Breakfast News

The Pancake Kitchen by Cracker Barrel delivers pancakes to Dallas all day

The confetti pancakes on the left look especially scrumptious.

Photo courtesy of Cracker Barrel

There's a familiar restaurant name now delivering pancakes to your door: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, the family-dining restaurant chain, has launched a virtual concept called The Pancake Kitchen by Cracker Barrel, and it delivers breakfast all day.

The concept was first introduced in Los Angeles in 2021, and is now expanding to more than 100 Cracker Barrel locations in 2022, bringing it to 200 locations across the U.S., including Dallas-Fort Worth.

The Pancake Kitchen will serve pancakes and other breakfast favorites for delivery and pickup via DoorDash and Uber Eats.

The menu includes pancakes in five varieties:

buttermilk
blueberry
pecan
confetti
chocolate chip

Non-pancake options include biscuit beignets, a hash brown casserole, and a loaded hash brown casserole topped with diced ham and cheddar cheese. There's also bacon and sausage, and a side of fried apples, good on a pancake or good as a side.

The bestseller is the Classic Pancakes Bundle, with three pancakes and "100 percent pure natural syrup" - notice they don't say it's maple. It's $11.69.

In a statement, Cracker Barrel's Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation Matthew Schaefer says that these items are some of the chain's most popular items.

"The expansion of The Pancake Kitchen by Cracker Barrel is part of our plan to make it as easy and convenient as possible for guests to enjoy one of our most popular homestyle breakfast favorites – whether they want pancakes at breakfast, lunch or dinner time!" Schaefer says. "As the trend in online ordering and partnership with on-demand delivery platforms continues, we are excited to evolve our strategy and offerings to ensure our guests are able to satisfy their cravings for 'pancakes all flippin' day™'."

Wow, they even trademarked that phrase, smart thinking.

Cracker Barrel began investing in digital concepts in October 2021, starting with Chicken 'n Biscuits, its first virtual brand, which is now available in 500 locations across the U.S., including more than a dozen locations around Dallas-Fort Worth. The company also operates Cracker Barrel Kitchen, the anchor brand for these ghost kitchen outposts.

Beginning February 26, while supplies last, those who spend $20 on pancakes will get a free order of Biscuit Beignets, which consists of buttermilk biscuit dough, deep-fried then tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with butter pecan sauce for dipping.

The locations in Texas where it's currently available are as follows:

Allen: 1323 N. Central Expy.
Benbrook: 8010 SW Loop 820
Buda: 550 Old San Antonio Rd.
Corpus Christi: 4229 South Padre Island Dr.
Denton: 4008 N I-35
Desoto: 1421 N Interstate 35 E
Grapevine: 2700 Grapevine Mills Pkwy
League City: 231 Gulf Freeway South
Lubbock: 5018 Milwaukee Ave.
Mesquite: 5304 N. Galloway Ave.
Midland: 3108 N Loop 250 West
San Antonio: 11030 I H 10 W
Temple: 3687 S General Bruce Dr.

The Pancake Kitchen is available from 8 am-9 pm daily.

breakfast

Deep Ellum News

Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas

Mama Por Dios

A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas: Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St., taking over the former La Neta space, which shuttered in May.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in early to mid-January.

Mama Por Dios was founded in Southern California in 2020 by chef Misael Guerrero, who famously got his start selling Mexican sushi out of his garage.

Since those early days, he's gone on to form a restaurant empire called Emme Group, with concepts that include Los Amores de Julia, El Rincon de Los Dolidos, and Culichi Town, a lower-priced chain known for Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi & seafood, which has a local presence: It opened a location in Mesquite in 2022.

Mama Por Dios — which translates to "Mother of God" — describes itself as modern Mexican, offering a unique blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood. The menu includes favorites like tacos and enchiladas, alongside luxe dishes like lobster with spaghetti, lobster enchiladas, and a surf & turf featuring a lobster tail balanced atop a skirt steak. Prices range from $18 for birria tacos to $48 for a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

But they also have a showy side that includes flamboyant presentations such as the bacon-wrapped shrimp which come strung on clothespins; or the trompito al pastor, served on a personal spit, as well as servers who walk around with shots while dancing with patrons.

There's a Gold Burger for $65 featuring Prime beef on a brioche bun garnished with 24k gold leaf, and a similarly gilded tomahawk steak for $400 that brings to mind the good old days of Salt Bae. Decor is swanky with low lighting, and there'll be a serious brunch offering on weekends.

Cocktails such as the Al Agua Pato — served in a mini bathtub with a rubber ducky — are made for Instagram. They offer margarita and mezcalita flights with flavors such as mango, tamarindo, and strawberry, and intriguing sips like Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail with Licor 43, espresso, and 43 different fruit, citrus, aromatic, and herbal ingredients.

There’s also a $20 per-person minimum spend, and the menu comes with a warning that everything is cooked to order — meaning some dishes may take 30 to 40 minutes. For many diners, waiting will surely be part of the experience.

deep-ellum tex-mex openings