Original Pancake House Review - Tacoma 2015

This was our second visit to the Original Pancake House in Tacoma (Sixth Avenue District). The first time it was just Peg and me. This time we brought a group for a few more opinions. I was hoping someone would try the Dutch Baby, which is about the size of the crown of England, but no one did.

This time around we skipped the fresh-squeezed orange juice. For five bucks a glass it ranked well behind Knapp's and Harvester . . . and even MacDonald's orange juice from concentrate. Although, pulpy, it was almost flavorless.

Peg really enjoyed the pecan waffle the first time, so she ordered it, again. Actually, she enjoyed it so much that I was never offered a piece. The waffle comes with a ton of pecans, which normally Peg would have on her yogurt and granola. OPH has granola offerings as well as gluten-free selections. They are very accommodating.

I didn't order any sides the first time we visited the Original Pancake House. This time, two weeks after being vastly disappointed in the three dollars a slice premium bacon at Smoke + Cedar, I ordered the quarter-inch thick bacon for an additional $5+. There was no comparison. The thick bacon chosen by OPH was outstanding. I think there was four or five slices. I didn't remember to take a photo of it until a couple of minutes after it arrived. I shared several pieces and traded one to my friend Donn for a piece of his ham steak. I hate paying for a nice slice of ham and get a deli version that you can fold around your fork. This ham slice would be well worth the money, as well. The next time we dine at OPH I'll probably order a side of the thick sliced bacon for an afternoon BLT . . . if I can make it home without devouring it all.

My first order at OPH had been the country-fried steak, which was good, but was too thin for my delicate nature. This time I ordered the biscuits and gravy, which includes two eggs, and potatoes. The potatoes were a waste. I should have ordered then "burnt, burnt, burnt . . . with an onion cut up in them." I got them in their normal condition, bland and flabby white. I prefer well browned hashbrowns to a mish-mash of cubed potatoes.

The eggs were nicely fried. The biscuits tasted like almost everyone else's biscuits, which for me means I'll ask for sourdough toast instead next time. The gravy needed salt and pepper. Although I almost always add pepper to many dishes, especially gravy, I prefer not adding salt unless I really, really have to. If you add salt early in the cooking of most items, you can use less salt over-all. With the addition of salt and pepper the OPH gravy was nice and tangy. Without the salt and pepper there was little need to eat it.

There was some disapproval in our group of the service. Although they were very attentive to the tea, milk, and coffee. The dirty dishes stayed on the table a bit too long. Perhaps, they were encouraging an early departure. The Sunday morning crowd was constant with people always waiting for a table. I do think they need a few more tables for small gatherings of family and friends. Other than that, we'll return, but perhaps without our entourage.