IHOP — Restaurant in Maryland

where to start... Soda's tasted like a mix of flat and concentrate out of a bottle not good.

table was not properly cleaned sugar or sticky residue on the left side

staff seemed to care more about larger table seatings and private conversions in the staging areas.

asked for a few minutes to look over menu got 20 after a single soda to start due to not being a large group. people who sat after us got served first and out first due to the initial long wait they gave us.

ordered item with no seasoning and got over cooked and seasoned wait staff failed to note on the order. due to whatever reason.

were shorted some items from kitchen. who expedites and ensures quality and consistency? they clearly were either to busy to notice or they didn't care if you even have one in the first place.

then when paying. the server stood there after handing tablet over tip was preset (dark pattern device took several attempts to set to my preferred method) - bad process there fix it or remove it see below. id rather have a kiosk or cell phone app or go back to paper signing. if a tip is requested during checkout then that should be what the bank gets rather than the current practice. or proper pricing and stop asking for tip (pay your people better.) so they perform overall rather them hunt and peck for the possible bigger tippers by percentage.

the manager i did see seemed more interested in whatever joke she told or heard. in a meal of over an hour some places at least table touch but i don't expect that here.

i dont think i will be going back...

To owner if you seek anything its not worth my time anymore as i said im not going back.. as i saw last month as of writing another commentator had worse but similar experience... which shows whatever you did or did not do still ...

I originally wrote this review three months ago when I was new to coming to this restaurant. Now three months later I'd like to leave another review but cannot (Google only allows one per location) so I'm editing it. (The original review will be at the bottom still).

My partner and I frequent this IHOP and I've been coming to IHOP for a while. This location is by far the best IHOP I've personally been too. No matter who our waitress is or which time we've come in the attitude and service are great. I've never had an issue with an employee here and they handle difficult customers with more patience and grace than I ever could. I continue to be satisfied with my experience at this location.

Additionally, after a brief conversation with the manager (Mohammed/Muhammad apologies I'm not sure of the correct spelling) I am also impressed with the leadership of this location. This is someone who puts his employees first and it shows in the experience of the restaurant. To many managers end up on a power trip or subscribe to toxic capitalism, it's refreshing to see someone in leadership who doesn't. It is clear that he treats his employees with the respect, grace, and understanding they deserve as the human beings they are. More people in leadership positions should follow this example. Take care of your team first and profit will follow. 10/10.

Original review (Nov 2022).

IHOP is one of my favorite chain breakfast places to go and this one doesn't disappoint. Our server Donna was great, today was extremely busy yet she remained cheerful and attentive. She was helped by another woman who's name I was unable to get but she was nice as well. I always get either the Tres Leches or the CinnaStack pancake combo, today was CinnaStack and it was great as always. Our food also came out...

The pancakes were good because IHOP pancakes are always good, but the service was bad. Seems that all of the staff was ghetto, including the manager. He allowed all of the waitresses (including my waitress) do whatever they wanted to do. They were loud and called all of their customers baby, not okay. They played around with each other loudly, girls dragging one another down the floor for everyone to see...I was floored by the lack of professionalism. I do understand that IHOP is just a breakfast place, but good God almighty, always be professional and work for your gratuity. I have had an issue at this particular establishment before; the hostess was nowhere to be found and it took them 10 mins to seat us. A waitress ended up seating us; they were sweeping in the middle of the restaurant, and our waiter did not know what he was doing. He disappeared for more than 20 mins at a time and brought got chocolate to us 40 mins into our being seated. It took him an hour to take our order, then we left. I called to speak to the manager to let her know what was going on, and she apologized and offered me a gift card, which I refused. We spoke for about 10-15 mins and she offered me a gift card about 5 times, I refused until the last time because she seemed adamant about doing something for our troubles. My only concern was making someone aware of the issues in the floor. Needless to say, I never received a gift card and the staff are always...