Paul’s Pancake Parlor doesn’t brag about itself. Why should it? Todd and I have been there twice and it’s been packed both times. But it does tell it like it is: “All our batters are homemade.”

And what a selection of batters there is: chocolate chip, chocolate chip caramel, buckwheat, five kinds of rolled pancakes (on the crepes side of pancakes), and many more. Not to mention waffles, regular egg breakfasts, burgers, and sandwiches. And two kinds of desserts: pie, and pie à la mode.

I always feel happy about a place that declares, “Breakfast served all day.” As I’ve said before, staying open from dawn until dusk seems to be a Missoula tradition.Missoula restaurants, breakfast restaurantsOr that talks about great-grandmother’s sourdough starter.

On my first trip, I had the rolled Swedish pancakes with lingonberry butter. No syrup required.Missoula restaurants, breakfast restaurantsI declined to have them stuffed with cream cheese. As it was, I ate only two, and these “pancakes” are thinner than the regular ones so that they can be rolled.

On our second visit, I ordered an egg breakfast, and it was OK. The eggs and the hash browns both seemed a little undercooked. The bacon was purple and greasy, and I had 4 pieces, so I gave one to Todd. Turns out his “Western” omelet was a little different: it was filled with bacon. The onions and peppers and ham and cheese were on the wrapping, made of eggs. Missoula restaurants, breakfast restaurantsLet’s just say he didn’t lack for bacon that day. His order also included a stack of pancakes and a half-plate of fruit that the waitress was kind enough to re-plate for him. It looked neater before we started eating it.Missoula restaurants, breakfast restaurants, Beth's food photosI loved our waitress. She was beset by many tables but stayed calm. I flagged her down to get a cup of coffee, and then after I’d had two sips and she wanted to refill it, I said no. Her response: “Oh, sure, waving me down for coffee and now you don’t want any.” I didn’t say no after that.

The other thing I loved about Paul’s was the art on the walls, especially the sign for the mixer on the right below: Missoula restaurants, breakfast restaurants“Why beat it by hand?” has become the motto of our age. Why do anything by hand when you can get a computer chip to do it for you?

If you go to Paul’s, take friends and order several different kinds of pancakes. Reviews on Urbanspoon suggested the burgers were also good.
Paul's Pancake Parlor on Urbanspoon

Leave A Comment

  1. Claire Walter July 25, 2011 at 7:17 am - Reply

    IMHO, Missoula is Montana’s Boulder. University town. Lots of outdoor activities, notably in the nearby mountains. A lively downtown. A great park along the river — except that Missoula’s carousel is right downtown, while “Boulder’s” is up in Nederland. If I had eaten at Paul’s Place (the equivalent perhaps of Lucile’s??), I probably would have ordered the Swedish pancakes every time. They look THAT good.

  2. Beth Partin July 30, 2011 at 10:21 pm - Reply

    I think you’re right, Claire; there are many similarities. Don’t know if I would call Paul’s the equivalent of Lucile’s; perhaps Ruby’s Cafe in Missoula inspires the same community devolution as Lucile’s. I haven’t been there, but it does seem to be quite popular.

  3. Beth Partin August 2, 2011 at 7:48 am - Reply

    Yes, it was sweet. I’ve never tasted a lingonberry, so I don’t know if they’re naturally sweet.

  4. Claire Walter August 2, 2011 at 10:31 am - Reply

    Wild lingonberries are rather tart, even sour, which is the reason they are often used in sauces, compotes and jams that are, by definition, sweetened. I don’t know whether cultivated lingonberries are sweeter than wild.

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