Here's something really useful the Georgia Legislature could do: Work a waffle into the official state seal.
Peaches, pecans, even Vidalia onions … We've been rightly hitching our proverbial wagon to those signature Georgia foodstuffs for years. But not the waffle, which arguably is as integral to Georgia's image as, well, Waffle Houses are to every street corner from here to Valdosta. Where else but in metro Atlanta can you expect to find not one but two locations of Gladys and Ron's Chicken & Waffles (that's Gladys Knight of "… and the Pips" fame)? Or the official Waffle House Museum, situated at the very first Waffle House, which opened in Avondale Estates in 1955 and spawned an empire that's spread like pancake batter on a griddle.
Speaking of the "P"-word …"We have never had pancakes on our menu," spokeswoman Kelly Thrasher politely sniffed by email from the Norcross headquarters of Waffle House, which operates over 1,600 restaurants in 25 states. "We are the Waffle House." (Emphasis ours.)
Meanwhile, The Original Pancake House's menu has eight different types of waffles. "The most popular is a toss-up between the pecan and apple waffles," said Nick Ferris, manager of The Original Pancake House. "It's funny, though, because three months will go by with us selling a ton of apple waffles and then … we'll sell 30 coconut ones in one month." Wait: A coconut waffle? Uh-huh. And it's delicious.
We recently strapped on our loose-fitting pants and risked having maple syrup permanently pumping through our veins to winnow them down to a worthy five waffle types for you to enjoy.The next move is yours, General Assembly.
Thumbs Up Diner
174 West Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur (404-687-0999). Four additional locations in Atlanta, East Point and Roswell.
Order Up: Buckwheat waffle ($3.95).Why It Stands Out: Don't be scared by the menu description of it as "earthy tasting." Or by its hue, slightly darker than the sickly sweet pale imitations of waffles lurking in supermarket frozen food cases. That just signals the grown-up status of this pleasingly thick, chewy-without-tasting-overcooked waffle with a richly grained, slightly nutty taste. The buckwheat infuses it with enough strong flavor that it doesn't even need butter. Then again, who ever needs butter? Go ahead and douse it, along with the pure New England maple syrup that can be ordered for 99 cents (There's regular syrup available on the tables, but the New England came warmed with our order). If someone in your party's in the mood for a more traditional taste, the menu also offers a Belgian waffle ($3.95).Add-On Experience: Go ahead and splurge on the mix-in of pecans for $1 more. The nuts add a satisfying smidge of sweetness without being overpowering.Ready, Set, Waffle: Open 7 a.m-3 p.m. daily, with breakfast served all day. Additional info: www.thumbsupdiner.com.
Waffle House
1470 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell (770-643-4992). Some 200 additional locations in metro Atlanta.
Order Up: Peanut Butter waffle.Why It Stands Out: We approached this with some trepidation, figuring the “peanut butter” would amount to a small streak of artificially flavored topping like the jarred stuff that gets ladled on ice cream. Happily, though, we were presented with the chain’s classic waffle scattered and smothered in peanut butter chips. The delicious taste suggested a more creamy, less sweet peanut butter cookie — with the added benefit of butter and syrup.Add-On Experience: Order a side of crisply cooked bacon and you’ll feel like Elvis from the peanut butter-and-bacon sandwich years. In a very good way.Ready, Set, Waffle: All Waffle Houses are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Additional info: www.wafflehouse.com.
Gladys and Ron’s Chicken & Waffles
7301 Stonecrest Concourse, Suite 123, Lithonia (770-482-6766 ). One additional location at 529 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta.
Order Up: Midnight Train (four fried chicken wings, one original waffle, $10.50).Why It Stands Out: Long before elite chefs supposedly "discovered" the whole "savory and sweet" trend, the chicken and waffles had claimed that territory here in the Deep South. The crunchy, spicy meatiness of the bird mixed with the sweet creaminess of the butter/sugar-doused waffle hits on every taste bud — and can feel overly indulgent when done wrong. When done right, as at Gladys & Ron's, each wing is the size of a closed fist and expertly fried so there's a satisfying hint of saltiness with nary an unpleasant trace of grease. (Yankees or vegans in your group can also order three types of waffles a la carte for prices ranging from $3.25 to $4.25).Add-On Experience: Photos of Gladys Knight and other well-known celebrities, as well as some of the restaurant's namesake's gold records, are part of the fascinating wall decor. The Lithonia location is in a prime spot by the Mall at Stonecrest and the AMC Stonecrest 16 movie theater, so there's plenty of places to walk off those waffles.Ready, Set, Waffle: Open daily, although hours differ at the two locations. Additional info: www.gladysandron.net.
The Original Pancake House
5530 Windward Parkway, Suite 120 A, Alpharetta (678-393-1355). Three additional Georgia locations in Atlanta, Stone Mountain and Savannah.
Order Up: Coconut waffle ($7.20).Why It Stands Out: For a place with “pancake” in its name, the sheer number (eight) and variety (strawberry, peach, blueberry, etc.) of waffled offerings is impressive. We eagerly tried the bacon waffle (real chunks of bacon baked right in, yum!) and the apple one (a little sweet for our taste with its dusting of cinnamon sugar on top and pink-tinted apple syrup) … but, admittedly, we had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the aforementioned coconut waffle. Shows what we know. With its generous topping of toasted coconut flakes and tangy homemade “tropical” syrup, it was simultaneously sophisticated tasting and comforting (kinda like eating crunchy hot buttered toast).Add-On Experience: What’s eight types of waffles without nine different choices of meat side dishes to pair with them? Try the just-the-right-amount-of-zing link sausage ($4.15) or corned beef hash ($7.85). You won’t be sorry. You’ll just have trouble waddling out the door afterwards!Ready, Set, Waffle: Open 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (call to check for hours at other locations). Additional info: www.originalpancakehouse.com.
West Egg Cafe
1100 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta (404-872-3973).
Order Up: Belgian waffle with syrup and spiced honey butter ($4.50).Why It Stands Out: For all its impressive circumference and height, this was easily the fluffiest waffle we tried. The clever, lighter take on butter only added to that pleasant sense of not being uncomfortably weighed down — especially since its flavorful blend of spices negated the need to drown this particular waffle in syrup. It also held up beautifully when we ordered it to go on an extremely busy Saturday morning (see below).Add-On Experience: With all that room left in your tummy, you can order a side of roasted garlic grits ($1.75), which have nothing to do with waffles, but are truly addictive. There’s also a terrific bakery case to peruse while you’re waiting for a table to open up on weekend mornings at this dining hot spot on Atlanta’s happening Westside.Ready, Set, Waffle: Open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast served all day, every day. Separate brunch menu served on weekends. Additional info: www.westeggcafe.com.
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