IHOP — Restaurant in Marion

Decided today to go have lunch at Marion IHOP after a friend had a quick procedure done at the doctor's office. She was a little sore and groggy so we were just trying to make a quick little lunch trip and be in and out and on our way home since we had a little drive home before she could rest for the evening. We walked in and the servers working we're very pleasant, very respectful and especially attentive to our needs to be in and out very quickly. The server brought our to go containers with the food so that it would save time in waiting, she was quick with taking our order, bringing our food, and following up with our check. She was very sweet, very kind and very professional. Although the restaurant was out of the first two things that my friend had requested to order she made a suggestion that was even better than my friend had hoped for originally. Did to-go boxes came in very handy because we were full to the point of regretting the last couple of bites so we threw the rest in the box and we headed out to pay. When we were leaving to pay one of the other servers was having a small talk with another customer, which was an older woman with very thin stature and obviously not feeling well herself, But the server was very caring and patient and loving as well by encouraging her to maybe try Ensure for a shake to help her to be able to eat again and still get the nutrients she needed, The lady customer, originally appearing noticeably distraught and concerned about her weight and not being able to eat really seemed like that little talk made her feel a lifetime better even with being someone the server didn't even personally know.

That's what makes a difference in this world, people who have a job not only doing their job but going the extra to do that job, or to just be human and kind to someone In a bad time. Taking the time out for another human being when it's not required or requested but because of heart. Having a heart and knowing when someone needs your kind words and encouragement could save lives but at the very least make someone smile or change their day.

Kudos to Marion Illinois IHOP lunch servers today Monday August 28th 2023. You ladies deserve encouragement yourselves and at the very least applause and thanks for being outstanding!!

I'm going to follow up on this, everybody deserves praise or appreciation in helping a business run smoothly and respectably. That's everyone from the customers, to the employees, the cooks, busboys or girls, morning, lunch, and night crew, to the The ones that come in after hours and Make any repairs or maintenance to the building so it can function to its full disability, to workers who come during working hours and make themselves almost invisible and yet still get their job performed and done in good time and with respect to a running business, All the way up to whoever does the books, writes the checks, and whoever pays those people at corporate. But what needs to be noticed most is who is the face of your business and that is the servers, the first people you see when you walk through the door and today in Marion Illinois, SPOT ON, IHOP!!...

I don't normally leave bad reviews but in this instance I feel it is a must so that they can learn from their mistakes and do better.

Wait time just for the host to come out and seat us was too long. A waitress told us the host would be there soon so we thought okay, no problem. Then a gentleman went to the back to go find the host. I thought how strange. The time it took for him to find the host could have been spent seating us himself. During our wait, I noticed the toothpick dispenser was empty. (Seems small but I assure you details matter.) I also noticed it didn't smell clean in the restaurant. After noticing these things, the host finally came out and seemed unprofessional but she sat us at our table and we felt as if we were getting somewhere.

Wait time for the waitress to come felt a little long but when she came we told her we were ready to order both food and drink. She promptly took our order. When she brought the food, she gave us unrolled silverware and apologized for it being that way but made a comment that it was better than taking the time to roll it up. Not taking the time to do these things makes it appear that the job is not taken seriously. She also never once checked on us to refill drinks or ask us how we liked the food. She seemed like a nice girl but the total experience was not a good one.

The food was okay but the hashbrowns didn't taste very good. After eating, we were ready to pay but we didn't see our waitress. We did see the host and tried to ask her if we should pay at our table or up front. She was not paying attention. We asked another waitress and she answered, "At the table," but kept walking as she answered. I finally spotted our waitress but she was busy at the computer for a long time. We decided just to leave cash. While we were taking our cash out, I watched another waitress at a table with a bigger family roll her eyes after taking their order. This was not professional and made me realize she does not value her customers. In fact, the whole experience made my mother and I feel unvalued. Finally our waitress came and we said, "Here is our cash," (without even receiving the bill). We said, "We're sorry but we have to go," asking if what cash we had would be enough to cover it. She said she was sorry and that it would be enough so we left.

I know this is long but thank you for taking the time to read. I told my mom I wouldn't be coming back but I'm willing to come in again at a later time to see if things will change...

I had IHOP delivered this evening and there was no butter or syrup to go with the pancakes I ordered. I don’t have syrup here and had requested extra of both. I called the restaurant and the rudest employee I’ve ever spoken to told me I had “checked the bags wrong”, like the condiments would magically appear. I told her there were only two bags and neither contained what I needed for my pancakes. I ask to speak to a manager or person in charge and she said no one’s in charge and the manager was gone until the next morning. I said I highly doubt there is no one in charge of a 24 hour restaurant on a Sat evening. She said there wasn’t but I could speak to the chef. I asked for the managers name and she said “Jill”. I said you’ve been referring to the manager as a him, and his name is Jill? She said yes. I asked his last name and she said she didn’t know. I said it’s got to be displayed around there somewhere and she said it’s not. So I asked to speak to the “chef” and I’m using that word very loosely. The “chef” said that she didn’t know the managers last name either but his name is “Joe”, he is Indian and has a last name no one can say. (Her words, not mine) She said she’d tell Roland that I’d be calling to speak to a manager the next morning. I said “who’s Roland?!” She advised he’d worked there for 10 years. I ask what time Joe would be in, she didn’t know. I ask for her name & she refused to give it to me and hung up. This is ridiculous! I look forward to speaking to Joe tomorrow. I will never give this restaurant my business again. “You checked the bags wrong”?!! Seriously? No: you forgot to do your freaking job and include the necessary condiments. You have zero customer service skills, nor does the “chef”. DO BETTER IHOP!! You should all be ashamed of how...