One morning, I spotted a massive line that piled outside a small cafe on the corner of Brawley and Fig Garden Drive in west Fresno. My brother, having recently moved around the area, was familiar with the cafe’s famous pancakes. He recommended that I should try the restaurant, Batter up Pancakes, thinking it would appeal to my taste.
Batter Up Pancakes is family-owned by Becci and Jeff Colla, who also own Great Harvest Bread Company. The business started with a passion to cook homemade food for their community, specifically pancakes.
“I made buttermilk pancakes for my wife and kids every Sunday for 27 years,” Jeff said. “My kids’ friends always spent the night on Saturday so they could get the pancakes the next morning. One of their friends liked bananas, chocolate chips and oatmeal in their pancakes, which was an inspiration for a pancake.”
Passing by the quaint eatery, a huge sign displaying the clever name caught my attention, as the logo was a little boy holding a spatula like a baseball bat. This distinct logo was created with the Collas’ grandson in mind.
On the outside, newspaper clippings and pictures boasting Batter Up’s name were taped all over the windows, making me feel certain that this would be a worthwhile breakfast stop.
Walking in, the beige interior surprisingly resembled a living room more than a cafe. Casual wall decorations and table settings created a comfortable and relaxing feel. Unlike usual restaurants, the customer walks up and places the order to a cashier, who delivers the meal to a table.
Clear screens showed off the huge griddle that cooks the delicious pancakes that Batter Up Pancakes serves every day.
Batter Up offers various pancakes, starting with the classic buttermilk to the blue cornmeal pancake filled with eggs, bacon, sausage, avocado, sauteed mushrooms, onions and spinach. With such large quantities and dozens of options, Batter Up goes through 50 gallons of buttermilk and 200-300 pounds of pancake mix a week.
In addition to the unique twist on common pancakes, Batter Up also offer a contest, called the Grand Slam Challenge. For the contest, one person must eat 10 eggs and diced potatoes on a 25-oz. pancake with three different melted cheeses in less than 45 minutes without leaving their seat. If someone completes this, Batter Up will reimburse the money spent and give away a T-shirt and mug, as well as posting a picture of the winner on the wall.
As I approached the cashier, a small laminated menu sat on the counter featuring items like omelets, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, french toast and pancakes, their speciality, all ranging from about $5-10.
Also, build-your-own options to all the entrees were available. All of the meals were creatively named after friends of the Collas or baseball related items.
I ordered “The Nina,” which consisted of two huge 12-inch buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips, bananas and oats mixed in, and a small cup of orange juice for about $12.
Sitting down, I noticed the wall was decorated with witty quotes and Bible verses, reminding me of my grandmother’s house. The sizzling sound of food being made set a serene tone in the eatery. Adding to the homey feel, a cute kids’ corner with a chalkboard was available for use.
The friendly waitress’ question concerning if I would want to order anything else seemed like it should have been sarcastic, since my two pancakes were huge when she brought them out. Judging by the size of them, I would not need to order anymore food for a while.
The two monstrous pancakes took up the whole plate. They came steaming hot and slathered with butter. On the table, a variety of flavored syrups made it hard to choose just one.
After pouring a river of maple syrup over them, I dug in. The sweet-smelling steam rose to my face, making my mouth water. Taking a bite, the chocolate chips were the first thing I tasted. The oats added a chewy texture, while the bananas added a nice, clean taste. All these different textures and tastes combined to create an awesome pancake.
Although I was very hungry when I came in, after eating half of the first filling pancake, I could not finish the rest. Even though it was one of the best pancakes I have had, the large portion was overwhelming. Those who decide to eat at Batter Up must make sure that they have enough willpower to resist eating the whole dish.
For a good breakfast and a terrific family atmosphere, Batter Up Pancakes serves the best you can get. Batter Up Pancakes is located on 4025 W. Figarden Dr., and can be reached at (559) 438-1221.
For more food reviews, visit the Feb. 24 article, MaRoo features traditional Asian fare.
