IHOP — Restaurant in Ohio

This is our local IHOP, we used to go there a lot. The last couple years it was decent, but keeps going downhill. Was not surprised to see a lot of low rating's lately. Last 3 times we have tried/went to this IHOP we've had a mediocre to horrible/non-existent experience. This weekend, we wanted to try the local IHOP again. We got seated real quick by a nicer guy (Sadly he was not our waiter.) If he was I doubt I'd be writing this.

There looked to be 3 waiter/waitresses. The guy and 1 female was really good, working hard, checking regularly on their tables. Them 2 seemed like really good nice employees, we didn't even meet them, but we had quite a few minutes to see how they work, more explained on that later in the review.

Our waiter not even close. I'd say about 6 or so minutes to ask drink order, not bad, could be quicker. We was ready to order our food by the time our waitress came to take our drink order. I said we were ready to order, she must've not been listening. About 10 minutes later we get our drinks. We are completely ready to order our food, I say once again that we are ready to order and she just walks away. We set for 15, 20 till about 30 minutes after we get our drinks, she never came back to get our order. In that time several people came in 5-10 minutes after we got there and they got the good waiter and waitress. Our waitress was rarely on the floor unlike the other 2. About 20 minutes in we tried flagging her down, she walked passed us. There was one family that came in around 10 minutes after us, had a different waitress and they got their food ordered and to their table before we even got to order. I told myself give it 5 more minutes if she don't come we're leaving. Low and behold she doesn't come back. I was half tempted to just walkout without paying for the drinks. Although she did finally come back out and this time we did stop her and asked for the check. She went to the back and came back and she said she'd pay for the drinks. So we left and went to a different restaurant again and decided never again will we ever go to Lima IHOP, even though IHOP is one of my favorite restaurants.

This was our 3rd attempt at going in the last 2 months. About 2 months ago we went, got our food, service was slow and food was colder, not inedible, but not great. About a month ago we went, never even got seated. Stood at the front desk for 15 minutes no one ever came, they looked at us, we waved still no one came and we went to a different restaurant.

We wrote an email after this last experience and actually got a call from the manager, very surprising. Although only thing was offered is a gift certificate, but it can only be used at the Lima IHOP. That's not happening, ever again. I would rather drive to the North Baltimore IHOP, 80 mile round trip or Dayton IHOP, 130 mile round trip. Before I'd ever consider going to Lima's IHOP, 5 mile...

Normally our dining experience at this particular IHOP is positive and refreshing. However, today was a complete disaster! We waited 45 minutes after the senior copy and place an order before the server finally came and told us if she had "forgotten" to place our order until just a few minutes prior. she profusely apologized and explained that she was brand new! Generally I try to be lenient with new hires, but this was a little over-the-top! It was actually 57 minutes from the time we arrived, placed our orders and actually receive our food. Athe approximately 45 minutes from the time we ordered I asked to speak with the manager. I explained the situation to him and he was very courteous and said that he would give us a discount, he would place our order at the front of the queue and that the food will be ready within the next 5 to 10 minutes. When we finally received our food my wife eggs we're "over easy" instead of "over med" as originally ordered. However, we did not want to take a chance on wsi8ing another hour just to get it correct. Although our goal WAS NOT to get a free meal, it seems that under the circumstances that would have been reasonable compensation on the part of the manager. Instead, we were given a 20% discount and the server offered to forgo her tip. I would far rather paid the full price and given a generous tip - as is my custom - rather than to go through this situation. As a result, I suspect it will be a very long time before we eat at this...

I absolutely love IHOP and I cannot recall ever having anything but great service from everyone who has been my server thru the years since their arrival. The food is fantastic, so tasty it's tough to put the fork down. Yet it's hard to finish sometimes with their nice helpings and you always, always walk out feeling thankful you chose IHop. The bathrooms are always clean, plates and silverware are always clean, the staff is so friendly with their outgoing personalities, tables, chairs and floors always clean, you can see they work as a team and if they actually don't, you can't tell. Very professional people are found here. There is one negative that makes my head feel like it's going to explode. I'm pretty sure their loud flushing toilets exceed the speed of sound. And it flushes automatically at the slightest movement. Oh please IHOP, just that one single problem out of your entire establishment. Anyway, in spite of the bathroom flushing traumatic experiences, they still rate #1 with me...even over a...