The first time I walked into Ye Olde Pancake House, I felt as if I had stepped into an oversized version of my grandmother’s kitchen. Ceramic frog knick-knacks welcomed me at the door. Ivy wound its way up a criss-crossed trellis on the tacky-yet-endearing wallpaper, and the smell of hot, buttered toast and fresh coffee filled the air.
As a good Irish Catholic New England mother of 10 children, my Nana made her kitchen the heart of her home, and just like the meals she cooked, the food from this greasy spoon diner in Eugene is nothing if not good for your soul.
It’s easy to recognize Ye Olde Pancake House, located at 2421 W. 11th Ave., on any given Saturday or Sunday morning because the restaurant’s parking lot is almost always packed with cars. In fact, the spots that lie along the fence separating the lot from the Wendy’s next door are clearly marked: “Parking for pancake house only.” It needs all the space it can get.
Visiting on the weekend during the restaurant’s peak morning hours will pretty much guarantee a wait, but it isn’t too long. The wait was about 15 minutes for two people at 11 a.m. on a Saturday, and the free Boyd’s coffee in the lobby area helps tide customers over until they are seated.
Speaking of coffee, when customers order it at Ye Olde Pancake House, they receive an entire pot. In the waitress station, a large cluster of machines lines the wall, constantly pumping out fresh-brewed pots. As an admitted caffeine addict, this little benefit made me buzz with joy.
For our meals, my dining partner and I decided to try two of the items marked as “Mike’s favorites” from the menu. Our waitress explained that Mike is the owner, and ordering one of his favored dishes is definitely a good choice.
I ordered the chicken fried steak, which comes with three fried eggs, toast and hash browns or pancakes for $7.99 from the breakfast menu. My partner ordered the chicken delight sandwich (chicken, ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce and mayo on a French roll), which came with french fries (regular or seasoned) for $4.89 from the lunch menu. Both breakfast and lunch are served all day.
Our dishes came in less than 10 minutes, but quality was not exchanged for this speedy delivery. My over-medium eggs were cooked to perfection. The french fries were just the right combination of crispy and soft. And the hash browns were real hash browns, not the quartered breakfast potatoes so many restaurants serve in place of the shredded, fried delicacy I love so much.
Service at Ye Olde Pancake House was both friendly and efficient. It’s easy to tell the women who work the tables know how to deal with a crowd. Requests take mere seconds to be filled, and you never feel like an inconvenience.
All-in-all, the prices are extremely reasonable – no single item on the menu costs more than $9. However, for those with only a few bucks in their wallet, specials are also a satisfying alternative. Breakfast specials, for instance, are offered Monday through Friday for $4.49. Some options include: French toast, one egg and two pieces of bacon or sausage; or one egg, two potato cakes and four pieces of bacon or sausage.
Just for good measure, my companion and I ordered a short stack of pancakes to make sure the restaurant’s namesake was appropriate. We were more than convinced. The three well-portioned cakes came with two large rounds of butter and warm maple syrup (boysenberry, strawberry and apricot syrup are also served). They were a fluffy, sweet and delicious end to an entirely satisfying meal.
Ye Olde Pancake House is open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. They accept cash, debit cards, travelers checks, Visa and MasterCard. The restaurant can be reached at 541-344-7830.

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