ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE · YELP ASSISTANT
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My oh my! I'm a happy camper after eating here yesterday! First of all where in the US of A do you get a senior breakfast for less than $10.00? Then add the other qualifier- that is fresh and delicious and served by a wonderful wait person? Plus a delicious coffee included? Come here and eat! You won't be disappointed.
I saw 3 locations in Minnesota and at least 1 in Wisconsin. The original pancake house is always good and so many choices to choose from. Have to get the fresh squeezed OJ every time
One of my favorite places in Madison. Busy on weekends, expect a 30-60 min wait if you have 4+ people. I'd recommend carpooling because the parking lot does get full. I always get either the Pork Salsa Verde (if they haven't run out) or the Eggs & Bacon. Hash browns are a must. I always order extra crispy. You can also add cheese on top. Many of my friends get an omelette (extra time to bake) or their strawberry pancakes. Their coffee is great. Service is excellent. I love this place so much. I recently took my Mom and she got a senior combo plate. It comes with coffee! We upgraded her buttermilk pancakes to the Georgia pecan pancakes. Worth it! Enjoy!
OPH is my favorite place to grab breakfast in Madison. It's consistently packed in there and often has a line out the door, but if you have time to wait it's 100% worth it. Every meal is super consistent and they have a huge menu. Service is always very quick and wonderful. They offer a ton of different pancake options as well as gluten free pancakes that are really delicious/easily pass for a gluten pancake. I highly recommend getting the cheesy hashbrowns as a side as well because they are super gooey and perfect and they heat up really well for leftovers. Can't say enough good things about this place!
I have been looking for a place with Dutch baby pancakes for so long.... I finally found it! The Dutch baby was amazing and I just can't wait to come back and try everything on the menu. They have great seating for families, and when you are eating solo or as a pair, sitting around the bar is so much fun! The service was great and the food was even better. Counting the days to my next visit!
We've dined here a lot over the years and I always say they have the best pancakes in Madison! Recently, I had breakfast here on a Saturday with a friend and I was not thrilled with my experience. For some reason they sat us at a 6 top even though there were only 2 of us. We waited awhile for a server to come by and we ordered our food and coffees. Food was great as always. It was pretty busy as usual. We ate our meals and were enjoying our coffees when someone, who I imagine was the manager, came up to our table and said "I hate to do this, but can we have this table?" I thought they just wanted to break off the end of our table to use for a 2 top but he said they needed the whole table, and they were basically asking us to leave because they "have a ton of people waiting." I've never been asked to leave and give up a table before, it just did not sit right with me. I understand it was busy, but it just felt like mismanagement to sit 2 people at a table for 6 just to ask them to leave when they finished their meals because you have a bigger group.
Our friends recommended this place and came here at 10 am on Sunday. There is a good size parking lot with it was full when we got there. You may need to park on the street. It's Labor Day weekend and there were at least 10 people ahead of us. However, the line was moving fairly quick and our wait was merely 10 minutes! The restaurant has a nice layout and looks like it's fully staffed. We ordered immediately: Dutch Delight and spinach crepe. The Dutch delight is almost like a sponge cake filled with strawberries and bananas. The spinach crepe was loaded with spinach/onions/canned mushrooms plus 4 potato pancakes. Both were delicious and we enjoyed them thoroughly. There were at least thirty people waiting when we left. Oh boy, it was 94F which is insanely hot for Madison!
This is one of the best kept non secrets in Madison. The space is big and the average clientele age is 65 and the food is divine. If you like big portions, cheap prices and friendly waitstaff this is for you. The menu has a ton of pancake and egg dishes but I recommend the Dutch baby. It's like if a crepe and a pancake had a love hold and is buttery and delicious. Pro tip: go with a friend, order an omelette and upgrade the included pancake to a Dutch baby light. Breakfast will be around $20 total and you will be stuffed and have leftovers.
This place is my family's go to brunch restaurant as they consistently outshine other places in the west side of Madison. I ordered the blueberry crepe with a side of hashbrowns. The crepe was delicious with the perfect balance of egg and sweetness. I appreciated that the blueberry syrup was on the side so I can control how sweet I wanted it to be. The whipped cream was also delicious with just the right balance of creaminess and sugar. The hashbrowns were okay. I enjoyed the crispy exterior, but the inside was a bit mushy for my taste. I personally prefer a crispier texture throughout, so it's really a matter of personal preference. The service was fast, efficient, and kind as usual. They get SUPER busy but once seated, our server was prompt and attentive. The seating is a tiny bit squished in one part of the restaurant near the entrance of the kitchen and can get pretty loud but other than that no complaints.
First time here even though I've heard so much about it. I came after an appointment early morning and it was so busy but we got seated quick! It was such a good family restaurant and felt a litttleee retro but in a good way. I ordered the potatoes with meat (forgot what that is called) and it was so well done and came with the pancakes which were incredibly soft and not at all dry. I would say these are one of the best pancakes in Madison.
1 month ago
Delicious breakfast! Everything was delicious, but the cheesy hash browns were definitely the star of the meal! They were crispy on the outside, loaded with melted cheese, and perfectly seasoned. The pancakes topped with fresh strawberries were also fantastic, and the bacon was cooked just right. The portions were generous, the food was fresh and flavorful, and everything came out looking as good as it tasted. Definitely a breakfast worth coming back for--especially for those cheesy hash browns! read more
1 month ago
It is nice and bright, lots of seating and I love the horseshoe breakfast counter. It wasn't easy choosing something off the menu. Looking at other plates and asking the server I decided on the hash browns with cheese, two eggs over medium and the chocolate chip pancakes. Yep, that was the sweet spot. You've for sure got to try the hash browns. Our service was great, our coffee cups were always full as were our water glasses. I'll be visiting again to try many more items on their menu. read more
Original Pancake House was my favorite breakfast, maybe even meal overall, during my trip to Wisconsin! Parking was easy since they have a designated lot. We arrived around 12:30pm on a Sunday. They close at 1pm. But they were still quite busy. You tell the host at the front the number of people in your party and if you have a preference for counter or table seating. We waited about 10-15 minutes. They have a pretty quick turnaround time. If you're okay with sitting at the counter you'll get served a lot sooner and the food tastes just as good! Our group ordered a crepe, chocolate chip pancakes, Dutch delite (Dutch baby with strawberries and bananas), and coconut pancakes. The total came out to $50 after tax and tip. Service was wonderful! I asked the server to make the Dutch baby without the bananas since I'm allergic. She took it very seriously and asked if I'm allergic to latex as well (probably the type of gloves they wear in the kitchen.) The breakfast arrived with 3-4 different types of syrups! The lemon syrup was great! It tasted like a lemon candy. I really liked my strawberry Dutch baby! They doubled up on the strawberries since I didn't want bananas. The strawberries were very sweet and in season. The portions were big too! Good food. Good service. Very affordable pricing. read more
4 months ago
My oh my! I'm a happy camper after eating here yesterday! First of all where in the US of A do you get a senior breakfast for less than $10.00? Then add the other qualifier- that is fresh and delicious and served by a wonderful wait person? Plus a delicious coffee included? Come here and eat! You won't be disappointed. read more
16 days ago
1 month ago
2 months ago
9 months ago
One of my favorite places in Madison. Busy on weekends, expect a 30-60 min wait if you have 4+ people. I'd recommend carpooling because the parking lot does get full. I always get either the Pork Salsa Verde (if they haven't run out) or the Eggs & Bacon. Hash browns are a must. I always order extra crispy. You can also add cheese on top. Many of my friends get an omelette (extra time to bake) or their strawberry pancakes. Their coffee is great. Service is excellent. I love this place so much. I recently took my Mom and she got a senior combo plate. It comes with coffee! We upgraded her buttermilk pancakes to the Georgia pecan pancakes. Worth it! Enjoy! read more
3 months ago
OPH is my favorite place to grab breakfast in Madison. It's consistently packed in there and often has a line out the door, but if you have time to wait it's 100% worth it. Every meal is super consistent and they have a huge menu. Service is always very quick and wonderful. They offer a ton of different pancake options as well as gluten free pancakes that are really delicious/easily pass for a gluten pancake. I highly recommend getting the cheesy hashbrowns as a side as well because they are super gooey and perfect and they heat up really well for leftovers. Can't say enough good things about this place! read more
I have been looking for a place with Dutch baby pancakes for so long.... I finally found it! The Dutch baby was amazing and I just can't wait to come back and try everything on the menu. They have great seating for families, and when you are eating solo or as a pair, sitting around the bar is so much fun! The service was great and the food was even better. Counting the days to my next visit! read more
1 year ago
We've dined here a lot over the years and I always say they have the best pancakes in Madison! Recently, I had breakfast here on a Saturday with a friend and I was not thrilled with my experience. For some reason they sat us at a 6 top even though there were only 2 of us. We waited awhile for a server to come by and we ordered our food and coffees. Food was great as always. It was pretty busy as usual. We ate our meals and were enjoying our coffees when someone, who I imagine was the manager, came up to our table and said "I hate to do this, but can we have this table?" I thought they just wanted to break off the end of our table to use for a 2 top but he said they needed the whole table, and they were basically asking us to leave because they "have a ton of people waiting." I've never been asked to leave and give up a table before, it just did not sit right with me. I understand it was busy, but it just felt like mismanagement to sit 2 people at a table for 6 just to ask them to leave when they finished their meals because you have a bigger group. read more
Our friends recommended this place and came here at 10 am on Sunday. There is a good size parking lot with it was full when we got there. You may need to park on the street. It's Labor Day weekend and there were at least 10 people ahead of us. However, the line was moving fairly quick and our wait was merely 10 minutes! The restaurant has a nice layout and looks like it's fully staffed. We ordered immediately: Dutch Delight and spinach crepe. The Dutch delight is almost like a sponge cake filled with strawberries and bananas. The spinach crepe was loaded with spinach/onions/canned mushrooms plus 4 potato pancakes. Both were delicious and we enjoyed them thoroughly. There were at least thirty people waiting when we left. Oh boy, it was 94F which is insanely hot for Madison! read more
1 year ago
This is one of the best kept non secrets in Madison. The space is big and the average clientele age is 65 and the food is divine. If you like big portions, cheap prices and friendly waitstaff this is for you. The menu has a ton of pancake and egg dishes but I recommend the Dutch baby. It's like if a crepe and a pancake had a love hold and is buttery and delicious. Pro tip: go with a friend, order an omelette and upgrade the included pancake to a Dutch baby light. Breakfast will be around $20 total and you will be stuffed and have leftovers. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
This place is my family's go to brunch restaurant as they consistently outshine other places in the west side of Madison. I ordered the blueberry crepe with a side of hashbrowns. The crepe was delicious with the perfect balance of egg and sweetness. I appreciated that the blueberry syrup was on the side so I can control how sweet I wanted it to be. The whipped cream was also delicious with just the right balance of creaminess and sugar. The hashbrowns were okay. I enjoyed the crispy exterior, but the inside was a bit mushy for my taste. I personally prefer a crispier texture throughout, so it's really a matter of personal preference. The service was fast, efficient, and kind as usual. They get SUPER busy but once seated, our server was prompt and attentive. The seating is a tiny bit squished in one part of the restaurant near the entrance of the kitchen and can get pretty loud but other than that no complaints. read more
2 years ago
First time here even though I've heard so much about it. I came after an appointment early morning and it was so busy but we got seated quick! It was such a good family restaurant and felt a litttleee retro but in a good way. I ordered the potatoes with meat (forgot what that is called) and it was so well done and came with the pancakes which were incredibly soft and not at all dry. I would say these are one of the best pancakes in Madison. read more
3 years ago
Z best pancakes du monde! Normally I get the banana pancakes. Get the 5 stack and bring a little home. My last dish was the Swedish pancakes with lingonberries. It gets my highest rating. The Madison service is excellent. Freshly squeezed oj. Strongly recommended. On weekends it gets crowded after 7:30 am. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
I came with my partner and my mom for Sunday brunch. Overall, the food was a miss. The pancakes were initially good, but once we put on the whipped butter and syrup, it became extremely soggy. The eggs were unseasoned, and I tasted a lot of butter, which was unappetizing. The ham was ok. I think the bacon was the best side option since it was cooked well. The breakfast burrito was tiny and unseasoned (look at the picture) - grilling it would be a nice way to elevate this dish. The side of potatoes it came with was inconsistent - some were cold/hard while others were hot/cooked. For context, we came on a Sunday morning around 10:15am and the parking lot was full. We put our name down and waited ~45 minutes for a party of 3. I think your wait time could be sped up if you agree to sit at the counter. When we were seated, our service was attentive and the food came out quickly. We felt rushed, and actually spent less time ordering/eating than we did waiting. We paid at the front, which was an easy process. p.s. As stated directly on their menu, a large majority of their menu items are made using peanut oil, and so there exists a risk of cross-contamination as some food items share the same grill. That being said, I'd say this is not a nut-friendly establishment. Be mindful when you are ordering and let your server know! read more
I took out lunch from here on a weekday. I could have gotten a seat right away, but I decided to take out. Dutch delight was very colorful and had a lot of fruits in it. So I went with that. It was good. I also went with a chicken dinner crepe with a side of potato pancakes and apple sauce. I think I liked this one better than the Dutch delight. Next time I should try on of the regular pancakes. That may be good. read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
It's pancakes in every way you can imagine! Fantastic four-egg omelets, baked not fried. Crispy hash browns. And prices that for once don't remind you that inflation still surrounds us. Been to a few OPH locations around the country, and I've loved them all. This Madison location is a fave for locals, and it was packed on a Sunday morning even after a nasty snowstorm. Counter seating is quite pleasant, or snag a booth. If you like going out for breakfast and don't want to empty your wallet in the process, OPH is an easy recommend. read more
1 year ago
Our son lives in a neighboring town. We visit from Chicago. 2nd time eating here. The food was good from what I remembered from our first visit so we tried it again. The potato pancakes were memorable from our first visit and they were consistently good this time around too. Our party also ordered two savory crepe dishes from the menu. Both were delicious and plentiful. We also ordered the pumpkin pecan pancakes. Also yummy. Overall, food and service were very good. Wait time at 9am on a Sunday was minimal. Started to get crowded right after we arrived so try and get there early! Other: They had a few tables outside with tent like coverings. Nice. Inside, they have booths, tables and a counter. Counter seating is faster. Parking: There is a lot but it you may have to wait for folks to leave depending on when u arrive. Get there early! read more
Business owner information
Drew F.
You'll always deserve the best whenever you make these special trips…
2 years ago
2 years ago
This place doesn't disappoint! The place was packed when we got here around 9am on a Saturday. They said the wait time was 25 mins but we hardly had to wait for 10. The lines went really fast. It felt like a well oiled machine when it came to their efficiency in cleaning the tables and getting ready to seat the next one in queue. The service is excellent. Fast, efficient and very friendly. We had a Dutch baby and a classic pancake, eggs and sausage along with a side of hash brown. Everything was delicious. Don't miss their hash browns. It's crispy, moist and tasty. Love their new coffee cups as well! Must visit. Don't be dithered by a little wait time. It's so worth the wait. read more
3 years ago
Blueberry waffles were amazing with blueberry syrup. Definitely have again. Potato pancakes not our favorite but because it wasn't our thing. French toast is excellent just missing cinnamon. Service was a little slow but the atmosphere is pretty laid back. read more
3 years ago
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More info about Original Pancake House
5518 University Ave
Madison, WI 53705
Spring Harbor
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(608) 231-3666
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http://www.ophmadison.com
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