Waffle House-A Scattered, Smothered, and Covered Experience

What if I told you I drove from Jersey to the Waffle House and back the other day just for breakfast? I didn’t get caught up in any of that DC Beltway congestion and didn't even stop for fireworks.

Why not just go to a diner? 

Legit question but I was in the mood for something very specific- shoestring-cut hash browns, scattered over a sizzling griddle, smothered in grilled onions, covered with melted cheese and salty chunks of country ham. Thanks to what I can only assume was an army of kitchen cleaver wielding guys named Yiorgos, Dmitris and Nic back in the day, the iconic Southern chain never stood a chance of crossing into the Northeast when the chain expanded outside of Georgia. So, when I found out that there was one just off Rt 78 in Bethlehem PA, 9-miles over the Delaware River, I knew I had to take the short road trip.

Southern Roots

The Waffle House was started as a standalone restaurant in 1955 by two neighbors Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers Sr in their hometown Avondale Estates, Georgia. Rogers worked at the Toddle House, an existing 24/7 restaurant chain with a similar blueprint- cookie cutter spots, serving quality breakfast and a keen focus on service. Other locations quickly opened across the Peach State as word of their scrumptious sweet, cream waffles spread. 70 years later and Waffle House has over 1,900 locations slingin’ T-Bone steak & eggs and sides of grits across 25 states, predominantly concentrated in the Southeast. My sister lives in Warner Robins, slap dab in the middle of the Ga, and there are 3 locations in that one town. Southerners love their round-the-clock waffles. It's hardly the micro-local content I usually cover, but I can’t think of another chain that better represents Southern breakfast culture and the fact that it's creeping its way North, I figured I'd save on the gas money.

Northern Exposure

Up until this trip, every Waffle House I’ve ever visited was in the South, so pulling into one off a highway exit in Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania felt like a glitch in the simulation. The juxtaposition of parking under the shadow of the classic yellow and black Scrabble-letter sign next to cars with Dorney Park bumper stickers and Keystone State license plates made me feel like I was in the middle of a poorly architected Inception dream. But that changed the moment I pulled open the door. The sugary waft of syrup and freshly brewed joe, the yolk streaked, laminated menus sitting on a recently vacated booth immediately transported me to Dixieland. There's something uncannily "familiar" with every location; red backed booths, tiny counter stools sprouting from the tiled floor and a gang of condiments fighting for top billing in the tightly packed condiment holder.

The waffle gets all the bragging rights though admittedly I never get one. I've also never had a cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory. (shout out Chris) The All-Star Special consisting of 2 eggs, toast, choice of meat and waffle with grits or hash browns is always reliable. But like I said when I started this story, I was there for the Hash Browns -smothered, covered and chunked. If you know, you know.

Listen, I grew up in the Diner Capital of the World, and if you ask me who I'm saving, falling from a cliff, I'm stepping on Waffle's fingers while throwing diner to safety no doubt about it, but I would really miss those taters.

Quick Facts: There's a free Waffle House Museum in Decatur Georgia complete with a 1950's replica of the restaurant; a fun journey back in time. And did you know that from 1964-1967, Waffle House sold Chic Fil A sandwiches well before they became the "it" fast food sandwich. Oh, and apparently, they have a pretty tasty lunch and dinner menu, I've yet to try.