Idaho Vacation: McCall Pancake and Christmas House

How do you choose where to eat while on vacation?  The biggest signs and pretty buildings often do not translate to good food.  A survey of reviews made prior to beginning your Idaho vacation often leads to good recommendations.  Often small, local, out of the way places, are real gems.  Uncovering them is sometimes trial and error. 

My wife an I recently traveled to McCall for the McCall Winter Carnival.  I should have, but  didn’t, check some reviews.  After touring part of the town an viewing snow sculptures for awhile, we decided to get some lunch.   Our choice was made more out of convenience than any other criteria. 

The McCall Pancake and Christmas House is as the name indicates, a restaurant as well as a Christmas store.  Actually it also houses an exhibition bakery,  Italian gelato, and a sheepskin and leather goods stores as well.  It is conveniently located on Highway 55 towards the south side of town.  It also had a large snow sculpture across the street. 

My wife ordered a platter sized pancake with an egg, ground beef patty and applesauce.  The pancake really was platter sized and good.  I went for an omelet called McCall Best, served with biscuits and gravy. 

Service was timely, surroundings were clean and neat, and the food was very adequate.  My wife’s meal was good in all regards.  My omelet was very good but the biscuits and gravy were just average.  The gravy should have been hotter and the biscuit was a bit dry.  Serving portions were very generous.  There is a wide variety of menu items thereby making decisions pretty tough.

The Christmas store, located in the same building, has a large and nice variety of Christmas and home decorating goods and they seem to be priced reasonably.  The desert end of the building, bakery and gelato,  has a very tempting array of sweets to go with a large variety of coffees and espresso drinks.  Navigating through the numerous choices is a fun experience. 

The building housing all these businesses is a beautiful log structure.  A visit to McCall would not be complete without adding this to your list of things to do.  Hours are Sunday –Tuesday 6 am – 2 pm, Wednesday – Saturday 6 am – 9 pm.  Add this stop to your Idaho vacation. 

Information:
Address – 209 N 3rd St (on Hwy 55), south end of town
Phone – 208-634-5849
Web site - http://mccallpancakehouse.com/
Directions – from the south, go through the intersection of Hwy 55 and Deinhard Lane, continue about 300 feet, Pancake House is on the right.  It is across the Hwy from the Holiday Inn Hunt Lodge.  From the north, follow Hwy 55 through town an look for the Pancake House as you near the south side of town.  You cannot miss the large log building.