Sandusky Bay Pancake House — Restaurant in Perkins Township

This place makes me sad. Last Friday my daughter and I had such a shocking experience that I literally made myself wait days to post a review about it, so I’d “sleep on it.” Apparently they don’t like “big backs” (as my kid puts it). They have policies designed to make us feel socially awkward and physically uncomfortable to force us to leave. Yes, this is 2024 and discrimination is still alive and strong. Should I laugh and feel sorry them or should I be sad for their lack of empathy or should I be angry as a consumer with civil rights? I’m still numb and dumb, can’t verbalize what I feel.

We asked for a booth (we always sit in a booth anywhere we go for breakfast or brunch). IHOP, The Invention, Denny’s…you name it we love the comfort and space of a booth. We spend good money, leave a good tip, have a good time. We’re a family of two my partner passed).

First we were told no booths were available but there might be a table at the back. At the back. We looked around and saw four booths open at about 10:30am, between breakfast and lunch on a weekday. Lots of tables were open too. The hostess goes to the right and does something for a few minutes and tries to sit us at a table. At a table. I’ve asked for a booth. The whole time my daughter’s tugging my arm, pointing, “Mommy, mommy, let’s sit there or there. There’s booths open.” I tell the woman, no we don’t want a table. She repeats that no booth are available for us. I tell her that there’s at least 2 open and clean on one side, same on the other. She says they’re not available. We lock eyes, stare. Nothing happens. Hostess goes to the right again, has a conversation, we can’t see her. She brings us to a tiny 1/3 booth. We try to sit down but my butt’s hanging 1/3 over the seat and the table cuts off the circulation under my big old boobs. They were made for children or runway models, not adults. Definitely not plus sized adults. Definitely not plus sized kids such as my kid.

We get up, go back to the hostess, tell her we asked for a booth and that the mini booths (all are empty, if that’s a telltale sign) are so tight and small my boobs take up all room on the table where a breakfast plate would go. I tell her they have more than 4 normal booths clean and open and we’d like one. No, she replies, those aren’t available. But we can get wedged into a back table if we want. No - we asked for a booth and we want a booth.

She says only families can sit in booths. I put my arm proudly around my daughter and say “Well, we’re a family! A family of two. But it’s not my fault if my partner died.” No, we’re not considered a family and we can’t have a booth. Now I was about ready to cry. Or scream. Or shake the woman. But I maintained my composure and left. Clearly we weren’t wanted or welcome. I wished her a good day, but told her the way we’ve been treated is bad for business and we will never be back. She smiled smugly, gripping the menus we never got to order from.

By the time we made it to the car and sat down, my wheels had been turning and the light dawned. Then my kid hit the nail on the head, ala some TikTok or Instagram teen meme: “She thinks we’re big backs. They don’t want us there cuz we’re big backs.” What’s that? “It’s a thing where people make fun of people who eat a lot and are so fat they can’t fit in a chair or through a door. They waddle down the street.” But, we don’t look like that? “She thinks we do!”

I called the manager from my cell phone. He was unrelenting. Something about a corporate policy. I informed him that we were treated poorly and humiliated in public and denied adequate seating because the hostess thinks we’re fat. We were treated differently based on how she perceived our bodies. Something about a corporate policy…I told him it was bad for business to turn away two good paying customers when more than four booths were clean and available. He lost out on our money and the server lost out on a good tip. “Sorry you feel that way.” Told him we will never be back and it’s very backwards and disappointing. He was smug and...

I come to Sandusky annually every September along with thousands of others for a global gaming competition, and while traveling I gotta get a good breakfast, my favorite meal of the day. Many people rave about this and while I remember not liking it back in 2021, I decided to give it another shot.

Restaurants usually go with a thinner and darker outside style for pancakes or a light and fluffy style. While I prefer light and fluffy more compared to the former style that SBPH uses, this was definitely on the better end of it. Despite this they were far from extraordinary, but still okay. I did however order the Ohio Pure Maple Syrup for them, they must have forgotten or not heard me. It's fine though, I'll wait for pure maple syrup next time I'm in Toronto 🇨🇦 The syrup they give you is just in a small cup rather than a bottle at the table and it while it wasn't quite enough (even for a short stack), it was good to fight off temptation and save some calories for The Detox™️

The coffee was okay but nearly $4 for a (unlimited ofc) cup of it - and I hate that the $3-4 cup of coffee is becoming the norm at diners these days. It's such an unreasonable price gouge for anyone that knows coffee since it probably costs them a quarter. I wish they had flavored creamer at the table like my local diner back in Michigan has, but I guess beggers can't be choosers.

Along with pancakes and coffee I wanted some protein so I got a side of bacon and this suprisingly might have been the best bacon I've ever had in my life. I love to cook but feel like I always mess up bacon slightly, and this was thick cut and cooked to perfection. It was however only two strips, but at least it was dounle the thickness of most bacon at restaurants.

What I recalled being my least favorite part when I came in 2021 was the price, and ooof I was right. Back then I was much more of an iced coffee/latte gorl, and they are VERY expensive here, with no refills (which I know isn't too common these days, but even Starbucks does 👀). Even without this for just a shortstack, side of bacon, and basic hot coffee - my bill came to roughly $20 after tip. They add a 3% surcharge for paying by card (take me back to pre-pandemic businesses not passing this fee to the customer 😩), which is another cherry on top for a meal that just shouldn't cost this much.

And the final coup de grâce is that they must run some sort of cell jammer in the place. If you're among friends that's fine, but when you go on your own like me when the rest of your hotel room is still asleep and other friends busy working, I wanted to keep reading news on the new Mario 64 Prop Hunt mod that just came out. I was catching Pokemon in the parking lot, and as soon as I entered the place I couldn't even load Google. As soon as I left, I regained internet. In case you were wondering too (also good to know for international travelers), there is no free wifi to make up for this.

So overall, I give the Sandusky Bay Pancake House a 5.5/10. Decent food, but way not worth the price. Service was okay, but not outstanding. Unless you have the funding of the Nouns DAO, this place is a...

The Sandusky Bay Pancake house has been the busiest restaurant on the rt250 strip ever since they opened a couple years back. And with good reason too. Because of its popularity the staff is well adapted to a busy environment where almost every table is seated. They were respectful and welcoming, a good place for families or groups where everyone can find something they want with an extensive menu. In short the food was good. Better then average especially when compared to the local breakfast chains nearby. This is a place worth you time if you can get a table.

What it was like…

The restaurant has a modern interior design with contrasting light and dark tones where accents of a yellow color from their logo appear too. You’re a little closer to the other tables as there’s quite a bit of seating to accommodate the demand. With the restaurant filled at 10am it was a noisier setting but not horrible as it gives it life and you’re not afraid to be too loud. Once my group had ordered I was expecting to be waiting, staring at the wall for the next hour with how busy it was but, to our surprise, it only took about 15 min.

The most important part, the food, was good. Portion sizes were smaller than I expected but for most people these are all you want as the other two from my group had no complaints. I appreciate they source locally for most of their dairy products and breakfast meats. (Tofts and Daisyfield) The pancakes though, were just okay. Nothing special. Even with some fancy toppings using fruits and frosting. I’ve had better. Eggs, potatoes, sausage, and bacon were all good. French toast and waffles were better then the pancakes. Typical American breakfast options done well. I just wish there was more flavor in everything using spices and herbs. But the again it’s not bad in any way. You will be happy with almost anything on their menu as it is.

To be honest I would not go back myself but that doesn’t mean I can’t recommend it to anyone passing by to try it for themselves and give a local...