McLachlan Family Maple Syrup & Pancake House — Restaurant in Middlesex Centre

I grew up in an area with Belgium horse sleigh rides through snowy hardwoods making snow candy with thick sugary goodness. But you have to understand that's an impossible ticket for south western Ontario in 2024.

We go every year, a great place to take the kids. Usually a super long line, best to show up 10 min before opening. However the line does move quite fast with the system they have in place. Service is great, foods exactly what you'd expect for a pancake breakfast. Unlimited syrup, butter, coffee, orange drank, all you'd ever need to fill the belly up. Lots of room to sit and eat in the cozy dining room.

Lots of antiquities on the walls from an underappreciated age where hard work and family came before luxury and consumerism. Lots of funny signs/sayings, please don't come with an easily offended overanalyzing attitude, just enjoy the atmosphere and have fun. They used to run horses to pull the wagon but it's been a tractor wagon ride the last couple years I've seen. May still use horses on days when they can but I'm not sure?

Awesome family sugar bush, get the kids fed, tired out, learn a little bit about one of the most important Canadian processes that's still absolutely just as important today.

Come on folks, how many countries have a legit maple syrup reserve, get in there and...

A really old fashioned experience. They actually tap the trees on the property to make maple syrup.

You buy "tokens" then give them to the cooks in exchange for food. $12.50 gets you an all you can eat pancake, sausage and ham meal with beans, potatoes and a fruit cup. Drinks included.

Kids meal is $7.50 and pancakes can be ordered separate.

I was able to just get a second plate for $2.00 that my daughter are from, since she was only going to eat a pancake or 2.

My wife was happy to hear they had gluten free asusages.

Outside you can tour the property including some old fashioned syrup pumps and boiling pans.

There's $1 horse rides if you're into that.

Definitely a fun experience - the food is average, and you eat with paper plates and plastic utensils - the inside is sensory overload with hundreds of tacky signs everywhere.

The interior decorator must have been a fan of Larry The Cable Guy, featuring hillbilly slogans like "save the whales, collect the whole set" and "if I want your opinion I'll give it to you" which make you feel like you've entered a bygone era when this brand of comedy was more widespread.

It's all in good fun, but if you are a social justice warrior easily triggered by politically incorrect humor, maybe...

Situated along a rural road, this is one of those hole-in-the-wall places where there's no advertising but everyone knows it's the best in town.

It's a maple syrup farm with a large dining hall, a small maple syrup store and a decent sized play area for kids just behind. There are cool exhibits outside that show a bit of the history of the farm and the maple syrup process.

Let's not forget the wagon ride. It's a $1 per person.

Staff are nice, homely and makes it feel like it's family owned. The decor of the dining hall is rustic with many tongue-in-cheek signs. You have to see them in person.

The breakfast isn't cheap at about $15+ but it does give very large portions. The maple baked beans were my favorite followed by a tie of the 3 large pancakes and large sausage. It also comes with hash browns, ham and canned fruit syrup on the side. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate or an orangeade are right after the serving counter.

I have to say that the maple syrup is light but very very good. I can't go back to the store kind anymore.

PS: You have to arrive early to avoid the crowds! We came on a wet and rainy day, and there were still lines of cars about 25 long before the...