Perkins American Food Co. — Restaurant in Altoona

Our family of 7 ate at Perkins for dinner around 8 PM tonight, July 13, 2023. The waitress, Emily, was outstanding, and we were very pleased with the food. Dan, who appeared to be either manager or host, unfortunately, made our experience overall quite unpleasant. He failed to greet us when we arrived, and rather than offer a smile, courteous greeting, or an apology, proceeded to regard us without hint of friendliness or hospitality. One of my children observed him repeatedly staring inappropriately at me as I assisted our children during the meal. When we were ready to leave, we waited for Dan to be available to take our bakery order and take our payment for the meal for quite some time and were patient and understanding about this. When Dan finally approached the register, he failed to engage with any amount of hospitality or basic courtesy, merely looking at the receipt on the counter, and very abrasively asking, “is this your receipt?”. When i attempted to hand him my credit card for payment, he threw the card toward me and said that it was not his job to run the card. As I waited for him to pack up the bakery items, I attempted to reassure him that it was not necessary to put each item in a different container. He responded by repeatedly directing me, in a very sharp and offensive tone, to open the lid of a box and hand it to him. He said “No. No! Don’t do THAT. Just give me that!”, visibly irritated and impatient. I thanked him and indicated that my husband would be returning to collect the remaining bakery items we had purchased. I went out to the van where my husband and children were waiting and asked my husband to go back in for the items. It felt unacceptable to me to be treated in that manner, and I honestly do not remember a time where I have felt more objectified and dehumanized in my adult life. It felt important to me to write about this, and I hope no one else will experience this sort of treatment by Dan at the Altoona, Iowa Perkins or elsewhere, as it is never acceptable to me, no matter one’s personal struggles, to behave in such a manner toward another human being. If it was unintentional, I would suggest increasing awareness around how these sorts of actions may be perceived by others. If my husband had also been treated poorly, it would seem more likely the Dan had had a bad night. To me, this feels like a reflection of his beliefs...

Yesterday morning I had to pick up my white bagpiping shirt from Executive Cleaners in Altoona and fortunate for me decided to stop by the Altoona Perkins for some breakfast on the way back home. Sorry about the photo, I just dived in (thinking only of myself) before taking photos. This was without any doubt the best omelet I've ever eaten. I ask my server *(Lacey) to have the kitchen drizzle a little hollandaise sauce over that amazing everything omelet and instead I received a small saucer of it so I could add as much as I wanted. The hash browns were awesome, tender but had a bit of crunch as well. My server ask if I wanted some Tabasco or Cholula I wasn't sure so she brought both. I've never tried the Cholula until now and must say her recommendation was on spot, it was spicy but not too hot and had a lot more flavor, a really good flavor that added to the omelet.

I was seated and my order taken quickly, when my breakfast arrived at the table, which didn't take long at all, it was piping hot and insanely delicious. I brought a slice of Cherry Pie home for me and a Blueberry Muffin for Pam, my wife. Both were unsurprisingly awesome. This is twice I've eaten here and both times the servers and the kitchen have knocked it out of the park.

(This Perkins gets my coveted cleaned plate award for sure!)

We sure wish the Newton Perkins were as good, last two visits our orders arrived at the table cold and took forever, we were nearly starved to death by the time they came, seems we've had a history there with one visit good and the next not so good, very consistently *(inconsistent). The price of eating out has become too expensive for that, not to mention there's a lot of competition out there and Altoona is not at all too far to drive for a good meal out.

My wife and I will be returning as soon...

We get seated quickly which is nice but that is where the compliments end. We get our silverware wrapped in napkins & the menus.....the menus were sticky & covered in something nasty. I asked for new ones & got attitude. The new ones were even nastier. We opened our silverware & I had to get out wet ones to CLEAN them! We get our drinks & realize the glasses weren't washed as mine had LIPSTICK still on it. I don't wear make-up! When I tried to order (before our drinks arrived) I was refused because they claim they don't allow you to choose the same things on the sampler platter. I have done this at EVERY Perkins I have gone to since 2002 due to not liking the other choices (i ordered chicken strips & 2 sets of cheese sticks)! It can be done, also no where does it say in the restaurant that I have to pick 3 different items, not even on the menu! They bring their manager out & he yells at me for not liking these other items listed on the sampler to choose from. I stated, He had no right to try & belittle me & said we would not be eating at their nasty restaurant. As we were leaving I watched a cockroach scamper across the dinning room floor. I stated loudly "YUP I will never eat here again as I am probably eating bugs...GROSS"! I have never been treated like this before & I have been going to THIS Perkins a lot in the last 4 years. You lost my & my famiky & friends' business. This is the Altoona, Iowa location, they need to close this location! Read the reviews! Mine isn't even the worst one, that's...