If you’ve ever driven down Parsons Avenue near Nationwide Children’s and seen a retro sign claiming to have the “largest pancake in the galaxy,” that’s The Mercury Diner. And yes, I nearly crashed my car pulling into their parking lot because I just had to know what was going on inside.
Spoiler alert: what’s going on is breakfast. Really good breakfast.
And really big breakfast.
🌕 Larger Than Life (and Possibly the Moon)
The name might sound like diner hyperbole, but the Big Ol’ Pancake at Mercury Diner is no joke. I figured it would be, you know, a big pancake. Cute. Whatever. Most pancakes are pretty big.
I was wrong.
This thing is a golden-brown behemoth. It’s more like a deep-dish pancake than something you’d casually flip on a skillet. Now that I think of it, I have ZERO clue how they could possibly flip this thing…
The batter has a biscuity fluff to it, giving it that dreamy combo of crispy edges and a tender, cakey inside. It’s the kind of pancake that laughs in the face of your single-stomach capacity. You’ll need backup. Possibly a team. Perhaps you’ll want to go on a brief hunger strike before ordering it.
It’s. Freakin’. Huge.
And the way that it absorbs and holds the maple syrup? I’m getting excited just thinking about it.
Homemade English Muffins? Yes Please
Not to be outshined by the celestial-body-sized pancake, The Mercury Diner also makes their English muffins from scratch. These things are flaky, fluffy, and the absolute perfect breakfast sandwich base. It’s like someone took all the sad, dry grocery store English muffins of the world and said, “You can do better.” And these did.
If you’re looking for something that’s not as intimidating as the Big Ol’ Pancake, their bestselling Egg N’ Cheese Sandwich on the English muffin is effing phenomenal (I’m trying my best not to swear, that’s how riled up I am!).
The Spaceballs are as Absurdly Delicious as the Movie is Absurdly Funny
Then, the Spaceballs entered my world. You’ll be driving at ludicrous speed just to get there after hearing what these things are all about.
Now try to keep it together, because these banana fritters are rolled in sugar, deep fried, and served with peanut butter hot fudge sauce and a berry compote. Obviously, they are mind-numbingly good, and by all accounts are nearly as absurd as the film they’re named after in the best way possible. I would’ve ordered two more rounds if I hadn’t already been on the verge of a pancake-induced blackout.
Final Verdict: Cosmically Delicious
The Mercury Diner is one of those places that wasn’t on my radar, yet something drew me toward it. And if I’m being honest, I’m very happy I locked eyes with their pancake sign.
Out of home advertising works, folks! Shoutout to one of my favorite lecturers at Ohio State, Scott LaCross, who was a champion of sorts of OOH Marketing… He has been vindicated! But I digress.
So grab a friend (or three), clear your morning schedule, and get ready to take down the largest pancake in the galaxy. You’ll leave full, happy, and with a stronger gravitational pull.
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