Waffle & Pancake House

Discovery!

Last month, while tending to personal business in West Memphis, I decided to have breakfast in the town. When I checked for nearby places, Waffle & Pancake House topped the Google search results despite being in Marion, a sort of suburb of West Memphis (itself a suburb of Memphis). I had never heard of the restaurant before looking it up, so I was anxious to see what it was like. After a longer-than-expected Lyft ride, I arrived there late in the morning.

The restaurant is located in a remote, rural part of Marion in a strip mall parking lot. It's not a place where Memphians could come across randomly. I never would have discovered it without the internet, for none of my friends or fellow foodies ever mentioned it. When I arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a Saturday, there was a modest crowd inside the restaurant, so I didn't need to wait for a table. After looking over a surprisingly extensive menu, I eventually chose something that looked very appealing.

I chose something unique and interesting: the Coastal Skillet. The entrée consists of seasoned grilled shrimp and a mix of hash browns, tomatoes, onions, bacon and cheese, topped with avocado and two eggs cooked any way you like (I opted for "scrambled"). All of that made for a huge breakfast that didn't have me wanting for more. The combination of the spicy shrimp, the smoky bacon and the onions was very vibrant, tempered by the velvety avocado and hash browns for a "skillet" that was delicious and satisfying. I was so consumed with this that I almost ignored the toast and bacon that I also got, for the Coastal Skillet was more than enough to satisfy my appetite. If I decide to visit the Waffle and Pancake House regularly, this entrée will be at the top of my list if it stays on the menu.

A Crowded House

Weeks after my initial visit to the restaurant, I went there again with my Dad for our almost weekly Saturday breakfast. This time, we arrived there at about 9:30 a.m., during the restaurant's busiest time of the day. There were so many people there that I had to wait in line outside the restaurant for a table (and given the current average temperature of nearly 100 degrees, that wasn't easy). After some patience, I eventually secured a table for my Dad and me for a very pleasant breakfast.

Initially, I intended to get an omelet, but once I saw the pork chop on the menu, I decided to go with that. The Pork Chop & Eggs consists of an eight-ounce fried pork chop, two eggs, hash browns and toast, all of which seemed modest. However, when the first portion of my breakfast arrived, all I saw was scrambled eggs, toast and a lot of hash browns. By itself, that was a plate that could satisfy the appetite of most, but I suspected something was missing. After sifting through my plate and not finding a pork chop, my server told me that it was coming separately. It took a couple of minutes, but my pork chop eventually arrived to complete my breakfast.

SIDE NOTE: My Dad's plate pretty much consisted of scrambled eggs and hash browns with a side of bacon. He was very pleased with it.

The fried pork chop was thick, thicker than what I'm accustomed to. As opposed to being thin (like the "gas station" pork chops I get from a convenience store near my job), the pork chop was almost an inch thick. While it was flavorful, the breading-to-meat ratio put more emphasis on the pork chop itself than the breading it was encased in. The result was a juicy pork chop that didn't quite have the zest of a fried meat where most of the flavor is in the breading. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but my preference for fried food is getting the right combination of "crunch" and meat for a spicy taste that leaves me wanting more. That said, I liked the restaurant's pork chop and I might get it again if I'm in the mood. If "Waffle & Pancake" can grill the pork chop instead of frying it, I might get it cooked that way for what I hope will be a better result.

After my two visits to Waffle & Pancake House, I left each time with a good impression and a full stomach. The service at the restaurant was great, as I was treated well by the friendly staff who promptly met my needs. The restaurant (or, more to the point, diner) is great for families looking for a nice breakfast in a homey environment. By the way, this review pertains only to the Waffle & Pancake House in Marion and not other restaurants bearing the name, despite having slightly different menus. Whether it's a "chain restaurant" or not, Waffle & Pancake House is great and worth the trip to Marion.

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