- Lisia Liaw
Where the Pancakes Are, London
Where The Pancakes Are is one of the many establishments in Flat Iron Square, a culinary hub settled among seven old railway arches in between Southwark and London Bridge tube stations.
It is one of the very few restaurants in London to focus exclusively on serving pancakes, and has won numerous awards from Time Out and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch.
Patricia Trijbits, the owner of Where The Pancakes Are, has spent time living all over the world, including Holland, Paris, California, and even Malaysia, before settling in London. She believes the comfort and nostalgia of pancakes transcends cultures and national borders.
Patricia’s vision is to combine classic indulgence with current healthy food trends, resulting in re-imagined American style buttermilk pancakes that are true to tradition, but carry modern elements that elevate them to the current era.
Photos courtesy of: Street & Co.
The restaurant’s interior is quaint, classy, and brightly lit. Upbeat acoustic music plays in the background, and the staff are bubbly, fun and engaged. The warm, earthy décor is enough to make one forget about the cold winter morning outside.
Photos courtesy of: Street & Co.
We first tried the Hummingbird pancakes (£9.00), two pancakes showered with chunks of pineapple poached in cinnamon, which cuts through the typical acidity of the fruit. The dish is visually stunning, and reminds one of a tropical beach holiday. The pancakes themselves are light and fluffy, like little cushions; exactly how pancakes should be.
The dish is served with lime syrup, an incredibly silky house cream, lime zest, coconut flakes, and pomegranate seeds. The individual elements mix beautifully to create an explosion of freshness with every mouthful. Sweet pancakes served elsewhere tend to "lean" on their sweetness for flavour; not so with the Hummingbird. For those who do prefer it sweeter, I’d recommend adding extra maple syrup (£1.50) to taste.
Photo courtesy of: Street & Co.
The 1000 Baby Greens (£10.50) pancakes draw heavily on Middle-Eastern and Indian influences. One would’ve never thought American-style buttermilk pancakes would taste good spicy. But the lime-coriander butter, mixed with a hint of chilli would surprise you.
The first bite is bright, exciting, and lively, perfect for chasing away any early morning grogginess. The cumin leaves a hearty, aromatic after-taste at the back of my tongue that reminds me of great Indian food from home.
Photo courtesy of: Street & Co.
The Bramley & Cox Dutch Baby Pancake (£9.50) looks like a giant Yorkshire pudding in a cast iron skillet. Despite its name, the Dutch Baby is actually an American creation, based on an old German dish. Unlike most of the pancakes on the menu, this one is eggy and crunchy. The tartness of the Bramley apples and the texture of the same silky house cream give this pancake great personality.
We also tried the Spanish latte (£3.00), espresso and condensed milk; a great pick-me-up, and the Turmeric & Cinnamon latte (£3.00); slightly heavier and earthy. Both go well with any of the pancakes served.
Whether you prefer sweet, fruity, or savoury, for breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea, Where The Pancakes Are has a pancake for all tastes and every occasion. Safe to say, I will definitely be back to try more of their pancakes.
Where The Pancakes Are
Arch 35A
85A Southwark Bridge Road,
London SE1 0NQ
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 5pm