Half a star because our food eventually arrived and one star because one of the servers tried very hard to sort out the mess another server made of our order. Arrived here around 7 am and they're was probably three or four other tables seated and in various stages of ordering and eating. We ordered a couple of coffees and waters and then waited, and waited and waited and then waited some more... eventually the server turned up with a coffee, sweet tea and a cola.. no not ours.. but any chance we could order our breakfast since we've been sitting here waiting for drinks for 45 minutes? Ok, great! Drinks come back a second time (right) and we start the waiting game again... After another 20 minuted a different server approaches our table to confirm our order... um no, not what we ordered... so we are asked to order again and are informed that unfortunately a very large party was just seated and got their order in before us so it's going to be a wait... you mean you don't consider the last hour to be a wait already? In the end our quick breakfast was a marathon two hour visit... we wolfed down our food when it finally arrived and rushed off to start our day way later than we'd planned. read more

This was by far the worst dining experience. We ordered our food and drinks at the same time. A hour later still waiting on our meal. Each time the waitress walked by she said "they are working your ticket now." After over a hour of waiting not even half our food came out luke warm and incorrect! Talked to the manager after this and he came out with what seemed to be a planned excuse, saying "oh someone said you walked out, and that the tickets had been switched." Got the feeling we weren't the first it's happened to. read more

I called in a to go order at 10:30 and was told that it would be ready in 15 to 20 minutes. My husband arrived at 11:20 just to be told the order had never been put in. He reorders then proceeded to wait 30+ minutes for an omelette and hashbrowns. Horrible service and the food was mediocre at best. read more

Service was slow for there only being four tables filled. Wait staff was rude and not attentive. There was some disturbing price discrepancies compared to other IHOPs that I have been to. I would recommend this only as a last ditch stop for breakfast. read more

We had a great wait staff. She was on it to get drinks or anything we needed. We had smile pancake, was just lots of sweet. We let the staff know that my grandson really didn't want and could we change to mac and cheese outta the box. The boys loved it but it was 5 bucks. They took the pancake off my bill without me saying a word. How about that for very darn nice :) The bacon and eggs and the veggie omelette were good as well. The wait was over a hour but they were slammed so I think they did the best they could. Good job IHOPs !!!! See ya next time around :) read more

The worst ihop I've ever been too. Waited for everything despite there being barely any customers. The food was smaller portions than any ihop I've been too and they were out of multiple items of food. And forgot to bring out half of the things we ordered, and then paid for anyway. Just don't go. read more

Tables dirty. Horrible service. Terrible COLD food. Order all messed up. One of the worst meals I had in a long time. The relief tried to make it better. She at least made us laugh!!! read more

We were reluctant to go after reading the previous poor reviews. However, there was not much to choose from in Carlsbad at 11pm on a Sunday. We were pleasantly surprised to have a nice meal with a friendly and attentive staff. Nothing to complain about here. read more

First, an obligatory note about Carlsbad, NM. Your dining options are limited. Many of the promising ones are not open on weekends. Seriously. The busiest parking lot is Chili's. Seriously. The woman at the hotel recommended Chili's and some other place that gets a 4 (of 30) from Zagat. We had friendly service at IHOP. No problems with the orders. I am ashamed to say we actually ate there twice for breakfast. Carlsbad has some restaurant issues. The food is about what you'd imagine. I wish I had something positive to say about the independent restaurants of Carlsbad but we were either scared off by the reviews, or they weren't open, or both. read more

With all the tourism generated by the caverns I thought there would be more dining options. That being said, all the chains are here. Being on the 7th day of our vacations we were sick of fast food. So we came here, typical IHOP. Nothing special. Service was not great, I never got my damn ketchup. Had to eat my has browns and eggs with no ketchup. I didn't bother to ask again, I just wanted to get the hell out of there and go to the caves. One star is for the road runner I saw outside :) read more

Had a good experience. Our waitress Amanda was excellent and so was the food. Ham and eggs cooked just right. Apple and cinnamon French toast was tasty but I like the apples to be a bit softer. BLT sandwich was good. IHOP usually has the best hot chocolate and it met my high expectations. Love the whipped cream and Amanda added chocolate chips for me as requested. It tasted great and really hit the spot. Had a very nice lunch at this IHOP and will definitely come back. read more

First time and last time I'm gonna visit this place....when my family came in one employee was helping customers that were checking out. There was another employee that seemed like they saw us but didn't greet us for several minutes. Then when they did they seemed like they didn't want to, so someone else sat us down and said they would get us drinks... We sat down at 8pm, at 8:10 we finally got our drink order done, it was the first employee that served our drinks. It was about 8:20 we got our food order in, we heard some other customers say that they waited 45 minutes for their food that didn't come out, so they decided to check out without food. And it's about 8:45 right now, and this entire time maybe the restaurant's phone or an employee's phone is constantly going off SO MUCH.... They might be short staffed, but this is so bad, so many dirty tables, and there seems to only be three waiters, just no.... That's all I can say, I'm not the only one who is not wanting back.... We have up without food. read more

Service was terrible. Other people were served bed out re us. When our Meal Meal came out cold. Staff did not seem to care.

After traveling for 18 hours, extremely hungry and that's the only place open trying to refuel. We walk into ihop and weren't even greater not even a give me a moment and then we sat down and waited for 20 minutes workers passing by us not one word and it's 12:30 am there 5 people max sitting down. So we say do we seat ourselves? and the lady goes yeah i guess and then we sit down and the lady in the back come out and says very rudely did she seat you, next time wait tell she seats you, and we go we weren't even spoken to by any of you once. At that point we just got up and left. Terrible service. read more

Waited for 20 mins to be seated and no one would come to seat us but a waitress and a waiter seen us standing there but nothing, I would say I'll never show up to the ihop again!!!! Can't believe I had to even give them a 1 star just to write a review, because they sucked!!!! read more

Let me start by saying our server Amber (she's helping this location but originally works out of La Cruces) was amazing. She was handling the whole dinning room on her own. The cook screwed up most of our orders. An eggs Benedict was ordered with no Canadian bacon, but add turkey sausage...it came out with turkey sausage AND regular BACON, a FRIED egg instead of poached and NO Hollandaise sauce. My daughter ordered the Jr Slider burgers and a single burger was served. Also 2 Spicy Poblano pepper Omelettes were ordered....it was basically a Big Steak Omelette with some Poblanos thrown on top. No Poblano cream sauce, no cheesesteak anything else IN the omelette, and it was steak instead of the shredded beef. The server Amber again was great and apologized profusely, I asked to speak to the manager. The "manager" comes out and is a kid that looks no older than 18, and another female that looks even younger than he does. We learn that the boy acting as manager is 19, and the girl that's standing with him is the actual "manager." He says he's busy with the truck and "what's wrong?" He's very condescending, rushes me and starts to talk away, and says "I'll take 50% off your bill." I say "it's not about that, you need to let your cook know he's making all the wrong food." He says "I know what my job is back there." With a dismissive wave of his hand and leaves. We are moving across the country and this was a stop to eat along the way, but they don't know that, so if that's how you're going to treat customers you're gonna lose them quicker than they will stay. The female "manager" was standing in the back ON HER PHONE, texting away while the server is going table to table, serving food, ringing customers, pouring drinks/ refills. Maybe get some real management in there and not children whom don't know how to speak to people. read more

3 sets of silverware had food stuck in them, cups were dirty. Food came out Not very hot.

Been here twice. Took an hour and a half before we walked out without our food the first time. This time the restaurant was less than half full of people waiting for food. This is prime time in the morning for IHOP so the kitchen should be at full staff. Shouldn't take so long. There's something in the process that is wrong. read more

This place has gone downhill after a decent beginning. We went there last Saturday ( 5.18.13), The mother in law ordered French Toast, which was cold. My wife & I ordered a Philly Cheese steak Sandwich, & the meat was dry as a boot. Noticed the managers do not come on the floor & ask how everything is anymore. This IHOP has problems................ read more

Service sucks!!! We ordered breakfast and waited 45 minutes while people came and went. We finally decided to just leave and as we were walking out we saw our waitress and asked for the check for the two coffees. Saw the manager at the door as we were waiting for the check and told him what happened. He apologized and was so kind to waive the cost of the coffee. :-( read more

Slow, slow service. The main lunch crowd was leaving as we arrived, so first there was a wait while tables were cleaned. Seated, but several minutes before waitress appeared to get drink orders. We've been sitting now for more than 30 minutes, still no food and waitress just came to tell us they are out of the sauce that goes with the chicken crepes. During this 30 minutes of waiting we have been entertained - by 2-3 workers talking loudly at the next table where they are wrapping silverware (without gloves). Clank, clank, gossip, gossip, clank, clank. Truly unpleasant experience. Oh, the food finally came 40 minutes after we were seated. Decent tasting but not worth the wait or torture. Can't silverware be wrapped someplace else???? read more

Awful... the waiter was nice but they ran out of everything....including MILK... how dose IHOP run out of MILK!!

The meal was normal but small portions . The reason I gave low rating - the staff. We have never had such chaos and waited for everything and really had no service . Get it together people . We had to just go to the register never got a check . They probably wouldn't have noticed if we left anyhow read more

IHOP quality has gone down!! Eggs weren't cooked right, not enough gravy for biscuits and gravy. Gravy is runny. Butter for pancakes is frozen. All in all not very good for the price. read more

Quick service on a Sunday morning when there was not a lot of choices in town and breakfast was quite good!

We have been frequent diners at IHOP in Carlsbad and have mostly enjoyed our visits there. Today, however, we entered and waited for someone to seat us. We noticed an employee counting cash in the little office window just before entering the restaurant proper. We waited. 2 other people came in. We waited. Another 2 people came in. Again, we waited... I noticed the employee in the "office" talking to someone. I stepped forward a bit later and noticed another employee sitting there talking on a cell phone. After waiting longer than we should have, my husband and I left and had breakfast at the Pecos River Cafe. read more

To sum up the experience in one word "horrible". The servers are not able to figure out seating. When I suggested to the hostess to put two tables together because we had a person in a wheelchair she got flustered and then started crying. Her mother, a waitress, came over to "speak to me" and explained they wanted to put the guy in the wheelchair in the back. The cooks have no ability and the food was cold and undercooked. Our waitress was very pleasant and I wish there was a better place she could go to utilize her skills. Go to the restaurant at 9:40 a and left at 12:00 noon. Stay away!!! read more

This would be the LAST place I'd recommend going. After watching commercials on TV about their fabulous crepes we thought we'd give it a try. After seating we were handed the regular menu and the special "crepe menu"-yum, yum! So we picked out our crepes and ordered them-only to be told "we're all out of crepes". Then make some up-you're a pancake house!! We didn't say that-but when we told our waiter we were leaving he got indignant and said he'd get the manager. Well, unless the dude can make the crepes-forget it. We left-returned to the hotel and asked where we should go. We were directed to "Yellow Brix" down the street. It was amazing. Don't waste your time here folks-if you want cheap-go to McDonald's. As far as I know they've never run out of burgers! read more

I have to give a low score based on service alone the food was fine. We arrived at noon on a Saturday, 4 of us we all put in breakfast orders, with all you can eat pancakes after an hour and 10 min the manager asked us if we were waiting for our food. At that point she went to the kitchen, we said they cold start by just bringing the pancakes, orders started coming out but they were all messed up missing items like hash browns or enough pieces of beacon. It was a bit of a joke. i wouldn't have said anything but it's the second time I have waited over an hour for my food at this location. read more

Normally love going to IHOP. However, there was a waiting list. Even though I could see at least 12-15 tables and booths empty. The waitress was great and the food was great. During our meal, we had noticed when the phone rang, the manager rolled her eyes before answering. So, I did not appreciate her attitude. When we were paying out, she ask how our meal was and we replied everything was great except the wait. She explained the cook got overwhelmed and she had to let them catch up. I think a better way to handle that situation is the seat your guests and explain what was happening. I believe most people would have understood rather than sitting in the front on a waiting list while seeing empty tables and booths. read more

Stay away. I was sat at a obviously dirty table, it took over 10 minutes for anyone to even come over to take our order, we got food before silver wear. There is obviously no care for customer service. It was 9:00 and there weren't many options but still I think we should get better. read more

Their service was horrible. We could've easily shaved off 20min from out breakfast if there was anyone attentive. However, their food was decent. read more

I couldn't believe this restaurant. I walked in about 11:15 for lunch on a Tuesday, just me, while traveling through town. There was a waiting list with a lobby full of people waiting to be seated. I was told it would be at least a 20 minute wait. I looked in and only about a 1/4 to 1/2 of the tables had diners at them. I asked why if there were so many empty tables that there was a waiting list. I was told that was what the manager told them to do. I waited about 15 minutes and no one had been seated. I asked for the owner or corporate name and phone # and was told I couldn't have it. I then asked for a manager to just explain why an all but empty restaurant had a 20 minute or more wait. Some of those in the lobby had been waiting well over 30 minutes at lunch at an IHOP????The manager was cooking and couldn't come out. They finally starting seating folks but only after I asked to talk to manager. The manager finally came out and gave me phone #s for corporate and the district manager . The manager seemed to be pretty put off that I would ask. I then left after waiting 30 minutes figured I would go eat somewhere else that actually served food and waited on people. I did all district manager just to let him know that his restaurant needed help. He said he would call the location and ask what was going on.. total blow off. read more

Its always great to have a restaurant that has great food its economic and has real friendly staff high five for this ihop excellent experience I love their food the manager even stoped to check to see how everything was love it read more

TERRIBLE service. The place was near empty, two employees walked by us multiple times without speaking to us. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated. Then when we placed out order, they were out of half the menu! No fries, toast, no milk, you name it they were "out". We left without eating and we will not be stopping here again. read more

I can't remember a worse restaurant experience. Extremely slow service in every way. Many people walked out. We should have. Food was bland and lukewarm. They couldn't even figure out how to ring up the meal when we were finished. I spoke with the manager who took no responsibility and was extremely rude. STAY AWAY!! read more

We waited 15 minutes before the server (Ashley) took our order. My husband ordered the all you can eat pancakes and I got the Chicken parmesan (it comes with a salad). The server brought my husband's coffee and left. She came back 15 minutes later and informed me (no apologies) that they were out of milk and what would I like instead. I asked for orange juice. She brought me orange juice and then a different server brought our food. The parmesan was crusty and the penne was like rubber. After 6 or 7 minutes, Ashley brought my salad, placed it in front of my husband and "tossed" two containers of dressing onto the table. About 5 minutes later, Ashley brought our check. My husband saved some sausage to go with his next round of pancakes but we never saw Ashley again to ask her for them. When we went to pay the check, the hostess asked us if everything was alright. My husband said "no" and the hostess never said another word. She never asked what she could do to make it better. She never asked what wasn't right. Just took our money and never even thanked us for our business. We won't be back. read more

My husband and I came to Carlsbad Caverns on Labor Day Weekend. After visiting the Caverns that night, our options were limited for dinner, seeing as it was late. IHOP seemed like a good option right on the edge of town. Upon arriving, there was a full lobby. We were told the wait would be about 25 minutes, which we were okay with, even though there were plenty of tables open. (While we were waiting, we overheard a waitress complaining to staff in the back saying, "Why are so many people coming to IHOP?!" That also was a huge turn-off.) After waiting for at least 10 minutes, the host came back out and told everyone the wait would be an additional 10 minutes until anyone would start getting seated. He also began to read a LONG list of items they were out of, one of which was buttermilk pancakes. What IHOP runs out of pancakes?! Needless to say, we took our business elsewhere that night. I am really disappointed they weren't more prepared for the holiday crowds. read more

Worst IHOP experience Ive ever had and Im from Albuquerque where people are rude this place has nothing on the people in Albuquerque! From the minute my family and I drove up we were getting dirty looks from one of the workers standing outside (Not doing her job) talking with other people. The manager on duty was just as rude not caring and just walked around looking lost. The only freindly person there was our waiter who was running around doing everyones job needless to say he got a good tip because he Deserved it. The food was ok but kinda high in price to be treated the way we were. The workers and manager had "friends" sitting in the back with them being very loud speaking dirty and very disrespectful for a family restaurant we had our daughters with us and wer were surprised the manager let this go on. My family and I will NOT be going back read more

I really didn't think the IHOP would be as bad as the majority of the reviews, but it is. The food was way below average. Chicken strips were burned & dry, my wife's pancakes were so cold when served the butter wouldn't melt and my burger came with exactly five fries. When the hostess asked how it was I told her poor and the reasons. She said they had a cook walk out and they were short staffed. That should have been explained BEFORE we ordered. No offer to make it right or to give me a discount when paying. Poor attitude in the front of the house and in the kitchen. Our server did well & was over worked while others were on their phones & gabbing with the hostess up front. Do yourself a favor & skip this IHOP. read more