I'm 32 years old, lived in CA and MD my whole life, and it took a relocation to AZ for me to go to a Waffle House for the first time. Am I even American?! If I had to prove my loyalty to the Stars and Stripes by clogging up my arteries with breakfast food, then FINE!! 'Murca!!
I entered the bustling restaurant on a recent Sunday morn having no idea what to expect - I'd always imagined just a small, greasy counter with almost immediate waffles available. I've heard rumors of the Waffle House Index - apparently their fare takes so few fresh ingredients that they can open in almost any circumstance, so they have become the de facto first-line of information after local weather disasters. Rumor or not?
Eating alone, I took a seat at the counter that wraps around the kitchen in an "L" shape. The cooks and staff are wearing NFL gear it being a fall Sunday and all. I order a coffee, pecan waffle (A-, good, lots of butter and syrup, but nothing to make a big deal of) and hash browns with onions and jalapeños (B-, hash browns good, but cold, canned jalapeneos just tossed and folded into the hot food confused my mouth)
Overall, an easy, quick breakfast that is a step above fast food breakfast, but still comes in 2nd to IHOP, Denny's, or any local diner you can find.