"I visited this IHOP with my family while we were in the area and decided to have breakfast for dinner. While there are many upscale brunch spots to choose from, IHOP is a go-to for comforting classics from their menu. We arrived around 6:45 PM on a Friday and found no one at the host stand. After waiting about six minutes, we heard someone say they would be with us shortly. When we were finally seated, it was evident that the restaurant was extremely short-staffed. The person who seated us was also our server, who informed us that there were only two servers handling approximately eight tables. Having worked as a server myself, I thought that number of tables should be manageable, but these servers were clearly juggling much more than just serving. Apart from one cook in the kitchen, it seemed they were the only ones running the restaurant.
We waited around 15-20 minutes before our server came to take our orders. Anticipating delays, everyone at our table made sure they knew what they wanted to order. When our server arrived, she was friendly and apologetic, which was appreciated. She handled the situation well, especially considering that some customers might have been getting impatient due to the service delays. Despite the slow and understaffed conditions, she was doing an admirable job. As a customer, I felt no frustration towards her; the staffing issues were clearly a management problem. She worked hard to keep the service personable, and you could easily empathize with her situation.
After about 30 minutes, our food finally arrived. I noticed our server did her best to keep us informed about when our meals would be ready. She brought out each dish as soon as it was prepared, rather than waiting for all the orders to be completed. She also made sure to refill our water glasses before the food arrived, ensuring we were comfortable. All the dishes came out within about five minutes of each other. While IHOP does not offer the highest quality cuisine, everything tasted fresh and flavorful. My usual choice, the Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes, was excellent and fully satisfied my sweet tooth. The Hash Browns I ordered were crispy, just how I like them, although they were a bit too oily for my taste.
Throughout our meal, our server continued to check in with us despite her busy schedule. Overall, this was a mixed experience. The main issue lay with the length of service, not with our server herself. I commend both servers for their hard work, and we made sure to leave a generous tip as they truly deserved it. Even though IHOP may not be the fanciest dining option, the management needs to step up and improve the staffing situation. It's clear they do not prioritize the working conditions for their staff, and I hope they address this soon."
