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| - "I dare them to make something that doesn't taste good." So said an out-of-town friend, mouth half-full of pancake, between soft sighs of pleasure. I feel as if Jack Flaps would take that challenge and both regrettably and enthusiastically succeed. Their only failing could be that their diner-style coffee was *not* terrible, which is arguably a main selling point of diner-style coffee.
Having been recommended to the joint by many a trendy friend and blog, I dragged two blithe spirits and my boyfriend into the 5th Street Arcades location and made to test the waters. We had to wait a little bit (no more than 10 minutes) before being seated, but being as we made it there at 1pm for brunch on a Sunday, this was quite understandable.
The usual tragedy of breakfast food for Celiac types is here averted: buckwheat pancakes (with no added regular-wheat flour!) are offered for gluten-sensitive types (I didn't specifically say Celiac out of a compulsion to avoid being That Guy and also because I don't completely wilt when exposed to trace amounts) - and go deliciously with nearly all the toppings offered.
Thus buoyed by the excitement of eating Actual Pancakes at A Restaurant for Regular People, I ordered the honey-brie flapjacks, despite usually neither liking honey nor brie. I figured I was blessed with the ability to order something I didn't have to like, so I had to. And wouldn't you know it, the stack of cheese, honey and cake-of-pan was delicious, balanced and...dare I say exciting? Perhaps that's a bit much.
Root-vegetable hash was, in fact, a password for delicious cubed hash browns with other veggies in them. The ketchup looked like hot sauce, the hot sauce looked like ketchup, everything was amazing and i and my group sat there worshipping the spread as we consumed it. The bacon? Oh, the bacon. thick and rich and juicy-not-greasy.
Should you go? Yes, if you enjoy breakfasts just this side of transcendent, and don't mind trying the weird thing you're not sure you'll like (and it's quite likely you will.)
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