Old Sugar Mill Pancake House

Restaurant · Volusia County ·

Old Sugar Mill Pancake House

Restaurant · Volusia County ·

Interactive pancake house in historic sugar mill, cook on table griddle

Information

601 Ponce Deleon Blvd, De Leon Springs, FL 32130 Get directions

$10–20

@atlasobscura

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Old Sugar Mill Pancake House – De Leon Springs, Florida - Gastro Obscura

"De Leon Springs State Park, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Florida, where nature and history converge in a picturesque setting. At the heart of this enchanting destination lies the Old Sugar Mill, home to a unique dining experience that seamlessly combines culinary delight with the lush beauty of the state park. The Old Sugar Mill, a historic wooden building with timeless charm, offers a dining experience like no other. Overlooking the tranquil waters of Spring Garden Lake within De Leon Springs State Park, guests are invited to immerse themselves in the verdant surroundings while engaging in a truly hands-on culinary adventure. Here, at the pancake house within the Old Sugar Mill, visitors have the opportunity to build and flip their own pancakes table-side, adding a dash of fun to their dining experience. As you patiently wait for a table, take advantage of the park’s abundant outdoor activities. Explore the natural wonders by embarking on a refreshing hike, take a leisurely swim, or paddle across the pristine waters in a canoe or kayak. For those seeking a more guided experience, the park offers an eco/history boat tour, an hour-long journey that unveils the rich ecological and historical tapestry of the area. De Leon Springs State Park provides various watercraft options for rent, including canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats, allowing visitors to chart their own course across the shimmering waters of Spring Garden Lake. Wander over to the visitor center located across the swimming area, where additional information and resources await to enhance your park experience. A short paved trail leads to Old Methuselah, an ancient Cypress tree, offering a glimpse into the park’s natural heritage. For those seeking a more adventurous path, non-paved trail hiking options beckon, promising an immersive encounter with the untamed beauty of the surroundings. De Leon Springs State Park and the Old Sugar Mill stand as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of history, nature, and gastronomic delights. Whether you’re flipping pancakes or exploring the wonders of the park, this destination invites you to savor the richness of Florida’s landscapes and heritage in every moment. Know Before You Go To eat here, you'll need to pay the entry fee to the park, which is $6 per car (up to 8 people). During peak times the park can reach capacity, so arrive early. Make sure to add your name to the waiting list for the pancake house as soon as you arrive as it can be a wait sometimes." - nikisb, GrowAnOak, johnsonrae, strout99, crnissen, lukefater

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/old-spanish-sugar-mill

Old Sugar Mill Pancake House

Paul St G.

Google

The atmosphere here is fun…if you don’t mind making your own pancakes it’s lots of fun, if you’d rather not cook your own food, you can choose from other breakfast options on the menu. You have a choice of three different batters; House specialty (today was gingersnaps), buttermilk and buckwheat optional bacon and sausage, blueberries, (mini) chocolate chips and other items. Gratuity’s are included…important to note…very reasonably priced. Reservations are not available, however, there is a short riverboat cruise and if you book the cruise, they’ll hold your table while you’re on the cruise.

Katrina D.

Google

The Old Sugar Mill Pancake house is definitely a must visit when visiting the park! We came for breakfast - making your own eggs and pancakes is very unique and fun and we loved that. Quite a basic breakfast menu - I wouldn’t say it blew me away but it was still nice and I would go again. I think $3 for chocolate chips and other toppings was a bit steep, these really could be included in the price of the pancakes. Could also offer different flavour maple syrups. It would have been nice to have been offered some sauces for our savory stuff - like hot sauce or ketchup etc. We arrived early 8:45 on a Friday and walked right in - I’ve heard there can be up to a 2 hour wait on a weekend so just be mindful of that.

J D

Google

It was a great experience for our family. Two adults with two teens. We walked trails waiting till our table was ready, we even saw manatees. It was a little pricey but we felt the time at the table with eachother was worth it. Food was really good and so was the waitress.

Joseph P.

Google

This place was so fun and I could not recommend it more for a wonderful experience! We tried the all you can eat pancakes, and I got the flavor of the month which was pumpkin spice. Our waitress was super kind and told us the history of the place, and she was always checking up on us. Cooking your own pancakes in front of you is a neat experience and I will definitely be back and bring more people along with me this time.

FLA P.

Google

1st TIMERS BE AWARE‼️🔥NO AC & VERY HOT IN SUMMER🔥This is like camping out, You Cook your own pancakes & eggs (if you can stand the hot indoors & heat from hot griddle in the middle of table!). Our Reservation was "Cancelled" when you're not on time & didn't check in early. Had to wait an hour for the 2nd reservation that kept getting pushed back. (So family went swimming while waiting). If you don't care about the heat and long wait, then This is the place for you! Otherwise, it's TOO HOT & Everyone is miserable‼️ Deleon Springs is a State Park that you also have to pay $6 admission to get inside. It's beautiful, but PACKED in summertime with busloads of summer camps. They do have "Old Sugar Mill Express" for ordering outside, bring your patience. Parking is far away, so be prepared for 10min brisk walk too (we brought a wagon for our tent, chairs, towels, etc). If you're here for the day, then this is the only option to eat for those that didnt pack food. One & done for our family, it was not a pleasant experience‼️

Alessandra C

Google

Cool concept, terrible execution. You can cook your own pancakes and eggs on a griddle at the table. Kudos to them for the concept, but the restaurant has no A/C (yes, in Florida, in the summer), just a few struggling fans. It was boiling inside. We were a group of six. Four meals came out first, the other two 20 minutes later. The waiter apologized and said those would be free, which we thought was quite nice of him. However, he ended up just giving us 10% off on the 2 plates without an explanation. The manager said "he shouldn't have said that" and refused to help. I ordered the Mill Breakfast with ham and wheat toast. Everything was okay; the only differential was the fact that I got to fry my own eggs and grill my already cooked ham. I guess they keep it simple to keep the prices low, which is understandable. In sum, entrees are cheap (under $10), the concept is fun, but you'll pay in sweat and frustration. Go early, sit near the door, and don't even bother trying to make a reservation because the website doesn't work.

Phia V.

Google

It was really fun. The restaurant was wonderful. Seeing the mill was interesting. The interactive all you can eat Pancakes was an experience. The price was tourist price. Mostly likely the add on was the expensive side. The service was good. The food was a simply delicious. Nothing out of ordinary. Just your the one cooking. We have a dun visit. ...

Elizabeth S.

Google

Always a fantastic experience! Expect a wait if you arrive after they open, but there are lots of things to keep you busy - boat rides, swimming, museum, gift shop, walking trail. The pancakes are fun to make and customize. Plus, they taste delicious!

Colleen G.

Yelp

Such a fun, Florida experience. A very important note! This restaurant is INSIDE Ponce De Leon Park. If the park is at capacity, you will not be able to enter the park and dine. We ended up having to wait a bit to enter the park, but had such a good time at the pancake house it was worth it. It's exactly as it seems, delicious pancakes you cook up on a griddle in front of you. You can add on toppings and even mimosas or a Bloody Mary! We went as a date, but it would be really fun with kids (if you can trust them not to touch the hot griddle). The spring is right outside if you want to pair it with a day of swimming or kayaking.

Stefanie S.

Yelp

This was a Bucket List spot and it was well worth it. My kids absolutely loved the experience and the pancakes were amazing. Pros: Delicious, fluffy pancakes. Fast, friendly service. Great historic and rustic building with lots of history. Cons: Really long wait with only 10 minutes to get out of the Spring and get dressed or you lose your spot, which means someone has to stand around holding onto their phone and can't really enjoy the water. Gratuity is included but we didn't see the sign until we were walking out so we wound up paying double gratuity, which almost doubled our bill. We weren't given an itemized bill; we were just told the total and handed the little handheld machine on the "add gratuity" screen and the waitress didn't mention it.

Fabu L.

Yelp

There is unfortunately nothing to tell. I drive 90 minutes for the experience for them to be closed due to a water problem: they had none. Not their fault. VERY disappointed but what can you do? Just drive the 90 minutes home after Kerri g the grandkids play on the swings. 3 weeks later, my children drive me back out there to surprise me for my birthday. They called first to ensure the house was open. Got reassured they were open. Drove the 90 minutes again and lo and behold not only did they have a 4 hour wait (yes you read that right FOUR hour wait) BUT they had just told the gate they were not taking anymore visitors for the day: FIVE hours before their closing time. Seems like Information that should have been communicated during the preamble phone call. Sooooo, drove the 90 minutes home and just made it to First Watch with no wait time. I wish I could write about the food and the ambiance, but two attempts is more than I am willing to drive 180 minutes to try some pancakes. I'm giving one star out of frustration.

Maureen C.

Yelp

It was such a fun day! The pancakes were great and the toppings they offer (at a small extra fee) made them even better. I recommend getting eggs and bacon as well. The little house was cute and clearly old with many, many stories. The server was also very kind and patient as we had two toddlers and a baby with us. Overall, 10/10!

Becki W.

Yelp

We had 25 in our party with lots of kids. Sarah, Gaby & Elana were able to get our orders taken efficiently even though we had multiple checks with parties not sitting together. Kitchen staff was fast on the orders as well. They were quick on refilling what was needed. Thank you ladies for your hard work.

Maggie V.

Yelp

This restaurant is located inside the DeLeon Springs State Park. The area is gorgeous. The springs or crystal clear and the Eagle boat trip was nice. The restaurant itself is interesting because it's an old retired. Sugarhill and their appeal is all you can eat pancakes that you make yourself on a grill in the middle of the table. There are victims of their own success because they are very busy and the wait are usually one to two hours. The food itself is average, the service is kind of slow because it appears they are shortstaffed, but the overall experience is worth it at least one time. Been there done that but it's definitely worth a trip to experience the entire park. Make sure if you choose to go that you go onto the Yelp App and you can place yourself on waiting list. We were able to plan our boat trip instead of sitting around waiting.

Faith H.

Yelp

The Old Sugar Mill is a hidden gem inside Deleon Springs! The park in enriched with Florida history like this restaurant. The wait can be long so be sure to put your name in while you enjoy all the park has to offer (water activities like kayaking, trails or a boat tour). The Yelp system made it so easy to see where you are in line and the estimated wait time to be back. The restaurant isn't air conditioned but does have a nice breeze. We did the all you can eat pancakes - the set up has a grill for you to make your own right at your table!

Josh K.

Yelp

We went near the end of a cloudy day, so the crowds were not as bad and folks might not have been in a pancake mood. This was good for us as we were seated right away! The building is actually an Old Mill so there is wood everywhere and it gives old timey ambiance. The pancakes are all you can make/eat and if you order eggs or bacon, you cook those yourself too! The first pitcher of pancake batter makes about six big and dense pancakes and that was all my wife and I could finish! My only caveat to the meal is to let diners know that there is an 18% gratuity added to all bills ... Just FYI!

Debi M.

Yelp

This place is a winner!! You get to choose your pancake batter and then cook it on the grill built into the table! It's so much fun and the food is great. There May be a long wait but it's worth it!

Chelsey C.

Yelp

Being born and raised in Deland I grew up at this place! It's a go-to place to bring out-of-town friends or family. It's an activity and a meal! It gets busy and there are long waits, sometimes, so go early or right when they open! I love they have two different pancake mixes, regular and whole wheat. Both are delicious, depending on your taste. and i typically don't like whole wheat. And, I will say, it does get superrr hot in there so beware! With no ac and hot plates all over the restaurant, just a heads up. There is a small fee to get into the park as well, so if you do visit for breakfast go walk around as well!

Janelle L.

Yelp

This place is so much fun for the entire family! The restaurant is actually a renovated old sugar mill right next to the original fountain of youth. The wait list is always long as the first time without putting ourself on the wait list until we got there was over three hours. The second time we made a reservation through Yelp and waited 30min. This restaurant is located INSIDE the state park so you will need to pay the park entry fee to get inside even if you are just eating at the sugar mill. The fun is at the table with a live hot griddle to make pancakes right in front of you! So much fun for the kids and adults as all you can eat pancakes are only $8.99! They just keep refilling the pitchers of batter over and over again until you say that's enough. There is a choice of regular buttermilk and whole grain pancakes but we always get both. The toppings can add up and come in very small containers but the syrup is free. They have maple and molasses syrups. My son got the flavor of the month lucky charms green pancakes and was so pleased! They also serve regular breakfasts but the pancakes at your table is the real draw. If you do experience a long wait just know there is plenty to do as you are in a state park. We took the boat tour and if it had not been so cold we could also have gone swimming, tubing, or canoeing if we had wanted. We did go on a great little hike on a well trampled path that led to areas to sit and see some wildlife. This place is a great time and truly unique!

Katherine G.

Yelp

The sugar mill is such an amazing place! I love that you can now use the wait list to help decrease the wait. We were able to get in line from Home and time our arrival and sit down. The wait was up to four hours at that time! The make your own pancakes is so much fun. The batter is excellent and makes such great pancakes. We tried the buttermilk and multigrain, we liked both. Our service was great. Despite the crazy wait times, the staff was super friendly and attentive. They kept our coffees and waters full. The ambiance is top notch! It doesn't get much better than this place. We sat in the back screened in area and had a great view of the water and beautiful trees! After you finish eating, you can take a dip in the water. If you do end up with a wait, there are trails, kayaks, eco tours, a lot to fill your time in the state park.

Penny C.

Yelp

Wasn't a fan. I could have saved money and cooked at home. Nothing special about their pancake mix, and no variety of syrups, cold butter in little packets. The bacon was horrible; it tasted dried out and rubber. 18% Tip was added to our ticket which is a turn off. Four adults $64.56 for breakfast we had to cook our self. Nothing special about the ingredients.

Michaela C.

Yelp

We had a GREAT time today! Long wait, but the food made up for it. Just put in a reservation as soon as you get there and swim for a little bit. Service was excellent and attentive! We also haven't stopped talking about the bacon all day, it was amazing.

Alex R.

Yelp

What a cute and creative way to re-use a defunct building! This was an old sugar mill, converted into a restaurant. We put in a reservation ahead of time and arrived a few minutes after receiving the text that our table was ready, and they were still able to seat us when we arrived. The inside is a big, open room where the tables are fitted with a big griddle in the middle for you to cook your pancakes or eggs. After being seated, someone took our drink and pancake batter preference. They give you a can of cooking spray and a bowl of butter to spread on the griddle to cook. The pancakes came out very well and were surprising fluffy on the inside. A table across from us ordered scrambled eggs, and they were brought whole eggs to whisk up themselves at the table, which is such a cute idea. Throughout our meal, the servers stopped by several times to check on us, and give us any necessary refills. Tips: - This is in the DeLeon State Park, so you will be paying a $6 entrance fee - There is already an 18% gratuity already included, and there's a big sign that states that at the entrance, so I'm not sure why some of the other reviewers were surprised to see it on their checks - The park and spring are beautiful, so get your $6 worth and walk off some of that food! - Go durning the winter, I doubt there's AC, and it would get hot inside with all of the griddles.

Leah A.

Yelp

This is a fun experience for everyone if you're visiting De Leon Springs! You will want to go here first and put your name down because more than likely there will be a wait.... they text you when your table is ready so bring your Smart Phone. The wait wasn't terribly long, but it was totally worth it. Loved cooking my own pancakes on the griddle located in the middle of our table. You can order additions like pecans, bananas, chocolate chips, peanut butter, apples, granola, glazed ham, smoked sausage, bacon, and eggs for a few extra dollars. The prices are so reasonable for this experience and the other items on the menu. The Cuban was huge and enough to share. The Bavarian Pretzels w/Natural Beer Cheese was surprisingly good! The sweet tea was perfect and coffee was strong. It's going to be really hot inside if you go during the summer due to the table griddles throughout the dining room coupled with the Florida heat. Luckily, there's a giant fresh water spring just about 20 ft. outside of the restaurant that you can jump in to cool off after stuffing yourself of AYCE pancakes... The customer service was great and the staff was efficient and personable. Would definitely do this again. Worth it.

Meghan K.

Yelp

We walked in and were seated right away. The food was really good. I loved the experience and atmosphere. The waitress was kept disappearing, but the other staff covered well and were great.

Mabel P.

Yelp

This is the cutest place! Make your own pancakes, with all the add ins and a great spring to jump in after you're through! The overall experience was very good! The place is a little rustic, but a perfect set up for big families to come and enjoy! The servers were very sweet and there for all your needs. I recommend going early or on a weekday so you don't have to wait

Megan M.

Yelp

I was underwhelmed. Now, I knew what we were getting into: make your own pancakes. But I also thought that maybe it came with toppings or at least a more creative way to put it all together. The tables all have griddles in the middle and you order "all you can eat pancakes" for $7. BUT THEN for $3 EACH you get a small cup (about the size of a condiment cup from Chilis) of toppings. So one small cup of strawberries, blueberries, half a banana, granola, chocolate chips, etc. (not to disrespect Chilis but these cups go a lot further for sour cream than for pancake toppings) for $3 A PIECE. The menu said fresh and it was definitely jarred blueberries and strawberry compote, which is 80% syrup. It just feels like a rip off? I get that you are in an old Sugar Mill from the 1800s overlooking a beautiful spring and it's all about the experience of flipping your own pancakes...but you do this at home with a box of bisquick and a whole container of strawberries, blueberries, bushel of bananas, chocolate chips, and whatever other sides you want for way less than this. And then on to service: we were not checked in on often and it took way longer than it should have for drinks to come, then we had to wait for her to come back to ask what we wanted, then another 15-20 minutes for her to return with a jug of pancake mix and two whole eggs (yes, you fry your own eggs too). It wasn't crazy busy, just there wasn't a priority on service. Then we were charged 18% gratuity. TLDR: make your own pancakes at home then go spend the day exploring the springs

Camila M.

Yelp

I went to the old sugar, mill pancake house for a meal today with my family, and I was treated in a very insulting and demeaning manner . My family had been swimming, and I was actually watching them all with a bathing suit and a pair of shorts over the bottom. We put our name on the list with no problems. When we were called to eat 45 minutes later, The shift manager name Mel (I doubt she's the manager) abruptly stopped me and told me I had to put a shirt on because my cleavage would be too distracting to the other diners. I was aghast at this request because she had talk to me 45 minutes earlier and didn't mention this. Also, there were a number of other women in the restaurant eating already who were in what bathing suits revealing their breasts with a towel or wet cover all over their bottoms. I was the only one that was asked to put a shirt over a dry bathing suit top. I tried to point this out to Mel but she insisted that there was nothing she could do and I had to go back and change. This was embarrassing and clearly I was being singled out. I am uncertain if this reflects a lack of self-esteem in mel because I am an attractive woman . But I was certainly not the only one in a bathing suit with their breast partially exposed. Nothing was suggestive or sexual in anyway. I am also a woman of color, and clearly I am the only one in the restaurant of color, and I don't want to suggest things that may not be necessarily true, but there are certain people who are uncomfortable with an attractive woman of color.. As always , the Food was good, especially since you make your own food.

Kathleen C.

Yelp

Finally made it to the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House and so glad we did. What a fun experience with the family and what amazing pancakes. The service was excellent and food amazing. Will definitely return again

Kelly G.

Yelp

Haven't been since they remodeled and they changed the pancake recipe. I'm pretty sure it is hungry jack, thin and watery. We drove and hour and a half for overpriced instant pancakes. The server seemed to be having a bad day, and informed us that 18% tip was included (for a table of 3) but I could increase the tip to 20, 25 or 30%. I won't be returning. It's a shame, they used to have the best pancakes.

D'Lynn E.

Yelp

This is worth the drive!! What a great experience so much fun to be with family and friends, cooking pancakes, buttermilk pancakes, multi grain, pancakes with bacon and eggs, enjoying your coffee with the beautiful old Spanish moss hanging out the window over the historic Springs.

Melissa J.

Yelp

we went around 10 am fully expecting a wait as everyone mentions. When we got there we were turned away from entering the Springs and told to try again around 2-3. We came back and after a 30 minute or so wait, finally got into the springs. Once we finally made it to the restaurant, we walked in and we greeted with a burst of very hot air. There was absolutely no air conditioning inside and was all of the grills. The restaurant was extremely hot and sweaty. We got sat right away, which was great. Our waitress came intended to our needs, which was fine as well. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything to write home about. And settled for the day my husband and I both suffered serious intestinal issues. Since that was the only thing we had eaten at the same time that day we believe that it must've been something we ate there. It certainly wasn't the worst thing we've ever tried, but we definitely won't be going back for a second time.

Jenny M.

Yelp

The wait was well over an hour- you can walk around the spring and look at the manatees or swim. They have kayaks you can rent as well. The griddle in placed in the middle of the table and everyone can reach and make their own breakfast. I think kids would really enjoy this. They give you multiple spatulas for the table. Our waitress was quick and to the point. The inside is an old mill and woodsy looking. Call girls come on girl Matt can you bring me a towel girls room? Can you bring me a towel because I am.

TinyBites B.

Yelp

Wow! What an awesome experience, the Old Sugar Mill is located within De Leon Springs and offer an unlimited pancakes experience which were delicious. They also offer lunch. The service was excellent and we enjoyed our time and breakfast there.

Kevin W.

Yelp

Pancakes where great!! They have gluten free option. Home fries with peppers very good. Service was excellent. Tim went above and beyond. Great with kids. Make sure you get reservations!!!

Gabby S.

Yelp

Only fun if you are going to make your own breakfast and pancakes. The tables have a griddle in the center that turns on to cook your food and it's a cool concept. The other menu items are not good, we tried the different sandwiches and they took forever to come out and it seemed like something that was microwaved and served. Our waiter was very kind but the service was so slow. I like the idea of making your own pancakes and eggs at your table, it is cool, but anything that the cooking staff is making for you is not going to be anything great. Would only recommend for the pancakes and breakfast options. The prices were very reasonable though, we were happy about the cheap prices for the meals. To enter the park is $6 and most menu items were under $10.

john k.

Yelp

My family and I had breakfast here yesterday. What an amazing place. The food was great and so was the atmosphere. Most of all I was very happy with the awesome staff, especially Mel. She is one hard working lady. She was making sure all the table were happy. Please do yourself and try this place out.

Ray H.

Yelp

Visiting the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House at Deleon Springs has been a beloved family ritual for over a decade, cherished for its once cozy and warm dining experience. However, recent visits have revealed that service and quality have gone drastically downhill since new management took over in late 2022. One of the first noticeable changes is the switch from calling names over the loudspeaker to texting when your table is ready. While this might work well in most places, the poor cell phone reception in the park makes this new system ridiculously impractical and frustrating. Service has become a major issue. Despite waiting more than 10 minutes for our coffees, we felt rushed through our meal. On more than one occasion, members of our party had to walk to the server station just to ask for refills, as our server was nowhere to be found. Another inconvenience is the out-of-order bathrooms, forcing diners to leave the restaurant and use the park's facilities. This lack of basic amenities adds to the overall feeling of neglect. The pancakes, once the highlight of our visits, have also changed for the worse. The batter is now runny, resulting in thin, unimpressive pancakes that are a far cry from the fluffy delights we used to enjoy. The restaurant now feels more focused on squeezing profits than providing a quality dining experience. The disappointing shift has ruined our experience to the point that we'll likely be steering clear of both the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House and De Leon Springs Park next summer.

Carina S.

Yelp

Absolutely not . Bland pancakes Bland French toast Bland biscuit There's really not any flavor , I was so sad . The good thing is the server was kind enough to take it off our bill . Staff was nice . The idea of it was so nice , was looking forward to the experience. At least restaurant was clean and staff was friendly.

Tracy L.

Yelp

Great service, good food, fun to make and design your own pancakes! Definitely worth the drive over!

Krystal R.

Yelp

Great spot for a delicious all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at a great price! Can't wait to visit again soon. Just be prepared - it's quite warm inside, but it gets you ready for the refreshing spring water outside!

Michael G.

Yelp

Old mill atmosphere and pretty cool. Tables all equipped with griddles for the pancakes. We enjoyed the pancakes. Ordered topping for the pancakes. A bit pricey. Also ordered a side of home fries. Asked for crispy. Wasn't crispy enough so I placed on the griddle with a pad of butter. Finished to perfection and the aroma of the peppers and onions cooking was spot on!!! Service was adequate. I also ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich. Was tasty. Definitely worth trying the experience. Keep in mind spring fall and winter for us is the perfect time to enjoy the restaurant. As there is NO A/C in the building. They do provide takeout on some menu items. The park has many things to do. Enjoy!!

Steve A.

Yelp

NOTE: Do not follow your GPS's directions as it will likely lead you to the gated service road in back. You need to enter Ponce DeLeon State Park ($6 fee per car), drive through the parking lot, and then it's a short walk to the restaurant building. I've always wanted to go to this place, but I was afraid of the wait, which I understand can be very long on weekends. The trick is to go at an unlikely time. We chose a bit after noon on a Thursday, and there was no wait. Some of the reviews mention poor service, but our server was great. Obviously you go here for the novelty of cooking your own breakfast on your table, and it is quite fun. It would be a great family activity--let the kids cook breakfast for the adults! But I have to say, the food was EXCELLENT! The eggs were really fresh, and the bacon was meaty. Of course, the highlight is the pancakes and they didn't disappoint. You can choose between buttermilk batter or a five grain specialty blend. Our server suggested I try both, and indeed, although the buttermilk was nice and fluffy, the five grain blend was also fluffy, plus it had a nice texture and even more flavor. It's along way for us to go for breakfast (about a 90 minute drive) but I'd definitely like to bo back.

Susan C.

Yelp

Love this unique dining experience! Pancake batter is delicious!! Service is excellent and the building is so historic!

Mary E.

Yelp

If you are visiting the DeLeon Springs, you must stop in to the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House and make your own pancakes! A few things to keep in mind: it gets VERY busy so be prepared to wait, or make sure you check yelp before you leave and add your name to the waitlist. My family and I were in town visiting family. Before we left, I had checked yelp and added my name to the waitlist, by the time we got to the springs we had gone from number 15 in line to number 4! Once we sat down, service was pretty quick considering. We did the make your own pancakes, and added some add ons! (Bacon, peaches and eggs). The eggs you also make yourself on the griddle the bacon and sausage comes from the kitchen! The kids had fun making and flipping their own pancakes! No AC so it does get toasty in there! Stop in and enjoy!

Marisa R.

Yelp

Everyone was friendly. Food was good. Waiting list system worked well for us. We were able to go kayaking for an hour while we waited for our table.

Jim V.

Yelp

Food was excellent as usual. Service was on point with perfectly timed drink refills and table visits. The wait was actually much better than usual. All food was fresh. A definite place to not miss, trust me. Update: The owner reached out to me after my review to thank me for it. Awesome follow up by the business. And I was informed my servers name was Kenzie. Thank you Kenzie. Great job.

Sandra T.

Yelp

Off the beaten path. A great surprise. You make your own pancakes and eggs on the griddle table. Bring your swimsuits & towels to enjoy the springs afterwards. Through Yelp you can put your name on the list for a table when you are 15 minutes away. You can also rent at the boat house kayaks,paddleboards,canoes or take the guided tour boat ride.

Scott F.

Yelp

The service was a little slow, and you can count on a 1 to 2 hour wait to be seated. The good news is, you can put your name in line online before you arrive, and the pancakes are delicious.

Pamela J.

Yelp

Old Sugar Mill at Ponce De Leon Springs. Horrible experience today. Drove almost 2 hours. It was an hour wait which was fine with us. Walked around and my husband got a text saying table is ready. Right after that he got another text that said apologies your table is not ready. A few minutes after, they cancelled our reservation. Went back to the less than pleasant hostess and told her. She acted as if it was our fault and said we should have come back with the first text. We explained again and showed her another text came in saying it's not ready. She just shrugged her shoulders and was like you can wait for two people to finish but there is another couple ahead. I said will it be another hour and she said yes. So disappointed in the horrible service we received and on top of that to be made to feel like it was our fault. We decided to leave after spending money to get into the park as we wanted to swim after breakfast but this experience spoiled the whole morning.

Mariely C.

Yelp

It was our first time visiting this restaurant, the experience was amazing. Our kids were excited about cooking their own pancakes, that by the way they were delicious. We also tried French Toast and my son got the cheeseburger, everything good as well. I read a few reviews complaining about that it was hot inside, but it was normal on a hot summer day in Florida and it's part of the experience. I definitely will be back soon. Our waitress name was Gaby she was amazing and super helpful on explaining everything to us since it was our first time there.Definitely recommend join the wait as soon as you get to the park. You do have to pay park entrance of $6 to access the restaurant.

Nicole D.

Yelp

We made trip up to try but once we finally got to front of line to enter park saw sign posted that said it would be 3 1/2 to 4 hours to get in to eat so we left

Ana R.

Yelp

I come here all the time with my family. Today, we heard an employee get verbally berated by a male employer.. It's truly disturbing how normalized It is to talk to your employees like that..I was going to order food, but my kids we're made very uncomfortable because of this..

Katherine C.

Yelp

I have been coming here since I was a little kid and now I get to bring my kids here. We enjoy making our own pancakes. Beware that there is no air conditioning, lol, it gets very hot sitting at the table with the griddle making your pancakes. Also know that they automatically add gratuity to your bill. But it's a fun experience and a great way to lead into a cold drip in the spring!

Stacy D.

Yelp

Location is great. Right in the water in the springs. The food is ho hum. I got blueberries, pancakes and sausage. Service was poor. Tables around served well. Must have been a fluke. Put labels on the syrups. Waiter said butter just arrived. That's odd. I will return to try it again.

Tina C.

Yelp

Hello...! I came in today with my family while on vacation.. The food was delicious and well worth the wait , I really enjoyed being able to make our own pancakes it was a fun family activity.. They were amazing with the kids , our server was amazing .. and the prices weren't bad either . The host was amazing as well and made sure we had full drinks at all times when our waitress was busy .. all around it was an amazing experience and I will be coming back if I come back down . The only issue we had was the phone reception and knowing when our table was ready . After eating and swimming around for a bit we also stopped by the little concession area outside .. the young lady in there was amazingly kind as well .

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Old Sugar Mill Pancake House – De Leon Springs, Florida - Gastro Obscura

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/old-spanish-sugar-mill

Old Sugar Mill Pancake House

Paul St G.

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Debi M.

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This place is a winner!! You get to choose your pancake batter and then cook it on the grill built into the table! It's so much fun and the food is great. There May be a long wait but it's worth it!

Chelsey C.

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Michaela C.

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Alex R.

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Leah A.

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Meghan K.

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We walked in and were seated right away. The food was really good. I loved the experience and atmosphere. The waitress was kept disappearing, but the other staff covered well and were great.

Mabel P.

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Jenny M.

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TinyBites B.

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Kevin W.

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Pancakes where great!! They have gluten free option. Home fries with peppers very good. Service was excellent. Tim went above and beyond. Great with kids. Make sure you get reservations!!!

Gabby S.

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john k.

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Ray H.

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Carina S.

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Tracy L.

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Great service, good food, fun to make and design your own pancakes! Definitely worth the drive over!

Krystal R.

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Michael G.

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Steve A.

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Susan C.

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Love this unique dining experience! Pancake batter is delicious!! Service is excellent and the building is so historic!

Mary E.

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Marisa R.

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Everyone was friendly. Food was good. Waiting list system worked well for us. We were able to go kayaking for an hour while we waited for our table.

Jim V.

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Sandra T.

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Scott F.

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The service was a little slow, and you can count on a 1 to 2 hour wait to be seated. The good news is, you can put your name in line online before you arrive, and the pancakes are delicious.

Pamela J.

Yelp

Mariely C.

Yelp

Nicole D.

Yelp

We made trip up to try but once we finally got to front of line to enter park saw sign posted that said it would be 3 1/2 to 4 hours to get in to eat so we left

Ana R.

Yelp

Katherine C.

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Stacy D.

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Tina C.

Yelp

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Old Sugar Mill Pancake House – De Leon Springs, Florida - Gastro Obscura

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Old Sugar Mill Pancake House – De Leon Springs, Florida - Gastro Obscura