Quick Bites: PANCAKES!
Call them what you will – flapjacks, hotcakes, griddlecakes – good old American pancakes are forever associated with a hearty breakfast, what farmers ate for the carbs needed to fuel their workday. Overseas you’ve got all kinds of variations, from thin French crepes to Swedish potato pancakes with applesauce, but here we like them stacked and topped with butter and syrup. Here’s a sampling in the Gables.
CRAFT
If you’re craving something extra sweet to kick start a case of diabetes, Craft’s pancakes ($16.95) are a scrumptious option. This Argentine eatery takes a trio of flapjacks and tops them with strawberries, blueberries, caramel, whipped cream, crushed meringue, and a generous pouring of maple syrup. We liked the addition of the meringue, as its crunchiness paired well with the decadence of that caramelly and syrupy goodness.
Left: Trio of Flapjacks with Berries & Syrup
127 Giralda Ave
craftmiami.us
MIAM CAFÉ
We’ve all heard of the Dubai chocolate that has gone viral on social media. When looking over the menu at Miam, we noticed they have their own version: the “Dubai Pancakes” ($23.95). This three-layer thick pancake is topped with chocolate, strawberries, crushed pistachio, and golden kataifi. The presentation is undeniably photogenic, but the pancakes themselves lean dry, making them best enjoyed with a glass of milk on the side.
Left: Dubai pancakes with chocolate
2300 Ponce de Leon
miamcafe.com
BACHOUR
It’s only fitting that Coral Gables has a pancake that pays homage to Cuban cuisine. Bachour’s fluffy Guava and Cheese Pancakes ($20) are stacked three high, with every layer filled with gooey guava jam. We used the cream cheese mousse as a spread to balance the richness of the guava. We loved these, but we’d probably order them as a dessert next time.
Left: Guava and Cheese Pancakes
2020 Salzedo St
antoniobachour.com
BISTRO CAFÉ
The food portions at Bistro Café can easily feed two people, and the same concept applies to their “panqueques.” This popular four-layered Blueberry pancake ($27) is topped with ricotta cheese cream and blueberries. At first glance, it appears to offer an overwhelming sugar rush, but the cream and blueberries balance themselves to avoid an overpowering sweetness. The sizing is perfect for sharing.
Left: Four-Layered Blueberry Pancake
4155 Laguna St
instagram.com/bistrocaferest
COLLAB
The “Celeste” pancakes at The Collab restaurant in the THesis Hotel are spectacular, two thick cakes with a glazed edge like an English crumpet, warm and rich inside like cake, with savory notes and hints of yeast. Bourbon maple syrup and berry compote compliment the undertones. At $23, worth every penny. Maybe the best pancakes we’ve ever eaten, in the elegant setting of The Collab.
Left: Celeste Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup
1350 S. Dixie Hwy
thecollabmiami.com
Read our previous Quick Bites: Stews for more comfort-food favorites around the Gables.