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Categories: Creperies, Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, RavenswoodWestern (Brown)
Mon., Wed-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Everything on the menu is great! The food is cooked so wonderfully to order and because you're two steps from the kitchen, you can see the steam rising from the food as it's placed on your table because it's so freshly hot.
Service is wonderful but do not come here if you're in a hurry. It's not a rush-rush kind of place. You may have to wait for a table, and then again for your food, but believe me, it's so worth it.
Alos, don't try to come here with groups larger than 4 people. It just doesn't work as well because the tables are tightly grouped together and you'll all be squished together
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Yep, it's tiny and cute. Has anyone mentioned that yet? This joint has charm coming out of its ears. An old man there called me a fat-ass. Don't worry--it was another customer, not an employee. Actually, what he said was, "You sure do have a healthy appetite!" when he observed that I was helping my ladyfriend finish her breakfast after consuming my own. But in truth we had agreed to split entrees. The division was almost evenly 50/50. So I was unjustly accused. To be fair, he said it in a cheerful manner, adding "But you certainly seem to enjoy it!" Yes sir. I do indeed enjoy all the sensuous pleasures of life, including fine food and drink. The intellectual and the sybarite in me are constantly at war.
Where was I? Oh yes, Pannenkoeken has excellent breakfast. Sure, they serve omelettes, etc, but please do get the pannenkoeken. Afterwards, if you've also been to Svea in Andersonville, you can expound to people in Wisconsin upon the differences between Swedish and Dutch pancakes. (They may or may not be impressed--I make no promises.) Or, you can just get them because they are awesome. Because they are. We had the bacon/havarti/mushroom and the chocolate/banana/hazelnut. Plus, I got a side of scrambled eggs with mine. Because I am a fat-ass, remember? Er, I mean, an aesthete with a liberal notion of excess.
How freaking adorable is this place?! I felt like I was sitting in someone's cute little kitchen.
Luckily the day after Thanksgiving was a great time to dine here. No wait!! I went with the chocolate, banana & hazelnut pannenkoeken, while my man friend chose the mushroom, bacon & havarti pannenkoeken. Both were awesome, but I'd probably go savory next time.
The day we went, the restaurant was half full, meaning there were approximately 10 people dining, with one server and bus person. They were busy but made sure my coffee cup was refilled and dishes were promptly cleared.
They are indeed cash only. I like that our bill was on a handwritten piece of paper, not some computerized receipt....it totally made me smile.
Great place for breakfast. Great food, great service. Not a lot of seating or area to wait for a seat, so big groups are not recommended. A group of four is probably as big as you should get. You have to pay with cash. They do have an atm there, but it charges a $3 fee for using it. So, bring cash. There is reasonably priced parking nearby, and the neighborhood has all sorts of different shops from around the world so it's nice to walk around a little after breakfast.
They are known for their traditional Dutch style pancakes, very thin and about 14" in diameter with a range of toppings. The apple, sausage or bacon/mushroom/cheese, and the chocolate/banana/whipped cream are all very good. Hope you enjoy!
Pro: Drooling Dutch pancakes
Con: The dreadful wait. And the out door seating, I got harassed by a homeless man.
It's a cool Sunday morning and my wife and I are driving our oldest son back up to his college. We swing by and pick up our oldest daughter who lives up in the Lincoln Square area. We all agree on heading over to Pannenkoeken Cafe for breakfast. My wife and daughter have been raving about this place for a while. They have wanted to take us there, so we decide to go.
Well the place is tiny, even by Chicago breakfast standards. There are only seven tables. They also have one bathroom. So this place is small! We are told there will be a 40 minute wait. So we decide to wander around the Lincoln Square area. Pannenkoeken will call us on our cell phone when a table opens. Well 45 minutes go by and no call. So we head back over to Pannenkoeken. We wait another 20 minutes or so (65 minutes in total) before we get a table. Boy I really hope the food is good in this place!
I order the quality Bacon and Cheese Pannenkoeken (a Dutch pancake) with an extra of quality Sausage. There is also a quality Sausage and Cheese Pannenkoeken, which I could add quality Bacon to but it costs more. The cheese is Havarti, some of the creamest and smoothest cheese I have ever had. I also saw a Chocolate Banana Pannenkoeken that includes hazelnuts and whipped cream that sounds totally good but probably way too fattening.
My wife and daughter both order the Sausage, Mushroom and Cheese (again Havarti) Pannenkoeken. My son orders a Belgian Waffle. He also ordered a side of bacon, he usually does. Well everyone loved their orders. I of course sampled everyones and would have to agree they were all quite tasty. The thin Dutch pancakes were very good. The price for all four of us, including drinks was around $44 dollars.
The only negatives from our experience besides the incredible wait was Pannenkoeken only takes cash (and the ATM was broken), we think they forgot the side of bacon my son ordered as we had to remind them and even then it took a while to get to us. The plates did take some time to get to us after we ordered (again there are only seven tables) and I would agree with my son that his chocolate milk did taste real funky.
So do we recommend Pannenkoeken for their thin and tasty Dutch pancakes, YES, but be prepared to wait!
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I had Pannenkoeken Café's French toast. I now know how to say and spell the name of the place (always a plus) and I'm a HUGE fan. Even though the restaurant is small, the host/server (who I almost always see in there) is so friendly, nice, and accommodating. Also, they serve an absolutely delicious chai latte. I now count Pannenkoeken as one of my top breakfast destinations in Chicago.
I don't think I'll ever remember how to spell the name of this place (or know how to correctly… Read more »
BREAKFAST HEAVEN! Heaven, I tell you!
Let's get these downsides out of the way .... the place is tiny. Really small. Don't come with a big group - in fact, it's a lot easier to get a table for 2 than for 3 or 4. So choose your breakfast companions wisely! You'll probably have to wait, and there's no place to wait inside, so you're out on the sidewalk. Thankfully, when I went there, it was a lovely day. The system for seating leaves something to be desired - everyone signs in on a sheet of paper, but some people leave and don't cross their names out so the waitress ends up calling out people who aren't even there. That's just a little cumbersome. Also, at least when I was there, it was cash only, which is a pain in the ass for east coasters like me who can't find Wachovia ATMs in any useful spot in Chicago.
OK so now the FOOD. First of all, the OJ was nice and fresh! Coffee was decent! Pannenkoeken was mind-blowing! It was my first experience with Dutch pancakes, so I was probably doing it all wrong, but whatever - I enjoyed the hell out of it. I got the sausage, mushroom and havarti one ... my female friend got the respectable veggie (she chose asparagus, broccoli and something else) and my male friend got the most un-dudely option on the menu: the chocolate banana. I was laughing so hard when the waitress put that beautiful, whipped cream and chocolate covered thing in front of him. HA! I respect a man who can go there - it was well worth it: tasty and surprisingly not overly-sweet.
My pancake was pretty much the perfect savory breakfast food. Not too cheesy or too salty ... the consistency of the pancake didn't make it too filling ... delicious toppings ... can I have some more, please? Can we get some pannenkoeken over in DC, please? Like now? I saw a sign saying they are opening a Bucktown location this month .... hopefully they spread out in my direction sometime soon. =)
This place is the total bomb if you are looking for something out of the same old same old for breakfast. They have eggs but the real draw here is the super tasty Dutch style pancakes (more like crepes than IHOP) that come with delicious bacon, sausage, cheese or choices of about 12 other toppings.
It is a small place so expect to wait on weekends but we go during the week and rarely wait more than a few minutes. It's worth it!
I didn't know what a dutch pancake was, but I was willing to try one. We squeezed our way into this tiny cafe, and after a while we were seated by a friendly waitress. While we mulled over the limited but varied options on the menu, we sipped excellent coffee. I got a savory pancake and my husband got a sweet one. Both were equally great. The owner came over to our table to see how everything was. He was just as nice as the waitress. This place is perfect for a date, but I would recommend going during off hours rather than during breakfast time since it is very small and demand outweighs supply in terms of seating capacity.
I love love love ginger, and I love love love how they incorporated it into my breakfast. Apple ginger pannenkoeken ftw. I want to return and try something savory, but I know damn well I will lose all resolve and make this magic repeat itself.
So first experience: I did not know wtf I was doing but was just happy to get lost in it. I later saw a woman roll her Dutch pancake into a giant Dutch burrito and cut the cross sections like a Dutch sushi chef. Next time.
In the meantime, dining companion and I were taken aback by the service. Pretty much every time our server left our table we hunched down to whisper "DON'T YOU JUST ADORE HER???" Bafflingly sweet and attentive-- just how you want to be treated when it's super early and you're eating something you don't understand.
Yumm!
We were here yesterday around 8 o'clock. At first we were the only people in there but by the time we left there were two other couples. The restaurant is really small. I think I counted 7 tables. Very sunny cozy decor/vibe.
The place is CASH ONLY which was a bit of a problem for someone who never has any cash on her. But luckily enough my bf had the goods.
We ordered a Denver omelet and apple and ginger dutch pancake to share. Our waitress was very nice as smiley, but it took a really long time for the food to come out even though we were the only table.
All was forgotten when the food arrived, yummy! Omelet was just right with a generous helping of hash browns. Know this is random by they had an interesting Jam selection, not a strawberry in sight, but black cherry, orange marmalade and apricot. The apple -ginger dutch pancake was awesome! Just sweet enough, but not overpowering and the presentation was fun.
We will definitely be back to try the range of flavors. Pannenkoeken is a unique, delicious, intimate and well priced breakfast/brunch option.
This place is *tiny* but oh-so-good! I have seen it many times but today I finally decided to check it out. Because it is *so* tiny (literally only 7 tables) we had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table for two. It was worth it, though.
The food is fresh and absolutely delicious. I had a Belgian waffle and it was the BEST Belgian waffle I have ever had. It came with fresh fruit and yummy whipped cream. My mom had the Denver omelet and said it was quite good as well. Even the coffee was fantastic. I'd definitely come here again but it's not really a good place for large groups (hey, only 7 tables!) and I'm not sure how I'd feel about having to wait 20 minutes outside during the winter... They definitely need to look into expanding.
If you've never tried this place I suggest a trip. It's TINY though. Seriously, I think there are only about 10 tables. I'm sure it fills up on weekends so if you have the morning off during the week take a trip out here and try a pannenkoeken. It's well worth it.
These pancakes are a little thicker than crepes and are the size of your whole plate. They have sweet ones or savory ones. I'm a savory fan but the people I was with both got sweet. I tried both types and they were all really good. The other thing that they do well here is bacon. You won't find thin and limp bacon here (and really, thin and limp anything isn't good). It's thick and crispy all the way, just how bacon should be.
The waitress Molly was a sweetheart and very helpful. She kept out coffee's full and gave good advice to my very indecisive mother. The cook also felt the need to peek out of the kitchen, wink and wave at my dad. We're still not sure why, but at least she was friendly.
The only thing I didn't like about this place other than how tiny it is was the hash brown. I like mine crispy and buttery. There was some crisp but not much, and they were bland. Skip those, but everything else is well worth the trip.
We went to Pannenkoeken after looking for a brunch place near our house on the north side. Honestly, I didn't even know Pannenkoeken existed before finding it on Yelp, as the place is both tiny and quite unassuming.
The pannenkoeken I ordered (bacon, cheese, mushroom, and one egg) was quite delicious. The pancake itself had so much flavor! Unfortunately my meal was the only one that arrived correctly.
Both my boyfriend's and our friend's orders came covered in mushrooms, which neither of them ordered. While my boyfriend ate the mushrooms, our friend sent his order back to be redone. This can be an ordeal when you have to wait 30-45 minutes to get your order! (Not the restaurant's fault here - baked pancakes just take a hella long time to make!)
For these two mistakes, I have to note that the service was perhaps not the best. Again - these kinds of mistakes are fatal at a slow-moving restaurant.
However, as a result of the two orders being messed up, they did give us one meal for free and take 10% off the rest of the bill.
Would I go back here? Definitely! The food, coffee, and fresh-made OJ was amazing!
Oh yeah - keep in mind that this place is Cash Only.
I LOVE CREPES.
Honestly. They are one of my favorite foods, so when I had the opportunity to go to Pannenkoeken, I jumped at the chance. This place is charming. It's so small that you almost always have to wait for a table, but it is definitely worth it. I went with one of my roommates, who favors the savory crepe. I, on the other hand, love a sweet crepe. So, I ordered the chocolate and strawberry crepe while she "built her own" crepe with vegetables and havarti cheese. We both split an order of hash browns to accompany our crepes.
WOW. The crepes were absolutely delicious (and huge!). I tried her crepe and it was wonderful. I was soooo happy with my chocolate crepe, and we both really enjoyed the hash browns. And the coffee was wonderful as well.
I'd highly recommend Pannenkoeken to anyone, because they have so many choices and the crepes are truly fantastic!
If you're thinking that the pancakes here will be like the ones you get at IHOP, you'll be disappointed. They are more of a crepe thickness, the size of a plate, and on the bland side; it's the toppings (which can be either sweet or savory) that make these pancakes. As a vegetarian, I've not tried the ones with meat as ingredients, but the veggie ones are stellar. My friends who eat omelets and meat say those are good as well.
The stand-outs for me here, though, are not the pannenkoeken but, instead, the Belgian waffle (with loads of fresh fruit and fresh whipped cream) and the oatmeal, served with dried or fresh fruit, nuts, and brown sugar. Pannenkoeken also has THE BEST coffee in all of Lincoln Square -- I forget what blend it is, but I know it's fair trade, bought locally, and available for sale if asked.
The only reason I give this place four stars rather than five is that they don't accept credit cards and there are only about a dozen seats in the entire place. For something that small, where the waits on the weekend can be upwards of an hour, wouldn't you want to make *something* convenient for your customers?
When I was a kid, I occasionally brought my cereal bowl into my bedroom and ate breakfast in my closet. It was big enough to move my play table and chairs into, close the door, and chow down. Sharing the small space and the meal with just a few of my closest friends (usually Raggedy Ann and Andy Panda) was nice and cozy. Pannenkoeken is a bit like my childhood breakfast nook, with a few notable exceptions. This eatery is slightly bigger than my closet, and the food is way better than the soggy Cookie Crisp I munched on with my dollies.
As you might have guessed from the name, Pannenkoeken's menu leans mostly on pancakes--although the ones flying out of their kitchen are thinner and larger around than the Aunt Jemima variety, and the menu pairs the light cakes with a wide range of toppings. I opted for the apple and ginger marmalade--a wise choice, it turns out, because I repeated variations on "Mmm, this is SO good" so many times my brunch companion asked me to please shut up. Also, the side of bacon I ordered with my pannenkoeken arrived perfect--crispy and a little chewy (overcooked bacon is a personal pet peeve of mine), and the coffee was absolutely yummy.
This Lincoln Square joint is definitely worth stopping at. The combo of great food and cozy atmosphere made me a fan. Just stop there early, and be prepared to wait because, while the dining area is small, the number of people wanting to eat there isn't.
Am I in Europe?!
I walked in and felt like I was back in Europe with all the crammed little tables in the cafes. The place has 7 tables, 3 for just 2 people and 4 for just 4 people.
We did not have to wait long, about 10 minutes which was enough time for the hubby to run around and find cash, cash only, meh!
I tried the chocolate pannenkoeken and the hubby had the full order of french toast. I LOOOOVED his. That was by far the best french toast I've ever had in my life. My pannenkoeken was very good and filling. I also ordered a side of bacon and that was amazing as well.
The knick knacks on the wall were really cute and neat to look at.
We'll definitely be back.
This was a pretty cool place. It was all Dutch pancake-like- things...all the time. They had all sorts of varieties. It was an interesting little place. I can't say I was overwhelmingly impressed -it was a cool concept, but I guess I'm stuck in my rut and like a "regular" breakfast. But I really can't complain -I give them credit for coming up with something unique that hasn't been duplicated and doing a good job at it I would be willing to try it again and try something different. Maybe after another experience or two I will change my mind and become a "superfan" like other reviewers.
Let's get this out of the way first: CASH ONLY!
These Dutch pancakes are delicious! They tasted just like a crispy, sweeter crepe. Yum! I ordered the special of the day, which was mango and coconut. The mango was extraodinarily sweet and impressed me! Top them off with some syrup and a little butter - so good.
However, my friend ordered the swiss and sausage one and it was REALLY good. I think the salty combo was a little better than the fruit mix. I'm definitely gong to try out one with cheese next time! They have tons and tons of options, so you can basically create your own combo if you don't like whatever they have on the menu. (Tons of fruit, veggies, sausage, ham, bacon, etc.) And, if you're looking for a non-Dutch pancake experience, they have the traditional bacon and eggs deal as well.
This place is SMALL (like, max of 20 seats), so you might expect a wait. Luckily, for us, we only waited 10 min before we were seated. Service is friendly and this place is bright and cute! I'm wondering what combo to try next time...Hmm.
This place used to be a great hidden gem in Lincoln Square, but now people know about it and they opened a 2nd location in Wicker Park. Even though TimeOut Magazine bashed the Wicker Park location, this place is a great spot. Small, but really good dutch pancakes and the BEST hot chocolate (at least my wife says so). It's not the kind of breakfast/brunch you'll want every weekend, but it's a great break from the norm and something new. Get there before 10:30am on weekends or else it's a little bit of a wait since this place has about 8 tables. Good service and solid food. Meter parking which is always available on Western directly in front of the Lincoln Square location.
Just went here for the first time today.
Yum.
The place is TINY, but the owner/ manager guy couldn't be nicer if he tried!
I'll be back!
My boy and I went on a Monday morning to avoid the Sunday morning crowds we'd read about. It's ironic that we pretty much got ignored while being the only diners there. Maybe if the place had been busier overall, the waitress would have been in 'go' mode. Instead, I had the feeling we were keeping her from her mid-morning nap.
(Which is cool, some people need a mid-morning nap,)
But, anyway...everything was made right by the arrival of our pannenkoeken. I ordered the ham, pineapple and cheese while my boyfriend had the apple, raisin and cheese. The pannenkoeken were huge! (bigger than the plates on which they were served), and so, so tasty. The pancake itself was perfectly cooked, with a soft moist center and crispy edges, and the ham and pineapple were firm and fresh and so yummy. I didn't think I'd finish mine, but it was so tasty I didn't want to stop eating. Wash it down with some rich coffee, and it's heaven.
Such a treat! Maybe next time I'll brave the Sunday wait.
Minus 1 star for having to wait for over 50 minutes. Minus 1 star for having to wait nearly 25 minutes once seated. Ambiance: 1/2 star because it's quaint and they do have a beautiful espresso machine. But it certainly does not qualify for a full star. Service: Very slow. They seemed to working like mad in the kitchen, but frankly, I have seen three people turn out food in a timely way in place twice this size. Food: Good coffee (1/2 star). The pannenkoken, presumably the draw, is perfectly okay, but nothing worth waiting for. I had one with salami and cheese. The salami was the saltiest I have every tasted. C had one with mushrooms, bacon, etc. and it was better. Sorry, but I doubt I would be back. I don't recommend coming with more than one other person.
This teensy place, located just south of Lawrence on Western, is easily missable. But as I very recently found out, I have been missing out on a fantastic little breakfast spot in my very own neighborhood.
We came in here for some Christmas Eve brunch and were fortunate enough not to wait. As mentioned in other reviews, this place is very small. I recommend hitting it up on an off day, or else very early in the morning (they open at 7 a.m.).
The schtick here is "pannenkoeken", or dutch pancakes, which are very similar to crepes, but served open-faced. They have the sweet variety (apples with ginger, apples with raisins and havarti cheese) or the savory variety (veggies, cheese/bacon). I tried the veggie pannenkoeken with spinach, broccoli, and tomatoes, and it was delish. However, a bite of my mom's apples, raisins and havarti revealed that to be the winning dish. The apples were perfectly tart, and the cheese the perfect balance. So good!
Coffee is hot and fresh, service friendly (props to our lovely server serving the entire restaurant!), and prices reasonable. I'll definitely be back, I think the chocolate and banana pannenkoeken has my name on it!
(Just an FYI, as of the end of November, they are no longer accepting credit cards, so remember to get some cash.)
It's good. I'd give it 4 stars except for 2 things: The place is WAY too small, and they don't accept credit cards. In this day and age, for a place not to accept credit cards is just unacceptable. I understand the stores and restaurants have to pay a large percentage of each transaction to the company they use to run the cards, but that's just the price you pay, who carries cash? And the place is TINY. We lucked out, and went during the week, so there was minimal wait, but I'm sure w/ only 6 tables, there is a lengthy wait on the weekends.
All that being said, the food is very good. I had the french toast, which was good. The Pannenkoekens are very good. One friend had the veggie, and another had the Apple and Havarti cheese, which was beyond good. The fourth person of our group just had eggs and hash browns, but the hash browns looked delicious, perfectly browned and grated.
The prices were very reasonable as well. Like I said, 4 star food, minus 1 star for inconvenience.
First off the food is awesome. Awesome might not even do it justice. The pannenkoeken is delicious- I'm stuck on the havarti and bacon combination. I keep thinking I'll branch out, but it's so delicious that I keep coming back to it.
But, as much as I want to give the full 5 stars I just cannot, and here's why: a) it's tiny, tiny, tiny, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it causes some serious waits, which leads to b) the seating system- the come in and write your name down just doesn't cut it for me. I need parameters- is it going to be 10 minutes, 30, an hour? Sure, you can write your cell number down too, but it's not like there's shops super close by that I can browse while I wait, which leads to c) There's no place to wait! Literally! You're on the sidewalk, which yes, they have set chairs out, but really, the sidewalk? Western Ave? Not so much where I want to stand and wait for an extended period of time.
At the end of the day, the food is totally worth the wait, but damn, the waiting experience leaves a lot to be desired.
I have a Friend who enjoys Dutch things. She was anxious to try Pannenkoeken, and asked if we would like to join her & a few friends from out-of-town one Sunday morning. We showed up at 9:30 with a party of 8.
Too bad the whole place seats about 20. Oopsy.
We actually waited. And were plenty pleased once the food came.
Dave ordered buttermilk pancakes, which were perfect in flavor, density & texture. So many great breakfast places worry so much about their signature dishes that they serve lousy pancakes, while other places are satisfied with mediocre. It was a delight to see this little one get them exactly right.
I had a Pannenkoeken, which is basically a large thin pancake with various toppings. I chose the Apple, Raisin & Cheese version, which had the raisins baked in and thinly-sliced apples on top between globs of havarti. It was delicious, with or without the little dab of maple syrup I added. I would describe it as a breakfast quesadilla, only open-faced.
I had a side of sausage links, which were also delicious. Great coffee. No complaints whatsoever on the food.
Our service was just fine, as was the atmosphere (even if it was extraordinarily small). Prices were a little higher than I expected (just under $10 for my one thin pancake), but I left feeling more satisfied than I anticipated and eager to come back and try another soon.
Food Quality / Taste (40%): 5
Atmosphere (20%): 3
Service (20%): 3
Value (20%): 3
Overall: 3.8
Wonderful.
From the coffee, to the wait staff, to the small space, to the delicious and fragrant Havarti and mushroom pancakes.
This is a wonderful place to take someone you love, or someone who loves you, or both :) It has a romantic feel without trying.
Probably not a place for the kids. It would change the vibe completely.
Western is such a busy street and it it easy to miss something on this street when you are driving by. Although this place has an awning that stands out from the rest of the block, this place is still easy to miss.
I am used to small little restaurants in the city of Chicago. It seems that this is the norm in the city compared to what I was used to in the burbs. This place was so small, I was even in shock! The seating capacity here is 20 and the outdoor seating capacity is 8 (weather permitting) We could seat more in our apartment! We had a party of 8 and we really did not wait all that long (even though we took up almost half the restaurant). the place was very cozy and I felt that I was a guest in someones dining room.
Now it's time for the breakfast...
Coffee was fresh and delicious. I like good coffee in the morning and this place did not disappoint. This place specializes in dutch pancakes which is a thin pancake with a variety of different ingredient combos. I am familiar with this kind of pancake and I really just had a taste for plain old pancakes. I did not regret my decision in the least. You could tell that the batter was homemade and the pancakes were probably the best I have ever had. They were the perfect density, size, moistness and they were cooked perfectly.
i am going to be back here to try some different dutch pancake options as they have won me over. If the the place would have been only 25% larger, I may have given it five stars. Our server was friendly and everyone working , made me feel welcome and comfortable.
Yes, the place is small and accepts cash only. If either of those are deal breakers for you, pick another place for breakfast.
I had a pannenkoken this morning with sausage, mushroom and havarti. I have not had a Dutch pancake before, in recent or distant memory, but I decided to try something different. I was pleasantly surprised. The ingredients were fresh and high quality, the pancake and toppings and syrup (very good syrup, btw, possibly real maple) came together for a satisfying breakfast. My breakfast date had the pannenkoken with tomato, spinach, mushroom, and havarti. It was also very good.
The service was friendly, courteous, and quick. The coffee was fresh and well-brewed, they had fresh half and half, and raw sugar on the table. I will definitely be back. IMO, this place is maybe a notch better than nearby Over Easy, which is also very good, but Pannenkoken Cafe edges it out for value and being a little more down to earth. Both places are best picks for breakfast in the Lincoln Square area.
This is a fabulous gem of a breakfast restaurant!
I love dutch pancakes, so this is a total treat for me. I love the skinny, skinny pancakes, topped with fresh, delicious ingredients. It doesn't make you feel heavy and lethargic, like American pancakes, but satisfied and ready to start the day. They also have omelets and other breakfast items.
The place is small, but light and cozy. The wait staff is friendly and attentive. We were offered refills on our coffee, tea and water when our glasses were nearly empty.
People need to get over the fact that it is cash only. The nation is in a recession; small businesses that want to succeed need to make small changes. Rather than closing, this one has decided to accept cash as its only form of payment. There are ATM's nearby, as is noted by the note on the front door. Plan ahead.
Oh man do I love this place. This is really 5 star quality but I find myself acting like my dad and being surprised when things are more than $5. True, you will pay more than $5, but not that much more so its all good! I'm a life-long veg and this place has so many wonderful varieties I can keep going back. Even simple things like thier veggie omlette is just simple and darn good! All have commented on 1) what a pannenkoeken is and 2) how small the place is.
I've had the veg omlette, apple and havarti pannenkoeken, apple and ginger jelly pannenkoeken and sauteed veg pannenkoeken. All were wonderful and prepared well.
My tiny problem: they have recently gone to cash only. Don't let that stop you as Walgreens and Chase are located very close. Its also very accessible via the el - just jump off at the Western stop on the Brown line and walk 1/2 block north.
To qualify as a 5 star brunch spot, a restaurant must perfect the two breakfast fundamentals: coffee and eggs. Pannenkoeken succeeded.
The coffee was maybe the best I've had, to the point that after one sip I asked the owner where it came from (Coffee and Tea Exchange).
My omelet was fluffy, with the perfect amount of ingredients and no grease. But the highlight was my boyfriend's order: the pannenkoeken with sausage, cheese and mushrooms.
There are only a few tables, so expect to wait on the weekends, but you can leave a cell phone number and walk around the Square until your table is ready.
I really did like the food, but some things did detract from this place.
I went with my friend Monday morning because there was no way we were going to wait around in the cold until we were seated. It's just way to small that I can see waits being really long.
The food was quite good. We went with a savory pannenkoeken and a veggie omelette. Really liked the havarti, sausage, and mushroom. The veggie omelette was really good as well, but nothing totally special or unique. The hash browns were okay, but we did have better for that as well.
In the end the pannenkoeken is unique and does taste good, but I don't see it as something I want to have so often and not when I would have to wait.
Oh how I love Pannenkoeken! It's a must every time I am in Chicago. While I have never been a fan of pancakes, Pannenkoken goes beyond with their sweet and/or savory Dutch pancakes. The Havarti bacon and mushroom is an experience in itself. For the sweet, I recommend the apple, perfectly thin and yummy. Yes the place is small, but when the food is this damn good, just be sure to get there early on a weekend or do like me and hit it em up during the week. AWESOME and well worth the wait!
For all of you complaining that they don't take credit cards and are too small -- get over yourselves. It's called a business model and theirs says all they can afford is what they have. I would much rather pay cash for a $6 enormous pancake than be able to charge one for $12.
This place is a great little addition to the neighborhood. Cheap, filling food that's not diner-ish and not a frou, frou brunch place. It is small, but the wait wasn't long on a Saturday morning. The pancakes are fantastic -- sweet or savory, you can't go wrong. The pancakes are crepe-like, only about five times as big as a normal crepe. They fill the plate and can be filled with just about anything. You'll leave full, but not gross. And the waitstaff is attentive -- my coffee cup was never less than half-full.
Being 1/4 Dutch, I had to come here just to make myself feel more legit.
Both times I went we came just as the place was opening. In my mind, this is the PERFECT time to come... no one is around and you get the waitstaff all to yourself.
I have ordered both sweet and savory pannenkoeken and both are ridiculously good. They also fill you up just right.
In my experiences the service was great. They were personable, which is nice in a space so small. They consistently filled up our water glasses and weren't jerks when I asked for more hot water for my tea (some places are, psh.) Food always came quickly, probably because we were there so early.
But for those of you who can't go so early, its worth the wait... especially during the summer months when you don't have to freeze outside.
Lincoln Square's cultural heritage is coming back...still Western European---yet Dutch! As a kid, my family would make the Finnish family pass-me-down Pannukakku (Pancake). When I saw the name of this place, we were quickly on the same level. While the Pannukakku is a 2 inch thick pancake...and a Swedish pancake (minus the lingonberries of course) or a French crepe is super thin...a DUTCH Pannenkoeken is a happy medium. Who would have known I would be the pancake expert but the flavors of this cafe's pancakes drove me to obsession!
Words can't describe the flavors, but beauty can. Be sure to check out the photos I attached on this Yelp posting. My boyfriend had the yummiest breakfast pannenkoeken, with melting Havarti cheese, crispy bacon and grilled mushrooms. PERFECTION!! I had a sweet tooth and got the one with apple slices, cinnamon crumbles, powdered sugar and whipped cream.
This place is teenie with 10 tables (maybe 25 seats total), but don't be one of the rude pairs who takes a 4 person table like those who sat down before us. Also if your children are not well behaved, please save breakfast here for a better time when a babysitter is available or choose one of the many other options. It is SMALL and can easily become loud and bunched. The intimate ambiance, along with good coffee, lots of whipped cream and Pannenkoeken makes it one of my new favorite breakfast spots citywide!
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