Banning IHOP (kinda long)

Hey there, Just wanted to let all of you know about the complete ignorance I dealt with at IHOP this morning. As usual I asked the waitress if I could order from the childrens menu- I even explained that medically I can only eat a very tiny portion so it's pointless for me to order a "regular" meal because I won't be able to eat most of it. She said "NO, it's against our policy." I went on to explain that I am only able to eat in very tiny amounts and most other restaurants allow for me to order off the childrens menu. She goes on to say that she can give me 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, and 2 sausages for just 4 dollars more. (Now, the restaurant was crowded and I didn't want to make a scene and explain that my pouch is tiny and at times angry therfore I can only eat smaller meals.) When I asked her if she could make an exception she almost giggled and said if she did it for me she'd have to do it for everyone. There was no compromising! So, I told her that I would no longer be coming to this restaurant and I was going to tell all my friends and family about this. I was furious! I know there are cards we can print out but I didn't have one with me and I thought that just maybe they'd be a little more understanding. So, I have to ask, has anything like this has ever happened to you and how did you deal with it? I usually never rant on here but today I just needed to! Thanks for any advice~

Let me startt off by responding to "MOM"- I never stated that I was entitled to a damn thing. This was MY choice and for that I am greatful. It's not about paying for a full meal. It's about MY choice to order a smaller/human size portion. Either way, the restaurant would make money off me. I have never asked for a special deal- or a break on anything. I have every right to order whatever it is I want- By the way, do you think just because I had this surgery that it means I could never eat out with my husband again? It's all about choices and living a life with this tool that I have been given. Just because I had WLS does not mean I am never to walk into a restaurant again- that's just silly. So, if you have fun feeding your extras to your chickens I say Bravo to you- but I am sorry to say, I do not have chickens to feed at my home.... Thanks for your opinion- but like they say- opinions are like ******** everyones got one!

Hi Christine, Sorry to hear about your bad experence at I Hop. When I do go out to eat ( Be it very rarely because I eat so little) I just order off the regular menu and have them wrap up the leftovers. I have a 3 year old Beagle at home who is thrilled that I have had the surgery ! . Don't let things like this work you all up. That Lady serving you was just following orders that were given to her. She is just a small cog in a Very Big Machine. I would be writing to I Hop corperate and making my feelings known to them. They are the one's making the rules. Life is way too short and you have so much to be happy about with your sucess on your "Journey". Take Care P.S. Just another comment from another *******

BTW - 'bout TIME you got a picture of yourself on here! B.

Christine my angelette - How nice to see your picture up here at last!!! Now - so sorry to hear of your frustrating experience at IHOP. I myself have gone to IHOP on the occasional Sunday for breakfast with my parents. While I have never attempted to order off of the children's menu, I do find their choices rather limited. So what I do is order what I want a-la-carte. When I order 1 scrambled egg there I get so many eggs I could swear they use ostrich eggs!!! LOL... Then I order some bacon or sausage, or just steal a piece from whatever mom and dad are having. I've also endulged on occasion and ordered a pancake and they have sugar free syrup! So don't let the restaurants frustrate you - it's their right (though yes, stupid) to not allow you to order off the children's menu. When that happens, just change tracks and see what kind of good choices you can make, a la carte, or split a meal, etc... Good seeing you!!! Hugs, Carla

Hi There, I go out to eat quite a bit with my hubby on weekends it's his way of treating me to a day off from cooking from my busy work week and taking care of him & my son over the course of the week. I do get frustrated with the portion sizes but through a year of working through going out to eat & finding what works my husband & I have finally come up with a solution that is the best of both worlds. He orders a "smaller" meal such as a salad, hamburger or a large appetizer (but always something he wants) and I order what I want that usually a chicken dish or steak. When I'm full he takes over & finishes off what I don't. It's a balance & it works for us. Usually I'll have some type of soup with a "cheese" appetizer of sometype & it is enough. He basically works with me... what a trooper! I did have a nice experience at the Outback in Manchester...for ha ha's I asked if I could order off the kid's menu without getting into details about my surgery. The waitress was so positive...the only thing she charged me for was an "adult" drink. So coffee & a large ice water. Disney World in Florida is JUST awesome...we went last October & all I had to say was I had a medical condition where I couldn't eat a whole lot...just about every place I went was accomodating & receptive. They even recommended sugar free desserts & ice cream if I wanted them. (PS THEY WERE VERY GOOD!) VERY accomodating to their guests needs I LOVE it there. I've learned to live with my choice of the surgery and if a restaurant says "no" then I walk away with the experience of "how they treated me" with respect or rudeness...understanding but they have guidelines OR non caring and a crappy attitude those things I'll remember the food...not...that is what keeps me wanting to go back to an establishment. I'd write IHOP off the books..chalk it up to an experience you "won't forget." I also remember the positive...I had a the surgery for a reason so I can't eat huge portions and getting my life back....so if there's a ton of food left over...well I have to sit back & say that was a great meal & I'm STUFFED! At first I was disgusted over the "waste" but now that hubby & I have a solution no waste and everyone is satisfied. Our dates are much "cheaper" as before it was a drink, appetizer, salad, main meal & dessert & coffee...just me alone and the WHOLE thing would be gone. I also do ALacarte at denny's or bickfords it works and I can get what I want. I also have a life threatening peanut/lugueme allergy that always makes going out to eat "a fun experience" If it's a soup I need to ask what the base is made out of & if there's peas in it...Chinese food...well that is a WHOLE lot of avoidance on my part due to peanut oil, peanut butter, and peas running rampant through out the place. Love it but it don't love me! OK I'm rambling. It is a challenge going out to eat, being in a social setting with food as a focus, but I always step back and remind myself it's not about the eating & portions it's about being with people I love & company. Plus when I look in the mirror or put on a pair of size 8/10 pants....that is sooooo worth leaving food on my plate. Best wishes, Mickey

Kudos on your post Michelle. The peanut allergy is a tough one- my hubby is allergic to onions and and its the same kind of thing with ordering....takes three or four trips back to the chef- so the last thing I wanna do is hassle a waitress more!!! I kind of do the same teaming up with the hubby thing- he's eternally skinny and can eat like a horse (the S*B) so he just eats what Ileave behind in some instances....if its onion free and he hasn't already had enough.....we ate at Tuscany at Mohegan Sun- I had grilled Tuna steak- ate like 1/3 of it and after he finished his roasted lamb he ate the rest of my tuna steak....then he went to Krispy Kremes for dessert while I shopped elsewhere LOL. I should just smother him with his pillow while he sleeps!!!

Hi Christine, Sorry about your trouble at IHOP. I think that the "chain" restaurants are the ones that have their "rules" built in and don't budge on them. Eating out will be fun for hubby and I in a few weeks. He just had surgery last week and I'm 9 months out. We'll have to share a meal and probably pay a "share price" instead of ordering two full meals. I usually don't bother asking if I can order off the kids menu because I find that they are usually loaded with carbs, etc. I usually order on adult meal and take the rest home or just leave it. We'll see how things work out when hubby starts to eat out with me. We'll split a steak or chicken and the beggies and we'll be done with it. I won't mind paying the extra "share a meal" price though. It'll still save us money. I would contact IHOP and tell them of your experience. Maybe if more people let these chain restaurants know that there is a need out there for people with limited capacities, maybe they'll add a "lighter appetite" to their menu. The US is a gluttonous country and we are served way too much food and that's why we're all so obese. Go to Paris and you'll get one stalk of veggie, 2-3 oz of meat and two small slices of potato. Paula

Yep- IHOP= bad choice if you want ANY kind of flexibility. They're just completley UNWILLING to do anything for you at all. It's funny, IHOP is one of the few places where I've actually asked if I could order something off the menu or a-la-carte, because their breakfasts are just SOOOO huge. You can't even do a-la-carte there. It's not a $ issue, it's an issue of their complete inability to do ANYTHING other than exactly what is on the menu AND follow their 'rules' to a T. Never really found they hire Five Star quality staff either. I'm pleased if I go there and my waitress is plesant. LOL. Generally, when I go there, I share with whomever I'm with and just ask for another plate. (we can usually come to some compromise on what to eat) One meal is more than enough for one regular and one WLS person. I always do this when portions are large. Sometimes I'm charged a 'plate charge' for sharing. I have no problem with that. (ok, well, I have a LITTLE problem with that, but I deal) Maybe that would be an option for you in the future. Also, in another sort of restaurant you could order a-la-carte. Say, for example, the other day I was out ot breakfast and they only had BIG breakfasts, but they did have side orders. So, I ordered a coffee and bacon. My BF ordered scrambled eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns and toast. I ate some of his eggs and a piece of bacon and a piece of toast. He ate the rest, and we didn't have to order TWO whole breakfasts andhave a lot of waste. Oh- one more theing- the fine folks at IHOP really DONT care if you come back. That's the bottom line. -SIGH- that's what happens when you're a big franchise with a cornered market and low paid employees. Good luck (er- I mean BETTER luck) to you in the future. Lisa C