Pancake Social, a breakfast-focused eatery celebrating the joy of pancakes, good coffee and more, announced its grand opening at Atlanta’s iconic Ponce City Market for Monday, March 25. Open daily for breakfast from 7am to 6pm, the 120-seat restaurant features both indoor and patio dining and is located near the North Avenue entrance of Ponce City Market, facing Historic Fourth Ward Park.
Featuring breakfast favorites, the menu from Chef Anne Quatrano focuses on using high-quality ingredients and offers diners a selection that ranges from traditional breakfast items to healthy options, like chia seed pudding, a little gem salad, ancient grain porridge, avocado toast and gluten-free options. The kitchen, helmed by Executive Chef Evelyn Ling, serves seven types of pancakes—from savory to sweet—sandwiches, bowls and more. Dishes are made with ingredients sourced from local purveyors and farms, including Banner Butter, Summerland Farms, Ewetopia Farm Vermont Maple Syrup, Anson Mills, Pearson Farm and more. Menu highlights include Ebelskivers; a Big Pecan Praline Stack; a Sourdough Waffle; a Crispy Chicken Sandwich with hot honey and sweet pickle; and a P.S. burger with cheddar and sweet onions on an English muffin. To drink, Pancake Social offers craft juice blends, their signature breakfast blend of coffee and espresso as well as beer, wine, mimosas and brunch cocktails.
Pancake Social’s design mirrors its comforting, inviting menu. A collaboration between architect Tim Nichols and Anne Quatrano, the space presents hints of Scandinavian architecture, focusing on clean lines, natural light and raw wood. Very little of the design is off the shelf, from hand-stenciled floor tiles and the locally made butcher block bar and tabletops to custom-made light fixtures. Upon entering the space, guests are greeted by a coffee and beverage bar for orders to go throughout the day. Just beyond, a full-service dining room with large tables and booths gives groups, large or small, the opportunity to gather over a meal.
“The passion for food and design is something our team shares,” says partner Dan Jacobson. “We loved brainstorming and collaborating together, but it was Anne that really brought the concept to life. Much of what you see and feel at Pancake Social is a culmination of her great talent and creativity – not only in food and hospitality, but also in designing a delightful atmosphere that is memorable for guests.”
Originally imagined by Dan Jacobson, Owner of Steel Wave Ventures and formerly of Chick-fil-A, Pancake Social is also from Steven Chan—a 20-year veteran of the Atlanta restaurant industry and Founder of Tin Drum Asian Kitchen; Anne Quatrano—James Beard Award-winning Chef and Owner of Bacchanalia, Star Provisions, W.H. Stiles Fish Camp at Ponce City Market and Floataway Cafe; and Tony Riffel—Co-Founder of Octane Coffee Company and Elevator Factory.
Evelyn Ling serves as Pancake Social’s Executive Chef. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, she spent a season in the kitchen at The Greenbrier in West Virginia before joining Bacchanalia’s team in 2014. She worked her way up to Executive Sous-Chef at the restaurant and was tapped for the position at Pancake Social.
Michael Harrel runs the restaurant’s front-of-house as General Manager. He brings over 10 years of experience in the coffee, bar and restaurant industries, having worked at Octane Coffee and Empire State South in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as previously being the General Manager for Slightly Coffee Roasters and The Barnlight in Eugene, Oregon.
