IHOP — Restaurant in East Brunswick Township

I would like to share the horrible experience my family and I experienced today October 21st, 2018.

We went to IHOP this morning on East Brunswick, NJ when all of the sudden we were rudely interrupted during breakfast. Our son was crying in the restaurant and one person sitting two tables away put it on herself to come over and tell us to leave. Which made us feel very uncomfortable. We told her to leave if she had a problem with him crying. Mind that at that moment, I was calming my son and he had stopped crying.

We were with other family members trying to have a nice breakfast as a family. We were also with another baby and a minor who did not feel comfortable about the woman approaching us.

We then asked to speak with the manager about what just happened. Who instead came to our table was the owner (which we were happpy about it) of the IHOP. The Owner, whose name is Joan Boyle approached us with a very disconcerting look and attitude against us. When she approched us and introduced herself, she did it in a very rude and with such empowerment.

We politely tried to explain to her what had just happened and before we were done explaining she abruptly interrupted us. Then, told us how we should see it from the other customer’s point of view. We politely asked the owner, Joan Boyle, to please approach the lady who came to us and ask her to leave since we didn't feel safe there anymore (the person was still yelling at us from her table) and we had children there and our food was just arriving at the table. She then refused and implied that we should all leave. We felt not only discriminated, but attacked by the owner, Joan Boyle.

The people at that table shortly after left. As the people left, the other customers were arguing with them for what the woman did. Other customers felt angry because of how unjust we were treated at that place. The owner, Joan Boyle, not once apologized to us after the incident. We felt extremely discriminated. The waitress not only apologized to us because of the incident, but also apologized because of how badly we were treated by Joan Boyle. Please note that the staff was very friendly and very professional...

Morning manager Kevin has completely changed our perspective of IHOP. Although my kids love the food I would rather spend money elsewhere.

We frequently visit the location to eat in the afternoon/ evening so when I placed a DoorDash order today I did not expect that I would be on the receiving end of an attitude over a condiment (sour cream) when I called in to request it. Since it isn’t an option to add on DoorDash when I called the store to request sour cream I stated they could charge me extra for it, no problem with me. That’s when they told me no, that I could not add on sour cream after an order was placed through doordash (it was still being made). Normally they charge an up charge and they could not add it to the order nor would they be willing to charge me separately for it. The associate (who was nice) did ask if I’d like to speak to the manager and I said yes, because this is a simple condiment request (or so I thought). Kevin (the manager) came on and confirmed everything the associate said so I was annoyed at this point due to the fact that I didn’t want to have to run to the store when he simply could’ve charged me for it separately and thrown it in with the order so I explained “it’s just a condiment.” Then he argued that “no it’s actually food, not a condiment”. I ended the call and reached out to corporate because something so trivial should never have ended this way. A huge inconvenience to me (I did in fact go to the store for sour cream) and such a poor attitude from what should be a family...

Food was hot & tasty, no complaints in this department, place was CLEAN & NEAT, my waitress was very nice, pleasant, friendly, attentive, professional & diplomatic... however... IHOP business chain DON'T PAY ANY SALARY to their waiters & other WORKERS... Working people who are serving our food & keeping place vacuumed, restrooms clean, dishes washed, tables wiped, food cooked, landscape & parking area outside sweeped are getting paid... by tips only...?! Only manager's position getting paid salary BUT everyone else serving US - customers at IHOP establishments are NOT GETTING PAID ANYTHING... except... tips...?! This is absolutely unacceptable !!! I have been always LOYAL customer of IHOP... but now I started to question "why do I support this business establishment... if WORKERS who are serving me NOT GETTING PAID...?! I will give away my money to another food establishment who are PAYING salaries TO ALL of their WORKERS and NOT JUST SELECTIVE positions !!! Who can pay their rent, feed their kids & support their families by tips only...? Why do we support financially IHOP if IHOP DOESN'T SUPPORT financially THEIR WORKERS ???!!! It can't be continue !!! It MUST BE STOPPED !!! ONLY us-customers can STOP unfair "tip's" payments practice by STARTING TO DEMAND IT & START ASKING QUESTIONS & START RECEIVING ANSWERS & START SEEING PEOPLE GETTING PAID EARNED SALARY !!! UNTIL THEN BOYCOTT !!! ☝️ I used to love🖤...