IHOP — Restaurant in Stockton

I have been a loyal customer to IHOP for the past 7 years. My family and I have enjoyed dining here, over other similar restaurants, due to their tasty, creative pancake selections to choose from for our children on many occasions, and just because. The last few months, I have been trying to eat at this IHOP on March Lane. Each time, their was no parking, long lines of people waiting to be seated. Okay. Not surprised, because this place is delicious, and conveniently located off I-5. I was not surprised to see so many people trying to dine here, especially since their advertisements have been looking pretty tempting, showcasing their burger selections and such.

The reason I am surprised and I am now leaving a poor review, is because the service at this location has drastically declined. The last few times I waited, I did not end up eating there. I took my family, money, and business elsewhere. This includes my last and final attempt of trying to eat there today. Its mid-week, thought I could beat any crowds and have unlimited coffee and pancakes with my husband and youngest children.

So we get there, there's already people waiting in the lobby area. Many employees are there, placing orders for seated customers. Glance at us and don't say a thing. We look around, see that there are many empty tables. Many workers. Okay. We give them some time to acknowledge us. Ten minutes go by. Employees look at us and the rest of the people waiting. They don't even greet us, or smile. They don't let us know "they'll be with us in just a minute." Nothing! I no longer wanted to wait, as more people were coming in and they also were not greeted or anything. We walked out, went to another restaurant and got faster service and were greeted,seated quickly and were told to come back again.

The time we came before this, a manager was in the lobby cashiering, irritated. He did not acknowledge the crowd waiting to be seated. He did not have any organization to signing families on his clipboard for seating, he was just upset about the workload. He did not greet anyone in the lobby. Said the wait will be 15 minutes for a table when we asked, and still didn't take our information down. He had attitude and was rude, and was trying to avoid any eye contact with customers. I don't understand this locations logic. The employees look very unhappy and they don't have any basic customer service. For a manager to act that way, tells alot about that location. I don't know what is really going on there, but I do know they don't care about losing business at this location. I was a regular there and it looks like theirs new people working there every few months. I don't like to write negative reviews, but this IHOP has definitely lost my business. It was embarrassing when i arrived here with other relatives as well, and they had a bad first impression because we had to go elsewhere. While waiting, each time i heard and seen other customers taking their business elsewhere due to their neglecting services as well.

So if you want to eat at IHOP, don't go here if you are expecting...

I've only been to an IHOP once in my life.... till now. It just so happens that that first visit was the worst experience..... or so I thought.

As a teen, out of town, hanging with some friends. We decided to eat at an IHOP. Don't remember which, it wasn't important as I had decided to never step foot into an IHOP again, even though I had thought that this was an isolated incident, at only this location.

Rewind to over a decade ago. First visit. We sat, we ordered, we waited. When our server came with our food, to my horror!!! she had as many plates as she could carry in both hands/arm. Five in/on one hand/arm and two in another hand. As she set my plate in front of me cringe my food had an indent of the plate that was set on top of my food! So as a teen not wanting to cause a scene, I let it slide. Suffice it to say, I did not eat my food that day. Decision made, never again.......

Fast forward earlier today Out with mom, sister, and my two little ones. I had just gotten over having strep throat and hadn't eaten in three days. It's painful and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (the idiot or idiot's that decided that this was the perfect way to serve customers). In other words I was famished and didn't put up much of a fight when my family convinced me that "no, they don't do that at THIS one." Second and I promise last visit. We sat, we ordered, we waited. I hoped, had fingers crossed, chanted in my head "Isolated incident, isolated incident" Sigh.....NOPE! Repeat right down to the very half circle indent in food. My sister even turned to me and said "I'm sorry".

Now I'm much older and wiser. And currently work in a kitchen. So I know the laws on the dish washing routine. Soo... if they are doing things properly, our plates are "clean". But the bottom of the plates sit/slide on counter tops in the kitchen before coming out to you. Who knows what that could have picked up? Im not a germaphobe, I'd hate to hear what that person would really say. But like I said, three days without food......I ate it.

So what am I complaining about? After so many years IHOP, Is it too much to ask that you spend a little more money on those huge trays and stands (that other restaurants have) so that your server doesn't have to carry so many dishes (and contaminate food) just the one tray? And the customer can have a plate of food without indents? Food on menu looks great, cooks make it look great.... serve it how it's suppose to look. Great!

Im sticking to Denny's. At least they walk back to the kitchen to grab more dishes...

Hello, I went to this restaurant with my children to celebrate my son graduating from kindergarten. When we got there, the first server did a wonderful job at taking our order and delivering our food. Although it took a while it was okay because there were a lot of customers. At one point while we were eating, my 4 year old told me she had to use the restroom. So, I had to take the children to the restroom as I cannot leave a 5 and 7 year old by themselves. Once we returned to our table, I noticed one of the Hispanic employees was cleaning out the table. I asked her what she was doing as we were still not done eating. She apologized and looked at a different server (African American) and told her that we were still not done eating. She looked at me annoyed and asked “why didn’t you tell anyone you were going to the restroom?” We can get you some to go boxes”. I was a little agitated because I was not aware I had to tell anyone I had to use the restroom and two, I took the children there so we could enjoy breakfast due to my sons graduation. Anyhow, I did not want to stay any longer there as I felt very disrespected, did not want to cause a scene and paid before I left. I called the manager afterwards and he informed me that I would get a reimbursement, however I never did. I understand perhaps if the children were not behaving or if I was being disrespectful or causing a commotion in the restaurant that they would clear our table before we finished eating, but we were not. I’m putting this review as the manager told me I would get a reimbursement but I never did to apologize for what I had...