Saturday, August 6 | Pancakes R Us |2282 N. Garey Ave, Pomona
What is Pancakes R Us? If, like us, you thought it was an absurd concept-gone-wrong type of restaurant (that “R” is awfully strange, after all) … well, we’re here to disappoint you, in hopefully a good way. Pancakes R Us does not feature human pancakes (sadly?) – it is, however, a place much like places you’ve been, many times, and a pretty darn good version: a Fifties diner, the details coming through in soundtrack and some décor (ie posters), if not (thankfully) in service style/costume/seats and coloring—I’ll happily listen to The Big Bopper and share The Day The Music Died/Waylon Jennings trivia (thanks, Nick) without having to get any more Fifties theme-y than that.
PRU has an enormous menu, just as you probably would expect; they’ve recently added beer and mimosas, so when the grandfolks are in town and you really need to set them in a booth to eat soft and familiar food while Little Richard wails and you pound a couple Modelos, you’re covered. What else: the side order of biscuits and gravy: peppery, sausage gravy: perfectly fine. The biscuits: more dense/close than laminated, so it’s good they’re drowning in the gravy; even better, each booth comes well stocked with four hot sauces.
The pancakes? Totally good, at least the buttermilk variety (and the pumpkin and other options look good, too). The syrups on the table – maple, boysenberry, strawberry, blueberry – are perfect for all your millennial curatorial needs. Is there a soup and half-sandwich special? A couple dozen types of omelets? Chilaquiles? Pot roast for dinner? Of course – it’s a diner in Pomona, this is diner in Pomona food. There’s even crepes, savory and sweet; the strawberry-cheese were light, a bit sweet, and perfectly fine. The omelets are unique, too—vs. your standard round flat of egg filled and folded, this is a jumbo flour tortilla size flat of egg covered in your fillings, then rolled, rolled, and rolled just as you would a strudel. A bit strange, but why not?
To be honest: we probably won’t be going to Pancakes R Us too often—we’re more the make-our-own savory breakfasts at home type (that, or breakfast burritos). But the attentive service … the quick and varied yet familiar food … Pancakes R Us is a totally good diner when you’re in need of such.