Perkins American Food Co. — Restaurant in Madison

I'll give a quick summary at the top and then expand a bit more later. Service: excellent and polite, food:: about what you'd expect with a few standout items, atmosphere: better than what you'd expect.

Service: The best thing about my experience here was probably the excellent service. I've been here twice and the first time I had an older woman and the second time I had a young man as my servers. Both of them were polite, timely, and got my food to me to the specifications. The young man also seems to be capable of memorizing orders without writing them down. Overall quite a good experience.

Food: About what you'd expect from a chain, and I'll be reviewing based on what you'd expect from diner type food. Notably the pancakes are better than the standards from IHOP and Denny's. They have a perfect slightly crispy outer layer and fluffy interior. I've also tried their waffles and french toast and I'd say Pancakes French toast waffles. The sausage links are a bit greasy, so substitute them with the smoked sausage which is literally 5-10 times better.

Atmosphere: The booths have high backs, and each booth is separated by a layer of frosted glass. This means you have a degree of isolation from other customers in the store, but not completely so. The layer of glass also slightly muffles conversation so you can have more private conversations if you need to. The color scheme is a bit on the bright side, though you can't really do much about that with a franchise. The lighting is also a bit too bright, especially noticeable if you come later in the day. But overall about what you'd expect from a franchise location.

True score is 4.66 (5 for service, 5 for food, 4 for atmosphere) but I've rounded it up to 5 stars since you can't give partial...

If I could leave less then 1 star I would . . I was actually offered a position at your store. I chose not to take it for the simple fact how your store is ran.. you tell me in the interview you guys are struggling to stay open past a certain time, but trying to . But I called at 9:23 and there was no answer. I walked over, which is a 3 min walk and the doors are locked. As someone walked out, we walked in and asked if we could order for to go, your sign on the door says dining room closes at 9:30, even though your door is already locked before 9:30 and it says to go's from 930-10. We ask if we can order for to go, and I take it your night manager, because she was not dressed in Perkins clothes, said y'all was done for the night.. when it wasn't even 930. And apparently even though your sign says 930-10 for to go orders, I was told I wasn't even allowed to order, and none answerec the phone all before 9:30. No wonder your struggling to stay open past 10, and your struggling to have employees. . at least honor the sign you leave on the door....

Having frequented numerous Perkins locations across several states, I've observed a concerning trend: a decline in value and quality. My recent visit, prompted by an overcrowded IHOP, led me to reconsider Perkins as a reliable breakfast option. While Perkins has its standout items, the pricing has become exorbitant. A single Belgian waffle, without any accompanying sides, cost me approximately $15 after tax. My companion's "healthier" Cali eggs Benedict, despite substituting potatoes with greens, neared $20. The roasted tomatoes were far from fresh, the greens were soggy, and the eggs were overcooked. Such prices demand a higher standard of culinary execution, which was clearly lacking. Perkins, once a beacon of American Southern comfort food, is now struggling to stay afloat by inflating prices, which ultimately hurts both customers and waitstaff. I hope corporate takes note: Perkins needs to rediscover its roots as an affordable, cozy place where people can enjoy good food and...