Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism.
The Dartmouth
July 25, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

The Sexiest Pancake Maybe?

After watching the leading ladies from "Sex and the City" continuously go out on Sunday mornings for, as they would say, a fabulous breakfast, I couldn't help but wonder where to find the best breakfast place in the Upper Valley. Yes, Lou's is great. And Home Plate's brunch isn't bad either. But I was on a quest for some seriously good pancakes. I'm talking about pancakes that are light and fluffy, with real Vermont maple syrup that doesn't carry Lou's $1.50 extra charge.

Good pancakes are worth some trouble, so I decided to try the Mountain Creamery in Woodstock, Vermont. Located twenty minutes from campus, the restaurant is in the heart of downtown Woodstock. When my roommate and I arrived at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the breakfast joint was nearly full. The decor was not particularly inviting: the cafe lacked an abundance of plush booths and instead donned slim, stiff back chairs and tables. For late Sunday risers, be forewarned that breakfast is only served until 11:30 am.

Seated by the window overlooking Central Street, my roommate and I examined the laminated breakfast and lunch menu. While offering typical breakfast fare such as scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon, the Creamery boasts of a "special" recipe for pancakes, waffles and French toast. On the more creative side, they make scrambled eggs with smoked salmon that comes with a bagel and cream cheese.

I ordered a short stack of pancakes with a side of sausage and was not entirely disappointed. The pancakes were indeed light and fluffy yet filling. And they came with a pitcher of real Vermont maple syrup. While flavorful, the sausage patties were overly greasy. The wonderful pancakes were also offset by the Creamery's weak coffee.

On the other side of the table, my roommate tried the French toast with a side of ham. While the thick slab of ham was tasty and not overpowered by salt, the French toast could have easily been found at Food Court. Despite an attractive cinnamon flavor, the toast was chewy and lacked any sort of crunch. In terms of special recipes, only the pancakes lived up to their name.

Overall, the Mountain Creamery's ambiance, food, and service were decent but far from outstanding. While the meal did not satisfy my quest for the perfect breakfast, the town of Woodstock made up for it. Slightly larger than Hanover, Woodstock is a treasure trove of small bookstores, eclectic clothing stores, quaint museums, and traditional New England homes. While the Creamery might not be worth the 20 minute drive, the town of Woodstock merits a visit even the urbanites of "Sex and the City" would approve.

Mountain Creamery

33 Central Street

Woodstock, Vermont

Cost: $ 6 - 12

The Oh-So-Perfect Pancake

These are not your average pancakes. Relying on sour cream instead of buttermilk, these medallions melt in your mouth and perfectly absorb any tasty syrup or fruit compote.

4 eggs

3 tbs. white sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

cup of flour

2 cups of sour cream

Wisk together eggs, sugar, flour and baking soda. After mixing, fold in sour cream. Heat a fry pan greased with butter and place 1/4 cup of the pancake batter on the pan. Once bubbles begin to form in the batter, flip pancake over using a spatula. Cook the other side until browned.

Makes about 2 dozen pancakes.