Des Moines' best breakfasts

Drake Diner's pumpkin pancakes

Eat it: $5.49 for a short stack (two), $6.49 for a tall stack (three), Drake Diner, 1111 25th St.
Info: 277-1111

You don’t need to wait for fall to fulfill your pumpkin craving. And you don’t even have to satisfy it with pumpkin pie. Instead, indulge those urges anytime at the Drake Diner, where they serve up perfectly round, 7-inch golden orange-brown pumpkin pancakes year round.

These jacks aren’t comically fluffy or packed with an overwhelming pumpkin flavor. The color is only slightly more orange than the original jacks, and the flavor surprisingly subtle, with a hint of cinnamon. Top your short (two) or tall (three) stack with a drizzle of warm maple syrup and you’re well on your way to pancake heaven.

— Kimberly Isburg