From ancient Rome to millennial brunch culture, pancakes have long been a breakfast staple — and a natural companion to a mimosa.
Across Sonoma County, chefs put their own spin on the classic stack. Here are some favorites, from fluffy buttermilk pancakes to thin Swedish-style versions and a Dutch Baby big enough to share. Enjoy them on National Pancake Day, Sept. 26, or any day of the year.
Best Newcomer
Dolce Rosa: These plate-size ricotta pancakes are good enough on their own, but the espresso-spiked mascarpone and chocolate syrup, finished with a dusting of cocoa, push them firmly into dessert territory. Breakfast, meet tiramisu. 4910 Sonoma Highway, Suite B, Santa Rosa. 707-931-4625, instagram.com/dolcerosacafe
The Classic
Dierk’s Parkside Café: Simple, fluffy pancakes come with eggs and bacon at this longtime Santa Rosa breakfast favorite. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
Sweetest Treat
Cafe Carrusel: Strawberry Heaven pink pancakes with sweet glaze and colorful marshmallows are a childhood dream at this pink-on-pink bruncheria in downtown Santa Rosa. The morning-centric menu also includes matcha, ube, blueberry, red velvet, Oreo and classic buttermilk pancakes. 630 Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-655-8365, instagram.com/cafe_carrusel
Sleeper Hit
Fandee’s Restaurant: Rich, fluffy lemon-ricotta pancakes are served with berries and vanilla crème anglaise. 7824 Covert Lane, Sebastopol, 707-829-2462, fandeesrestaurant.com
Best Lemon-Ricotta Hotcake
Acorn Cafe: At the former Oakville Grocery site, Acorn Cafe serves a lemon-ricotta hotcake with house lemon curd, whipped ricotta and oat crumble, topped with lemon-lavender ice cream. 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-955-7001, acornhealdsburg.com
Big and Buttery
Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe: Buttermilk pancakes arrive as large as dinner plates, accompanied by two eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage or ham. 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com
Brunch Favorite
Verano Cafe: Plate-size lemon pancakes get their distinctive texture from cottage cheese, eggs and lemon. Pair them with a mimosa — passion fruit is a favorite — or a cup of coffee. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-931-6837, veranocafesonoma.com
Bavarian-Style
Brother’s Cafe: The owners of Sebastopol’s Hole in the Wall opened this sister restaurant in 2022. The standout is the Dutch Baby, a German-style pancake with caramelized sugar and apples. 3135 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-541-6345, brotherscafesr.com
Swedish-Style
Thin, crepe-like pancakes from Sweden aren’t hard to find in Sonoma County.
Baked on the River: The Pancakes from the North are thin and folded, served with vanilla whipped cream, lingonberry jam, butter and maple syrup. 16390 Fourth St., Guerneville, 707-865-6060, bakedontheriver.com
Stockhome: These plate-sized pancakes have crisp edges and a hint of sweetness, and come with vanilla whipped cream and berries. 220 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-981-8511, stockhomepetaluma.com
Fill ’Er Up
Sax’s Joint: For sheer size, it’s hard to beat the restaurant’s enormous pancake, which is roughly the size of a pizza and made with a half-gallon of batter. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Farm-to-Table
Americana: Pancakes, hot off the griddle, are top-notch. Choose from classic, blueberry or chocolate-chip pancakes, served with housemade vanilla-cider maple syrup, whipped cream and seasonal fruit. 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3309; 205 Fifth St., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548, americanasonomacounty.com
Best with Your Dog
Howard Station Cafe: This dog-friendly, locomotive-themed cafe serves stacks of buttermilk, blueberry and banana-walnut pancakes. 3611 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-2838, howardstationcafe.com, instagram.com/howardstationcafe
Craving a stack of pancakes? From fluffy buttermilk classics and lemon-ricotta creations to Swedish-style pancakes and a shareable Dutch Baby, Sonoma County has plenty of ways to satisfy your breakfast cravings. Explore these local favorites and find a new spot for your next brunch outing.
