Breakfast is served at The Original Pancake House

Every country has their own take on the pancake, and The Original Pancake House has most of them on their menu. Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1953, The Original Pancake House has 100 franchises across the country, including a brand new one in Lehi by Harmon’s in Traverse Mountain.

“They took the best elements from every store when they designed this location. It turned out beautiful, we love it,” said Kim Brems, manager of the Lehi Original Pancake House.

The four-page menu at The Original Pancake House (TOPH) includes signature pancakes from the first restaurant like the Dutch Baby, an air-filled pancake baked to perfection and served with lemon, whipped butter and powdered sugar. The Utah location of TOPH has a significantly higher elevation than the one in Portland, Oregon, so specially designed ovens have been installed to keep the quality of the dishes consistent.

“We want everyone to have a great meal and enjoy themselves here. We pride ourselves on using fresh ingredients – we don’t even have a freezer here,” said Donna Allen, co-owner with her husband Greg Allen, of The Original Pancake House in Lehi. The restaurant combines traditional diner counter seating with a view of the kitchen with an open lodge look for the booths and tables. Some tables even have a view of Lehi and Utah Lake. TOPH is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and offers every kind of breakfast food imaginable.

My eight-year-old boys and I tried the California Omelet, Happy Pancakes, the Little Miner and a Nutella Crepe for our first visit to TOPH. My picky eater didn’t want whip cream or powdered sugar on his Happy Pancakes, and he upgraded to chocolate chip pancakes to make his version even happier. Our server created a face with blueberry eyes, a blackberry nose, and a strawberry tongue since the happy face is usually whipped cream.

The California Omelet had grilled chicken, smoked bacon, sausage, cheese, onions, and avocado surrounded by a fluffy egg. It was perfectly cooked, and every bite was gooey and delicious. The buttermilk pancakes in the Little Miner breakfast were my son’s favorite. The Nutella Crepe was beautiful to look at, with bananas, strawberries, and whipped cream, but it tasted even better than it looked.

The look and smell of The Original Pancake House reminds me of road trips I took with my family across the country when I was young. The food is delicious, and the service is attentive and friendly. It’s a perfect spot for a family breakfast or lunch for those of us who like breakfast food.

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