The Eatbeat: IHOP receives a return visit

GRAND FORKS - It could have been a late, late lunch. Maybe it was an early supper. I wasn’t sure when I ordered what the menu at IHOP describes as two savory stuffed crepes.

A waiter, named Brian, took my order and was back within 15 minutes with the crepes. They were stuffed with Swiss cheese and scrambled egg along with spinach, mushrooms, onion and topped with some pleasing little oblong pieces of tomato and hollandaise sauce.

And all this for $8.99 — plus a $1.50 tip.

This was a tasty and filling meal with a pleasing blend of tastes. I felt as though I should walk home from the restaurant near the crossroad of 32nd Avenue South and Interstate 29.

Although their mainstay is pancakes, IHOP serves soup, sandwiches and burgers. It’s busiest in the mornings, and there’s usually a late-night rush when the bars close, according to Andre Murray, the manager.

He has worked himself up from a kitchen job to the manager post in the two years IHOP has been in Grand Forks.

Although the restaurant was quiet with only a trickle of customers at suppertime on a Saturday in June, Murray said there are regular customers who keep coming back. The rush comes when there are special events in Grand Forks and when the Canadians come down on holidays. And there are times when there is a waiting period after church is out Sundays.

In contrast to the quiet of suppertime Saturday was the steady stream of customers and full house Sunday after church when I went back. And what I found pleased me.

The restaurant seems well-organized, and the wait was less than 10 minutes. This time, I resorted to the menu, where I found a “Two by Two by Two” for seniors (55 and older) for $4.25.

Within 10 minutes, there were two small pancakes, two eggs over medium and two slices of well-done bacon before me. The coffee ($2.09) was good, and there was a full pot in front of me.

This was a nothing fancy, but very satisfying brunch-lunch. I would go back again and make the same order. The cakes were ordinary, slightly on the thick side and much like I would make at home.

The restaurant is attractive with artwork featuring food. There are comfortable booths and tables. Windows all around create an opening feeling, and there are tones of bronze throughout.

The restaurant menu is geared to accommodate people with food allergies.

This is one of a network of restaurants originally known as International House of Pancakes and later shortened to IHOP. It is designed as a breakfast place with lunch and dinner options and is found in all 50 states as well as Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico.

It likens itself online to Denny’s, another chain restaurant that was located nearby on 32nd Avenue South, which closed earlier this year.

One of the incentives to come back to IHOP is an online listing where you can answer a short quiz about the restaurant … and promise to get a short stack of pancakes free.

I took the information home and followed directions. I got a message that they were experiencing difficulties. I could try later.

Later, I thought. Oh gosh, no, I will go back and pay for a short stack of pancakes. I don’t have patience with cluttered computer sites.

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