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Category: Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: BallardMon-Fri. 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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My partner loves corned beef hash, and the OPH grinds their own. We make a pilgrimage down here at least once a month.
The portions are massive, I rarely finish my meal. Service is quick, friendly, and efficient. If you're dining on your own, or as a pair, opt for service at the bar, it is much quicker.
The regular pancakes are usually tasty, I like their malty flavor. Points off for charging a premium price for real maple syrup. That imitation stuff just doesn't cut it.
Surprisingly delicious. Sourdough pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, Dutch babies...the menu is very diverse. Our food was delicious. I'm definitely going back, and definitely taking the kids next time.
We were seated almost immediately at 10AM on a Saturday as a party of two, though I saw parties as big as eight or ten in play in the dining room so clearly they're accustomed to groups.
Friendly service. Reasonable prices. Couldn't be happier.
The breakfast portions here are huge so it's generally a good idea to share with someone, otherwise plan on bringing a take-home box with you.
Even when it's really busy on Sunday mornings my boyfriend and I never had to wait longer 5 minutes to be seated. This place has very courteous service and is obviously catered to families. The inside of the restaurant is very home-y and comfortable- think lots of wood tables and walls.
My biggest complaint is that the maple syrup is thiiiiiiiiin. And I only likes me thiiiiiiick syrup. Also, the waffles here are the thin kind. If you prefer belgium waffles (like I do) don't make the mistake of getting the waffles here (like I did).
My last review was when they first opened up. The place is so much more lively now. The food is wonderful, and you sure will get alot.
I am not a fan of pancakes, but they make me one. Also the homemade sausages are wonderful. The food is top notch. Highly recommended.
Bullshit. Do I look 80 years old? Everyone is a septugenarian, 30% in wheelchairs and they all stare… Read more »
I have a hard time believing that this is *the* original pancake house. Like anybody could actually know that.
But anyway, I had the combo with eggs, bacon, and buttermilk pancakes. I've had this same meal like a hundred times in the past few months at various restaurants, and while it was OK at the OPH, it's nothing to write a raving review about. The cakes were just like what you'd make from the Bisquik box, and I expected a lot more from a place that made the dish their specialty. The bacon was mostly fat, and the scrambled 'egg', which, granted, was more like 2 or 3 eggs, wasn't good enough to make me finish it. Coffee was excellent, though, and refilled often by the cheerful waitress. Even though it was rather crowded, she was all over it.
My buddy ordered chocolate chip pancakes (no, he isn't 5) and let me taste them. Pretty good; maybe I should have gone for some of their more fancy options.
I'll tuck this place on the 'try again someday but don't be in any great rush' shelf.
I had blueberry pancakes, chocolate pancakes and eggs Benedict and I was pretty impressed. The food is not heavy with grease, you don't leave feeling like you just ingested a gallon of oil like other places I've been to around town ie Patty's Eggnest!
My pancakes were made with just the right amount of powered sugar on top and my eggs were poached perfectly. It's good. I'll be coming back for more soon. It's a great let's get back to basics kind of place.
I was pleasantly surprised to walk inside this place. I have driven by numerous times,but never walked in. The outside is nothing special,but the inside was like a country kitchen. We decided to go in this past Sunday ( sorry we cheated on you Cyndy's).
We didn't realize the portions were for scooter readies! My husband just wanted an omlette,but it seemed a bit too large. 5 egg omlettes are for group parties!
I still think that the place we normally go to has my fav pancakes. The bacon I didn't really care for ( too thick)
Maybe its the crepes I should try next time. I'm willing to go back ( with a large group) and try some of those omlettes;maybe the homefries.
Does anyone remember the Pancake Haus that is now Sleep Country on NG Way? They had the best hot cocoa...I miss that place....
Whenever I went to this place I've gotten an omelet. Their omelets are huge five eggers and usually end up being two or three meals for me, and I'm a big guy. The thing about their omelets is that they aren't just big, they are big because they're stuffed with toppings. Sadly despite how good they are sometimes it's just way too much of a good thing.
In terms of their pancakes I was not very impressed. I had both chocolate chip and bacon pancakes there but neither really struck out as all that special or great.
Their prices are very good for the amount of food they serve and their service is decent. The Original Pancake House is a good place to go to get a decent, big brunch for cheap but I wouldn't go there if I wanted a fancy brunch.
Great food. I come here almost every weekend for breakfast and sometimes during the week.
Today i had the dutch baby, which is always a wonderful choice. You should always try the pancakes, cause thats the name? Duh. Dutch Babies do take a tad longer, but its worth the wait. The menu is very nice and almost everything on it is good.
I take off 2 stars because of the service. The waitress was rude and very scattered. She forgot my toast and milk and it took her 15 minutes to bring the check after we asked for it (it wasn't busy here) and another 10 to bring me back the card. She apologized profusely and brought us a coupon for buy one get one free breakfast. I wasn't having any of it. Why would you charge me for your bad service and than give me a coupon to spend even MORE money at your restaurant?
I'll probably go back just because the food is so good. I'll give the waitress the benefit of the doubt and hope she was just having a bad day, as the service is usually fine.
I was magically transported back to 1985, before the hipster breakfast spots opened and when the Northwest meant "burly logger needs big breakfast, fight Sasquatch."
Hmm. But the hipster places do taste better than this, at the same prices. Sometimes hipsters bring more to the table, other than sardonic attitude. Yay.
It's expensive here!
Two eggs, home fries, a couple strips of bacon, two pieces of toast and coffee - almost $14!
Home fries were good with just the right amount of crispiness and onion. But the coffee was not even as good as meh (true, I am Stumptown-spoiled now).
I was thinking that Ballard has been fast losing its Scandinavian feel, but I could still get that vibe here today. I saw a Swedish grandma and her grandson bump their coffee cups together in a cheer. That's such a Scandinavian thing to do!
Why not 5 stars? I'm not exactly sure... but I like to leave something to aspire to. Any place that can smoothly handle a group of 14, complete with baby, gets 3 stars automatically. If they add bacon to their pancakes they get at least 4.
TOPH had no problem with given an advance reservation for 14 at 11am Saturday morning. The table was ready on time and, in fact, we kept them waiting as the last stragglers showed up a few minutes late. There was ample room for all of us and through the rest of the morning service was fast and attentive.
There's a lot on that menu but this is The Original House of something and it isn't eggs benedict, so I had to go the direction of pancakes. Pancakes always feel a little lonely by themselves so I had to go the route of the "1 by three" (about $9): 1 egg, two sausage links, and three pancakes. They were happy to substitute bacon pancakes for the advertised buttermilk.
Normally I avoid diner pancakes; they're dense and I leave feeling like I'd been sucker punched when I was sleepy and vulnerable. Not so here! The pancakes were light with a very tasty batter that encased the bacon pieces. I wouldn't say the bacon-pancake is a transcendental experience, but it is a delicious alternative from sweeter fare. A coating of butter and syrup over said bacon is a great breakfast 2.0 mashup. The sausage was also very good despite looking like it had been burned.
I also enjoyed drawing on my napkin with the crayons.
Pancake house is a three-star food with great waffles. service varies - lady with perm hair is always good though. however, when eating there you can't really look around or you risk to lose your appetite in a spell. i got a feeling that a lot of customers go there for their last breakfast ever.
Where can you get a dutch baby and a enormous baked apple pancake? At the Original Pancake House of course. I don't care for the country decor but I don't go out to breakfast for the ambiance. The corned beef hash was nice and crispy. The fruit option is great because its fresh. They know how to poach an egg right. I do wish they had smaller apple pancakes and dutch babies so you didn't just have to eat a pound of sweet carbohydrates for breakfast. Its a little spendy for the first meal but you get a huge amount of food so go with a bunch of people and share. Order an omelette, dutch baby or apple pancake and a side of meat and eat family style.
I'm a good ol" Idaho boy and I know what a good breakfast is. I have found it! Generous portions, bacon, thick and delicious, and omlettes the size of your head!! The pancakes are fluffy and like no others I've tasted. To say I am a fan is an understatement. Would I go again, absolutely, would I bring my family from out of state in...positively!!
Easily the one of the best breakfast joints in Seattle, you won't find any of that digusting canned corned beef hash *cough...ala Beth's Cafe cough*. Nope, they make everything from scratch here and you can taste the difference right away.
There are lots of elements of genius from this place, from the open front waiting room with free coffee (if you're lucky you'll be able to sit, if not, stop your whining and stretch your legs), the to-die-for hot chocolate, the perfect pancakes that'll test your taste bud tolerance limits and the fantastic, thick hearty bacon (America's no. 1 source for pleasure and health problems)!
The waitresses are always friendly, prices are very reasonable, portions are hearty and above all else, they make the food right. Prepare yourself for what food can taste like when it's not coming out of a can. Original Pancake House has it.
I like the food here, but it is a tad on the pricey side.
The Eggs Benedict are good.
I love Eggs Benedict.
They do not serve Eggs Benedict during the week, only on weekends.
If you go on the weekend, you will wait long enough to have died of hunger by the time you get a table.
Therefore, I don't really go here, despite the fact that the food is pretty good.
I don't get the hype. I'm not a horse, so I don't need a troth of food. Nor do I need to wait for a half an hour to pay over $10 for average eggs benedict.
To try and promote my yen & yang approach to reviewing, here's my "nice" flip side to the review:
The server was nice and attentive
that's all you get OPH, suck it
Me likey da big big ham and da big fat bacon! Eat so much bellybutton turning from insie to outsie! Get so sleepy after eat so much.... *snore*
Hidden breakfast gem.
Very unassuming exterior, and may appear to be downright dumpy HOWEVER when the food comes out you will never judge a restaurant by its exterior/decor again.
Great place for kids, daddy/daughter dates, and worth the few-dollars-more-a-plate prices. It isn't a cheap breakfast, but it's a tasty one.
Bleah food, bleah service. I had high hopes for this place but I will not be back.
I can't get thru Sunday without stopping in for those amazing bacon pancakes. I love, love, love them! And the thick slices of bacon are cooked just right. I come in after church and run into a crowd but since I eat alone it's not a problem.
I'm not big on eggs or hash browns or other breakfast stuff outside of bacon and pancakes so I cant vouch for other stuff on the menu. But if you head over to Ballard and check it out I doubt you will be disappointed!
Has a typical diner atmosphere.
Ordered:
- Dutch baby..excellent, absolutely delicious
- Blueberry pancake... average pancakes, nothing special
Since the Library Cafe went into new ownership (What's it now? Crown Hill Cafe?), I've been frequenting this place. The portions are decent, the coffee keeps coming, and the service is quick.
The only thing that's not quick is the WAIT. Don't try to send one of your friends in early to get a table for you, because they won't seat you until everybody is there. Sucks, but I understand (especially during their Sunday rush). They have free coffee while you wait, and air conditioning in their outdoor waiting room.
It's a bit pricey for what you get, and if you are a substitute-aholic like me your bill can rack up to more than $15 a person. What can I say, I just really like my Sunday afternoon breakfast!
Went there during the recent snow. It was packed, but we were OK with the counter so we got seated in under 5 minutes. All the staff was very nice and attentive although you would never confuse them for being other than diner servers.
Menu items looked appealing, less IHOP than I had expected. Too bad it didn't taste less IHOP. When the two of us finally got all our food (2 plates each, brought one at a time over a period of 5 minutes) I was pretty sure that I was going to need an insulin injection based on the amount of sugar that was in everything. The coffee was kept full. I should just stick to making pancakes at home.
The Pancake House brought back memories of pulling off the highway with Mom and Dad on the way to Mama Bea's for some good old-fashioned breakfast. It has a nice, down-home feel to it and the waitress certainly did treat us right.
Unfortunately, my dutch baby pancake didn't live up to my expectations. I'll admit those expectations were high since I'd been dreaming of pancakes the entirety of my 10-mile training walk, but it was kind of bland and tasted more like egg than anything else.
I will be back to perhaps try some crepes, but only when I get a real hankerin'.
I love pancakes! Especially when I don't have to make them.
But, I usually avoid pancakes houses. They tend to be filled with huge families causing scenes or obnoxious crowds of hungover newbies. If you are traveling in either one of these groups, expect a nice long wait. But if you are a small group of 2-4, they seem to get you sat a lot quicker.
The decor is nothing special. It almost has an old-folk's home appeal to it. But the food is what you come for. The coffee is well below Seattle standards, get juice. But almost anything on the menu is good, especially the pancakes. I have yet to get the dutch baby, I'm still going through the list of fresh fruit pancakes and crepes! And the bacon pancakes are awesome! I only wish they made pancakes puffs like me.
The parking is a mess though, save yourself the headache and just park on the street or across the street at the bank. Oh and tip the waitstaff well, they are always friendly and perky.
Short wait on holiday morning
Loud environment
Slow service to take order
Popular with the college crowd
Tight parking
Yummy fresh squeezed OJ
Slow service overall, very busy atmosphere
Not so comfy chairs, definately 35 minute chairs
Pecan pancakes
4/5
Sausage
2/5- very dry sausage, heat lamped
Should have tried their omelettes as they look absolutely scrumptous
Very green of them to use the leftover pulp for their orange marmalade syrup. Its very yummy and a good compliment to the pecan pancakes
Overall a solid three out of five stars. The food was good and the marmalade was at the top of my list. Yummy!
Maltby cafe still has them beat in the scrumptous category and menu variety, but OPH serves up tummy satisfaction
Give them a go
I'm a judgemental asshole. I can freely admit this now having actually dined here twice, yet shunning it for nearly 10 years. 10 years? Man, I really can be such a snob.
Their hash is sublime and I recommend getting it with your eggs poached. Their eggs benedict are heavenly and even the child preaches their good name when it comes to boasting about a damn tasty eggs bennie. My Mom had their potato pancakes and it really brought a tear to my eye when she finally was able to part with one and I could try it. Oh joyous potato pancake with the light smear of sour cream and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. The Dutch Baby is a wonder in of itself and a must to try for newbies. Oh hell, it's a must to have for anyone!
The second visit was on a rainy Sunday. We entered the waiting area and was told to go right in as they were already waiting for us. I really thought the cute girl with the rosy applecheeks was just being ...well, cute. But we opened the main door to go into the dining area and sure enough they were waiting for us with menus on the table and waters too.
Oh wow, to be treated like a regular and not have to be a regular. Awesome concept!
I went there this morning at quarter to 9. They were already pretty full but there wasn't any waiting to sit at the counter. I went specifically because I had a report that some of the Original Pancake Houses serve Gluten-Free pancakes. I figured that Seattle, seeing as how it has a lot of GF places, would definitely be a place that offers them. They are not. Although the waitress said that she gets a lot of requests for them so maybe someday in the future.
I ordered the home fries and a side of bacon and a side of sausage. The home fries were not that great. And they weren't what I know to be home fries. (I am used to home fries being those little square potatoes that are all separate and these were mashed together.) The bacon was fine, but $4.00 for 4 strips of bacon? That seems a little pricey to me. The sausage was the same price.
Also they got dinged a star because instead of having a fountain for soda, they do coke in the cans and charge $1.50 for a can. Seriously. The service was quick, though and it was quite a bit of food.
Husband and I went out to breakfast on a rainy Sunday during the busy hour of 11:30-12:30. We waited for about 20 minutes and were seated at the counter. We had been drinking the free coffee in the waiting area and when my husband was asked if he would like a refill, he said yes. Then we ordered breakfast and although the food came quickly and the service was expediant, but not overly friendly, we still felt quite overcharged for our meal. Eggs and potatoes for him and french toast and bacon for me. Bacon was crunchy and scramble wasn't runny, but all very plain. No seasoning on potatoes and for the price of our meal just seemed a little out of line....
Coffee refill was $2.25 for drip inside but same coffee was free outside? What? At least reduce the price of inside coffee...
Ooohh... I don't feel so good now.
I wonder if the servers here often walk away laughing to themselves after taking a first time visitors order for a full portion of pancakes. What the hell was I thinking? I didn't even ask how big a full sized order was... Because I'm a pig, I generally approach the 1/2 order option like this: " Oh dear, what if it's not enough? I could starve! Wouldn't I rather have too much food than too little? Why do they give me a choice? Och dammit, I'll just get the full order."
Bacon Pancakes... full order... SIX of them. SIX!
As it turns out.... too many for me=six pancakes... too few=1/2 of one pancake... just right would have been 1 1/2.... I ate 2 1/2. Now I can't get off my couch.
Sure was yummy though. Whoever thought of putting bits of crispy bacon into the pancake batter (I'm fairly certain it was Satan) was a genius. An evil evil genius.
DUTCH BABIES!
DUTCH BABIES!
DUTCH BABIES!
Sometimes I find myself yelling that out, against my own will, when someone asks, "what would you like to do for brunch?"
The Original Pancake House is the only spot I know to get these monstrosities of goodness. If you aren't sure what a dutch baby is you should really just head over here to try them out, but I'll give you a little hint as to what you are about to enjoy. It's a thick eggy pancake that is cooked in the oven instead of a pan. Slather on some butter, sprinkle on some powdered sugar, and squirt a little bit of lemon over it and dig in and don't stop, look up, or take a drink of coffee because if you do you will never be able to finish!
This morning our breakfast was supplemented by a side of their corned beef hash which is very finely chopped, or ground up even, so if you don't like that style don't order it, I happen to have grown up on the stuff so I loved it. The fresh strawberries were very flavorful and were ordered as a meager attempt to balance out our meal.
True, the decor leaves quite a bit to be desired, but the service is quick and the atmosphere is pleasant so stop your bitchin' and eat your pancakes!
I really liked dining here. I fell upon this gemstone of an american restaurant while cruising around looking for a decent american "pancake" serving place to appease my hungry/grumpy stepmom who bellowed from my backseat "I'm hungry now and I want breakfast." Well my dad and my brother and my not to easy to please stepmom were well satisfied. I was happy to see that this out of the way low key place was very hopping and very busy, wait staff were efficient and so friendly. I peeked at the kitchen and things seemed to be well cleaned up. The portion size wasn't too large. I had the strawberry waffle and I could just about eat it every day, I was happy with it.
My first love is the Pancake House in Greenwood Village, Colorado, but this place fulfills my German Pancake cravings here in Seattle.
I only come here for either a cheese omelet or the German Pancake, with a side of their thick cut bacon. The coffee is nothing to write home about so usually I stop for Verite or something else before getting to breakfast to curb that desire.
Everything here is huge, but that's what I want for brunch. I want so much food that I have an excuse to go home and go back to bed....sort of like hibernation style. I am thankful that this place is everywhere I go so I never have to miss it! Thank you Original Pancake House!!!
What do we want? PANCAKES... What do we get? PANCAKES.
Now if you are coming here for ambience- just turn the other way you snobby snobster...this ain't the Original House of Chic...What do we want? PANCAKES.
Okay, now about them cakes o' the pan...the regular cakes? eh. Sure they are a plenty, but nothing to flip over...get it? Flip over...aahh.
Like everyone else mentions you gotta come for them babies- them dutch babies. I grew up in a town that bordered a dutch town- I would have dutch babies at a freakin' dutch restaurant once a month or so...and I loved 'em. I was under the impression it was just a dutch thing ya'll- so when I heard that the OPH had 'em I high-tailed it down there to sink a fork into some eggy, yummy, goodness and they did NOT let me down.
There's a Dutch motto that says, "Neit nokken en dur Kokken" and there's another one that say's, "if you ain't Dutch- you ain't much" and in the case of the pancake...friends, I believe this is true.
Why are you so far from me? Best Pancakes in Pennsylvania I mean Seattle! I thought I was transported to Germantown Pa with the decor and menu. I really enjoy the must wait 30 minutes for Dutch Baby. A tender delicate pancake that is deep and ready for the half cup of buttah and powdered sugar they serve with it. Oh sweet mercy!
I need to go here alone. I hate having to share!
GRUB!
Delicious Pancake Land!
The food here is good, reasonably priced, and they give you crayons & a kid's menu to color on if you ask. I love this spot. I will journey into the Great Scandanavian Land of Ballard for these pancakes! Beware of Vikings!
I have to agree with Michelle B. Dutch Babies are da bomb! Beyond that, though, I must say I was underwhelmed. The lobby is set up like a doctor's waiting room, but they do have a coffee machine set up which is a nice touch.
The restaurant itself resembles a double-wide, as several have noted. Seated at the table next was a perfect example of a skullet, a rare mullet creature seen in its native habitat. I found the seating distracting. You sit at wooden tables in wooden chairs very near to other diners. And all the furniture looks like it was purchased right off the rack at Home Depot.
I was hoping to have an awesome breakfast, but I knew it would be hard to compete with the legendary Patty's Egg Nest. My Dutch babies were quite good, but I haven't had them before so I'm not able to compare. My dad ordered the blueberry pancakes and they looked alright. Laina got a bacon waffle, which also just looked alright.
These meals are as plain Jane as they come. No hash browns, no fresh fruit, you ordered a waffle--here you go. The coffee was good and hot, but Patty's has people walking around and all they do is refill coffee.
I don't know, this place seems a notch above IHOP and Denny's, maybe, but the atmosphere is dull and dreary, the wait can be long, and the food is decent but will not be winning any awards in the near future. Oh, and chocolate chip pancakes? Didn't see them on the menu but will inquire next time I'm there, as I am a huge fan of chocolate and pancakes. They were meant to be together.
Had breakfast with the girls here because I had a coupon for half stack of buttermilk pancakes for a dollar. C'mon, a dollar. So I had that and a scrambled egg for $1.25. So basically I had a good size breakfast for $2.25. Tough to complain about that. I'm definitely glad we went on a weekday. You could NEVER get me in on a weekend. I just don't do crowds like that. The girls liked their breakfasts and the "Larry" was so huge that two husbands got leftovers! I have to admit we were mostly catching up and not scrutinizing the service. Coffees and waters were refilled promptly. I'd definitely go back.
8/20/06 - Okay, I have to fess up. I did go there this weekend but only because we went at 7 am, and I was pretty sure there wouldn't be a crowd yet. I heard the host on the phone tell someone it didn't get crowded until around 9:30-10. At 7 we were one of three tables. Food was good, service was very attentive. Chris had bacon waffles and gave them a big thumbs up.
Happy Hour M-F 3-7PM
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
1/2 Price Wine
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Edmonds, WA
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Bitter Lake
Category: Diners
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: American (Traditional)
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