Its in our special batter, says Elbow Room Café co-owner Brian Searle. And if the size looks right, we take it off the grill and serve it to the customer.
Searle is describing the Big Ass Pancakes, one of the signature dishes at his playfully attitude-laden and iconic Vancouver breakfast eatery. Started more than 30 years ago, Searle and his partner originally had the café at 720 Jervis Street, a now demolished heritage house and home to the first mayor of Vancouver.
Theyre not those thin ones you see everywhere, he continues, and you can have them either six inches or 12 inches with a whole lot of different toppings.
So what does Searle credit the longevity of the Elbow Room to?
Having fun with our customers, abusing our customers, taking care of our customers and giving them good food, he says quickly. Thats the bottom line.
While known as a dining mainstay in the Vancouver gay community, Searle says the Elbow Room is for everyone, and their priority is building relationships with their customers.
We treat everybody the same, he says. We dont care if youre gay, straight, bent, buggered or bewildered.
Searle admits, however, that the restaurant is significant in the local gay community.
We gave the first pancake breakfast to the first Pride Parade, he says. It was in Nelson Park and there were only about 200 people there it was very different from now.
The Elbow Room moved from its original location after the land was sold to high-rise developers. Fifteen years later, they moved to the current location on Davie Street and acquired a third partner in Soheil Sadri. Ironically, the land that the Davie Street location sits on has also been sold to developers, making the future somewhat uncertain.
Thats the way Vancouvers going its really unfortunate, Searle says. Its taking away from some really good areas.
Searle says he cannot believe the Elbow Room is still a restaurant three decades later.
We never thought about how long it would last and I didnt think we would go this long, he says. If youre having fun and enjoying it, you just keep going and we really love it.
