Photo: The Original Pancake HouseBuckle up, brunch fans!
If there’s one thing that can make waking up early a little nicer, it’s the promise of pancakes. And an entire road trip, devoted to pancakes? We’re all in for that.
That’s why we put together a trip that covers 30.1 miles of pancake-eating goodness. Is it a little excessive to try to eat pancakes at 12 different stops in one day? Of course. But is it doable? That’s for you to find out!
Break down into two trips, or plan on doing it over 12 weekends. But whatever you do, make sure that you visit at least every spot on this list at least once. And the best part is that you can get all of these pancakes (almost) every day of the week!
The Ultimate Pittsburgh Pancake Road Trip
Stop 1: The Original Pancake House
Green Tree
Of course you’ve got to start your trip at a place with ‘pancakes’ right in the name! The Original Pancake House in Green Tree has plenty of breakfast specialties to choose from, but they’re best known for their pancakes. There are more than 18 different varieties of hotcakes to choose from, from Chocolate Chip to Georgia Pecan, and Dutch Baby pancakes, too. All pancakes are served with a generous topping of whipped cream and maple syrup, and they also have gluten-free pancake options available.
The Original Pancake House (2229 Swallow Hill Road)
Stop 2: The Dor-Stop Restaurant
Dormont
Hot, fluffy hotcakes are always a good idea at the super-popular Dor-Stop Restaurant in Dormont. There are 14 specialty varieties of pancakes to choose from, including Apple Cinnamon, Banana Chocolate Chip, Banana Walnut, Oatmeal Raisin and Blueberry, along with a few specials thrown in regularly, too. They’re also know for their stack of ‘regular’ pancakes, which come with sprinkling of powdered sugar, and three to an order.
The Dor-Stop Restaurant (1430 Potomac Avenue)
Stop 3: Eat’n Park
Banksville
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh Pancake Road Trip without a stop to one of our favorite local chains – Eat ‘n Park. This Pittsburgh institution has been serving hot, tasty, and cost-effective pancakes since 1949. Head to their location on Banksville Road for the third stop in this trip, and order their buttery, buttermilk pancakes, available in original, Chocolate Chip and Blueberry.
Eat’n Park (1250 Banksville Road)
Stop 4: Breakfast at Shelley’s
Allentown
This tiny diner in Allentown is an excellent spot for a quick breakfast (or a quick stop on your Pancake Road Trip!). The pancakes are simple, classic affairs, not-too-thick and not-too-thin… and, you can get an order of three, covered in powdered sugar, for about $5 or so.
Breakfast at Shelley’s (740 E. Warrington Avenue)
Stop 5: Cafe Raymond
Strip District
There’s only one pancake option on the menu at Cafe Raymond, but it’s a pretty stellar one. The Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes (occasionally joined on the menu by the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes) are extra-fluffy with creamy middles, just like good ricotta pancakes should be. They’re topped with powdered sugar, local maple syrup, and a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and are a must on your pancake list.
Cafe Raymond (2009 Penn Avenue)
Stop 6: Deluca’s Diner
Strip District
Walk by the Strip District location of Deluca’s Diner at any given time, and you’ll see just how popular this spot is. The line it typically out the door at this Pittsburgh institution, and the wait is well worth it. Why? Because the pancakes are out of this world. Thin, crispy and delicious, these pancakes come in a variety of flavors, like Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Nutella, then generously topped with fruit, syrup and whipped cream. Come hungry, because the portions are huge.
Deluca’s Diner (2015 Penn Avenue)
Stop 7: Kelly O’s Diner
Strip District
Bright, sunny Kelly O’s is a classic old-school diner, with big portions and personality-driven service. Stop in for an order of a stack of the Sweet Buttermilk Pancakes (three to an order), or their super-loaded filled pancakes, with blueberries, bananas, or chocolate chips. There’s also usually a special, seasonal pancake on the menu, too.
Kelly O’s Diner (100 24th Street)
Stop 8: Whitfield
East Liberty
You can get breakfast every day at the Whitfield, the restaurant in the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh. And that means that you can get their Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes, served with lemon creme fraîche and local maple syrup every day, too. (Breakfast is served Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and on the weekends until 10:00 a.m., plus pancakes are served during their weekend brunch.) If you want to get a little crazy with your pancake toppings, you can also add chocolate chips and bananas.
Whitfield (120 S. Whitfield)
Stop 9: Crepes Parisiennes
Oakland
Okay, crepes may not technically be pancakes, but they’re so good, we’re adding them to this list anyway, The crepes at Crepes Parisiennes are crazy popular around Oakland, thanks to the sheer number of filling options that you can order. From savory (ham & cheese, smoked Icelandic salmon, and mushroom & cheese are popular options), to sweet (blueberry, White Forest, and banana & brown sugar are stellar picks), you can’t go wrong with an order at this neighborhood staple.
Crepes Parisiennes (732 Filbert Street)
Stop 10: Pamela’s Diner
Squirrel Hill
Pamela’s Diner is the holy grail of Pittsburgh pancakes, and we’d be crazy to leave them off any pancake list. We chose to put their original Squirrel Hill location on this road trip, but there are also locations in the Strip District, Oakland, Millvale, Shadyside and Mt. Lebanon. Come here and prepare to be dazzled by their unique, crepe-like, crispy and thin hotcakes, which have a cult-like following around town. Get them plain, or in their specialty flavors, strawberry, blueberry, chocolate chip banana, or banana walnut. No trip to Pittsburgh is complete with a visit to Pamela’s!
Pamela’s Diner (1711 Murray Avenue)
Stop 11: Square Cafe
Regent Square
People really love Square Cafe, a cheery spot with great sidewalk tables in Regent Square. Not only are there regular buttermilk pancakes on the menu (served with powdered sugar, butter and syrup), but you can also get Protein Pancakes (vanilla-cinnamon protein pancakes with chocolate chips), Vegan Peanut Butter Pancakes, Gluten-Free Pancakes (with strawberries and blueberries), and Lemon Berry Ricotta Pancakes, topped with whipped cream.
Square Cafe (1137 South Braddock Avenue)
Stop 12: The Lot at Edgewater
Oakmont
Photo: The Lot at EdgewaterThis new Oakmont restaurant hasn’t been open very long, but it’s already garnering rave reviews in the pancake department. The thin and crispy pancakes are a steal at $6, and come with Vermont maple syrup, whipped butter and seasonal jam.
The Lot at Edgewater (145 Allegheny Avenue)
Did we forget your favorite pancake place? Let us know in the comments!
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Jc says
April 29, 2018 at 9:23 pmThe Summit Diner in Somerset Pa have excellent pancakes just off the turnpike if you are headed east!!
Scott says
September 29, 2018 at 1:27 pmYou should also check out Ritters in Bloomfield and Nancy’s East End Diner in Wilkinsburg
Jc says
March 18, 2019 at 11:40 pmI recently had the pancakes at Acorn in Shadyside. They are outrageously delicious! They are so fluffy they look like a southern biscuit. Go get them, you won’t be disappointed