Waffle House drops in Five Points; A classic diner graces UAB’s doorstep
Posted on Mar 06, 2013 in Features
To most, Waffle house is a place that absolutely should not be visited before midnight. They say that only then can one truly appreciate the grease-slicked food and dingy atmosphere. They speak of past visits as if they were perilous adventures where one false move would have ended it all. They speak of the restaurant as if they are above such base pleasures. They haughtily look on the establishment with the pompous saying, “That is a place for riffraff, and I simply refuse to associate myself with such a place … unless absolutely necessary.”
The Waffle House logo adorns one of the wall overlooking the iconic Five Points South intersection. Daniel Twieg/Photo Editor
I think all of this is preposterous. Waffle House is a great American diner that should be visited at all hours, and its greasy menu should be sampled with reckless abandon. And to be honest, the most dangerous part of any Waffle House adventure would be a slip and fall onto the cold tile floor. Waffle House is a place that should be enjoyed by all. And to facilitate the gratuitous consumption of said restaurant’s wares, one has recently graced UAB’s doorstep and joined the Five Points family.
When I stepped up to the restaurant, I was impressed with the façade. From the outside, this Waffle House looks special. The way the huge yellow letters wrap around it’s curved front wall looks so much more composed and classy than the standard Waffle House sign. When you enter the restaurant however, it is admittedly dull. It’s exactly what you’d expect the Waffle House to be. There aren’t really any distinguishing features of this one; however, it does overlook one of the most iconic junctions in the city. Even though I was initially crestfallen, I did notice that the place did not have any of the sad and dejected feel that some other Waffle Houses do.
Be that as it may, Waffle house is an icon, and it will definitely have an effect on what people do in Five Points. The new restaurant is sure to have a sort of two way positive feedback mechanism with the other shops in the area. Hungry shoppers may decide to head down for a waffle, or some triple, chunked and covered hashbrowns. And people who come in for the food may decide that they want to visit the record store for some tunes or Magnolias for quirky gifts. Furthermore, tired partygoers from Bacchus have not had to travel far to refuel. However, the Waffle house is definitely stepping into unwelcome territory. There are already plenty of restaurants around their vying for clientele. Although some of these like Chez FonFon are in a totally different league, Waffle House and Chic-fil-a will definitely be butting heads in the coming months.
On the whole, I think the waffle house is a welcome addition to the Five Points Family. I’ve wanted a Waffle House within walking distance of campus since I’ve been freshmen. Finally my prayers have been answered. Although it will definitely be stepping on a few toes in its abrupt arrival, I think that the restaurant is a welcome addition.
Babi Baruani
Features Editor
baruani@uab.edu