The Waffle Iron has a new home in East Memphis
The Waffle Iron has a new home in East Memphis — and it is serving the fluffy sweet potato pancakes, chicken and waffles, and omelets that loyal customers had raved about at its first location.
Danielle Johnson originally opened her breakfast and lunch spot in Collierville two years ago. In February, a building fire forced her to find a new home for her small but popular restaurant. In April, she found a second home for her business in East Memphis just off the corner of Park Avenue and Mendenhall in the spot that had once been home to an E’s 24 Hour Cafe.
Johnson is slowly making the new location her own.
Last week, her sign went up on the building. In the next couple of weeks, she plans to give the restaurant a makeover.
“I’ll be replacing all that brown with bright colors — white on the bottom, Waffle Iron blue on top with yellow trim,” she said.
The staff is friendly and welcoming in this locally owned small restaurant that has an open kitchen. Johnson welcomes her guests with a big, genu
ine smile.
Start with a cup of hot freshly brewed coffee while you peruse the menu. Johnson and her team are happy to answer any questions. Johnson and her line cook, Trashaun Davis, make everything from scratch.
“Nothing comes from a box here,” Johnson said.
The sweet potato pancakes are a must to try. Order a full order ($7.75), short stack ($2.99) or get them as a side to a breakfast plate. The pancakes are fluffy and flavorful with just a hint of cinnamon and spices. Johnson’s secret recipe uses pureed sweet potatoes as well as tiny pieces of sweet potato in the batter. Order them with butter and syrup, or ask for a drizzle of cream cheese frosting. One bite and you know why it’s her signature dish.
Chicken and waffles are also on the menu, with two options.
Johnson said she uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts so you can easily have a taste of both chicken and waffle in each bite.
The Southwestern Chicken and Waffles ($11.99) features a perfectly cooked Mexican cornbread waffle topped with a fried piece of spicy chicken smothered in a pepperjack cheese sauce and topped with sauteed spinach and pico de gallo. It’s a dish that was named the best waffle in Tennessee in Food Network’s list of 50 Best Waffles in America.
“The Waffles Benedict ($10.99) is a spin on a traditional eggs Benedict but with a waffle instead of an English muffin,” she said of another of her popular waffle dishes. A traditional waffle is topped with thick cut country ham, sauteed spinach, two poached eggs and homemade hollandaise sauce.
Build-your-own omelets are fluffy and full of fresh ingredients. The bacon is crispy.
The pancakes, whether traditional or sweet potato, are fluffy and served with warm maple syrup. Every attention to detail is made to make your breakfast perfect.
For lunch, Johnson recommends the Salmon Croquettes ($8.99). There is also a “Grown-up” grilled cheese ($6.80) that is made with white Vermont cheddar, fresh tomato and spinach.
At a glance
Johnson said it was “divine intervention” that got her into the restaurant business. Her first career was a financial adviser — a job she did for close to 15 years.
“Every night for seven days in a row, I had a dream about the menu for a new restaurant,” she said. “I was going to open the business with my brother, and then he passed away suddenly. After that, I decided that it was time. I knew my customers would be like family.”
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer. chandler@commercialappeal.com, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
The Waffle Iron Where: 4969 Park Ave. Hours: 6 a.m.-2 p.m. daily Phone: 901-440-8533