I've lived in Portland now for 18 years and I've been hearing about the Original Pancake House at least that long. But I never made it there until now.

It was driving by it that got me. Even though it's in a house, it looks like a chain restaurant. Which of course, it is. So, why bother?

Then, Ali from Little Red Bike Cafe told me I really ought to go there. It's the Original Original Pancake House, after all, and I should have a dutch baby. So we tried to go there the next day, but TOPH is closed on Mondays.

Eventually, we got there at 6:50 in the morning, because we were told there was always a line unless you get there when they open. The enclosed porch was as quiet as a church full of people, all quietly reading newspapers or books.

At 7 am sharp, a waitress in a white blouse with a pink skirt invited us in. We grabbed a seat and were quickly served coffee, good coffee, much better than I was expecting. Nice!

The menu is huge: 7 omelets from $10.25-$12.25, 7 waffles ($8.25-$10.50), 7 crepes ($8.25-$10.50), 7 egg specialties (9-$11.50), and 21 different types of pancakes ($8.50-$10.75). So we ordered the Fresh Fruit Waffle ($10.50), a Dutch Baby ($10), and a side of breakfast sausage ($6 -- yes, it's the most expensive sausage I've ever ordered in a restaurant but there was plenty for two of us and it was really good -- but I'm getting ahead of myself).

The Fresh Fruit Waffle is lightly dusted with powered sugar, then topped with fresh fruit and freshly whipped cream. We were told the fruit was peaches, blueberries and blackberries. So both of us were astounded when it came to the table completely loaded down with fruit, with the whipped cream in its own bowl. This was quite possibly the most beautiful food item I had ever seen.

The Dutch Baby is oven baked, and it obviously rises and falls before hitting the table, so it looks like a big volcanic crater. It is served with whipped butter, lemon and powdered sugar. I had to ask the waitress how to prepare it (she told me syrup would ruin it), and then I followed her directions. You can make it as sweet, or as rich, as you'd like. I think that this may have been the best thing I've ever eaten, or at least, really really really good.

So this was not a cheap breakfast. It cost us about $30 for two folks, but we were both sated and happy, the service was great, and I've been scheming about how we can go back.