Pancake Joe's — Restaurant in San Antonio

I decided to pick up some breakfast, so I went to Pancake Joes this morning about 15 minutes after they opened. I ordered a breakfast sandwich with bacon for myself and a pecan waffle for my wife. I ordered at the counter and waited in the restaurant within easy view of everyone including the manager. After a short wait, the manager informed me that their waffle iron wasn’t working and asked me if I wanted to wait for them to get it fixed and make my waffle or did I prefer to cancel the waffle and get a refund so I could be on my way. I was in a hurry, so I elected to cancel the waffle. I was issued a refund and was in and out in less than 15 minutes. NOT! I did order a breakfast sandwich with bacon for myself and a waffle for my wife and waited in the restaurant within easy view of everyone including the manager. I waited and waited. All the while that I sat waiting and looking impatient a woman in a red shirt, who turned out to be the manager, walked past me several times, looked right at me and ignored me. About five minutes after I placed my order, I overheard a family of about 6 people ordering a good-sized meal. I waited some more and noticed food coming up for the family who had ordered long after me, but I still saw no sign of my food. I asked an employee where my food was. She said she would find out. She then wandered into the kitchen area a few feet away and ignored me as I grew more and more impatient and tried to get her attention. It was now about 30 minutes since I had ordered two very simple food items and still no sign of them. I went up to the counter and asked loudly where my food was (because everyone had ignored me when I tried to ask quietly) and explained that I had ordered long before the family who were now enoujStill nothing got done – even as the manager stood by and looked on, again ignoring me. Nothing got done until some young lady, who was clearly just starting her shift, saw me standing there and asked if she could help me. She had my food in a matter of less than a minute. The manager never got involved until I indicated my dissatisfaction with the service that I had received. It wasn’t until then that she bothered to explain to me that their waffle iron had stopped working. Had she approached me twenty minutes earlier and told me that, I would have asked for a refund for the waffle so I could be on my way as I was about to be late for a work meeting. She basically shushed me and dismissed me saying simply “Goodbye” rather than try to remedy or even LISTEN to my complaint – a very valid one. When I opened the packages, I discovered that they had gotten the order wrong and the sandwich, which had sat and waited for the waffle to be made was now quite cold. I had clearly ordered bacon on my breakfast sandwich and it had sausage. The food, once I finally got it and even though it was the wrong food, was OK, but the terrible service and horrible management ruined the entire experience. I will never eat there again and I recommend you avoid it as well. It could prove a very pleasant experience if nothing goes wrong, but the incompetence of management is sure to ruin your day otherwise. Had she simply informed me of the problem with the waffle maker BEFORE I had to wait, I would have been understanding even if I had decided to wait because I would have at least understood why I was waiting. Had she even bothered to apologize for the delay, I might have gone away less unhappy, but she never did apologize and instead became rude...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional Breakfast Experience at Pancake Joe’s – San Antonio, TX

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Pancake Joe’s, and from the moment I arrived, the experience was nothing short of outstanding. This local gem delivered excellence in every category — from food quality and service to ambiance and overall value.

Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the cleanliness and inviting atmosphere. The space is well-maintained and designed with a nostalgic charm that evokes the comfort of a classic American breakfast bar. It’s the kind of place that instantly makes you feel at home, offering a relaxed and welcoming environment perfect for both individuals and families. Despite being a weekday, the restaurant maintained a calm, unhurried pace, making it an ideal spot for a peaceful morning meal.

Located conveniently next to Ingram Mall and other nearby family-friendly attractions, Pancake Joe’s is not only easy to find but also well-situated for anyone looking to enjoy a quality breakfast while out and about in San Antonio.

Now to the heart of the visit — the food and service. I ordered the mini buttermilk pancakes, and they were phenomenal — incredibly fluffy, flavorful, and served piping hot. The pancakes had that perfect balance of a light texture with a rich, buttery taste that only comes from a true buttermilk batter. The coffee was also noteworthy: bold, fresh, and expertly brewed — a small but significant detail that added to the overall satisfaction of the meal.

Service-wise, Shania was our primary server and provided exemplary customer care throughout the visit. She was attentive, courteous, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever being overbearing. Even more impressive was the broader team dynamic — multiple staff members not assigned to our table still made it a point to check in, which speaks volumes about the professionalism and hospitality culture within the establishment.

Perhaps most remarkable of all was the value. For two people, we spent under $40, which feels almost unheard of these days considering the quality, portion size, and high level of service. Pancake Joe’s delivers the rare combination of great food, thoughtful service, and an unbeatable price point.

In summary, Pancake Joe’s is a top-tier breakfast destination in San Antonio. Whether you’re a local or just visiting the area, I highly recommend making a stop here. You’ll find yourself enjoying not only a delicious meal but also a genuinely pleasant dining experience that leaves a...

This place needs an overhaul of all services. We arrived during the non-peak hours, so we thought we would get faster/attentive service-- it was anything but that. The restaurant was filthy for it not being busy, trash on the floor that bus boys and wait for staff just walked by-- I even saw an employee look at it and walk off, and then another employee just kicked another piece of trash further under the table. We waited several minutes before the wait staff asked us for our drink and initial food orders. (By this time, I had to go to the front desk to get our cutlery) Our waiter brought our orders individually and then didn't check on us for the remainder of our time there but instead sat at an empty table making cutlery sets. The pancakes were dry, the French toast was loaded with sugar and syrup, and the bacon burger was undercooked. Apparently, the server was supposed to take our payment, but was occupied and couldn't hear me when we wanted to check out so we went to the front desk to pay our tab. There was hype about this place when it first opened, but now it's degraded itself.

Some specific suggestions you might consider include:

Improving cleanliness: The restaurant should prioritize keeping its dining area clean, regardless of how busy it is. Suggest implementing a more detailed cleaning schedule or hiring additional staff to help with this.

Streamlining the ordering process: Waiting several minutes for a server to take your order can be frustrating. The restaurant could consider implementing a self-ordering system or adding more staff to take orders during busy times.

Checking in on customers: Good service involves checking in on customers periodically to ensure their needs are met. The restaurant could encourage servers to make regular rounds and ask customers how they're doing.

Improving food quality: If you find the food lacking in quality, suggest that the restaurant looks into changing its recipes, sourcing better ingredients, or...