As a Madison native, I've been going to the Madison branch for about 15 years. Most valuable brunch award.
Ambiance: It is a chain but for the Original Pancake House, each branch is very different. This is the least fancy one I've been to, and it feels the most homey and local. I think it is also cheaper.
You'll most likely wait at least 20 minutes on the weekends no matter how small your group is.
I've eaten before closing once and the waiter gave us free hash browns that they had made and didn't serve.
Lunch: Everything is SO GOOD! I tend to get omelettes for brunch or french toast if I'm feeling like splurging. But I never get omelettes or french toast here because everything else is too good.
-Crepes are amazing. Blueberry crepes are my go-to. It comes with blueberry syrup with real blueberries in it. They always match a syrup with your flavor of crepe or pancakes.
-The waffles are crunchy and soft on the inside.
-The pancakes are huge and fluffy but not too fluffy. I love that they have healthier options like buckwheat pancakes.
-The whipped cream comes with almost any dish if you ask for it. It's house made and so good.
-Too few people get the Dutch Baby, possibly because there is a warning sign on the menu of taking longer than other orders, but it always comes out at a reasonable time. It's chewy like a swedish pancake, but thicker, and toasty on the edges. They give a very generous serving of strawberries and banana on it too, so I always pay the extra couple dollars for the fruit. I always share it with everyone I'm eating with and I still leave full and everyone else decides they're getting the Dutch Baby next time.