Pamela's Diner in Millvale

At last count, there are 6 different "Pamela's" in the Pittsburgh area, all with awesome breakfast selections, and all with different ambiance. Sounds like they are a chain, but really I think they take over existing locations and share certain menu items. I can't back that up, not being native to Pittsburgh, but they all seem so different. This one in Millvale (right outside Pittsburgh) is half diner and half drug store. The sign on the front window says "Lincoln's P&G" but the menus are clearly Pamela's.

All the parking is off street - we got lucky and found rock star parking (the black Jeep is husband's baby). It was around 10am when we arrived, and we waited in line 10-15 minutes to be seated. A very popular place! [So popular, in fact, this is where Michelle Obama ate when she came to Pittsburgh during their 2008 campaign.] It really has the feel of early 20th century with lots of woodwork and high ceilings (although the music playing in the restaurant today seemed to be all 80's hits like John Cougar and Cindy Lauper...)

The specialty of all the Pamela's restaurants are their crepe pancakes. It's a good thing I don't have the recipe, because I'm sure I would be tempted to make these things every day. They just melt in your mouth. My favorite which seems to be found at all locations are the strawberry hotcakes: crepe hotcakes stuffed with fresh strawberries, brown sugar, sour cream and topped with whipped cream. YUMMY! But today, I decided to pass on all that sugar, and just went for their French Toast & bacon (which arrived pretty burnt) and husband wanted to try it all, so he picked the "Big Lincoln" consisting of eggs, sausage, famous hotcakes and signature lyonnaise potatoes. How can I describe the potatoes - not typical fried hash brown type, kind of creamy with maybe onion or pepper to give it some taste. And the sausage links were okay, but definitely better than siesage (see Quiet Storm post).

We didn't feel right lingering at our table too long after eating, as the line continued to form, so instead we enjoyed a little shopping in the old-time drug store. It had a cute selection of dime store items to complement both the restaurant and the pharmacy.

And how about this creepy mannequin who points the way to the bathrooms ?!?

No doubt we'll be visiting the other Pamela's Diners sometime in our Saturday Breakfast adventures to come, but none can compare to this neat place. To top off our delicious morning, there is an excellent French bakery across the street, and we picked up some amazing treats for later!