Pancake Pantry restaurant set to open on Sunshine Plaza Riverwalk

An exciting new addition coming to the Sunshine Plaza Riverwalk is set to put a modern twist on a classic breakfast item. Find out what restaurant is opening soon:

A new restaurant with ties to a famed 24-hour pancake parlour in Brisbane is set to open its doors in a prime Sunshine Coast location.

Pancake Pantry is due to open at Sunshine Plaza’s Riverwalk precinct on December 10.

Sunshine Coast Washers and Fridges supremos John Buck and Michael Liashenko jumped on the opportunity to open their own hospitality venture with their new pancake restaurant set to replace the former Mad Mex premises.

The new restaurant would offer a fresh take on a traditional breakfast item by incorporating “light and bright” flavours.

Owner John Buck (left) and group manager Michael Liashenko (right) spotted the empty restaurant space on the Riverwalk in November and decided to take the plunge.

Mr Buck also purchased the Mount Gravatt Pancake Manor – a 10-year-old sister store to the iconic Brisbane CBD Pancake Manor famous for its 24-hour offerings – in November and planned to turn it into a second Pancake Pantry in the new year.

“We want to build Pancake Pantry together with the customers. We want them to come here and give us their ideas and those ideas can flow into the refit,” Mr Buck said.

The major renovations of the Sunshine Coast store aren’t due to start until 2022, but Mr Buck wanted to open the doors before Christmas to let the locals have as much input as possible.

“We want customers to come in and feel they are part of the family,” he said.

Pancake Pantry will be stacked with other delicious menu items including milkshakes, bacon and eggs, savoury crepes and burgers.

Pancake Manor in Mount Gravatt is set to become Pancake Pantry.

Mr Buck said the store would open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and would cater to all ages being situated near the cinema, Timezone and nearby licensed venues.

“Everyone loves a pancake and there is nothing quite like it in the market so we are trying to be the Australian iHop (American pancake house restaurant chain),” he said.

Group manager Michael Liashenko curated the menu using his background as a chef and will oversee the kitchen side of the business.

He said pancakes have a special place in his heart as they reminded him of his childhood.

Pancake Pantry will replace Mad Mex Cantina along the Riverwalk at the Sunshine Plaza.

“My grandma was Russian and as a small child we would go to her house for breakfast and she would start making these pancakes at about 5am in the morning and by the time we got up there was a stack of 50 pancakes with homemade jams and fresh cream,” Mr Liashenko said.

“I don’t think anyone has a bad memory about eating pancakes, it’s always a special food.”

Both Mr Buck and Mr Liashenko are excited to start their new business journey and will employ between 25 to 30 staff members at the Sunshine Coast store.

“With the right team we will be able to make sure that we’re offering good service and good food,” he said.