Pancake Diner Coolangatta — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

Was excited to try out this 50's Americana style diner for breakfast with friends this Sunday morning. I hadn't realised until I'd made the booking that this is a location connected with Pancakes in Paradise (once Pancake Manor I think, for those old enough to remember that one:)).

The place was extremely busy and the staff looked pretty harried/overwhelmed. Probably not surprising given the kitchen size vs. the restaurant size. Have to say, the breakfast menu is a little light on options for folks looking for healthy options, but I guess that isn't the priority for a place like this haha!

As to our specific experience, the hubby and I ordered pancakes and waffles respectively, with a side of bacon and eggs. Both the pancakes and waffles were cold, the whipped butter was hard as a rock, and the bacon was under cooked (though tasty) so not the experience we were craving. However by contrast, the couple we were with ordered standalone pancake dishes (Canadian breakfast and some concoction piled high with ice cream and cream respectively), and both of their dishes were ok.

Ultimately, we won't be back I don't think, too risky for the price point, but I'd guess there's a 50/50 chance of having a good experience.

Side note, the place has an extensive milkshake menu done "the traditional way". While waiting in line to order, we were speculating which version of "traditional" they were referring to (American, in line with the theme, or Australian). Definitely Australian. No sign of any good thick shakes, but they did have malt, and the person who ordered one at our table enjoyed his (though found the bottom of the tin cup got very sweet as the malt apparently hadn't mixes through...

We went here for breakfast on Thursday the 24th of October and I can honestly say that my wife’s big breakfast was the worst breakfast that I have ever seen served up. She ordered it with no eggs as she is allergic to them (they don’t do swaps which is slightly annoying but we come across it all the time so not that big of a deal). It does frustrate you when you are paying full price and a large portion of the meal is not served, but we accept that. But when the remainder of the meal is basically inedible that’s not on. Firstly the toast was just warm bread, no toasting at all. The bacon and sausages had been cooked hours before and had sat in a Bain Marie or oven for hours and were hard and dried out and couldn’t be eaten. The tomato was heated but not cooked and had no pulp, the mushrooms were smothered in jarred mixed herbs and it was so overwhelming they couldn’t be eaten. The only part of the meal that could be eaten was the hash brown. She did tell the waitress that the meal was inedible and the only acknowledgement was “Oh okay”. As for the remaining meals we ordered pancakes and all of us found them heavy and doughy. But edible. The woman that was serving on the register was miserable and didn’t seem to want to be there and really no one was very friendly at all. I certainly would not recommend this place to anyone. If anything I would actively discourage people from going here. There was no acknowledgment of how appalling the meal was that was served or an apology. My advice would be to avoid and if I could give no...

1/5 Stars - A Greasy Nightmare: Avoid This Diner at All Costs

I had the misfortune of stepping into this pancake diner, expecting a fluffy and warm breakfast treat. What I got instead was a cringe-worthy experience that left me questioning the sanity of returning to this dump.

Filthy Environment: The moment I walked in, I was hit with the sticky, sweet stench of neglect. The floors, tables, and chairs were caked with layers of grime, making every step and touch a hazardous adventure.

Unhygienic Staff: The workers seemed utterly disinterested in maintaining even basic cleanliness standards. I watched in disgust as they handled the pancakes and waffles with unwashed bare Brazilian hands, their fingernails caked with dirt from the jujitsu mats.

Overpriced and Underwhelming Food: The pancakes, touted as the diner's specialty, were dry, tasteless, and outrageously expensive all up the bill was $90 ish. The "fresh fruit" topping looked wilted and brown.

Disgusting Dining Area: The tables were sticky, the chairs wobbly, and the decor outdated. Every surface seemed to be smeared with a mysterious, syrupy substance.

Final Verdict: Avoid this diner like the plague. The combination of filthy conditions, unhygienic staff, and subpar food makes it a health hazard and a waste of money. Take your breakfast cravings (and your immune system) elsewhere.

Rating Breakdown:

Cleanliness: 0/5 Food Quality: 1/5 Service: 1/5 Value: 0/5 Overall Experience: 1/5

Will I Return?: Not...