Waffle House — Restaurant in Mesa

I'd give the atmosphere zero stars if I could, and the service somehow even less. I understand that Waffle House has a firm reputation of being low-rent and 'trashy,' but this defies even the most extreme conclusions of that reputation.

Allow me to set the scene of my visit.

We entered the restaurant at approximately 6 in the morning. Upon entry we were immediately bombarded with an obscenely unclean store, and white nationalist rap music blaring from the restaurant at full volume - yes, you read that right - white nationalist rap songs, which proceeded at full volume for three separate songs until, after presumably hearing my father state that he couldn't hear what I was saying to him from immediately across the table, they finally turned it down. Not off, mind you, but down, where its low volume provided a pleasantly unpleasant backdrop for the meal to come.

The food I ordered - a patty melt and waffle - were okay. They were what was expected of Waffle House, and so I would feel it unfair to level special criticism at them.

What was, for me, simultaneously the greatest and least appetizing treat, was hearing the employees loudly and inappropriately discuss their high school careers. One employee was overheard - hard not to overhear, with how loud they spoke - talking about how he'd visited Germany on a school trip. It astonished me that he would be bigoted enough to play the kind of music present in the restaurant, since most who go abroad tend to be above such prejudices. I also heard another employee - presumably his classmate at one time - explain in a bragadocious tone that she'd dropped out two weeks after that same Germany trip due to not being allowed to go.

You may think it unfair for me to broadcast that conversation here. I find it unfair to have to have heard it in the first place.

The greatest part of my trip to Waffle House was stopping at Mesa Donuts on the way home, which was staffed by incredibly kind people, boasted clean floors, and whose breakfast sandwiches easily mop the floor with anything on Waffle House's menu.

Hopefully the Waffle House staff visit Mesa Donuts - they could certainly learn a thing or two about...

I have never been to a waffle house when the second you walk in the door you've got the whole staff yelling welcome to waffle house not here. Sadly we weren't the only ones who noticed that and even though they wasn't very busy that the 6 booths they had were filled that would have been just fine with the people who came in before us and after us we all asked about seating at the counters and the young man said to us no because there was only 2 servers and they are very busy. Well we all were shocked and FYI I used to work at a waffle house when I was 17 and if there was more than 2 servers we didn't make money also waffle house is known for their yelling out the orders so the whole place could hear sadly 😔 not here in fact we didn't even get acknowledged by anyone until we addressed them. Also IDK how much things have changed but the last time I knew as an employee you are not allowed to eat anything out in the front no matter what it was you took it to the back where non of the customers could see you eating well sadly 😔 not here the young man eat his waffle right there behind the counter next to the waffle iron and I remember the waffles being fluffy and yummy 🤤 sadly 😔 not here flatter then a pancake and it was so cold 🥶 you could bearly eat and by the time the server put the plate on the table your food was already cold. The only thing that was hot was the coffee and the piece of ham the was forgotten because they gave me Bacon when she even wrote it down Ham. But even with all that the girl that served us wasn't great but she did try to do her best again IDK about you but if I could do a negative -5 that's just what I'd do. And if all that wasn't bad enough no sooner did we finish leave the money for the ticket plus tip on the table because the young man just was taking way too long for cashing out someone but after all that we have to Rush home because from eating our meal I had the bubble guts from HELL. And almost didn't make it. So if you like bad bad bad this is the place. As for me I don't think we will be going back. Plus both the people before and after us left I wish we would have...

In the year and a half I have been coming here, not once have I ever had a bad experience. The servers were all friendly, the food was always good, and the atmosphere was always happy. Until this last time, my boyfriend and I went for a quick breakfast before work at 11am on a Saturday, it wasn't too busy, we were seated immediately and got our food quickly, and it was delicious as usual. But this time, there was a manager on duty who was absolutely horrific. The crew was on edge, it was as if they were afraid to speak. Our waitress was quieter than usual, and another customer who left as we arrived made a point to address the whole kitchen and tell them was a wonderful job they did, and that didn't strike me as significant until this manager started speaking. She loudly berated her team from across the store, she criticized a new employee in a very disrespectful manner, and was just overall very unpleasant. The team at this particular location has always been wonderful, and I am always happy to drive out of my way to see them. But this manager, a blonde woman with short hair, I didn't see her name tag, was terrible. It was very clear she was the reason for the distinct change in atmosphere and behavior in the team that is usually very friendly and talkative. They were quiet, they looked scared, and rightfully so, as the manager at least three times loudly reprimanded different employees, right in front of us and other customers, from across the store, about things that didn't really seem important at all. She was not trying to improve the quality of service provided, she was exercising control over a good team. This woman made the experience wholly unpleasant, and I hope new management is found soon. She is not manager material, and should be evaluated. I am certain if her team was questioned about her behavior they'd have a multitude of other bad experiences to share. Waffle House, I hope you care about your employees and customers enough to see that this woman is damaging your reputation...