One of Alex’s old college chums tipped us the night prior after our Chicago show about a popular Chicago based breakfast chain called Walker Bros., a franchise inspired by The Original Pancake House founded in Portland, OR back in the ’50s (which the famed food critic and chef James Beard named one of the top 10 best in America!). That in conjunction with my unhealthy obsession with 60s pop act The Walker Brothers was enough to solidify our breakfast plans for the next morning.

I’m usually fairly skeptical of chain restaurants but the ambiance at Walker Bros. was more akin to a classy mom and pop than your standard Waffle House or Dennys. We immediately ordered a round of 8 much needed coffees, which to my delight was some of the best diner coffee i’ve ever had.

My brother bravely ordered the item that put Walker Bros. on the map: The Apple Pancake. “Just one pancake?” you may be asking yourself. Any more than one of these would be a one way ticket to diabetes city. Hardly a pancake at all, Walker Bro’s idea of an “Apple Pancake” is a 2 inch tall apple fritter the size of a large dinner plate caked in a cinnamon/sugar glaze, the whole thing caramelized to crispy perfection. Let the sugar coma begin…

The other item that jumped out to us for obvious reasons was the Bacon Pancakes. As bacon and maple is probably the most delectable pairing of flavors know to the human palate, I knew immediately what i’d be ordering. The bacon bits were spread evenly and generously throughout the 6 pancakes and cooked to absolute perfection. I can safely say that baconless pancakes will never be satisfying again.

-Christoph

The Depreciation Guild’s Guide to Road Food: “Introduction” (Entry 1)

The Depreciation Guild’s Guide to Road Food: “Have Your Cake and Drink It Too” (Entry 2)

The Depreciation Guild’s Guide to Road Food: “This Love Is Pho-King Right” (Entry 3)

The guys from The Depreciation Guild stop by a Chicago diner chain for pancakes and pancake.