Brunch at Griddlecakes: Your Best Beginning
Its Labor Day weekend, as I write this, and what better time to let you know about my favorite Las Vegas brunch spot than on a holiday weekend. Brunch business has been growing steadily for what seems like a lifetime. This means entries into the market happen on a regular basis. New restaurants that push culinary boundaries and blur the lines of brunch are as popular in Vegas as artisanal locally sourced organic avocado toast is in California. But this post is not about any of those places. This post is about Griddlecakes, part diner, part modern eatery, all delicious.
Griddlecakes has two locations on opposing sides of the valley. The original, on Eastern, has been around since 1991. This is quite the accomplishment considering most restaurants don’t make it past the two-year mark, especially in Vegas. Yet, Griddlecakes has managed to buck the trend and exceed expectations. Since I live on the west side of town, the location on Russell (opened in 2015) is my go-to and the subject of this post.
The location is modest, something to keep in mind during peak brunch times. Red metal chairs dot the otherwise neutral color palette. Décor is sparse and large windows span the entirety of the right side. All the natural light is an excellent feature for a breakfast/lunch place, as it keeps you awake. You’ll be grateful for the shot of energy after slipping into a food coma from the generous portions.
On the double-sided menu, you’ll find breakfast and diner classics such as short stacks, omelets, burgers, and BLTs. There are also whimsical additions, particularly in the pancake selection. If you order the Monkey Business, you’ll be treated to peanut butter griddlecakes crowned with bananas, pecans, whipped cream, and a chocolate drizzle. In a creative mood? Conjure your very own griddlecake creation, by choosing from a variety of batters: peanut butter, red velvet, lemon blueberry, chocolate, protein oatmeal, and white chocolate raspberry.
When it comes to breakfast, savory options win my heart and stomach more often than not. And Griddlecakes has plenty of choices for me and my fellow savory seekers. The Garden Skillet, with its rainbow of vegetable ingredients, satisfies with textural mélange. This filling dish is my fallback and constant. I’ve ventured to omelets, but the skillet calls me back with its eggs, cheese, confetti-sized crunchy green peppers, silky mushrooms, salty onions, squishy tomatoes, and fresh spinach on a lush bed of potatoes.
On days when I’m feeling adventurous, I crave the Eggs Benedict Florentine. Here, the toasted English muffin, tomato slice, and spinach blanket all play excellent supporting roles. But the stars, beautiful and captivating, are the eggs and hollandaise sauce. Once the sturdy whites are pierced, the yolks spill out in gentle cascades coating and seeping into the layers below. The perfect bite mingles all of the ingredients with the smooth sauce, courting and teasing my taste buds with a tart tingle.
The other reason I choose to repeatedly patronize Griddlecakes—besides the dependable, delectable menu—is the steady and friendly service. No matter which server I have, the result is always the same. My waiter or waitress makes me feel welcome and valued. If I request hot sauce with my meal it’s brought promptly, every time. Without fail. To me, that level of consistent service speaks to the management’s ability to hire, inspire, and retain good people. Definitely not a given in any establishment, but even more rare in a restaurant.
So the next time you’re thinking about a Sunday-Funday destination, think about Griddlecakes. If your experience is anything like mine, it’ll start your day off right.
