IHOP — Restaurant in Honolulu

I work in Food Service and in Restaurants for a long time, so I can understand long tickets times and bad wait service. So hear my observations and understand there is a way to be good and a way to be bad.

Off the bat, don't expect 5-Star service. If you want to come here for the Name and Menu, Come! If you want to see a disappointed Franchise that need improvement, then Come!

Solo (By myself) Dine-In

Cleanliness: Poor, Tables not bussed. I sat and watched dirty tables pile up. From sit down to leaving, some of the same tables weren't bussed even after I left. Bathroom was lazy or not setup right. Both TP and Paper towels were not in the dispenser.

As I entered, I waited to be seated like the sign says. Then waited a decent length, no response. Then someone said just sit anywhere. So I sat at a nearby Deuce. I waited for a server for a menu, so I went online to check out the menu. After (IDK) 10 minutes a server gave me a menu.

While waiting, I was observing other guest and staff. A table in front of me, a couple had their dishes returned few times because their server had a mix up. To my left and over my shoulder two tables not bussed and never were till I left.

I ordered a Denver Omelette Burger (Burger, cheese, ham, and Omelette with onions and peppers) and just water. I waited a just observed. People were leaving and more people kept coming in. Once my food came, it looked decent. Then getting into it, it was pretty greasy, and barely saw peppers and onions, the omelette was more of overcooked folded fried scrambled eggs. A large family sat adjacent to my right, the waiter told them the kitchen is backed up and orders would take awhile. (They were okay main thing the kids get served first.) This is the same waiter who got the couple's food messed up. I see him struggling with the job. When the couple left, their table sat dirty. Another observation was another family had a dispute, the manager came and said just took the thing off the check. The waitress who waited me was great, asked for water got it, gave me extra napkins without asking, and when I was ready; she saw me motion for the check and got it plus some more water before I left. I appreciated her work.

Looking around, didn't seem like a system was in place. Servers were just picking up tables as they come, no real sections. Also, the busser either was cooking or doing dishes cause he was a no show for maybe 45+ minutes. Upon leaving I used the bathroom, I said my experience above. And I think the Expeditor was a server (Same waiter who was struggling!)

This is my experience, like any product/service:...

Yes this review is really long. I hope people will take my review into consideration. My Experience was TERRIBLE. I wouldn't even give this one star to be honest. Anyways my friend and I went there and you could tell the server was new.. I'm a really patient person, but when you have mess up after mess up like 10 times at one table, you start to get frustrated. Now I have 6 years experience as a server so I know what to expect. Like I said she was new and she had NO TRAINER OR MANAGER behind her seeing if she was doing anything right. Manager of store yapping with a shift leader, cooks blasting their music because I could hear 2 Chainz and Drake. I could over hear their conversations in the back.. new server She forgot silverware, napkins, didn't ask if we wanted condiments or refills.. waited almost 30 min to pay for our food. Apparently their system was messing up so they kept swiping my card and got charged for 3 different things... Word of advice IHOP BY THE AIRPORT... Make sure you TRAIN your newbies before putting them on a table by themselves. Ya know? To avoid reviews like this? Y'all weren't even a full house and made so many mistakes last night. Again this was just MY TABLE party of 2 people... lol I tell you it was dead and people usually waiting in line for their name called for a table to be seated.. How were y'all out of certain things when y'all are a brand new store? Y'all just opened not too long ago AND you're 24 hours. Managers need to get it together.. I felt bad for the new girl because she had no guidance of being a server. I shouldn't have been charged 3 times, and 3 different people were handling my debit card. My friend got charged 2 times with 2 different amounts. As a manager or shift leader they should've been right there when your newbie is struggling BAD. y'all should've gave us our food free. Not my responsibility or fault I need to bring in my bank statement showing y'all charged me when I showed you the day before on my phone. I advise future customer's pay with CASH. I will definitely be going to corporate because as a new store this review SHOULD NOT be here. *Side note.. ask for a server named FLUFFY. He stepped in and took over 2 servers mistakes. He's seriously the best....

1st time eating at the IHop here in the 808. Was kinda expecting the same experience as the Ihop’s in 4 different states we are at. Well maybe not the pricing. The average price in the states is $8.95 for the breakfast combo’s with pancakes. The average prices here is $15.95 and up for the combos. The service we experienced in the states was quick. We didn’t have to wait long.

Arrived at 7am with a party of 7. Was greated by a nice male waiter. Was fairly empty so we where seated in less then 1min. Waited 5min. before placing order for drinks. Waited another 5min. before it was served. Waited 30 min. for waiter to take our food orders. While waiting, I witnessed 3 separate tables that came in, 20 min. after us, got their drinks and food, was served and was out the door before we even got our food. Waited a total of 45 min. for the food to be served. Food was cold and the side rice was half cooked. I could tell that the food was sitting and not being expedited at the window. One order was missed and it came out 20 min. after majority of our party was done eating. We waited another 25min. for the check. I walked up to the front counter where the register was at and the gentleman said that the waiter needed to complete the transaction. My bill was little over $160 dollars. By the time we left it was 9:25am, 2 hours 25 min. later after the fact.

If I had to rate this Ihop, it would be a zero and probably the worst restaurant I have ever been to in my lifetime. This is the 1st and last time for coming here. The wait was too long and ridiculous. The prices is not worth the time of day.

I contemplated prior on going to Pancakes & Waffles because their prices are decent and their food service is quick. But I decided to give this place a shot.

Hopefully management gets on their high horse and change for the better. If people are spending money on the high cost of breakfast here at this Ihop, just like that saying, “You pay for what you get” the service and quality of food should be at a higher standard then most breakfast restaurants. Plain and simple. I feel like I got ripped off. I normally tip waiters $20 and up. Sorry but no cigars on this...