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| - I have heard lots of rants and raves about the great pancakes at OHOP, which is located in the parking lot of the Motel 6 right by Neiman Marcus (I know...it is an odd block of Camelback Road). Parking is adequate...there were people waiting outside, yet my dining companion and I were able to get parking in the lot, and there is street parking if needed.
We were told that we would have a 20-25 minute wait and were given a ticket with a number. Our number was called about 10 minutes later and we were seated. We were accosted by what seemed like dozens of signs warning us that they don't accept credit cards for payment as we walked to our seats, so I made a mental note to go to the ATM located in the restaurant after placing our orders ($2.50 fee, and more ranting on this later).
The decor is indeed classic outdated breakfast chic. It looks like Mel's diner, but with tables much closer together. We ordered coffee and orange juice and sat down to look over the menu. They have a large variety of pancakes that vary in both batter type (buckwheat, potato, buttermilk, chocolate chip) and topping (banana, coconut, lignonberries). In addition they have a large selection of crepes and omlettes (the oms come with a short stack of buttermilk pancakes).
We received our coffee, which was of the standard generic diner variety, and placed our order. I ordered a short stack of the 49er flap jacks, described as plate-size, chewy, and tender, and added a a side order of potatoes. My friend ordered the "lacy" swedish pancakes, which come with lignonberries. He also ordered an english muffin on the side.
Our food arrived and the pancakes were great. My 49ers were chewy, almost creamy, and delicious. The texture and consistency was perfect, and they absorbed the butter and syrup perfectly. They were almost crepe-thin, but were not delicate. My companion spoke very highly of the swedish cakes as well. The potatoes were a nightmare though. In most breakfast situations, one expects a side order of potatoes to be cooked to order, served fresh off the griddle. That was not the case with these potatoes. They had the temperature and texture that indicates they had spent the better part of the morning drying out in a steam table. They were seasoned perfectly, with just the right amount of onion and pepper tossed in, and I am sure they were delicious when they were cooked, but by the time they reached my table, they tasted like yesterday's leftovers reheated in a microwave.
The check arrived and the damage was $32. Keep in mind that this is not the place to go for a "bargain" breakfast. Our bill included the two pancake orders (mine was a short stack), a side of potatoes, an english muffin, 2 coffees, one juice, and an extra side of berries ($1.50). The pancakes are definitely worth the $7-9.25 that they charge, but there is no reason to go for the side dishes. In all honesty, I prefer the food and atmosphere at a place like Palette if I want a $32 breakfast. The pancakes here are something that I expect I will have a craving for again, though.
Service was friendly and prompt. Our drinks never went below half-full and the wait staff was friendly and helpful.
On to the Credit Card issue. I totally understand that businesses don't want to deal with the fees and hassle associated with accepting credit cards, but for a restaurant in a major tourist area where a meal for 2 costs more than $30, it seems silly and stubborn to refuse to accept credit cards. I can almost picture some crotchety, grumpy guy in the back boring his grandchildren with yet another diatribe about how the credit card companies are out to get him. My point is, If you are going to charge an upscale price, you need to accept credit card payment. period.
So overall, 3 stars. It would have been 4 stars had it not been for the steam-table potatoes and the annoyance of paying 2.50 to pay.
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