My Sister and I went to this IHop location on Sunday, April 16th and it was very busy but the wait time was quick. At first, we thought oh how lucky, this will move really quick and we'll be back on the road heading to Houston. That was my first mistake, thinking that just because we were seated relatively fast, did not mean we would be serviced in the same manner.
After approximately 10/12mins, someone finally came over to ask if any one had taken our order yet, answer...ah no. So, at that time the waiter took our drink order, now we're thinking that he was our server, but just as he finished taking that drink order, a young lady approaches the table and introduces herself as our server, she apologized to him first for him having to take the order then to us for having to wait so long. Now you would think it would be the other way around but, not! His response to her was no problem we cover each other, whereas my thought was no, no, no, let him serve as our waiter, but I remained respectful, because in the corner of my eye I could read my Sister's thoughts, please don't start, so I held my tongue.
Well, I guess she met the waiter in the back somewhere because she returned with the drink order and asked if we were ready to place our order, we were, so she took it and said she'll be back shortly. All we ordered was a stack of blueberry pancakes an egg and hash browns for my Sister, and a stack of buttermilk pancakes, soft scramble egg, and hash browns for me. Tell me why she came back with all of my Sister's order and just a hard scrambled egg and hash browns for me with an explanation that she's waiting on the cook to finish my pancakes? I couldn't understand why she would return with an incomplete order and why not just leave it all in the back under the light so that it could at least stay warm? Well, in case you didn't guess it, 15mins later I'm still waiting on those pancakes, so now here come the pancakes, and you guessed it, eggs like rubber and hash browns colder than ice.
I told the waitress take it ALL back, tell the cook start from scratch and everything had better be hot when she returns. I guess I must have had stupid written on my forehead, because I'm looking at the same eggs, hard, stiff, dry looking, the hash browns are now dried out with a dull hue about them, and the pancakes got this BIG lump of butter sitting on top. I flagged down the waiter that took our drink order and demanded to see the Manager, Within seconds the Manager (Ms Darla) was at our table and she was asking if there was anything she could do? I gave her the entire scenario of what my experience there had been so far with the waitress and obviously the cook as well. I asked her to just take a look at what I had been served and that this was their second attempt at trying to make it right, who brings out hash browns and eggs from and order that included pancakes but don't return in a timely manner with the pancakes? I told her I know that what they did was to pop the order in the microwave, she smile (embarrassed) that I would know that. She apologized profusely and asked me if she prepared the order herself would I consider giving it another chance, I told her only if she did it herself would I accept the offer. She promised she would, and within maybe 7/10 mins. she returned with my order, she even asked if that was the way I wanted my eggs, soft scrambled, yes, I replied, and thank you so much for your compassion, for being considerate and for understanding. I explained I wasn't trying to be difficult, but since I'm paying for this order it should be the way I ordered it. She replied she understood, and hoped I enjoy my breakfast.
Well, by now I'm eating alone because my Sister had long finished her meal, so she order another drink until I finished mine. However, before I could even take one bite the waitress returned to drop off our meal ticket, the nerve of her, she did nothing, that I felt was worthy of her even returning to my table, and on top of that she returned twice to ask if there was anything else I needed. Chic, if I needed anything else, you would never be the person I ask, instead I'd do without.
So, after all that I'd described above, why did I give this IHop a (5) star? THE MANAGER!!! THE MANAGER!!!! THE MANAGER!!!!! SHE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS REVIEW, AND IS SHE THAT I GAVE MY TIP OF APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO. Would I return to this IHop in the future? Not sure right now, but if I did I would not allow myself to be seated until I've verified that this Manager is there.
Ms. Darla, maybe U won't remember me, but I will ALWAYS remember you.
Thank you,
Helen read more
