The Perfect American Pancake in London
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A good pancake is hard to find in London, but a good American-style pancake is even harder to find.
I am not referring to the European/British type of pancake, which is a crepe, and often served as a desert. No, I am talking about the American-style type of pancake, the large, fluffy and round type that is commonly served as a breakfast dish.
So where, you ask, does one find American-style pancakes in London? Well, I have researched this to my stomach’s delight.
Giraffe
There are 15 Giraffe locations across London, and I have eaten Giraffe’s pancakes more then a few dozen times and the taste has varied from location to location. The pancakes are served as a three-stack with bananas in between and yummy blueberries on top and a bottle of syrup for you to use. A few times they have been very, very good and served hot. Other times they have been absolutely rubbish and served cold. On a few occasions, they have been served a yellow-ish color (pancakes should be light brown to dark brown color), and once I was served pancakes that had a fishy taste, so I reckoned they must’ve used the same pan to make my pancakes as they had just made someone’s halibut! When I got a new order of pancakes, they were yellow, so I sent them back again. The third order was just OK, but I had to eat them as my eating companions had already finished their meal, and for me the excitement of eating pancakes that day had passed.
Balans
With locations in Soho, Kensington High Street, Earls Court and Chiswick, Balans serves two different types of pancakes - plain and blueberry. They are good, but they are about half the size of the typical American pancake, so the three they serve are not really enough as a full meal. Perhaps a side of fruit with that, and streaky bacon or sausage?
The Diner
The Diner’s pancakes are the same as those served at Balans - small but tasty. The Diner, with branches in Carnaby Street, Camden and Shoreditch, have a top-to-bottom American-style menu, with the look and feel of a real American diner (complete with mini jukeboxes at each table!). Skip the pancakes and order the French Toast, and feel free to add any one (or many) of the 50p-to-£2 side dishes to your meal.
Harry Morgan
In St. Johns Wood, Harry Morgan caters to the wealthy Americans who live in this area. We were there on a Sunday morning around 10am, the place was eerily empty, the waiter spoke very little English, and he seemed to be in a foul mood. But the pancakes were just the right size and sprinkled with just enough sugar. They were good, but this restaurant is not a pancake destination place.
The Breakfast Club
This small London chain, with branches in Soho, Hoxton and Angel, serves pancakes as well as amazing breakfasts. The pancakes are on the thin side, and heavy (as opposed to fluffy) - they are good but could be better. I would skip the pancakes at this place and order one of the many other amazing breakfast choices, like the Full Monty or Half Monty. Also good bets are Reggie the Veggie, The All American, the Breakfast Butties, the breakfast wraps or the huevos rancheros. The dishes are beautifully presented, the atmosphere is very warm, and the wait staff are very friendly. You will not want to leave after you have finished your meal - the place is that cozy! Be warned there are queues to get in, so expect to wait about 15-20 minutes for a table - but it is worth it!
The Blues Kitchen
In Camdentown, this brand new New Orleans style restaurant will do you up a stack of pancakes. Delicious powdered sugar is sprinkled on top, and the pancakes are light and fluffy, but you may have to order two orders as they are very tiny!
Thanks for Franks (26 Fouberts Place, London W1F 7PP)
This is best place in all of London (and perhaps England) for American pancakes. It is a small cafe tucked away on a small street called Fouberts Place right off Carnaby Street. They have the best pancakes in town bar none! They are almost as big as the plate on which they are served, and are nicely light and fluffy. They aren't overcooked or undercooked, they can be cooked with butter if you'd like, and are served with the all important syrup. More important is the flavour, which I can only describe as absolutely delicious. Their pancakes are definitely a full meal. Add to that a cup of their absolutely delicious coffee and you will be in Food heaven!
So, where can you find me? Writing my next article at a table in the back of Thanks for Franks. And if you see me eating the superb pancakes, stay away, or I might stab you with my fork!
So where, you ask, does one find American-style pancakes in London? Well, I have researched this to my stomach’s delight.
Giraffe
There are 15 Giraffe locations across London, and I have eaten Giraffe’s pancakes more then a few dozen times and the taste has varied from location to location. The pancakes are served as a three-stack with bananas in between and yummy blueberries on top and a bottle of syrup for you to use. A few times they have been very, very good and served hot. Other times they have been absolutely rubbish and served cold. On a few occasions, they have been served a yellow-ish color (pancakes should be light brown to dark brown color), and once I was served pancakes that had a fishy taste, so I reckoned they must’ve used the same pan to make my pancakes as they had just made someone’s halibut! When I got a new order of pancakes, they were yellow, so I sent them back again. The third order was just OK, but I had to eat them as my eating companions had already finished their meal, and for me the excitement of eating pancakes that day had passed.
Balans
With locations in Soho, Kensington High Street, Earls Court and Chiswick, Balans serves two different types of pancakes - plain and blueberry. They are good, but they are about half the size of the typical American pancake, so the three they serve are not really enough as a full meal. Perhaps a side of fruit with that, and streaky bacon or sausage?
The Diner
The Diner’s pancakes are the same as those served at Balans - small but tasty. The Diner, with branches in Carnaby Street, Camden and Shoreditch, have a top-to-bottom American-style menu, with the look and feel of a real American diner (complete with mini jukeboxes at each table!). Skip the pancakes and order the French Toast, and feel free to add any one (or many) of the 50p-to-£2 side dishes to your meal.
Harry Morgan
In St. Johns Wood, Harry Morgan caters to the wealthy Americans who live in this area. We were there on a Sunday morning around 10am, the place was eerily empty, the waiter spoke very little English, and he seemed to be in a foul mood. But the pancakes were just the right size and sprinkled with just enough sugar. They were good, but this restaurant is not a pancake destination place.
The Breakfast Club
This small London chain, with branches in Soho, Hoxton and Angel, serves pancakes as well as amazing breakfasts. The pancakes are on the thin side, and heavy (as opposed to fluffy) - they are good but could be better. I would skip the pancakes at this place and order one of the many other amazing breakfast choices, like the Full Monty or Half Monty. Also good bets are Reggie the Veggie, The All American, the Breakfast Butties, the breakfast wraps or the huevos rancheros. The dishes are beautifully presented, the atmosphere is very warm, and the wait staff are very friendly. You will not want to leave after you have finished your meal - the place is that cozy! Be warned there are queues to get in, so expect to wait about 15-20 minutes for a table - but it is worth it!
The Blues Kitchen
In Camdentown, this brand new New Orleans style restaurant will do you up a stack of pancakes. Delicious powdered sugar is sprinkled on top, and the pancakes are light and fluffy, but you may have to order two orders as they are very tiny!
Thanks for Franks (26 Fouberts Place, London W1F 7PP)
This is best place in all of London (and perhaps England) for American pancakes. It is a small cafe tucked away on a small street called Fouberts Place right off Carnaby Street. They have the best pancakes in town bar none! They are almost as big as the plate on which they are served, and are nicely light and fluffy. They aren't overcooked or undercooked, they can be cooked with butter if you'd like, and are served with the all important syrup. More important is the flavour, which I can only describe as absolutely delicious. Their pancakes are definitely a full meal. Add to that a cup of their absolutely delicious coffee and you will be in Food heaven!
So, where can you find me? Writing my next article at a table in the back of Thanks for Franks. And if you see me eating the superb pancakes, stay away, or I might stab you with my fork!
Here Is The Writer : Tim Baros
Tim Baros has worked in the derivatives industry for several large financial institutions in both the U.S. and the U.K., and one now-defunct financial products company. Tim moved from New York City to London in 2003 to take advantage of the many job opportunities that London had to offer in the banking sector at that time, and he will soon become a British citizen. He is hoping his current job situation - employed - will stay that way for a long time.
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