If you ask a Pittsburgher where to find best pancakes in the city, the answer most likely would be, “At Pamela’s.”
It’s a signature breakfast diner of the ‘Burgh, which would, for sure, impress any pancake connoisseur with its buttery crepe-thin flapjacks… a mountain of whip creme on top and its genuine Pittsburgh diner feel. Ask Barack Obama. He was there in 2008, on a campaign visit — just goes to show you: it’s not some sort of a dinky place.
First Lady Michelle Obama cleaned up her plate at Pamela’s in 2009, while Obama, already the president, was “resentful he didn’t get to Pamela’s.” But people understood, he must have gotten too busy solving world’s economic problems with other world leaders during the G-20 Summit happening in Pittsburgh at the time (If you remember, there were plenty of those… economic problems that is). Owners of Pamela’s are not shy about their accomplishment: “Since 1980 we’ve been serving the best breakfast in Pittsburgh,” they announce on their website. Translation: Pamela’s. Is. The. Best. (Sorry, Weight Watchers).
Not just because of the best breakfast though. Pamela’s diner has been on the Pittsburgh market for more than 30 years, which means that it was part of the ‘Burgh when it was not so cool. To top it off, Pamela’s, although it’s now considered a chain diner, is locally owned. AND the owners are two successful women, who came up with a concept of a quintessential Pittsburgh breakfast place in 1979. The official name of Pamela’s is Pamela’s P&G Diner, or, P&G’s Pamela’s Diner where “P&G” stands for first-name initials of the owners, Pam Cohen, the mastermind behind the kitchen, and Gail Klingensmith, the entrepreneurial spirit behind the venture.
The first Pamela’s opened in Squirrel Hill. Business was doing well. Today there are six Pamela’s in the Pittsburgh area: in Shadyside, Oakland, Millvale, Mt. Lebanon, the Strip District and the flagship location.
The Wall Street Journal recently listed visiting Pamela’s as one of the “things to do” in Pittsburgh. Do it.
Need to open one in cranberry township. No good breakfast/ lunch places in this growing area
You should have gone back a little farther and mentioned the diner started as Papa Joes in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. One of the original greasy spoons and lunch stop.
Agreed. Papa Joe was actually Pamela’s uncle and he left her the reigns… The pancakes were unchanged from the original Papa Joe’s recipe. So there .. ;)
Historical correction from the Pam Fam: Pamela’s was Papa Joes, but it was established by Pamela’s father and managed by her cousin. Pam’s grandfather was Papa Joe. Shortly after graduating college, Pam & Gail “bought” him out and they “created” the crepe pancakes and changed/altered the menu. Interesting tidbit is Pamela’s father did NOT like the crepe-like cakes. My dad and cousin could NOT cook. Pam, Gail, and my other sisters (Jennifer at P&G In Millvale; Rise & Maria at Nu in Sq Hill: Luisa at LeFeria in Shadyside) are fantastic cooks and becoming a “tourist trap” just happened after years of hard work and local recognition.
[…] Hill is the place where mobs of folks flood every weekend for pancakes and hash from Pamela’s—a tourist trap, for sure, where presidents and celebrities make pilgrimage when visiting […]
[…] Squirrel Hill, mobs of folks flood every weekend for pancakes and hash from Pamela’s, where presidents and celebrities make pilgrimages when visiting Pittsburgh. Yes, it’s a tourist […]