December 2019

The Pancake Social prides themselves in "sharing the joy of pancakes." Created by a team of former big executives and an award-winning chef, Pancake Social lives up to the legacy of its owners. Inviting atmosphere, comfort food, and a cozy setting welcome you at this fast-casual restaurant in the heart of a bustling city. Whether you are in the mood for an instagrammable avocado toast and fresh blended juice or you want the comfort of buttermilk pancakes with a side of bacon, Pancake Social can satisfy any taste. Make sure to head to one of Atlanta's prime areas of Old Fourth Ward and enjoy the best Atlanta breakfast! Important Information. Pancake Social is located at Ponce City Market, in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. It is open from Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 3 PM. On Saturdays, Pancake Social is open from 7 AM to 9 PM and on Sundays from 7 AM to 6 PM. Pancake Social is not in Ponce City Market's main food hall, but can be accessed by one of the side pathways, right next to Mountain High Outfitters. Make sure to head to the bar at the front, since that is where you will order before you get to pick a table! Since it is an order-first, be seated after type of restaurant, make sure to get there early, especially on the weekends. The line will often times be out the door on any given weekend morning. Also please keep in mind you will have to pay for parking at Ponce City Market. The History. Pancake Social first opened late March of 2019, and it was created by Anne Quantrano and a team of business partners. Anne Quantrano, best known for owning the restaurant Bacchanalia, is a James Beard award winning chef and owns many restaurants across the Atlanta area. The concept of the fast-casual restaurant was originally created by a former Chick-Fil-A executive, the co-founder of Octane Coffee, the founder of Tin Drum Asia Kitchen, and Quatrano. The Atmosphere. Pancake Social was created to be a bright and welcoming place. With both sidewalk patio seating and indoor dining, there is plenty of space for diners wanting to indulge themselves in the incredible pancakes. The whole restaurant creates a European feel with white chairs, butcher block tables, and minimalist design. White plates, cups, and napkins continue the clean look that the restaurant aims for. At the center bar area, you will see a beautiful island, where you will order and where all the drinks and coffee beverages are made. The whole restaurant is very open-concept, and while there is not a ton of seating for such a popular establishment, the space does not feel cramped. With plenty of booth options and your food delivered directly to your table, you will feel at home in this bright, airy space! The Menu. The breakfast/brunch menu is the only, all-day menu so you can indulge in pancakes, breakfast cocktails, and coffee all day long. While it can easily be seen as the best Atlanta breakfast place, they also do not disappoint when it comes to beverages and coffee. Coffee options include bottomless drip/iced coffee (basic single origin brewed coffee, as much as you want!), americano (espresso + hot water), cortado, cappuccino (smaller version of a latte, much stronger), latte, and vermont maple latte. They also have vanilla, dark chocolate, and caramel syrups that you can add to your coffee drink. For non-coffee lovers, they have chai, hot chocolate, and shakerato. It would not be a brunch place without smoothies! They have 5 different juice combinations, hand pressed orange juice, and hand pressed grapefruit juice. Smoothie flavors include mixed berry jam, peanut butter, banana, and whole milk and honey. For cocktail options, Pancake Social offers the classic mimosa, bloody mary, a drink called the brown derby, the spice gal, as well as a couple of beer and wine options. You can get their classic buttermilk stack with your topping of choice (and as a heads up, the stacks are HUGE). Some customer favorites on the menu include the big pecan praline stack coated in pecan praline syrup and the chicken and waffle. For those who prefer a traditional breakfast, they have options for breakfast plates with eggs, bacon, toast, etc. Several bowls (chia seed, greek yogurt, quinoa, grits) are included on the menu, including a salad option for the brunch fans. Their last section of food options are sandwiches, which range anywhere from grilled cheese and tomato soup, to a burger, to avocado toast, to a breakfast sandwich. You can also order some beignets on the side. The prices at Pancake Social are pretty reasonable for the area, especially being located in the heart of Atlanta and in Ponce City Market. Juice prices range from $5-$7 for the juice combinations to $4.50 for hand pressed juice, and smoothies cost $8 no matter the flavor. Coffee prices are $3.50 for bottomless drip coffee, $3 for the americano, $4 for lattes, and $0.50 to add any flavoring to it. The wine and beer options are around $6-$7 for the beer and $7-$8 for a glass of wine. The cocktails are around $11, which is pretty standard for Atlanta cocktails, if not cheaper than normal. Pancake options range in price from $10-$15, with the chicken and waffle being the most expensive item on the menu. Breakfast plates are about $14. The bowls are about $8 and the sandwich options average around $10. Overall Experience. I believe Pancake Social really fills a much-needed space in the Atlanta food scene- a quality, all-day breakfast/brunch place. They in no way slacked on the food or drink options to create this place, and it really shows. With better coffee than most of the coffee shops in the area and some of the best pancakes I have had in Atlanta, Pancake Social is any easy hit for any local or visitor. Overall, the decor, food, and drinks all get high ratings in my books. The one flaw I see at Pancake Social is when the crowds come in. When things get busy, ordering at the counter becomes a long line leading out the door. While they try to move people as quickly as possible, there are only two registers and standing in line for ten plus minutes can be difficult for some. Despite the wait you often have to endure, I do believe the quality of food makes up for it. Pancake Social easily tops my list as one of the best Atlanta breakfast places!

You May Also Like

10 Free Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Disney

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018

Running My First Marathon