Walker Bros Original Pancake House
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Breakfast
24 Reviews for Walker Bros Original Pancake House
Best pancake house ever, hands down. Always a treat when my cousins come into town - they live for the monthly trek to Walker Bros as well. Their German Pancake is obscene, it's so good. I like it with a topping of salsa, oddly enough. Their Flapjacks are amazing as well - light, battery, and mmmmmm! Potato Pancakes are lovely and crispy. Crepes are divine. Love that their oj is freshly squeezed. Only thing I don't like is the massive amounts of whipped butter they feel compelled to drop on top of the pancakes. And the line. But, it's a great place to either catch up on a good book or make some new friends. Still, when I get cravings for pancakes and don't want to whip up a batch, this is the place to go.
The boy and I used to have a HP Sunday morning routine. The gist of our morning was: roll out of bed, decide that we're hungry, call Walker Brothers, order 2 apple pancakes, throw on some clothes, pick up apple pancakes 15 minutes after the phone call, get Starbucks, go home, eat till we burst. Seriously, the apple pancake is the way to go. No other apple pancake comes close. They have tons of other delicious options as well. The only time I change my order is when I'm trying not to eat thirty thousand calories at once. If you're going to dine in, I suggest going a little early, or a little after typical "brunch" hours because there will be a wait. However, it's well worth it.
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So talk about comfort food...this takes comfort food breakfast to a whole new level.
I have been going to Walker Bros since I was a kid and you know what, it hasn't changed! Still yummy, still cookin' it up with real butter and of course, you will be consuming thousands of worth-every-calorie with each bite.
IMHO, stick with the pancakes. Any kind.
Oh goodness, who would've thought that an apple pancake could conjure up drool from a grown woman. But, indeed it does. Walker Brother's apple pancakes are as big as a dinner plate and about two inches high. There's enough brown sugar on one pancake to last you a week. Also, if you're able to finish a whole pancake then you are my new hero.
Bless Walker Brother's soul, cause they now have take home pancakes. They honestly are heaven sent, cause when you just don't want to go anywhere you can just pop these delicious goodies in the oven and eat them in bed.
Almost anything else you get from here will be good too, but don't pass up the apple pancake. Oh, and they have fresh squeezed apple juice.
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This breakfast spot is a hit with me and my family. Walker Bros. is giving my good old S & G a run for it's money! I have to give a one up to the W bros. for there quality dishes.Unbelievable food, quality and service...all for an inexpensive price.
I ordered the Chipotle Chicken crepe (comes with potato pancakes). It wasn't an easy decision, what with the famous Apple Pancake starring at me from the table across, the Belgian Waffles calling me from the table to my left, and the fluffy omlettes throwing themselves at me.
But alas my choice was absolutley delicious! Everything at my table was superb. Blueberry pancakes...you get condiments of whipped butter, maple syrup and a blueberry compote to drizzle over. Strawberry Belgian Waffles...huge mounds of fruit and whipped cream a top a to die for waffle.
I haven't tried everything, but I can already feel everything at W Bros. will be moan-groaning good! Go, go, go! Don't be intimidated by the line when you walk in, it moves fast. The hostess did a great job of keeping folks informed on available tables. Poor girl started her first day on a Sunday! Busy, busy, busy.
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I give the apple pancake, specifically, 5 stars. Everything else here is pretty much a 3 - so we'll compromise and go with 4 stars. They now have frozen apple pancakes to go - and you heat them in the oven for a 1/2 hour and everyone who doesn't know better will be begging for the recipe - fabulous! I recently had a brunch at our house for people from out of town, and everyone raved about the apple pancakes we offered up for dessert ;)
If you eat-in, the line moves fast, even when it is out the door. This is not a place to linger over coffee, they keep the tables moving, but waitstaff is polite and efficient. Pancakes in general and fresh juices are good. Omlettes are okay. Crepes, not as good as I wanted them to be but okay, as well. Really, this is a pancake place - take it at face value and you'll enjoy.
Oh my god the best apple pancake in the world. Get it with a side of Ice Cream and you are in heaven. If you haven't been you must try this one. You can eat any time of the day.
A North Shore Staple!
Whenever I come to Chicago to visit family and friends, the trip is not complete without a visit to Walker Bros. Traditionally I visit the HP location because it's close to my grandmother's place. OMG their apple pancakes are TO DIE FOR. Seriously. It's so sweet and gooey and rich and and and...see now I'm drooling.
You may wish to consider sharing. Also, a line forms to get in for brunch on weekend mornings. Expect a wait to get in.
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My wife and I dragged our 18 month old daughter out this AM. We arrived at 10:30 AM and the line was still out the door. After about a twenty minute wait, I remembered why we came. I ordered the Apple Pancake. You can't really call it a pancake; I prefer to call it heaven in a pan. I slapped a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it and it made me forget about all of the ill fitting sweaters I received for X-Mas.
The service pushed the experience to the next level. Once we were seated, we place our daughter's order and within 5 minutes, she was eating. For those of you with toddlers, you will know how important this is. It saved me from the "walk of shame" (calming her down when she goes ballistic).
As much as I wanted to write a bad review due to the wait, the food and service was just too good.
Although a hike from the Wrigleyville area, it was worth the trip.
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Lingonberries. Ikea and Walker Brothers...who knew they had anything in common...Go for the dutch baby....
Get in line on the weekends...be prepared to wait. This is pancake fare, served proper-like.
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Restaurants you frequent everytime you return to your hometown are so comfortable and familiar that you take them for granted. That is exactly why I missed reviewing an old favorite, this particular Walker Brothers restaurant. You can get much more than pancakes from their extensive menu, but the Dutch Baby (served with lemon wedges and powdered sugar on the side) is wonderfully light. I have never had trouble getting my coffee cup refilled or my bacon extra crispy (not burned). They do a traditional eggs Benedict or a delicious eggs Valencia, as well as Pigs in a blanket (code for: three sausages wrapped in a pancake). Arrive at off-hours if you hate waiting. It's not unusual for there to be a 20 minute wait at mealtimes and on weekends.
What I most enjoy about this particular location is the magnificent leaded glass that distinguishes their entry lobby and dining room. This restaurant is one of a group that you can count on for a great breakfast or lunch. Located along the main street in the upscale town of Highland Park, there's a public garage for parking just around the corner. Walker Brothers has certainly earned a spot in any list of Northshore institutions and I never miss a chance to indulge...
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Ah, Walker Bros....The have several locations, but the HP one is the one I usually go to. They have HUGE portions (you pay for that), but it's soo damn good! Their omelettes are to die for AND you can subsitute your toast for chocolate chip pancakes...Beat that!
One of the best breakfasts. The omelettes are HUGE. It's worth the wait in line on weekend mornings.
One of my dining companions ordered the spinach omelette with swiss cheese. It was like a big egg and spinach blob with a river of cheese oozing from the center. And on the side was a dollop of cream of mushroom condensed soup mix!
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I've been to several of the other locations but this is my usual. Where was I the day my sister was born way back in 1984? Celebrating at this very restaurant with my babysitter by chomping on a Walker Bros. apple pancake of course. Since then I've dared to try other things such as the challah french toast and I always love a side of crispy hashbrowns with onions. While I agree that the fresh squeezed OJ is top notch, my heroin like addiction to tomato juice keeps me away from it. Sometimes its pretty busy but its always worth the wait.
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The best breakfast on planet earth. Try the waffles with fresh strawberries. Orange juice is fresh squeezed and the syrup is the real deal!
so, highland park is like half way between my home (chicago) and my parent's home (racine, wi). mom and i will sometimes meet there and have breakfast/lunch.
the blueberry pancakes are SO good...made with real, fresh, whole, non-pie filling blueberrys....INSIDE the pancake! not on top, not on the side...
and if you want to get REALLY sassy, get that special orange syrup (aka breakfast crack) to go on your blueberry pancakes.
AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE SWEET BREAKFAST!
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Delicious is hardly the word for it. They are spectacular for breakfasts, and have good lunches, too. Many types of pancakes - my favorite artery-clogger is one with bacon IN the pancake. Mmmmm....
I love coming here for breakfast. Their apple pancake is delicious and is very filling. This place is often busy on Saturday and Sunday morning but is worth the wait.
I normally go to the one in Lincolnshire but I like this location better. At the Lincolnshire they have a high ceiling which causes an echo. This can cause the place to get really loud when it is busy. This location is a lot quieter.
Not knowing the area well, I came here after a concert at Ravinia for some dinner. The menu boasts mostly of breakfast fare but the pancakes here are delicious!
Great food, but fake maple syrup? That's pretty disappointing. And true -- I asked the waiter for real maple syrup, and he said "sorry, we don't use it."
Service is also hit or miss, but it seems better than it used to be.
Really good food.
Honestly I prefer a breakfast place that isn't too clean, rough around the edges, and a little greasy. This is the exact opposite. So squeaky clean that my wife has to drag me there. But I always leave full and happy.
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EXCELLENT breakfast place. If you love pancakes, you will be floored.
best. breakfast. ever.
oh walker bros, why aren't you on the left coast? this is one of my favorite breakfast joints of all time...always a wait, but so worth it. the line moves quickly and service is great.
the pancakes are so tasty and the eggs delicious.
the orange juice alone gets 6 stars.
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