We've asked around and nobody seems to know about our favorite local breakfast joint, the marvelous Roadhouse Café. If you are a breakfast person but a Roadhouse virgin, you should be ashamed; if you're old enough to drive, you have no excuse. On the other hand, if you're not a breakfast person, we guarantee you will be a convert after a Roadhouse pancake revelation bigger than (and we took a poll) a "competition" Frisbee, a Valentine plate and your own head. They are only a few inches shy of a stop sign. Pair a fluffy buttermilk, almond, apple cinnamon, banana, blueberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin, cranberry, pecan or walnut monster of a pancake with a bottomless cup of Fogbusters coffee (the strong kind), and you'll likely be full-and jittery-until dinner. To give you an idea of the immensity of these pancakes, consider that the menu only offers them in quantities of one ($5.25) or two ($7.95). Stacks would be out of the question.

Not to ignore the rest of the extensive menu, smaller fare is also worth the trip. The Roadhouse will let you replace run-of-the-mill toast with a deliciously "thick" slice of any of their homemade breads, including banana, pumpkin, apricot walnut, corn bread, cinnamon raisin, four seed, onion dill, oatmeal and sun-dried tomato, as well as the white/wheat standards. Not only that, the homey little house offers rich French toast made with any of their fresh breads (although we recommend sticking with the sweet kinds).

Laura savored one of the specials you'll find scrawled daily on the blackboard, yet another French toast: whole wheat topped with apple compote and fresh whipped cream. She felt as if she was eating apple pie in breakfast form, although the wheat detracted from the fat-kid, white-bread appeal. Bec played with the make-your-own omelet options; the Puttanesca special was tempting, but she opted for an onion, mushroom, spinach and kielbasa fluffy cloud of an omelet floating on a bed of peppery potatoes. For the record, the Puttanesca brilliantly combined peppers, onions, calamata olives, capers and mozzarella, and included delish coffee cake on the side.

The Roadhouse manages to cater to a diverse crowd with menu items such as eggs benedict alongside gluten-free options. We got the feeling that the restaurant is more of a local fixture than a college joint; more than half the tables were filled with families. Incidentally, you can order off of the kid's menu-options include a normal-sized pancake for $2.50.

Thankfully we managed to drag our bottomless stomach of a friend out of bed before 2 p.m., when the Roadhouse closes, to devour enough to satisfy three hungry construction workers. Myric surprised the extremely friendly and attentive waitress by "starting" with the classic combo: a chocolate-chip flapjack and cup-o-Fogbusters. He pushed the limits of his gut by following up with a plate of corn bread buried beneath poached eggs and swiss, alongside corn beef hash. While we wholeheartedly adore the Roadhouse, we must caution: Don't attempt this feat of gluttony; Myric regretted his early morning ambition after finishing the meals of only two hungry giants. His eyes have never before misled his stomach, we swear. Early in the meal he reported "This food is the American Dream," and some bites later, "I am eating a heart attack." We don't find the two states mutually exclusive.

To its credit, the Roadhouse is emphatic about the use of local, all-organic, healthy ingredients. Just don't overdo it, Myric.

To try: Pumpkin pancakes (a frequent blackboard special), banana bread, Fogbusters and all the seasonal specials. The Roadhouse Café is located at 176 Federal Street in Belchertown. The delightful joint is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to noon and on the weekend from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Heard of another restaurant that leaves you feeling stuffed? Let Laura Mortimer and Becky Touger know at lmortimer08@amherst.edu and btouger08@amherst.edu.