Lunch Break: An Ode To Waffle House
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County
The golden block letters glowing in the distance of every road trip, late-night fiasco, or meeting place are those that I and many Midwesterners have grown fond of. The smell of something perpetually burning and a mix of something deliciously sweet lingers outside of the beautiful brick buildings that are one of America's foundational restaurants. Although I enjoy trying new restaurants for this column, Waffle House remains my favorite place to grab breakfast, whether it be in the morning, night, or afternoon. However, for me, it’s usually around 1:00 a.m.
Unlike IHOP, Denny’s, or other 24-hour breakfast competitors, Waffle House creates a haven for teenagers, theater kids, party animals, families, old folks, and everyone in between. The beauty of Waffle House lies primarily in its nostalgic ambiance. Waffle Houses are built on memories. I learn something new about the establishment whenever I return to a Waffle House. For example, like many bars and dives, Waffle House has a touch-tune jukebox. The difference between Waffle House and your usual gritty hangout is that the usual calm and somewhat awkward silence allows your touch-tune selection to cater to your very own main character moment. If you’ve just hopped out of your car with your parents, siblings, and three bags of fast-food trash on your way home from a crazy family vacation, you may opt for slyly playing “Stuck in The Middle” by Steelers Wheel on the loudspeakers. If you just stumbled in with a corsage still grasping for dear life tethered to your wrist and a ringing in your ears, a souvenir of your final high school prom, you might play “Toungetied” by Grouplove and watch as your friends who you have known since elementary, share one last real meal together. No matter the situation, with five dollars, you can create a scene you’ll remember forever. Recently, I learned that the ever-so-mysterious Waffle House has its own album released on Spotify, as well as touch tunes. Naturally, upon each Waffle House visit with my closest friend, she spends a dollar just to play the not-so-classic “Raisins in my Toast,” a Waffle House special to the tune of the famous “Sherry” By Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
Waffle House cannot come up in conversation without the words “Do you remember that time?” following close behind. The magic of Waffle House is that you somehow always leave with a story. The time a lonely old man chatted your ear off for so long that you ordered another side of raisin bread. The same guy who simultaneously made you think about life from a new perspective. The time you had one last breakfast before your best friend caught a flight to pursue a career where you aren't sure if you’ll see her in the next few months or years. The time nobody could agree on a place to eat where everyone would be happy, on New Year's Eve, until someone mentioned Waffle House.
The famous and inexpensive eatery hosts a memory and menu item for everyone. Even the pickiest of eaters, the cheese haters, and those with a toddler appetite find solace in a plain waffle, chocolate milk, hashbrowns, or grilled cheese. I would even go as far as to say that the cooking viewership is comparable to a Sakai experience. The cooks are always happy to show you the bacon they burnt so that you know why your side is taking extra long to remake. They grill your cheese exactly how you like it with a never-fading smile and offer you extra chocolate chips to go with your waffle. On my latest Waffle House trip, I learned that they even have their own sauce. Although I wasn’t brave enough to try it, it was an orange, mayonnaise-like condiment I had never heard about before. However, I always have a Waffle House coffee when I make the exciting journey to the establishment. Something about their freshly brewed black coffee kicks the basic pumpkin spice-loving girl right out of me. When I am handed a Waffle House coffee, I transform into a woman or maybe a 1930s detective. The unbeatable smooth taste is enjoyable without cream or sugar, and if you happen to have some strange visit to a Waffle House where a core memory isn't made, the coffee alone will make the trip worth it.
Waffle House isn't just a house or a restaurant, but a home. The popular breakfast chain holds a special place in my heart and in the hearts of many. There is where it is smothered and covered in fond memories and love.
There is a Waffle House located at 380 E. National Rd., Vandalia.