Editor Pick
Dutch Pancake House
- March 27, 2005
- Rated 3 of 5 by
joellevand from Edgewater Park, New Jersey
Ever wonder what an omelet would be like if it wasn’t an omelet--you know, all the omelet fillings you usually associate with omelets, but without the egg? The Dutch Pancake House has the answer for you, featuring thin, crepe-like pancakes covered with everything from curry to ham and pineapple.
Be forewarned, this is not the place for a quick lunch away from work. English Robbie and I decided to venture in after hearing raves from our co-workers, especially over the price, which we were promised was not as dear as it seemed. Expecting something akin to crepe stands in Paris, we first wandered around to the bank and to Toni and Guy to make hair appointments, figuring 45 minutes should be plenty of time for lunch in the tiny, glass-walled café.
The outside appearance, however, is quite deceiving. The Dutch Pancake House is actually down under what appears to be the serving counter, in a room that resembles an old wine cellar, with old cracked vinyl booths and tables that wobble if you lean on them the wrong way. There are no windows--just atmospheric lighting that makes getting a good look at your food hard to come by.
The entire place is done for that café chic—menus are simply large cards with desserts on one side and main pancakes on the other, and the non-smoking policy (which seems loosely enforced) and seating instructions are painted on blackboards to give it that bistro-chalkboard feel. There’s an extensive wine list, as well as a variety of domestic and imported beers available, and entrée selections range from chicken curry to Hawaiian, with several vegetarian offerings available.
The waitress, a heavy blonde with a thick Northern accent who looks like she’s been waiting tables for the last 20 years of her life, including a few New Jersey diners, cures any homesickness I may have been feeling as she brings over spilled Cokes and sighs when we explain we need our food fast. We’ve been waiting fifteen minutes and only have half an hour left to get back to work. She points to about half the menu and says, "Those pancakes take at least twenty minutes to prepare."
To her credit, she speed-walks the order slip back to the kitchen and practically runs to the table when our Mexicano pancakes are ready. The pancakes are a unique experience—served open to expose the baked-on fillings, like an unfolded omelet. I found myself biting in, expecting a mouthful of eggy goodness and instead getting a taste of a strange, sweet, doughy pancake. Afterward, finding a hostess to ring up customers is a Herculean feat, as she seemed to prefer sitting in the bar area, chatting up the chefs nearby, to actually working the minimal room.
All in all, it’s a decent place, with pancakes straight out of Europe, but the service leaves a lot to be desired. Make sure you have at least an hour to spare.
From journal Six Months Living in Manchester