There’s a restaurant in Chautauqua County where the food is so good it only offers one thing. The customers don’t mind at all.  It’s Red's Best Pancake House in Sherman, New York. 

There are no menus.  You really don't need one.  The only item to order at Red’s is Pancakes and Sausage. The pancakes and sausage are so delicious, there's no reason to offer anything else. It's been that way for over 50 years.

"This seems to work well for us.  It's not broken so why fix it if it's not broken?” says Co-Owner Darl Redlecki. 

Darl and his wife Cathy purchased the restaurant 23 years ago.  It was previously owned by a man named Bill Barney for 28 years.  There's been a continued tradition of excellence.  The syrup is made on the property.  No syrup is fresher than what's served here.  Sap that's boiled on Friday is served on Saturday.  Sap that's boiled on Saturday is served on Sunday.

"Like from tree to table. I go out and collect the sap, boil it down into syrup and bring it to your table.  I don't know what else I can do,” says Darl.

"We have converted several customers to real maple syrup,” adds Cathy.   

There's a science with making the buckwheat pancakes. Heat is the key. The grill is heated to such a high temperature, one person cannot pour the batter and also flip the pancakes. It must be a two-person job.    The pancakes are all-you-can-eat.  The record was set by a local teenager in 2016.  He ate 50.

"So he sat there and ate 48.  And his dad's there.  And he (Dad) said, 'You can eat two more.' So he ate two more and has officially set our pancake eating record of 50 pancakes,” says Cathy.   

The sausage is made from a secret recipe…a recipe that was handed down from the previous owner.  Tradition is a special thing here.  The restaurant is only open from mid-February to late-April and during the month of October.  And, it's only open on Saturdays and Sundays.  Just like beautiful spring flowers, or the turning of leaves, Red's Best pancakes, syrup, and sausage can only be experienced a certain time of year. The traditions are expected to continue for years and years to come.

"I think all of our kids are going to do it,” says Cathy. 

“If not our kids our grandchildren will,” adds Darl. “They come and help grandma and grandpa on the weekends.  They love to do it."

Red's Best Pancake House is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.  It's located on the Clymer-Sherman Road about three miles west of Sherman.  An adult serving is $15.  If you plan to go, keep in mind it's an ‘old school’ operation.  Only cash is accepted.