Denny's — Restaurant in Waukesha

I'm going to consider this my first Denny's experience as I probably haven't been to a Denny's in over 20 years. I have to say, Denny's sure has built up a reputation over the years for being the the king of low-class diners or at least the endless "Denny's Brawl" videos that feature this iconic establishment make it seem so.

Did it live up to it's reputation? I'll let you decide. It's 2am, I walk into the place to eat and chill for awhile before going to work. There's nobody working the door nor registers. I walk across the restaurant, taking my sweet time checking everything out. As I walk I notice my shoes are sticking to the floor...gross. After finding a table, 15 minutes pass and I see someone emerge from the kitchen and drop food on a table for the only other patrons there besides me before disappearing again.

My mind starts to wander as I wait and I begin to panic about how to order food in this place (I passed by two touchscreens was I supposed to do something there?!!?!?) I begin walking towards the bathroom, trekking across the awful sticky floor when I see the waitress emerge again, but it's too late I'm already on a mission! Into the bathroom I go which seemed even more gross with wet, sticky floors.

After I leave the bathroom I sit at another area that just got cleaned. 10 minutes later someone comes out to set the table and asks if I'd been helped. They then proceed to tell me the area I'm in is closed so I move. The person kindly let the waitress know someone was alive in the restaurant and FINALLY I get served after hovering about this place like a hungry ghost for an hour.

Country Friend Steak and eggs skillet, cake batter milkshake, and an orange juice. It took another 15 minutes for the food to come out, but in the meantime I was entertained by the local drunken low-class people you see in every "Denny's Brawl" video. They were loud, fighting over nachos, heavily slurring words, etc. Once I heard them get quiet I turned around and they were just blankly staring at me. Later on some more rowdy customers came in and argued with the waitress over the survey on the back of the receipt...and another guy yelling about water and hot cocoa...

Let's just say... I doubt I'll be trying out a Denny's again anytime soon. The food was ok at best and for a ghost town you'd think the staff would do a better job of cleaning up with all that free time (one of my tables had syrup on it and at another I grabbed a menu only to find out out it was covered in cola.) Also, as I moved around to find a clean table. I noticed bugs on one table, after which I began to notice all the food on floor that could be easily cleaned up.

If they cared about their customers they would turn up the heat as well. People were freezing and complaining about it all night yet...

It honestly kills me to say this. I've been going to Denny's since I was little and this one on Silvernail since the 90s. Only recently have I noticed this one going downhill. I'm in no place to judge who works there, but the workers (some young adult type folk) seemed to be less focused near the end of the day/dinner service. One young adult employee must be a dad because the mother came in with the baby and instead of anyone asking us about anything or coming with a table mate's refill, almost the entire staff had to stay with the baby for almost 20 minutes. Not a deal breaker by any means, just something a little frustrating. MY food, not my other party members', was excellent as always. I love the Build Your Own Grand Slam; I hope they never get rid of it. One table mate received undercooked pancakes and was never served a couple sides. When mentioned to the manager, she didn't seem too concerned and assumed it was how they are supposed to look. Our waitress, who I thank dearly for her help and ability to stand the complainer's orders, was truly fantastic. She deserves better. The atmosphere... ick. The restaurant's bathrooms, which I sadly had to use before and after dinner, are in poor shape. Leaky sinks, broken towel dispensers, and a completely destroyed toilet paper holder just made it so unpleasant. It looks as though someone broke the stall door down in the men's room, as the flimsy wall is poorly held back up with six bolts. The floor was wet, probably from people's wet mitts or the loose sink pipe, causing me to slip and slide on the dining room floor. I heard from another table mate that the sinks in the women's restroom are also in some demolished/vandalized state. Some tables in the dining room were left dirty (not cleaned until after we started leaving), and the floor had wrappers and food bits in various places. It hurt me personally to see one of my favorite restaurants in such a shape. The food and our waitress were great, everything else was questionable. I would go again, but I recommend these get tended to for an...

I recently visited Denny's and had a mixed experience. While there were aspects of my visit that I appreciated, there were also some areas that left me wanting more. Overall, I would rate my experience with four stars.

Let's start with the positive aspects. The employees at Denny's were undoubtedly the highlight of my visit. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and friendly greetings. The staff members were attentive, accommodating, and made sure I felt welcome throughout my meal. They were knowledgeable about the menu and provided prompt service, which enhanced the overall dining experience.

The cleanliness of the restaurant was also commendable. The tables and seating areas were well-maintained, and the overall ambiance was pleasant. It's always reassuring to dine in a clean environment, and Denny's certainly delivered on that front.

However, where Denny's fell short was in the quality of the food. While the menu offered a wide variety of options, the taste and presentation of the dishes didn't quite meet my expectations. The food lacked the flavor and finesse that I had hoped for. Some of the dishes seemed overly greasy, and others were underwhelming in terms of taste. Although the portion sizes were generous, the overall quality of the ingredients and the execution of the dishes left something to be desired.

Despite the shortcomings in the food department, the employees' exceptional service and the cleanliness of the restaurant contributed positively to my dining experience at Denny's. If they can work on improving the quality and taste of their food, it would elevate the overall experience and make it a more satisfying destination for diners.

In summary, Denny's excels in providing friendly service and maintaining a clean environment. However, the food fell short of my expectations in terms of taste and quality. If you're seeking a casual dining experience with a pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff, Denny's is worth considering, but be prepared for some culinary...