The Great Pancake Smackdown: Here Are The Best Pancakes In Montauk

MONTAUK, NY — Montauk lovers do love their pancakes. In fact, they love ‘em so much there are two pancake houses in Montauk on Montauk Highway, John’s Pancake House and Anthony’s Pancake House, virtually across the street from each other.

Both are packed on weekends and both have their own loyal following. Plus, they’ve both been in business over 60 years.

Anthony’s Pancake House clocks in at 64 years young — and was started in 1952 by Anthony Stavropoulos, who is still overseeing the operation. Jane deSousa, the woman in charge, tells Patch: “I’ve been working at Anthony’s for the past 38 years.”

John’s Pancake House, on the north side of Montauk Highway, is 63; its owner, John Toole, says: “I bought John’s 11 years ago.”

Both places only take cash — with prominent signage announcing that fact. Neither takes credit cards or barefoot customers.

Both spots are casual and welcoming, only serve breakfast and lunch, and John’s has a few outdoor picnic tables.

What’s the most popular item on the menu after the traditional pancakes?

The cook at John’s, John’s brother-in-law, Joe Cronin, who’s worked there for over a decade, says it’s the pancakes with fruit, and deSousa says chocolate chip pancakes are winners at Anthony’s.

The clientele is fairly similar in both spots: families with kids, friends, couples on dates, vacationers and locals. They also both have their equal share of famous faces.

deSousa tells Patch: “We have a lot of famous people. I don’t even recognize everyone. Paul Simon, Bill O’Reilly, Bethenny Frankel are just a few I can think of.”

Across the street not only does Jerry Seinfeld come into John’s often, he filmed an episode of his web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” here and brought Jimmy Fallon in for coffee.

Seinfeld says in the web series: ”This is my favorite restaurant.”

Cronin tells Patch other famous faces who have popped in include Celine Dion and Julianne Moore. “And Jerry Seinfeld also used to come here with Matthew Broderick when they dropped their kids off at a camp nearby. They’d hang out here eating and talking.”

Meanwhile, John’s prominent Take Out sign brought in Leo DiCaprio for pancakes to-go last summer.

Now let’s get down to what matters most here: the pancakes.

At Anthony’s, the secret recipe is Anthony’s alone and it’s the same one he’s been serving since 1952. John gives credit to the cooking combination of himself and Cronin for the taste of their traditional pancakes to their more ambitious offerings, such as a peanut butter and chocolate chip combo.

Each order comes stacked with three pancakes and both taste equally delish.

How many pancakes do they make a week? Neither spot could commit to a definitive answer.

“We use 40 to 50 lbs. of batter a day,” deSousa says.

“We do about a thousand orders a week — three to an order so that’s 3,000 pancakes. I may be low balling it, but I don’t want to even know how many I cook a week!” Toole laughs.

So whether you prefer eating on the north or south side of Montauk Highway or where the wait is shorter, both places stack up well — and you’ll definitely get your pancake fix satisfied in the heart of Montauk