IHOP — Restaurant in Virginia

Poor Management Skills (Please Read Below):

I came in this morning about 8:00 am after placing an order over the phone. This order was going to be our mother's Day breakfast to surprise my wife! When I came, in you had about five or six waitresses or runners standing at the podium and you also had one person standing behind the register. The whole group seemed very friendly and frantic. You had one gentleman directing this group of people. I watched the activity waiting for someone to acknowledge me, and after about 3 minutes someone asked "What are you here for?!" Not "How are you?", "Welcome!", or even "Happy Mother's Day!".

I let this person know I was there to pick up my order. After one person staring at the screen, then another person, they admitted they couldn't find the order. Finally somebody went to the back, and came back and confirmed that my order was getting ready under my name. Then after this it seemed to be a big ordeal about why was the order placed over the phone, why wasn't it on the screen, etc. I continued to wait and just wanted somebody to confirm if my order was coming out and if I could pay for it. The manager mentioned above, walked over to the register, and repeatedly asked "Why isn't the order on the screen?!"

At this point I was oblivious to the group as they began to debate this issue. I finally asked if I could pay for my order and then it be brought outside to me. Again back and forth nobody having an answer, I finally got frustrated and let everyone know that I was taking my business elsewhere. (Thank God for Wawa!)

I was really confused of the situation and then I realized that it was just poor management skills. You had a group of five or six people readily available to take care of customers when they walk through the door, but at some point management just let it fall through their fingers. So just really disappointing, especially it being a holiday and wanting to do something special for your loved one, to have this poor situation unfold.

I would definitely say me and my family will never come here again, for any reason! But I hope this review enlightens those that can change things for IHOP, because it is a great business that offers a damn good breakfast. Just a shame that we couldn't enjoy it on...

Let me start out by saying, we asked for a table not a booth, she tried to sit us at a booth until I had to say something for the second time. We should have walked out the door then. We go on with our order. Our silverware was so dirty we asked for plastic forks and knives in the pack. I ordered a hot chocolate and my husband a 1/2 sweet and 1/2 unsweet tea. Well, my hot chocolate was instead cold chocolate and the 1/2 and 1/2 tea not so much. The waiter told my husband we're out of unsweet tea so here's sweet tea. My husband simply said no, I'll take water with lemon. As I asked for my hot chocolate to be heated up, my waiter then says I'll get you another one because I used cold water. So, you knew you used cold water when you gave me the cold hot chocolate to begin with. Then when they brought me my hot hot chocolate, it was overflowing all over the table that the lady had to bring more napkins. When they refilled my husband's water they wasted water all in his plate on his food. Of course my order was incorrect. Everyone knows if you order a breakfast sampler and you say replace the bacon with sausage, you should have ham and sausage on your plate. Then there was another whole 10 minutes to get my ham. Not to mention my food was half way gone before I even received my pancakes. As much as it pained us to not leave a tip because we usually leave above and beyond for good service, especially this time of year. This was the worst experience we ever had at an IHOP and we won't be back at...

This was probably the worst visit to a restaurant I've had in years. And I'm a fellow server so that says a lot. I hardly ever complain. I Normallu will just deal with it cause i know how it is. My son's hot chocolate came out COLD. And my Swiss mocha hot coffee came out barely warm. I had to wait about 20 minutes to get another one. My server Vivien had something to take care of...which is perfectly fine. My qualms aren't with her. Food comes out and my crepe is pretty over cooked. I order the same breakfast crepe any ihop I go to. My mother's steak tips were over cooked and tough. I sent my crepe back. They sent it back out with no bacon and sauce on the side...it went back again and they threw a little bacon on it and I put the sauce on myself. Didnt even get to eat with my family. They were already done. Ok cool. Check comes and nothing was done for the major inconvenience. I asked her did he mean to not do anything? If so that's cool too. But I shouldn't have had to ask for him to take care of us. Not looking for anything free but had he even took 2 dollars off I would of been ok. I other tables had walked out of the section for the lack of service as well. So moving forward this is not an ihop I would suggest. Vivian tried to make up for it. And again as a server I appreciate it. But that is my first and last time. Sunday brunch was not enjoyable. Edit... it wasn't that busy for a Sunday. Most people had already ordered or were eating...