re: How do we know restaurants serving pancakes are not using store bought add water mixes?

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It depends on the restaurant and what you mean by “pre-made.” Yes, plenty of chains like Applebee’s serve mostly factory-prepared food that is reheated or finished on-site. Since chains probably outsell independent restaurants by sheer volume, you are likely correct in a strict mathematical sense, although some chains still operate scratch kitchens.

But ordinary prep is not the same thing as serving reheated junk. Good independent kitchens prepare food in advance because service would be impossible otherwise. Salmon is portioned and marinated, trout is portioned and breaded, burger patties are pressed, garlic is chopped, sauces are made, pastas are boiled, and vegetables are broken down and blanched before the doors open. That isn’t cutting corners, it’s just the work required to serve freshly cooked food in fifteen minutes instead of making you wait two hours for soup and a sandwich.

There is still plenty of real cooking going on in restaurants. You just have to get out of the major chains to eat most of it.

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