The Original Pancake House — Restaurant in Upper Arlington

To all Columbus diners, and out of town visitors, be aware of this shady business. Stay clear of this "seemingly fine diner" unless you want to be humiliated in front of your family, kids and friends. Franchise owner allows his employees to mis-trust and racially profile customers, based on looks, and immediately demand payment first after placing the order, before the meal is even cooked!

I was there with my daughter for breakfast on the morning of her 12th birthday. We were getting the creepy looks from the get go. The server was immediately giving off the wrong vibe. He placed the bill/check on table right after we placed the order and left. No refills no food. I begged for refills. He kept peaking towards our table to see if cash or credit card was there. It was hilarious, sad, and irritating at the same time.

Interestingly enough, the customers next to us were also complaining about their late food, and guess what.... You guessed right. The bill was on their table too. with no food served yet.

Food never showed up. I was sure the order was not even put in and after waiting for 40 minutes I had enough and asked for a manager.

I asked the manager why they're demanding payment before the food is cooked and served?. Don't you at least want to make sure it's served correctly?. Don't you trust me or something?. You think we're going to eat and not pay?. The manager had a very confused look on her face and gave a reluctant response "yeah but that's how we do it here it's better that way". I couldn't believe what I heard.

I was clearly upset and nothing was done about it. 20 minutes later (since breakfast started cooking then) food came late and wrong. Wrong pancakes, toppings, wrong meat. The sausage links were burnt. Again, I was offered no apology. The whole experience was humiliating and top it off with late incorrect order with burnt food for the child. I can understand upsetting an adult, but to upset a child?. Heartless. Nothing was done to the bill to make up for this horrible experience. I paid and left. Never coming back again.

I met the other same upset customers outside and we chatted about it. I told them I was on Yelp and least I can do is review this place to warn other people.

Owner later told me in a comment to my review: that's how it's done here. He admits that mistrusting and mistreating customers is how he does business. To cover it up, he said that's how it's done in other restaurants. Yes maybe in a Fast food Drive-thru where you pay first at the window??!!. You are supposedly a full service restaurant diner. What a joke.

Atrocious service and shameless disgraceful business practice in the heart of UA. I guess when you cater to out of town visitors and some UA elements who are willing to pay for bad service then you will do just fine.

Just keep in mind, in Upper Arlington, and really all over Columbus and Northwest/UA/Grandview corridor, there are literally TONS of well respected breakfast and brunch establishments who are more than glad to take your money in exchange of "actual Food" on your table and great service. They won't profile you or humiliate you in front of your family or friends either.

In my case, even if you're white with dark hair you're out of luck with these people. Italians, Greeks, Latinos, Arabs, Hispanics, Jewish, Puerto Ricans, what have you... If you have dark hair of any sort, they will immediately profile you and mistrust you here. They'll demand payment first and never cook your meal until you pay. Where are we?. Nazi Germany?. Perhaps they need to post a door sign: Blonde wigs only. Pathetic...

Trust me, if you're of a darker skin color don't even come near here. My honest advice. God help you then. I'd be worried about what they do to your food.

This franchise owner is giving this company a bad name. He and his employee who served us and probably most of his staff, need to be all sent back to diversity training. In a fair world, franchise owners like this ought to have their franchise license suspended, but we know that's not the...

I’m writing this review with ALL DUE RESPECT. I’ve been to many locations of the OG Pancake House (San Diego,CA, Scottsdale,AZ and Many locations in Dallas,TX) the specialty meat selection isn’t very wide. I got the eggs and minced Canadian bacon with a little bit of cheese and three pancakes, which is something I typically will get unless I am in Arizona. The location in Arizona has spicy chicken sausage patties which are amazing. (Take notes Ohio) The eggs with the Minced Canadian bacon usually has a special seasoning with it but there was none on this particular meal😳. So, the person that gave me water, only put a few pieces of ice in there so the ice melted fairly quick, I asked her for lemons and she said wait for your server. She later comes back and says I got some lemons for you. It took my server about 10 minutes to actually get to me and take my order and it took an additional 20-25 mins To actually get the food. Something is really off with the pancake batter because this establishment is well known and has a high reputation for how delicious their buttermilk pancakes taste. They also gave me this creamy nasty butter but it’s nothing like the butter I have had in the past at the other establishments.I ordered a drink that was supposed to be orange juice, sparkling water and pomegranate. It actually tasted like watered down orange juice which was disgusting! Also, the syrup may not have been maple syrup. I get all of that but overall I will not be returning! the server took way too long to get to me, Their menu and drink selection is really bland and boring. The only thing that’s keeping this restaurant afloat is the location and how nice and updated this restaurant is. But I am severely disappointed as the original pancake house is one of my favorite restaurants to eat at in which ever city I am in traveling. I love breakfast and eating here was definitely Cringy. They...

Great decor, okay service, terrible food.

When I walked into the joint, I was wowed by how bright and hip the place was... and how busy it was at 9AM on a Sunday! I was even seated at this cool little half-booth by the counter. Very chic.

Unfortunately we went downhill from there. I ordered a diet soda for my drink and the "Irish Eggs Benedict" with a side of link sausage.

Strike one came with the lukewarm can of Diet Coke and an accompanying glass of ice. No fountain soda at a diner?

Number two came from the fact they forgot my link sausage somewhere between ordering and delivery. I thought maybe the kitchen runner who brought my eggs benny just had her hands full and would bring it shortly, but it never came.

And strike three came from the "Irish Eggs Benedict," themselves. The plate is a regular eggs benny that substitutes corned beef hash for the Canadian bacon... and that would be all well and good. I was looking forward to it, even! But the reality was not tasty at all. The bearnaise sauce had no tartness to it, the English muffin wasn't toasted and was soft out of the bag, and the corned beef hash had absolutely no flavor to it... no seasoning, or crispness... it was just a chunky goo that looked straight from the can. Honestly, the only thing that looked cooked were the eggs.

On top of that, the large slab of hash browns as the side LOOKED crispy and brown, but was cold in the center.

...

Needless to say, I was unsatisfied by my meal.

I didn't kick up a fuss. I paid my ticket, gave my server a 20% tip because the food quality wasn't her fault, and left. I really do get that when places get busy, sometimes quality can drop... but this was worse than my lowest IHOP meal. Maybe it was an off day, maybe that's the norm. I can't tell you as I won't be going back.

The Original Pancake House is pretty... but that's all that was good...