The Pancake Parlour Doncaster’s restaurant celebrates its 35th birthday, still trading during coronavirus

It’s one of Melbourne’s original 24-hour restaurants and has served everyone from families to clubbers kicking on after a big night. And Doncaster’s Pancake Parlour is still going strong after it celebrated its 35th birthday this week.

Pancake Parlour managing director Mandy David with HR Manager Adriana Pekic and Doncaster restaurant Manager Ron Singh. The restaurant is still taking pick-up orders and celebrated its 35th birthday this week. Picture: Penny Stephens.

It’s welcomed diners for decades of family gatherings, birthday parties and late night romance in its famous booths.

But days out from its 35th birthday, the 24-hour Doncaster Pancake Parlour had to cut its hours and close its doors for the first time last week.

The coronavirus outbreak has restricted trading hours and halted dining at the much-loved Manningham institution for an unknown period.

Pancake Parlour’s managing director Mandy David said it forced the restaurant’s owners to rush out and get a lock and barrel for its front doors.

“It was the first time its ever happened (closing) and we had to send our property guy in,” he said.

Adriana Pekic, Ron Singh and Mandy David at The Pancake Parlour Doncaster, which celebrated its 35th birthday this week. Picture: Penny Stephens.

“It was very surreal, and for me it was jaw-dropping. Like many people it was surreal having to change a business model that had been such a success for so long.”

Ms David has been with the company for 30 years and spent five years working at the Doncaster restaurant, which opened on March 24, 1985.

The plaque outside Doncaster’s 24-hour Pancake Parlour restaurant, which celebrated its 35th birthday this week. Picture: Penny Stephens.

She said it was one of first 24-hour restaurants in the suburbs and still had its trademark features including its booths and funny mirrors.

“It was our first real flagship store,” she said.

“It was such an exciting time to be open 24 hours in that era; restaurants used to close at 9pm and we were flat out.
“We’ve kept the booths the same and made them a bit more plush … the lovely lady still adores the premises, and the black and white floor still part of the design element.”

Ms David has many vivid memories of working at Doncaster and said its around-the-clock trade brought in plenty of cheeky revellers.

Beth Paterson and India Moore flipping pancakes inside Pancake Parlour’s Doncaster restaurant.

“Some of the things I’ve seen go on in the carpark are a bit too wild to say,” she said.

“When the nightclubs shut up at Shoppo (now Westfield Doncaster), they would all come down and be kissing and hugging in the booths and having pancakes at 4am in the morning, but people are a bit more behaved now.”

Ms David said the coronavirus outbreak had curtailed plans for a 35th birthday celebration at the venue, but it would be held once restrictions were lifted.

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She said the Doncaster venue was still offering a takeaway menu from 10am to 11pm daily, along with Pancake Parlour’s restaurants at Fountain Gate, Highpoint, Malvern East and Plenty Valley.

“We want to stay here as long as we can and we have a wonderful community out there,” she said.

“Our longstanding customers come to Doncaster, and we’re going to see them all again at the other side of this.”

Details: pancakeparlour.com.au

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