Village Pancake House — Restaurant in Rowley

This is one of the breakfast spots in our rotation, and there's a lot to love about it. Today we got the mid America (pork and eggs,) the eggs Benedict, and the hot house omelette (Italian sausage, cheese, and salsa.) It was packed there, and it took about 15 minutes to get a seat (quicker than expected for the amount of people waiting) we sat in this back area that we hadn't sat in before. It was cozy the tables were well spaced out and it's a very colonial vibe. The mid America was nice the pork was unseasoned and unsalted, but well fried. The baked apples that came with it went really well with the pork. I ordered fried eggs over medium with it, no complaints there. Lastly the home fries were pretty average, but I don't find the standard for home fries to be that high in the area. Unseasoned, but not under fried. Also I got a biscuit as a side and it was very fluffy, not dry and it came with whipped butter. Very nice. Next was the eggs Benedict. I've had others that are better in the area, I believe the ham is a bit to blame because that is what really brings it flavor, it's a nice cut, just could be a little thicker. The hollandaise I think is above average, delicate and buttery. It complimented the egg nicely. The hot house omelette (from the specials board) was really nice, plenty of egg in the omelette, the sausage set the stage, the jack cheese was a perfect choice for this omelette, and had a nice stringiness to it, and the salsa really pulled it all together in an unexpected but welcome way. Also we got a side of strawberry pancakes with it which is what they do best. The pancakes are a cut above the rest, very fluffy and not too dense. The potato pancakes with apples is my favorite, but the strawberry pancakes are sure to be loved by all. We all shared a side of bacon which was delicious and not too pricey. Our waitress was attentive and never let the coffee mug empty. When the check came we had to pay cash (we know the deal,) but it's a little inconvenient though better than paying a higher price (not that we don't get hit with a service fee from the in-house ATM but that's neither here nor there.) I wish this place had more options things like muffins and specialty items (chicken and biscuits or something) as we're running out of things to order there and there's not necessarily a stand out thing besides the pancakes which I get is the focus of the restaurant, but it would be enough to make me recommend it to more people. Overall we're not going to stop coming here the food is good, and the service is quick and attentive but I wish I was more excited about ordering...

This past Sunday, my son, his wife and I all went for breakfast at the Village Pancake House just north of Ipswich, and boy, am I glad we did! It was my birthday in a couple of days and I splurged and ordered the Lobster Benedict. Our cheerful server brought our breakfasts very quickly and I am here to say that my benedict was the BEST breakfast of my entire 74 year life. No kidding. I am retired and when living in the Seattle area, used to be a food critic. I know food, and am especially fond of good breakfast places. My two thicker-than-normal english muffins were tender, easy to cut and wonderfully tasty (definitely not Thomas'). They were covered with BIG chunks of fresh lobster, cooked to perfection, flavorful and loaded with both claw and tail meat. I'm guessing my portion was at least 1/3 lb to 1/2 lb of meat!! Covering the lobster were two perfectly cooked poached eggs, nice and hot, blanketed generously with a scrumptious hollandaise sauce which was lemony (although I like it a little moreso), buttery and silky smooth. The lobster benedict portions were cradled by red skinned potato chunks which were mildly seasoned and could have used a little more moisture in the form of butter and/or oil and maybe some nice sauteed onions, but were still tasty. My son had the Eggs Supreme, a different kind of eggs benedict with Canadian bacon and which had a creamy cheese sauce covering his poached eggs instead of hollandaise. He raved about his, too. His dish was accompanied with a nice fresh fruit cup. His wife had the sirloin steak and eggs and the steak was a tad overcooked, but still first rate and flavorful, and her eggs over easy were cooked perfectly. We all shared an order of their hot cooked apples which were deliciously spicy and a nice ending to our excellent meal. We will definitely return again and again! Meanwhile, I am still swooning about my perfect Lobster Benedict. And at $18, it was a steal considering the amount of lobster which was on it. (Oh, and their pancakes (lots of varieties) look heavenly, too...we saw several customers enjoying them as we left.) Our wait on a chilly Sunday morning at about 11AM was only 15 minutes! If you're anywhere near Ipswich, I highly recommend trying The Village...

Food was good but waitress was sprinting the entire time we were there. Now being busy is one thing but feeling like there is a marathon taking place is another. Guest ordered a fried chicken club and waitress stated there is a bone in our fried chicken, how about grilled?? So rushed that she couldn't even recommend chicken fingers as a substitute. Minutes after the order was placed, we asked about chicken fingers and she replies, oh ya, I didn't even think of that?? Should of gone to the kitchen and changed the order, but was too busy to even try. As we were seated, she was told that we didn't want water and she still placed them on the table as to pretty much ignore the request. Pretty much she didn't care of our expecations or wants from the moment we sat until we left. The worst part as was she was serving us, she removed her face mask to wipe her nose. The way she was sprinting the entire time, she should have had time to grab a napkin out of view. This place has been here for a very long time and I grew up there when Peter the owner and his main assistant Sharon were there, the place was amazing back then. Now the food here is very good, breakfast although ours was served luke warm, is still very good. Omelets are good, but I remember the good old days when they were light and would be airy, like bread that had risen. Folks that had eaten here long time ago will remember what I am referring to. I still recommend this place but offer this suggestion to our waitress Sunday late morning. Slow down a bit, relax and listen to your customers and their request. Most of us are there to eat breakfast and relax, so serving us with the intention of a McDonald's speed is honestly not why we come to...