What's your take on IHOP?

In My Humble Opinion
21

Three things that make me love Waffle House:

  1. On my final return to the South from Washington State, after having lived there for four years, I knew I was finally home when I went to a Waffle House just outside of DC and the waitress said, “What can I get for you, honey?” I damn near burst into tears.
  2. Their jukebox contains (or at least used to contain) songs such as the “Waffle House Doo-Wop.” I never tried it, but I always wanted to take a couple rolls of quarters into a Waffle House, station myself next to the jukebox, stare at the cook, and play “Waffle House Doo-Wop” as many times as I could before he leapt over the counter and stabbed me.
  3. One time I went there late at night–it was a couple years after Doom was released, that’s all I remember about when. Our waittress was an ebullient grandmotherly sort, extremely friendly. I ordered a slice of lemon pie, and she cooed in delight and told me, eyes twinkling, “Oh, I love it when someone orders pie! That means I get to lick the knife!”

Daniel

22

My sister-in-law claims that IHOP is God’s Own Food. Therefore, I know it’s bad, so I don’t go.

23

I vote Waffle House.

(But IHOP is certainly an acceptable substitute.)

24

Better yet, a diner with coffers filled with real maple syrup, so you can dive in a la Scrooge McDuck.

25

IHOPs vary greatly, they have the potential to be really quite good, but often fail. The nearest IHOP to me used to be very reasonable quality and decent price, but then a couple of years ago they changed their kitchen staff and quality became dreadful. So I can imagine some people having the fortune of living near a good IHOP and believing them to be a great place for pancakes, whilst others consider them no better than Dennys or Sizzlers. Still even a good IHOP doesn’t really compare with a mom and pop place that hase real mapel syrup.

26

I love those “country” pancakes too. Do you have a recipe for how to make them at home? Do you cook the cream of wheat first, or just add it into the batter? How much?

Our IHOP is pretty good, and I like the grain & nut ones, too. The service leaves much to be desired, though, so we only go when we’re not in a hurry. Oh, and we never go on Sunday, because ours is chock full of large families with fussy children then.

We always bring our own maple syrup from home. I can’t stand the fake stuff any more.

27

I’m guessing “mapel” is not a typo. Yeesh!

28

Yeah, IHOP has good omelettes. I’m not much of a pancake person–French toast is my thing–but I like a good omelette.

I loved the stuffed French toast that IHOP was offering a while back.

29

I’m not a huge fan of pancakes, and I find IHOP to be rather pricey. While I understand part of the “fun” of Waffle House is it’s absolute filth, the only ones around me are positively horrifying, so I don’t go there. As for Denny’s and whatever other pancake places, we have none that I am aware of.

So, I don’t really venture to those places, but I find IHOP “meh” overall mostly due to the price.

30

I quite like IHOP’s pancakes. They’re nice and fluffy and moist (which is important, since I eat them dry, with no syrup or butter).

Now the Original Pancake House–those are nasty pancakes. I know most people don’t agree with me and probably think I’m committing some sort of sacrilege, but I can’t stand 'em.

31

Love IHOP, love their coffee. I can be lured out a nightclub with the promise of IHOP.
Hate Denny’s.

32

mapel and the leet were a joke, but I did miss ‘coffer’

33

While I like Denny’s slightly more than IHOP, IHOP has a soft spot in my heart. Being at the one near school on Saturday night at 2 am the summer before last was like heaven. All my friends, together and happy. Denny’s has a more sentimental place in my heart (some days I think I the only one that thinks that). The one in Nashua, NH was very pivotal in my relationship with my boyfriend.

In terms of food, I like them both about the same. Damn, now I want pancakes, too.

34

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. This was back in the days before the internet, but we had several local BBS around town. (I think that stood for Bulletin Board Systems.)

It was a spur of the moment and impulsive meeting. IHOP was the only place that I knew would be open.

We drank a whole group of coffee that night.

They’ve torn the place down since then. But we have a memorial menu and grandkids.

It will do in a pinch.

35

I don’t know where you are located but there is at least one in Daytona, and another near here in Orange City (well north of Orlando)

To the OP: Ohhh Yeaaahhh! IHOP! Ever try that Steak Omlett thing? Man, that’s good. And add some salsa… :smiley:

36

From Tallahassee to Daytona is 257 miles; to Orange City it’s 248 miles; to Jacksonville it’s 163 miles. I think we’ll pass on six-to-eight-hours of driving just for some pancakes. Just think of how many boxes of Aunt Jemima you could buy with that kind of gas money!

37

IHOP is like Waffle House, only with more teeth, worse food, and higher bills.

38

That is a little harsh in my opinion. Waffle house doesn’t try to be more than it is. A fast diner. And 24/7 food.

39

In my experience:
Original Pancake House >>>>>>>IHOP>Denny’s>>>>Waffle House.

40

I like IHOP. Our local one doesn’t suck.

I have had the pleasure of eating at Waffle House once only. It was in Florence, South Carolina. I will never eat another waffle without remembering the first Waffle House waffle I ever ate. Of course, the nearest one to me is about 30 miles, so I haven’t gone back; the recipes online that are supposed to be the same as their waffles are clearly NOT; and I can not wait until we move and perhaps end up nearer. Yay Waffle House!