Dutch Pancake House

...at decent prices from the Dutch Pancake house in Manchester’s City Centre.

The location of the restaurant is very accessible being on the corner of Oxford Street and St Peter’s Square, opposite the tram stop and Central Library and only a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens.

I think one of the biggest problems with the restaurant is its exterior. It’s a basement restaurant so the facade you are greeted with is a grimy, ...
...I have been told the Dutch pancake house is no more. Luckily I've found a very similar place in London so its not all bad news

Luckily the interior is more promising. It is homely rather than stylish with the decor little changed from when the restaurant first opened in the 1970s. There’s pictures of windmills and comfy but slightly shabby light pine tables and chairs. What I do like about the restaurant is that the tables and chars ... more

Pancakes in this country seem to be very much a neglected food only eaten once a year on Shrove Tuesday. I have always loved them and have fond memories of the Scottish chain of restaurants the Pancake Place. My partner Duskman is a very fussy eater so eating out can be a nightmare, as he does not like anything too spicy. Thus there are only a handful of cuisines he will eat. Luckily when I am sick of Italian or good old pub food there is an alternative in Manchester; namely whopping great pancakes at decent prices from the Dutch Pancake house in Manchester’s City Centre.

The location of the restaurant is very accessible being on the corner of Oxford Street and St Peter’s Square, opposite the tram stop and Central Library and only a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens.

I think one of the biggest problems with the restaurant is its exterior. It’s a basement restaurant so the facade you are greeted with is a grimy, glass lobby with stairs going down to the actual dining area. It is not ideal. I find it unpromising and unwelcoming and could put a lot of people off, well those who knew it was a restaurant as it is easy to walk by and miss it.

Unfortunately I will not be able to get my pancake fix whenever I am in Manchester , as I have been told the Dutch pancake house is no more. Luckily I've found a very similar place in London so its not all bad news

Luckily the interior is more promising. It is homely rather than stylish with the decor little changed from when the restaurant first opened in the 1970s. There’s pictures of windmills and comfy but slightly shabby light pine tables and chairs. What I do like about the restaurant is that the tables and chars are well spaced so you are not too close to the next table of diners.

I have never had to book or queue at the Dutch Pancake House and have been seated very quickly by friendly, polite staff. One thing that I would like to comment on was the physical state of the menus. On our first couple visits to the restaurant they were just sheets of printed paper and becoming rather tatty, but have improved with redesigned, laminated menus, which hopefully will be more hard wearing.

So what’s on the menu? Pancakes, pancakes and more pancakes. There are no starters just savoury pancakes for mains and sweet ones for dessert. Luckily the range of toppings is pretty vast so as long as you like pancakes there is something for everyone. They have a range of spicy specials s chicken curry, spicy Thai, Chinese duck and chili con carne that have a chili rating to gauge the strength of the toppings. Non-meat eaters do not miss out, as there is a choice of several vegetarian options including ratatouille, Courgette Sunrise and vegetable curry. For those who like simpler toppings I would suggest the Traditional Dutch (bacon and maple syrup) or the Hawaiian (same as a Hawaiian pizza, ham, pineapple and cheese. For the really picky eater there is a make your own topping.

The sweet pancakes sound just as good. They have a range of rich sounding toppings with various, fruits, nuts, sauces and even boozy ingredients such as Malibu alongside cream or ice cream.

Foe those who do not like pancakes are a few alternatives. There is a small selection of both sweet and savory waffles and a handful of salads. I have never tried the salads and only once tried a bannofee waffle (which was pretty tasty if my memory serves me well), but why have anything else but pancakes if that is what the restaurant specialises in.

There is a children’s menu with a selection of smaller pancakes. I cannot remember seeing it recently so cannot comment on the variety of pancakes offered to children.
The drinks menu is not extensive but is adequate with a selection of soft, hot and alcoholic drinks.

The good thing about the Dutch Pancake house is that it does not break the bank. Savory pancakes start at about £4.50 and go up to £7 for the specialty pancakes with more pricey ingredients such as the seafood and Chinese duck pancakes. If you want a really cheap meal go on Thursday, as selected pancakes are half price. The drinks perhaps are not the best value with half-pint glasses of soft drinks being about £1.40.

The next thing you will want to know if the food tastes as good as it sounds. The answer is yes. I have never had any complaints about the food. The pancakes are absolutely massive. You could just about paddle in the huge plates that they are served in. they must be about a foot in diameter. The pancakes are very thin and on first glance do not look substantial. Sometimes the filling is fired with the batter like the Courgette Sunrise; some will have the filling on top of the pancake, whilst others will be folded over with the filling in the middle. Unless it is stated such as tortilla chips with the chili or popadums with the curry pancakes there are no extras such as salad. However you do not need them. These pancakes are extra filling thus eliminating the need for a sweet. When I have had one I have felt stuffed to the gills.

I like this restaurant it makes a good venue for a family treat or venue or else an impromptu supper. They have colouring sheets to keep the kids occupied. It also would make a nice change for a mid afternoon shopping break if you are bored with the ubiquitous Starbucks. I am not sure it is quite the venue for an intimate romantic dinner. It’s best shared with family and friends.

However I do have a few minor quibbles with the restaurant. My dining experience was slighted marred when I realised that there was a big crack in my plate once I had finished my pancake. Hopefully this plate will be disposed of, as it is a hygiene hazard. The service although very friendly can be quite slow but perhaps this is due to all the pancakes being cooked freshly

Would I recommend the Dutch Pancake house? Well I have been there five or six times and will certainly be going back. It may have its faults but the pancakes there are pretty tasty!”

 

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