Pilora’s Cafe
Pilora’s Cafe is a staple in Oshkosh. It’s a small cafe that’s been around forever. We’ve been there many times before this visit. I promise this time we will look at it with unbiased, fresh eyes and hold nothing back. JK, we unabashedly love this place.
In A Bite
Ambiance: Cozy, bright, neighborly
Music: It was too busy for me to remember
Service: Friendly and efficient
Price: $-$$
Food Style: Mediterranean with cafe twist (we have a hard time seeing the Mediterranean but that’s what they claim it is)
What to Order: Cornbread Pancakes
Go Again?: Yes
The Whole Plate
Atmosphere
Just off UWO’s campus on Main St., you’ll find this little breakfast platter of heaven nuzzled between two tiny parking lots. This is just enough space to park all the occupants of the sitting area unless everyone drove separately. The interior is rustic and homely, with a colorful, chalk board menu, murals, and decorations that don’t try too hard. A real Brick Heck moment but papyrus for a logo font? Cheesy. But it is small town Wisconsin. Despite direct entrances to the bitter cold on either side, it still manages to remain toasty inside.
Service
This toastiness is probably generated by the friendly staff. With such a small space to work with, they are constantly moving to keep the influx of people moving. This doesn’t prevent them from being personal. They know their regular customer’s names and orders, which I overheard at a table behind ours. It’s all old school order taking with a little note pad and then you pay at the front counter. Card is accepted so you can buy them out of pancakes.
Food
Here’s our order:
- Dave
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Nitro Coldbrew Coffee – 5$
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Cornbread pancakes w/ chocolate chips – 12$
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Local maple syrup – $1
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Linds
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Quiche – 12$
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Cappuccino – 3$
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Every meal comes with a small starter of sorts. We suggest the glazed grapes. Simple, sweet cream glaze over grapes and pecans. Satisfies until the main course.
The pancakes were a special and golly gee do I wish I had a stack higher than Lambeau. These are no ordinary pancakes. These are cornbread pancakes. Commonly referred to in the south as hoe cakes or johnnycakes. It’s like half cornbread, half pancake batter so it retains the fluff of the pancake while adding the crunch of a cornbread.These pancakes could make breakfast with a Bears fan actually enjoyable. Lindsay calls me crazy for adding local maple syrup in addition to the chocolate chips. I may die from sugar overload but I’ll die satisfied. I should note the chocolate chips were a special addition. Normally, you can get the cornbread pancakes with cherries or pecans.
The sweetness of the pancakes was countered by the dark nitro cold brew. It made for a great combo. When it first comes out though, it looks like you’re drinking a stout or ale for breakfast. The head lingers for a while. So if you’re looking to confuse people early morning, it’s a fun option. I guess that isn’t crazy unusual for Wisconsin though.
The hash browns… delicious. Full of garlic flavor but not overpowered, they pair wonderfully with the quiche over a bed of bacon.
Every time we go to Pilora’s cafe, it’s like being invited over to your parents for breakfast except your parents can cook really well and have also taken barista classes on the weekend. I shall have my pancakes once again.