The Pancake Parlour Melbourne Central — Restaurant in Melbourne

Pancake Parlour is a bastion of sweet and savory delights, and apparently, a training ground for the art of subtle financial sabotage. Allow me to share my recent culinary escapade, which I’ve aptly titled: How I Planned to Spend Less but Ended Up with Tiramisu Nirvana.

My initial objective was simple: to indulge in something modestly priced, a strategy designed to satisfy my appetite without incurring unnecessary strain on my wallet. However, my carefully calculated plan was promptly derailed by an employee whose persuasive skills rival those of a door-to-door salesman offering “revolutionary” vacuum cleaners. With a smile that suggested they held the secrets of the universe, this individual recommended the tiramisu, a dessert described with such enthusiasm and intricate detail that I momentarily questioned whether this was food or the plot of a culinary epic.

I hesitated, naturally. Espresso-infused mascarpone? House-made coffee and chocolate? Kahlua sauce, Belgian chocolate chips, and chocolate ice cream? The description was both decadent and daunting, like an edible symphony of extravagance. But alas, I succumbed, partly out of curiosity and partly because I am human, and humans are weak in the face of desserts described as heavenly.

To my chagrin, the tiramisu was spectacular. Each layer was a masterpiece: the espresso-soaked sponge, delightfully robust and aromatic, paired exquisitely with the mascarpone cream, which was smoother than a well-delivered lecture on quantum mechanics. The house-made coffee and chocolate provided a bold richness, while the kahlua sauce added a subtle yet intoxicating edge, not unlike the thrill of solving a complex equation. And the Belgian chocolate chips? A crunchy counterpoint to the velvety textures, a detail so perfect it bordered on obnoxious. Topping it all off was the chocolate ice cream, a cold, creamy punctuation mark to an already extraordinary sentence.

Yet, I cannot ignore the cunning brilliance of the staff member who orchestrated this experience. They played me like a violin in the hands of a virtuoso, nudging me toward a dessert that was, undeniably, far superior to anything I had initially intended to order. Was this manipulation? Absolutely. Was it justified? Begrudgingly, yes.

The ambiance of the establishment was as inviting as the dessert itself, with warm lighting and cozy seating that seemed designed to lull patrons into a state of contented spending. The service was prompt and attentive, though I remain suspicious of their ability to detect and exploit a moment of weakness in a customer’s decision-making process.

In summary, while my wallet left significantly lighter, my taste buds were jubilant. The tiramisu was a revelation, a dessert so divine that it almost made me forgive the fiscal ambush. Four stars, Pancake Parlour—one star withheld as a reminder that while you may have won this round, I shall return, budget fortified and willpower renewed. Or perhaps, I’ll just give in again. Who can resist espresso-infused...

We had come to this store a few years ago and had a bad experience and we were given a gift voucher to use for next time, I had stated we aren't from Melbourne and was told we would receive a voucher with no expiry. I rang the store this morning to query the voucher was ok as the back said it expired after one year and they said I would need to come in.

We showed up and asked to see the Manager, while we waited a female staff member came over (who we thought was the manager) and she seemed to think we were trying to pay and I explained we were waiting for the manager and she asked us what the problem was and came across very blunt. The male manager however was lovely and honoured the gift card after I showed him my correspondence with head office, even though the card they gave me was expired after it was supposed to have no expiry. He was lovely and a credit to the business with his positive attitude.

The food itself was a bit average. I ordered a stack of pancakes and asked for extra ice cream ($7 and only one scoop was given, I was told it would be extra which is fine but expected two scoops), I ordered a "hashbrown" and was given a plate of shredded fried potato (hash) I did query with staff if this was considered a hash brown and they said yes. Had it been written as hash I wouldn't have queried it but that's certainly not what people would class as a hashbrown. I also ordered the mushrooms which arrived almost cold though they did taste nice still. A staff member did check in at one point to ask how things were, I said "good but.." and she walked off. I didn't bother complaining as I didn't want them to think I was trying to get more free food. The milkshake was amazing (as you would hope for $10 for a small glass) and Mt friend said her orange juice and sticky date pancakes were good.

Food was quite dear, a milkshake, 2 pancakes with "extra" ice-cream, sticky date pancakes, orange juice, hash and some mushrooms was $76.50.

We wouldn't go back again, perhaps it was bad luck on both our visits but I won't tempt fate a 3rd time...

The Pancake Parlour claims to draw inspiration from American-style pancakes while incorporating French-style elements in its decor and menu. Unfortunately, this attempt to blend the two influences results in a rather specific and disjointed outcome. It’s a perfect example of the saying: "You can't shoot two birds with one stone." The pancakes themselves are best described as “okay.” They neither match the taste and texture of classic American pancakes nor resemble authentic French crêpes. They lean more towards the American style in appearance, but the taste falls into a middle ground that’s neither exceptional nor terrible—just mediocre. Regarding the claimed “home-like atmosphere,” it feels inconsistent. The venue seems unable to decide which “home” to emulate—the USA or France. This indecisiveness detracts from the ambience, which doesn’t fully achieve the warmth or comfort it aims for. As for the service, it was a mixed experience. The lady serving us was restrained and non-talkative, offering little warmth during our interaction. However, her demeanour shifted noticeably when attending to the neighbouring table, where her tone became emotional, artistic, and friendly—presumably because there were children present. While it’s understandable that kids might inspire a more animated response, adults would also appreciate a friendly, home-like touch. In summary, The Pancake Parlour is an okay place for a routine meal to satisfy hunger on the go. It doesn’t leave a strong impression in terms of taste, ambience, or service but serves its purpose as a casual...