Last night Boo wanted me to make pancakes for dinner. I mentioned IHOP as a possible alternative and she had no idea what I was talking about (how is it that I’ve never taken my kid to IHOP?). Taking notes on her first experience at IHOP, I’ve written the review from her perspective. I thought about using a 30 point rating scale like Zagat, but since Boo can barely count that high….. let’s stick with stars. So here’s the first “review” from Boo:
International House of Pancakes | 72363 Highway 111, Palm Desert | (760) 674-3125 | ihop.com | Sun – Thu 6am – 11pm; Fri & Sat 6am – 12am | Entrées $5-10 | Reservations not accepted | No valet parking
IHOP Palm Desert: A hidden gem. At first I couldn’t figure out what all the hype was about…..why had such a place gone international? (IHOP stands for International House of Pancakes ya’ll…sorry if I’m late to the party.) What does international even mean?!
I was nervous as I sat down. It was eerily quiet because we were the first customers of the night. The ambience reminded me of Daddy’s office but with comfy, cozy booths. I saw gum under the table top as I laid down to ignore the story Mommy kept trying to tell me about this breakfast buffet called Shoney’s from the olden days.
As soon as I opened the menu I KNEW that IHOP was going to be 4 or 5 stars. It’s definitely going to be a foodie destination for the 13-and-under-crowd once the word gets out. Breakfast for dinner? Brilliant (said with a British accent.) I ordered the Rooty Jr. and Danny, our waiter, never once balked at all my usual substitutions.
My meal arrived….it looked Photoshopped…….finally a kitchen that understands the often under appreciated art of batter. The glazed strawberry-whipped-topping-smothered pancakes deserved a standing ovation. And then there was the bacon…..perfectly crisp….one piece was folded into the shape of a 7, or maybe it was an L. It was the best bacon I’ve ever had. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the array of syrups line up. Four different kinds of syrup? For reals?
Plates such as “Create-A-Face-Pancake” feature artistic flair…..but man cannot live by pancake alone. IHOP is definitely more “diner” than “pancake house” in my opinion. For anyone that finds pancakes too pedestrian, there’s a wide variety of French cuisine: French toast, crepes, French fries……indeed adding international flair.
The reason for only 4 stars? Well, my fruit bowl was kind of a disappointment. The photo on the menu had watermelon but I only got honeydew. That’s a half star deduction. Honeydew has to be the lamest fruit on the planet. I don’t even eat green vegetables…..so I’m definitely not eating green fruit. The other half star was because I only got 2 crayons with my menu: red and green……what new colors could I possibly make with those? What if I needed to draw a lake? Or a ray of sunshine? Or a blueberry?!
All in all…..it was a great meal. I left feeling full. There was no need for dessert. The only thing that could have made it better would have been Daddy…..but he was glued to the computer at home doing his draft picks.
Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews soon!
brilliant! (said with matching British accent). Brings a fresh perspective. Can not wait for the next review!
Love this review! Can’t wait to visit an IHOP near me 😉 And I totally agree with the lameness of honeydew.
Love this! Ihop is the last restraunt I went to with my grandpa before he passed away, so it’s kind of a special place for me. . . Also, at Christmas time they have the BEST hot chocolate! It’s GINGERBREAD hot chocolate! Yes, it sounds wierd and slightly disgusting, but it really is rather tasty!
Love it and look forward to more(m
Love this review! Go Boo! I love IHOP too and hate Honeydew.
Haha, I love it! My 5 yr old loves Ihop! We actually have a Shoney’s right down the roas but I’m not really a fan so she’s never been.
Such a cute review!
Hahah your killin me smalls! Tis the draft pick season, oh joy!!!!
Oh the days of Shoneys. I also remember going to The Kettle in the olden days.
MMmmmmm Shoneys Breakfast Buffet….. That IS a good memory!
I think Boo has a promising career to look forward to!
Charming!
Love this! So cute! You should send it over to the IHOP folks!
2 WORDS! Regular feature!! (And bring her to NC to do some reviews on some of the crazy foods/restaurants here!….Oh..and the FAIR–fried food reviews…Is that child abuse?)
love this!
I miss Shoney’s too. They had the best breakfast bar ever. Probably cause I could have strawberry shortcake for breakfast 🙂
Hey Boo, Roo had to hang out with mom and have grocery store Mac N Cheese (barf) for dinner because her Daddy was also doing his stupid fantasy draft picks. FOR THE THIRD TIME. Roo wants me to tell you that he has two more to go and that she’d like to go to IHOP sometime but I (her germ freak mom) won’t her after I saw our waitress come out of the bathroom stall and leave without washing her hands. That was pretty gross. We’re going to stick to the 12th Avenue Cafe by Target in Issaquah, which you should totally do a review on next time you’re here. They have good food and they wash their hands. Yay bacon!
Roo’s Mom 😉
PS Can you tell your IHOP to call our IHOP and tell them about the handwashing thing? We really like their butternut syrup and sometimes you just can’t substitute it for maple, ya know?
Boo, that’s the best restaurant review I’ve ever seen!! I am looking forward to more of your reviews. Heck, review other stuff too…not just restaurants! – Ms. Karen
we had mostly signed off on IHOP fow quite awhile. Recently visited our daughter at her office and hsb was having sugar challenges and she recommended a really nearby IHOP and their added menu items. What a nice surprise. Aren’t you fortunate to have taken Boo after an improvement in the IHOPS. We haven’t been able to find out if it was ownership changes or leadership changes that brought about the changes. Cleanliness seems to have really improved also.
I have never eaten at IHOP! We have one in town and it has never been on my list so far! Not sure why?
You.need.to.go!!!
Please tell boo about our buffet adventures in Beijing!;)
Yum, we love IHOP too. Boo you can come eat with us anyime ;). We have Big Boys here in MI, I’ve ben told it’s like a Shoneys. We don’t have Shoneys here but we have been to a few before down south.
My!!..favorite!!..s
So, Funny..when she ” laid on the booth..found GUM!..” attempting to escape Mom’s ho -hum lecture!!”have not Cked under Tables,..yrs..forgot,..Thx Boo, reminder!..to check!..!..My, GBabe 5..no.2..” try to share Family lore..” “Nana..” anyone tell , you, “maybe you talk too Much!!” GBabe 1(age 7)..LOVES..what “nana..3sibs,..did..as Kids!”..She, Ist GBabe, rolls,in laughter!! She, phones me MX ,Tx..a week!..” Nana, tell, that story” when ,you teased your Bro..last Brownie in the Kithen” ” He chased you,..kicked a BIG hole in your BRoom Door!..”. Actually, we all, Laughed!!..except..my Dad!..So, much, to share, my kids, didn’t care..GBabe 7 yrs..I, hope,..will carry onto her Children!!..Boo, will, remember..share your Family..Legacy!!..My GMas, shared!!..City GMa, Farm GMa ..Farm GMa, visited, Aug.Oct…we had two BRoom Home, my Sis an I, left our Bunkbeds..cuddle with my warm, soft,GMa..that was my intro..to Family Lore!..I, know Dad..as a child..Teen..so many stories..This, GMa, child of Swedish Homesteaders..GMa, raised ” Sod House, Colo, Wheatfields!”My Daughter, Teacher, Quiet!” ” Mom..you were Vaccinated..with Photograph Needle”. That is Me..and GBabe 1,..my GMa..described ..Julie.. This way..Lable “has Stuck!”….Now Joke..GBabe 7..” has same ,affliction “..
Sorry!!..Ashley.., Love, new ..enployee,,”things..I know!.for sure!”..When!!..waiting!!..” Boo, honest,truthful”.”No hairbush..4days”””boo, awesome!..reporter!!” watch out!..CNN!..She is so “bright”..Have fun! Raising..a,” bright Child!”
i love it ! 🙂
One of our favorite places to take young kids. Once, when my kids were about 4 & 6 and because their dad worked 2nd shift getting home around 2am we met him at IHOP at 1:30am for breakfast/dinner/middle of the night snack. They were in their PJs, much to the delight of the staff and other diners (most of whom worked with my husband). They had the chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream. They talked about it for months and tried to get us to do it weekly – didn’t work. We figured once was enough – mainly because they didn’t go back to bed and we needed to go to sleep.
Boo’s review was great and hope to read many more.
All I can laugh at is shoneys! Totally forgot bout that place! And yes our daddy was glued the same place!!
My kids love IHOP. They love the Rooty’s and the chocolate chip pancakes. I love the fruit and cream cheese filled crepes. Their veggie crepes are awesome too. Loved the review Boo!! Can’t wait for another one!!
I am hungry just looking at the photos and reading your adorable narrative!Of course, Boo is precious in the pictures….red lips and cheeks from the strawberries, I presume! Love you eternally, Mom
Thanks, Boo, for the lovely review! We go to IHOP every summer with my Dad (Aka Grandpa) right before we go to family camp/reunion. This summer Dad had all 8 of his grandkids at one table, and he had a smile as big as Texas on his face. Everyone could get what they liked and everyone thought it was funny that Grandpa got a Nutella filled crepe!
Enjoy, and Choose Joy!