Staks Pancake Kitchen

Service was good, but pancakes were below average. We requested two more orders and they still could not get them right. They were spongy, I had way better pancakes at I hop. Other food was OK

The concept is sensible — walk through the door, receive a cheery greeting and a menu, and place your order at the counter. Then, sit down and your food is delivered shortly thereafter, hot and ready to consume.
I did discover two awkward issues with this, however. The first lies with the unlimited coffee refills. It’s a little confusing as to whether you should grab a passing server after the last sip is gone, or take your mug to the counter, interrupting the flow of newcomers who are ordering.
The second issue, is the novel «no tipping» policy (servers get paid higher than average, so no tips are allowed). Although this is mentioned on the printed menu, no one verbally gives this information, and a tip line is still provided on the receipt. As a reflex I wrote an amount on the tip line, which was then charged to my credit card, defeating the point of no tipping policy.
Food-​wise, my eggs were perfectly cooked, the biscuits were nice and flaky, and the gouda grits were marvelous — salty, savory, and satisfying. The other members of my breakfasting party also enjoyed their food, however the flow from ordering to eating to leaving could use a bit of finesse.

Staks was one deeelightful breakfast experience! I went on a Saturday morning and it was packed (always a good sign (:) but the wait went by quickly! The atmosphere was fun and inviting and the staff was so friendly! Ps. THIS IS THE CUTEST PLACE EVER! The Tiffany blue and white décor, DIY pancake stations and mighty fine cold brew coffee made me want to stay all day!
I ordered the cold brew and birthday pancakes with a candle (you have to request the candle)! The pancakes tasted exactly like funfetti cake… ADORE. It came with icing drizzled on top, whipped cream, sprinkles and the waiter lighted my candle! Highly highly recommend you try this menu item if you can handle this much sugar in the a.m. I had a bite of my friend’s cinnamon roll pancakes and they were tasty too! To top it all off, the menu is all inexpensive and I got to take my cold brew coffee cup as a souvenir!

Love this place, especially the nitro cold brewed coffee. This was my third time back, so that should tell you something. Although the pancakes are the obvious draw, I was there for the coffee.
But you need a little sweet with the cold coffee, right? And what would be better than a short stack of buckwheat pancakes? Well, how about a short stack of buckwheats with a side of bacon?
The buckwheats needed some extra butter, which was produced very quickly — good show! My preference on bacon is crispy to extra crispy and I probably should have made that request up front — my bad.
Good food, outstanding coffee, attentive service all comes at a price… my short stack, bacon and over the top coffee came with a tab of about $ 15, certainly not cheap… no matter, I’ll be back for that nitro cold brew!

Good experience — went in on a Monday around 11 am and not busy at all. I’ve heard great things about Staks and how crazy the lines are on the weekends. Glad the weekdays are more dialed down! The service was good and food came fast!
It was my first time in at Staks, so I ordered the Birthday Cake Pancakes. I’m always in the mood for good pancakes! An order has 3 fluffy pancakes with a side of syrup. Imagine a fingertip cake or cookie in pancake form… Very tasty and I was stuffed when I finished.
A friend of mine ordered the Power Breakfast with hash browns, and her meal was very healthy looking. White egg whites, tomato, avocado, sausage, and hash brown. She was pleased with her meal as well. I wouldn’t mind ordering that next time!
Overall, I would return. I would love to try some non-​pancake items!

Have you ever wondered where you could get a tasty omelet that wasn’t cooked to that spongey consistency? An omelet with quality ingredients that you could pick yourself? An omelet that is the size of your forearm?
Well here at Staks you can fulfill those omelet dreams and then some. The name suggests pancakes, but I’m just not a huge sweets person. I ordered at the counter and, although the guy who waited on me was pretty emotionless, I was pumped about my spinach, sausage, and goat cheese omelet. I was even more excited about my nitro coffee.
The coffee came almost immediately and the food about 10 mins later. The food delivery person was also equally expressionless. But hey, I had an AMAZING omelet and some pretty solid hash browns.
The tangy goat cheese is so fresh! The sausage from Porcellino’s is great. I am also a fan of shredded hash browns so it made me very happy to see a big ol plate of those crispy babies. I’m just not a fried potato chunk hash brown type.
My daughter got a kid’s stak with a side of fruit and milk. The portions were perfect size wise. Her pancakes were on point. Crisp edges, buttermilk taste, dense but not underdone. I loved the mix of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries for the side of fruit.
The décor is pretty darn cute. It’s not my favorite — style and seating arrangement wise, but it’ll do. I would just rather have happy people serving me even if I am a grouch in the morning. The nitro coffee and mimosas are flowing here. Give the workers some hehe.

Gouda grits, people! GOUDA GRITS.
I had an amazing experience at Staks. The décor is adorable with lots of Tiffany blue and a welcoming environment that makes you almost forget how many people like to pack into the cozy space.
I heard about crowds so my friend and I decided to meet up early. I was half asleep and half grumpy while ordering at the counter, but the staff was incredibly friendly and recommended a few things to us.
Our cinnamon roll pancakes, birthday cake pancakes, Gouda grits, hash browns, and lattes arrived quickly and we devoured it all. Everything was delicious, although I didn’t love the hash browns. Overall, I can’t wait to visit this gem and stuff my face again.
TL;DR: Order the cinnamon roll pancakes and Gouda grits. Prepare to be amazed by great service (and they don’t accept tips because they pay their employees to scale).

I wish I could give way more stars for this cute little breakfast spot! I have been waiting for the chance to visit this pancake shop for months and today was THAT day. I can say I wasn’t disappointed in the least.
As I entered, I was greeted with a smile by friendly faces at the register. I felt like I was truly welcome here which is a HUGE plus since I’m in the service industry, myself. The interior was really pleasing to my eyes. I love the flooring and the lights. The color scheme they have makes you feel like you just walked into your own happy place. I immediately felt joy like a kid walking into a candy store would feel. Magical!
You order at the register and find a nice booth or table to sit at. I ordered the 2 eggs and a two stack of pancakes. I wanted to go basic for now since it was my first time. (I’ll be coming back to try the specialty pancakes!) The prices to me were fair, not too cheap or expensive. The food didn’t even take long to get to my table at all either. Win win!
Now for the food… it was simply delightful. I really enjoyed my toasted s’more latte! I literally will drive here for that latte alone. Goodbye Starbucks! Haha. The pancakes were done just right. My eggs were great! The hash browns were AMAZING. I loved it all, truthfully. What really made my experience even more positive was the general manager coming around to check on all the guests. That’s what makes a business successful! I will definitely be back in this establishment a lot sooner than I think! I will be telling everyone I know about this wonderful place!

Staks on Staks on Staks! (Kyle W. I just read your review after I had posted 12hrs ago and I just realized we started our reviews off the same way. Great minds think alike!)
We came here on a nice Sunday morning for a UYE event. To my surprise i never heard of this place, but boy did i see the line when i got there nearly 45 mins early. The line was well, not a line but like a swarm of ppl in front of the shop. You get to put your name on the list and wait outside as they do not take reservations but pretty much can accommodate you if you arrive an hr early. While waiting, i got to peek inside and see how cute the place was. From the tiffany blue booths to the contemporary ceiling lights i knew i was in for some good ol brunch.
Now onto the food, the pancakes comes in as many as 4 for a short stack to 6 for a tall stack. We pretty much ordered from the Sophisticated Staks which consisted of a short stack along with the special toppings and some other items on the menu. A few of us had ordered and shared several of the items so we can taste all the different varieties they offered on the menu. Sharing is caring! We had shrimp n grits, French toast, Lemon Ricotta pancakes, Chocolate Raspberry pancakes, Oreo-​praline pancakes and Red Velvet pancakes (special of the day).
I loved all the different kinds of pancakes especially the Red Velvet and Chocolate Raspberry. The Oreo-​praline IMO was a bit too rich. The Shrimp n Grits were pretty tasty with a poached egg on top along with 4 huge shrimps sauteed with mushrooms and spinach over smoked gouda grits. French toast was def on point as well. I’m salivating just from writing this review! I must visit again soon!
Its safe to say Memphis has another great place in the city for breakfast and brunch for years to come. Staks is open everyday from 6:30AM-2PM. Come see what you are missing! #Yelp901
*Oh btw, no tipping is needed!

This place is super packed most the time. Be ready for wait. With that said, their service is awesome. No tips is required at this place since they pay employee decent wages.
Pancake is what this place all about. They got so much variety, and they mostly taste like rich cakes. Lots of sugar and sweet taste to go. French toast was pretty good.

Never again. I like their food (especially the grits) so I’ve given this place many chances to redeem their service downfalls. Does anyone here enjoy their job? I always call in for carry out, so the amount of time they have to be nice to me is minimal.
When I call in orders for carry out, they often sound rude and annoyed on the phone. While picking up my order I asked about the size of a special latte they had. It’s $ 5 and I wanted to know is it 20oz? 8 oz? Venti? Grande go-f*ck yourself was the answer I got. She literally said «it fits in a to-​go cup» and «we don’t exactly measure it out». He whole time huffing and puffing. I didn’t get the latte.
Today I literally ordered grits. Nothing else. The guy made no eye contact, no smile, stated the total for my order, took my money, and walked away. No more chances. There are so many more amazing restaurants in Memphis where I can get breakfast and be treated like a valued customer.

This is one of the cutest brunch spots in Memphis. The décor reminds me of a boutique mixed with Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Their pancakes a light thin with a hint of butter flavor. If you like big and fluffy pancakes, this might not be your place.
You can add topping/​flavor in your pancake batter i.e. Chocolate chips, cinnamon…
They also have mimosas and bloody Mary’s.
It gets crowded so be prepared to wait.
You’ll check in with the hostess and when your table is ready, then you order and have a seat. If you want to cook your own pancakes be sure to let the hostess know so they seat you at one of the tables with a griddle.

This was my second time visiting this establishment. It is just so stinking cute inside! I love the color and décor. Unless it is super busy, seat yourself and order at the counter. They don’t accept tips here which is a neat concept. They make up for that in the pricing of their menu items. In my opinion, I don’t see any price differences as compared to other quality breakfast places. I spied a «Please vote for Staks in the 2015 Unilocalies» sign on the counter.
I couldn’t bring myself to «step outside the box» and try something new on the menu. So I went with The World’s Greatest Sandwich again. It was composed of my two favorite breakfast delicacies: bacon and eggs. The perfectly cooked over easy eggs, bacon, lettuce, and tomato was «staked» on top of ciabatta bread. A knife is included for you to slice the monster sandwich in half so you can consume it. I chose to get a side of hash browns with mine but there was other options available such as fruit, chips, and grits.
My friend decided to order the Short Stak Pancakes and the Pork and Eggs combo. (She was «hangry»). The pancakes and eggs were great. The only minor issue was that she got chicken instead of pork loin. She didn’t want to make a fuss of it so we went on with the meal.

Kyle now I understand why you love this place !!! It’s great!!!
Not only is this one of the cutest restaurants I’ve been too, but their pancakes are phenomenal. No Seriously, they were just that good! My friend and I both ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes with the blueberry syrup and they were devoured in minutes. Another friend ordered the shrimp and grits and really enjoyed the dish.
Now, I thought the layout of the restaurant was very modern and as Deanna said definitely decorated by a woman. We sat in one of their tiffany blue colored booths, which I think are really pretty. Now it is important to remember that as you enter, you go to the counter and place your order. You then pay and get a number. Then you get the choice of picking your seat and they bring you your food.
All in all, I loved it and can’t wait to go back and try more of their pancakes. Plus I also want to try the «Cook Em Yourself», which is where you sit at a table that has an open griddle that you can cook your pancakes on. I think its a very cool and different idea, at least I have not seen it before.

You can tell this placed is owned by some females because it is nothing short of adorable ;). The tiffany blue walls and all of the attention to detail definitely paid off… I love it! The atmosphere and charm definitely adds to the overall experience!
First things first, if you’re going on a Sunday, be prepared for quite a wait. I’m not sure if it will always be like this, but we had about a 40 minute one. They have tables outside you can sit at so you aren’t in everyones way, but it is about to get colder :(.
Another thing to note is that you order at the counter and receive a number instead of being waiting on at the table. I read a couple of the reviews and the our hostess told us which table to sit at. I’m not sure if thats a new thing or not, but we got a booth in the back so I was a happy camper! Its also important to note that some of the tables are communal, which is fine, but I tend to not have a filter so thats honestly scary for whoever gets sat next to me :). Like I stated before, you don’t have a waiter assigned to your actual table, just a bunch of staff members looking out for everyone. However my water was ALWAYS full which is quite the feat. Overall, the staff was super friendly and was definitely a strong positive to the overall environment!
As for the food. Be prepared to NOOOMMMM. I couldn’t even finish my chocolate raspberry pancakes, and my friend couldn’t finish his lemon ricotta. They are super heavy and ridiculously filling. I almost wish I would have split it. or made my own with not so much sugahhh :).

Brunching inside a precious Tiffany blue decorated restaurant– why yes of course! How can you not fall head over heels with such a whimsical and inviting spot?! With the name «Staks,» you can be sure the house specialty is anything and everything related to pancakes! Their menu is unique compared to typical brunch places, offering their own local Southern flair.
Business has been booming since their recent opening and there was a 40 min wait Sunday morning. I didn’t mind waiting as I had ordered a sweet, decadent toasted s’mores coffee to keep me company. (I checked with the host first to make sure it was ok to order coffee while waiting on a table. It’s normally a counter service restaurant but during busy times, you have to wait for an open table before ordering at the counter). If you’re a fan of sweet, flavored coffees, then get the toasted s’mores coffee– it had me wishing I was sitting by the campfire. Who knew s’mores could be captured ever so perfectly in the form of coffee?!
I opted for a short stak with blueberries with a side of Porcellino’s scrumptious bacon. I am a big fan of sweet and savory combinations that put sheer excitement in my tastebuds! The pancakes were the right amount of thickness (not too thick nor thin) and fluffy goodness. You can even request to cook your own pancake at your table, which was an interesting concept. The smoked salmon omelette was surprisingly good– smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, and topped with a balsamic drizzle wrapped in 3 fluffy eggs. Again, it’s that sweet and savory combo that pulls my heart strings. The side of creamy, buttery Gouda grits sent me to breakfast heaven. Next time, I can create my own omelette with whatever ingredients my tummy desires.
Staks is so flippin and effin good in terms of food and service. I can see why it has become quite the popular breakfast/​brunch spot. Also, tips are not accepted here– it’s their policy. Hurry over to Staks, you will not be disappointed.

My first visit here was on a Sunday morning at 8:30 am. It was full, but not packed, however that began to change as many more people arrived before 9am, forming a line out the door with people waiting to order and others waiting for a table after ordering. If you go on a Sunday, I recommend getting there by 8:30 or earlier.
When you walk in, realize that you order at the counter to the left. They also have a coffee bar and it seems that them making the specialty drinks and getting your drinks for you when you order, slows down the process of taking all orders. But, the good thing is that you have more than just a choice of black coffee and I did observe one staff are working furiously to fresh squeezed orange juice.
The inside has retro-​modern décor and is open and inviting. The Staff seem pleasant from a distance, but they act more as food expediters than servers, so you don’t get a lot of interaction.
I was intrigued by the cook-​your-​own-​pancakes station/​table, which is where I sat as a party of one. This is one long table near the kitchen that has 3 cooking surfaces along the middle of the table. They provide pancake batter and garnishing (e.g. Chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries, etc.) and you do the cooking. This turned out to be quite entertaining, watching kids and parents trying to flip their cooking pancakes. From my observation, this turned into a good experience for the young kids, but the parents had to wait to eat as they were doing all the cooking. Also, unless you’re use to making pancakes, they’re going to come out pretty ugly. Ha!
I ordered the two eggs with meat and added a side of hashbrowns. The food was cooked well and they certainly don’t hold back on the butter flavored oil, so be aware of that if you trying to eat a little more smartly.
There are a couple other things on the menu that I would like to go back and try. But, I’ll make sure to do it during nonpeak hours so I can get a seat.
Also, if you like to sit and read or talk for a long time over your breakfast and coffee, it probably wouldn’t be courteous to do that here while the lines are forming out the door. The process probably works good if you simply eat and go.

For some reason I had no idea this place existed until my best friend mentioned that she and her husband were going for breakfast last weekend. Fast forward to this Tuesday and it’s my sisters 26^th birthday. I wanted to do something special for her so I decided to take her for breakfast. Thankfully, I brought her here!
We got there around 10:15ish and it was barely anyone there. This was a plus because I was nervous it’d be packed from all of the reviews. So you order when you walk in, the cashier was nice. He handed us some menus and told us it was easier ordering off of there than looking at the menus up top. My sister decided on the make your own omelette with a pancake on the side. I got the cinnamon roll pancakes with a side of stak’d bacon the sampler and my boyfriend got the french toast that came with the gouda grits and he added a side of stak’d bacon the candied version. We ended up spending $ 42 for the 3 of us and we all got water. I felt it was a little spendy.
My food– Cinnamon Roll pancakes were delicious. Everyone loved those pancakes. They were rich and flavorful and not just sweet. They tasted like a real cinnamon roll and looked beautiful as well. I didn’t even use the syrup on the side. It was sweet enough. It was a huge serving and I couldn’t finish it. My bacon… I got the sample which was the candied Porcellino bacon, parmesan Bacon and sriracha bacon. The candied bacon was delicious, it was truly candied bacon. The parmesan was just bacon with Parmesan sprinkled on it as was the sriracha bacon was just bacon with sriracha sauce on it. Both were yummy though. It broke up the sweetness of the pancakes.
My sisters food– she loved her plain pancake. Although she chose not to get the birthday pancake *which they do have* she asked for a candle to put in her omelette and the waiter gave it to her and lit it. Very nice of him. The omelette was made well but was a bit bland.
My boyfriend– He really enjoyed the french toast. Cooked perfectly. It was made with brioche bread. I hate grits. I know, a southern girl who doesn’t grits, unheard of. But the gouda grits served here were so good he made me try them. They were amazing! No joke. Get them!!! The candied bacon was great with his meal too.
The stars of the show: Gouda Grits, Cinnamon roll pancakes and candied bacon
I’ll definitely be back!

Overall thoughts: Food is good, process of getting food is ok. Somewhat pricy for breakfast.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes — Yum! They melt in your mouth. You get a few for $ 8.95.
Build Your Own — We ordered a small stack with chocolate chips, bananas and strawberries. Fruit was fresh and the pancakes were fluffy.
Gouda Grits — I like the green onions on top — gave it some color and crunch! I’d order these again.
I would probably give this place a 5 if the ordering, sitting and eating process was different. You order at the front counter, but it was really busy and there wasn’t very much room to stand while you wait. Have questions about the menu? There’s no employee to help you answer those questions. Once we did order and were sat, it seemed like no one was assigned to our table to check on us.

For some reason I thought I would hate this place and slightly wanted to not like it. Boy, was I wrong! The pancakes (blueberry) were cooked perfectly and very light and not too thick. The Porcellino’s bacon was delicious, but it is 4 – 5 bucks for a side of it. The service was great and everyone was very friendly and welcoming. I can’t wait to try more pancake selections.
They have some tables with griddles so you can cook your own pancakes. Like a hibachi pancake house. Also, they don’t accept tips because they have an elevated pay scale for their staff. This is not another broken egg, thankfully.