Durham, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, and Jackson, Tennessee
People are creatures of habit, and they want to find comfort, no matter what time of day or night it is. When you have been on the road for a long time, people want to be able to sit down to a consistent, well-cooked meal. If there were an appealing meal that could be served at any time of day, many people would probably choose breakfast. Many jokes have been made about this, but there is a lot of truth to being able to sit down and eat pancakes, waffles, or bacon and eggs at any time. There’s one chain that does this as well as anybody, and that is the Waffle House.
Waffle House gets a lot of jokes; people joke about the clientele who visit at night. They joke that Waffle House is really southern hibachi. They joke about the fights that occur. They even joke about how bad a storm is based on when Waffle Houses are closed. But you know what people do not joke about when it comes to Waffle House? No one ever jokes about the quality. You can go into a Waffle House at any time of day, anywhere in the United States, and you know what to expect. Your food will be made to order by someone who is well-versed in ensuring that your eggs are cooked to perfection, that your hash browns are prepared the way you want them, and that, if you order a waffle, it is delicious and melts in your mouth.
Whenever I’ve been driving somewhere, especially with children, I know I can go into a Waffle House and get a good, well-cooked meal. The food will appeal to them and be filling. The prices will be reasonable, and I can take a break from driving. In my experience, Waffle House has been pretty much the best every time except late night, when you might come across some sketchy characters. However, I wouldn’t put anything past any of the cooks or waitstaff to handle the situation. Unfortunately, some Waffle Houses only allow ordering late in the evening because some folks just don’t know how to behave.
So, when should you go to Waffle House? I’ll go to Waffle House if I am traveling with children or picky eaters, if I am looking for value compared to a fast-food place, or if I just want a meal cooked in front of me. I don’t get to Waffle House often, but it is always a treat when I can stop on the road. When driving across the South, Waffle House is a welcome pit stop on any road trip.
