Best breakfast in town. Great service. Recent remodel is lovely. Get the potato pancakes and go home happy.

The Original Pancake House is one Madison's breakfast gems. Admittedly a chain (and therefore not unique to just Madison), but just so good. This restaurant is cash only. All food options are generous and you will be full for the day if you complete your meal. Pancakes are huge and fluffly. Omolettes are baked and savory. The house made corn beef hash is OUTSTANDING - so much flavor and definitely the best in town. You can get your bacon crispy or soft. Whatever your breakfast desires are, these guys will accomodate. If you order an egg dish of some sort, you will have the option of pancakes or toast on the side. They will butter your toast for you in the back right when it comes out of the toaster. Coffee service starts the moment you sit down. Service and food delivery courteous and quick. The drawbacks: long waits on the weekend and it would nice to see some type of special or added variety on the menu. read more

Truly the best pancakes I've ever had. Service is prompt and friendly. The interior is vintage and cute. Very Gilmore Girls. Love it!

Always good. Always fast. Best potato pancakes around. LOVE this restaurant. Eat there !

Went here all the time in San Diego with my Grandma. Same delicious food in Madison. Wait was about 20 minutes on a Monday morning, but well worth it. Coffee: fresh and smooth, with real cream. Apple pancake - takes a bit longer, but so good with caramelized cinnamon goodness. Crispy bacon in the bacon pancakes. Still good, more delicious memories. Real butter! read more

Original Pancake House - 49'er Flap Jacks - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I love, love love this restaurant! I moved away and am back in town. Can't wait to have a Dutch Baby!!! Just right with lemon and powdered sugar along with a slice of ham. YUM! Long ago I had a camp counselor from Bavaria and she made something similar. Maybe a Bavarian Baby? read more

I have no idea why I waited so long to go here. The menu options are endless and everything we tried was DELICIOUS, down to the coffee. We arrived to a packed parking lot around 9:40am on a Sunday. There were 20 numbers before us and they said it would be a 35 min wait - it was exactly that! There delicious coffee kept us occupied during our wait. Most menu items were under $9 for a full meal - very reasonable priced. I will definitely be back! read more

See all

A fine place for breakfast. If you love pancakes. If instead a favorite breakfast item is anything else, you have some other options, such as eggs. Eggs are a favorite thing of mine so if I awoke, say tomorrow and really wanted some eggs alongside a bunch of really good pancakes. I'd know that I would find them on the menu. All sorts of waffles can be ordered. Crepes. I have an occasional desire for a crepe and know I'd can get one that will be good. But I really prefer an omelette, ham and cheese being my favorite when I'm simply hungry and this is what I had to settle for last week at the OPH. I don't dislike pancakes, but I haven't desired one in a long long time. My father, bless him can't cook a simple egg that's actually not scrambled, or at least furiously mangled, but give him a box of Bisquick and he can throw down a serious pancake and excels with the addition of a waffle iron! But when I was much younger and still living at home his 7 day weeks began with pancakes and only were broken up by the infrequent waffles feast. I'm still pretty sick of pancakes, for all of the last 20+ years. What I truly desire EVERY time I go out for breakfast, is biscuits and gravy. The addition of hash browns two over easy eggs and bacon make it special. But to my horror, the first time I was at the OPH I was met with the ONE absolute meal I would enjoy 365, wasn't on the menu. They have sausage. Pancakes are nearly direct siblings to a biscuit. The only difference being milk, egg and shortening (fat, both byproducts of bacon and sausage) I've traveled the country all over, except the ones east of Michigan and north of I think Tennessee. And found that everyone makes or offers this simple southern dish. All except this black hole of breakfast foods. I'd give this place at least a fourth star if they even offered a mediocre version of my one go to morning craving. If it were good or even better, five stars, no question. But because it refuses to make the simplest of meals, for whatever reason, I'm giving it only 3 stars. Because at least they do do a good plate of hash brown potato's and eggs with bacon, and that's my second favorite comfort food in the morning. read more

Still good food and service, but I just wish in the two years since I've been there they would've been wise to redecorate the place for a more "homey" feel. Everything's white! (Well, this is Madison, ba-dum-bump!). But seriously, get some gingham curtains like you used to have. Yes, some guys know what gingham is, get over it. And don't go insulting the waiter asking for the Lumberjack's breakfast- they don't have it. And there isn't a need for it. 1/2 orderBanana pancakes, hashbrowns and coffee. Perfection. read more

Original Pancake house---WOW. Incredible service and even better food. I ordered brunch for myself online and went to go pick it up. However, I didn't realize just how bad the roads were, after our first snow storm of 2020. I called to let them know that I wasn't sure that I could make it (I had already slid a few times on the road!). The owner asked me where I lived and offered to deliver my order!! He arrived quickly with my food which was amazing....but that's not all. He proceeded to plow out my driveway!!! He saw me struggling with the heavy snow and literally saved me so much time by plowing! So, excellent service, even better food, and owned by a great person. THANK YOU! read more

This review is now 3 years late, but better late than never? Anyways, below was my draft so it was exactly how I felt when ate there, so I'll say its still accurate. I loooooooove pancake house! I visit this location quite often as its close to my apartment. Its generally pretty packed but the front keeps things going like a well oiled machine. The most Ive waited is like 10 minutes. The banana pancake is my favorite and there is not one thing I have tried here I don't like. Its fairly priced, delicious, great service. I highly recommend it. read more

OG Pancake house really delivers on the promise of really, really, flippin' good pancakes. Generally I'm not really even a big fan of pancakes but they've got such variety that there's room to find the perfect pancake for each person. For me, that was the 49 pancakes and the Swedish pancakes - both were so thin, gooey, and and chewy without being overly sweet or processed. Just super tasty and a great texture. Also, OG Pancake House does a great job with hash browns (pro tip - order them extra crispy!!!) And to top it all off, I vouch for this place as having the best fresh squeezed OJ in Madison at a very very reasonable price. Can't resist every time. They don't accept credit card here though so be ready with some cash or a good old fashioned check. They do usually have a line on weekends (pre-COVID) but it moves pretty fast. Awesome staple in Middleton! read more

We waited over a hour to get breakfast for Mother's Day! The owner was enjoying the view of so many people waiting for eggs and bacon and pancakes!!! Don't take reservations! Never again! read more

Great place. Be patient, tons of people love this wonderful breakfast place. It's worth the wait.

30 min wait seems to be the standard reply while you wait to have breakfast at the original pancake house. At first I thought it just lack of training and I was hoping it would be worth in at 8:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. In short, really glad we waited. One of the best breakfasts I've had on my dozens of visits to Mad City. The crepes were wonderful as were the eggs and pancakes eaten by others in our party. Plus they have the absolutely BEST bacon - thick, lean and cooked to perfection. Definitely planning my next visit!! read more

"We be flipping styles like pancake batter" - Beastie Boys "Say It" I've lived in Madison for eight years and never gave this institution a shot. Why not follow with this... "You Can't, You Won't And You Don't Stop Ad Rock Come And Rock The Sure Shot" Beastie Boys "Sure Shot" Enough with song lyrics... it's time to wax on/off about the joint. The place was packed yesterday an hour before close. For a table of two, we needed to wait a good 10 minutes. The decor is somewhere between family style and diner. There were also plenty of interesting matted and framed photos for sale in the lobby. After checking out the menu, we settled on omelettes with three buttermilk pancakes. We love omelettes. My partner went for a sausage omelette with cheddar and I grabbed the Western (green/red peppers, onion, ham & cheddar). After about 15 minutes our orders came. I was a little freaked out about the omelette monstrosity that belonged at a freak show (check out the picture). Look at that thing?!?!? It does not look appetizing at all. I went for it 1st. It was not greasy and it exploded with steam (likely nuked). The effing thing was dangerous. Worse yet, it was not very tasty. The cheddar formed oddly. I still have no clue how (combo insanely hot oil frying and microwaving?) or why they cooked an omelette in this fashion. It was basically a derpy & ginormous Hot Pocket made with an egg shell. Totally senseless. Why three stars? The pancakes were amazing. Between the delicious warm maple syrup, the intense white butter and the perfectly textured and flavor pancakes, the confusing and mediocre pancakes were almost forgotten. These were the best buttermilk pancakes I have ever had. To go, I grabbed there corned beef hash (with pancakes). Although the hash tasted pretty good, it's no Mickies Dairy Bar -- the potatoes were undercooked and bits were raw-ish, the recipe was unspectacular and the corned beef was minced so small there was none of its unique texture. The service was solid. Our waitress checked up on us plenty and was very friendly. On days that I have some patience, I would return ONLY for their pancakes. In all likelihood, I'll just continue going to IHOP since the prices are about the same, omelettes are a major upgrade and pancakes are only a minor downgrade. read more

Original Pancake House - The monstrosity on the right is allegedly a sausage and cheddar omelet. The pancakes on the left are the ONLY reason to return. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Good prices, large portion sizes. Staff, customer service is ok. This place is always busy so expect a small wait.

Excellent breakfast. If you enjoy fluffy buttermilk pancakes or gigantic fresh, hot eggs made any style, French toast or pretty much any breakfast food, the Original Pancake House will not disappoint you. The pancakes melt your individual cup of whipped butter, syrup piles on it, fresh fruit (not canned or frozen, but sliced fresh berries) will cover them with whipped cream if you'd like. Omelettes are made of four eggs. Four. I date you to eat and leave hungry. The food is worth the rest. Wait: the place is only open until 1:30/2 on weekends. There is not enough seating for the demand, so you will wait. They have an efficient system and if you want to make your wait slightly shorter you can opt to sit at the counter. However, after doing this, I would rather wait for a table. I sat in a fixed stool next to a young woman flipping her hair as she took selfies and video chatted with someone. I'm not a fan of other people's hair brushing my arm when I'm eating...so unless you are more comfortable with strangers or you don't mind the awful view of a dingy yellow(ish) wall, the uneven weirdly placed floor tiles that ripple up in the middle making me wonder how the employees are so coordinated that no one trips over that spot, please feel free to sit at the counter and view the tops of the cooks heads. I would rather sit in the entryway and enjoy the bird photographs that are for sale while I wait. Service is good. My coffee only went empty once, as did the water cup we didn't even have to ask for. Our server was friendly and efficient as well. But if you have AT&T you may be like me and stuck with "no service" on your cellphone making the sign strategically placed reminding you to review them on Yelp sadly tantalizing. There's no wifi unless you know the password to "No Soup for You." You will be stuck talking to your company or bring a book. Luckily the food also comes fast so you can then concentrate on eating instead of rearranging tiles or trying to think what would look better on that wall (anything!!!). Updating! December 2018. I'm unoriginal enough (or it's really that good!) that I still ordered the meat omelette with ham. I made sure to ignore the total calories listed by the food because it's a pancake house. I'm splurging even if that means I brave Romaine lettuce for dinner in order to even out the calorie count. The restaurant has been remodeled! I love that in this market a place can temporarily close and they redid the flooring, painted, new tables and there are soft cushy seats at the counter. We only had to wait a few minutes to sit at a table. Score! I also cannot thank the staff enough. The hostess assisted an elderly lady from her chair as she was struggling to get up. You can't always teach kindness like that, but you can hire great staff that are that way. read more

See all

Yes! Yes! Yes! They will spoil you. Be sure to get bacon, and some fresh strawberries w/whipped cream in addition to whatever you order. read more

Good food and friendly staff. Jenn, Betty, Dani, and Mildred are awesome. Their customer service skills are out of this world. Love them! They never let your coffee or water cup go empty. Drew, the owner, is also very friendly. Nice, persona The parking lot is small, so come early. There is sometimes a wait. Ok, there is a wait most of the time, but it's worth it. My favorite right now is the strawberry waffle with a side of bacon. I typically ask for the strawberries and homemade whipped cream to be in the side so the waffle doesn't get soggy. Yeah, I know I'm weird. P.S. the whipped cream is pretty good in coffee too. Today, I'm trying the breakfast burrito so stay tuned for an update... read more

This is one of the the first breakfast restaurants I've been to in Madison and I love it! There is definitely a warming family friendly feel vibe here. The cashier a middle aged gentleman who has great customer service. Our waitresses and waiters have always been accommodating and never leave you waiting long. The menu is straightforward and the portion sizes are ginormous! Omelettes are the size of a newborn baby. Fluffy pancakes, quality breads used for toast, strong coffee brew. Love love love. Seems like this place is always packed, but the parking lot is big enough, and the wait isn't usually long either. The meals for kids are great - my tots can usually share one plate. Definitely will be one of my go to breakfast spots. They only accept cash and there is an ATM located in the restaurant. read more

Original Pancake House - Chili omelette. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The food was very good served by friendly staff promptly and reasonably priced. We will be back for more.

The Original Pancake House is my goto place in Savannah and I was so happy to see they had one in Madison. I went there this morning, a Monday, with my wife and our 2 small dogs. They have outdoor seating and are normally pet friendly. There were 4 tables outside with 2 occupied and both tables had just gotten their food. I went inside and said 2 for outside because I had dogs. A woman said right this way and was going to set a table for us when another woman told her not to seat us, they only wanted 2 tables outside and i would have to wait until one of the other tables left. The place was nowhere near as busy a it usually was. I had been planning on going there wit a bit since I'm in town for a month. I guess they don't need my business. read more

They have delicious food and excellent service! people are very nice and I appreciate even the counter Seating! You can't go wrong with this place! read more

I like this place! They only take cash so make sure you bring some with you. This looks like your typical diner (although they are renovating right now) and the service is friendly too. The pancakes are great and maybe a little overpriced but the portions are so big that I usually get another breakfast out of it. I'm excited to see what the remodel looks like. read more

Original Pancake House - Corned beef hash and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

A friend took me here for brunch this past weekend and I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant looks like it has been renovated somewhat recently. The interior has a "retro" diner theme that is cute and inviting. We sat at the breakfast counter and received prompt, friendly service from our server. I order the breakfast combo of pancake, choice of meat, and an egg. All of my food was hot, delicious, and wholesome. This is easily one of the best brunches I've had out in a while. Additionally, the prices are very reasonable. I definitely recommend coming here for breakfast/brunch, especially if you're looking for a comfortable and cozy atmosphere with wonderful comfort food. read more

So yeah, this place is so famous and is serving such a good pancake so if you come later than earlier, you have to expect to wait for about 15 to 20 minutes to get a spot. But, it's all worth waiting. Their orange juice is fresh! the dutch baby is delish. I specifically like their waffle. I've tried their pecan, strawberry and coconut waffles and the later is my favorite. Coconut waffle is just unique and it comes with lemon syrup. My brunch companions today loved their choice. One had apple caramel, the other had strawberry crepe. The crepe is the richest one and can fix your sweet tooth carving. read more

Original Pancake House - My friend's kid's painting while painting - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

First, the story - In early May we were in and, per my usual, I begged for them to bring back their "seasonal" Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes for the summer. Drew, the owner, said he would have them for us on Mother's Day. The day came, and we called ahead to check and he had forgotten and felt so bad. Fast forward two weeks. We come in for breakfast, and as soon as Drew sees me he shouts "I have them!" [Insert power high-five here!] He told me that after failing on his promise, he resolved to have them available until I made it in...not knowing when that would be. It truly made my day to have received that kind of special service.(Awesome waitress Michelle and I had a special celebratory moment as well!) I challenge anyone to match that level of customer care! So, for the rest of my review...I cannot say enough good things about this place! This is our family breakfast place because it honestly feels like home. The food is really great comfort food, and also really consistent (a hard-to-find quality in Madison). There is lots of variety so you don't get bored of the menu, and things are well-made. Favorites - Ancorra coffee, PUMPKIN PECAN PANCAKES, apple waffle, fresh strawberries (which they won't serve if they are not good), and eggs benedict (best hollandaise I've found in Madison, light and lemony). The staff is plentiful and there to help everyone. No one passes you over. The prices are incredibly affordable and the portions are plentiful. Be prepared to wait on the weekends...it's worth it! And they have things to keep you occupied while you do. Grab some friends and check it out! read more

Great breakfast at a good price! My favorite is the Dutch elite, though the French toast is close. Add bacon and coffee and enjoy!

I used to like The Pancake House for their huge menu, amazing options, great service and good coffee and that fresh OJ. Then I got the Dutch Baby.....and I don't even look at the extensive menu anymore. Show me a place in Madison, that doesn't have screaming kids and a long wait on the weekends, and I'll show you a miracle! Expect to wait for your breakfast on weekends....it's a given. If you don't like what you ordered, order something different the next time - their menu is HUGE! We have never been disappointed, and always bring out of towners here to eat - my mom starts to request her Dutch Baby as soon as she hits state lines. TIP: once the wait was 45 minutes, and we were all starving and tired and we asked the host desk for coffee while we waited and they happily obliged...coffee makes any wait easier!! read more

Original Pancake House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Such a great place to go for brunch or even breakfast! The Eggs Benedict are always consistently good. read more

Original Pancake House - Eggs Benedict with Potato Pancakes (half order) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We came back here again last weekend because we were really craving their giant Dutch Babies! We arrived at about 9:30am on a Saturday, and only waited about 5 minutes for a table for two. Mind you, it does get very busy shortly after that time, so I'd definitely recommend coming here earlier if possible. Coffee was served almost immediately after we sat down, and service was quick, just like how we remembered it last time. I had the Eggs Michael with Potato Pancakes, while my boyfriend had the Dutch Baby. Both dishes arrived together, and they were massive! My eggs were poached perfectly, and the mushroom sherry sauce was amazing. The Dutch Baby? As big as my head, and wonderfully light and fluffy. Again, my five star rating still stands for this place. Just remember to come early, and that it's cash only! read more

My opinion for this place has not changed. We've taken a few friends/relatives here for brunch since my last review, and we continue to be impressed with the food and service. I'm glad they have been consistent in providing excellent quality with their meals and how staff treat their customers. read more

this is by far the best breakfast place in madison. i love coming here when i get the chance. The food and service is always great.

The Dutch delite is not like the original fluffy pancake but it is a bit chewy and has crunchy crust. Huge portion and a good place to get comfort food. Nothing was amazing for me though. And they only accept cash read more

Original Pancake House - Dutch elite - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

A very diner-y experience. The food is classic American breakfast. They offer a wide range of pancake options and gratuitous portions. It is not possible to leave hungry. The cakes are fluffy pillows and are complimented by a hefty helping of whipped butter and syrup. However, I would actively steer you away from the Egg's Michael or anything with the mushroom sherry gravy, it tastes a lot like regret. Overall, a decent place for breakfast. It doesn't make my short list, but is a good option if you are near by. Not necessarily worth a drive across town. read more

This is our go-to place every weekend. The food is excellent and the staff keep us coming back. It's also very family friendly.

I realize I have a soft spot for diners, but this is truly a wonderful little spot! I come here for warm fuzzy feelings and delicious breakfast foods. It can get get pretty busy if the weather isn't terrible, so get here early if you're coming in for brunch. I've had a few different types of pancakes - all delicious. The waffles are also pretty good. The last time I was here, I had the peach crepes and they felt a little eggy... which maybe would be fine for most people, but I'm not a huge egg-person. Speaking of eggs, they have a fun way of making their omelets and my friends, who like eggs, seem to really enjoy them! read more

Although I have eaten their spinach crepes weekly for years, I recently branched out to their other, more traditional, breakfast offerings. The fresh-squeezed OJ is delightful, the cooked eggs are well-prepared, and the bacon is tremendously substantial. It is wonderful to go to a restaurant where the staff continuously makes sure the patrons' beverages are to the quantity of their liking. read more

Everything is always fresh and clean. Try the hashbrowns with real cheddar cheese melted on top it's awesome! The French toast is hard to pass up to read more