East Mauch Chunk Eatery — Restaurant in Jim Thorpe

Absolutely wanted to try this place out, and was so looking forward to it. After WEEKS of deciding where to go for our first stop in Jim Thorpe, we finally narrowed it down to this place for breakfast. The portions looked great and it seemed like a "hidden gem."

We got here at 10:30 right on the nose, even though the street was closed for roadwork. The person behind the counter said we could sit anywhere. We sat in a booth and she ordered our drinks. Orange juice! Shortly after we ordered our food. And then the wait began. And we waited. And waited. And waited some more. Apparently there was a large order going on, but we didn't know until about 30 minutes had passed. If we knew it was going to be another 29 minutes, we wouldn't have waited as long as we did.

We were aware of the pandemic causing staff shortages, and I totally get that! But an hour and 14 minutes had passed, and we only had orange juice. I'm amazed my 10 month old didn't freak out or anything in that time. We ended up having to leave a $5 bill on the table and leaving as we had limited time to spend in the area. Like I said, if we were given a heads up about the $75 order, we would have gone somewhere else.

Glad they are at least getting business as I know it's a...

We stopped here before heading to Jim Thorpe (which, by the way, was already packed at 10 a.m. — no parking anywhere!). The restaurant itself is small and nothing fancy, but it has such a warm and welcoming vibe. There were only two people running the place — taking orders and serving — so the food took a little longer than usual, but it was absolutely worth the wait.

I ordered the 222: 2 pancakes, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage patties, and eggs. The pancakes were ginormous — literally the size of the plate — thick, fluffy, and delicious. Honestly, some of the best pancakes I’ve ever had, and I know my pancakes! The portions were very generous, and everything was cooked just right.

What stood out the most was how kind everyone was — both the staff and even the other customers. Coming from Baltimore, we’re not used to that level of friendliness, and it really made the meal even better.

So if you go, don’t expect anything fancy — just really good comfort food, big portions, and a genuinely nice atmosphere. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone passing through or...

While the first 90% of the dining experience was enjoyable and typical of what is to be expected from a small, local establishment, the last portion of the visit was distinctly different from a typical business transaction and unfortunately memorable in a much less desirable manner then is to be expected from a quaint town diner. After confusion at the register and not being permitted to split the bill, it was realized that the prices charged were significantly higher than advertised on the menu. Without providing itemization of the bill, the worker informed that prices had been changed. Being charged $28 without notice, however, for what was advertised to be $17 is unprofessional and unacceptable. When asked to provide an itemized receipt for the order, the worker handed over a $5 bill instead and considered the matter closed. Whether it is evidence of a pattern or simply a one off event, the attitude and lack of business integrity displayed in this interaction has left a bad taste...