Tossing it into the air takes skill, so leave the foolproof flipping to local chefs. They go beyond dishing out plain hotcakes by presenting savory gourmet creations and decadently sweet concoctions.
Made with inventive ingredients ranging from gluten-free flour to infinite layers of crisp bacon, these ten options will give other pancakes a run for their money.
Amour de Miami
921 Brickell Ave., Miami305-377-8811
amourdemiami.com
At Amour de Miami, French chef Jonathan Miccoli uses his grandmother's recipe of milk, butter, white flour, eggs, and vanilla extract to create a moist, fluffy pancake/crepe hybrid. The simple, sweet pancakes are served plain ($6) or come topped with Nutella ($2 additional), whipped cream ($1.50 additional), and/or caramel ($2 additional). Options of mango, strawberry, banana, and other fruits can be mixed into the batter and diced as toppings for an extra $2. Amour de Miami also serves a pancake burger: two beef patties sandwiched between three pancakes layered with cheddar cheese, homemade tartar sauce, and an egg sunny side up ($24.50). Served daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
B Bistro + Bakery
600 Brickell Ave., Miami305-330-6310
bbistromiami.com
Chef Henry Hanés's pancakes are an homage to Latin America's quintessential savory and sweet combination of cheese and guava paste. For his pastelito version of the dish, egg whites are whipped into a meringue and then mixed with flour and milk to create a light and fluffy batter. For every order, three pancakes are layered with a rich mousse of cream cheese and heavy cream charged with nitrous dioxide. The finished product is studded with guava cubes and a vanilla cookie crumble and served with brown-butter-laced maple syrup ($18). Served daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chug's
3444 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove786-534-8722
chugsdiner.com
Chug's cast-iron-skillet pancake is a simple, sweet way to start your day. Cooking the buttermilk batter in slow-clarified butter over moderately low heat ensures each pancake turns a perfect golden brown with a lightly crisp bite, making it the perfect vehicle for warm maple syrup. A clever drizzle of butter kicks this dish up a notch ($5.99). Served Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, the pancake costs $2.
Eating House
804 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables305-448-6524
eatinghousemiami.com
Head to Eating House on the weekend to savor its star dish: Cap'n Crunch pancakes ($14). Created by Chopped champion Giorgio Rapicavoli, these flapjacks come covered in vanilla butter, condensed-milk syrup, and candied cereal. Expect each doughy bite to include a loud crunch and a sweet finish. The pancakes are also available at the restaurant's stall at Time Out Market. Served Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Coral Gables location and Sunday only at Time Out Market.
Essensia
3025 Collins Ave., Miami Beach305-908-5458
thepalmshotel.com
Gluten-free pancakes can be just as delicious as the classic version. The key to Essensia's iteration is quinoa, which adds protein, iron, fiber, and beneficial antioxidants to the nutritional value of the dish. Poppyseeds are also sprinkled into the mixture for extra flavor and crunch. Served for breakfast and brunch, three savory pancakes are topped with ricotta, blueberries, and a handful of grated mint for extra dimension. Pure maple syrup comes on the side just in case you want to add a dose of sweetness to your healthful meal ($16). Served Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Icebox Cafe
1855 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach305-538-8448
iceboxcafe.com
Robert Siegmann mixes finely grated lemon zest into whatever foods he can, including his signature pancake batter. "It adds layers of flavors to everything," Icebox Cafe's owner says. After experimenting with recipes for a year, he added his lemon ricotta pancakes to the Miami Beach restaurant's menu in 2015, and they've been a hit ever since. Served with a whipped cream–and–cream cheese blend, wood-smoked bacon, and a side of maple syrup, the pancake is crisp on the edges and fluffy in the middle — just the way a good flapjack should be ($15). Turn it into a hearty meal by adding two eggs for $4. Available weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lilikoi Organic Living
500 S. Pointe Dr., Miami Beach305-763-8692
lilikoiorganicliving.com
Using sourdough instead of white flour in these pancakes makes them especially satisfying. Chef Manuel Torterola's pancakes are also light and fluffy, as is the housemade organic Nutella they are crowed with. The bananas and coconut whipped cream will make you feel extra good about eating them ($12). Served daily from 8 to 11: 30 a.m.
Novecento
Various locationsnovecento.com
Crispy bacon added to all layers of these soft hotcakes makes them the ultimate decadent breakfast option. There's bacon in the buttermilk batter, candied bacon all around them, and the maple syrup is also bacon-laced. Sweet and savory at once, the pancakes are served daily at all Novecento locations ($14). Served Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
8405 Mills Dr., Miami305-630-3844
8551 NW 53rd St., Doral
786-535-9154
piscoynazca.com
On Saturdays and Sundays for brunch, Pisco y Nazca serves a signature Peruvian take on flapjacks. Pancakes here are made with alfajores, traditional Latin milk-and-sugar sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche, which are crumbled into the batter. The creamy, sticky treats come in a trio, topped with a layer of dulce de leche in place of caramel and served with fruit salad and whipped cream ($9). Served Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Verde
1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami305-375-3000
pamm.org
Verde's executive chef Hedy Goldsmith adds an elegant touch to a plain stack of buttermilk pancakes. Fluffy and not too sweet, they are perfect for catching special, seasonal toppings of blueberry basil compote, lemon curd, and creme fraiché. Candied lemon adds a lovely citrus zest ($14). Served Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
