IHOP — Restaurant in Rapid City

So my husband, a friend, and I went to dinner last night(just before 8pm) and we waited, and waited, and waited to be seated. I looked around the dining room to see if I could make eye contact with an employee but there was no one around. There were 3 tables sat eating but no one helping them.

We finally are seated and given our menus and the server disappears again for awhile. Finally comes back and takes our order and vanishes again. 2 tables leave and we're the only people other than a woman sitting a couple of aisles over. We get the food and my friend ordered strawberry waffles with her meal and got regular waffles, my husband had asked(when ordering) if he could have some strawberry syrup for the pancakes and didn't get those. Then there's the gravy on the chicken fried steaks ordered by my husband and I. It covered maybe 1/4-1/3 of the steak. I asked if we could get some more gravy and he said sure then went and sat down with the lone woman. I overheard them talking about their Valentine's Day plans so apparently it was his significant other. He sat there the entire time we ate. I finished everything on my meal except the chicken fried steak and my husband and friend finished their entire meal before he came back, saw my steak and said whoops and came back with gravy. I just asked for a leftover box at this point to take that home to eat since we were all done.

I should also mention that all around us were tables that had crumbs, dishes, and messes on them uncleaned. At least 5 visible tables and booths from our vantage point.

We paid the check and getting ready to leave my husband went to use the restroom. Our server(male) was also in there and when we got into the vehicle my husband informed me that our server did NOT wash his hands after using the restroom, the restroom was pretty dirty all over, and the server was marking off that things were done on the back of the door when nothing was done, at least by him. We were disgusted at this fact and wondered about the drinks he made(caramel apple hot cocoa and caramel apple lemonade) if there was anything that was touched by him since he doesn't wash his hands after using the restroom.

The only redeeming factor was the food. The food was actually warm and quite delicious. I could see into the kitchen from our table and saw there was only one cook back there making everything and he did a damn good job of it. Props to him and shame on our server who would rather sit and chat with his girlfriend/wife instead of cleaning tables, the bathroom, or his hands. Let alone listening to the diners at his table, bringing them their correct order, or what they ask for. My friend is so put off by this visit she doesn't ever want to even dine...

first time visiting restaurant it was probably mid-morning place was not too busy got seated right away waitress was there quickly to take our order I think she'd already had a long day she seemed like she was frustrated about something but was still friendly anyway the food came very quickly we had the two by two by two special for five bucks which if you don't know it's two pancakes two eggs two pieces of bacon the pancakes were nice and fluffy and hot I use their classic syrup which was very delicious ordered my eggs over easy they were done perfectly and still very warm the bacon was nice and crispy not overdone or underdone just like I like it they did have a sign at the front that said they were out of waffles for whatever reason I don't know I didn't come in for waffles anyways but I'm sure if we did that would have been a disappointment I think the place could use some remodeling it wasn't dirty everything you could tell was kind of old and wore out just like me one thing that was kind of weird but funny went to pay the bill with a $20 bill the guy looked kind of confused and bewildered he was looking around for our waitress he went up to her she had to give him the change for the 20 then I noticed they didn't even have a cash register I don't know I guess everybody pays with credit cards nowadays I still like using folding money hopefully they never do away with it anyways I just thought that was kind of weird but funny anyways had a good experience will go there again okay now it's time for the thought of the day always be yourself unless you suck thank...

IHOP is in all ways superior to Perkins. First, the steak tips and eggs are literally the best in Rapid City and I have been to every other diner in town multiple times. I dread having to go to Perkins, their steak is always gummy inside with a terrible exterior toughness. IHOP’s steak tips are always juicy and taste like real steak off the grill. Perkins “scrambled” eggs are flat omelets poorly chopped up, IHOP eggs are fluffy yet not runny. Perkins pancakes are dry and flakey, IHOP has pancakes in the name, they literally make them perfect, they are the international standard of perfect pancakes and yet to my amazement their strawberry topped French toast is even better still.

Perkins service never gets my order my right, I don’t know why they don’t just write it down but they have not once gotten it all correct, in fact I have literally been given the opposite options. Order breakfast potatoes, get hash browns. Order A1 sauce, get hot sauce, order scrambled eggs, get fried eggs. It’s almost a game at this point where I am going to just order what I don’t want and see what I actually get. Also just know you’re only getting one glass of water unless you flag down the waitress to ask for another

Compare that to IHOP service, flawless accuracy because they digitally put in your order while you’re reading off the menu. Coffee and water is always full, they’ll just bring you second glass before your first is finished. And they are nice and interesting people that will ask you about your family and how your week is going and talk you about their...