In our ever continuing quest to tick things off of our bucket list Chris and I decided that we needed to experience our local Waffle House. A little known fact: we have not eaten at our local Waffle House since we moved here 4 1/2 years ago. We love to eat breakfast and breakfast for dinner but we gravitate towards non-chain establishments.
I recently listened to a podcast by Tommy Tomlinson on his SouthBound podcast about Waffle House. He interviewed Micah Cash who has authored a book entitled Waffle House Vistas that is a book I would love to check out. You can read an article about the book and the thoughts behind it that was published on The Bitter Southerner by clicking here. I loved it and it really is true about the culture at any Waffle House we have ever visited.
We were greeted immediately by several staff members upon entering our Brevard based Waffle House, found a booth and received steaming cups of hot coffee almost immediately. Our waitress Marcia took our order when we were ready and we watched as the two young men cooked our orders on the grill. We were served our delightful breakfasts and I commented a minute later as Chris was chowing down on his hash browns that I should have gotten them instead of grits but I do love grits so that was the logical choice.
A few minutes later Marcia appeared with this little plate of goodness. She had overheard me and had the guys cook up a small plate of hash browns for me at no cost.
And that is the whole beauty of Waffle House. Great service, personal attention, welcoming faces to anyone and everyone who steps over the threshold of their door. It’s a winning combination, right?
My sister, Paula, loves loves loves Waffle House and I think maybe now I understand why. I don’t think I ever took the time on any previous visit to any Waffle House we have ever stopped at ( now granted there haven’t been that many visits) to take it all in and understand how it truly is a place for everyone. The unwritten Waffle House rules are be kind, be respectful and don’t overstay your welcome when others are waiting to be seated. Seems like a really great way to live life, don’t you think?
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19 Comments
Leave a commentWe love Waffle House! There is nothing like it! Smothered and covered, please! Oh, and some chocolate chip waffles, too. What a delicious treat! I’ll be you’ll be back again soon!
You are correct! We will be back again soon! Especially to our local one –they were great!
Waffle House! We have one close by and I was just saying to my O-H that we need to get back to going there. I will listen to the podcasts. There are many interesting articles about Waffle House. Two that I remember: 1. If you can manage a Waffle House, you can manager any business. 2. FEMA uses the Waffle House as a measure of hurricane damage- is the WH fully open, open with limited menu, or closed? Closed- FEMA knows to go to that area first. Now I want to write a point about Waffle House. Thanks, Beth
Yes!!!! The funny thing is that I remember a less than wonderful time at a Waffle House that has probably tainted my memories. I wrecked our van coming home from Florida and we stayed at a hotel near a Waffle House. A huge storm hit, we lost power in the sweltering hotel, etc. and the Waffle House was the one place that was able to get us through the less than wonderful time. But this one was less than stellar and I still associate that experience with Waffle House . Happily the one in Brevard was a million times better!
We haven’t eaten at a Waffle House in many, many years. Don’t have any near us – I think the closest one is well over an hour away, and since we rarely go to that town, we don’t think about eating breakfast there. Next time we’re on a trip though, I think I’ll keep a look out for one.
I have everyone thinking about Waffle House now. 🙂 Their stock will boom!
Nothing like great service! I love grits and seldom get them unless I´m visiting my aunt in Arizona. No Waffle House here in Spain and no grits either. 😢
No grits in Spain? Hmm. That would make me sad. I would have to stock up when I was back in the US I guess. 🙂
They are hard to find in Canada too. So I always have some when I am in the US. Maybe you could mali some to me. LOL
Yes. Everything you said and more. I’ve seen joy and sorrow and despair and hope in my many Waffle House visits. We tend to be there in non-traditional times when we can eavesdrop on the servers and cooks. Stories of life and love and determination (I almost wrote “grits” there and decided that was too much). And EVERYONE is welcomed warmly.
And that is what we should experience every day so maybe a daily Waffle House trip is in order???? 🙂
We were like you and Chris we had not visited to many Waffle Houses. A couple of weekends ago we travels to Asheboro NC for a memorial. While we were there we ate at one and it was great. Everything you said. I am thinking maybe they are better in NC than VA.
Maybe you are correct about that, Shirley. A lot has to do with management and how they keep an eye on things I am sure but we were so pleasantly surprised.
We had a lot of fun going to our first Waffle House in St. Louis – we’re too North to have them. Perkins is kind of like the equivalent I guess but there’s not as many anymore.
I think Waffle House is one of those places that you have to visit once in your lifetime. I don’t think I would want to eat here weekly but it was a nice clean place, reasonably priced and tasty. Winner!
When I was in Alabama the last time (almost 2 years ago now!!!) my brother and I went to a Waffle House to wait for the dog to be finished at her grooming. (She says I got the better part of the deal) It was my first time to a Waffle House and I enjoyed watching all the people. As I recall I ate a plain waffle…my brother ate some potatoes that were smothered or something. 🙂
🙂 It is funny how many there are around the US and how few I have actually visited. But that’s okay—there are so many places to eat and so little time.
Like you, we love breakfast but tend to go to Mom and Pop restaurants rather than chains. So we had never been to the Waffle House until this year when our daughter was visiting and she mentioned how good the food was. We were pleased with the service and with the food but I’m not fond of the layout. It’s more of a eat and go rather than sit with your second cup of coffee place.
I understand what you mean—it is not always a place that you feel like you can linger over a second or third cup of coffee because they are often so busy. The day we visited it was not too busy so we felt like we could take our time. But my husband said the waffle was amazing.