What a disappointment! We used to enjoy our visits to IHOP but the last several times we have visited we have walked away disappointed. Out visit started with several minutes of waiting when we arrived. We were the only ones in line. Not like they were busy seating people. One male server (who like to rub his head a lot) told me that they were short staffed. However, they were not very busy and certainly not hustling! My husband ordered a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. Sounds good right.... very disappointing. The waffle was over done... dark colored and extremely dry. Our waitress not once came over to us to see if we needed anything. When she finally did it was to bring our check. I shared with her about the dissatisfaction we had and was told there was nothing she could do now. I should have told her sooner! Well, I would have loved to have told her sooner but I never saw her again. Between watching the male server rubbing his head then bringing me my food and the poorly prepared dishes we were served, I think my days of being an IHOP customer will be no more. The topper of it all when I paid my bill and voiced my opinion the gentleman didn't care. He just keep saying they were short staffed. I am sorry they had to work a little harder or felt they did but we have all been in that situation at one time or another. Service needs to step up. Staff should be better trained and not left alone without the proper management. This is probably the second time I've placed a review on Yelp. My first was full of Praise. I don't normally do this but I could not let this go! You will never hear me recommending Crystal Lake IHOP. Step up employees and employers. Your restaurant is failing! read more

We had the pleasure of dining at this IHOP restaurant last Sunday around 2pm for a very late breakfast. We were waited on by a server named Heather, whose service was wonderful. Not only did Heather greet us with a smile and a friendly attitude, she made sure our drinks were full, our food was to our liking, we had all the amenities we needed, and she cleared our plates from our table immediately when we were finished (which, when not done is a pet peeve of mine). Although upon reading this, it may sound like standard service, and I agree it very well should be, so often nowadays this is not the norm. And, while Heather was providing excellent customer service (with a smile) to us, we also observed this same level of service and attitude at each table she waited on, and she had quite a few. We haven't had such a great dining experience in a very long time. In reading one of the older reviews (4/8/2007) stating to "pay a few extra bucks and go down the street to Walker's" - - we say "NO WAY! Not only was the service great, but the food was excellent, too, and at a FRACTION of the price." We haven't had such a wonderful dining experience in a very long time. read more

I have always been a huge IHOP fan, but after painfully contracting food poisoning... uh, yeah. No, thank you! Don't get me wrong. My waiter was fantastic! But, I came for food that wasn't going to give me sickness for days! Crystal Lake, get yourself together! read more

Not a fan of this place at all...I apparently did not learn my lesson the first few times I went...My bill was 12 dollars and somehow it seems our server got a 15 dollar tip from me. I haven't been back since and never will be! I have never gotten food that I liked from this place, definitely a thumbs read more

Terrible service. Waited an hour after I placed my order and still nothing. This was my second time coming here, the first time I placed an order for pick up and the food tasted plain compared to most ihops. Worst service and food would never recommend this IHOP to anyone! read more

I went to the ihop in Crystal Lake. It was a busy night, however our waiter was barely around. He never told us his name, he gave us our first round of drinks, and didn't come back until we politely asked another waitress. it took at least an hour to get our food, and he gave us sass when we asked for silverware. he looked like he did a lot of crack and he was rude. no tip. I'd leave his name, but he never gave it to us. fuck you, cocaine man. read more

I have never left a review for a place before but this one deserves one. When we first arrive at the place the host is standing up front talking to a server for about 5 minutes completely ignoring the fact we have even walked in. Once we are finally seated it takes about 10 minutes before a server even comes up to our table. Mind you it was not busy at this time during the day. Finally she comes and takes our orders about 20 minutes later the food arrives. The server literally dropped the food off and walked away. Never asked if we needed anything else. We literally had to get up and grab hot sauce from the server station ourselves. Finally after we ate all of our food the server comes back, at this point I was rather annoyed and asked for our check. 10 minutes later the server dropped the check. We go up front to the cashier, who completely ignores us for awhile because she was too busy speaking to a coworker. Never says hello, or anything just takes the check and tells me a total. I hand her the money and she continues to speak to her coworker. No thank you no nothing. The manager on duty happened to walk up at this point but seemed to be concerned with finding an eraser instead of running the restaurant. I have been in the restaurant business for 15 years and I have never had such a horrible experience in my life at a restaurant. I never ever tip under 20% and this was the first time. I don't understand how these people expect to make money when the customer service is completely terrible. I understand when the place is busy things may run a little slower but this was totally unacceptable. I will never return here again. read more

They are only getting one star because I can't give them zero. My sister and her friends all went to IHOP to get lunch on Christmas day at 1pm. Her friends were already there and waiting for her and had already been seated at a table. She was told they had already asked for 5 waters to start with and the server she asked never brought them. Her friends were already there for 15 minutes befoe my sister got there. They sat and waited and waited and waited and NO ONE came to heelp them, ask if they needed anything, NOTHING! They left the restaurant at 1:40pm without ever eating and all went home hungry and mad. They had tried to speak to the manager but no one came to talk to them. I am beyond pissed at IHOP and how their staff can not do anything. This is not the first time my family, friends, or myself have had a bad experience at this location. My other sister used to work at this one when they opened and stayed for 2 years until she quit because she hated how the manager treated everybody and gossiped about them all behind their backs. Jodi and these servers do not know how to do there jobs right and never have apparently. read more

IHOP reopening in Crystal Lake! Here for soft opening and the restaurant looks great! Staff are very polite. Even though it's a training day, they are doing a great job! read more

horrible service, wait staff was inattentive. had to wait and then got cold eggs, pancakes were late and not what ordered. Had to wait longer for more pancakes read more

Since the remodel I have been back 10 times. Food is always great. Good staff. Kid freindly. Good good food. One of Crystal Lakes best Resturants. read more

The food was cold and our waitress messed up my order and said I didn't say my original order.

After a few visits I have come to the conclusion that this is the best place for breakfast in town! Each time I've gone there I have received very pleasant and super fast service. I have only been there for breakfast, but nonetheless I was impressed. The mood is very relaxing as it is usually very calm and quiet (that's something I find extremely necessary in the mornings). The food was delicious and it was served hot! I had the chocolate chip pancakes and they were absolutely mouth-watering. The only thing that I wish was different were the prices. To me I think $7 for pancakes is a little much not to mention that if you want a side dish you are going to have to pay extra. All in all I thought my experiences were very pleasant and I would never hesitate to go back there again. read more

Terrible food. I was excited IHOP was open again. Salad had 4 tiny strips of dried out chicken and one quarter of an orange and that is it! Crepes had 2 pieces of spinach and dried out chicken and were extremely sparse and they tasted like they came out of a can. Second time trying the "new" IHOP and it will be the last. read more

If you go when it isn't busy service is will be ok, go when they are busy don't be surprised if the refills are slow and servers forget to check on you. read more

The only reason I even gave one star is because this problem wasn't the waitresses fault. They closed down this same location once before & after the experience I had on Friday, it shouldn't take long before they close AGAIN. Changing the decor & hiring new staff doesn't mean a thing when you have managers who can't lead. My experience on Friday, August 22 was the WORST ever!!! Our waitress Rebecca was polite & friendly sort of in a scriptive, robotic IHOP way. We knew immediately she was still in training because she hesitated & repeated everything we said back to us almost as if she wanted us to change our minds. BUT at least she was listening :). My husband & I both ordered a garden omelet & a side order of pancakes. After 45 agonizing minutes waiting & being terrorized by the screaming table behind us, our food arrives. She places a plate down with what was supposed to be an omelet. Instead we received a blob of something swimming in brown juice. In fact this "thing" was dripping juice all over our table...GROSSE. Not to mention we both asked for no onion, yep there was onions. Immediately I asked to speak to a manager. I wanted to know what in the world would make anyone think a patron would eat this slop. Along with this slop came burned English muffins, dried up over easy eggs that my daughter ordered and no pancakes. My waitress comes back to tell me there was a problem with the order ticket & they will make up new pancakes. NOW HERE IS THE BEST PART....Rebecca tells me the manager said she is TOO BUSY to come to our table & the mgr says to tell us all the brown juice from the omelet is from the mushrooms & tomatoes...ewwwwww!!!!!if you saw the pic in the menu of this omelet, you would have been horrified too. In my many years of customer service I have never been told OR told anyone"I'm too busy" to take care of a customer service issue....OMG who does this!!!! My entire experience was a disaster & your too busy to fix it, a paying customer. 15 minutes later new omelets come out prepared with 1/2 the ingredients missing. The mgr managed to eliminate the juicy mess by taking out the tomatoes & mushrooms, thanks for taking that upon yourself to decide that's what we would want (idiot). Yummm another dried up egg white sandwich with spinach & cheese, how original. I felt so "honored " to have this order delivered by the same person who moments earlier was too busy to talk to me. She sets the food down & says...enjoy. Wwwwaiiiitttt a minute lady, do you really think I'm not going to ask if your the one who so rudely ignored my request to speak to you. Just as I imagined she became defensive & did the ultimate LOW CLASS managerial NO NO & threw her waitress under the bus. She proceeds to say " Rebecca shouldn't have told you I said I was too busy". This lady truly was a piece a work. She went on & on to try & justify why she didn't come to our table. In the end she said "I feel obligated so I will take care of the check". She was so insincere & every word out of her mouth was condescending. I would have rather she said nothing. After all actions speak louder than words. I didn't want a free meal. I wanted to enjoy a nice, family breakfast & I was willing to pay for it. We left IHOP & went to Panera because that so called "free" meal was worthless. You can expect to have this same type of experience. When your leaders can't lead then what kind of service could you possibly expect from your employees? Absolutely disgusting place all around!!! read more

Boy were the three of us so upset at not only the service but the food we received tonight. We got there around 11:45 at night was greeted then never spoken to again by April B gave her a drink order,never got it then a "manager" I assume came over 10 minutes later to take our order;for three plates of eggs it took 35 minutes yes we timed it, and on top of that all food was cold another mess up didn't want to "bother" them with that, we then sat there another 17 minutes with dirty plates in front of us clearly ready to go manager guy then came and cleared them then we timed again how long to get our bill after 13 minutes we walked up there and asked for it, in the mean time our "sever" April was just to busy chatting about make up to other tables she just didn't care about us. When we payed we asked who the tip was going to the manger said 'oh Arpil' I then said like hell she is, she said hello then never came back and all he could say was I'm sorry, if you're sorry do something about it. I asked if it was her first day because of the poor service. piss poor service is what we got tonight. I'm still fuming with anger at the way we were treated. Way to go April B I will NEVER return to this location because of you and your shitty attitude and your ignorance for a table. Like I said tonight great service keep talking to your other tables about make up. read more