The Flying Biscuit - Organic Oatmeal Pancakes

It had been awhile since I last visited the Flying Biscuit.  Then one day I started craving their organic oatmeal pancakes.  I remembered that I have their cookbook and could just make them.  The recipe looks easy enough but I decided I wanted to be served.  I prefer the Candler Park location in Atlanta.  I like the neighborhood location and know where to find parking.  For example, I either park on McClendon Ave or Clifton Rd.  In addition, there is a plaza directly across from the front entrance of the restaurant (on McClendon Ave).  Free parking is available behind the plaza. 

There are several Flying Biscuit restaurants in the ATL.  I think I prefer this one because it is the original.  It opened in 1993.  In 2007, it became a franchise and opened a second restaurant in the ATL.  http://www.bison.com/press_TheFlyingBiscuit_05042007  I, like many, rolled my eyes assuming that the quality and the uniqueness of the restaurant would diminish.  Let's just say that could be true.  I mostly go to the Candler Park location and the food is consistently good.  The only other location that I've been to is the one in midtown.  I remember the food being good.  However, I find parking in this area to be annoying.  If I remember correctly, the restaurant provides parking for customers but I remember their lot being full on a number of occassions and having to park elsewhere.  It is just down the street from Piedmont Park so it would be great to eat at the restaurant and walk down to the park.  For some reason, the Midtown (Piedmont Ave) location seemes more cramped than the Candler Park location.  If you go on a Saturday, my recommendation is to get there before 9 am.  As a general rule of thumb, it seems that by 10 am, most good breakfast restaurants in the ATL are crowded and you will be placed on a waiting list.

The Flying Biscuit also sells a cookbook which I purchased a long time ago.  I was happy to find the recipe for the Organic Oatmeal Pancakes inside.  In the restaurant, it is served with a peach compote.  These pancakes are delicious.  They are also very dense and heavy.  Flying Biscuit serves more than breakfast.  I've been going to this restaurant for many, many years but I've only had breakfast which is served all day.  (http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/)

Hearty Organic Oatmeal Pancakes
2 cups organic rolled oats (regular and not the quick oats)
2 cups nonfat buttermilk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup all-pupose flower
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of salt
Canola oil for griddle

Combine oats and butttermilk in a large bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.  Add in eggs and melted butter to oat mixture and stir.  Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Add to oat mixture and mix together.  Preheat griddle over medium-low heat and coat with canola oil.  Ladle batter in 1/4 cup measurements onto griddle.  When bubbles appear, flip pancakes and cook until golden brown - about 5 minutes per side.  Serve hot with maple syrup.  Makes about 20 pancakes.

***I have not made these pancakes before but may try to make them some day***

Ria's Bluebird...Best Pancakes in Atlanta!!!

Recently, I discovered the best pancakes in Atlanta at Ria's Bluebird (riasbluebird.com). By discover, I mean that a friend told me about it and I trusted her food judgement. I went two consecutive Saturdays just to check that these were the best pancakes I've had since arriving in the ATL way back in 1987. Pancakes are always on the menu, however they also have a specialty pancake each week...like the blueberry pancakes that I had. What made these pancakes the best was the fact that they were very light and served hot. The pancakes had just the right amount of juicy blueberries throughout. The second time I went I had the pecan pancakes (in photo) and these were nicely done as well. Pancakes come with warm maple syrup. Most pancakes served at restaurants are very heavy and sometimes can be a little uncooked. It also seems that restaurants have a hard time serving hot pancakes although it is generally understood that it doesn't take long for pancakes to get cold.

Ria's Bluebird is located in the Grant Park section of Atlanta. If you approach the restaurant from either end of Memorial Drive you may question whether or not a really good restaurant exists along this particular stretch of Memorial Drive. It is an area in need of development. However, I always find that the most interesting restaurants are found in unlikely places. It is located across the street from the Historic Oakland Cemetery. This cemetery is so historic that it dates back to 1850, has its own website and walking tours. To the rear of the restaurant are the beautiful, historic homes characteristic of Grant Park.

Ria's opens each day at 8 am. Both times, I visited on a Saturday around 9:30 am. There was a line waiting outside and the wait was about 15 minutes. There are two areas for seating. The front of the restaurant is the best. The back of the restaurant was a little drafty but tolerable. Be prepared to do some parallel parking along the side of the restaurant. As with most intown restaurants, there is limited restaurant parking. The website isn't always current but has some interesting videos on it.