The Waffle House of Columbia, Missouri: A Local Standby

The Waffle House is one of our regular weekend breakfast stops. It is just a couple miles down the road from us and just off of Interstate 70 in Columbia, Missouri, which makes it easy for travelers to also stop in at. When you first walk in it can be a little overwhelming when everyone, cooks and servers included, all give you a hearty "Good Morning and Welcome to the Waffle House!" Sometimes its embarrassing, especially when we have just woke up and headed straight to breakfast without a shower, and you walk in and everyone looks up to see just who the cooks and servers are yelling good morning to. We tend to just duck our heads and run to the nearest open table during these times but if we managed to clean up before a weekend breakfast we don't mind the jovial greetings.

The Waffle House is not a large restaurant and it does not take much for it to become full with long lines out the door. We try to arrive at those in between times when the restaurant is slowest and we can get a better seat. We prefer sitting at a booth for four, even thought there are only two of us, but if we cannot get that then we try for a booth for two. Our least favorite is to sit at the counter next to people we do not know but there are mornings when hash browns scattered and smothered with a well done waffle are calling our names so loudly that we ignore our seating arrangements and belly up to the bar.

We often eat at Waffle House because it is such an inexpensive restaurant. Our entire ticket always runs less than $15.00 and that includes tip. We do not skimp either and eat what we want. My husband's favorite is the bacon and egg sandwich with a well done waffle. There has only been one trip in which his waffle was not cooked to his satisfaction. My meal usually consists of an egg with hash browns scattered and smothered, which in Waffle House lingo means I want the hash browns scattered on the plate and cooked (smothered!) with chopped onions.

Even when very busy the servers generally do a very good job. My husband rarely has to ask for a refill on his coffee as they come by often and we never sit for very long before our food arrives. The Waffle House does do most of their cooking and cleaning right in front of you and this can sometimes take a little getting used to. We enjoy seeing our food made in front of us and watching the servers run around when we have to sit at the counter.

The Waffle House is an excellent place to stop for breakfast, even breakfast for dinner, whether you are just traveling through or you live around the corner.