In less than a week, I went to Brownstone Pancake Factory in Brick, New Jersey twice! Once for their one of a kind breakfast, and once for their interesting dinner. Both of my unforgettable experiences blew me out of the water as I went all in and indulged at the one and only Brownstone Pancake Factory!

Brownstone is a family-friendly restaurant with a lot of history. It was founded over 50 years ago when a family with a dream bought a tiny subway car diner. The family’s dream has only grown larger and larger, opening their doors to a second location in Edgewater, New Jersey, to carry on the idea of food and a lovely atmosphere. It was called “Newport Pancake House”. The family’s dedication to their industry has shown true significance of what it really means to be a part of the family business. As the years went by, they never gave up on their passion as their next generation, Pete and Irene Bournius who grew up behind the counter, took Newport Pancake House to the next level, “Brownstone Pancake Factory”. 

From the tiny subway car diner to multiple locations, Brownstone has become very popular nationwide. Some say it is the best breakfast in the state of New Jersey. It’s always talked about, always packed, and always willing to put a smile on your face. Believe it or not, Brownstone was featured with Guy Fieri on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network!

In Season Three, Episode One, airing on March 10, 2008, Guy took a trip to Jersey City to see what Brownstone’s killer pancakes were all about. Bobby Bournias, Brownstone’s business owner, made him a couple of their fan favorites and Guy was astonished by the experience. “That’s what I’m talking about right there!” shouted Guy when he put ketchup and hot sauce on the meat pancake. Guy’s visit was far from over before Bobby introduced him to Brownstone’s famous pancake wraps. “It’s like an oversized pancake and we wrap different stuff in it” quoted Bobby. After Guy tasted the savory pancakes, he decided to make one. From his parents encouraging him to play with his food, he created a buffalo chicken pancake wrap. Yet another that’s what I’m talking about from guy! “You put spicy buffalo pancakes on that menu, someone’s gonna try it” said Guy. Bobby really liked his buffalo pancake and took his advice, highlighting the creation on the menu as Guy Fieri’s Triple “D” Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap! It is buffalo fried chicken, mozzarella cheese, roasted peppers and bleu cheese, wrapped in an oversized pancake. Guy had nothing but positive things to say about Brownstone as it was seen by the world on Food Network! 

The restaurant’s history, displays, and upbeat energy give the atmosphere such a positive vibe that you are always welcome in. They have a crane game right when you walk in which is smart to occupy hungry children while they wait for their delicious pancakes. Another feature is the seating inside a minivan! It’s honestly the best addition to a restaurant I’ve ever seen! It’s fun and makes the dining experience much more memorable. I’ve eaten in the minivan before and loved it! Although I will say it’s tight and the tables are small, it’s worth a try at least once! The bakery is what catches most eyes. Brownstone’s bakery is full of their sensational sweets from cakes, cheesecakes, cookies and more! You might catch yourself leaving with a treat for later!

Brownstone is also very active on social media where they consistently post on TikTok and Instagram. There you’ll find their Ultimate Insane Milkshakes of the Week and their specialty pancakes for Sunday brunch. They come up with some crazy creations like this week’s ultimate insane milkshake of the week, the Mardi Gras Shake. It has a mini stack of pancakes and a cupcake on top along with a ton of decorations. Now this is something you don’t see very often! Same thing with their pancakes for Sunday brunch. They recently featured the Fruity pebbles Ice Cream Pancake Tacos. Even on the regular menu, some of them are over the top! Some say it’s too much, but its creativity builds up Brownstone’s reputation as remarkable. They give back to the community all the time. On Instagram, they repost every post of Brownstone from the public on their story. They love and appreciate their community and want nothing more but to spread love and recognition. 

It took me long enough to finally try Brownstone’s pancakes for myself after drooling over every single one of their TikTok’s and hearing nothing but good things. On a Sunday morning, I’d recommend getting there as early as possible before having to wait because the place is filled with families craving breakfast! Luckily, my mom and I got a table right away. As I scanned the menu, one of Brownstone’s most popular pancakes stood out to me, the Oreo Cookie Pancakes. Buttermilks baked with Oreo cookies inside and topped with Oreo cookies, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. This is a staple at Brownstone and I had to have seen about 4 or 5 walking to and from the bathroom.

The presentation of this Oreo goodness was beautiful. Served in front of me were three ginormous pancakes and a whole lotta Oreo with ice cream and a mound of whipped cream. There was even powdered sugar on it along with that chocolate drizzle all over. Before diving in, I tasted the vanilla ice cream on its own first and I was very impressed. The vanilla was strong and the ice cream was very smooth and creamy. This made me even more excited to see how it stands as a topping! 

I made sure to take every bite containing every ingredient that would continuously knock my socks off. The pancakes were warm and super fluffy. The Oreos baked inside and on top were crunchy and so delicious. And of course, the ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle were so necessary, I felt like I was eating a dessert. The ice cream even melted onto the pancakes, soaking into them. The Oreo Cookie Pancakes deserve a 9/10. It’s a large filling portion that satisfied my hunger and craving for Brownstone’s famous pancakes. I was full for the rest of the day! 

I ordered chocolate milk to sip on while awaiting the main event and saved the rest to go along with the pancakes. Unfortunately, the pancakes overpowered its flavor, but on its own it was great. There was chocolate drizzle on the bottom of the glass where I stuck my straw, packing this drink with even more of that natural chocolate flavor! I really enjoyed it, I’d give it a 9.8/10. 

As much as I loved my visit that Sunday morning, I did not love the service. The waitress my mom and I had seemed off. She looked mad and just gave off that vibe. When you walk into the restaurant, there is a chalkboard where the specials for the day are written. I asked the waitress what the specials were just to make sure it was correct. There were three specials for the day. She struggled to remember two of them and said nothing regarding their featured pancakes for Sunday Brunch. That right there turned me off. At a restaurant, I want to be taken care of with an engaging personality that I can trust. For me, there was no connection that I could trust. Plus, she didn’t come back after serving us our food until it was time for the check. She never made sure the order was right, or asked us how everything was. Meanwhile, there were enthusiastic waitresses giving people recommendations and asking how their food came out. We were not thrilled by the waitress, but it won’t keep us away from dining in.

This breakfast was too good to be true and in the matter of a day, I planned to go back for dinner! Brownstone’s massive menu varies from pancakes to breakfast all day long, brunch, lunch, and family supper. I know it’s a pancake factory, but you never know what gems could be hidden inside! 

They also have specials, and one in particular caught my eye. The Ultimate Mexican Pork Carnitas Philly Steak Sandwich. I have seen a mouthwatering picture of this sandwich on Brownstone’s instagram and since then, I’ve always wanted to try it. It must have been my lucky day because I was stoked to see it on the specials menu. Other regular menu items looked good, but I had to take advantage of this opportunity, it was once in a blue moon!

The waiter for dinner was appreciable. He made sure everything was going smoothly and came to the table every time with a smile on his face. I appreciated him a lot and it made my visit much more awesome!

All dinner specials are served with a cup of soup and a house dessert which you don’t have to order, but it’s a bonus in my book! For the soup I went with their French Onion and when I tell you that it was the best french onion soup I have ever had, you better believe it. The cheese melted on top is unbelievably stretchy, the crouton was massive and the outer parts were crunchy. It had the perfect amount of onions, not too overwhelming. I love how it doesn’t come out blazing hot. That way I don’t have to wait for it to cool down or burn my mouth. It’s hot enough so you can enjoy it without having to worry about that issue! What amazed me in particular was the cheese. I can’t pinpoint exactly what kind of cheeses they use, but it’s definitely a blend because of the colors and there being more flavor. It also melts into the soup to combine the tastiness, separating this french onion soup from any other. I have to give it a 9.4/10, it is superior! 

And now for the main event, The Ultimate Mexican Pork Carnitas Philly Steak Sandwich, “Our Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Carnitas Topped With Cheddar Cheese, Sauteed Onions, Peppers and Jalapenos and Drizzled with our Chipotle Aioli Stuffed in a Torpedo Roll and Served with our House Fries.” They served the main event with the top bread piece open, showing the reveal and the lightly toasted loaf. Also coming with a knife which was smart so I could cut the sandwich in half. I was beyond excited for an ultimate experience, but my expectations must’ve been too high because there were a few things wrong with this sandwich. One, it was not ultimate. It was horribly skimpy on the meat, which was barely juicy. On the instagram picture, it looked loaded and tender. Two, the cheese and jalapeno ratio to the meat was all wrong. The cheese overpowered the meat and there were way too many jalapenos. I got two in one bite and I don’t think I even got any meat. Not only did the spice level make me cry, but the disappointment might’ve played a factor as well. I didn’t even finish the sandwich because with a quarter of it left, it was literally cheese and bread. I always finish my food and when I don’t, you know something wasn’t right.

Although there were bad downsides, the sandwich still tasted good. I enjoyed it up to the double jalapeno bite. The bread was so soft and you can tell it was fresh. Everything else would have been better if there was more meat, but it remained delicious. Overall, this special is not special. It is not worth $22 and I’d never get it again nor recommend it. With that being said, a 7.4/10 is the final score.   

On the sidelines with my meal, I substituted sweet potato fries instead of french fries and they were pretty good because they were salted very well and had a light crunch. The thing about them that annoyed me was they were cut very small and thin. I prefer a long fry with pillowy soft potatoes inside. I’d give them an 8.1/10. Good, but I wouldn’t order them again. 

If you’re ever at Brownstone Pancake Factory, you can never miss out on their milkshakes. I’ll usually have a milkshake on its own as a dessert, but at Brownstone, enjoying it with your meal wouldn’t hurt because the presentation is beautiful and they decorate the glass with chocolate icing to eat with a spoon! 

I decided to go with the Oreo Blast milkshake because Cookies n Creme milkshakes are the best and I knew Brownstone would do it right. It was delightful to have for sure, but it was not top notch. In my Oreo shakes, I absolutely love the crunchiness of the crushed up Oreos in every sip. I did not get one sip like this in the Oreo blast. Also, the straws they give are way too thin and they put too much whipped cream to the point that when I’m done, there’s a sick amount of whipped cream at the bottom. I know this milkshake can be better, but the chocolate icing smeared around the rim of the class covered with crushed up oreos raises the bar. You won’t get that anywhere around here, so you have to take advantage of it when you can. I ate it with a spoon when I finished the shake and it’s a great way to end it all, it’s simply my favorite part. I’ll award the Oreo Blast an 8.2/10, but Burger 25’s shakes remain on top as the best milkshakes of all time. 

Despite the fact that Brownstone may not be perfect, I had a great two trips and I want to go back for a third! There are still so many things on the menu I want to try, so I plan on going a few times throughout the year. Definitely once to try Guy Fieri’s Triple “D” Buffalo Chicken Pancake Wrap and maybe even one of their Ultimate Insane Milkshakes of the Week. Altogether, Brownstone Pancake Factory has a bright future and I could see about five to ten locations across the state in ten years from now. A new location in Freehold Township is opening on March 1! The Pancake Factory is on the rise! 

Brownstone Pancake Factory

Location: 979 Cedar Bridge Ave, Brick Township, NJ 08723

Phone: (201) 945-4800

Website: https://www.brownstonepancakefactory.com/

Offerings: Dine-in, Takeout, and Delivery

Store Hours: Sunday-Wednesday: 8AM-4PM

                     Thursday-Saturday: 8AM-8PM

The Brownstone Diner on Food Network: https://youtu.be/h0onT5wvXXA