# What's your take on IHOP? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446 "2006-01-24T21:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/41 "2006-01-25T14:35:39Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I chose an IHOP over by Vanderbilt campus as the safest place I could think of to meet the guy I had been chatting with on line. > … > But we have a memorial menu and grandkids. :eek: Good God! How long have you been online? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/42 "2006-01-25T14:37:35Z")
I live in a blue-collar town which means there are plenty of diners and greasy spoons to go to for kick-ass pancakes. Even if I’m in the mood for a step up from a stools-at-a-counter joint, there are plenty of places in neighborhoods like Hamden, Canton, Fells Point and this awesome spot in East Baltimore (service sucks, food rocks) from which delicious pancakes can be readily obtained. There’s absolutely no reason why I’d set foot in an IHOP unless I _wanted_ bland pancakes with no character (and I don’t). Plus, I make the best buttermilk pancakes in the universe, so there you go. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/43 "2006-01-25T15:02:00Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > :eek: Good God! How long have you been online? > > Daniel You could BBS back in the early 80’s so in theory lets say met and Married in 1983. So First Kids could definitely have a kid. That was my take at least, though I also did a double take on the Grandkids parts. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/44 "2006-01-25T15:09:10Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > :eek: Good God! How long have you been online? I can’t speak for **Zoe** , but I was on Commodore BBS’s in the mid 80’s. I was only 12 or so at the time but, had I been twenty, that’s twenty more years in which to have children and have them be about 20 themselves. And now I feel old. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/45 "2006-01-25T15:09:47Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > Ohhh Yeaaahhh! IHOP! Ever try that Steak Omlett thing? Man, that’s good. And add some salsa… 😃 I have one word for you: Bigbaconomelette. Mmmmmmm … ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/46 "2006-01-25T15:18:17Z")
Hmmm - there isn’t an IHOP real near by where I live, but there is a Denny’s. The last time I remember going to IHOP, however, it was cheap, although kind of a drive, and the food wasn’t all that good. The last time I went to Denny’s, though, breakfast for me and my son was (although it was good), with tip, like $30!!! It was RIDICULOUSLY expensive. So. I eat breakfast at McDonald’s. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/47 "2006-01-25T17:13:14Z")
Just a quick reminder to those of you who have commented on getting better pancakes at a local diner: I made the same point in the OP. The problem for me, again, is that most of the places in my area stop serving breakfast by 11am (or maybe as late as 3pm, if they specialize in breakfast). That’s why I’m interested in opinions of IHOP vs. other _chain_ restaurants. > [@Nic2004](#): > > To the OP: Ohhh Yeaaahhh! IHOP! Ever try that Steak Omlett thing? Man, that’s good. And add some salsa… Can’t say that one’s ever called my name. I love a good omelette, but I tend to go for basics. Ham and cheese or sausage and cheese is about all I ever bother with. 🙂 On an adventurous day at IHOP, I’ll have the ham & cheese omelette that comes with the hash browns and sour cream in it (can’t think of the name of it now for some reason), but that’s about it. Right now, locally at least, IHOP is running their All You Can Eat Pancakes special. I’ve stayed away, because the last time they did that, I got myself in trouble. Eight pancakes, when you’ve also had eggs and hash browns and sausage, is more than any sane person should ever consume in one sitting. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/48 "2006-01-25T17:22:42Z")
I ate at an IHOP once. The pancakes were okay, I guess, but nothing special. I’d rather go to Denny’s, their pancakes are just as good. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/49 "2006-01-25T18:00:09Z")
The best pancake house for the money is [Perkins Pancake House](http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com/menu_breakfast_pancakes.html). Best pancakes hands down… delicious! Their syrup is also very special. They’re a chain but a lot less prevalent than the IHOP, so it might be harder to locate one. I’ve only been to IHOP a couple of times and well, they just have an inferior product. Also, I like waffles better than pancakes, so another vote for Waffle House. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/50 "2006-01-25T18:06:19Z")
Also, gotta throw in a vote for [The Original Pancake House](http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/). You wanna try the best pancake ever, order their apple pancake. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/51 "2006-01-25T18:36:50Z")
Ooh, I love the Country Griddle Cakes too! [Here](http://waltonfeed.com/grain/y-rec/ihoppank.html) is a recipe that I found online, though I haven’t tried it yet. I dig IHOP, though whether it’s the best depends on what I’m in the mood for. I do love their pancakes, but sometimes Waffle House is what I hanker for. (For the WH fans who don’t live in Georgia, envy me, for there are **372** locations in this fine state. I have four within just a ten-minute drive of my house. Mmmmmmmm, waffles.) ---
**Author:** ![CowPatty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@CowPatty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CowPatty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/52 "2006-01-25T18:56:02Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I chose an IHOP over by Vanderbilt campus as the safest place I could think of to meet the guy I had been chatting with on line. Oh, how I loved that same IHOP! In the late 70s my friends and I would hang out there, drinking coffee, solving all the world’s problems, and flirting with a waiter who looked a lot like Gene Wilder. The food was great, too. Ah… memories! Thanks, **Zoe**! ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/53 "2006-01-25T19:14:05Z")
IHOP is one of the many places that I classify as a “Tobasco” restaraunt. Middling-quality, nothing adventurous or creative, and most dishes are not so bad that they can’t be rescued with Tobasco sauce. Their syrup sucks though, it’s just colored runny jelly. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/54 "2006-01-25T19:31:05Z")
> [@Geobabe](#): > > Ooh, I love the Country Griddle Cakes too! [Here](http://waltonfeed.com/grain/y-rec/ihoppank.html) is a recipe that I found online, though I haven’t tried it yet. Oooh, nummy! These are my favorite pancakes at IHOP. We like IHOP - our Denny’s SUCKS, and we like Bob Evans, but their pancakes just aren’t as good. We also don’t have any independent pancake houses around here for some reason. Oh, ElzaHub loves Waffle House, and I can deal with it once in awhile, but the only WHs in town are either 25 minutes away or in a part of town that I wouldn’t go to if my life depended on it. IHOP’s good for once a month pancakes. Gotta love 'em. E. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/55 "2006-01-25T19:32:56Z")
I love IHOP! We don’t have any nearby, but whenever I travel I look for them. My daughter and I love a good breakfast any time of the day. She goes for the pancakes and I get one of those big yummy omelets. We generally pick IHOP first, but if that’s not available we can usually find a Bob Evans or Eat n Park, which aren’t quite as good, but will do. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/56 "2006-01-25T20:18:13Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Can’t say that one’s ever called my name. I love a good omelette, but I tend to go for basics. Ham and cheese or sausage and cheese is about all I ever bother with. 🙂 On an adventurous day at IHOP, I’ll have the ham & cheese omelette that comes with the hash browns and sour cream in it (can’t think of the name of it now for some reason), but that’s about it. Yeah. Same idea except it has nice steak tips, green pepper and onion along with the hash browns inside. Comes with a couple of pancakes on the side. I like a little of the blueberries with mine. **fishbicycle** Your location only says Florida and your statement said > [@](#): > > Jacksonville or Orlando are our nearest choices so I picked a spot between those only points of reference. Geez…sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/57 "2006-01-25T20:39:23Z")
No Waffle House near me. The IHOP around here is far better than the Denny’s (which is closer, alas.) The Denny’s has severe management wait staff problems - such as they all suck. We went to IHOP a week ago, and they had an all you can eat pancake deal which sounded pretty good. I do like pancakes. However, there is a family owned restaurant across the street from the Denny’s that is better than both. And McDonald’s? - I had their pancakes once, and they’re slightly below the level of microwave pancakes. Ugh. The biscuits are okay. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/58 "2006-01-25T20:41:44Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > **fishbicycle** Your location only says Florida and your statement said so I picked a spot between those only points of reference. Geez…sorry. Um, sorry for what? I don’t expect anyone to know where I live if I don’t say so. There are a lot of places in Florida we’d like to go, but they’re all so far away from us and each other that the travel time and expense isn’t worth it. I never really lived so far out in the boonies before, that it was a couple hundred miles to the nearest civilization. If you want to go anywhere from here, it’s hours and hours of driving, and the same again to return. But hey, howzabout those IHOP banana split pancakes? ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/59 "2006-01-25T20:46:35Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Also, gotta throw in a vote for [The Original Pancake House](http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/). You wanna try the best pancake ever, order their apple pancake. I must agree - the omelets there are outstanding too! I’m a Waffle house lover as well. The BEST hash browns and sweet tea. ---
**Author:** ![jawdirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jawdirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jawdirk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446/60 "2006-01-26T01:02:03Z")
IHOP is my least favorite restaurant. I went to one a long time ago (shortly after it switched from International House of Pancakes), ordered pancakes, and they were just disgusting. I figure, if the food is in the name of your restaurant, and you totally screw it up, you don’t deserve a second chance. That was it, I haven’t eaten there since. And the statements earlier in this thread that their quality is inconsitent won’t encourage me to give them another chance. I disliked Denny’s for a long time, but it’s better than IHOP. I’m actually ok with their lunch food (club sandwich, mushroom burger are fine). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-ihop/341446.md?page=4)