This Tiny Florida Town Has a New Breakfast Spot Serving 14-Inch Pancakes on Pizza Pans
The pancakes here measure 14 inches across. They’re so big that some arrive on pizza pans instead of plates.
That detail alone made me laugh out loud. The menu calls them hubcap-sized, and honestly, that’s the most accurate food description I’ve read all year. Flavors run from blueberry to cherry cheesecake to chocolate chip peanut butter.
Then the story gets even better. The owners named the place after their young daughter. They also run it as a second chance cafe that hires people rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
I like when a breakfast spot gives you a reason to smile before the coffee even kicks in. This one sits in a small Florida town that clearly needed it.
1. Grab A Pizza Cutter Because These Pancakes Are Hubcap-Sized
Fourteen inches of pancake is not a typo. At Virginia’s Pancake Palace, the signature pancakes are so wide they often land on the table on pizza pans.
The restaurant proudly calls them hubcap-sized. That’s a fair label, since a standard dinner plate simply can’t hold one without some overhang.
Size is the headline, but sharing is the real strategy here. One pancake can easily become a group project for a family or a few hungry friends.
Think of it like ordering a pizza for the table. Everyone grabs a wedge, adds their favorite syrup, and nobody fights over the last slice.
Real maple syrup is available as an add-on. Sugar-free syrup is also on hand for anyone watching their sweet intake.
A gluten-free version of the big pancake is on the menu too. That’s a thoughtful touch for diners who usually skip the pancake section entirely.
My advice is simple and slightly strategic. Order the giant pancake for the table, then pick a savory dish for yourself so you get the best of both worlds.
Bring a camera, too. A pancake on a pizza pan practically begs for a photo before the first bite.
2. Good Luck Picking Just One Flavor From This Lineup
Cherry cheesecake on a pancake sounds like dessert sneaking into breakfast. Somehow, it fits right in with the rest of this colorful menu.
The 14-inch pancakes come in several flavors. Mary Grace’s Sweet Cream leads the list, followed by Chocolate Chip, Maple Pecan, and Blueberry.
Fruit fans get Banana Strawberry as a cheerful option. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter is there for anyone who believes breakfast should taste like a candy bar.
Choosing one might be the hardest decision of your morning. Luckily, a big group means you can order two and swap slices.
The Maple Pecan feels like the classic Southern pick. Blueberry is the safe bet for pancake purists who like a little fruit in every bite.
Sweet cream is the kind of flavor that sounds simple but carries a personal name. Mary Grace clearly earned her spot at the top of the menu.
Here’s my practical tip. If you’re torn, pick one fruity flavor and one rich flavor, then let the table vote on the winner.
Nobody loses in that election. Everyone just goes home very full.
3. Kids Will Grin At A Pancake That Grins Back
Whipped cream hair, cherry eyes, and a rainbow of sprinkles make the Funny Face Pancake impossible to ignore. It’s breakfast with a personality, and kids get it instantly.
The decorations include whipped cream, cherries, chocolate chips, and rainbow sprinkles. That’s basically a party on a plate.
Little ones also have their own kids menu. Options include a Chocolate Chip Short Stack, a Kids Omelette with fruit, and Chicken Tenders with fries.
I love that the kids menu covers both sweet and savory moods. Not every child wakes up craving syrup, after all.
The short stack is a smart move for smaller appetites. A full 14-inch pancake might look thrilling, but it could also outlast a six-year-old’s attention span.
Families with picky eaters will appreciate the variety. Chicken tenders at breakfast hours can save a whole morning from turning grumpy.
For parents, the best plan might be ordering the Funny Face for the kids and a giant pancake for the adults. Everyone feels like they got the fun option.
Just keep napkins close. Rainbow sprinkles have a talent for showing up everywhere.
4. Savory Fans, Your Omelette Moment Has Arrived
Not everybody wants a pancake the size of a steering wheel. Virginia’s Pancake Palace gets that, and the egg section proves it.
The William Howey Omelette keeps things classic with cheese and tomato. Its name nods to the town’s founder, which is a fun bit of local flavor.
Other choices include Mushroom and Cheese, Spinach and Feta, Veggie, and Meat Lovers omelettes. There’s a good match for almost every craving.
Shakshuka shows up on the menu as well. That’s a nice surprise for a small-town breakfast spot and a welcome change from the usual scramble.
Hungry folks can go for Lois Valerie’s Breakfast Combo. It brings three eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and your choice of meat.
The Lake County Combo leans Southern with cheese grits, two eggs, a meat, and toast. Belgian Waffles and Biscuits and Gravy round out the morning lineup.
Chicken, Biscuits and Gravy is there for anyone wanting extra comfort. It’s the kind of plate that makes a lazy Saturday feel earned.
Honestly, the savory side holds its own. The pancakes just happen to be louder.
5. Lunch Shows Up Before The Doors Close At 2
Sleeping in doesn’t mean missing out here. The kitchen also serves a lunch menu, so late risers still have plenty of options.
A Meatball Sub sits right at the top of the midday choices. There’s also a Chicken Salad Sandwich, a BLT, and a good old Grilled Cheese.
Chicken Strips and a burger round out the list. That covers just about every classic lunch mood you could bring through the door.
Seasonal specials keep the menu interesting, too. Past fall items included a Cobb Salad, Cheeseburger, Turkey Club, and Buffalo Chicken Sub.
Hours run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day of the week. That makes it easy to plan, whether you’re an early bird or a brunch-time wanderer.
I like that lunch doesn’t feel like an afterthought. A place famous for pancakes could easily stop there, but this one keeps going.
Here’s a useful plan for groups. Split a giant pancake as a starter, then let everyone order a sandwich, and you’ve got brunch handled.
Is that too much food? Maybe, but leftovers exist for a reason.
6. Your Coffee Order Gets Serious Respect Here
A Honey Cinnamon Specialty Latte might be the coziest phrase on the drink menu. It sounds like a warm hug in a mug, and that’s exactly the point.
The coffee comes from Axum Coffee. Regular coffee and lattes are both available, so you can keep it simple or get fancy.
Hot tea and iced tea are on the list as well. That makes sense, since the owners also run Infusion Tea in Orlando.
Fresh-squeezed orange juice feels right at home in Florida. Ordering it here almost seems like a local requirement.
Kids and grown-up kids can pick milk or chocolate milk. Soft drinks are available for anyone who wants something fizzy with lunch.
Seasonal drinks pop up throughout the year, too. Keep an eye out for new flavors when the weather shifts.
My suggestion is pairing the honey cinnamon latte with a Maple Pecan pancake. Those two flavors seem made for each other.
Orange juice lovers, go ahead and order a big glass. A giant pancake deserves a sunny sidekick, and Florida citrus fits the job perfectly.
7. A Second Chance Is Baked Right Into The Business
Every pancake here supports something bigger than breakfast. Virginia’s Pancake Palace operates as a Second Chance Cafe.
The restaurant partners with The Penitent Thief, an organization that helps employ people who were previously incarcerated. It gives them steady work and a real shot at a fresh start.
Owners Christina and Brad Cowherd also focus on stable housing. They want to help people rebuild their lives, not just fill shifts.
The name has a sweet story behind it, too. The Cowherds named the restaurant after their daughter, Virginia.
I believe a mission like this changes how a meal feels. You’re not just ordering eggs, you’re backing a family’s effort to help their community.
The couple has restaurant experience beyond this spot. They also run Infusion Tea in Orlando and several Parlor Doughnuts locations.
That background shows up in the polished menu and app. Still, the heart of the place clearly comes from that second chance promise.
So next time you split a hubcap pancake, take a moment to appreciate it. That breakfast is doing some quiet good in Florida.
8. Skip The Wait With A Few Taps On Your Phone
Ordering ahead is a big deal when the menu includes pancakes the size of hubcaps. Virginia’s Pancake Palace offers online ordering plus its own app.
The app lets you order ahead and skip wait times. That’s handy on busy weekend mornings when everyone in town wants breakfast at once.
Paying is easy, too. Apple Pay and Google Pay both work, so you don’t need to dig for a wallet.
Rewards come with the app as well. Frequent pancake fans can rack up perks just by eating what they already love.
I can’t imagine a better use for technology than faster breakfast. Few modern inventions feel quite this practical.
Picking up a giant pancake to go might take some planning. Bring a flat spot in the car, because tilting it would be a sad sight.
The app also works well for quick lunch runs. Grab a meatball sub or chicken salad sandwich without hanging around.
Download it before your first visit if you can. Those rewards start adding up quickly, especially if one hubcap pancake turns into a weekly habit.
9. Find It On A Corner That Locals Already Know
Howey-in-the-Hills residents may recognize the building right away. The restaurant now fills the spot that once held the Howey Market.
You’ll find it at 101 S Palm Ave, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737. It sits at the corner of Central and South Palm Avenues.
The town is small, so the address is easy to find. A quick turn off the main roads gets you right to pancake headquarters.
The restaurant held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on July 30, 2026. That makes it one of the newest breakfast stops in this part of Florida.
Hours stay the same all week, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. No need to memorize a tricky schedule or guess which day it closes.
I like how a familiar corner got a fresh new purpose. Old buildings with new stories always make a town feel lively.
Plan your morning around a slow drive through town. Then park, order a hubcap pancake, and call it a successful day.
Honestly, few small towns can say their newest landmark comes served on a pizza pan.









