If you noticed a hint of something sweet in the air around Burleigh Waters, you were not mistaken. After months of ambiguous ‘family diner’ signage catching the inquisitive eyes of passers by, Pancake Diner Burleigh has officially fired up the grill. The impressive $1-million venue is the latest from Aruba Group, headed by Glen and Michelle Day, who are 35-year hospitality veterans. Among Aruba’s stable is Surfers Paradise institution Pancakes in Paradise, Montezuma’s Surfers Paradise, The Aztec in Broadbeach and Coolangatta, as well as another Pancake Diner at The Strand in Coolangatta. The retro 1950s-inspired fit-out transports diners back in time with classic red-and-white leather booths, Elvis tunes pouring out from drive-in movie theatre speakers dotted around the dining room and an eye-catching Route 66 mural. In the back corner, you’ll spy a 1957 Chevy booth feature that we’re willing to bet will be a hot commodity for kids and grown-ups alike.

As you can probably deduce from the name, pancakes are a key menu item. Fluffy, delicious and slathered with your choice of toppings. Opt for the classic whipped butter and syrup, or go wild with something from ‘The Ultimate Indulgence’ section of the menu, which includes the likes of Chocolate Juliette (chocolate pancakes with chocolate ice-cream, chocolate fudge and whipped cream sprinkled with tiny chocolate chunks) and fruit-topped creations such as fresh strawberries and sliced banana drizzled with house-made passion fruit coulis. There’s so much more to the menu at Pancake Diner than fat stacks. The expansive all-day offering ranges from breakfast essentials including eggs Benedict with house-made hollandaise, through to light bites featuring fried chicken wings. The hot dogs have been an early stand-out among diners, with five different flavours (plain, cheese, fried onion, chilli and American with the works). Flip the page and you’ll find the burgers and mains, which includes the Nachos Aztec, a nod to Aruba Group’s Mexican restaurants. As for the drinks, you’ll find an array of milkshakes (that can be spiked) and classic ice-cream-topped spiders alongside a clutch of cocktails, beer and wines. If it’s a little too early in the day for a boozy beverage, there’s a coffee window to the side slinging Merlo brews from 7:00 am.

Pancake Diner Burleigh is now open! There’s a grand-opening party on Saturday December 2 with plenty of mouth-watering deals as well as classic cars and balloons for kids.