Pancake Pantry

02/14/09

Its because its somewhat famous

by kimcat43 at Citysearch

Pancake Pantry has been around since the 60's and I am sure in its HAYDAY the food and the service was supreme. But its just a resturant. The food is no better than IHOP or Cracker Barrel. Its just because its been on TV and famous. If you read most of reviews from all kinds of people, you will see its nothing special. Its just a resturant. It has its good days and bad. I think it really depends on who the cooks are. Some days the food will be good other days not so good. No if you just want some good food its not worth waiting in line for a long time. Go to IHOP or Cracker Barrell or lol Shoneys. But if you are here visiting here and you want to eat there to say you have been there fine. But again if you are just hungry and want to eat breakfast this may not be the place for you.

• Pros: Its just food.
• Cons: Long lines and not worth the hassell

01/26/09

Well, I guess we finally tried it . . .

by seaheart at Citysearch

We've lived in Nashville for a year now, and have a 4 y/o who would eat at IHOP every day if she could. So, we are always trying to find alternative breakfast places. We've driven down 21st Ave on many occasions and seen the line extending down the sidewalk outside of Pancake Pantry, and assumed it must be worth waiting for! With 2 small kids we could never bring ourselves to stand out in the cold. Finally our youngest is giving up her morning nap, and we decided to brave it and stand outside in the cold (25 degree) weather to wait and enjoy what we assumed must be above-average pancakes. Well, we did end up waiting out in the cold with our little ones for at least 20 min. The decor inside was disappointing. It looked like a run-down mess hall from summer camp, all of the old tables in the middle of a large square room. No attempt to update it or make it look cheerful or attractive. Oh well, we thought, it's not the convenience, it's not the decor, it must be the food. I'll say that my 4 year old thought her M&M pancake was "the best one I've ever had!" High praise from the girl who'd eat IHOP's Funny Face for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, our food took a long time to come out, and the pancakes were nothing special at all. I had the orange walnut pancakes, which had a very few walnuts cooked inside the cake, and a cup of orange nut syrup with it (which bearly covered the pancakes). The pancakes were cold, sort of pale, tasted heavy on baking soda, and with a soft texture. My husband had a bland omelette and we both left feeling sort of hungry. I have to say that Cracker Barrel pancakes are far superior in their quality. Noshville even has some tasty pancakes. Yes, even old IHOP, has a better breakfast. I can finally say that we did it, we waited in line and had the experience. However, we'll never choose to go back, unless our 4 year old really insists on the M&M pancakes again . . .

• Pros: Variety on the menu, an "experience"
• Cons: Ugly decor, long wait outside, food quality lacking

12/22/08

This Place Hates BLACKS

by LeRon at Citysearch

Hi let me tell you about this place the food is good and the people there are friendly but under the skin of the work force the head manager is not what i would call a profeshinol person in the this world. i went there

thinking that this people were down to earth they smiled in my face and told me that they were glade

to have me there and so i came back. I then came there to eat early one Morning and a guy came in

thinking he was just another customer he was talking as if he were drunk or high and the smell or

alcohol was on his breath. I then said hi to him and he brush me off as if i were a nobody. Later on

i found out that the man that i was talking to was the OWNER of Pancake Pantry

1796 21st Ave S Nashville, TN 37212-3704 (615) 383-9333 Also a few of the employe there told me that

the owner was scared of me and also SAID that if i returned do not let me come in or to eat there. I was

furies with this. THIS MAN IS AGAINST BLACKS

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Manament

12/12/08

Almost worth the lengthy wait

by JoeyK at Citysearch

hey, it's great but only worth it if the line is to the corner. i had the blueberry pancakes and they were rad.

service was awesome...

• Pros: best dang pancakes in town
• Cons: need i say: the line?

10/01/08

Nashville's Pancake Pantry is way below par

by allsmilescmt at Citysearch

I have visited the Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg, TN several times and ALWAYS make it a point to eat there at least a couple of times during my visit. I have recently moved to the Nashville, TN area, and the thought of having a Pancake Pantry so close was very exciting. However, my excitement came to an abrupt halt as soon as I walked through the doors of the Nashville, TN loaction. In Gatlinburg, the atmosphere is rustic and cozy, the waitresses are uniformed, the service is quick, and the food is exceptional. The Nashville site isn't as appealing. The environment is a collection of old wooden tables that have been sparatically placed, and the art collection is something that I think my 10 year old sister could have done. The waitresses are dressed in clothes that would be better suited to clean house in, and have aprons with food on them from all of the previous customer's meals. Although my meal came out pretty quickly, an first arriving I had to wait 5 whole min for my waitress to even identify herself. I guess the food is the biggest disappointment in this establishment. My meal was charred on the edges and the bacon was near burnt (not the way I asked for it) and as I looked around at some others (pancakes in particular) were brown/black around the edges. Also, the establishment had their health reating proudly displayed on the wall.... score 82... my advice would be to place this accomplishment in a less visible spot. These are not things you would see or experience in the Gatlinburg establishment. So to end my review, I would tell Nashville newcomers to save their money and head to Waffle House, IHOP, or Shoney's. Save your money and when you take a trip to Gatlinburg, TN be sure to spend that saved money and experience the Pancake Pantry the way it is supposed to be.

• Pros: Great Location
• Cons: Bad food and amosphere

08/25/08

Stay Away

by TennesseeGator at Citysearch

This establishment has poor service, a low health rating, and is a waste of time and money. I will never go back.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Service, waiting in a line, atmosphere, cost, low health rating

08/15/08

Decent.

by BoBigRed at Citysearch

I would recommend this place if your visiting. It's one of those things I think you should do. Decent food. the pancakes where good. The best part was their syrup. It wasn't maple, but it was great (they had maple though)!! I would definitley buy some. Infact, I wish I would have. I would say the food is slightly above average. I wouldn't really say it's worth standing in a super long line for though, but it is just to try it once. When I got there I only had to wait 20 min. I usually don't like to wait, but I did. I've heard that their are usally long lines. I asked the waiter about it and he said there can be super long lines. I then asked him, before we ate mind you, if it was worth it. His reply "Naw". There you have it. Decent, food worth it if you haven't been there otherwise I probably wouldn't go back just because of the wait.

• Pros: Decent food
• Cons: Long waits and just Ok food

03/29/08

Low health score says it all

by bw332 at Citysearch

this place has long lines, long waits, and a low health score (73)

if you don't believe a bad health score is reason enough not to dine somewhere, I'd advise you actually read a scorecard sometime.

items mentioned about this restaurant by the TN Department of Health include Insect, Rodent, Animal Control: Presence of insects, rodents - 4 points off; Toxic items properly stored, labeled, used - 5 points off; Food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils clean, free of abrasives, detergents - 2 points off. And other violations to account for 27 total points off.

03/22/08

Hype brings 'em in.

by locampo at Citysearch

I think everyone that lives in nashville, has heard of this place. Its legendary, but in my opinion the food is only average. Today I had your basic eggs, sausage, and pancakes. With a name like the pancake pantry you would expect the pancakes to steal the show, but honestly I've had better. The service is pretty spotty too. in the past i've been served fairly quickly, but the past two times I've been to the restaurant, i've had to wait atleast 10-15 minutes before my order was taken. I understand there were busy, but its no excuse. Also some of the staff might want to check their attitudes when they are talking to others. When I asked for a box at the counter for my food, a waitress huff and puffed while she went off to get my box, and then she didnt see me as she returned and said "where the hell is he?!??!? I'll remember that next time I decide where to have breakfast.

• Pros: Some of the speciality pancakes, especially the parisienne (SP?) are very good.
• Cons: Service has its ups and downs. Super high expectations cant possibly be met with the food.

03/21/08

Best Burgers, Great Hashbrowns, Awful Service

by thankyajesus at Citysearch

The food taste incredible. The server was awful. She took forever to bring drink refills. She had to be hunted down just to get assistance. I love their food but something is always wrong with their service. The parking lot attendant is no help to the parking situation.