Dunedin's Michael Angelo Creates Artisan Pancakes

For many years, Michael Angelo Russo served up Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes to children who ate at . One day, he decided to surprise his waitress’s son with a flapjack that looked remarkably like Godzilla.

The 6-year-old was thrilled and offered up a long list of pancake designs with each subsequent visit.

“Customers caught wind of what I was doing and began making requests,” Russo said as he scrolled through photos of incredibly detailed pancakes stored on his cell phone.  

Russo has served up pancakes shaped like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Hello Kitty, an alligator, dinosaur, owl, monster truck, boat, Barbie dolls and a cruise ship.

If a child came in with a toy, Russo would ask if he could borrow it for a few minutes. Then, when he returned with the toy, he had pancake that looked just like it.

Russo, originally from Philadelphia, was an electrical design engineer by trade. He was offered an engineering job in Japan, but his wife Joyce was not interested in relocating there. Since the Russos had quite a bit of restaurant experience, they decided to move to Florida instead and open a family restaurant.

They are both cooks at their little eatery on Bayshore Boulevard and have been at this location for 24 years.

The restaurant’s covered bridge theme was inspired by covered bridges in Philadelphia. What started out as a few pictures on the walls turned into more than 700 such paintings, photos, post cards, plates and knick-knacks from all over the world. Most are gifts from customers.

“I don’t have the heart to take any of them down. When customers come in, they look for their covered bridge,” Russo said with a smile as he glanced at the crowded dining room walls.

If you've visited and enjoyed one of Russo's custom designed pancakes, be sure to on Patch.

Want to go?

• Where: , 2070 Bayshore Boulevard.
• Hours: Breakfast and lunch, seven days a week; dinner Wednesday through Saturday.
• Custom Pancakes: All day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday; and after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.