The Original Pancake House — Restaurant in Florida

Our recent visit to The Original Pancake House was absolutely wonderful, and it was made even more memorable by the exceptional service we received from our waiter Luis and the delightful hostess Paula.

From the moment we walked in, Paula greeted us with a warm, genuine smile and made us feel immediately welcome. She was friendly, efficient, and found us a perfect table, setting the tone for a fantastic late breakfast.

Then came Luis—and wow, what a standout! Luis delivered one of the best breakfast experiences we’ve ever had. He was not only incredibly friendly and courteous, but also impressively attentive and knowledgeable. From taking our order with absolute accuracy to making sure every detail was just right, Luis handled everything with ease and care, as well as the supportive team.

What truly made Luis shine was his natural ability to connect with people. He wasn’t just doing a job—he was creating a great experience. He checked in at just the right times, kept our coffees and water refilled without being asked, and even offered helpful recommendations from the menu with genuine enthusiasm. His timing, attention to detail, and positive attitude made us feel completely at ease and truly valued as customers.

Luis was simply "outstanding". His service was attentive, kind, and incredibly professional. He took the time to ensure every detail of our order was perfect—and it was! From the piping hot coffee to our delicious pancakes and sides, everything was accurate, hot, and delivered promptly. Luis made us feel genuinely cared for, checking in at just the right moments and always with a friendly demeanor.

The food was phenomenal, but the experience was elevated thanks to the top-notch service from both Paula and Luis. It’s not every day you find a team so dedicated to making guests feel special.

We’ll absolutely be back—and we’ll be asking for Luis and hoping to see Paula again...

So let me give you a little background. I've been visiting The Original Pancake House off Sunset Dr. for over 40 years. I began visiting this establishment back when it was originally located at Town and Country Mall.

I can't even count the number of customers I've sent to them.

Today Monday, December 23rd was the day they lost a customer forever.

I arrived at 8:50 am. I said we were going to be a party of 7 or 8 and we would like to sit in Jill's section. I was told that Jill didn't have a table for that many, I asked if they could put us near her section, so she could wait on us.

I was told no! Mind you the restaurant was empty and only 3 other tables were occupied with a total of 8 (2 tables of 2 and 1 of 4) customers.

After a back-and-forth, Gabriel the manager, who is a young man who has no cool about customer service. (Or how to keep customers happy) Was very dismissive of my request. He said he could sit us with another waitress Maria. I reluctantly agreed only to be told I had to wait for my party to arrive. Mind you the entire restaurant was empty. He would not sit me! With that I asked to talk with the owner who according to Gabriel was not in nor when he would arrive. I decided that if that is how they are going to treat a long-term customer. I didn't need to give them my money.

I used to meet with friends and work partners there once a month on top of taking my family there.

To make matters worse this place no longer has ham or Canadian bacon as a meat option. Very dissatisfied with how I was treated and dismissed as not important.

Fortunately, there are many other places to meet for breakfast!

Jill and Maria my apologies to you, you guys have...

I visited The Original Pancake House with high expectations given their legacy since 1953. While the skillet was enjoyable, I received undercooked pancakes - twice. For those questioning the consistency, pancakes either cook through or they don't; there's no middle ground in pancake science.

I arrived around 10:45am, food served 12:11, left 12:33 - that's 86 minutes for breakfast (timestamps taken from photos and receipt).

The owner mentions 'hundreds of pancakes sold today,' which might explain why quality control suffered during peak hours. Perhaps their historic recipe from 1953 needs a modern execution strategy for busy weekends. While I appreciate the tradition, consistency should come before quantity.

Lowering my rating from 3 to 1 star.

My initial rating of 3 stars reflected the decent skillet despite the lengthy wait and pancake issues. However, the owner's dismissive response claiming I'm 'exaggerating' about documented wait times and suggesting I'm 'overreacting' about receiving raw pancakes twice shows concerning customer service. Rather than addressing legitimate food safety concerns, they chose to invalidate a customer's experience. When a restaurant's response to feedback about undercooked food is 'Sorry is not the way you like it,' it raises questions about their commitment to food safety and customer satisfaction. A 70-year-old recipe is only as good as its current execution and the willingness to...