Rant: Diner Pancakes Are The Best!

Last Friday, I ate breakfast at the Agawam Diner in Rowley, and their pancakes were my favorite part. Light, fluffy and flavorful. And, over the weekend, as I thought more about those pancakes, as I thought about other pancakes I've enjoyed over the years. I came to a realization. 

The best pancakes are prepared at diners! 

When I think about the various diners I've visited in New England, I've nearly always been impressed with their pancakes. For example, the Country Girl Diner in Chester, Vermont, make a superb Savory Pancake, with ham and Vermont cheddar. Other examples include Chet's Diner in Northborough, MA, and the Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine, which both make excellent pancakes.

Sure, I've dined at other breakfast restaurants and liked their pancakes. However, none of them have stood out and impressed me like the ones I've enjoyed at diners. None of those other pancakes have been as memorable in my mind. It's only thoughts of the diner pancakes which make me salivate.

Why are diner pancakes so delicious? There are a number of proposed different reasons, some which would apply to other breakfast restaurants as well. For example, diners usually have large, flat-top griddles, maintaining a consistent high heat. Their pancake batter tends to be prepared and mixed properly, keeping the texture light and airy. Diners also tend to use plenty of butter atop the griddle, giving the pancakes crispy edges and more flavor. Diners may also use special ingredients, from buttermilk to malted milk powder. 

However, what separates diner pancakes from other breakfast restaurants? That answer may be more elusive. Could it be the type of griddle? Could it be the preparation of the pancake batter? I don't have an answer to this question, but I stand by my position, that diner pancakes are better than other restaurant pancakes. 

Your thoughts?