Robb Walsh visits Kelley's

Like my Dad recently, they quickly were defeated by the huge portions.

There is only a 50-cent difference between a full stack of three pancakes and a short stack of two at Kelley's. But you might as well save the half a buck because you can't eat two of these. My companion had eaten about a quarter of a two-pancake pile. I know it's hard to imagine someone getting full on half a pancake.

Rather than resort to metaphors and hyperbole, I brought the giant flapjacks home in a Styrofoam container and took the tape measure to them. Each griddle cake measured a half-inch in height and eight inches in diameter. I put the equivalent of a full pancake on the scale, and it weighed nine ounces. Which means a full stack at Kelley's is around a pound and two-thirds of pancakes.

Yes, he did experience the monster mutant Idaho baked potatoes. Yes, he learned the to-go box is your friend. Yes, he did experience the sometimes oddly flavorless catfish, often the food is bland except for many sides which have Southern style seasonings added to a canned base. He missed the great desserts, but can you blame him?

Hours: Sundays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. 365 days a year.
Grand slam breakfast: $8.99
Iron skillet breakfast: $9.99
Short stack of pancakes: $4.49
Kelley burger: $4.49
Chicken-fried steak dinner: $6.99

There are a number of Houston area locations.

Tags: Houston, restaurants, good eats, food