October 2022
Dining Review: Polly’s Pancake Parlor – Sugar Hill, White Mountains New Hampshire
Polly’s Pancake Parlor is a staple sugar shack in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Polly’s Pancake Parlor opened in 1938, still owned and operated by the same family, and is known for their made from scratch pancakes and local maple syrup. The unique things about working here is that the servers actually are the ones that make the pancakes which has been a tradition here since the beginning. The interior is decorated with antiques which are fun to explore and do not miss Trot Trot – the wooden red and yellow horse in the front.
We arrived 6:55AM for the 7AM opening and there was already a long line of patrons waiting in the cold for breakfast. We were beyond excited and knew we made good choices this morning. Note that Polly’s Pancake Parlor does not take reservations but allows for call in’s to be added to a waitlist which I would highly recommend if you are not getting here at opening. When we left around 8AM, the wait was already almost 2 hours long! When to doors opened at 7AM, we were ushered in and seated.
We both ordered Kathie’s Combo – 3 pancakes, 2 eggs, choice of sausage, bacon, or ham, and choice of house made toast. Pancakes options here will drive an indecisive person mad. For batters, there are seven options: plain, buckwheat, gingerbread, whole wheat, cornmeal, oatmeal buttermilk, cornmeal rice. Then there are four pancake add-ins: blueberries, walnuts, coconut, chocolate chips. That is way to many combinations for me! I stuck with the simple option – plain pancakes. Kevin got creative and got plain, buckwheat, and oatmeal buttermilk and added blueberries and chocolate chips. We also both went for bacon and sourdough toast.
My goodness this breakfast was everything. The pancakes were perfection – the thickness, the size, the flavor, everything. The plain option was perfect for me as I got to play around with two maple options – traditional syrup and the maple frosting which was divine. Everything else on the plate was equally cooked to perfection – the eggs, the bacon (nice and crispy yummm), and the homemade sourdough toast – this breakfast was pure joy. I wish we could have had every breakfast here!
Within the hour, the place was packed and every seat was taken. The wait time for a table was around almost 2 hours at 8AM when we finished breakfast. Before we left, we grabbed a bottle of maple syrup to take home – one of the benefits of a road trip- no liquid limit!
This stop is worth the hype in every way, make sure you visit Polly’s Pancake Parlor on your trip!
