The Original Pancake House

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jsnitkin

Joined 3 years ago

Simply the best. I was joined by my girlfriend and my adult daughter as we made the hour plus trek from north Marin to Fremont to have my Father’s Day brunch at the Original Pancake House – for a meal I had been remembering for 15 years – and we were not disappointed!

From 1972 to 1995 I lived in Chicago and enjoyed breakfasts and Sunday brunches at one of the four Original Pancake Houses at least once every month or so – always struggling over whether to indulge in their 49er Flapjacks – simply the best pancakes with butter and pure maple syrup I’ve ever had – or the Dutch Baby – baked crispy custard-like with powdered sugar, butter and fresh lemon wedges and as good as in Amsterdam.

After a decade and a half without a decent pancake breakfast, I discovered a branch of the OPH in Fremont, only a little more than an hour from Novato, and my girlfriend and daughter agreed to join me for Father’s Day and indulge me in both of my favorites.

Each bite of each dish was, if possible, better than I had remembered them to be.

The restaurant was clean and pleasant, the service friendly and efficient, and Sam, the host, was a great help, asking me to call a bit before arriving so he could have a table ready for us, as he did. The prices, as always, are on the higher end for breakfast, but more than reasonable for the quality, quantity and taste. One does not quibble over the price of perfection.

Other reviewers who compare this place to IHOP are essentially comparing the Louvre to The Wax Museum – Harris Steak House to Sizzler. If you wait for a table, it’s because of the quality. Arrive late on Sunday (2pm) as we did and sit down immediately. If you order one of the dishes that make this place great, like the Cinnamon Glazed Apple Pancake or the Dutch Baby, expect to wait 20 or 25 minutes. Have a first course, or call ahead with your order to speed things up.

It is impractical for me to drive over an hour for a meal except on special occasions. Otherwise, I would probably eat here every week.

Doesn't Recommend

Rozee

Joined 4 years ago

We were robbed!!. We were a party of 4 today...My husband had ham and eggs combo, comes with 3 small pancakes, I had a (1) swedish pancake (nothing like the one's I've had in Solvang that are excellent) My son and his girlfriend had a crepe with a side of bacon to share. The orange juice tasted like tang and our bill was over $70 dollars...ahhhhhhhh!! Never again, the food was mediocre at best. Sorry we strayed Denny's :(

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Made-to-order breakfasts---including over a dozen unique flapjacks---stack the odds in this restaurant's favor.. In Short
Founded in Oregon circa 1953, this simply-furnished spot owes its success to its creative menu and fresh ingredients. Batters are made on the premises; a special "sourdough starter" keeps treats from tasting overly sweet. Patrons choose from eggs, waffles, crepes and oven-baked omelets, as well as signature plates like blueberry pancakes (served with or without compote), giant cinnamon-glazed apple pancakes, thin and chewy "49-ers" and the air-filled, lemon-and-sugar-topped "Dutch Baby."

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eltigre74

Joined 5 years ago

Just like grandma's. After living in Fremont for the past year, my fiance and I just discovered this place a few weeks ago. I know, Fremont isn't that big, but we both work a lot. But what a gem this place is. The wait staff has been very good and the pancakes are just awesome! My favorites are the blue berry and coconut. The eggs are made to order and the portions are generous. We've never waited more than 5 min for a seat and our wait staff has always been very attentive and happy.

I don't know who this Sam guy (manager?) is, but we haven't experienced anything like what is being described in the other two reviews. I'm not saying it didn't happen, but our experience was totally awesome.

We've been going back every weekend and will continue to do so.

Doesn't Recommend

fremonttommy

Joined 5 years ago

Gives local restaurants a BAD name....WORST service EVER...STAY AWAY!!. We arrive at the restaurant at around 11:30 and wait about 15 minutes before we are seated. Given that it is pretty packed, I didn't mind the waiting but the owner did not so much as even offer us a "hello". After staring at our menus for a good 20 minutes, I asked the bus boy if he could locate our waitress as she had not even been by our table yet and I was beginning to wonder whether or not she even knew we were there. Another 15 minutes pass before a dour looking older woman comes by and barks out "What do you guys want???". She takes down our orders and walks away without any apology or explanation for the long wait. 30 minutes pass again and my parents are starting to mumble about how "this would never happen at a Chinese restaurant" and how "American restaurants don't know how to run a business". Our waitress is MIA again and I contemplate speaking to the manager about her after our meal until I realize...oh wait, she never even introduced herself to us so i don't even know her name. Another 15 minutes pass and still, no sign of food or our horrible waitress. I see the owner walking around seating more people I am SURE he noticed the disgruntled looks on our faces as well as the other patrons. Perhaps he's use to seeing unhappy faces as his restaurant judging from the other reviews here.

After realizing that we have been waiting almost an HOUR for our food, I just can't take it anymore. I tell my parents that we're leaving and so we went and got some great Thai food at Salathai instead. I know you're thinking: Thai for breakfast?? Well we had waited so long by now, that it was LUNCH. I can handle less than awesome food...but less than awesome service, *especially* at a local restaurant is just unacceptable. You complain about the competition from big chains but really now...I don't care how many newspaper clippings you have of yourself and your restaurant Mr. Original Pancake House, but the way you treat good paying customers is just UNACCEPTABLE.

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ria177

Joined 6 years ago

NEVER AGAIN!. NEVER AGAIN!!!! If I could give this restaurants service a negative rating, I would!At approximately 10:30 on the morning of Sunday, February 4, 2007 I entered The Original Pancake House and was seated by an older gentleman with gray hair (later finding out it was Sam Mourad). At that time my friend was not there yet, so I ordered a cup of coffee, got some newspapers and waited.At around 10:45 Sam looks disapprovingly at me from across the room while he was seating another party.A few minutes afterwards he comes to my table and asks where the rest of my party was and proceeded to tell me that I was holding up one of his tables. I responded to him stating that "My friend is running late. Sorry, I didn't know she was going to be late". At approximately 11:05 Sam comes to my table again, puts his face approximately 2 inches from mine and proceeds to scold me about my friend not being there. He states that "I pay such and such amount for rent for this place and I can't have you holding up one of my tables". His face was so close to mine I could feel him breathing on me. I then said to him, "If you want me to leave, I will, please give me the check so that I could pay for my coffee.? Once I received the check I went to the cashier and paid my bill. While there I asked the cashier for a business card. As I was paying she asked how everything was. I told her ?He is rude and someone is going to hear about this. Sam then said ?You?re not going to call me or anyone?. He yelled at me to give him the business card back and I refused. I asked him to leave me alone and said to him ?I?m not talking to you, leave me alone, you?re harassing me?. He responded by saying ?no, I?m not?.Then he grabbed the business card out of my hand. I don?t understand why I was treated so rudely and unprofessional by Sam Mourad. Sam did not need to get in my face, harass me, verbally assault me, and grab the business card from my hand.