The cooks were cracking eggs, flipping pancakes and working the griddle while servers moved through the room. There was a rhythm to it, and the longer I watched, the more I appreciated the people behind it.

I remember Cesar working the counter in front of the griddle. He was lively, funny and always had a story. JJ worked at the east end and was meticulous about everything. Watching the two of them was a little like watching an odd couple. Tony cooked there for decades. Regular customers sometimes barely needed to order, the cooks already knew what they wanted.

The Pantry was filled with small details that stayed with you. I remember bowls of vegetables on the tables and strawberry preserves served at breakfast. Beneath the cashier’s station, generations of customers wore a spot into the floor. Even when the flooring was replaced, the same worn spot eventually returned.

Most of all, I remember how familiar the Pantry felt. My grandmother’s cooking had the same straightforward, comforting quality. Sitting at the counter with eggs, potatoes and pancakes in front of me always felt a little like returning to her kitchen.

That is what I look forward to experiencing again: taking my usual seat, watching the cooks work and enjoying a meal in a place that has been part of my family’s life for generations.

For me, returning to The Original Pantry will feel like coming home.

Robert Louis Sihler
August 2026