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    Pancake House

    3.7 (60 reviews)
    Closed • 6:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Pancake House Photos

    Business Info

    PANCAKE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Pancake House

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    Manuel M.

    Pancakes are considered "As American as Apple Pie." Particularly the fluffy buttermilk variety, are deeply embedded in the American breakfast tradition. And diners have become synonymous with "a place for everyone," connected to the nostalgic idea of America. Put the two together and you have The Pancake House in Salem, Virginia. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And "The Pancake House" in Salem, Virginia, is a perfect example. This restaurant that opened its doors in the mid 1950's, not only has survived through the years, but has kept the ionic American breakfast tradition alive and well, as I discovered today when after having driven by it many times in my pearl white Lexus, I decided to stop by for an early breakfast, and give it a try. Located on Apperson Drive next to the Lee-Hi Lanes Bowling Center, in Salem, Virginia, The Pancake House is a long-standing diner, known for its, friendly, old-fashioned atmosphere, and classic American comfort food, serving breakfast and lunch daily. What impressed me the most when I entered the restaurant was its cleanliness and old charm yet with comfortable new furniture and decor in the traditional diner style. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. As I entered and sat at one of the booths, I was greeted by one of their friendly servers, given a menu, and asked what I wanted to drink. I ordered a cup of coffee, which tasted very good. And for food I ordered the Pork Loin breakfast with two fried eggs over-medium, and buttered white toast. As well as two pancakes. My server did an excellent job explaining the terminology of how eggs were cooked there. The ambiance was so relaxed and friendly that I felt welcomed and totally at home. I sat in the main dining room just in front of where the kitchen was located behind a large window where the food was delivered to the servers to take to the customers. The quality of the food was superb, cooked just right. The eggs were fresh and tasty, the pork loins were generous size and cooked to perfection. And even the toast were crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. The pancakes were huge size and nice and fluffy. My server made the appropriate rounds to check on me and provide coffee refills. She also provided me with a glass of iced water without me having to ask for it. Their clientele were people of all ages and all walks of life. Since they open at six in the early morning on weekdays, the time is very convenient for customers to have breakfast early and go on their day. I highly recommend this place for an extraordinary breakfast dining experience and plan to return real soon to try out some other items on their menu.

    New breakfast menu front
    John T.

    The menus have changed slightly but the food is still delicious and filling. The staff are all friendly and attentive. The prices are excellent for what you get. If you are looking for breakfast this is the place to stop.

    Pancakes with strawberry syrup
    Audrey B.

    If a simple, typical breakfast diner is what you're looking for, this is a great option. Affordable, tasty breakfast. I liked the alternative syrup flavors for the pancakes.

    Kerri T.

    I've been coming to the Pancake House since I was five years old, and the menu hasn't changed one iota. This means you know what you're getting, and you're getting it cheap. Five silver dollar pancakes are $1.95! Bacon, eggs, and three pancakes is $5! This is an old southern-style diner, so you've got the usual suspects: great spinning bar stools and lots of wooden booths; sassy waitresses who refill your coffee until you say "uncle," breakfast served all day. Their pancakes are delicious, and they sling some pretty awesome biscuits and gravy. When I was a kid I used to order the same thing every time: grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a side of five silver dollar pancakes. And, like everything else associated with this place - nothing has changed since 1981: I still order the same thing I ordered when I was five. My mother, however, now has to watch her cholesterol. "Egg-beater omelet" she regretfully orders. The waitress talks her into ordering a side of biscuits and gravy, for consolations sake, and then makes fun of my dad when she predicts, correctly, that he's going to order the largest breakfast on the menu. Told you they were sassy.

    Stuffing yummy pancakes in hungry mouths
    Gregory H.

    Came here 2 days in a row while staying in Roanoke. This place is an easy drive to get to. It has a nice diner feel and friendly wait staff. Great local place for breakfast. The busboy is a grumpy fellow... I'm just sayin'. Nothing worth getting hung up about. My party had pancakes, oatmeal, ham & cheese omelet, coffee and tea. We were all very satisfied and prices are reasonable.

    Inside the pancake house , happy people

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    5 months ago

    It's a classic. Great service and great food. It's nothing fancy, just a perfect pancake.

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    2 months ago

    Our favorite place to eat for breakfast! Service is great and the staff is awesome. Food is always on point as well.

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    3 years ago

    Fast service, great food, staff is friendly, diner style, we make excuses to come by and get something to eat

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    12 years ago

    Food tasted pretty ok.. Kind of Waffle House level. Pretty sure we ate something off, as 5/6 of our party got sick after.

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    11 years ago

    Great local breakfast place pancakes were amazing. The service was friendly and efficient

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pancake House

    Review Highlights - Pancake House

    “Tourist in town looking for local breakfast fare and found it at the Pancake House at 1840 Apperson Drive in Salem VA.”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Uncle D’s - Close-up of a forkfull of Fiesta Corn.

    Uncle D’s

    4.7(12 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    There are times that you discover restaurants that you wish you had known since they first opened…read more You really feel at home in its clean and laid back environment. They treat you like if you're part of their family. And their food is like the one Gradma used make when you were growing up. What better compliment can you give a restaurant! After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Uncle D's Take Out, in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. And it's not just for Take Out anymore. Word of mouth is still the most effective way of making your business known. And in this day and age of modern technology a review in the form of words and photographs is as effective or even better. As I was searching on my cellphone for a place to eat, Uncle D's caught my attention. Mostly positive reviews and very captivating photographs of their food. Yet the words Take Out and very few photos of the interior of this restaurant somewhat detracted from the desire to go visit it. Yet in the past I've found that oftentimes restaurants with high take-out orders are also the ones who have a high level of in-house customer followers. So I decided to go dine in and what I uncovered by experience was amazing news: Uncle D's is not just for Take Out anymore. Dining in is a wonderful experience in and of itself, alone or with family and friends. Located in a contemporary looking strip mall across from the Oak Grove Plaza Shopping Center, where popular restaurants like Wildwood Smokehouse and Highlander Pizza are located, you can find Uncle D's next to The UPS Store. Parking was very conveniently located and as I walked to the restaurant their sign high above spoke quality in its design and in the food of which it represented. Inside I found a nice size, clean and colorful little restaurant with Golf items decorating its walls, reflecting the importance that golf played in the owner's life and the love that he has for this sport he has now placed in this restaurant. I was greated by a friendly gentleman with a warm welcome that immediately made me feel at home. He talked to me about the restaurant and it's most popular items in the menu of which I had on the table where I was seated. A really nice and friendly lady, who was the cook, looked at me from out of the kitchen with one of those looks that only grandmas know to give in anticipation of watching you eat her food that she had prepared with much love. I ordered their Grandma's Pot Roast with a side house salad with Ranch dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, and added a side of Fiesta Corn. To drink a picked a can of Coke which I drank with one of those straws that bend for the convenience. The food was served in a reasonable time. The salad was made with fresh ingredients, was a nice size, and tasted wonderful with the Ranch salad dressing. The Pot Roast was amazingly delicious, soft, moist, and very full of flavor. The amount was more than enough to fill me up. I could go on and on but a picture is worth a thousand words. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of it all. For dessert I has a slice of their Coconut Cream Pie which was also very good. If you're ever in the mood for good hometown Southern Comfort food, I highly recommend that you visit this restaurant with family and friends. For the full dining experience is definitely worth while. And experience that I will never forget.

    Accurate menu pictures, turkey and pot roast were amazing, not a bad price either. They DO have…read moreseats inside btw

    Photos
    Uncle D’s - The Family of the Cook gives her a surprise Birthday Party, bringing her a Birthday Cake.

    The Family of the Cook gives her a surprise Birthday Party, bringing her a Birthday Cake.

    Uncle D’s - A picture is worth a thousand words.

    A picture is worth a thousand words.

    Uncle D’s - The entrance to the kitchen.

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    The entrance to the kitchen.

    Garcia's Bistro

    Garcia's Bistro

    4.4(65 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    For a moment there, Garcia's Bistro had its regular customers heartbroken at the news that it had…read more"closed down permanently," but fortunately, not long after, the beloved spot pulled off a miraculous comeback, returning to the neighborhood better than ever before. This popular family-owned restaurant is well known for its blend of Mexican and American cuisine, welcoming atmosphere and excellent service. It's amazingly designed menu has a very creative selection of entrées, like none that I've ever seen before in any restaurant. Its flavorful food is served in generous portions, by cooks dressed in black professional attire, that together wirh its elegant presentation, help create that unique "bistro" experience in a warm and friendly atmosphere with a diner-like feel. As soon as I found out the good news that the place had opened once again, I had to be one of the first ones to go visit and dine there. It seems that the two partners had split up. One stayed running this restaurant and the other chose to remain with their food truck. The only changes that I noticed were that some of the signs in front of the building were torn down and temporary homemade ones were put up. They had changed their business logo although their name remained the same, with the addition of the numbers 581. They already had menus with the new logo printed out, and their cooks remained the same, maintaining their elegant black professional attire. I was warmly greeted by a friendly lady employee as soon as I walked in. She remembered me from the last time I had dined there, and immediately detected my happy feelings of seeing the restaurant opened again. After being seated at one of the booths, she took my order. I had a Coke to drink, the Cancun Shrimp Chorizo Dip with Tortilla Chips as appetizer, and the California Burrito with added Chorizo as my main entrée. It was all very well presented and amazingly delicious, as always. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. The server did an excellent job checking on me to see if everything was of my liking and to see if I needed anything, including a softdrink refill. All the customers that came in expressed great joy at the re-opening of this well-liked restaurants. For dessert I had a slice of their Coconut Cake. It was amazing. At the end the owner who had stayed with the restaurant arrived and I expressed my gratitude and well wishes for the restaurant's future success. I highly recommend this Bistro to all. If I lived closer, I would be here dining more than once a week. It's that good!

    Was close to hotel and had good ratings. Staff were really nice. Food was not good at all. Got…read morethe turkey ruben and buddy got a burger. It looked like they split one order of fries in half for us, ruben was very basic like you could get at a Wawa and way too much sauce which i think was just thousand island dressing. Fries we had were greasy and not much flavor. Restaurant itself im generally OK with dinner or local dives because they tend to have great food but this one needs to improve on everything. Food just meh, Restaurant looks like a converted waffle house. They can do a lot with what they have but really needs work.

    Photos
    Garcia's Bistro - Staff at Garcia

    Staff at Garcia

    Garcia's Bistro
    Garcia's Bistro

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    Bernard's - A fork holding a piece of Filet and Scallop from the Filet & Scallops Special of the Day.

    Bernard's

    4.6(368 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    •$$

    Friendly staff..amazing food...very warm and classy atmosphere! Definitely will visit again when…read moreI'm in town.

    I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, but in none have I had such a wonderful…read moredining experience like I always do at Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Bernard's Gastropub & Eatery in Downtown Roanoke, is a perfect example. Bernard's was born out of the love of two culinary aficionados turned professionals that in someway have managed to create a restaurant with an environment that transmits this intimate love to the hearts of their customers through the attention to detail in its extraordinary customer service and amazing culinary masterpieces. Today, I felt like dining at this restaurant, which I admire for its consistency in always far exceeding my high expectations of what a fine-dining restaurant should be all about. Not knowing if they would have a table for me at this late time on a Saturday early evening, I drove in my pearl white Lexus to the nearest private parking lot and gave them a call to inquire as if they could give me a reservation for the next ten minutes. A gentleman, who later I found out was named Matthew, and would be my server, answered the phone with a very polite and welcoming voice; answering my question of what was the special dish of the day and to come on down, that my reservation was assured. As soon as I arrived to the small, very elegant foyer in front of the Host's station, he came out to greet me and instantly recognized who I was. My only request was that he give me a low table because at my age seating at a high table was a bit uncomfortable. He went back to see what he could find and ended setting me up with what I consider one of the best tables of the house, and I was so appreciative of his last minute accommodation. The menu was already setup on my table. He poured water from a special bottle into my water glass and asked if I wanted something else to drink. I asked for a Mocktail and since he also was a bartender, he prepared me one of the best mocktails I've ever had. To dine, I started out with their Mussels Carbonara appetizer, which came in a bacon parmesan cream sauce that was simply amazing, and served with toast points. As my main entrée I had the Dinner Special of the Night, the Seafood Trio. It had a delicious, giant size crab cake in the middle, scallops, and shrimps, with parmesan risotto sautéed heirloom tomato, spinach, and nice size asparagus, with a burre blanc sauce. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the high-quality of their food and magnificent ambiance of the place. Everything was so delicious that only one word could ever describe them: priceless! For dessert I had their very famous Butterscotch Banana Pudding, which the chef makes at the moment ordered. It looked spectacular and tasted amazingly delicious: a culinary work of art. What a great way for the Gran Finale of an extraordinary dining experience!

    Photos
    Bernard's - The Host's station.

    The Host's station.

    Bernard's - Close-up of the Filet & Scallops Special of the Day.

    Close-up of the Filet & Scallops Special of the Day.

    Bernard's - Poached pear martini

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    Poached pear martini

    Cafe X-press

    Cafe X-press

    4.9(99 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$

    Sometimes in the least expected of places one can find the tastiest of foods and the friendliest of…read morepeople. This is the case with Cafe Express, in Salem, Virginia. Located in a standalone building next to a 7-Eleven/Gas Station at 206 Apperson Drive, Cafe Express is a small, family-owned and operated New York Style Deli, run by a husband-and-wife team who immigrated from Nepal years ago and for 18 years have worked hard to make this small, unasuming deli, one of Salem's most precious culinary hidden gems. At first I didn't think nothing of it. Its storefront and location are not that impressive, but after driving by it many times, one day I just had to stop and try it out. From the very beginning, after parking in a space right in front of the deli, I was very impressed by its cleanliness. Its front windows and glass door were so clean and shiny that they were like mirrors reflecting their surroundings which in part was the gas station. But don't be fooled by this. In the past I've discovered exceptional eateries located at gas stations small strip malls. Once inside, I was fascinated by what I saw. There were three beautiful wooden relief carvings on the walls, framed magazine articles of the deli and its owners, framed Award Certificates including one from Yelp, a Buddha artwork on a plate, and a beautiful oil painting, painted by none other than by the owner himself. Both Prakash Malakar and his wife Sarojani gave me a warm welcome and made me feel at home. Eager to learn about their place of origin and culture I ask them about this.The owner explained how they came from Nepal, which is located in between China and India. Afterwards, his wife showed me the menu and the Specials written in colorful chalks over a chalkboard. I was attracted to their "Pastrami Royale and after she explained what items it had, I went ahead and ordered it along with some fries and a fountain softdrink. Not exaggerating, it was one of the most delicious sandwiches that I've ever had. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its amazing high-quality food. For dessert I had a small bowl of their homemade rice pudding. After I finished eating I paid with one of my credit cards via my Google Pay which they accepted and left them a nice tip. In conclusion, I highly recommend this place for its warm and comfortable ambiance, great menu, exquisite food, and remarkable customer service by a kind and friendly couple.

    Enjoy local raw unfiltered honey from Salem Va honeybees. Bring a jar home and enjoy some of the…read morehoney mustard sauce on a delicious sandwich or with yummy chicken tenders.

    Photos
    Cafe X-press
    Cafe X-press
    Cafe X-press - The deli restaurant's front.

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    The deli restaurant's front.

    Famous Toastery Keagy Village - Protein Bowl

    Famous Toastery Keagy Village

    4.2(153 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$$

    This place is a treasure! We brought our standard poodles and sat on the shaded patio…read more Our server Dylan was the absolute best! He welcomed us and offered water for the pups. He also told us about their rewards program, which we promptly signed up for. My hubby had shrimp and grits which was everything he hoped for! I had corned beef hash with eggs and it was delicious! The patio was clean and had large umbrella coverings to keep us comfortable. 100% recommend! And if you are lucky enough to get Dylan for a server, all the better!

    First time and was extremely impressed with the menu and bites. The service was the weaker link,…read morebut still a strong 4 stars in my book and will look forward to returning with now having a Roanoke connection. The business is just outside of Roanoke in a nicer strip. Parking may be challenging on brunch weekends, however my weekday visit no problem. Our party of three was greeted and seated immediately with menus. The vibe feels First Watch chain, but all good. They do have a bar which sets them apart from other brunch joints. I assume Famous Toastery is also chain, how big no idea. Everything presented nicely and was clean. Even the men's room was spotless. The menu was strong with lots of variety. You can find anything you're looking for on any type of diet. They do offer a healthier, protein forward section. Our waitress was good upfront, but then fizzled out with sharing bar duties and was absent. I dialed in on a loaded omelette. Included a side of roasted veggies and sourdough bread with black coffee. My wife a breakfast sandwich and my son chocolate chip pancakes with scrambled eggs. Food pushed out quick, like within 15 minutes. Everything was served hot and yummy. My omelette was packed with flavor, the roasted veggies were fresh and cooked up perfectly. Even the coffee was tasty. The manager dropped by to say hello which made us feel special and secured a strong 4 stars. I look forward to returning later this Summer.

    Photos
    Famous Toastery Keagy Village - Dining room

    Dining room

    Famous Toastery Keagy Village - Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.

    Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.

    Famous Toastery Keagy Village - Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.

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    Close-up of the Huevos Rancheros breakfast.

    The River and Rail - A fork holding a piece of the Oyster Wraps appetizer.

    The River and Rail

    4.3(328 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    •$$$

    River and rail is a gorgeous restaurant with an eclectic mix of food choices, all prepared with a…read moregreat deal of tremendous care. My only regret was that I wasn't hungry enough to order more food. The drinks at the bar were fantastic and poured extremely well. I can't wait to come back!

    This year I chose this restaurant above all others to celebrate my birthday, and I wasn't…read moredisappointed. It highly went beyond the highest of my expectations, and delivered an extraordinary dining experience. After making an appointment for five o'clock and mentioning that I would be celebrating my birthday there on that day, I wondered how it would be, for everytime I have dined there, their attention to detail has been superb, and their cuisine has been exquisite. The day finally arrived and I was standing by the door at five minutes to the hour. Inside I could see through their large front windows the movement of all the staff getting ready for the opening of the restaurant. At exactly five o'clock, the hostess approached and opened the door for me to enter. She warmly greeted me and apologized for not being able to give me the table I requested because they needed it to unite with other tables for a large group they would be having. But they had prepared another one in front of the open kitchen for me, where I would be able to observe the Chef and other cooks preparing my food. It was definitely to my satisfaction, and when she took me there I was very impressed with the small detail on the table of a Happy Birthday card from the restaurant signed by everyone there and suspended by a little stand. Things like that are priceless in my eyes. Shortly afterwards, my friendly and efficient server Ivy, came by, wished me a Happy Birthday and took my order. To drink I had my favorite Mocktail there, the Butterfly Kisses. As appetizer I ordered the Oyster Wraps. And for my main entrée, the Hanger Steak, my favorite item in their menu and that of all the other restaurants around the area. My server did an excellent job of bringing out my ordered items in a well-paced manner. I noticed the small but significant detail that the chef had of serving me a slightly larger amount of Hanger Steak than the usual, and this meant more to me than any of the other complimentary desserts which are given in most other restaurants on your birthday. The Hanger Steak was so delicious. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. Also to read my former review where I explain what a Hanger Steak is all about. For the Grand Finale of my Birthday meal I had their Panna Cotta dessert deliver with a burning birthday candle on top, another wonderful detail that many restaurants leave out now-a-days yet is so meaningful to many of us. This was truly a memorable dining experience. One that I will always remember and cherish dearly.

    Photos
    The River and Rail - The kitchen and server picking up some meals.

    The kitchen and server picking up some meals.

    The River and Rail
    The River and Rail

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    Black Birch Restaurant & Tap House - Grilled salmon garlic cheese mashed potatoes

    Black Birch Restaurant & Tap House

    4.2(11 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    This is a bar/restaurant in a hotel lobby. We sat at the bar and were pleasantly greeted by the one…read moreand only server. I ordered a grilled salmon dinner that included a small salad and a serving of garlic mashed potatoes. My wife ordered chicken strips and fries. The salmon was good. The salad was good. The potatoes not so good. The chicken strips were good. There are a few booths along a wall as well as the bar area to eat. Biggest gripe is the wait time on your order being cooked. It must be a one man show in the kitchen( at least the night we were there). Overall the food was ok/good. Service was friendly and fast but......there are better places around town to eat. If I could add a 2&1/2rating that's what it would be. My very good rating max is 4 stars so I couldn't put a 3 star rating here. Sorry guys. Might have been a bad night for dinner but I'm telling about my experience that night

    For perspective I am Diamond level member with IHG, this means nothing other than I stay in a IHG…read moreproperty 3-4 nights a week and have ate many a dinner in their onsite restaurant. Never once have I had a single issue worthy enough to mention. Also for perspective it's 8pm, it's been a 14 hour day and I surly was in no mood to get into my car when it's less than 20 degrees outside and the wind howling, but I did. Sat at a table for over 15 minutes, bartender avoided me as she was in deep conversation with another patron I suppose. Moved to the bar. Got a TUDE from her with a "I would have came over, you didn't have to move". Then another guy just walks up, she gives him a menu and then his drink, I have neither. Finally she comes over my way, I asked if I could place a take out over. She grabs a menu, drops it in front of me and walks to the other end of the bar without asking or taking my drink order. She starts at the other end of the bar taking drink orders for all the other patrons who already have a drink in front of them. My daughter was a waitress while in college so I'm extremely empathetic toward wait staff, my lowest tip is 20%, good service 30% and excellent pays 40%. Tips are how they earn a living. Walked out.... also the menu is vastly different than what is offered on their website. Also I guess it may have been the chef- working extremely hard the entire time holding up a wall. What's sad in the end is I'll bet a 100 to 1 that not even a peep will come of this review from hotel or restaurant management.

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    Black Birch Restaurant & Tap House - Caesar salad

    Caesar salad

    Black Birch Restaurant & Tap House
    Black Birch Restaurant & Tap House

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    Pancake House - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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