Pouty Pancakes on Mother’s Day Weekend
Some of the best company you can have on Mother’s Day weekend is a short stack and a tall cup of chocolate. Saturday sunbeams woke me up with a gentle kiss on my forehead. My romantic ideals for the morning blew away like a sudden oniony burp at point-blank range following a first kiss.
Instead of an affectionate sleepy rasp from my boyfriend, voicemail’s bleak tone greeted me. A light bout of laundry turned into six loads over three hours. Mid-morning provided some respite while beating my rug free of dust and crumbs and breaking three fallen sticks in the process. Noon came with all my chores finished but not a second of company for this socialization-starved extrovert. Like any young woman sunken into her bed and sulking over Tom Holland Spider-Man on a Saturday, I did the most sensible thing. I dressed up cute-yet-comfortable and went to the mall to consume copious amounts of sugar and chocolate.
Walking through gaggles of high-schoolers and lovey-dovey couples was the price I had to pay for pancakes. At the Galleria Mall, there is an IHOP knock-off called The Village Pancake Factory on the second floor. Semester after semester, I passed the restaurant by, but today was the right time for overpriced piled-high pancakes for lunch. The guest stand was empty aside from menus, a pile of coloring sheets, and a tempting basket of four-pack crayon boxes. After a minute or two, a woman rounded the corner to greet me. I admired the winding interior like an upscale Denny’s over her bouncing ponytail as she walked me to a soft leather two-seater booth. I could not extend my legs and kicked the opposite seat. Crumbs of previous guests were around the table edges.
In my peripheral vision, I saw my waiter walk a few laps past me as I was engrossed in the owners' story at the front of the menu. The family had a tough time feeding their twin sons at outings and celebrations because of their gluten, dairy, and egg allergies. The unnamed mother developed recipes to accommodate her twins and packed their food to enjoy when the family ate out. Pancakes in her recipe book were added to the menu when the family bought "The Village Restaurant" and renamed it to "The Village Pancake Factory". After the story, I felt compelled to try pancakes born from a mother’s love. With a gentle fold, I placed down my menu. A silent signal my server quickly noticed as they made their fourth lap.
Hot Chocolate served with a Chocolate Chip Cookie - $4.50
Between the warm lighting and the Latin R&B, I felt very comfortable. Musings of older couples pleased at their portion size melded with the laughter of sugar-high kids corralled to their next adventure. The excitement was infectious as my overflowing hot chocolate followed in the children's wake. The irony does not escape me, being the only solo diner surrounded by families. I was waffling over if my mood improved, dunking the chocolate chip cookie for thoughtful caramelized nibbles. I unironically watched preschool programming from KidDoodle on the 72” TV, craving my family’s presence at the much too-small table. Somehow the subtle happiness of my fellow diners permeated through my pouty mood.
Single Gluten, Dairy, and Egg Free Pancake - $8
On the screen, dancing vegetables did the conga up a Christmas tree then the server snapped me back to reality with pancakes. I mustered a thank you while choking on my chocolate and wiped off my whipped cream mustache. The gluten, dairy, and egg-free original pancake had a simplistic beauty next to Mama’s Baked Apple. The allergen-free pancake had a moist crumb and a nutty flavor. A cool crown of whipped cream sat atop the light blush of cinnamon and powdered sugar. My first bite brought the owners' story full circle. The restaurant exuded the comforting feeling of home in the food. Staff were like siblings as they sang happy birthday to another employee, clearly busting their balls from the cackling laughter. Dad jokes hung in proud frames on the walls, and none of the servers were overly formal.
Mama’s Baked Apple Pancakes - $16
Crisp cinnamon-covered raw apple slices were unexpected from Mama’s Baked Apple. The fluffy cakes were loaded with walnuts and raisins with a heavy drizzle of vanilla sauce, then topped with whipped cream. Chipmunk cheeks of cake limited my server and I to nods of acknowledgment when he checked on me. I caught rivers of chocolate syrup flowing down my mug with my cookie and bounced between dipping pancakes in vanilla sauce and salted butter. All plate elements balanced and not too sweet, which resulted in a gradual sugar high. The meal was a delicious messy, filling, and fun experience.
When I asked for the check, the server took me quite a while to give me the slip. During this time, I contemplated how balanced the food was for an American cuisine pancake shop. I tried the branded table syrup and recognized the cloying sweetness associated with pancakes. Water was absent from my table, and I saw a table receive a glass upon request. Across from me was a bill adjustment sign on the wall addressing a 4% charge on debit/credit transactions. At this point, the rising noise level of the restaurant alerted me that the restaurant went from moderately busy to pretty busy, then my check dropped.
The International House of Pancakes ain’t got nothing on The Village Pancake Factory. The dishes are worth every cent, stuffed with toppings and add-ins. Service was warm, efficient, and very attentive until the check. I received takeout aluminum tins for my cakes and a fond farewell at the door. Later that evening, my mother and sister conference called me as they were waiting out the hour for their Mother’s Day dinner reservation. I felt compelled to grab my leftover cakes and a fork to enjoy the familial company I craved with my meal.
Rating: 🥞🥞🥞🥞 Four Pancakes out of Five
Price Range: $$
Recommended dishes: Hot Chocolate $4.50; Gluten, dairy, and Egg-free Pancake $8; Mama’s Baked Apple Pancakes $16
Address: Poughkeepsie Galleria, 2001 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Website: https://www.thevillagepancakefactory.com/
Phone Number: 845-632-2893