The Waffle House Museum

This was a cool place to visit. I loved that the Waffle House is shown back in the 1950’s with the awesome prices and such (.30 for a burger!). We were able to go behind the counter and pretend to cook and serve.
This was a part of the FYLA activities and I’m glad this was one of the events. I made myself a bomb waffle and had some coffee (which kept me up alllllll night long). I became familiar with the gentlemen who started the Waffle House and their stories. Cool.
I believe it is free to visit the museum, so there’s no excuse not to go visit this gem in Decatur.

I had the opportunity to visit here via FYLA [Forever Unilocal Loves Atlanta] event yesterday. This place is pretty cool. We were greeted by a friendly tour guide who offered a hat and a menu. I think I was expecting a little more… like seeing some cooks in the open kitchen. I’ve been to too many Waffle Houses. I guess that’s what I imagined there, just like you would see at any WH. I forgot that this was a museum tho — duh, Karen. I love little history lessons and, uh, free food so this worked for me hehe.
Inside of the restaurant were clean utensils, ketchup bottles, cookware, everything. I loved that. We walked through the commissary where they displayed potatoes and other items on the menu that were made from scratch. Interesting. Those hashbrowns don’t taste that fresh to me but I like them.
The walkthrough was a breeze. The best thing about this museum is that you get to make your own waffle at the end. I also imagined that we would be making the waffles in the kitchen but whatever. There were 4 waffle makers along with 2 people to help direct us on how to make the waffles. There were about 6 toppings and fillings some of which looked like they came out of a Captain Crunch Berries box — blueberries, strawberries, pecans, chocolate and peanut butter. I topped mine off with chocolate and peanut butter, drizzled with icing. It was pretty good. I would’ve never tried it any other day so what the heck. My bf filled his with blueberries and pecans. The pecans were real by the way. I commented about the blueberries because he usually orders that when we visit WH. I just stick to the basics — a plain waffle with syrup. Anyway, I commented «I thought those were real berries when you ordered that at the restaurant.» He chuckled «me too.» I guess it was still good. I was a little reluctant to try it. Anyway, we had a great time walking through and reading the literature about the history of WH. I think the most touching one was the framed obituary of the first waitress at WH. She dedicated 47 years to the first WH built on Peachtree Street. She passed away in 2010 and they had her obituary there. I loved that.
I am definitely a fan of this place. I was more excited that WH originated in Atlanta in 1955, although I’m not a native here, I love the city. I love the little known facts about this table-​service, fast-​food spot seen on EVERY corner. Geesh!
Highlights:
–It was a breath of fresh air to see a spotless WH lol
–Its FREE
–You get to make your own waffle!

1. It’s free — That’s impressive within itself
2. It’s only open one day a month — I believe this is on a Saturday
3. Don’t make a crazy special trip if you live outside of Atlanta. It’s neat, but not worth a huge drive for it.
4. You get free hats and old menus — I want a coke to cost a dime again.
Bottom line: Definitely something interesting and unique to do for ATL. It’s free. You will spend no more than an hour walking around.

The good news is, there is indeed a waffle house museum. The bad news is that the odds of it being open and not sucking a little bit, are pretty low.
We popped in shortly after it was complete only because we saw that it was finally opened. After that, I’ve never actually seen it open again. Guess you can make a reservation or something. Maybe you will be lucky and it will be open.
Pretty good tour, short. Front part has been restored to it’s original décor, and the back gives a peak at how things were stored and what ingredients were used.
The funniest part was taking a photo with the wife in a mock his and her’s Waffle House uniform.
It’s cool that this exists, it’s just not that great. Most people don’t know that Waffle House started in Avondale. Ironic because the Waffle House right down the street from the Museum is pretty crappy and definitely not the «model» for Waffle Houses.

Little known fact: I worked for the WH 6 years while in highschool and before going to college. I can still order in WH speak and usually get «order scrambled cheese raisin plate scattered smothered covered chunked and capped.» The price of coffee when I worked there was 85 cents.
I LOVED the museum. I didn’t believe my husband when he told me the very first one was located in Decatur and was shocked when they turned the old chinese food place into the WH museum. (I had to admit my defeat to the hubby as well.) They had it all decked out like the original WH and had the orig prices on the menu. They also had some of the old uniforms in the back, which I got a kick out of. Did you ever notice that the WH uniforms change every few years? Yup, tis true. There are also some examples of the pins they have issued over the years. FUN. But if you’ve never been an employee, I can see how you’d be bored. :)

This was a fun little tour, especially when combined with lunch at the working Waffle House down the road. Bring your camera and take silly pictures of your friends wearing a Waffle House hat behind the counter at the griddle. Lately it’s been open to the public one day a month. When I was there, our host was the daughter of the man who designed the building. That’s Waffle House royalty!

The theory of a Waffle House museum by itself is worth a veritable googolplex of stars. Who among us hasn’t marveled over the selection of Waffle House songs in their jukebox, gazed jaws agape at the speed of the short order cook, or dry heaved in a corner booth at 4 in the morning while regretting being talked into those last couple of tequila shots? No? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? OK, maybe it’s just me, but the ubiquity of the Awful Waffle inspires more than just a little bit of curiosity. I mean, how DID it get started? Why are they all that shape and size? How did they come up with that number of hash brown combinations when countless engineers and full-​on mathematicians I know couldn’t replicate their numbers (More on that later.) In fact, how did a place called The Waffle House become known more for their hash browns than anything else? So yes, I was intrigued enough to head to Avondale to see the Waffle House Museum.
Unfortunately, as I covered earlier, though the theory of a WH museum can’t be topped, its execution is more scattered and dicey, ultimately smothering the whole experience. Why? First, it’s not open to the public. Viewing is by appointment; the number is on their website. However, they’ve been holding several open houses, free to the general public, lately and that’s how I got in.
There are two sections: the memorabilia room and the restaurant recreation. The memorabilia room is just that. Tsotchkes and relics of bygone eras, seats, old promo items, menus, mugs, etc. each lovingly labled, but with very little context. Then again, how much context does one need for «Cooks’ Paper Hats Throughout the Years?» The founder’s notepad designs for the first WH are also housed here, supplying the template for all future Waffle Houses. Well, at least THAT question was answered. But my other questions? Not so much. Then again, the memorabilia room is more homage than it is education; I doubt very much a curator was involved in the collection.
The restaurant recreation, though, is what everyone wanted to see. Yes, it’s a complete restoration of the restaurant just as it looked in 1955 which, honestly, looks pretty much the same as they all do now. They thoughtfully supplied plastic food stuffs in all the right places and they encourage you to step behind the counter to play out your short order dreams. You can toast plastic bread, flip fake waffles. You can shoot faux-​angry stares at fake drunks slurring orders at the counter.
I admittedly spent more time playing back here than a grown man should.
The experience was cute, but, when someone asked me about it later, I responded, «Well, if you want to see the entire thing, it’ll take about 10 minutes. I mean, hell, it’s the size of a Waffle House.» You can spend more time here if you talk with the welcoming staff (including the nice, yet somewhat condescending marketing guy who assured me «Well, the Waffle House Board is mostly GA Tech engineers, so I’m sure the number of combinations they have published on the menu is correct.» Further research on my part has uncovered that they count as toppings THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING, BLUE CHEESE, Tabasco, and Ranch frakin’ dressing among their toppings. Really, Marketing Guy? REALLY?)
In all, I’m glad there’s a Waffle House museum, and, if you’ve got an hour to kill (and it’s open) give it a look. But to my friend Matt down in Orlando who wanted to plan a pilgrimage, you might be a little disappointed. Three stars.