Where to feed the kids: Waffle House

If you live in the US South, you probably know about Waffle House.

Based in Georgia, this restaurant chain has locations in 25 states, most of them in the South and Southeast although there are some outliers in the Midwest, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico and as far north as Pennsylvania.

It is known as a sit-down place with food that is served quickly, and all of the restaurants are open 24 hours, 365 days.

Until recently it was cash-only, but now many accept credit cards.  Since a meal there is pretty inexpensive, this isn’t too much of a hassle. They serve a wide variety of food, rather like a Denny’s, including standard dishes like Bert’s Chili.

As far as I’m concerned, the only other place (besides my husband and Mom’s kitchens) that makes better pecan waffles is the Homemade Cafe in Berkeley, California.

It’s good to go to Waffle House occasionally with kids because:

1)  The food comes very quickly; always a blessing with itchy children.

2)  The price is right. This is a budget joint but the portions are generous.

3)  It’s noisy enough that children’s racket is usually drowned out by other ambient noise.

Be forewarned – their busiest day is usually Sunday and you may have to wait for a table if the post-church crowd is big.

I wish they’d put their menu and nutritional information online; it’s not what you’d call a health food place but if you try not to use up every butter pat they provide, you can somewhat lessen the cholesterol damage.

If you consider yourself a “Waffle House Regular” then you can follow them on Twitter at @WHRegulars, become a fan on Facebook or you can visit the Waffle House Museum to learn all of their short-order cooking historical nuggets.

Just shove your leftover pecan waffles in my direction, would you?