Pamela's Diner is a great place to go if you are looking for an awesome breakfast. We went there on Sunday around 10 and the place was very busy but we immediately got a table and it didn't take too long to get our food. The one negative is that it is very loud, my boyfriend could barely hear me talk. They do have outdoor seating so that would have been a better option for us. Also the place only accepts cash which we did not know before we arrived and had to leave before sitting to get money from the bank. But overall the food is yummy. We both got the famous crepe pancakes and bacon as our meat. I couldn't even finish mine I was so full! Our waitress was also very sweet but our host was a bit gruff. In the end, a very enjoyable experience. read more

Pamelas Diner - Famous Crepe Pancakes and bacon! - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Breakfast is The Most Important Meal of the Day! You can't go wrong with grabbing a bite to eat at Pamela's. The portions of food are ample and the prices are fair! The staff is friendly which is a must for me. The only downside is that they only accept cash. For me this is a bit of a hassle. Because I never carry cash. read more

Pamelas Diner - There breakfast is yummy, but make sure to bring cash. They don't except anything plastic - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wow! These pancakes are to die for! I was visiting Pittsburg for a quick weekend trip and was advised by several locals to go to Pamela's. My first concern was how long will the wait be on a Saturday morning. The wait was surprisingly short. We were quoted 30 minutes, and to my delight, our table was ready in 15 minutes. We ordered the famous pancakes, banana pancakes, and another dish off of the favorites menu so that we could try the lyonnaise potatoes. The pancakes were remarkable. They were super thin, cooked perfectly, and the edges were crispy. The banana pancakes were stuffed with fresh sliced bananas, walnuts, and whipped cream. So damn good! I also enjoyed the potatoes but the pancakes really were the star of show. Pamela's only takes cash. Stop by an atm and get cash so you can get these pancakes. read more

See all

Note #1: This is likely common knowledge now, but it bears repeating in the service of awkwardness avoidance that Pamela's is strictly CASH ONLY. Note #2: On Sundays, Pamela's only serves breakfast. Note #3: Pamela's menu apparently differs depending on location as this Mt. Lebanon restaurant has items the others do not. Dateline: Sunday May 15th-It's time for Kay to take me home to Brookline from Beaver Falls. Kay is craving pancakes like a zombie longs for live human flesh. She wants to go to Dor-Stop again, but they're only open until 2PM. It's just after noon, and we're 45 minutes away. Enter Pamela's: As it turns out, there's an outpost of the Pamela's franchise a brick's toss away from my neighborhood over in posh Mt. Lebanon. I have been meaning to visit one ever since The Prez made the chain famous during a recent trip to our steel metropolis. Renowned for their pancakes, they're open until 3PM everyday including Sundays! Eureka! We were greeted by a lovely white-haired woman that I'm sure is ranked in the top 1% of sweetest grandmothers in the world. From there, despite how bustling the place was at the moment, we were seated almost immediately. Demeter, how I have pined for scratch corned beef hash. The stuff from a can will and has to do for my bachelor self from time to time, tasting just fine, especially in the form of a sandwich (I'm an Aquarian, we're strange like that). When I saw the words "famous" and "homemade" in the menu's description, I instantly knew what I wanted. The fact that lunch was unavailable on that day made my decision easier by narrowing my choices. There would be no burger on this early afternoon, no, no... Let There Be Corned Beef Hash and Eggs...over easy! The phrase "cooked to perfection" seems to be the bane of at least one online food critic who finds it overused, particularly on Yelp, a site he seems to wish would go offline. How else to say it? "Prepared precisely?" "Crowningly coddled?" "Faultlessly fried?" "Simmered sublimely?" The corned beef hash itself was ample in texture like a loose meatloaf, its flavors richly saliferous, dancing playfully on the edge of being overly so. The generous, lightly yellowed chunks of potatoes underneath were at that ideal point between solid and soft, the way properly cooked breakfast and salad potatoes need very much to be. My over easy eggs were equally indefectible, their yolks runny, warm, inviting dips from the duo of burly, buttery, bodaciously boss toast slices that came with them. The whites of the eggs were pillowy, breaking gently at the touch of fork and tooth, the seasoning dead-on. Pamela's must employ Zen Masters of short order cookery; there is no other explanation for such uncannily made staples of morning fare. These culinarians are warriors, the best of the best, the kind trained clandestinely in remote locales that involve fire pits, spiked whips, throwing stars, poison arrows, and monks wielding quarterstaves. Kay had Gail's Favorite Eggs and uttered not one complaint about them, eating quietly, seriously like a scientist studying the human genome; the mark of a superior meal being consumed. Now it was onto the main event: A Pancake Tag Team Match. In this corner at a total combined weight of errr...several pounds, The Chocolate Chip Banana and Strawberry Hotcakes. In this corner at a total combined weight of...none of your business, Darren and Kay! You get two pancakes to an order, each of us taking one Chocolate Chip Banana and one Strawberry. Of repeating this maxim, I tire not: Pancakes are dessert, a reward at the end of the rainbow, something to build towards, not a main breakfast course. Eating them with meat and eggs is a crime for the proteins distract from the lusciousness of the flapjack, Pamela's being especially so. Crepe-like in their thin structure, delicately crisp on their margins and exterior, palatial and butyraceous internally, I was positively enraptured. The Strawberry Hotcakes are pumped full of brown sugar, sour cream (and that is so exquisitely Polish), and of course the freshest, most plump, juicy, and sweet strawberries. Clouds of whipped cream adorn them. The other sleeping bag of batter not only had whipped cream atop it but inside it as well, smothering the perfectly ripened banana and melted chocolate. No syrup required. A Pamela's breakfast is plateful of revelation: Simple diner food can be extraordinary. Fellow gastronauts,enlighten thyselves, journey Southward to Pamela's at dawn. P.S. The service was genial and more than competent. P.P.S. Our tab was just under $25. Had we simply split one dessert pancake dish (again there are two to an order, so it's easy to do), the bill would have come out to less than $10 a person, making Pamela's economical as well as delectable. Good food doesn't have to be expensive. Pamela's proves it. read more

Did you know you could get healthy options at Pamela's? I sure didn't! Although I would love to stick my face in a plate of their Lyonnaise Potatoes, I'm trying to be good (snooze). I recently discovered their spinach and feta omelet, which I love, so I just health-ied it up with egg whites, whole wheat toast sans butter (because they tend to be heavy on the butta) and a side of fruit. And you know what? It was still tasty! I was even surprised how awesome the fruit was! It was a big bowl full of delicious banana's and strawberries! They also have turkey bacon and sausage. I was tempted to add that one, you know, for more protein, but I stuck with my little satisfying dish. This location is very tiny, so I'd strongly suggest going during off hours. I've been during peak and you wait forever! Plus, there's very limited parking on the side of the building. And most importantly, it's CASH ONLY, with no ATM for a couple blocks. So eat up, with loads of delicious calories or not! read more

I had their pancakes-the ones some rave about. PAMELA'S: Please understand this-- I don't like greasy food. My pancakes were practically doing the backstroke in grease, and not at all gplden brown or even crispy. I didn't see the server, nor did she check back. I was outside, and a guy (dishwasher?) poked his head out, so I asked him to get a server. No server. After 10 minutes, I paid inside and left. Coffee was decent. Passable. Sad to see Pamela C. (Owner) was all OVER Larissa's review from 7 months ago. Me? Not a peep from her. Sad, but not surprising. Why reach out to an unhappy customer to try to do better, or make her happy? That would just be good business acumen. read more

I don't get the local fascination with this place. The food is always swimming in grease and is so oversized its unnecessary. This was the second time I tried this place. The taste is ok if you can get past the grease for any eggs and the pancakes are varied and tasty. But nothing can kill a place like unsanitary conditions and bad, rude, inattentive service. I would like to see my server more than once and not feel like I'm bothering her! The multiple, persistent flies on every sticky surface, at this sitting, was so off putting I finally just left my meal. Waitress watched us battling flies (I'm not talking one or two, but a dozen or so over tables, food, windows, everything) and didn't apologize or seem fazed or ask if anything was wrong with my mostly full meal pretty much left untouched. I regret that we paid, but we did, and we left. Definitley wont be returning. read more

Great place for breakfast. Good omelettes and pancakes. Waits are longer on weekends and Steeler home game days.

I've eaten here and at the place on the strip multiple times. I will sum it up like this. breakfast doesn't have to be greasy, sugary and disgustingly bad for you. It doesn't. You can get great potatoes without having to have your heart stop. Even the eggs come out swimming in fat. The bottom of my plate is just one big oil slick every time I go there. The pancakes are thin because they're weighed down by 1000g of fat and again swimming in fat on your plate. They're heavy, rich and just not necessary unless you're ordering them for desert and then I would serve 1/2 an order. Nothing they make that I have tried is prepared with any care or finesse. It's all over the top and it's not funny anymore. Buy quality ingredients, prepare them properly without too much fat or sugar, season them properly and let them sing. Breakfast is one of my favorite meals. I should really start a Yelp list of some of my favorite places come to think of it. I'm always sorry I ate here every time I get sucked in. By the way, do something to filter your water because it tastes awful and is probably why the coffee is so bad. Probably one of the better breakfasts in the Pittsburgh area if you're comparing regions which tells you about the quality of the food here. I think Deluca's does a better job if you insist on eating out for breakfast in the 'burgh. read more

Pamelas is one of my favorite breakfast spots in town. Overall breakfast is pretty average, but I love there coffee and the hot cakes, specifically chocolate banana, are maybe my favorite breakfast period. They still only accept cash which doesn't bother me but should be noted. read more

When the in laws come to town I automatically think yay we are going to Pamela's! Their Lyonnaise potatoes and strawberry crepe hot cakes are delish! The potatoes are fried with onions and the crepe hot cake has strawberries, brown sugar, and sour cream rolled up then whipped cream on top! If you go for breakfast on the weekends be prepared to wait a little bit for a table then the food takes about an additional 30 minutes. It's totally worth the wait in my book! Everyone is so friendly at this location too! CASH only peeps. read more

I was in Pittsburgh and was looking for a brunch place.. since I love brunch. I came to Pamela's a while back because of some word of mouth from some locals. I was told that Obama was here, his only regret was never going to Pamela's. Hearing that, I had to come. I ordered the strawberry hotcakes and their famous lyonnaise potatoes. I was surprised by the hotcakes. These were crepe-style and included sour cream. I've never had sour cream sound so good for breakfast. I always associated sour cream with mexican food. No longer! These hotcakes were beyond delicious. Then came the lyonnaise potatoes. These were to die for as well. They were crispy and soft the way potatoes in the morning should be. I was in guilty forbidden foods heaven. The only regret was that I couldn't share this food with my loved ones, as they were back home in California. I took plenty of pictures just so I could share. The ambiance was great too. It had a very retro feel with 50s decorations. I wish I could pick up this Pamela's and move it to the Bay Area, just so I could enjoy it more! read more

If you haven't had Pamela's Pancakes (Hotcakes..?), well, I don't think you've lived a single day in Breakfast paradise, like me. Pamela's is great from their food, their speedy service, and their pricing. Their location is right off 19, so parking might be a little bit of a problem, but I live right down the street, so I just walk. Problem solved. Back to the Pancake. Pamela's has clearly set the precedent for all the pancakes in the world. These things are the bees knees. I don't think I've ever had a pancake so good in my life. They seriously make every single pancake I've ever had before taste like mush. These cakes have so much flavor, and they're paper thin too. How do they do thattt??? I cherish having Pamela's right up the street from me, and I will continue on coming in and ordering their bangin' pancakes as frequently as I can. read more

Really great breakfast place fast and friendly service. The lyonnaise potatoes are too Goodrich pass up, love the unique pancakes read more

See all

Very greasy, service was poor. Atmosphere needs work. I been to two of them and I doubt I'll ever go back.

Yikes the hotcakes here are FREAKIN FABULOUS!!!! I'm not kidding. They're def in between a pancake and a crepe-- large and not super thick like a crepe, and yet fluffy with pancake texture. There was a brown sugar crispiness to it. The blueberries were fresh and not of the jam variety. No need for syrup. Amaze...balls. Chorizo hash is also a super win. Spicy and filling! read more

This is a famous place in Pittsburgh for its Crepe Pancakes. That's what I would order. The other breakfast choices are not prepared with finesse at all rather just cooked and thrown on the plate. But the Crepe Pancakes are unique and great. read more

Horrible service - Just returned from breakfast. While food was good, experience was ruined by inattentive service. No one came to check on us to see if all was ok or if we needed refills on our drinks. When we left, were not told Have a Nice Day or Thanks for Coming In. Will think twice about returning to a place where my dollars aren't appreciated. read more

I haven't been to Pamela's since college and have never been to this location. It's just what I remembered. Still cash only though! Insert eye rolls. Food was good, service not the best but I understand they get busy for breakfast but having silverware to eat is important. I loved my corn beef hash and you can't go wrong with the stuffed pancakes! read more

Pamelas Diner - Corned beef hash - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I never got the hype over this place. Food is always mediocre and service at this location and Oakland you seem to be a bother. Today I stopped in and saw a waitress going crazy at another customer from what I could tell no reason. The customer was a quiet older women, if they treat her like that how do you expect them to treat you? So that finalized my decision to not stay today and never go back. read more

Nice ambience! Great for brunch. Should start accepting cards too Potatoes are delicious!! read more

If you are a breakfast person you MUST go here! My two favorite items on the menu are Gail's Eggs and the Hot Cakes. Gail's eggs are scrambled eggs that come with cram cheese and chives. I thought it sounded weird but it is delicious!! It comes with home fries and toast. It's a very savory breakfast. If I'm in the mood for sweet then it's all about the hot cakes. They are thin-not as thin as crepes but very close. They have vanilla in the batter which makes them wonderful. They are crispy around the edges so you get soft hot cakes with a bit of crunch. You can get them with chocolate chips and bananas or other combinations or even filled with strawberries and whipped cream but I love them plain. It's a CASH only place so hit the ATM first. read more

Pamela's is good if you feel like being a Glutton. The pancakes are enormous (fill a plate) but are thin with crispy edges. The bacon is good but seems kind of like that really thin chewy kind that is sold as pre-cooked bacon. Nothing seemed overly greasy. My pal got the pancakes stuffed with walnuts and bananas - these looked yummy but very indulgent. The restaurant is a bit squishy - lots of tables and chairs to weave between until are shown to your seat. The service is good and the food comes out quickly. We went around 9am on a Saturday and there wasn't a wait. As we left, a line was forming. This isn't my favorite breakfast place in the area...but it is a solid option depending on which neighborhood you're in. read more

Oh Pameas... such amazing food! We enjoy the crepes, potatoes, bacon, coffee.. should I list the entire menu? Honestly, it's all amazing! We would go here more frequently except it is pretty pricey for breakfast food. Cash only and we would typically spend $50-60 for a family of 3. Feel like that's a bit much for breakfast. However, we like to go here for a special treat! read more

Great food. Great location. Prices are absolutely fair. I wish they served alcoholic beverages with breakfast but oh well. Food comes out hot and fast. Service here is very speedy because they're usually packed. You might have a short wait to get in and sit but absolutely worth it. read more

AMAZING! I got the croissant french toast (mind blowing) and a side of scrambled eggs. Portion sizes were huge. The to go order was packed very nicely -- they included everything I needed to eat it in my car. Even threw in some hot sauce! Service was fast, too. Love this spot. read more

Best place I've had breakfast since grandma's house.. I haven't had food this good anywhere in ct that's even close. People were extremely friendly and service was great! Highly recommended read more

Pamelas Diner - Breakfast of champions love it here!! - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The hotcakes here are crepe style, and are served rolled up with any fruit and toppings in the middle with a dollop of sour cream on top. My wife had the strawberry pancakes and loved them - the hotcakes had a great buttery crunch to the edges. I had the texas french toast, which was batter-dipped buttery goodness incarnate. All the portions were ample for the price, no one went away hungry. The only downside was parking. The lot is minscule, and on-street parking was a minor pain, but not unexpected for a Saturday brunch (11am). The other downside was that during said saturday brunch rush, the close-packed tables can be loud when the place is full of people. read more

This place is good. The Tex-Mex omelet is the closest thing to Tex-Mex I've had since moving to PA from Texas and that includes the Mexican restaurants! The banana chocolate chip hotcakes are more like a crepe than actual hotcakes. The Dor-Stop has them beat on banana chocolate chip hotcakes. The famous lyonnaise potatoes were delicious. Very rich and tasty. The potatoes were better than my hotcakes and the Tex-Mex omelet was the winner by far. The staff were friendly. It's a little hectic inside when it's busy. Trying to get in and get your name on the list while other people pile in causes some tension on making sure no one line jumps you. The cash only thing is a little absurd and behind the times. I'd be interested in knowing the thought behind that. But if you're prepared its NBD. read more

Service is good. Pancakes are about the only thing going for this place. The eggs seem mass produced and any kind of cheese tastes like an unopened kraft single- nothing you can't find down at your local UPMC cafeteria. read more

Overrated and the staff is unfriendly. The cash only rule is ridicules especially since there is not an ATM in the joint. So they don't want to pay a swipe fee and they also don't want to pay any ATM charges pushing the complete burden of paying on the customer....luckily there a ton of other places that will accept my card that can fry eggs and batter. read more

I don't like the cash only means of payment. I also wish there was more variety on the menu, but the food is good.

while in Pittsburgh decided to try this place...pretty cool! I at the short stack and my friends had the regular stack. portions are huge. I was barely able to finish my breakfast. my friend was not able to. service was great, food was hot, price was right, and the 80's music was awesome! if I am in Pittsburgh again, will stop by. read more

My friend and I love diners and decided to give this place a shot. My friend ended up getting food poisoning from the BLT she had. The food I had I could have made at home and was served cold. read more

A Pittsburgh institution. Simply the best diner breakfast in town. The pancakes are phenomenal and the coffee is strong. Need I say more.

Never disappoints! If you're looking for traditional diner food, this is it. The pancakes are definitely a staple item here, but make sure to try their omelets with lyonnaise potatoes as a side! The service was also spot on. read more

Great atmosphere!! Love the retro diner look but better yet it feels like a cozy retro diner. Great food, friendly and fast service, a whole pitcher of coffee left on our table which, as a coffee fanatic, I enjoyed very much. Went on a Tuesday around 8:30/9am so no wait and half the tables full. Can't speak to how it is on a busy weekend but overall enjoyed the experience! read more

I am giving a 2 star because.... This "diner" is just not what it used to be. Compared to other breakfast/diners in the area, this is not as unique and special as it once was. The food is good, but not worth the weekend morning wait. It is only a cash joint ("never trust a pig farmer"). I also have to add that the folks I dined with, including myself, were "sick"toward the end of the day. I am not always so negative on a place, but for all the hype that is always given on this place, I am disappointed. read more

Shameful Treatment. Living in the South Hills I've been to Pamela's many times. It was one of my favorite places to eat. Yes - "was". All the reviews for the food get it right. However the way we were treated today has driven me away for good. The story: I took my 88 year old mother there for an early Mother's Day breakfast , meeting my 2 sons there. She's wobbly on her feet and was tired after going grocery shopping. When we got to Pamela's we put our name in for a table for 4. My sons hadn't arrived yet (they were 5 - 10 minutes behind us). A table for 4 opened and they would not seat us because "our whole party wasn't there yet"...even though there wasn't anyone else behind us in line. That's right - the table was open, but they wouldn't seat an 88 year old tired woman (anyone who has been there knows there's no place to sit while waiting). I pleaded with the hostess (who I found out was the manager), explaining she was tired and my kids were going to be there very shortly. She ignored me completely - literally walked away from me while saying "I don't make the rules." What would they have lost had they seated us? Absolutely nothing. Easy to understand what they would have gained by treating us better. Folks, you can make up your own mind on where to eat. I happen to know there's excellent food to be found all over the South Hills (we left immediately and went to the Dor-Stop down the road). But I will never spend money at a restaurant that treats a loyal customer so rudely and disrespectfully because "that's the rules". Shame on you, Pamela's. read more

Terrible treatment. Extremely hard to find parking. Cash only. And they won't seat you unless your entire party is standing there squished in like sardines. I was there this morning with my baby in a carrier and my mother. We were waiting for my husband to find parking and while there were at least half a dozen open tables, they would not seat us. So I had to stand there holding the baby carrier by the cold front door. Totally idiotic. Won't be back. I'll stick with Shady Side. read more