirty shirt, gross, so gross I had to get up and walk out. If management is reading this email, set some standards! I was looking forward to some bacon and eggs now I'm next door at the Red Zone sports bar eating a burger.
(1)
Kristin L.
I'm wondering what all the previous reviewers are judging their experiences against, as my family and I went to the Pancake House this morning, and it was no more than a glorified Waffle House. Three of us had different kind of fruit pancakes/waffles/crepes, and all the fruit came straight from a can! It was pretty terrible--I could have produced much better in my own kitchen. And the consistency of the waffle was really thin and crispy--not the fat, fluffy waffle I was anticipating. My husband had the waffle, which was quite disappointing, as well. And the food took a pretty long time to come out for what it was. Honestly, I would never go back here--the only reason we came here in the first place is because Birmingham is sorely lacking in brunch spots (most are not open at all on Saturdays, and many of the ones that offer Sunday brunch don't start serving until 11am).
(2)
Ashley M.
Went there one morning a couple of years ago with some classmates to celebrate the finale of Chemistry lab. Great thing to celebrate right? My breakfast was yummy. The atmosphere was great. The only issue I had was that they didn't take Discover card, not sure if they have joined the band wagon now though.
(3)
Ed M.
Coffee was poor quality for a premium price... What a scam!
(1)
Jacklyn H.
Best breakfast in town. Get there early (or late) because it packs out! Eventhough it's the "pancake house", the french toast is the best I've ever had and get it every time. Coffee is flavorful and strong and eggs and bacon are cooked perfectly.
(5)
Suzan H.
Woke up Saturday morning craving The Pancake House and as usual, it didn't disappoint. The wait on the weekend is the only downside and that there is nowhere to wait.
(4)
Hannah D.
The mini pancakes melted in my mouth and were absolutely wonderful. They came served with a very generous helping of butter. The waitress was amazing and had a sixth sense on when your drink was getting low. The prices were incredibly fair.
(5)
Joe L.
I went with an open mind due to my last meal was less than average and the cost was well above average and it's been several years. Well nothing changed except I waited twice as long to have an uneventful trip. Once again the fore-mentioned as described. Our waiter was really nice but seemed to be homeless without a dental plan. Very sad. I will not go back. Maybe I'm eating the wrong meal but, the Corn-Beef Hash was nothing special except for 1000 calories ingested.
(3)
Sam W.
I ordered an omelette with cheese, apple pancakes and cheese grits. everything was good not the great just average. It was very expensive for breakfast and it was also average , the portions are enormous though. It's just something that I could've made myself for a lot less than 25$ for my girlfriend and I to eat breakfast. the coffee was crazy it didn't taste like coffee tasted like ground sticks and I'm pretty sure the woman at the register charged us twice for something. Might give it another try in the future.
(3)
Captain C.
Overpriced everything. Spent $30 plus tip on 2 omelettes and some soda/oj? Food ok but Another Broken Egg is superior and even IHOP is great compared to this place.
(2)
Elizabeth F.
Can't beat the potatoes here! And the size of the omelets - WOW!
(4)
Jon K.
I went here with a co-worker after a recommendation from a local and reading all the positive reviews. We arrived about 9 am on a Friday. They were only moderately busy and we were seated immediately. I ordered a house specialty, the Apple Pancake and my co-worker ordered an omelet with pancakes and bacon. The pancake was enormous, with thin slices of apple covered in cinnamon sugar which had been baked in the oven. It was very good. My co-workers omelet was just as large and just as good. However, I am only giving two stars because they were extremely slow. If they are this slow on a Friday morning I'd hate to see what it's like on the weekend or game days. I understand that a dish which needs to be baked takes a bit longer. However, it's a good thing I had a newspaper to occupy my wait. I hope their other specialty pancakes don't take as long to make. Price for two coffees, specialty pancake, omelet, and pancake with a side of bacon - $35
(2)
Angela E.
Huge portions- classic breakfast. Staff was courteous and everything was fresh. The pancakes were amazing but the omelette was a little runny and took a while to prepare.
(3)
Cherry B.
I love this place. I split the French toast with my daughter and we both had enough. Turkey sausage was very good. Nice waiter, well lit place with lots of windows to check out the scene outside. Good prices and plenty of food. I will always go there when I visit Birmingham.
(4)
Justin W.
Delicious breakfast spot! I would be surprised if you came on a Saturday morning and did not encounter a group of people outside waiting to get in. It is a testament to their quality and is well worth the wait. The selection is great; especially the pancake options. Eat here.
(5)
Craig L.
This place is Awesome!!! Friendly old school atmosphere with great service. The omelets are big and delicious. Pancakes off the hook.. Highly recommend the peach pancakes.. Will definitely come back!
(5)
Mike R.
Great pancakes with warm syrup ! Egg was at least warm
(3)
Mike B.
Good place for breakfast! Have the omelet or French toast. We were tourists...and the kids loved it.
(4)
Deborah R.
After trying the Southfield location and liking it, but hearing this location was better I decided to stop in. My first impression was that it wasn't as busy as the other location, but I was incorrect. It was just as full of people, but the line went so much faster. The service was better also in the sense that we never had to ask for anything. We were given the food before we expected it, the refills before we needed them,and the check before we asked. The food was just as great at both locations. I would highly suggest the Santa Fe omelette, although my boyfriend's chocolate chip pancakes had me wishing I ordered them. This is one of those places that I could easily work my way through the menu by ordering a different dish every time and be satisfied. I would suggest this location over the Southfield one for dining in, but they both have a demanding crowd and draw horrendous lines. That aside, I will return. As soon as possible.
(5)
Keith C.
If it were possible to give 15 stars, this place would get all 15 of 'em. The Original Pancake House is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! If you're in the mood for breakfast food, here's your target destination. The food is killer and it's a great place to just chill for an awesome brunch. The variety of pancakes/waffles, omelettes, beverages and proteins is ridiculous, and the offerings are pretty unique. (Examples you ask? - the Dutch Baby - an oven-baked pancake; the Apple Waffle - exactly what it sounds like; the 49'ers - three very round and wide, very gooey pancakes unlike anything else you've ever had [and my number 1 pick and all-time favorite]). The wait staff is fast, friendly and great about getting orders correct the first time. And as far as the atmosphere is concerned, the place reminds me of what I would imagine a NY diner would be like at times - single individuals coming in with a newspaper, reading as they enjoy an order of French toast and coffee, while the morning news plays in the background on a flat screen. But huge groups of breakfast lovers can be found there as well, enjoying a healthy stack of blueberry flappys while hanging with good friends. So if you haven't been to the Pancake House, for the love of all that's holy in the world, GO TODAY! You will be hooked ---
(5)
Bryan M.
It was really busy the Sunday morning I arrived. I don't usually do chains, but I was nearby. It was alright, nothing impressive.
(3)
Mike F.
Don't go in expecting an I.H.O.P breakfast. Why not? Well, its because most of the servers and rest of the staff have their teeth and everything is not full of cream cheese and gimmicks. There are a lot of interesting original breakfast items on this menu and of course, PANCAKES. They have a wide variety of flaps on this menu that will keep your mouth and belly interested. Wear your stretchy pants and come early on the weekends because the place fills fast.
(4)
Alan M.
I went again on saturday morning right when they open.I found parking right on the street near the restaurant .I ordered cornbeef hash which came with rye bread .The cornbeef was homemade and was not greasy ,the poached eggs which came with the meal were hard poach so ask for soft if you like it that way.Rye bread was fresh new twist for breakfast.My friend had a omlette which was good also.
(4)
Chrissy S.
People who say they like pancakes more than waffles are insane crazy-faced liars. NORMALLY. When questioned on the great Pancake vs. Waffle debate of our time, I say bitch please. Waffle. Me. In response to someone creating the Waffle Sandwich (see here: yelp.com/biz/flavour-spo… ) I say, where have you been all my life, omg I love you. And if someone suggests IHOP ever, I tell them to sit the fuck DOWN and direct them to the nearest Casa De Waffle. BUT. That was until one sleepy eyed/assed morning after a road trip, when I ended up here. The Original Pancake House of Bham. Now, these things are everywhere and I cannot vouch for the other locations. (Why would I, I don't know where they've been) But lets pretend that this spot is the ORIGINAL Original Pancake House. Because dayum. It IS. Please feel free to be greeted by dark roasted hot ass coffee right away (yespleaseandthankyou) poured directly into your muggy. Nice bright open atmosphere wakes you up enough to open your giant laminated menu. The menu itself is great. It seems to be designed for A. children B) Hungover people C) The Elderly or D) People who like pretty pictures of little pink frying pans (and who doesn't). So really it's a win/win. You can't go wrong here. But don't get hypnotized or stressed by the myriad of picture pages! There is eating to be done. Safe bets. Omelets (massive)... Bacon ...Pancakes. Well yes, obviously, but let me steer you down the path that will take you to the blissful land of Happy Food Coma...PEACH. PANCAKES. sweeeeet god. Get the Peach Pancakes. Do it for yourself. Do it for your belly. Do it for pancakes everywhere. They come out golden, piping hot and dusted with powdered sugar, and covered in sweet hot peaches. If you are so inclined, a bowl/mini tub of fresh whipped cream comes on the side. I vote no on that mess and savor the greatness as is. But either way. This is home-base. Order some bacon and pour some maple syrup on it and pat yourself on the back for being fucking awesome. The place itself is bright and welcoming. I love all the tall windows looking out on downtown. I love the divey retro feel of it, with its tiled tables that make a lovely clattering noise when you set down the creamer. It also doesn't hurt that you can see into the kitchen and watch, what appears to be half the members of KISS sans makeup on their day off, making your eggs and grits. Works for me. Make 'em over easy and please don't break into song. So yes. I am a Waffle girl, through and through. I probably always will be. And it may not be "Original", but this spot has made me, at least for now, a little pro-Pancake too.
(4)
mon b.
I have been to other locations of this chain of restaurants and had better service and food. Honestly, I think IHOP may have better buttermilk pancakes. My omelet was not cooked well. I tried to get the waitress attention but she never came back. It will be a while before I go again.
(3)
Bryan W.
How anyone can give this a negative review, I don't understand. This food is fantastic. I used to regular the Atlanta one that was featured on the Food Network. On a Sunday morning, you would wait hours to eat there. I love the variety, and all the food is so fresh and tasty. I would say you must order the fruit with fresh whipped cream, it is amazing!
(5)
Nate L.
Whenever I find out there's an Original Pancake House in the area, I always know where I'm going for breakfast the next day. Rumor has it there was one in my neck of the woods quite some time ago but burned down long before I was born. I have no idea why they wouldn't bring something like that back. Naturally, we make plans to stop by the OPH in Five Points, while I was in Birmingham. Yes, the portions are gigantic and there's a possibility you may not be able to finish them. This makes the idea of splitting a dish very tempting. On that particular day, however, I decided to not only deviate from my usual order of a monster-sized cheese omelette but be quite selfish about it too. I went with the buttermilk pancakes, which are always moist and have a rich taste to them. Who knew a basic plate of pancakes could taste so good? One of these days, I will bring myself to order a dutch baby. I will not be able to keep a straight face while I do it, but I will order one. I've always been curious about it. As far as the service went, I couldn't pick out anything lacking. She poured refills when we needed them and served everything hot. We never waited long for her to come back and check on us. I do recommend trying it. If not in Alabama, then at the approximately 100 other locations nationwide. It's a fine restaurant.
(4)
Bart M.
I've been there three times and always had excellent service and the pancakes are awesome.
(5)
Antonice L.
I think they have fantastic pancakes and omelets. The food is filling and delicious!
(5)
Jason S.
Not sure what all of the hype is about, but frankly I also don't understand the people that wait in front of the Pancake Pantry in Nashville, either. They have good pancakes, which is always a good thing. They have interesting omelets. They are these gigantic, g-d knows how many eggs were used, loaves that are baked in the oven, so the outside has a thin crust of egg, almost like a souffle. Really interesting concept, although I would recommend getting one for two or three people. My wife got the Swedish pancakes, and they were awful. She lived in Sweden for a while and had a Swedish grandmother, one of the key features of Swedish pancakes is they must be light and totally pliable, as you roll up the filling inside them, like crepes. These were mostly overcooked and brittle, so it really was impossible to eat them. Big downer. She made do by ripping off the parts of them that were not crunchy and eventually gave up. My dad's wife did get something very interesting. It was two poached eggs served on sausage patties on English muffins, covered in a mushroom sherry sauce - very neat idea and pretty good. I was really not impressed by their corned beef hash, it was really not that good and had no seasoning to speak of. I'm spoiled and used to hash that has real deli corned beef in it, not the canned stuff I assume this was made with. Service was good and they seemed to be turning tables, I don't understand why you have to wait in line to pay at the front, as they space is very limited and also where people wait to be seated, it would really make more sense to move that and have the servers take your check and payment to an area that doesn't clog up the flow of people.
(2)
Mike G.
Great breakfast spot! I came in on Monday morning with some friends and we all enjoyed our meals. I got the cherry single crepe with a side of home fries and the mushroom sauce/stuff. The crepe was awesome! Full of flavor and delicious! The home fries were pretty good as well. I would definitely stay away from the mushroom stuff that I got. I don't remember what it was called but was basically mushrooms with a thick gooey gravy. Overall, the food and service was good and I would definitely come here again!
(4)
Gary W.
Great place
(4)
C V.
Go here to eat early in the mornings sometimes while in Bham, even though I know it will make me sleepy. The pancake options are good and I am a fan of their French Toast. Nice crispy bacon there too.
(3)
Beth K.
Oh. My. Sweet. Lord. Pancakes at The Original Pancake House are so good - they are truly the most magnificent tasting pastry/cake/bread I have ever tasted. I for the most part, I could take or leave breakfast food. I'm not exactly sure what made these pancakes so wonderfully good, but the flavor was slightly yeasty - like the very best of a pancake and a fluffy biscuit all rolled into one. They didn't even need syrup. And these were just the little side stack they served with my omelette. Oh, my omelette. I had the veggie omelette with Swiss cheese (divine) and my mom had the western omelette. If I had tried to pick this thing up from the plate it would've taken both hands and then some. They are huge. Great flavor, large portions. My dad had the hash and poached eggs and the hubby had eggs and bacon with potato cakes. Both were members of the Clean Plate Club, so that was a good sign. The potato cakes weren't really up my alley, but I'll take the blame on that. Just didn't love them. Our server was great - attentive, but not overly so. The wait for a table was brief - maybe 10 minutes? That's pretty impressive considering we arrived at 10:30 on a Sunday morning (probably their busiest time). Overall, it was really awesome. We were in town for a wedding, but I'm definitely game for a return trip next time we're in Birmingham.
(5)
Dave G.
So good!!!!! The pancakes seem to have some sort of crack in them. Here's a tip - when you order any egg meal, you can get "specialty" pancakes subbed in for $2 or so. Do it. I got the peanut butter and chocolate pancakes (actually you are supposed to pick one or the other but get both for a buck more). Heavenly. Minus one star only for not having iced coffee (but I'd add back half if I could for the server telling me I could go next door to Starbucks and bring it back and they were cool with that).
(4)
Brooke D.
This place boasts "The most photocopied menu" and I can understand why. They offer a LARGE variety of pancakes in all different flavors. The pancakes are the star of the menu but they have other delicious alternatives as well. The egg sandwich with bacon and cheese is extremely tasty and still just as filling as the pancakes! There is plenty of room for a big group to sit comfortably and the service was fast and friendly. They serve breakfast all day which is great if you're a big breakfast fan (or can't roll out of bed before 10:30).
(4)
Fat K.
great pancakes It's a major cluster, however, waiting for a table and paying for your meal. Paying at the table would reduce overcrowding by creating a larger waiting area. Unfortunately, I doubt management will invest in sophisticated credit card processors, etc. in order to expedite the payment process at the table.
(4)
Chris N.
buckwheat pancakes son!!!
(4)
Tosha L.
Overall, breakfast was very good. I had the blueberry pancakes, ham, and eggs. The pancakes were exceptionally good! Service was excellent, she was attentive despite her waiting on several tables at the same time. Only complaint is that the table was sticky from previous customers, which always makes for an unpleasant experience. The food outweighed this con though, and I would definitely recommend a trip over there.
(4)
David B.
Excellent pancakes, but the coffee was old and bitter and the corned beef hash wasn't anything special
(4)
Jen C.
When we arrived on a Sunday morning I thought the line outside was a good sign. However I found this place terribly overrated. Everything is overpriced, the food was average and our server kept forgetting my coffee. I can have a better breakfast experience at home.
(2)
Ken K.
Mmmmmm. Got my pancake Buddha belly pokin' out my t-shirt now. Typical high prices of The Original Pancake House chain.
(3)
Tasha M.
Food is always good. I love that it's in 5pts Southside. Service is usually pretty great even when they're very busy. The only bad thing is that they show Fox news on the tv around the clock. A business should be politically unbiased as to not alienate one segment of they're customer base. Fox news is obviously one of the more (most?) biased stations. I wish they would show a real news station, aka something completely unbiased.
(3)
Chris E.
If you want pancakes in Bimingham then this is your place. My family goes there every weekend for the Blueberry pancakes. You aren't going to find a better pancake house in Birmingham, perhaps anywhere. We always have the same server, Miss Jackie.
(5)
Sheri P.
My family loves it. I think it is fun to go. It is always crowded. I usually get the Eggs Micheal with out the sauce. It is a poached egg and English muffin with a pretty gross mushroom cream sauce. My step dad loves it but I think it just reminds me of lard. The pancakes are delish too. I have been here with 16 girls and the service was pretty good..... I'm getting hungry.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
David M.
So where do you go after an evening of drinking, dancing & ...? in Birmingham? Hey, it WAS a wedding (just not mine). Seriously, get your hung-over self to the O.G., Original Pancake House and supplant the alcohol in your veins with some maple syrup and coffee. I liked the Apple Pancake with fresh granny smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze. Should you want something with a bit of 'the hair of the dog' try the 'Tahitian Maiden's Dream' which is "A tender crepe filled with golden ripe bananas sliced in sour cream and tempered with Triple Sec, sherry and brandy. Topped with diced bananas in our apricot sauce.", my friend had one and we were all jealous. *afterwards you can head over to Charlemagne Record Exchange-best record store in the city.
(5)Luke E.
It starts like this. We sit down and don't see our server for, no joke, 10 minutes. It's not her fault, because the couple directly next to us said their omelet was terrible and wanted it to be taken off the bill. (They didn't eat it.) They told us that the ham was HARD. Yuck. Now, the server wasn't allowed to take the meal off the check, but only to substitute something else. Unsurprisingly the couple didn't want to substitute something else. So back to the manager, back to the table etc trying to figure this out. No surprise the server didn't have time to get to us. I'm sorry, but whoever manages/owns this place should empower their wait staff to TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE CHECK IF IT SUCKS. You can offer a substitution but if they say "No" eat the loss (no pun intended) and move on. Don't waste your server's precious time with inane policies. OK, so we finally get to talk to our server. She is nice. A good server. But she is working in some strange constraints. I'll say this - If we hadn't had to wait 10 minutes to see our server and hadn't been privy to the experience of the folks next to us, the following might not have pissed me off so much. But, here goes: I want the veggie omelet w/o mushrooms but with spinach instead. No go, because the spinach is 1.75 (!) and the mushrooms are 95 cents. I'm annoyed, so, forget the spinach. No big deal I suppose, but how many breakfast places do you know that won't let you substitute one veggie for the other. I mean even Subway doesn't charge you more for spinach. The pancakes, actually, we the best pancakes I've ever had. No joke. So, if it hadn't been such an annoying experience, this would be a 5 star review. Ha. But the omelet was strange and huge and fluffy, like a mutant calzone. It was good, but I had no warning that it would be the strangest omelet I'd ever seen. Of course, I don't think our server had too much time for good service because she was too busy trying to side-step inane management policies in order to keep service going. Then the bill. The coffee was 2.05 a cup. Again, I wouldn't have even noticed this, but I was frustrated. I mean, my local coffee house that roasts its own fair trade beans charges 1.41 for a cup of coffee - in Nashville, with an economy that is slightly more pulsing that Birmingham. So, 2.05 seems excessive for mediocre diner coffee. Then, I've been charged 1.25 because I got cheese in my omelet. Huh? I mean, it's on the menu, but who the hell has ever heard of charging 1.25 to put cheese in an omelet? Don't omelets have cheese by default. Whatever. As a joke when I checked out, I asked why they didn't subtract 95 cents for the mushrooms I didn't eat. If you're going to nitpick about pennies, why shouldn't I? Anyway, I paid my bill, tipped 25% and vowed never to go back. Even though they were the best pancakes I've ever had (with sourdough yeast!)
(1)Pat W.
The pancakes were light and fluffy. But the canadian bacon was dry and sausages were a little on the salty side. The toast was cut on the big side which was good and filling. I wish the chairs were square on the back so women with purses can hang them on the chairs. It was awkward eating with a purse on your lap. Service was great and attentive. At 9am on a Sunday we didn't have to wait for a table.
(3)Elizabeth W.
I love breakfast--any time of day. Well, I have found a new favorite spot. The Original Pancake House is located in the Five Points area. Oh my goodness! It was great. The wait was very reasonable for a popular spot on a Sunday morning. The service was good, and we had a great waiter. My Western omelette filled my plate and was a mile high. The pancakes were to die for. So good that syrup was an afterthought. Our drinks were never empty. I'll definitely find an excuse to make the drive to Birmingham again soon.
(5)Chris C.
The service was so terribly slow on this Sunday that I would reconsider going on a Sunday again. The food was actually very good but not deserving a 5 star. I had the Potato Pancakes and they were very, very good. The rest of my family had the regular pancakes, sourdough pancakes and my daughter had the dutch concoction (forgot the name of it) that is like a "fallen down"-type pastry. It was excellent. My Potato Pancakes were very light and, thankfully, not greasy. It came with apple sauce and sour cream on the side (except not the salsa I had requested). I tried the regular pancakes and they were very good but not exceptional. The sour dough pancakes were an interesting alternative and really good. The grapefruit juice was fresh squeezed and tasted such. After we ordered it took about 45 minutes, maybe longer. The waitress was busy and could not speak good English and you can forget asking her her recommendation. She either pretended to not understand English well or, when asked what she recommended, she answered - "Everything". Well, that ruled it back down to the ENTIRE MENU again. One other thing is there were several vagrants bothering the patrons who had to wait outside. This is a hip (for B'ham) area called 5-points and I was approached 4 separate times by 2 different people for money or just yelling at me "Hey!" trying to catch up to me. Not to sound insensitive, but I started feeling unsafe with my children.
(4)David p.
Overall I like this place as your average local breakfast establishment. No frills, but there's nothing significantly bad to take away from it. Pro's - Price is good - The pancakes are good - Clean and comfortable atmosphere Con's: - I thought the menu was, although not bad, lacked significant imagination - The eggs and Canadian bacon came on a huge plate making them look small, overall presentation is just so-so
(4)Taylor H.
The quality of food is ok but, the quantity of food that you receive is amazing!
(4)Kim R.
You will not find better pancakes or french toast in this city. Period. Don't argue. I am a HUGE breakfast fan and this is when I will get up and drive 25 minutes on a cold morning to get french toast. Do not expect gourmet presentation. It's early, just order, have some coffee, read the paper and wait like a good boy ( or girl) and enjoy. Thank someone up above and be grateful for carbohydrates.
(4)Dena M.
I loooove breakfast. There is always a wait when I go on saturday morning- its packed so go early. Due to said packed-ness the place feels cramped, the servers are sometimes overwhelmed and the food comes out a little slow. Once it arrives though...mmmm. The banana pancakes were fantastic and the potatoes were out of this world! Combo options arent that great but I suppose IHOP should not be my measure. If youre in town make the effort to swing by.
(4)Lori T.
Delicious pancakes, great coffee,bacon cooked to perfection. There's not a lot going on with decor. Nothing flashy. Seating can be tricky. Tables are super close together. However, it gives you an opportunity to meet new folks. Definitely deserves a repeat visit.
(4)Jeremy E.
I am not a big breakfast person, but when I am in the mood for some...this is the first place that comes to mind!! The pancakes are truly delicious, but be prepared for a HUGE portion. I always end up taking a good bit back home to eat later. There will be a wait on the weekends, but it is worth it. The only complaint I have is the noise level, and that the tables are really close together.
(4)Monique M.
Not to be confused with IHOP, but if you had to ask which one is better this place by far is. I went with about seven other people so our service was a bit slow and I'm sure since most of us ordered the famous oven omelettes that takes a good 30 minutes had something to do with it. We went on a Sunday right before the end of church rush, so for eight people we got seated fairly quickly. The omelettes are great, but beware they will charge you for adding things like tomatoes, spinach, cheese ..... That's right they will charge you for adding cheese to your omelette because these omelettes do not come with cheese. Instead they put all of the cheese into the cheese grits which was really more like a bowl of cheese with a dollop of grits. The server was nice enough to bring over a bowl of regular grits for my aunt and sister to add into the cheese grits to make it less cheesy. Overall it's a cool joint, clean, and friendly enough staff. The food is delicious. I always have leftovers because of the big portions. You could honestly order one omelette which comes with pancakes, split down the middle, share with a partner and still be full.
(4)Jen A.
My service was great- but my food came out wrong and I waited about 40 minutes before taking my first bite. Once I received my egg white omelette- oh my was that fluffy and delicious! A normal breakfast restaurant. Wish their French press coffee was so expensive.
(3)Jacob W.
There's a lot right with this place, yet there's a lot wrong as well. I love the many types of pancakes they offer, I'd love to try them all. The quality of food was good, and tasty too. We had good service, and I will be back. However, I wish their hours were expanded, and I really wish I didn't have to step over 3 homeless guys to walk inside! The staff were polite, but they looked like they'd been wearing the same outfits for a week. One guy looked like he rolled around in the kitchen floor before coming out. Maybe a more strict hygiene policy would benefit us all. Definitely a step up from Waffle House, but it could be better.
(3)Rikesha F.
Biggest omelette I've ever had! Pancakes were amazing too! Typing this makes me want to go there for breakfast this morning. Great price point as well. Parking is tricky though. That's my only complaint.
(4)Catesby D.
Delicious! I had the half order of strawberry pancakes and a small cheese grits. The pancakes were awesome and the whipped cream was delicious. Couldn't even finish the half order. My brother had eggs, cheese grits and buttermilk pancakes. Very fast service and the waitress was attentive.
(5)Tammy B.
Most amazing french toast - ever. Real french bread and the Dutch part of me glee'd with the sprinkling of the powdered sugar on top. Simple, yet delicious - and the bacon wasn't greasy or fatty, nice and crispy. Coffee was pretty good too, I'll definitely be back, but will avoid weekends as I think it would just be crazy crowded. The service was a little slow, but overall not bad.
(5)Jennifer M.
Upon my first visit while visiting the Birmingham area, my family and I thoroughly enjoyed the service and food. Unfortunately, on our second visit we decided to try one of their huge omelettes but wasn't too thrilled as the egg was overlooked and runny. Upon telling our waitress we were unhappy with the omelette and why she took the omelette back. All of a sudden this lady appears with poor customer service asking if we wanted something else because she will have to charge us for the uneaten omelette. Although my boyfriend decided not to get anything else we were so displeased at this lady who we found out was the owner that while the pancakes are very good, I won't look forward to visiting this restaurant again. I asked if there was a sign stating uneaten food that is not to the customer's liking will be charged to the customer anyway - we were still charged for the omelette. My advice - if you visit this pancake house know what you want. If you're looking for good customer service stick to the waitresses but don't ask to meet the bully ass owner!!
(3)Jessica G.
With a gluten allergy I was hesitant but they really proved me wrong. I had the gluten free pancakes with pecans and powder sugar. They were fantastic and left me full for hours. They staff was nice and helpful. For those that can eat anything the options are endless. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Azie S.
The Dutch baby was yummy and I like the fact it comes with extra lemons and power sugar so you can adjust it to taste. The Georgia pecan pancakes tasted like instant pancake mix they dumped pecans in it. I was hoping for homemade tasting pancakes not IHOP tasting. We also got the spinach omelette it was very bland (I had to add salt and pepper) and the sauce that comes with was like a cold bland gravy with sherry in it. In all I would say it is a star above IHOP.
(2)Paige L.
I've been to this location twice and one in Atlanta a handful of times as well. Both times we've been to this location, the staff were friendly and accommodating. Our food arrived quickly and was soo delicious! Be prepared for a lot of bang for the buck, though. We over-ordered and had so much left over. The pancake servings are very large; even a half order was too much for me (but just right for my boyfriend). I'd recommend the peach compote pancakes or the sourdough flapjacks. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the Dutch Baby - they're light and airy, but very sweet! The tables fill up fast on the weekends, so get there early or be prepared to wait for a little bit.
(5)Tameka J.
in town on business and I had the urge for pancakes. I've never had a bad meal at an Original pancake house and this time was no different. We were a party of 6, our server was attentive and pleasant. We had a very picky eater in our group and she had lots of questions and special request all were answered or accommodated. The strawberry pancakes are my go to whenever I dine here and they are always light & fluffy; the strawberries were fresh and the bacon was crisp.
(4)Octavia H.
One of my favorite breakfast spots. The staff is friendly and they remember you if you're a regular dinner. The Omelets are oven baked and they are delicious and its big enough for two people. The pancakes are delicious as well. I have never had a bad experience here.
(5)Bruce K.
There's a Waffle House nearby, but why would you want that when you can have THIS? Delicious pancakes, eggs, crepes, omelets, better bacon, better sausages, and yes, the pancake house does have waffles too. With yummy whipped cream (not from a can) and fresh strawberries (also, not from a can). I went with the hash and eggs. Three eggs cooked how you like 'em (I prefer poached) on top of a decent half pound or so of grilled corned beef hash. Yummy. A little dash of Tabasco and some ketchup and I'm in hog heaven. And then a huge stack of four of their best pancakes. A spread of strawberry jam on two of them, a dousing of maple syrup. What's not to love?
(4)Allison S.
The coffee and French toast are both really good. The spinach omelette is okay. The corned beef hash is from a can and the poached eggs are overcooked. Grits are meh. Overall, not worth the wait. Pop's up the street is better.
(3)Daya' M.
A little pricey, but great!! Big light fluffy pancakes!! Whether you like blueberry or Huge buttermilk pancakes smothered with strawberries and whipped cream. I personally love their buckwheat pancakes. Staff is always friendly and very attentive food never takes long hot and delicious.
(4)Matt C.
Hungh... well... Well.... hungh.. Not really... Very standard. They advertise Hormel in their menu... IMO Hormel is pretty low grade stuff. My GF had the ham (with her eggs).. I had the bacon (with my eggs) neither swine product was very good AT ALL. Bacon, too too greasy. Just didn't care for it. It was too much food. Huge pancakes, that were very average. Is it edible? Yes. Will it satisfy most people's needs? Yes. Is it a home-run? Nope. Boom!
(2)Denis N.
Delicious pancakes! After a 20 min wait outside on a Saturday we finally sat down. Very busy so don't expect quality service. Actually don't expect decent service at all. You'll get your food and you'll eat it. With that said, the food is delicious! Pancakes are great and so is the salami with eggs. Make sure you drink enough coffee cause they are not shy with their prices. Enjoy this place. Much better than a Waffle House Happy eating
(4)Darryl L.
I have tried an Original Pancake House in California and it was awesome. Tried this one and was not impressed. Very simple unimpressive decor. Lots of "street people" hanging around the entrance. Average food and service that is over priced. I won't be back.
(2)Brian H.
Food was excellent. I had the Western omelet which comes with 3 buttermilk pancakes with coffee. My mother had the Senior plate, which was one egg, meat and three pancakes. She was able to get gluten free. My Father had the 2x4, which is 2eggs and 4 pancakes. Service was good. They key here on the weekends is to get there early. We arrived at 8:30am, walked in and was seated. The later you wait to arrive, there will be a wait time. Overall, the place was clean, the food was excellent and our overall experience was a gastronomical epicurean delight. I would recommend it highly. Thanks.
(4)Paul B.
Watch out for the bathrooms... U will make a wrong turn into the kitchen if not paying attention when going to the restroom. Food was good, place was busy. Grits were better than advertised. Will return again when I come back .
(4)Tushar R.
THEY WILL NOT SEAT YOU UNLESS YOUR ENTIRE PARTY IS PRESENT! Don't make the same mistake our group made today. I guess the policy is understandable since they are always so busy. As for specific food to order, I typically get an omelet and eat about half of it. It's literally impossible to eat all of it by yourself, especially since they give you 3 pancakes along with it.
(4)Tonya K.
Just went here, crowded, air conditioning must have been broke because it was hot and not very comfortable conditions to eat in. The food was typical and ordinary but not much flavor. The grilled marinated chicken was dry and no flavor. The pancakes are no better then the frozen ones you buy at the grocery store. The place was dusty and unkept, the floors were oily and slippery and thank goodness I am thin woman because if your not you can fit in the bathroom stall. The wait was not worth the meal. I was very disappointed. I stopped eating after two bites. I am really tired of spending my hard earned money on meals that just don't merit payment, let alone the price they charge for what they serve. All in all the wait staff was very friendly and we had good service but the food was dull. You can get the same meal at a Waffle House for less wait, less money and better flavor.
(2)Ryan B.
Great food. I love poached eggs so the eggs michael is a good choice. I'm not sure what that mushroom sherry sauce is supposed to bring to the table but it is not good. I order the dish without it and it is delicious. There also seems to be an unusually large collection of homeless people outside the door. Definitely worth the wait tho. I've never had a bad meal there.
(4)A R.
The food was very good the waiter provided good service but was drenched in sweat, wiping sweat with his hand from his brow as he took orders. I requested a manager at the hostess booth and she rudely asked "what's wrong?" Cutting me off mid sentence. I shared my concerns about the sweaty waiter(whose shirt was wet and hair was wet with sweat). She stated that the restaurant was hot and he is a good waiter and then walked away. I was not able to find a comment card but this description of my experience should reach the right eyes/ears.
(2)Evan T.
A mainstay of 5 points. Great pancakes. Lots of diff types. Also crepes and waffles. Omelettes are just ok, but enormous. In my opinion, bacon and eggs (comes w/ 3 buttermilk pancakes is best value). Service is great. Can get a bit crowded on sat & sun mornings.
(4)Madeline S.
Having been to the Atlanta Original Pancake House our expectations were pretty high. Maybe that's why we were so let down? We had no wait during brunch time so that should have been a red flag, but we were hungry! As soon as went further into the place I quickly realized how filthy the place is. Trying to stay positive we decided it must be a gem of a dive restaurant. I ordered the apple pancakes and man friend an omelette. Both dishes we're nothing to write home about. The apples tasted like canned apple pie filling. We both got the nastiest truck stop burnt coffee. We told the server and she apologized and said she would brew us a fresh pot. Unfortunately they must have an ancient coffee machine. The new coffee arrived as we were looking to get the check. Which was pretty hefty for the lack of quality food. I would rather make pancakes than go here again.
(2)Scott G.
My wife, the kids and I found this place on our way to Florida for Spring Break 2013. We enjoy eating at more than 'the usual' places, so we decided to try it. My wife ordered a Dutch Baby, and if you've never tried one, I recommend it....unless you don't like eggs. It is very eggy, but when they bring it, the thing is absolutely huge. It is hard to describe, but oh-so-good. Everyone of us enjoyed our food. The staff was pretty friendly. I will say that the prices are a bit higher than IHOP or something like that, but the food is worth it. I recently took our small high school there on the way back from a field trip and the general feeling was that everyone enjoyed the food. I had the french toast this time and it was amazing.
(5)Patsy B.
I went during the week, I ordered steak and hash browns and grits and a side order of pancakes I was really hungry. The food was excellent. Cooked to order and fresh. Fast service. If you want a good hearty breakfast go to the original pancake house. There Georgia Pecan pancakes are outstanding. And I had their pecan waffles in the past they are so good.
(5)Violet C.
went to this place while celebrating our anniversary in five points. it was packed. seemed to be a long line but they got us in fairly quickly. cute decor. sitting elbow to elbow with other diners and that's part of the charm. also a good indicator of just how awesome the food is. I love pancakes. tried lots of pancakes. their's are the best! the coffee is delicious. and the service is possibly the best service of all time. our server was Jackie. she was phenomenal. will definitely return.
(5)Lee C.
The pancake house is just as you imagine it. A whole bunch of tables in a large room with people eating pancakes on a Sunday morning. We had to wait over 30 minutes to get a table, after having fought for a parking spot on the street. But, the pancakes are very good. I had the Swedish pancakes, which are very thin pancakes with a lingonberry sauce on the side. They were a little disappointing--hard to eat--and left me hungry. Other meals people got seemed well sized. In fact, the omelettes are huge. The decaf coffee wasn't remarkable. All the staff seemed in a good mood, and the servers were fairly attentive considering how packed the place was. It was a pleasant experience. I won't rave about it, but I recommend it.
(4)Andrew N.
As a tourist of both home and around the U.S., one thing we put emphasis on as an important factor is the food quality. This morning, as we were heading home from vacation we stopped at this establishment. My family and I were definitely disappointed with our meal. It tasted of chemicals in the eggs, and almost metallic with the ham. For myself, the French toast tasted like cardboard. In addition, it was an outrageous bill for such terrible and frankly disgusting "food". As for me and my family's sake, we will NEVER submit our stomachs to this restaurant's "food" ever again.
(1)vimal p.
This place is amazing! Portions are huge and reasonably priced. Everything we ordered was delicious! Omelets are big enough to share with 3 people! Our favorites were the egg sandwich, thick cut bacon and blueberry pancakes! The food came out quickly and our waitress was very sweet!
(4)Tonja F.
5 stars for everything. Food, parking, pricing, customer service, location all wonderful. Eat breakfast here when in town. I believe you'll like it.
(5)Velvet B.
If you have never had the Dutch baby you are missing out on one of the best things on earth. Eggs and hash yummy too. Coffee is delish, servce is good. Parking is hit or miss but check the back parking lot.
(5)Ashley W.
The absolute best time to go to the Original Pancake House is Saturday mornings before 8 am. You'll get a great parking spot on the street, there's a slight crowd (but not too crowded) of morning people in the restaurant, and it's just the perfect setting to have a relaxing Saturday morning breakfast. Also, you sure won't leave hungry. I have great memories of going to the Original Pancake House with my dad on the occasional Saturday morning when I was in college. After trying at least ten different varieties of pancakes, I can safely say that anything you order here is safely delicious. My absolute favorite are the Hawaiian Pancakes with the Bacon Pancakes as a close second. The coffee is nothing to write home about, but the delicious food more than makes up for that. The service is spot on and you'll be checked on several times to see if you need anything else.
(4)Gina M.
I love old places like this. Places I would have gone as a kid in the 60's and 70's. The food is good, the choice of pancakes out of this world and I didn't try the french toast but someone did at the table next to us and it looked amazing. It is a bit loud inside but not so distracting that it isn't part of the experience. In a world of IHOPs and Denny's this was a refreshing change. And over a Waffle House this would win that competition. I would return in a heartbeat.
(4)Boo L.
My first visit, during Mother's Day weekend. Walked up to find a crowd waiting both inside and out. Imagine our surprise when we walked in, asked how long the wait would be, the hostess looked around and immediately seated our party of two! Our waiter came to us pretty quickly and took our drink order. He remained friendly, attentive and efficient the entire time we were there, despite the fact that he was completely busy because the place was packed! The menu has a large selections of breakfast goodies, and I initially thought I'd get crepes. But I noticed "yeasty buckwheat pancakes," and I love buckwheat pancakes (and this is The Original Pancake House, after all) so buckwheat pancakes it was. They were delicious and, even with the so-called short stack, more than enough. Great spot!
(4)Kelly M.
Just drove up from Montgomery only to find out they closed at 2:30. Website and even Yelp! states they close at 3. Got here at 2:35 and their doors are closed. Lose money.
(1)Jason H.
Although the pancakes are great try swapping them out for the French Toast! Possibly the best I've ever had. Coffee is great also. Quality ingredients. Weekend rule #1 beat The Church Crowd whatever you do or you will be waiting for a while
(4)Trevvor C.
Original Pancake House is a slight step up from Waffle House in the Five Points area (and even that may be debated). There's a broad selection of pancakes, in addition to numerous other breafasty options: eggs, omelets, grits, oatmeal, toast, hash browns, corned beef, etc., etc., etc. My go-to is been the buckwheat pancakes, which are hearty without being heavy. The crispy potato pancakes and the sourdough pancakes are also yummy choices. A full order is plenty of food for most hungry folks, and a half-stack (which knocks a buck or two off the price) will suffice for the rest. Prices are pretty good, though the coffee (a $2.50/cup w/ refills) and corned beef ($6/very small plate) are on the pricier end of the spectrum for items of mediocre quality and quantity.
(3)Mike J.
Holly Cow!!! I just walked out. I love the original pancake house but this location needs to set some standards for its servers. Either the AC was broken or... who was about to be my server had a sweating problem. I mean sweat beads in his hair, shirt drenched in sweat, dirty shirt, gross, so gross I had to get up and walk out. If management is reading this email, set some standards! I was looking forward to some bacon and eggs now I'm next door at the Red Zone sports bar eating a burger.
(1)Kristin L.
I'm wondering what all the previous reviewers are judging their experiences against, as my family and I went to the Pancake House this morning, and it was no more than a glorified Waffle House. Three of us had different kind of fruit pancakes/waffles/crepes, and all the fruit came straight from a can! It was pretty terrible--I could have produced much better in my own kitchen. And the consistency of the waffle was really thin and crispy--not the fat, fluffy waffle I was anticipating. My husband had the waffle, which was quite disappointing, as well. And the food took a pretty long time to come out for what it was. Honestly, I would never go back here--the only reason we came here in the first place is because Birmingham is sorely lacking in brunch spots (most are not open at all on Saturdays, and many of the ones that offer Sunday brunch don't start serving until 11am).
(2)Ashley M.
Went there one morning a couple of years ago with some classmates to celebrate the finale of Chemistry lab. Great thing to celebrate right? My breakfast was yummy. The atmosphere was great. The only issue I had was that they didn't take Discover card, not sure if they have joined the band wagon now though.
(3)Ed M.
Coffee was poor quality for a premium price... What a scam!
(1)Jacklyn H.
Best breakfast in town. Get there early (or late) because it packs out! Eventhough it's the "pancake house", the french toast is the best I've ever had and get it every time. Coffee is flavorful and strong and eggs and bacon are cooked perfectly.
(5)Suzan H.
Woke up Saturday morning craving The Pancake House and as usual, it didn't disappoint. The wait on the weekend is the only downside and that there is nowhere to wait.
(4)Hannah D.
The mini pancakes melted in my mouth and were absolutely wonderful. They came served with a very generous helping of butter. The waitress was amazing and had a sixth sense on when your drink was getting low. The prices were incredibly fair.
(5)Joe L.
I went with an open mind due to my last meal was less than average and the cost was well above average and it's been several years. Well nothing changed except I waited twice as long to have an uneventful trip. Once again the fore-mentioned as described. Our waiter was really nice but seemed to be homeless without a dental plan. Very sad. I will not go back. Maybe I'm eating the wrong meal but, the Corn-Beef Hash was nothing special except for 1000 calories ingested.
(3)Sam W.
I ordered an omelette with cheese, apple pancakes and cheese grits. everything was good not the great just average. It was very expensive for breakfast and it was also average , the portions are enormous though. It's just something that I could've made myself for a lot less than 25$ for my girlfriend and I to eat breakfast. the coffee was crazy it didn't taste like coffee tasted like ground sticks and I'm pretty sure the woman at the register charged us twice for something. Might give it another try in the future.
(3)Captain C.
Overpriced everything. Spent $30 plus tip on 2 omelettes and some soda/oj? Food ok but Another Broken Egg is superior and even IHOP is great compared to this place.
(2)Elizabeth F.
Can't beat the potatoes here! And the size of the omelets - WOW!
(4)Jon K.
I went here with a co-worker after a recommendation from a local and reading all the positive reviews. We arrived about 9 am on a Friday. They were only moderately busy and we were seated immediately. I ordered a house specialty, the Apple Pancake and my co-worker ordered an omelet with pancakes and bacon. The pancake was enormous, with thin slices of apple covered in cinnamon sugar which had been baked in the oven. It was very good. My co-workers omelet was just as large and just as good. However, I am only giving two stars because they were extremely slow. If they are this slow on a Friday morning I'd hate to see what it's like on the weekend or game days. I understand that a dish which needs to be baked takes a bit longer. However, it's a good thing I had a newspaper to occupy my wait. I hope their other specialty pancakes don't take as long to make. Price for two coffees, specialty pancake, omelet, and pancake with a side of bacon - $35
(2)Angela E.
Huge portions- classic breakfast. Staff was courteous and everything was fresh. The pancakes were amazing but the omelette was a little runny and took a while to prepare.
(3)Cherry B.
I love this place. I split the French toast with my daughter and we both had enough. Turkey sausage was very good. Nice waiter, well lit place with lots of windows to check out the scene outside. Good prices and plenty of food. I will always go there when I visit Birmingham.
(4)Justin W.
Delicious breakfast spot! I would be surprised if you came on a Saturday morning and did not encounter a group of people outside waiting to get in. It is a testament to their quality and is well worth the wait. The selection is great; especially the pancake options. Eat here.
(5)Craig L.
This place is Awesome!!! Friendly old school atmosphere with great service. The omelets are big and delicious. Pancakes off the hook.. Highly recommend the peach pancakes.. Will definitely come back!
(5)Mike R.
Great pancakes with warm syrup ! Egg was at least warm
(3)Mike B.
Good place for breakfast! Have the omelet or French toast. We were tourists...and the kids loved it.
(4)Deborah R.
After trying the Southfield location and liking it, but hearing this location was better I decided to stop in. My first impression was that it wasn't as busy as the other location, but I was incorrect. It was just as full of people, but the line went so much faster. The service was better also in the sense that we never had to ask for anything. We were given the food before we expected it, the refills before we needed them,and the check before we asked. The food was just as great at both locations. I would highly suggest the Santa Fe omelette, although my boyfriend's chocolate chip pancakes had me wishing I ordered them. This is one of those places that I could easily work my way through the menu by ordering a different dish every time and be satisfied. I would suggest this location over the Southfield one for dining in, but they both have a demanding crowd and draw horrendous lines. That aside, I will return. As soon as possible.
(5)Keith C.
If it were possible to give 15 stars, this place would get all 15 of 'em. The Original Pancake House is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! If you're in the mood for breakfast food, here's your target destination. The food is killer and it's a great place to just chill for an awesome brunch. The variety of pancakes/waffles, omelettes, beverages and proteins is ridiculous, and the offerings are pretty unique. (Examples you ask? - the Dutch Baby - an oven-baked pancake; the Apple Waffle - exactly what it sounds like; the 49'ers - three very round and wide, very gooey pancakes unlike anything else you've ever had [and my number 1 pick and all-time favorite]). The wait staff is fast, friendly and great about getting orders correct the first time. And as far as the atmosphere is concerned, the place reminds me of what I would imagine a NY diner would be like at times - single individuals coming in with a newspaper, reading as they enjoy an order of French toast and coffee, while the morning news plays in the background on a flat screen. But huge groups of breakfast lovers can be found there as well, enjoying a healthy stack of blueberry flappys while hanging with good friends. So if you haven't been to the Pancake House, for the love of all that's holy in the world, GO TODAY! You will be hooked ---
(5)Bryan M.
It was really busy the Sunday morning I arrived. I don't usually do chains, but I was nearby. It was alright, nothing impressive.
(3)Mike F.
Don't go in expecting an I.H.O.P breakfast. Why not? Well, its because most of the servers and rest of the staff have their teeth and everything is not full of cream cheese and gimmicks. There are a lot of interesting original breakfast items on this menu and of course, PANCAKES. They have a wide variety of flaps on this menu that will keep your mouth and belly interested. Wear your stretchy pants and come early on the weekends because the place fills fast.
(4)Alan M.
I went again on saturday morning right when they open.I found parking right on the street near the restaurant .I ordered cornbeef hash which came with rye bread .The cornbeef was homemade and was not greasy ,the poached eggs which came with the meal were hard poach so ask for soft if you like it that way.Rye bread was fresh new twist for breakfast.My friend had a omlette which was good also.
(4)Chrissy S.
People who say they like pancakes more than waffles are insane crazy-faced liars. NORMALLY. When questioned on the great Pancake vs. Waffle debate of our time, I say bitch please. Waffle. Me. In response to someone creating the Waffle Sandwich (see here: yelp.com/biz/flavour-spo… ) I say, where have you been all my life, omg I love you. And if someone suggests IHOP ever, I tell them to sit the fuck DOWN and direct them to the nearest Casa De Waffle. BUT. That was until one sleepy eyed/assed morning after a road trip, when I ended up here. The Original Pancake House of Bham. Now, these things are everywhere and I cannot vouch for the other locations. (Why would I, I don't know where they've been) But lets pretend that this spot is the ORIGINAL Original Pancake House. Because dayum. It IS. Please feel free to be greeted by dark roasted hot ass coffee right away (yespleaseandthankyou) poured directly into your muggy. Nice bright open atmosphere wakes you up enough to open your giant laminated menu. The menu itself is great. It seems to be designed for A. children B) Hungover people C) The Elderly or D) People who like pretty pictures of little pink frying pans (and who doesn't). So really it's a win/win. You can't go wrong here. But don't get hypnotized or stressed by the myriad of picture pages! There is eating to be done. Safe bets. Omelets (massive)... Bacon ...Pancakes. Well yes, obviously, but let me steer you down the path that will take you to the blissful land of Happy Food Coma...PEACH. PANCAKES. sweeeeet god. Get the Peach Pancakes. Do it for yourself. Do it for your belly. Do it for pancakes everywhere. They come out golden, piping hot and dusted with powdered sugar, and covered in sweet hot peaches. If you are so inclined, a bowl/mini tub of fresh whipped cream comes on the side. I vote no on that mess and savor the greatness as is. But either way. This is home-base. Order some bacon and pour some maple syrup on it and pat yourself on the back for being fucking awesome. The place itself is bright and welcoming. I love all the tall windows looking out on downtown. I love the divey retro feel of it, with its tiled tables that make a lovely clattering noise when you set down the creamer. It also doesn't hurt that you can see into the kitchen and watch, what appears to be half the members of KISS sans makeup on their day off, making your eggs and grits. Works for me. Make 'em over easy and please don't break into song. So yes. I am a Waffle girl, through and through. I probably always will be. And it may not be "Original", but this spot has made me, at least for now, a little pro-Pancake too.
(4)mon b.
I have been to other locations of this chain of restaurants and had better service and food. Honestly, I think IHOP may have better buttermilk pancakes. My omelet was not cooked well. I tried to get the waitress attention but she never came back. It will be a while before I go again.
(3)Bryan W.
How anyone can give this a negative review, I don't understand. This food is fantastic. I used to regular the Atlanta one that was featured on the Food Network. On a Sunday morning, you would wait hours to eat there. I love the variety, and all the food is so fresh and tasty. I would say you must order the fruit with fresh whipped cream, it is amazing!
(5)Nate L.
Whenever I find out there's an Original Pancake House in the area, I always know where I'm going for breakfast the next day. Rumor has it there was one in my neck of the woods quite some time ago but burned down long before I was born. I have no idea why they wouldn't bring something like that back. Naturally, we make plans to stop by the OPH in Five Points, while I was in Birmingham. Yes, the portions are gigantic and there's a possibility you may not be able to finish them. This makes the idea of splitting a dish very tempting. On that particular day, however, I decided to not only deviate from my usual order of a monster-sized cheese omelette but be quite selfish about it too. I went with the buttermilk pancakes, which are always moist and have a rich taste to them. Who knew a basic plate of pancakes could taste so good? One of these days, I will bring myself to order a dutch baby. I will not be able to keep a straight face while I do it, but I will order one. I've always been curious about it. As far as the service went, I couldn't pick out anything lacking. She poured refills when we needed them and served everything hot. We never waited long for her to come back and check on us. I do recommend trying it. If not in Alabama, then at the approximately 100 other locations nationwide. It's a fine restaurant.
(4)Bart M.
I've been there three times and always had excellent service and the pancakes are awesome.
(5)Antonice L.
I think they have fantastic pancakes and omelets. The food is filling and delicious!
(5)Jason S.
Not sure what all of the hype is about, but frankly I also don't understand the people that wait in front of the Pancake Pantry in Nashville, either. They have good pancakes, which is always a good thing. They have interesting omelets. They are these gigantic, g-d knows how many eggs were used, loaves that are baked in the oven, so the outside has a thin crust of egg, almost like a souffle. Really interesting concept, although I would recommend getting one for two or three people. My wife got the Swedish pancakes, and they were awful. She lived in Sweden for a while and had a Swedish grandmother, one of the key features of Swedish pancakes is they must be light and totally pliable, as you roll up the filling inside them, like crepes. These were mostly overcooked and brittle, so it really was impossible to eat them. Big downer. She made do by ripping off the parts of them that were not crunchy and eventually gave up. My dad's wife did get something very interesting. It was two poached eggs served on sausage patties on English muffins, covered in a mushroom sherry sauce - very neat idea and pretty good. I was really not impressed by their corned beef hash, it was really not that good and had no seasoning to speak of. I'm spoiled and used to hash that has real deli corned beef in it, not the canned stuff I assume this was made with. Service was good and they seemed to be turning tables, I don't understand why you have to wait in line to pay at the front, as they space is very limited and also where people wait to be seated, it would really make more sense to move that and have the servers take your check and payment to an area that doesn't clog up the flow of people.
(2)Mike G.
Great breakfast spot! I came in on Monday morning with some friends and we all enjoyed our meals. I got the cherry single crepe with a side of home fries and the mushroom sauce/stuff. The crepe was awesome! Full of flavor and delicious! The home fries were pretty good as well. I would definitely stay away from the mushroom stuff that I got. I don't remember what it was called but was basically mushrooms with a thick gooey gravy. Overall, the food and service was good and I would definitely come here again!
(4)Gary W.
Great place
(4)C V.
Go here to eat early in the mornings sometimes while in Bham, even though I know it will make me sleepy. The pancake options are good and I am a fan of their French Toast. Nice crispy bacon there too.
(3)Beth K.
Oh. My. Sweet. Lord. Pancakes at The Original Pancake House are so good - they are truly the most magnificent tasting pastry/cake/bread I have ever tasted. I for the most part, I could take or leave breakfast food. I'm not exactly sure what made these pancakes so wonderfully good, but the flavor was slightly yeasty - like the very best of a pancake and a fluffy biscuit all rolled into one. They didn't even need syrup. And these were just the little side stack they served with my omelette. Oh, my omelette. I had the veggie omelette with Swiss cheese (divine) and my mom had the western omelette. If I had tried to pick this thing up from the plate it would've taken both hands and then some. They are huge. Great flavor, large portions. My dad had the hash and poached eggs and the hubby had eggs and bacon with potato cakes. Both were members of the Clean Plate Club, so that was a good sign. The potato cakes weren't really up my alley, but I'll take the blame on that. Just didn't love them. Our server was great - attentive, but not overly so. The wait for a table was brief - maybe 10 minutes? That's pretty impressive considering we arrived at 10:30 on a Sunday morning (probably their busiest time). Overall, it was really awesome. We were in town for a wedding, but I'm definitely game for a return trip next time we're in Birmingham.
(5)Dave G.
So good!!!!! The pancakes seem to have some sort of crack in them. Here's a tip - when you order any egg meal, you can get "specialty" pancakes subbed in for $2 or so. Do it. I got the peanut butter and chocolate pancakes (actually you are supposed to pick one or the other but get both for a buck more). Heavenly. Minus one star only for not having iced coffee (but I'd add back half if I could for the server telling me I could go next door to Starbucks and bring it back and they were cool with that).
(4)Brooke D.
This place boasts "The most photocopied menu" and I can understand why. They offer a LARGE variety of pancakes in all different flavors. The pancakes are the star of the menu but they have other delicious alternatives as well. The egg sandwich with bacon and cheese is extremely tasty and still just as filling as the pancakes! There is plenty of room for a big group to sit comfortably and the service was fast and friendly. They serve breakfast all day which is great if you're a big breakfast fan (or can't roll out of bed before 10:30).
(4)Fat K.
great pancakes It's a major cluster, however, waiting for a table and paying for your meal. Paying at the table would reduce overcrowding by creating a larger waiting area. Unfortunately, I doubt management will invest in sophisticated credit card processors, etc. in order to expedite the payment process at the table.
(4)Chris N.
buckwheat pancakes son!!!
(4)Tosha L.
Overall, breakfast was very good. I had the blueberry pancakes, ham, and eggs. The pancakes were exceptionally good! Service was excellent, she was attentive despite her waiting on several tables at the same time. Only complaint is that the table was sticky from previous customers, which always makes for an unpleasant experience. The food outweighed this con though, and I would definitely recommend a trip over there.
(4)David B.
Excellent pancakes, but the coffee was old and bitter and the corned beef hash wasn't anything special
(4)Jen C.
When we arrived on a Sunday morning I thought the line outside was a good sign. However I found this place terribly overrated. Everything is overpriced, the food was average and our server kept forgetting my coffee. I can have a better breakfast experience at home.
(2)Ken K.
Mmmmmm. Got my pancake Buddha belly pokin' out my t-shirt now. Typical high prices of The Original Pancake House chain.
(3)Tasha M.
Food is always good. I love that it's in 5pts Southside. Service is usually pretty great even when they're very busy. The only bad thing is that they show Fox news on the tv around the clock. A business should be politically unbiased as to not alienate one segment of they're customer base. Fox news is obviously one of the more (most?) biased stations. I wish they would show a real news station, aka something completely unbiased.
(3)Chris E.
If you want pancakes in Bimingham then this is your place. My family goes there every weekend for the Blueberry pancakes. You aren't going to find a better pancake house in Birmingham, perhaps anywhere. We always have the same server, Miss Jackie.
(5)Sheri P.
My family loves it. I think it is fun to go. It is always crowded. I usually get the Eggs Micheal with out the sauce. It is a poached egg and English muffin with a pretty gross mushroom cream sauce. My step dad loves it but I think it just reminds me of lard. The pancakes are delish too. I have been here with 16 girls and the service was pretty good..... I'm getting hungry.
(3)