UNC Bucket List is a weekly feature highlighting the 100 things students should attempt before they graduate. Check out the full bucket list and all previous Bucket List posts here.
Bucket List Item Number 16: Eat breakfast at Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe
Whenever I walk down Franklin Street on most afternoons, I usually shoot a quick glance through the windows of Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe to see whether or not it’s open. Yet every time I do the lights are off, the stoves are still and the front countertop is bare save for a spiral notebook or two. Because the restaurant closes at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 2:30 p.m. on weekends, it had always been one of those mysterious places on Franklin St. I’ve always wanted to check out but never visited.
That, however, changed a few days ago. After fighting off the urge to sleep in before my afternoon classes, I stepped foot into Ye Olde Waffle Shop for the first time during its normal business hours. I was determined to not cave into senioritis this time, since I was well overdue for crossing this trip off my own bucket list.
The restaurant, which opened at its 173 E. Franklin St. location on Dec. 28, 1972, serves mostly breakfast items but also offers lunch dishes like hamburger platters and patty melts. Daisy Maness, the restaurant’s general manager, said most of their pancake lovers order blueberry pancakes, while omelet fans typically get the Farmer’s and Western omelets. If you also like egg & cheese biscuits, you can buy one order of it at the restaurant and get another free during the week of March 15th-18th. To see the complete menu, click here.
Although I realize that not ordering waffles at a waffle house is as bad an idea as not buying steak at a steakhouse, being gluten-free has its limitations. So I figured, why not try the omelets? The Farmer’s Omelet-which at $7.15 contains sausage, American cheese, green bell peppers, and onions, and comes with hash browns and toast-looked pretty enticing.
After trying it, however, I wouldn’t say I was blown away. Although it contained a good amount of meat and vegetables, the omelet itself could have been a lot cheesier. The hash browns were also underwhelming, and needed a good dose of ketchup to be even somewhat enjoyable. But while I’ll probably stick with the campus dining halls for omelets from now on, I was glad to have given Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe a fair shot.
Have you eaten breakfast at Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe before? Have a favorite dish there? If so, tell us below!
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