Ate at a Waffle House today....

[Delarage]

I like them, but I can never set the bar too low in terms of my expectations. I think we walked in as shifts were changing, because there were seven (7) employees behind the counter and the place was filthy....approximately 75% of the tables had dirty dishes on them and there were random piles of filth laying around like land mines to step over--I think someone had swept but couldn't find the dustpan--on top of the usual thin layer of grease that seems to be ubiquitous in Waffle Houses.

Then we had crappy service on top of that.

But I got my hashbrowns and, so far, haven't made any special trips to the bathroom.

[elleng]

1. Have never eaten at one, but thinking about it.

[dewsgirl]

2. I actually love their grilled cheese and chilli with extra cheese

I haven't ate at one in years, I miss it.
The OP's experience sounds kind of gross though.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. I don't think I've ever seen one. None in NY, NJ, or CT...

and the closest one is around Allentown PA. Been to Allentown a lot, but don't remember a Waffle House.

I keep hearing about them, though, and want to check it out.

[Danmel]

19. There's one in Delaware

And just over the border in Maryland.

[TreasonousBastard]

20. Saw them on their map, Allentown is closer, though.

[Delarage]

25. Two...

Smyrna & Middletown

[Freddie]

32. Hi neighbor

There’s one in Bethlehem too, have eaten at that one. I love going out to breakfast and it was cheap and yummy, good coffee.

[Skittles]

10. aw I love the Waffle House

it's really got the most diverse clientele - I see everyone from homeless folk to guys in suits / fancy cars at the one I visit, and the food is great

[alfredo]

13. The loor show is very good, especially on weekends. No cover

[Sneederbunk]

3. The Waffle Houses in the South are fun. The personnel makes it worth the visit.

[In_The_Wind]

4. Ain't that the truth.

[mitch96]

16. "The personnel makes it worth the visit."

Agree, that's half the fun and part of the "charm".. It's like the people waiting on you and cooking for you just talk like it's all back room gossip. It's all right out there. Who's messing around with someone's wife. Which friends kid got knocked up etc. Hysterical.. Like watching a soap opera. AND the entertainment is FREE!!!
I guess I've been luck but I've never been to a WH down here in the South that was dirty. I mean it's not the Ritz but it's passable for the money you spend.. It's consistent also.. When I want breakfast, day or night it's the WH for me.... YMMV..
m

[Delarage]

26. Jim Gaffigan did a great bit on Waffle House....

[link:http://www.cc.com/video-clips/jipee6/waffle-house|

[customerserviceguy]

5. I hit one about every 2-3 years

Some of the locals call them "Awful House"!

But, I've never had a bad experience. I bring my own maple syrup, though. For the price, they're not going to supply syrup with even a measly 2% real maple. And, there's no real butter, just some sort of Country Crock "spread".

I like my $25 waffle iron that I got on sale with a 30% off coupon at Kohl's, so I make mine at home with Snoqualmie Falls pancake mix.

[Delarage]

7. I should have brought some!

All the syrups were behind the counter (I hope to be wiped off) because I had to go ask for one when the waffle part of my lunch arrived. No syrup on the table--at a *Waffle* House.

Then it was all sticky. I thought about washing my hands, but based on the appearance of the dining room, I decided to avoid the restroom.

This one, one of 2 in Delaware as far as I know, used to be half-way decent. The food still tasted good--I just need a shower now.

[customerserviceguy]

9. Yeah, I have a "story" that I tell them

The ingredient in fake maple syrup is something called "fenugreek", after explaining that, I simply say I have an allergy to it. I can be a syrup snob, and people don't look down on me for it.

[mercuryblues]

31. The joke around here

when someone says they went to the Waffle House...Did you get a hair in your food?

[The Blue Flower]

8. Last time I went to one the manager warned me not to order the salad

I quote: "I wouldn't serve it to my dog." Haven't been in one since. That was last year.

[Phentex]

15. Ha! We were traveling once when my kids were little...

and they wanted to eat at Waffle House (I think it was lunch). I ordered a salad and they didn't have any lettuce. I was annoyed but my kid said WHO ORDERS A SALAD AT A WAFFLE HOUSE?

Now, I went many years later to a local Waffle House and had one of the best salads I've ever had. It had apples and walnuts and possibly chicken. It was so beautiful I took a picture of it. I don't know if they still have anything like that.

But no, it's not generally a place to order a salad.

[FoxNewsSucks]

11. I like waffle house,

Great place for good diner food

[ProudLib72]

12. This sounds like the place I got pizza in old city Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa

I'm convinced Jaybus dragged his cross past the place. It was just that old, and it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in 2,000 years.

[safeinOhio]

14. I miss them here in Michigan

Well done hash browns are to die for.
When I lived in Ohio my friends kid got out of jail and they were the only place that would hire him. That and the hash browns kept me coming back. When I walked in the door, they say hello and when I walk out they say good by.

[mitch96]

17. "Well done hash browns are to die for. "

Don't forget the scattered, smothered, covered and chunked (grilled onions, cheese and ham)
All the way adds grilled tomatoes, spicy jalapeño peppers, grilled button mushrooms, Bert's Chili, and sausage gravy.
So when you order two eggs with hash browns, ask for scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, diced, peppered, capped, topped, country.
Sounds cooler than "all the way"...

m

[KY_EnviroGuy]

18. Why not send them a complaint?

If the place was unreasonably dirty, just let them know here:

https://www.wafflehouse.com/contact-2/

also.....

5986 Financial Drive,
Norcross, GA 30071

Web: Waffle House.com

Customer Call Hot Line
1-877-9-WAFFLE
(1-877-992-3353)
---------------------
There could also be some violations of local health laws. These place need to have their feet held to the fire or else the situation could make someone seriously ill. They do handle a lot of meat and eggs which carries risks.

I think the management on a lot of these small restaurants get complacent without thinking that they may lose a lot of business from customers leaving in disgust.

I'm country and not that picky but everything has its limits.....

[Delarage]

23. This one was shut down previously...

[link:https://6abc.com/food/waffle-house-in-del-shut-down-due-to-rodents-/3572218/|

Almost a year ago, actually. I will let them know online.

It was closed after an inspection found evidence of a rodent infestation, and gross, unsanitary conditions.

[Delarage]

24. I'm not picky, either.

I was actually almost amused by it all...but honestly, this one needs to step it up a bit.

And I really do like their food---especially the scrambled eggs and hashbrowns.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

30. Amen to that!

We're lucky and have one in our area in KY that is kept very clean and has friendly staff.

I also love Cracker Barrel's breakfasts. Good country ham and bacon, eggs, biscuits and grits.......

[csziggy]

21. All the Waffle Houses I've been to have been clean

Occassionally the tables might be slightly sticky, especially if I sit down before they have finished cleaning. But they make the best eggs around here - sunny side up is not supposed to have crispy edges, which is how some of the other choices for breakfast makes them.

Service here hs been good, too - very fast and they keep asking what I want. Of course, the one I go to most often, the servers know me and know I tip well, so they treat me good.

[Xolodno]

22. I'm on the West Coast....

...so they don't "exist" here. But when I visited Orlando, I did have breakfast once there.....I had Waffles of course.

[trev]

27. I've never eaten at one,

and have visited IHOP only a few times. I don't like IHOP; their omelets are bland and a bit watery, their coffee is insipid, and I'm not really much of a pancake fan. Your description of Waffle House doesn't make me eager to try it.

[quickesst]

28. Best hash browns in the country are at Waffle House....

....just like the best coleslaw in the country is at KFC.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

29. I love Waffle House.

And the Jim Gaffigan routine is both offensive and wrong.

I usually get the egg, cheese, and bacon sandwich with hashbrowns chunked. It is always good.

I'm just sorry that there are no Waffle Houses near me where I currently live. When my kids were little and we lived near Waffle Houses, we'd often stop in one after driving around on a Saturday or Sunday, because they always loved breakfast for lunch or breakfast for dinner.

I think what I like best is that when I walk into one the employees all greet me. Some years back at a WH not far from where I lived, was an older woman whose name tag read "Grandma". At first I was a bit put off, but soon I realized she was Grandma to all, and I just loved going there.

I have learned where the Waffle Houses are in other cities that I visit somewhat regularly, and plan my trips to eat at a WH.

[Delarage]

33. I always go there when travelling to Florida

I have family in Florida, and there are lots of Waffle Houses off of I-95. The ones in Delaware are kind of inconvenient to me unless I'm heading to the beach. I don't think anyone greeted me, but I was in shock almost immediately by the condition of the place. Maybe they were having an off day--or maybe I walked in just after a tour bus left or something. I'll still go back...because those hashbrowns rule.