Our second trip to the new IHOP which is the only one in the area. Were there two weeks ago. It was frantic, jammed and service was spotty and slow. They had just opened so we chalked it up to newness. We have eaten at other IHOP locations out of the area and always been satisfied. I mean hey, this isn't gourmet food. It's stick to your ribs breakfast, brunch and American Classics. Nothing gourmet about it. No Gruyere or Camonberre or Filet Mignon.
But you do expect a minimum level of competence, especially for a chain. We got to the IHOP in Wilkes-Barre around 8:30. It was a long day so I gathered up my wife and son and said "Let's go grab a quick bite. Nothing fancy. Denny's or IHOP?" My son hadn't been to the new IHOP yet so he made the choice.
We got there and the place was almost empty. NOT a good sign. The local Denny's which has been down the road about a 1/4 mile has been there since the 1980's and is ALWAYS busy. The hostess was very nice and attentive and seated us quickly. Our waiter came by not long after and took our drink order. Simple. Sweet Tea, lemonade and root beer; except my tea wasn't sweet and only had three little pieces of ice in it. It was luke warm at best. Nothing near cold. I tolerated it. A few minutes later he reappeared and we ordered.
Brian was quick and attentive and answered our questions. He took our order and vanished. About 15 minutes later he reappeared with a helper and our dinner. My wife had pancakes. My son had French Toast and bacon with a side of hash browns. I had boneless fried chicken breast with cornbread stuffing and mashed potatoes.There was no gravy on the menu so I ordered a side.
Let's go through this? My wife got pancakes topped with, on the generous side maybe a 1/2 teaspoon of butter. A 1/2 teaspoon of butter on top of 5 pancakes? Really? Is butter that expensive? My son was happy with his food except for the fact that the hash browns were stone cold. I was delighted with the chicken breast! Maybe the best I've ever had! Fried and seasoned to perfection and it was still juicy! BUT.....the stuffing and mashed potatoes were cold and there was no, zip, zilch, zero, nada spec of gravy anywhere in sight. NONE! I specifically ordered gravy! In fact when Brian took our order I asked for a side of gravy. I said, "Any kind will do: beef, turkey, chicken or country."
Needless to say no gravy came out with my dinner which was already cold, except for the chicken. So when Brian reappeared with a smile and asked "Is everything ok folks, we said no!" We asked for butter and gravy. Then a pseudo/manager type guy appeared and asked if everything was ok. We said, "We're waiting for butter and gravy and out food is already cold and getting colder." He said, "I'm sorry and I'll take care of that for you." We didn't see him again. A few minutes later Brian, our waiter reappeared with a plastic IHOP "Kiddie cup" with butter in it for my wife and a small plastic, black cup with something that looked like gravy. it was maybe the size of a cup you'd put a Jello-shot in. My wife and I laughed and said "I'll need more than that!" It was was perhaps the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in a restaurant and I've eaten all over the world!
Brian was stunned. He was at a loss for words and stammered, "Well, well, um, I'll have to ask. You're gonna have to pay for it if you want more than this." My wife and I laughed again and said that was fine. By now my food was half eaten with very little gravy and was completely cold. Minutes later and I do mean minutes, Brian returned with two more little cups the size of those paper ketchup cups Wendy's uses. I thanked him and he went on his way. But this wasn't gravy. What was in these cups looked like hot water with some instant bullion thrown it. It had no body, wasn't thickened at had no flavor other than salt. Very disappointing. I apologized to my wife and son and we gave this place the sign of the cross.
Perhaps the highlight of my night was when we first walked in the door. A man and his wife stopped us and he pulled me aside and said, "HERE is a guy I can trust." I was wearing my red MAGA Hat and he too was obviously a conservative or at the very least, a Trump Supporter. You know, one of the deplorables from the "basket of deplorables?" They let us out once in a while. Anyway, he reached into his wallet and said, "Down at the end of this row (gesturing) is a woman who doesn't have a pot to piss in. I want to remain anonymous. Please give this to her. She's in the bathroom right now" It was a twenty dollar bill." I thanked him, shook his hand and said, "You bet."
When she returned, I did as he asked and said, "Excuse me ma'am. There was a man and a woman just in here. They asked me to give this to you." Her face lit up like she had won the lottery. She appeared to be homeless or semi-homeless or at least on hard times. God works his will through many ways and I was blessed to be a part of it on my IHOP visit. read more