Mother’s Cupboard is very small diner right in the heart of Syracuse, New York. Personally this is my favorite breakfast restaurant in Syracuse. Although Stella’s Diner, which is close to Destiny USA, gets a lot of love from people throughout the city, Mother’s Cupboard is just as good, if not better. Another plus is that, overall, the food is cheaper than Stella’s.

Adam Richman from Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food series visited Mother’s in 2010. Mother’s Cupboard is known for their six pound frittata. This includes six pounds of eggs, sausage, pepperoni, onions, peppers, and broccoli. Richman took on the challenge and finished the frittata. This was filmed in the restaurant and then aired on television a little later. Ever since then the crowds have been ridiculous on the weekends.  

If you eat a whole frittata in one sitting you get a free t-shirt and your picture on the wall. You can see hundreds of other pictures on the wall of people who have finished also.  This diner is known for their huge frittata, so if you haven’t tried it yet I suggest that you do!

Mother’s is also known for their HUGE pancakes. You can order blueberry, banana, chocolate chip, or just plain. The pancake is so big it barely fits on the plate. It is more than enough to feed one or even two people and still have leftovers!

Mother’s is a tiny building on James Street, only seating about 35 people at a time. It actually looks like it could have been a mobile home.  There is no atmosphere to speak of. It is old inside with formica tables and counter seating. It is so small that you can see everyone else in the diner including the cooks.  After going there just a few times they know your name. Often times on the weekends I drive by and always see a line out the door of people waiting to be seated. It is worth the wait!

The service at Mother’s is fast and all the servers are friendly as can be. Most of the people working there are related which makes everyone feel really comfortable.  Don’t go there if you don’t want to be close to others, if it’s really crowded they might seat you at a table with another party! People may call this place a “hole in the wall” but I think that the ambiance, or lack of it, gives you a better experience.

If you’re planning to go to Mother’s, it’s important to know that they only accept cash. Most people have never heard of this diner but it is one that I highly suggest! Customers get a lot of home cooked food (breakfast and lunch only) in a short amount of time, at a decent price!  You will never leave having an empty stomach or disappointed!