Crêpe or Pancake or… (DeDutch) Pannekoeken!

DeDutch
Several locations across Metro Vancouver.

Unlike a lot of people, I almost never skip breakfast. About the only reason I do so would be if I wake up really late (read: after 9:00 a.m., which almost never happen). And, if by any chance that happens, most probably it will be a brunch. As for the breakfast itself, more often than not it is cereal + milk/yoghurt + some fruit (banana, blueberry, et al). Being a long weekend, I decided to do something different, in this case, DeDutch.

Actually, this is the back-entrace from the Burnaby location.

Decoration was simple. Oddly, no window facing outside…

Some decoration of the dining area. It felt as if it was made of wood rather than plastic!

Based on the pictures above, it is pretty obvious I would have a hard time taking pictures. There was way too much yellow. And, oh, the restaurant wasn’t empty, instead, I was seated in the empty area, there were 4 couples on the other side and, just before I left, there was a family (of six) occupying the tables at the back.

Although I have walked by a couple of DeDutch (mainly the one in Robson Street, as well as the one near Knight and Kingsway), I have never been into it. Since the one in Robson Street was never open for dinner (or at least as I remembered it), in my mind, this was mostly a breakfast place. So, somehow, in my mind was pancakes… However, to my surprise that was not necessarily the case. They serve something called pannekoeken which, as I was explained, is “something in between a pancake and a crepe”. Well, I am always up to try anything new so, that’s what I ordered!

First, my drink, grapefruit juice. Wish it was red grapefruit and had a bit of pulp. $3.50(!)

“The Canadian” pannekoeken. $13.

“The Canadian” pannekoeken “features a traditional Pannekoek served with our special De Bakon, two “Born 3″ Eggs and a jug of genuine Canadian Maple Syrup“. First the eggs, I asked for sunny side up, though I was expecting it to be fried on one side only. Anyway, it was your usual egg, not too much to comment about.

Close-up of the butter, tomato and bacon

The slices of tomatoes, well, it was just OK, not too much to talk about. The bacon… I found it underdone and overdone at the same time. Underdone in the sense it was not crispy and overdone in the sense it was no Canadian bacon (i.e., did not feel meat-y enough). The butter… OK, I tried a little bit but I found it unnecessary. Finally, the maple syrup (not included in the previous picture). It was tasty, though I found it a bit too runny. Maybe a mix of maple syrup and something else?

Close-up of the pannekoeken, notice the “thickness” of it.

Finally, the key element, the pannekoeken… Based on the description given to me, it was quite accurate, i.e., a hybrid between a crepe and a pancake. Was not that sweet but that’s why you have the maple syrup, right? If found out the best way to eat this version was a bit of the runny egg with some maple syrup and then fold it. Again, no butter necessary. Of course, the bacon completely aside.

Overall, it was a good experience. The waitress was attentive yet not intrusive. However, past that initial experience, I am not sure if I really want to go back. Most probably because I did not feel the pannekoeken was unique enough. Too similar to a crepe, not fluffy like a pancake and, to stretch it a little bit, not crispy as a waffle. May I go for something else? Probably but, then again, looking again at the menu, past the pannekoeken, they do not offer anything you can’t find anywhere else.