Gram Cafe & Pancakes Chatswood — Restaurant in Sydney

Oh dear. What an awful first impression.

First of all I arrived with my mum at 10:50AM and we took our place in the queue. They didn't even open the doors until 11:10, even though their opening time is 11AM.

So we go in finally and a waitress asks us if we are here for premium pancakes - the big souffle ones. I say yes and she hands us a card with a number on it. We are seated and then another 20 minutes go by before we finally flag down a waitress and try to place our order. She informs us the card we were given is valid for only one serve of premium pancakes. What??? This was not explained to us at the door or when we were given the card. So either myself or my mum would miss out on the premium pancakes we had come there for. Other people around us were confused about this too, they had not been told about the one serve per card and they had only been given one card.

So we had no choice but to order the one serve and order a classic pancake stack. When it came to drinks I tried to order the plum juice but they didn't have it. So I picked a strawberry smoothie but they didn't have that either. Why they were out of stock of so many items on the menu when they had just opened I have no idea.

My mum's classic pancakes came pretty quickly, and then we waited for the premium ones. I know they take time to make but it was over 30 minutes before they arrived, and we saw other tables who had arrived long after us receive their premium pancakes and other orders first.

When my premium stack did arrive it was okay - slightly underdone in places where you could taste the raw batter. They were not worth the experience. Other customers were unhappy too, the tables either side of us cancelled their order and walked out because it was taking too long.

There seems to be a weird system at this place when it comes to placing orders. The staff seat a lot of people all at once but then don't take their orders in the order they seated them. You need to flag down staff to order, and they don't always come take your order so someone who gets seated first may not receive their food till much later. And why don't the staff have electronic POS systems so they can send orders straight to the kitchen?

The most confusing thing is 40 minutes before we placed our order, they had updated their instagram and facebook page saying how they will not be limiting the premium pancakes. So why were we only allowed one serve???

Overall, an extremely disappointing experience. I love Japanese pancakes and was so excited that they were finally in Australia. But I will not be recommending this place or returning here for at least 6-12 months when they...

The 1st * is for the actual pancake- which is fluffy and actually quite nice but very expensive for what it is- $18.90 per serve (actually went to Ippudo next door afterwards to eat because it didn't fill us up) The 2nd * is for one of the staff who was quite friendly, who tried her best to explain the process and was apologetic for the misunderstanding when we paid our bill

The shop opens at 11, and by 1030, there was already a long line of about 50 people. It took us 40 minutes before we reached the front of the line. We were given the menu and was asked to order straight away as the premier souffle and matcha pancake will take 40 minutes(more waiting!) to make. Since 2 of our friends and fellow diners were running late, we only ordered 2 pancakes. We were seated in a semi circular booth with a huge plastic planter in front of us. When our friends arrived and asked if we can order, we were told that we cannot order another serve of the matcha and the premier souffle pancake anymore. Our friends had to order another type on the menu. My friend ordered the apple and earl grey cream which arrived quite quickly($19.90 per serve) It took another 15 minutes before my souffle pancake arrived. As there was a whipped butter served on top, my friend and I started eating ours. We were almost finished, yet the matcha pancake my friend ordered at the beginning was still nowhere in sight. She enquired as to how long it will take and she was advised another 10 minutes. 15 minutes later, it still hasn't arrived so my friend decided to cancel this order. There was no apology given. We were underwhelmed at how inefficient this place is run. Eventhough I enjoyed the pancake itself, the extra long wait is NOT WORTH IT. The hype will die down soon enough... Some of the patrons arriving much later than us was served their food earlier than us. Not good enough especially when one is also paying premium price- we certainly did not get a 'premium' experience! Fortunately, Sydney is full of amazing places to dine, so I would advise that you go elsewhere and not bother coming here( at least until they sort out their system)

this review was written on Feb 2020- the owner of this business disputed my review as 'inaccurate' but somehow, google posted this review date as 2021- almost 1 year later! needless to say, I have never gone back to...

I recently visited Gram Cafe and Pancakes, enticed by the rave reviews about their delectable desserts. While I can't deny that the desserts were indeed quite nice, my overall experience left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed.

Let's start with the positives. The desserts at Gram Cafe and Pancakes are undeniably delicious. From their fluffy pancakes to their rich and decadent cakes, each dessert is crafted with care and precision. The flavors are well-balanced, and the presentation is pleasing to the eye. It's evident that the culinary team takes pride in their creations.

However, one significant drawback of visiting this establishment is the wait times. Gram Cafe and Pancakes tends to get quite busy, especially during peak hours, resulting in long queues. While the staff does their best to accommodate everyone, the wait times can be quite frustrating, especially for those with limited time to spare. If you're in a rush, this might not be the best choice.

On a positive note, the staff members are friendly and attentive. Despite the hustle and bustle of the crowded cafe, they strive to provide good customer service and make you feel welcome. Their warm demeanor helps create a pleasant atmosphere amidst the chaos.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the prices. I must admit, the prices at Gram Cafe and Pancakes are a bit on the higher side for what you actually receive. While the desserts are enjoyable, the portion sizes may not always justify the cost. You might find yourself paying a premium for the novelty of the experience rather than the value of the food itself.

In summary, Gram Cafe and Pancakes offers a decent dessert experience, but it falls short of being truly exceptional. The desserts are undeniably delicious, and the staff is friendly, but the long wait times and relatively high prices detract from the overall experience. If you have ample time and are willing to splurge, it's worth a visit. However, if you're seeking something truly unique or are on a tight budget, you might want to explore other dessert...