IHOP — Restaurant in New Bern

This is more about the staff. My visit this morning found only two employees on shift as two others called out. There was a long table filled, myself alone at a table, a couple next to me and two other tables of lone customers. It's a chilly morning of 40s and the heat wasn't working in part of the restaurant. My waitress, Meghan had been working since 10pm, it was now 7:45am and her shift was extended due to the other staff calling in. The positivity and teamwork she and the cook had in the face of a difficult circumstance was incredible and professional. They worked together to pull it together and make it right for the customers. Instead of wearing the difficulty of the situation, they carried it. I ordered the mushroom and spinach omlet, as did the couple seated in the booth behind me. I heard the cook tell Meghan, "wouldn't you know it, we're out of mushrooms, its written up here." She let out a sigh and came to my table first, I held up a hand. "No problem, can we just double up on the spinach?" She said that was probably fine and thanked me for my understanding. The couple behind me liked my solution and asked for the same. As she went to the kitchen and told the cook, he said "oh yeah! I'll definitely hook them up on spinach!" He did and it was good! People started coming in and she looked worried, but she went back to the cook, told him about the sudden increase in customers and he said, "well, let's feed them. I got you." While in-between cooking items he started walking around making sure everyone had what they needed and taking orders back with him to get cooking on. They didn't miss a beat! I have had my share of bad experiences at IHOP, but this was one of the best experiences I've had at any restraunt and it was because two people who were weary didn't linger on the thought of the challenge before them, but instead worked through it as a team with a mutual goal. As someone who has worked in management, I saw these two as not only good employees to have in a pinch, but good people. I hope IHOP treats them well. 4 stars because IHOP could use some maintenance on...

We have visited this IHOP several times. We waited 15 min to be seated not a problem. Our server was prompt and very kind. 5-10 min later the drinks came. Sweet teas coffee and I cant remember what I had. A mango lemonade I believe. I was concerned bc our previous visit was not very good. We waited and waited ultimately we were asking for everything. Drinks, when is the food coming. Can we get pancakes, how about the grits, can I have a refill. You get the picture. So I'm watching people who were already seated we are now 25 min in, yes I have my timer on. The table seated before us have not yet received their food. The waitress pops over and says your food is on the way. Excited bc one of our little ones is now walking circles around the table. 10 min later the food comes. Happy face pancakes 1 with chocolate 1 with fruit they both were chocolate and bc I didnt want to wait.....and....they were happy.....we rolled with it. My omelet was about half the size I thought it would be and my wife omelet was.......interesting. None the less let's eat. But we are missing a fruit bowl, grits, and Turkey links on the side. Ohhh..... it's the wrong meal but it's ok everyone is eating. How about refills can we have refills on sweet teas and my mango drink. By now I'm ready to go. We were given a discount apologized that we waited so long. I did hear a grumble when we cancelled the sausage links. I mean we were done eating. Maybe patrons should grumble loudly instead of patiently and quietly.. The grits had just arrived and I didnt want to wait for the sausages to cook. So we paid and tipped their goes the discount. I'm sorry this has taken so long. The last time this happened we spoke with the manager they called me. Sent me gift cards that never showed up at our address. You get the picture. Thanks for listening or...

I gave 1 start because Google doesn't let you give Zero starts. First off, it took 20 minutes for our server to even greet us at the table, and she wasnt very pleasant. We then waited an additional 40minutes before our server came back to check on us. We asked why it has taken so long and the servers response was "I don't know what to tell you". We then asked to speak to the manager and as our server walked off, she said very loudly "I don't want this table, believe that". Another 10 minutes before the manager comes over. We explained that 4 other tables had recieved their orders already and they were seated long after we were. The manager also said "I don't know what to tell you ", then proceeded to say they were short staffed and that only half their kitchen was working and that was causing ticket orders to be completed out of order. She then stated that we only had 2-3 tickets ahead of us but had no clue what we ordered. We asked how much longer it would be and the manager stated probably about 30 minutes. So at this point, an hour and a half of my day would have been spent at a table with no food, a server with a horrible attitude and a glass of watered down Pepsi because we were never asked if we wanted any refills. So we asked the manager why customers are not being informed that they might have to wait a bit extra for food and she had nothing to say. If we had known ahead of time it would have been different and not an issue. The food is not worth the way customers are treated there and we will NEVER come back to this IHOP location, matter of fact, this experience has tarnished my taste for IHOP, so we wont be dining with this...