The Original Pancake House Brookfield — Restaurant in Brookfield

A few months ago, while vacationing in Sioux Falls we had our first experience with The Original Pancake House chain of restaurants.

It was such a stellar experience we decided to seek out The OPH on future trips for at least one meal out.

We were excited to find this Brookfield location and we were looking forward to trying a specialty item our second time around.

We were seated quickly at the worst table in the house. The table is directly across from the galley kitchen. There either was no door, or it was propped open, and every staff member was literally yelling in there.

The decibel level was so loud, it was painful to my ears. I do have a touch of noise sensitivity but even my husband found the noise level obnoxious. I couldn't hear myself think and I told my husband we either need to move to another table or will have to leave.

When our server returned, she seemed annoyed by our request but did oblige and moved us wherever we preferred. She mentioned she would have to give us to a different server but when she saw the other person was not available, she said she would keep us on and seemed less annoyed.

I apologized to her and explained the noise level was literally a painful experience and she replied, 'No need to apologize, you like what you like' - her comment really ruffled my feathers as I felt it wasn't a matter of preference it was really a matter of actual physical comfort. I mean, who would choose to subject themselves to a meal they have to literally suffer through?

I decided to let it go since we were moved to a quieter location. We ordered standard breakfast fare but also opted to try a Dutch baby from the Specialties of the House section.

Our standard fare was fine. It was good but nothing out of the ordinary. We were really hoping that Dutch Baby was going to knock our socks off. You could say it did but not in the way we were hoping for.

I truly believe that comes down to tastes. It is a savory, super buttery - flan-like pie with a flaky crust. It is not sweet, and you can sprinkle it with lemon juice and baby powder to alter and sweeten the taste. We did, and it still wasn't our thing.

Our server really recovered from the initial exchange, and I sincerely don't hold anything against her. We tipped her well.

Sadly, the second time around the OPH fell as flat as the Dutch Baby.

I am not going to let that discourage me from trying again if we are ever within the vicinity of an OPH when we travel because our first experience with the Sioux Falls location was that grand.

The standard fare was good - service was good - Dutch Baby was not for us. Have to give this one a mid-range rating considering...

On March 4th at 8:00AM, my best friend and I (both Black guests) decided to dine at this specific restaurant. When entered, we noticed it was fairly empty. Many tables available the lead hostess could have chosen for my friend and I. When asked by an older man who would show us to our table on where he should locate us, the female lead hostess stated verbatim "You can seat them around the corner in the back.", the older man then stated, "I need a table number." and she says, "Table 31". The older man then grabs our menus and walks us around the corner to the back where again, there are plenty of tables out in the open that are completely empty and states "Oh, these tables will be filled up soon enough." and locates us in the very back of the restaurant in a very secluded area. As a person of color, you begin to think about whether or not this action was intentional or not but attempt to take it as an opportunity to be secluded in time for conversation and enjoy good food together. Thirty minutes later, a Black couple and their child were placed at our same location...In the back of restaurant. Again, assuming this was just coincidental, only to encounter 15 minutes later another Black couple placed in the same location. Crammed, in the back and BLACK! All of us immediately uncomfortable knowing this was NOT okay. IYKYK. If you don't know you should know! Both couples ended up leaving immediately after this encounter and had my friend and I hadn't received our food when all this went down, we would've walked out along side them but quickly left shortly after. Apologies were made after both couples exited and we were on our way out, but not for the reasons we experienced in that moment. I've guested at this restaurant on more than on occasion and never was seating in the back of the restaurant. That was the first racial encounter I have ever fully experienced. It was like were weren't allowed to feast with our white brother and sisters. EVEN IF THAT WASN'T YOUR INTENTION STAFF OF THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE IN BROOKFIED, YOU EDUCATE YOURSELVES ON BLACK HISTORY AND BE CONCIOUSLY AWARE THAT PLACING BLACK FOLKS IN THE BACK OF ANY ESTABLISHMENT IS NOT OKAY. Unfortunately, you will no longer receive my business and I hope other Black guests read this...

I've ALWAYS wanted to go here but it's always insanely crowded. However, I had the chance to go on a Monday with a friend in town from out of state. Upon arrival, they led us through many areas to the end of the restaurant in a small room by Bluemound Rd. The table we were seated at was dirty with crumbs all over the table that we had to scoot off with our menus. It took a long time for the server to address us despite noticing our presence. When she finally took our order, my friend needed a bit of clarity on the side options and the server change her tone and raised her voice at him to decide. My friend saw some reviews about the Benedict being like "chicken soup" but I ordered it anyways because that's what I wanted. Despite the place being empty, it took forever for our food to come out. When it arrived, my eggs benedict were coated in tons hollandaise sauce. The poached eggs were cooked correctly, but once I cut into them it was a river of hollandaise and egg yolk - like a soup (not necessarily chicken flavor). The entree was salty, so I ran out of water quickly and after a long time the server came and brought a pitcher of water. The pitcher had two green stems or some sort of plant pieces floating in it, so I didn't opt to drink it. At that point I wanted to leave but after a long wait we eventually had to flag down the server for the bill. I'd like to give this place a pass since perhaps it wasn't their peak staff on a Monday - but the overall experience was too bad for me to consider returning. Not to mention it was $44 for two entrees and an...