Anyone who visits the Smokies knows there are pancake houses galore ready and willing to whip up some of the most mouth watering sweet treats for your breakfast. Our family’s long time favorite, going back to my childhood, is the Pancake Pantry in the heart of Gatlinburg.
Expect to wait if you arrive later than 8:30 AM, maybe even sooner during season. There seems to always be a line to get in! On our recent trip, we were the 4th party in line and arrived around 8:30 AM. By the time we left, the line stretched quite a ways back into the plaza. The good thing is, the staff at the Pancake Pantry run like a well-oiled machine….your food hits the table quickly so the turn over is quick.
I opted for the Swedish Crepes this trip. Okay, so not really pancakes, but they still were delicious. They use a sweet cream butter mixed with the lingonberries so it almost tastes like whipped cream on top of the crepes. The crepes were also stuffed full of lingonberry jam. Just look at these babies!
My husband chose a more traditional omelet with pancakes for breakfast. Well, traditional is a bit of a stretch as he had the Mexican omelet. I snuck a bite, and it was exactly as described, but I preferred my crepes. My husband however enjoyed every bite of both his omelet and the three fluffy pancakes smothered in butter and syrup.
After breakfast, we were headed into the GSM Park for some nature walks. We hadn’t prepared sandwiches, so we opted for two boxed lunches from the Pancake Pantry. It was nice to have a convenient solution for our day in the park. They took care to keep the tomatoes, lettuce, and condiments separate so the sandwich didn’t get mushy. I loved the three-bean salad they served with it, and my husband enjoyed the cucumber and onion salad.
While I’d probably try to prepare better next time by bringing my own sandwiches, this was a good alternative. However, the Pancake Pantry breakfast is always a must do, at least once, on any visit to Gatlinburg. That’s where it will stay in my list of go-to restaurants.
What’s your favorite place to eat at your favorite vacation spot?
BewilderedBrownEyes 