IHOP — Restaurant in Ross Township

The to go order was prepared promptly and the receptionist was very courteous which should be the norm at all dining establishments. UPDATE 10/02/2022

Placed an online order which stated the order would be ready at 10:04 am. I asked to speak to a manager 3 times, the first 2 times the response was that the manager is the only cook followed by "oh, she's fixing your food now". Still waiting... after 5 minutes and informing staff I was about to call the 🚔 is when the manager decides to come out to the lobby with a bewildered look on her face as if she was unaware why I asked to speak with her.

I explained to her that I just wanted a refund so I could leave and get on with my day. The "manager" on duty told me it would be a 3-5 day wait for the 💰 to be refunded back to my card, but offered to give me my food in conjunction with the anticipated refund. I accepted the food but since the proposal by the alleged manager was verbal I insisted on something in writing relating to the managers proposal but was denied.

I called customer support to voice my concerns and after leaving a voice mail I'm awaiting a response and for IHOP to make good on my refund. I'm pessimistic about the outcome and when I got home I just tossed the $26 meal in the trash. Waiting from 10:04 to 10:51 am for my online order made me lose confidence and faith in the integrity of the meal that was prepared if you know what I'm getting at. Didn't want to take a chance of consuming a meal with a little "something extra" added to it.

This visit, amongst the previous visits which were satisfactory & numerous in count, was the worst and I won't be back because I have zero confidence and faith that my food will be prepared with the utmost integrity once my name flash upon the screen. I just went to America's most trusted, tried, and true...McDonald's! I'll update this post if somehow I miraculously get my refund but I'm not holding my breath. Too bad, so sad but IHOP just lost my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating & can settle with ⭐️ and that's being generous. 😒

UPDATE 10/12/2022 After 10 days, IHOP finally decides to...

I've been to this location in the past and had a great experience. Not sure what has happened, but a little care and concern for your customers will go a long way. I called my order in, the person who answered was nice and told me the food would be ready in 15 minutes. Great! I head over to the restaurant and I was about 10 minutes later than the time she gave and my food wasn't ready. I'm thinking ok it will just be a few more minutes, perhaps they ran into a huge crowd. As I stand there and wait and wait I see part of my order just sitting on the counter in the back. And there it sat and sat and sat. I knew it was mine because I watched her bag it and bring it to me once everything was ready. 10 minutes later I asked the hostess what was going on with my order, she said oh I'm sorry it's only two cooks. You should have told me that when I called and you said my order was going to be ready in 15 minutes. Yet, here I stand waiting for the worst waffles I am about to consume. About 7 minutes later, now going into minute 40 since I called a simple chicken and waffles order in she brings my food and then walks away. I said ummm can I pay please? She says sure follow me and leads me into the kitchen area to pay for my food. I said as the customer I don't want to be in your kitchen and this is not how you should have your customers paying. I said I have never paid in this manner, she said we make all customers pay in this way. Oh wow, so that makes it ok?

As if the hostess opened this location herself, she was somehow offended by my dismay and proceeded to snatch the receipt as I was signing my name. Amazingly rude and a horrible display of professionalism in the workplace. So sad, because as a friend walked in I told him to go somewhere else because the service was horrible.

My waffles were soggy and most definitely the worst waffles I have ever had. Two thumbs down for this location, yet another eatery in Merrillville that I am unfortunately crossing...

I am deeply concerned about a troubling and potentially unlawful business practice occurring at this IHOP location. Specifically, this establishment appears to no longer maintain a cash register or means of providing change to customers who pay with cash. If a patron does not pay with exact change and the server has no tips available, the customer is simply told they will not receive the balance of their payment—effectively forfeiting the remainder of their cash. There is no posted signage indicating that cash is not accepted. In fact, cash payments are accepted—but customers are not made aware in advance that change will not be provided. The only signage present refers to checks not being accepted, not cash. This omission results in a misleading transaction environment where patrons are not fully informed of payment limitations prior to ordering or paying. Under federal and Indiana state law, while private businesses are not required to accept cash, once they do accept it as payment, they are legally obligated to either provide the agreed-upon goods/services or return the balance of the unused funds. Retaining unearned money due to the absence of a register or operational oversight is not just unethical—it may be construed as a form of theft by deception or unjust enrichment. Customers are entitled to transparency and lawful handling of their payments. Retaining change owed without consent or proper notice undermines consumer trust and violates principles of fair commerce. I urge IHOP corporate and the management of this location to immediately review and rectify this policy. Failing to provide change when accepting cash as legal tender places the burden of the restaurant’s internal limitations onto the customer, and that is simply unacceptable. Until this practice is corrected and made compliant with consumer protection standards, I cannot in good conscience recommend this...