The food was absolutely amazing and i haven't eaten so much in any other place. The service was also amazing, food came out quick and great, Thea [our server] took my bacon off the bill when it was forgotten so that was amazing! The atmosphere was a bit quiet and empty but then again we went at 4pm. Thea was absolutely amazing, she was so sweet and funny, she was also very kind to the other staff! I would 100% recommend Pancake Chef Restaurant if you ever go to Mackinaw city! :) read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Chocolate chip pancakes on breakfast menu. (Only breakfast menu item [pancakes] served all day) - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

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Heard the place has new owners, and a new menu with AI images of food The strawberry and blueberry crepes ($13 each) were cold and filled with what seems to be pie filling. Not real fruit. Seemed premade. Tatertot breakfast also could've been cooked more. Chocolate milk was just chocolate syrup mixed with regular milk. Other than that, the place was very clean and the server was very nice. read more

New owners not the same restaurant. Went there not realizing there had been a change in ownership. Walking into the place and seeing a full service bar was a shock. Not having the buffet was another shock. Menu stated one thing but the meal was something else in the POS. Not sure how they have eggs Benedict on the menu but can't make a poached egg. Pancakes were very small, for it to be named pancake chef and they can no longer make a good pancake is a shame. Menu stated homemade strawberry jam but unless their home is smuckers there was nothing home about it. Hash browns were not edible. They were gray and dripping with greasy. Absolutely zero crisp to them. Ordered sausage thinking sausage links. I got a hockey puck shaped sausage patty. They are turning this place into something it is not. Pancake Chef was an establishment that shouldn't have a bar or live music. This is no longer the pancake chef! read more

Just arrived in Mackinac city for the summer and was so looking forward to good pancakes! They were cold, tough and tasted and felt like they had been sitting around for hours! Stale old buffet pancakes w/o the buffet. Terrible! Terrible! Terrible read more

We waited at least half an hour before they still didn't show up. No review on food because it never made it to our table. You can pick any other place around here & likely get better service. Pick another spot please read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - This is our table 30 minutes after ordering...also we got an orange juice when we were supposed to get a coffee - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

BEWARE new owner. No breakfast buffet. Long wait - 45 minutes for French toast and there were only 1/3 full. I ordered BLT. No lettuce only agrula. See photo. No longer a quick spot for breakfast when you are catching the ferry. read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - No lettuce on my BLT only green filler - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

The food was above average, could have had more flavor. The service was very slow and wait staff didn't seem to want to help out when something was needed. The prices for the portions were ok. Definitely lacking flavor though. read more

Horrible now. Changed ownership and got rid of the breakfast bar, service is slow, changed the menu and got rid of the eggs Benedict. And no longer can you get a basted egg. Boo hiss. Greasy potatoes and greasy eggs. Cold pancakes. It's amazing how quick a really awesome restaurant can go from awesome to terrible. read more

Pleasantly surprised. Very friendly waitress Penny who waited on us. Loved her personality. Got breakfast and tried the flight of mimosas, which loved the variety. Would come back again! read more

Came here for lunch. The service was fast and good. Not very impressed by the food with a dry fish patty. But the restaurant is called pancake chef so I assume that you would leave with a better experience eating their breakfast. read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Fish sandwich - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

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Came here before heading out of the city, seated very quickly and service was great. Our waiter was very busy but attentive. The food was also pretty good. Loved the pecan pancakes!!! read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - French toast Cheese Omelet Pecan pancakes - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

I couldn't decide what I wanted for a late breakfast, and I finally decided that pancakes or the like would hit the spot. I walked into Pancake Chef -- which is on the strip with all the other shops in Mackinaw City -- and there were hardly any people eating there, so I started to second-guess my choice. But, I was greeted warmly and quickly. They were switching from breakfast to lunch, and when I walked in, they still had the breakfast bar up but were also offering the salad bar. I took a look, but it didn't appeal to me, so I looked at the menu instead. What caught my eye was the banana bread French toast. It turned out to be amazing! Three large, thick pieces of banana nut bread turned into French toast and served with fresh fruit. It was so good that I didn't even want syrup or butter on it! I wasn't quite as hungry as I thought I was, so I only ate half of it at the time. But, being a good traveller, I had a cooler and ice with me, so it made my entire journey with me. Nothing like stepping into a car that smells of banana bread! I actually finished it after I got home. Even reheated several days later, it was still really good! read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Banana bread French toast - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

What a nice old school restaurant Clean, great service. They opened for a bus tour we were on and the food was really good Servers were excellent read more

Thea was absolutely wonderful, super funny and over all a great server! Food was great. Good service. Super friendly and cute place. read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Buffet - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

I've loved this place since I was a kid, and yet had the most lovely experience today with my Husband and our toddler. Thea was such an absolute sweetheart and treated my little guy like family. Her warmth and care made us feel extra welcomed. And thank you for getting us more crayons!! Our little Harrison had a wonderful time!! We can't wait to come back and we hope and pray Thea is there next visit! God bless you, Thea! read more

Would recommend for good food and a good time love the survace the workers are nice and would come again read more

My boyfriend and I were really looking forward to trying this brunch spot since we were camping nearby in the area. We ordered two breakfast pasties to-go since we had our dog with us and couldn't dine inside. When we received our food, we traveled back to our campsite, and when we sat down to eat, both pasties were still frozen and cold in the middle. We had no way to reheat them so we had to throw them away. A total waste of money and an incredibly disappointing experience. It's honestly inexcusable that something this basic was overlooked. We tried calling to let them know, but no one answered. We left a voicemail and haven't received a response. read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Frozen, cold Breakfast Pastie - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

This place was recommended by a local for having the best breakfast in town. I was promptly seated and got the $15.95 breakfast buffet. It had the whole breakfast spectrum including eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy, pancakes, French toast fresh fruit, scones etc. The cooked to order meals were almost as much or more then the buffet price so it was a better value. People were saying it's pricy but I always like to put into perspective by saying "it's still cheaper then Vegas." Friendly and prompt service from my J-1 Romanian waitress. Clean Buffett being re-supplied often. Street parking. Indoor/outdoor seating with tables, booths and flat tops. They lost one star due to a 3% credit card fee that was not posted and I didn't see till the check came. C'mon, you're in a high tourist area. At least post the fee on the door or window. I heard Audie's has a good breakfast also. I would recommend and return but just bring some cash. read more

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Had the GF French toast. Good, very think, bread was more cake like versus bread. Good flavor, great service

The staff here is amazing! We took our 6 month old here for breakfast and when he started to get fussy the whole staff held him and carried him around the restaurant so my husband and I could eat. The food was also great! read more

This was a wonderful place to be. The food was absolutely yummy. The staff came in for our group and served us well. It truly is a gem of a wonderful mom and pop business that is out to feed you well and bless you with care. It has hospitality down as an art! A happy place! read more

They're understaffed right now. This is happening everywhere though, so there's no reason to say how slow service was. We were immediately seated and looked over the very short menu. Opted for the buffet and waited ~10-15 minutes to give that info to our server who was busy running everywhere to serve her tables. About 5 minutes earlier another server (or manager?) came to get our drink order after asking if we saw our server yet. My husband asked what kind of coffee they served. (He hates Millstone) and she responded "black". It was truly one of those tv moments in a small town area where the restaurant doesn't do those nonfat mocha-chocha goofy latte types of deals for a second! She then said some type of beans and that they grind them in house. Hubby tried it and said the coffee was okay. The food was. Well. Food you'd get at a buffet. No real flavor, all basically there to fill the spaces. Pancakes were dry, eggs were watery, I'm wondering if they were reconstituted. French toast was okay, but the strawberry....slime(?) to put on them was way too sweet. When the server finally came to give us the bill, (16 per person plus however much hubby's coffee was.) I told my husband do not wait, give her the card right then since we didn't know when we'd see her again. She brought the receipt and then walked away. We had no pen to sign with. My husband borrowed a pen from another server as they walked by, and I handed it back to her when she walked by again. She seemed really grateful! When leaving about 10 we had seen that they put a sign on the door saying they were closed due to not having enough staff. I really hope those ladies and crew working today were tipped well by everyone for all of their hard work! read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - The buffet is going strong. - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Fairly expensive for just breakfast. Other places in town are as good and better for much more reasonable prices. The staff was very kind though. read more

Food was plentiful and tasty! You have the options of menu or all you can eat buffet! Beer is all canned, not on tap, but it's not a bar! ;) The pancakes came in a great big heap, topped with whipped butter & whipped cream. The banana bread French toast was literally, banana bread! Yummy :3 The pasties were crisp and tasty. I ate the entire thing myself. :) Hash-browns were cooked to perfection as well. The service was also very good. The host was lovely and full of life, and our waitress was attentive and sweet. The venue was quiet and comfortable. The atmosphere is that of a mom and pop hole in the wall restaurant. Overall 5/5, and to quote our host, "If you leave hungry, it's your fault" read more

Had dinner here tonight with our tour bus. Food was delicious, I'm not a French Onion soup eater but my husband ate 2 bowls. The fish was good as well. Pleasant wait staff. Would definitely recommend this buffet. read more

Best service in a long shot. Good food kid friendly we went for a field trip good food and pet friendly.

From the service to the food, everything was top notch! We all had the dinner buffet and all I have to say is that everything I had was delicious and tasted homemade. The restaurant itself was quiet and we could easily talk and hear across the table to others. read more

George is a great host and the buffet is excellent. The roast is tender and the chicken and fish are very good. Definitely worth going to for the money. read more

I don't know why this place doesn't have better reviews, it's exactly what I would expect from an "old timey" diner in a tourist town, in a good way. Loads of traditional breakfast options to please everyone, friendly waitress, and huge portions! A little on the pricy side but again, it's in a tourist town. My husband and I were extra surprised and delighted to find gluten free toast, pancakes, and French toast on the menu. Everything was tasty, and we left with more than enough food in our bellies to get us on the road heading home. We would definitely return! read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Clean, cozy interior and big plates of food! - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Pretty good. We opted to order meals instead of the buffet. I got the steak and cheese omelette and my lady got the sausage and cheese skillet. She got pancakes to go with hers and I got wheat toast. We were both happy with the food. We also got a side of sausage gravy and it was ok. They were busy but we were seated right away and the food came out shortly after we ordered. The coffee was weak though. The place was clean and the service was fine. They also have a fudge shop next door with the standard touristy gift shop fare. read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Steak and cheese omelette - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

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Not a bad place. Service was great Food not too bad, about average but it's not hard to get traditional American dishes wrong! Great spot for family dining read more

We waited over 40 minutes and our orders were not as marked on the menu. I ordered the avocado toast and it was burnt, the other flavorings on the menu were not added (there was a light sprinkling of sesame seeds). It was also less than half an avocado on the entire serving. My mom ordered the "stuffed" French toast, which was okay tasting but was not actually stuffed. If you do the buffet, you'll probably be fine. The cream on the tables outside was spoiled because it was sitting in the sun. Will not return. Felt bad because the wait staff seemed stressed but they weren't very polite either. read more

Let me Start by saying Thanks to George the manager. for pulling us in offering us an off the menu item. WALNUT Burger, The vegetarian burger. Being a vegetarian driving for several hours. super hungry. came in and was little disappointment seeing no vegetarian option on the menu. that's when Mr. George jumped in told us about the walnut burger. i must say it was amazing, satisfying, off the beat from a chipotle bean patty, this is a very good vegetarian option. i hope they would add this permanent in their menu. We also had a skillet/ veggie hash.. good but little oily.. Onion rings were great. the place still has the antique decor, very cozy. staff was friendly. i would stop here every time i am heading up north. there are plenty of street parking. read more

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We decided to try the Pancake Chef after having multiple mediocre and downright disappointing meals in Mackinaw City. This is THE restaurant to have breakfast at! Our party of 3 enjoyed the Buffet, banana bread French toast, corn beef hash and the gf pancakes. All awesome! Our server "K" was excellent and we enjoyed his personality and professionalism. The food was fresh and tasted like it was made at home! Highly recommend! This is also the first breakfast with just three of us that was under 80.00 and that includes Starbucks! read more

Pancake Chef Restaurant - Receipt - Buffets Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

The food wasn't good. We waited 30 minutes. My toast wasn't toasted and it had butter when I ordered dry. My eggs were over done. The sausage was edible and the best way I can describe the hash browns is fake. As I was trying to force this stuff down, since I was paying $20 for it, there it was, the hair that topped it all off. At that point I was done. The waitress was nice and the meal was taken off the bill. I can only imagine how terrible the buffet is. read more

Good location, bad food, bad coffee, bad service and expensive. I suggest going without breakfast if this is your only choice.

What a great little place in a tourist town! Be prepared to wait for a table as it gets very busy for breakfast. The nice thing is that you can browse the attached gift store and they will call your name on the loudspeaker when your table is ready. Our waitress was so sweet and made our mimosas just like we like them - almost no OJ lol! The food portions are enormous!! I had the bacon skillet and I swear, there had to be a pound of bacon in there. Plus it comes with a full stack of pancakes. Come here hungry. They also offer an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet for around $15. I wasn't really ready for a buffet but at least they provided gloves for everyone. This is a great old-fashioned pancake house that is great for families. And with the option of adding a breakfast beverage, they won me over! I'd absolutely eat here again! read more

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Cute and clean appearance, the breakfast buffet looked appealing, so we decided to try it. Everything was hard, the pancakes, the French toast, bread pudding, biscuits, all hard or tough. The eggs on the buffet were powdered :/ The bacon and sausage were too greasy. Everything was just ok, and for the price it should have been better. No coffee refill was offered and it took 15 minutes to pay our bill. I won't go back. Reminded me of a hotel continental breakfast:/ read more

Stopped for breakfast while camping in Mackinaw. The service and the food were both awesome. The server was very attentive and made sure that our drinks stayed full. We had a couple of special requests on our orders that were done without question. I had the sausage skillet that came with pancakes that I upped to the pecan pancakes. Both the skillet and the pancakes were very good. I would definitely go back! read more

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The food was ok. Was not that impressed. Felt I could of gotten something better for the price we paid. If you do go, the biscuits and gravy and apples were the only thing I felt was good in the buffet. Service was really good. read more