IHOP — Restaurant in Escondido

I wish I could have given a better review, but I can't. I will say that the servers were very courteous and helpful. But it stops there. We've had 5 different people approach our table. Bizarre experience.

Came in, and the place was empty except for maybe two other tables of two. Was greeted and sat promptly by the hostess. She then asked about our beverage choice. I asked for a water and a coffee, the total of drinks being 1 coffee and 2 waters.

A different person came to give beverages. I only got a coffee and 1 water for my boyfriend, none for me. IHOP, can you afford to get better coffee?? It's half the reason I refuse to go there. I drink it black, and it just tastes like it's been marinating in grounds for ages. Bitter bland, and unpalatable. I've had worse though, so there's that. Should have opted for the cold brew.

A third person approached to take our order. We weren't ready, so he left.

Then a fourth different person came to check on us and take our order. While I appreciate the prompt service, this was generally uncomfortable and disorganized. Nevertheless, the fourth person, who was our main server, did a great job accommodating us. He checked on us often.

While we waited, the staff decided to discuss their register receipts: returns and voids. I don't know if this is a normal thing to do, but I always prefer to discuss those things when customers aren't around. It's kind of a mood killer.

Now to the food. I ordered an avo bacon omelette. Should have stuck to the pancakes and French toast.... The omelette was overcooked, dry, and bland. Also, why does my boyfriend get 5 avocado slices, and I only get 3?? (He got the Poblano omelette). I mean "Avo Bacon and Cheese"... Only fair to be a good chunk of the omelette, but I digress. Cholula rescued the taste by a small fraction, wish salsa was available. It didn't matter because I couldn't finish it. The taste started to nauseate me. My boyfriend couldn't finish his either.

Now for the 5th different person. The wild card. For some reason, she had to refill the syrups at our table while we were eating, even though she was leaving her shift soon. Now imagine 4 different people greeting you and helping you throughout your dining experience and then a 5th person is rummaging across your table to stock supplies. She did apologize and was self-aware that she was being intrusive. I laughed and found it amusing, only to later wonder why she couldn't have waited 2 minutes until we left.

Overall a very, very bizarre...

I am a wheelchair user, I rolled into the HOP for some breakfast. Waited in the front or by the register with a menu in my hand. I sat there for at least 10 minutes, a waitress said something but I didn’t understand what she said. She didn’t make eye contact to me again. Anyway, about 15 mins later I asked to speak to a manager, her name is Tessa, I explained what happened and she just came up with excuses so I left. They weren’t busy, so maybe they just didn’t want to serve me or a guy in a wheelchair. For any reason, I won’t be going there again as this was a first for me and I have been in a chair for 4 decades! ** also, I have been reading some reviews and I see each review is responded to by the owner. So, Owner of the IHOP I doubt you are really answering these comments, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is an asst mgr or supervisor or family member responding with a template based on the comment! And why do you ask everyone to cut and paste into their browser, is this so you can obtain their IP address? Why don’t you just provide every comment with a free meal and have them show their comment to the server…. There is a way you can monitor this without getting their IP address…. And last, most of the complaints are about the service and quality of product or lack of….. this is an easy fix, fire the manager and get some one that has experience with IHOP and will train the employees properly, it isn’t the employees fault as it is actually yours and the decisions you made! By the way, I am not interested in returning and I am not interested in a free meal. I just ask that you listen to the comments and do something as opposed...

Today 2/23/25 I ordered two orders of the cinna stick pancakes I think that's what they're called anyway as I went to pick up my order I had my boyfriend go inside to get the order upon him coming back to the car I check my order and immediately got upset it literally looked like I ordered regular pancakes with a little amount of the cinna spread an a open container if I can insert photos I will there was nothing else! Then my boyfriend said the guy who gave him the order questioned him when he asked for syrup saying "you don't need syrup sense you have specialty pancakes". why does that matter? So i went back in there and I went up to the women who was there and I told her I ordered two orders of cinna pancakes as this doesn't look like cinna pancakes these look like regular pancakes and she looked and confirmed it was wrong took my order they had me wait what felt like 10 mins to just bring me back the same order with a small amount of icing and whipped cream 😡 the amount of spread was not enough to cover 4 pancakes smh! So I asked for more and the guy that I asked looked bothered that I even asked,he wasn't friendly at all and turns out it was the same guy that questioned my boyfriend about the syrup that we DID INDEED NEEDED for these dried ass pancakes we got!! If I wanted regular pancakes I would have got regular pancakes! I was so pissed off to even ask for a refund. If you gonna have customers pay more for specialty pancakes please make sure your making it as it shows on your menu or at least with the right amount of spread or Sauces we are...