Waffle House on Christmas Day

My husband & I have started a tradition of eating at Waffle House on Christmas Day.  Our first Christmas Day Waffle House visit was an accident.  On our way from Charleston WV to Indianapolis plans to meet our son for dinner fell through.  No restaurants were open except Waffle House so we stopped there & had a great meal.
 
Now for the past few years after breakfast on Christmas morning with my mom, we start for Indy.  This year we stopped at a Waffle House in Dayton,OH.  It was PACKED, lots of folks wating for a booth.  We took the last 2 seats  at the counter & got a front row view of the grill.  There were 3 line cooks-waffles, meats & potaoes, & eggs; about 6 waitresses.  It was noisy,messy, & throughly entertaining. 
 
What a great slice of Americana!!

I'd love to partake in this ritual... if we had any damn Waffle Houses.

By the way, Michael Hoffman will sing paeans to you for this.

As always, my Christmas dinner was a Waffle House meal.

One of the things I really think great about Thanksgiving and Christmas at Waffle House is the fact that the top officials are working the grill, counter, booths and dishwasher. At the one I go to the owner of the franchise (she owns some 35-40 Waffle House restaurants in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania -- and she started as a waitress in one in Georgia while in college) works every station, including sweeping up. Her brother, a vice president of the corporation, does the same. So, too, do the regional managers and district managers. This is a company that really cares for its employees, and I am glad to be a longtime customer.

Michael Hoffman


As always, my Christmas dinner was a Waffle House meal.

One of the things I really think great about Thanksgiving and Christmas at Waffle House is the fact that the top officials are working the grill, counter, booths and dishwasher. At the one I go to the owner of the franchise (she owns some 35-40 Waffle House restaurants in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania -- and she started as a waitress in one in Georgia while in college) works every station, including sweeping up. Her brother, a vice president of the corporation, does the same. So, too, do the regional managers and district managers. This is a company that really cares for its employees, and I am glad to be a longtime customer.

 


Do you always have the same meal on Christmas?

So, as I promised Michael Hoffman in a thread some time ago - I gave Waffle House yet another try - hoping my bad experiences were simply those NC and VA older locations (notwithstanding the fact that Richmond area Waffle Houses were notoriously dingy).

So, it was Christmas Day and WH was the only place open and we needed lunch on the road.

So, here goes:

Waffle House: Clark's Summit, PA

Place was busy, but not over crowded (as I heard they usually were on Christmas) - about 1/2 full when we arrived at 11:35am. However, I heard the waitress talking to a customer about past years, when there was a line out the door all day. She suspected the threat of ice had kept locals home. I found the place to be filled with a balance of travelers and locals. One such travelling group sat at the booth directly behind me and exclaimed, "this is where was sat last year."  

So, anyway, let me back up: I walk in with wife and baby in toe. A very pleasant woman behind the counter says "sit anywhere you'd like honey", so we got a booth. I grabbed a high chair, and had to knock off food from it.

We sat down at the table. Our menu-placemats were already there - greasy to the touch, and even a sticky spot on mine. I grabbed a napkin to clean them both.

Table had been wiped, obviously, but it was still a little slick. So I cleaned the table too.

Waitress got drink orders and came back with drinks and took our order. Super friendly - and, because I wasn't about to put my son's food on the table, I asked if they had any non-china plates for my son's use, which she gave us a to-go plate which was perfect.

Now, I know WH has their specialties, but I already has b'fast at 8am, so I got their BLT and regular salad, wife got grilled chicken breast on a salad. Both of us got ranch dressing.

Before the food arrive, the waitress gave us our silverware. Her hands were all over the silverware, not just the part where you handle, but the tines and all. The same hands which she was taking money from customers at the cash register. Did she wash them between? I dunno. 

But considering the condition of our placemats, table and high chair, I wasn't sure. On top of that, the floor was not clean. Yes there has been ice earlier in the morning, so yes people may had trampled in wet, salt laden shoes. However, when we arrived for lunch, the ice was over and our shoes weren't completely filthy. Never the less, it has clearly not been recently mopped. 

My wife's chicken breast was fine. Our salads were mostly iceberg lettuce, but fresh and crispy lettuce. I even commented to my wife that I appreciated that they used radishes. I've found that radishes are not as common as they used to be, in salads.

My BLT was dry as a bone on first bite. Then I saw the packet of mayo tucked underneath the other half of the sandwich. I don't know how that was possible - but it's true. I would've assumed the packet was added after my sandwhich was plated. Maybe it slid, I don't know the reason why, though. I put a little ketchup on it instead. It helped tremendously. They used nice thick cut bacon. Again, a plus. Tomato, like the lettuce, was also fresh and had a nice bite to it.

In addition to some food we brought in for our 16 month son, we also got him a grilled cheese sandwhich, which he enjoyed (well half of it - we saved the other half, and he enjoyed that later).

The food came out pretty fast. Service was super friendly. On that end, WH passed. Food wasn't spectacular but fine and I realize we didn't get any of their specialty food items. 

The bathrooms were cold in temperature, and not as well "wiped down" as the rest of the restaurant. The slightly rusted wheelchair/handicap bars looked like they were ignored during their wipe down process. I also get really pissed when a restaurant doesn't have a baby changing station in any bathroom - forcing you to use the dirty floor. Yes, we have our own mat - which we use to cover baby changing stations. But a non-mom and pop place, that does have high chairs and booster seats, should also have baby changing stations.

Suffice to say, thanks to incredibly friendly service (except they never offered us a high chair, I had to look around for it - and it was clear I was looking for something, and no one said a word) it wasn't a horrible experience. But again, the overall cleanliness of the place, the waitresses handling money then my silverware, the less than pleasant bathroom, I again find myself wondering at the allure of Waffle House. 

Again, this was not one of those new shiney Waffle Houses - and IMO, I think this one needs a facelift on the inside, but for crying out loud, they can make sure that when I pick up my menu-placemat (because it's two sided, I have to touch it) it isn't sticky in some spots and slick (greasy) in other spots. Use some soap or safe cleaning product when wiping the tables down.

The price for our meals came to $12 and change - I left a $5 tip simply because the place was open and these people were serving me with a smile on Christmas Day (which I came to understand, is a WH tradition since 1955).

I'm still waiting to find one of these clean restaurants the WH faithful keep talking about.

I really wish I had pictures.




 

 I got dragged to WH again the other day and ordered some hamburger steak dinner (double steak), with cheese, mushrooms, onions. It came with hashbrowns and texas toast. The food, and the total lack of cleanliness was disgusting. Yuck. I drove by on Christmas day and saw quite a few customers...what a treat! I just can't understand how such horrible food attracts so many.

Score, jeep,

Like any restaurant chain or Mom and Pop it is only as good as the cast running it. I have been to Waffle Houses that I just turned around and walked out of. Just because of the way they looked. No excuse for a dirty restaurant. I believe the packet of Mayo you received was part of the ordering code process they use. Ask friends if they have had good luck at some of the other locations. A well run Waffle House is a great place. They make great waffles, hashbrowns, and grits. Make sure you order hashbrowns scattered and ask for your waffle a little more done....Russ

I do not know for certain as I was not there.  But, I would guess that the table and mats were wet because they had just been wiped down  and what you felt was plain old water and not grease,

As far as the floor goes, on  a very busy day like Christmas, I am sure that there were always  enough customers so  floors could not be mopped.  As far as I am concerned,  there is nothing worse than sitting in a restaurant  ordering or trying to eat than having  one  swiping a mop around or  sweeping.
 
When my children were small, there was no such thin g as a  changing station.  I would  just  put a pad on my lap and  change my child that way.

There are lots of sparkling clean  Waffle Houses and some that are really dated  and  worn looking,  The one in Clark's  Summit happens to be one  of the latter.  We ate breaskfast at that one  twice last fall when my grandson participated in a wrestling tournament there.   We found nothing wrong with the place and had our usual good breakfast that we have at Waffle Houses.

The Waffle House experiences posted above remind of a Christmas Day years ago, our own times in Waffle House more recently and our 2009 Christmas Day.
 
Years ago we had our Christmas tree at home and then flew in to Dallas to spend some time with my wife's family.  I was not very smart.  We rented a car and I drove past the only restaurant I remember seeing open with out stopping.  My bad.  We ended up going in a small minute market operation and buying a loaf of bread, a package of cold cuts, a jar of mayo and some plastic knives - well , you get the idea.  We finally had a late Christmas dinner when we got to my wife's brother's place. 
 
I wish we'd seen a Waffle House that day.  I just don't remember one between DFW and Waxahachie.
 
We eat breakfast at Waffle House at least once a month. 
 
My main complaints are (1) the menus which never feel clean (table tops are also suspect), and (2) the serving of oleo and not butter, and (3) the very casual coffee refill service.   I suspect that Waffle House as an organization is trying to cut costs with those last two measures.  McDonald's typically has more inviting restrooms. 
 
But the waffles are good.  I also like the potatoes and the way they generally do a good job of serving crisp but not burned bacon.  They do a fair job with country ham.  They have a big breakfast - the "All American" I think they call it - and I generally take half of it home for another breakfast later.  They have a good chocolate icebox pie. 
 
I am writing on the twenty-eighth.  Last Friday we we drove within half a block of our closest Waffle House on the way to a child's home and grandchildren and a breakfast of the usual Christmas morning casseroles and sweetbreads.  The Waffle House was packed.
 
I don't know that I'm ready to make WH a Christmas tradition, but in the absence of a family gathering I would not hesitate to give it a try.

The reason why the packet of mayonnaise was on the plate with your BLT was because they always place it on a BLT plate when the order is called, along with pickles. I think that has something to do with the fact that most people like mayonnaise on their BLTs. It helps prevent them from being dry.

I guess some folks like them dry, or do not like mayo, or too much mayo or they would slather it on the bread before serving the BLT up - I cannot imagine a BLT without the mayo - I have heard them called BLTM even..

Greymo: I'm quite aware of the difference between wet and greasy. I also know sticky when I feel it. I suppose the sticky was from the water, too.

It wasn't busy, as I said. The waitresses were even commenting on how unbusy it was. And the grimy floor wasn't just the traffic areas, the whole floor was dirty looking.

MH: I was happy to find the mayo. I found it odd it was UNDER 1/2 of the sandwich, instead of in view on the side fo the plate. I didn't see the packet until after I had already eaten most of the other half that wasn't on top of the mayo. I used ketchup - which was fine. I certainly didn't find it odd that they served mayo. I found it odd it was under the sandwich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As per the baby changing station, it is now standard fare to have one. To not have one in today's society it a big "screw you" to families with babies.

Waffle House lovers: I gave a fair assessment of the situation. My wife, who could care less about WH either way, said my assessment was truthful - not biased. She too was a little shocked how worn and dirty the place looked. She was also shocked that I posted my message with all those typos.

My wife also reminded me, which I forgot about, that several years ago we stopped in the WH in Frederick, MD on Christmas day, because it was the only place open, and got b'fast sandwiches to go (which is why I didn't remember it, because we didn't actually eat there). The place was sparkly clean and they were super super friendly. So, obviously, I need to go to Frederick to get this famous service in a clean environment, which I haven't found in NC, VA and now PA.

However, my post, was no exageration, it was fair to the staff - who were great, and to the food - which was fine, and I even gave props to some elements, and to the atmosphere and to the condition of the restaurant as we saw it on 12/25/09 from 11:35am to 12:20pm. I'm terribly sorry if my real reporting is somehow offensive to WH lovers' sensibilities.

Scorereader,
 
Having eaten in a Waffle House maybe once in my life, many years ago before I knew what Roadfood was, I don't think I am biased toward either side of the debate.  I found your report to be fair, open, and honest.  It sounds from your report and those of others that some WH locations are great places to eat while others might make the McD/Wendy's/BK/whatever alternative look less threatening.  Thanks for the report.

Scorereader



MH: I was happy to find the mayo. I found it odd it was UNDER 1/2 of the sandwich, instead of in view on the side fo the plate. I didn't see the packet until after I had already eaten most of the other half that wasn't on top of the mayo. I used ketchup - which was fine. I certainly didn't find it odd that they served mayo. I found it odd it was under the sandwich.

As I said, they put the mayonnaise packet on the plate, along with the pickle chips, when the order is called. I assume that when the sandwich was plated it covered the packet accidentally. That is, I doubt that they covered it up purposely so that you wouldn't find it. Of course, never having been to that Waffle House restaurant, I can't honestly say that they didn't do it in order to try to make your visit miserable.

Waffle House, for those of us who love it, WHAT A GREAT PLACE!
for those who don't, STAY OUT

Happy New Year Michael

Thank you. And the same. But is it possible to tell when it's January when you're down there with no snow or ice?

high in the upper 50's today,  mid 30's tonight.
thats F*#@%^ winter here.

Low 20s here this afternoon. With any luck it will go down to a more comfortable temperature.

Scorereader et al,

Thats's what makes Waffle House-----Waffle House! It's Not the Waldorf or even Bob Evans---- It's Waffle House, with all it's Warts as well as all the Good Characteristics. If you have visited them regularly, you know what to expect and that's everything from Outstanding to the Pits. That's the nature of the Waffle House Attraction & Mistique. One thing I've learned is that the ALL STAR SPECIAL is the same whereever I go. I don't care if there's food on the floor or not because I don't eat off the floor! As long as they get the food from the Grill, Fry Pan, Toaster & Coffee Pot to the Plate & Cup, (which have been always clean) to my seat, I'm fine with that. If you could see some of the "Backroom" food areas of other restaurants, you would think WH is pretty clean. The only difference is they put their Kitchen out there for God & Everybody to see!

Michael Hoffman


Thank you. And the same. But is it possible to tell when it's January when you're down there with no snow or ice?

I am still in the Atlanta area but don't live quite as close to the Interstate.  For  some years I could tell it was winter because of all the south bound autos stopped in gas stations  to refuel that were covered with mud or sometimes ice.  
 
Most of them had Ohio tags.

Good help is hard to find. After reading this post it dawned on me that the Waffle Houses I frequent are staffed by white or black Americans. No Hispanics which I found strange being as Columbus has a high Hispanic population. Also one needs to understand how to order food at a Waffle House to insure seccess. A few tips are:
 
1. I order waffles well done
2. I order my hashbrowns scattered so they are a little drier.
3. Sit at the counter and watch them prepare plates. Every plate is coded so the cook knows what it is.
4. They dont clean the tables real well so I make sure that I place silverware on the napkins provided on the tables.
5. Everything comes on its own plate so you must consolidate onto one plate.
6. Booths are tight for 4 adults. Some have tables or take the counter.
7. Tell them not to overcook the sausage.
8. Make sure you try the grits
 
I am sure others have additional tips. If I ever open a place that serves breakfast I would hunt down a Waffle House cook and hire them. Some are amazing to watch. A seasoned cook makes no mess and can handle a full restaurant by themselves. A packed well run Waffle House is something to be seen.
 
...Russ

claracamille


My husband & I have started a tradition of eating at Waffle House on Christmas Day.  Our first Christmas Day Waffle House visit was an accident.  On our way from Charleston WV to Indianapolis plans to meet our son for dinner fell through.  No restaurants were open except Waffle House so we stopped there & had a great meal.
 
Now for the past few years after breakfast on Christmas morning with my mom, we start for Indy.  This year we stopped at a Waffle House in Dayton,OH.  It was PACKED, lots of folks wating for a booth.  We took the last 2 seats  at the counter & got a front row view of the grill.  There were 3 line cooks-waffles, meats & potaoes, & eggs; about 6 waitresses.  It was noisy,messy, & throughly entertaining. 
 
What a great slice of Americana!!

We Daytonians do tend to love our Waffle House. It was a mad house teh day after Christmas when a few friends and I showed up after a night of partying.

Born in OKC
 
 
I wish we'd seen a Waffle House that day.  I just don't remember one between DFW and Waxahachie. 
 

1020 HWY 287 BYPASS
WAXAHACHIE, TX 75165
I used to live in Arlington. There are at least two on I-20 between Hwy 360 and I-35E, and another in Lancaster off I-35E.
 
My first WH experience was ordering a patty melt and having it come out charred black. I was hooked!

Ah boilermaker,
 
I don't know the date of the first Waffle House in North Texas.  The trip I remember was probably in the late 1980's.  A lot of the growth between Dallas and Fort Worth was after we moved to Georgia and I was not then aware of a route like 360.  I suspect we went out the south end of DFW, took 183 to I-35E, and south to 287 or similar. 
 
I don't remember a Waffle House.  I remember a cool overcast day with misting rain at times.  There might have been one or more Waffle Houses along the way but if so they did not register.
 
How long were you in Waxahachie?

Like Mr. Jackson, I always order my waffle "dark".  Otherwise, it tends to come out a little too flabby; I like some crisp edges.  Pecans?  PLEASE!

My standard Waffle House breakfast - actually, I have three...

1)  two eggs, over medium, sausage well done (again, I like the crisp edges) grits, and dry wheat toast.  Coffee, black.

2)  Pecan waffle, cooked dark, served with honey, not the syrup.  Sausage cooked well, or bacon, crisp.  Coffee, black.

3)   Same as #1, except sub an order of hash browns, scattered and smothered (onions).  Coffee, black.

When I have my 7 year old son along, I often get the Waffle House special, which is two eggs, choice of meat, toast, grits, hash browns, and a waffle, all for about $7.  My little guy will eat just about anything, but if I order eggs, and him a waffle, he wants to swap.  The Special is enough food (and definitely enough carbs) for both of us to split and share.  He likes to sit at the counter and watch the action - breakfast, and a floor show.   My boy loves Waffle House, and so do I!  My wife, well, I can't talk her into going....she prefers a slightly more refined breakfast of lattes, bagels, etc. 

Haven't been there Christmas morning, but it's a couple times a month Saturday breakfast for the son and I...especially before perusing the offerings at the local Lowe's or some quality father-son time.

You guys make me miss Waffle House. It was always a Christmas Day tradition on the drive to Cape Coral from Orlando to visit my parents.
 
I must have hit most of the WHs on I-75 in those years!
 
But my parents are gone, and there are no WHs in this part of PA. Don't know why, I think they would do well here.
 
My favs:  Pecan Waffles with bacon or Cheesy Eggs with Raisin Toast.
 
 

Add Grits and Sausage to the Cheesy Eggs with Raisin Toast, and that's my favorite...

Born in OKC


Ah boilermaker,
 
I don't know the date of the first Waffle House in North Texas.  The trip I remember was probably in the late 1980's.  A lot of the growth between Dallas and Fort Worth was after we moved to Georgia and I was not then aware of a route like 360.  I suspect we went out the south end of DFW, took 183 to I-35E, and south to 287 or similar. 
 
I don't remember a Waffle House.  I remember a cool overcast day with misting rain at times.  There might have been one or more Waffle Houses along the way but if so they did not register.
 
How long were you in Waxahachie?

I have no clue how long they've been there, either. I had a former employer in Duncanville, and traveled to DFW several times a year from 1996 to 2001. I moved to Arlington in 2001 and lived there until August. My job took me to Waxahachie once a month, and through it more often than that. WH's have always seemed to be there. I frequented the one in Mansfield quite often.

Russ Jackson


Good help is hard to find. After reading this post it dawned on me that the Waffle Houses I frequent are staffed by white or black Americans. No Hispanics which I found strange being as Columbus has a high Hispanic population. Also one needs to understand how to order food at a Waffle House to insure success. A few tips are:
 
1. I order waffles well done
2. I order my hashbrowns scattered so they are a little drier.
3. Sit at the counter and watch them prepare plates. Every plate is coded so the cook knows what it is.
4. They don't clean the tables real well so I make sure that I place silverware on the napkins provided on the tables.
5. Everything comes on its own plate so you must consolidate onto one plate.
6. Booths are tight for 4 adults. Some have tables or take the counter.
7. Tell them not to overcook the sausage.
8. Make sure you try the grits
 
I am sure others have additional tips. If I ever open a place that serves breakfast I would hunt down a Waffle House cook and hire them. Some are amazing to watch. A seasoned cook makes no mess and can handle a full restaurant by themselves. A packed well run Waffle House is something to be seen.
 
...Russ

AMEN Russ! 
A Top Notch WH Cook is like watching Poetry-In-Motion!
Listening to a WH Waitress call in her order is a Symphony
Walking in the door and hearing ALL the Employees saying unison, "Good Morning" is like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing The Hallaluha(SP) Chorus
It don't get no better than that!

Hallelujah


you can even use Google to find that out, when in doubt.

Michael Hoffman

Scorereader



MH: I was happy to find the mayo. I found it odd it was UNDER 1/2 of the sandwich, instead of in view on the side fo the plate. I didn't see the packet until after I had already eaten most of the other half that wasn't on top of the mayo. I used ketchup - which was fine. I certainly didn't find it odd that they served mayo. I found it odd it was under the sandwich.

As I said, they put the mayonnaise packet on the plate, along with the pickle chips, when the order is called. I assume that when the sandwich was plated it covered the packet accidentally. That is, I doubt that they covered it up purposely so that you wouldn't find it. Of course, never having been to that Waffle House restaurant, I can't honestly say that they didn't do it in order to try to make your visit miserable.

I, too, doubt it was on purpose.
 
However, since I've never ordered the BLT before, and I didn't see the mayo on my plate, I didn't know it was there.  Next time I'll know, if I don't see mayo, to look under my sandwhich. It's not a huge issue, because I put a dab of ketchup on the sandwich, and that was fine.
 
Speaking of pickle chips, my son had pickles for the first time, there. He liked the pickle chips. I almost forgot about the pickle chips, because he got them all.
 
 

After my experience in the WH in Florence KY on Thanksgiving morning last year, I may never set foot in one again. We stopped for b'fast there at 7AM as we do every Thanksgiving, on our way to Tennessee to visit close friends. I was watching the 'cook' fix my omelet. He scooped it off the flattop and placed it on the plate with my hashbrowns, then apparently saw something on the plate that did not belong there. He wiped his BARE hands on his not-too-clean apron, then picked up the omelet in his hands and put it on another plate, dropping half the filling on the counter - which he also picked up bare-handed and stuffed it back into the omelet. To top that off, he then wiped his hands on his apron again and transferred the hashbrowns to the new plate. When the waitress brought me the plate, I refused to touch it and told her why. Her comment - 'his hands are clean, he's the cook'. Turns out she was the shift manager also, so no help there. As you might expect, we left. Two emails to WH hq were not answered, a complaint by phone to the 'restaurant' was likewise ignored. So, since they choose to ignore me, I will return the favor and ignore Waffle House.

Roadkill Bill


After my experience in the WH in Florence KY on Thanksgiving morning last year, I may never set foot in one again. We stopped for b'fast there at 7AM as we do every Thanksgiving, on our way to Tennessee to visit close friends. I was watching the 'cook' fix my omelet. He scooped it off the flattop and placed it on the plate with my hashbrowns, then apparently saw something on the plate that did not belong there. He wiped his BARE hands on his not-too-clean apron, then picked up the omelet in his hands and put it on another plate, dropping half the filling on the counter - which he also picked up bare-handed and stuffed it back into the omelet. To top that off, he then wiped his hands on his apron again and transferred the hashbrowns to the new plate. When the waitress brought me the plate, I refused to touch it and told her why. Her comment - 'his hands are clean, he's the cook'. Turns out she was the shift manager also, so no help there. As you might expect, we left. Two emails to WH hq were not answered, a complaint by phone to the 'restaurant' was likewise ignored. So, since they choose to ignore me, I will return the favor and ignore Waffle House.

PICKY, PICKY, PICKY.
You were lucky you could find a place open on Thanksgiving Morning. How would you feel if you had to work on Thanksgiving AM? Tell me you never dropped a piece of food on the floor, picked it up, rinsed it off and acted like it never happened.
"Apparently saw something on the plate that did not belong there." Thank God he caught it! It might have killed you! Have you ever picked up any food with your bare hands and handled it before serving it?? Personally, I wear latex gloves in my home kitchen to meet health code standards all the time. Get off your High Horse and get real. If the WH Grill were not exposed to God and everybody and you ate at a place that had a "Backroom" Kitchen, you never would have known the difference. What goes on in a kitchen you can't see would blow your mind to the point that you would NEVER eat out again---Including 5 Star Restaurants! It's Waffle House---That's the way they roll. Get over it! I have never heard of anyone dying from eating their food!
With a handle like "Roadkill Bill', I can't imagine how you could be critical of any food establishment!!! Anyone who eats "Roadkill" can't possibly criticize anything!

I've worked in enough restaraunts to know that if you pay too much attention to how food is prepared you would never eat out. Personally, there are some people home's I won't eat in for the same reason. I try not to pay too much attention but some things you just can't overlook. They should have re-made her order. Nuff said.

I guess I give too much credit.

Just as a general FYI: The Waffle Houses here in Ohio require all those who handle food to wear disposable plastic gloves, and to change them often.
 
EDIT:
 
Let me amend that. I am speaking about the vast majority of Waffle House restaurants in Ohio. There are some in the southern part of the state owned by another franchisee, and I've been to just one of those several years ago and did not notice.

Play27


I guess I give too much credit.

To Whom?? For What??

Foodbme

Scorereader


I'm assuming that Foodbme's entire post is a farce.

No, Dear Scorereader, It is a sarcastic retort to Roadkill Bill's post. It is he who is the farce!

I don't think a person can be a farce.
 
let me rephrase, I'm assuming that you're only kidding and that you don't really think that it's ok for a restaurant to "drop a piece of food on the floor, pick it up, rinse it off and act like it never happened"  simply because, to your knowledge, no one has ever died from that. I'm assuming you're joking when you imply that WH is somehow exempt from critical review of their kitchen practices simply because the kitchen is in view. And, I find it hard to believe that you really think that just because people cook their food at home without latex gloves, that it's ok for WH to use their bare hands to handle food in the manner described by RKBill.
 
 

Amen brother!

Heck..................there are many horror stories that can be told about many restaurants on any given day.  I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      remember  one time that we went to a sparkling  clean,  shiny  diner  with  a two mile long menu.  The place was full of happy people.  We elected to sit at the counter as I love to watch these  expert  grill cooks.   A waitress came over to pick up an order.  She  grabbed a plate for the  grill cook  to  put the  scramed eggs on.       WAIT...................She sees something on this plate.  Instead of  putting it with  dirty dishes,  she  busily  scrapes away with her fingernail to get  something off the plate.  After she  scrapes away,  she  picks up  a dish cloth  and  scrubs for a while  and then hads the plate to the grill cook.

She has the egg put on the plate and adds some toast  and  delivers it to a  small child  sitting in a booth with his parents.   Sorry folks.................things like this happen in a lot of places.

These things may well happen - but I do not have to tolerate it if I see it. I have no control over what happens in the backroom kitchen, if I worried about that I would never eat out. 

Have a nice day!

OK - OK! Enough said---Points made:
Yes--- Bad Things happen in restaurants, both seen & unseen
Yes--- If it's seen, you don't need to tolerate it.
Yes---If it's not seen, just eat your food & if it tastes good and if you don't get sick--Be Happy!
End of discussion!!

Roadkill I agree with you. If I think the place is doing stuff that might make me sick. I will walk out and move on to somewgere else. I will also tell them the place is a mess either by talking to the manager or calling the corporate office. I did it to a Big Boy once and soon after they remodeled the place and replaced everyone. Now the place is spotless. I am sure I was not the only one that complained. The bathrooms of a place will usually tell the story. If they are a mess so is the kitchen....Russ

Foodbme


OK - OK! Enough said---Points made:

Yes--- If it's seen, you don't need to tolerate it.

 
Glad you've changed your tune. 
It's wrong for a restaurant, whether or not the patrons see it or not, to tolerate unsafe food handling practices.
 

 

If it's okay for the cooks at fine restaurants to handle the food while plating it, I don't see the horror of Waffle House cooks doing so.

I imagine the complaintants would never eat at this place:



That's Domalise's Po-Boys in New Orleans, as pictured in the Roadfood.com review.

She is a slob! Why would anyone handle food that way? Please do not try to defend those practices. Now way that wood plank can be cleaned enough to stop ecoli. But if the food was good I would eat it. Still no excuse to handle food in such a way....Russ

I would not be eating that po-boy.

Aside from the bare hands, she also is wearing a wedding ring that clearly has been in contact with the food. Rings fester more bacteria that anyone would care to eat.

Look, 50 years ago, we didn't think of this stuff. And who knows if there are more communicable diseases yesterday or today, but it doesn't matter; times have changed, so lets keep practicing safe food handling, from dive to linen service.

WOW! evidently you 2 guys have never eaten out before the 90's.
get over it. you've eaten worse stuff when you were a kid.

For those Waffle House aficionados present, I thought you might be interested in this pretty cool picture I came across:




http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickgray/378694469/


It's a Waffle House cheat sheet for the cooks, with further details at the link. Pretty neat system!

maxcriden


For those Waffle House aficionados present, I thought you might be interested in this pretty cool picture I came across:




http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickgray/378694469/


It's a Waffle House cheat sheet for the cooks, with further details at the link. Pretty neat system!

Very Interesting1 I've often wondered how they kept all their orders straight! Thank you!
When I lived in Pensacola FL, we had a Great Breakfast place , The Coffee Cup, and they had a Grill CHEF, (A home grown Chef, but nevertheless a Chef), named Creolla. She's been there for years. The Waitresses would call out their orders, nothing written down for her to look at, and she would crank out those orders on her flat top and 2 gas burners like it was a stroll in the park. She'd have 15-20 orders going at the same time. Absolutely beautiful to watch her play that flat top and those two burners like it was a fine musical instrument.               

sk bob


WOW! evidently you 2 guys have never eaten out before the 90's.
get over it. you've eaten worse stuff when you were a kid.

True, but we have learned a few things since then...


   

well, sk bob, I also wear a seat belt, something that we didn't have to do back in the good ol' days. I guess times change. Today, I like my food to not be mauled by the bare hands of the cook.

"get over it?" ok, I'll get over it as soon as you get into a high speed crash without a seat belt.

Of course, I don't really wish that upon you. I wish you'd wear your seat belt and practice today's safety standards (and the law). That way, you're safe in the unfortunate event you do get into a crash. In the same way, I wish upon my food handlers to follow today's safe food preparation standards (and the law) in case, in the unfortunate event, there is something wrong with with the food or their hands.

As long as the Chef washes his/her hands I'm OK.

Scorereader


well, sk bob, I also wear a seat belt, something that we didn't have to do back in the good ol' days. I guess times change.

Gee, I've been wearing seat belts since the 1950s. But perhaps those aren't old enough good old days for you.

Michael Hoffman

Scorereader


well, sk bob, I also wear a seat belt, something that we didn't have to do back in the good ol' days. I guess times change.

Gee, I've been wearing seat belts since the 1950s. But perhaps those aren't old enough good old days for you.

nope. you were just smarter than me.
 
maybe I'm the dummy for which they wrote the seatbelt laws.

Scorereader

Michael Hoffman

Scorereader


well, sk bob, I also wear a seat belt, something that we didn't have to do back in the good ol' days. I guess times change.

Gee, I've been wearing seat belts since the 1950s. But perhaps those aren't old enough good old days for you.

nope. you were just smarter than me.
 
maybe I'm the dummy for which they wrote the seatbelt laws.

It occurred to me back then that there must be a reason why I had to wear belts when racing stock cars and sports cars. So I figured it might be a good idea to wear them whenever I was driving. My vehicles do not move if everyone is not strapped in.

I ALWAYS wear my Seat Belt while eating in a Waffle House. You never know when a Grill Cook is going to go Postal and start throwing Smothered, Covered, Chunked, Scattered Hash Browns all over the place! 

Foodbme


I ALWAYS wear my Seat Belt while eating in a Waffle House. You never know when a Grill Cook is going to go Postal and start throwing Smothered, Covered, Chunked, Scattered Hash Browns all over the place! 

from the condition I've seen some Waffle Houses in, I wouldn't be surpirsed if that's what happened...and no one cleaned up - they only wiped off the menu with some sticky water.