IHOP is like Denny’s melancholy older brother. Both serve up the same greasy breakfast fare, but IHOP feels just a little bit more depressing somehow. I suppose it’s due to the lack of claw toy machines in the lobby.

Located at 5137 Kingsway, just East of Metrotown, IHOP #0311 in Burnaby is much like any of the other IHOP franchises I’ve visited. It’s the kind of place that I find myself when I can’t think of anywhere more exciting to dine. There is absolutely nothing remarkable about the Kingsway IHOP.

Saddled off a big commercial strip on Kingsway, this IHOP is clean, drab, and has ample parking. The wait staff are pleasant, and save time by dropping off a big thermos of coffee on your table rather than coming back to refill it. You have to hand it to IHOP – they know breakfast. The food comes fast, and the syrup is already on your table (yes, all four varieties of it). When you are ready to pay, just pay at the front counter- don’t bother waiting around for your server to coddle you. On weekends, every ounce of efficiency helps, as this place gets packed.

Menu selections at IHOP are far from exciting. While the kids menu does feature a pancake with a large happy face on it – other items simply leave nothing to the imagination, and dinner and lunch specials such as the “Breast of Chicken” or “Tantalizing T–Bone” are best avoided.

Pancake plates don’t come cheap – most cost upwards of $10 with tax and tip, and portions aren’t exceptional. What your meal lacks in pancake quantity, it certainly makes up for in whipped topping. My plate sported a fine hat of whipped white stuff larger than a baseball. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

There’s always some sort of good deal going on at IHOP. Usually if you come early enough there’s a $2 special. You’ll also be able to rub elbows with a lively assortment of aged local characters that hit up the ‘HOP early.

Address:
IHOP (International House of Pancakes)
5137 Kingsway (Royal Oak & Kingsway),
Burnaby BC
(604) 451-5557

www.ihop.com

A thought that pervades most when thinking about food courts is that once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. In the case of Metrotown, I’ll admit that this is true- but only to an extent.

The fact is the Metrotown food court (and if you live in Vancouver and go shopping it’s likely you’ve been here- I’m not sure why we’re reviewing it, actually) is a very grand food court- far grander than the food courts of other malls in BC. I’ve not ventured to West Edmonton Mall, but I imagine that it too is grand.

At the Metrotown Food Court there is magic in the air, and not because The Disney Store up the way is playing its music too loudly. There is magic because there is selection. If you want it- it’s bound to be there. Now you can’t be unreasonable and seek out something like sturgeon roe on melba toast, but if you’re in the mood for, say, Thai, you can have Thai food as there’s bound to be a Thai kiosk. There is also a Korean place. It’s quite something, actually.

I enjoyed some splendid calamari on Caesar (yet another restaurant with Caesar salad- and even less forgivable because it was Greek!) from Opa!, which is, in my opinion, probably the greatest fast food joint known to man. Yet, had I wanted to indulge more internationally, I could have had some sushi, paired with the calamari. Screw the fusion trend- just order two dishes; it’s not like you have to walk far. If you would like to revert back to the standard, thumb sucking comfort of the known, you can always go to A&W or Burger King. A step up in the adventure: Arby’s (there’s so much beef!).

Address:

604-4720 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC
604-438-4700