In today's real estate market, "pantry" has regained its original meaning -- a walk-in space directly off the kitchen, for storage of damn near anything used in the kitchen. We had such a room in the small apartment I grew up in in the 40s. I think the role of the pantry was assumed by cabinetry in the 50s and later, but now the traditional pantry is making a comeback, and no McMansion is complete without one.
I find the "dishwasher or pantry" choice odd, since they are pretty-much unrelated with respect to space consumed. If you've got room for a pantry, you've can sacrifice 24" of lower cabinet space for a dishwasher and have both.
Having said all that, the cabinet makers now offer "pantry" units, basically modules with lots of clever swing-out shelves that make maximum use of the total volume of space, but it's a sorry substitute for a real pantry.