It didn’t begin as the Pancake Parlour. In 1965, inspired by a road trip in America, Roger and Helen Meadmore and their American partner, Alan Trachsel, opened The Pancake Kitchen in Gilbert Place, Adelaide. It seems the partnership didn’t go as planned and by 1969 Helen was married to Alan, Roger had moved to Sydney and the business in Adelaide was sold.  Helen and Alan started afresh in Melbourne, setting up a pancake restaurant in the CBD’s Market Lane. Because the Pancake Kitchen name was already registered in Victoria, they called their new venture The Pancake Parlour.

The couple brought with them their distinctive logo, known as the LOVELY! lady, designed by Adelaide artist Peter von Czarnecki. The image of a girl holding a fork was adapted from an old woodcut illustration in an advertisement for “Harleen for the Hair”. The fork replaced a comb in the original. Von Czarnecki also designed the Pancake Kitchen’s first menus and, later, many pieces of wall art for Pancake Parlour restaurants.

The original Melbourne Pancake Parlour operated for ten years and when it closed the Trachsels opened two new city outlets. A license was granted to a Ballarat restaurant, known as the Pancake Kitchen, in 1979, allowing it to use the LOVELY! lady logo. In 1984, the Pancake Parlour expanded further, opening its first 24-hour restaurant in the suburb of Doncaster, while a former manager of the original store opened a branch in Canberra. Then began the transition into shopping centres such as Highpoint and Northland.

The Monty Pythonesque artwork and steam-punk sculptures made the Pancake Parlour pretty cool in its early days. And it was a cheap way to eat out. Even in the 1980s, prices were very reasonable. In 1987, the Canberra Parlour offered entrees for $4.30 to $5.10, mains for $4.90 to $9.50, and drinks for $1.30. Fast forward to 2024 and the prices are a bit more daunting. The cheapest thing on the menu, a Short Stack, is $17.80. Chicken Parmigiana, which includes ham, cheese, house-made napoli (and, presumably, chicken), atop a potato, herb and onion pancake, with cottage fries and salad will set you back $36.50. The extras are pricey, too—$ 4.40 for sour cream and $4.50 for house-made sweet chilli. On top of that, there’s a 10% surcharge on weekends and a 15% surcharge on public holidays.

As of mid-2024, The Pancake Parlour has 13 restaurants in Victoria, mostly in suburban Melbourne. The Canberra one has gone, having severed ties with the franchise and renamed itself  Capital Pancakes in 2018 and closed for good during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In the 1980s, there were some associated restaurants in New South Wales, including at Pagewood and Parramatta, although the term “pancake parlour” seems to have been adopted as a generic description by other establishments. In Brisbane, there remained the Pancake Manor, started by Roger Meadmore and using a logo very similar to that of the Victorian chain.

The Pancake Parlour serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. Some restaurants are open 24/7 while others are constrained by the opening hours of their shopping centre locations. And despite some negative reviews, it has many fans. Especially in winter, when everything’s half-price if the temperature falls below 10 degrees.

If you’re craving for pancakes or just anything you feel like (sweet savoury combo) this is the place. And they’re open 24/7! The interior hasn’t been changed, still the same cozy and very chill vibe which I personally like. Great place to hangout with friends and family. Lovely staff! My personal favourite is the Banana split and their protein pancakes! Right now, during this season, their winter parlour is back! If the weather falls to 10 degrees or lower you can enjoy their winter menu for 50% off. But of course T&C’s apply. Just check them out!

Or, as the founders would say, “LOVELY!”