Trip Report: Waffle House

[flere-imsaho]

So, recently I glommed onto a mention of the Waffle House in I think the MLB thread to ask if it was worth going to one in the north especially as I'd never been to one before.

The general consensus (including from Jon canvassing a lot of friends IRL) was yes.

So, as part of a two day drive from Maine to Chicago I stayed overnight outside of Erie, PA and ate at a Waffle House in the morning.

I woke up at 5:30 and walked over to the WH at about 6:00. This was a Monday. There was only one customer there, and he left about halfway through my breakfast and no one else came in. So, as folks noted, I wasn't going to get the famous "ambience" found in southern Waffle Houses, but that probably wasn't going to happen anyway.

Despite the hour and lack of customers, the two people working were super nice and accomodating. Like, way nicer than anyone would expect at 6AM on a Monday when they'd probably been working since midnight.

They got me coffee right away (decent, nothing to write home about) and I looked at the menu and ordered.

My typical order in a breakfast place like this is eggs & meat, but I figured I should at least try something else, including suggestions from some of you. So, while I don't normally like waffles (or pancakes) I ordered a waffle with a side of sausage, and then ordered the hash browns "smothered & covered".

As I said, I don't normally like pancakes or waffles. Typically too "bready" or dry, plus I just like other breakfast foods better. This waffle (plain, with plain syrup) was excellent. Not too bready, nicely crisp, and both sweet and tasty. Probably the best non-homeade waffle I've ever had (though, again, that list isn't long).

The sausage was a mistake. Should have gotten bacon. It was two discs of sausage, dry, not a lot of taste. Such is life.

The hashbrowns, on the other hand, were a revelation. Lots of places do good hashbrowns. When presented on the plate, they didn't look like much, including the cheese and onions. But once I dug in, the combination of all the ingredients was right on. Super tasty, super mix of flavors and textures. A big hit. Honestly, I'd come back just for that (but also the waffle).

So, all-in-all a successful trip for the food, and not super-expensive either. Thanks to everyone who gave advice and one day maybe I'll go to one in the south to see about this "ambience" thing. Thanks all!

[GrantDawg]

Glad you enjoyed it!

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[dubb93]

I’ve been to alot of waffle houses (multiple in Indiana and western Ohio as well as Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi) and I can say the food is more or less the same. I’d say the food is generally better in the places that aren’t right off the interstate and in the south (because we have no waffle house culture up north) that you are more likely to see regulars and get friendlier service at locations that aren’t right off an interstate. I’d say the location versus interstate is more important than location north/south on how good your experience will be.

[Edward64]

IMO waffle house is consistent and am never surprised. My standard is eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns (order hashbrowns a little extra crispy). The coffee bearable but not good, and booths are way too cramped.

Quick service, reasonable prices (cash), and efficient and somewhat friendly service.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Glad it turned out to be a win.

All-Star special, city ham*, double hashbrown scattered & smothered, white toast, apple butter on the side. Hold the waffle til the end please, it'll be dessert. Sweet tea (or occasionally a cherry coke)

*my choice of city ham probably surprises most here but it's for a simple reason: it's more food than 2 pcs of bacon and the country ham can be a little erratic depending on the cook

[Drake]

My favorite Waffle House memory was outside of Savannah, Georgia in probably 1993 after driving all night from Indiana on my way to Jacksonville with my (eventual) wife. Best steak and eggs I've ever had, even if the rest of Savannah smelled like paper mills.

Wasn't my first ever experience. We had a Waffle House in my hometown that was the premier out-drinking-all-night destination before the college town turned all upscale and commercialized.

But that one in Savannah...that is a memory I keep.

[JonInMiddleGA]

My favorite Waffle House memory was outside of Savannah, Georgia in probably 1993 after driving all night from Indiana on my way to Jacksonville with my (eventual) wife. Best steak and eggs I've ever had, even if the rest of Savannah smelled like paper mills.

But that one in Savannah...that is a memory I keep.

Kind of a crazy thought but ... there's a better than even-money chance that same WH is in the same place today, 32 yrs later.

[Drake]

Just means it lasted longer than the wife. :P

[Ksyrup]

I haven't been to a Waffle House since the evening of my batchelor party. And like most of the places we went that night, it was mainly because the other people wanted to go, not me.

[BishopMVP]

You went to Waffle House and the report is the waffles are great? :D It's like when my friends hit up Shake Shack for the burgers and raved about the shakes they got...

WH's have had surprisingly consistent food across the ones I've been to given the late night conditions and clientele when I've been at most, but here in Charlotte it wouldn't be on my list of recommendations. The selling point was super cheap decent food, prices jumped when eggs did and it's no better than the handful of 24hr diners that seem to be paired next to strip clubs here. And Cookout is the late night food of choice, though that one varies wildly in quality by what part of the city or the wealth (/race) of the location. (But if I'm hitting up a WH give me a Texas cheesesteak melt with hash browns and some raisin toast and we're having a good day!)