If you’re trying to iron out what to have for an early — or late — morning meal, look no further than Waffle House. Just off of Tiger Boulevard with the signature Clemson University paw painted out front, there’s more than meets the eye to this local spot.
A staple of the deep South, this 24/7 breakfast joint is known not only for its classic waffles but also for its other traditional Southern food offerings such as grits, hashbrown bowls and cheesesteak melts.
“I feel like I’ve never lived down that first experience of trying grits at Waffle House,” Mika Bethke, the Waffle House management trainer, told The Tiger. “If you’ve never been there, you gotta get the waffle in (and) get some grits.”
The kitchen, standing in the center of the restaurant, is a key component of the Waffle House experience in itself.
“I do think that people don’t realize having access to the kitchen right here in a high bar really does create that sort of intimacy with the staff,” Bethke continued. “I think it just develops naturally, and they don’t realize that part of that is the store’s design.”
Waffle House does more than “serve good food fast;” there’s also a fan favorite waitress, dubbed “Mama Donna” by regular customers.
“She’s worked here for a long time, and I know students come in here and they talk to her about their life and almost lean on her for advice sometimes,” Bethke said. “She’s definitely got a good personality. She can get the food out fast, she calls orders, she gets people everything they need, she’s kind of mastered this.”
Employees don’t just work hard on the regular; they fire up the extra waffle irons when students may need them most. Many employees worked through the snowstorm, walking to the store to serve their customers.
“I was working third shift, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and there were so many students in here. I walked in, and they were all having a good time,” Bethke said.
Bethke explained that she believes Waffle House is for everyone and that it is open to anybody to come in and really get to know the staff. While they may serve your typical breakfast food, Waffle House confidently stands out from other Clemson spots.
“There’s not really a waffle place around here that people can go to at 2 a.m., that’s an exclusive thing,” Bathke continued. “The level of customer service, the intimacy of the way the restaurant’s designed, the fact that we do get orders out so quickly. It’s a dine-in restaurant and somehow manages to be faster than fast food.”
Hours:
24/7
Address:
1064 Tiger Blvd.
Clemson, SC 29631
Phone: (864) 653-9381
www.wafflehouse.com
