IHOP Complaint - Gross! - Disgusting Bananas

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

I sent in a picture to be added. Stay tuned.

Posted by chris513 on 2008-08-02:

allentown...isn't that the home of yuengling...nevermind, that's pottsville...i miss that beer...i have never been a fan of IHOP and this just reconfirms my beliefs...thank you for the reminder.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

Wait till you see the picture....

The bananas look overripe but they aren't. They are firm and rubbery and NASTY tasting. Ugh.

I need a yuengling after watching hubby eat one of those.

Posted by chris513 on 2008-08-02:

Oh you just hate to hear that happen...but now i kinda need a yuengling.

Posted by Slimjim on 2008-08-02:

Can't argue with this. Obviously the bananas didn't go bad on the ride home. I guess that's the only bananas they had and the cook made the decision to fulfill the order regardless.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

I posted the pic to my blog in the meantime.

I think the cook just doesn't give a crap about what they put out to customers! The egg white was also runny and had a shell in it.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

That is disgusting! That never should have left the kitchen. As for the free order, if they served you bad food the first time, what's stopping them from doing it a second! Gross!

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....what yucky lookin' bananas...I wonder if they would have served that to a customer eating in...or, if they get rid of the rotten bananas to those with take out, thinking they won't bother to come back to complain...There is an IHOP about five minutes from me, but I've never tried them...Thanks for the review.

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

It would not have left the kitchen if Chef Ramsey was there! LOL!

Posted by spiderman2 on 2008-08-02:

Yuengling Lager is one of our topselling beers! I love that stuff.

Posted by chris513 on 2008-08-02:

saw the bananas...those were gross...spiderman, you are obviously wise.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Brenda, "What kind of cook puts out an order that looks like that? Really!" An iHop slop cook is who. Excellent post and info. Thanks.

Posted by spiderman2 on 2008-08-02:

Chris -- I have pretty much stopped drinking other stuff. It is never as good as a lager is. I can remember back in my college days when Yuengling was cheap beer!

Posted by ejack053824 on 2008-08-02:

I would have went back to IHOP dumping that banana crap right on their floor!

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Might have been prudent to check your order before you leave.

Posted by justcuz3993 on 2008-08-02:

why does someone always have to say "check your order before you leave?" - I mean yea, I guess we should check our order, but really that's not what the complaint is about now is it? It's about the chef making a decision to put rotten fruit on someone's order, it's not like they didn't notice it, c'mon.

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

I don't there are many "chefs" at an IHOP. Bananas Foster is a desert entree that's flambeau(d) with at least Rum which browns the dish and darkens the brown sugar. It's unlikely the rendition served at Ihop had any booze or that it was flamed up at all. That's no excuse for what may be perceived as "rotten" fruit - but it would explain why the dish isn't all golden brown and bubbly.

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-08-02:

Brenda, before I saw the picture on your blog I wondered why IHOP didn't make a nice batch of banana bread with the older bananas. Sorry, those are too rotten even for that. Someone just sliced up some VERY old bananas, tossed them on the top and sent them home with your husband.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Best answer NoHandle. Knowing it was a take out they thought they could pull it off. Serving it to someone sitting inside would have never worked.

Posted by Wally86 on 2008-08-02:

That’s as nasty looking at that meatloaf debt posted from nutrisystem. But they have a good breakfast sampler.

Posted by SoCalSteve on 2008-08-02:

Well It is an IHOP.They haven't been good since I cant remember when.

That is pretty bold of them to pull that crap,I wonder if they would eat that crap?

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

Contrary 2 Ordinary, tell me about me. Men!

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Seems you've learned your lesson, check your order next time before driving home. :0

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

Barcode it WAS 100% rotten fruit. Where did I complain about it not being golden brown and bubbly? I complained about ROTTEN FRUIT!

He thought to check and count and make sure all the containers were there but who thinks to check for rotten fruit?

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

Barcode you should only have to check to make sure your order is all there, not to make sure it's not rotten. Get a clue!

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

First off, you got to wonder why anyone would order a dessert such as bananas foster from a pancake house - you know they're not going to flambeau it with booze, - expect to be disappointed. Secondly, what's the big deal about a little egg shell - it's a breakfast place, you can't whine too much about that. Lastly, what kind of breakfast is going to be any good anyway, driving it home in a foam box? You want take out, go to a FF place. Though this isn't entirely your fault, it's at least partially on you.

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-08-02:

Barcode, I've picked up many an order to go from a restaurant (not FF) and have never once opened the containers to check the contents. Color me lucky because if I had arrived home with that dish I would be livid. I also don't believe this was Brenda's husband's dessert, it was his breakfast. Now play nicely or you will have to go home.

Posted by Wally86 on 2008-08-02:

I’m with Brenda you should only check to make sure your order is correct. Then if your have a problem let the establishment know.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

I agree with Brenda. They knew they served rotten food, it's pretty obvious in the picture on her blog the bananas were bad. That never should have left the kitchen. When and if we go through a drive through or order food to go we just check and make sure it's all there (fries, burgers whatever) we've never opened each individual container to see if the food inside is rotten or inedible. It's the restaurants responsibility to serve edible food to customers.

Posted by Slimjim on 2008-08-02:

"it's at least partially on you." Are you for real Barcode? The bananas were served rotten and the cook knew it. How exactly is that any of brendas fault.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Brenda = 10
Barcode = 0

Slim, best answer.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

1. It isn't a dessert.
2. what's the big deal about egg shell, REALLY? A cook should be able to crack an egg without including shell, that's what.
3. It doesn't come in a foam box and mine was decent. Of course I kind of lost my appetite after looking at his. I ate the hash browns though.
4. No one expected it to be cooked with booze. If the bananas weren't rotten, it looks like it would have been pretty good.

I'm GLAD he didn't notice it at the restaurant. If he did I wouldn't have been able to take the picture to share with everyone that shows how NASTY IHOP is.

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

A portion of the complaint is that the OP had driven all the way home to discover what she perceived as "rotten food." It's difficult to tell from the jpeg, as who knows the quality/color temperature of the photo. It's doubtful a cook would knowingly serve rotten food, only to be disciplined/fired. What might have happened is that food prepped hours or a day or so before was used in an attempt to speed up an off hour menu item. Again, without the flambeau, this dish can look pretty ugly.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

What is wrong with you? It isn't real bananas foster, that's just what they call it. It was never expected to be real bananas foster. You are getting hooked on this when it doesn't even matter.

I wish I could shove those bananas in your mouth so you can taste how they are, indeed, rotten.

Hmm I guess it's too much to expect fruit that isn't rotten huh?

Posted by Slimjim on 2008-08-02:

LMAO! It's not hard at all to tell barcode. Those bananas are rotten and black. If you can't even tell what a bad banana looks like for goodness sake, then stop trying to "sully" this review by deliberately being combative towards the OP, a starred senior user here.

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-08-02:

Hey, this ain't our first rodeo. We've all experienced Bananas Foster even Cherries Jubilee if anyone is trying to make an impression, so let's get that straight. Brenda's husband was sent home with something my dog wouldn't eat and she will eat anything that falls to the floor.

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

You know, were I the restaurant's legal counsel, I'd have to question how long the entree had been traveled in a hot car, how long it had been sitting in traffic, how long it took to lug it up to the house, and how long before the photos were taken - bananas age rather quickly when sliced. Consider that columbo before you make your judgement about "rotten bananas."

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Brenda, they were rotten banana's.

The end...

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

There is a huge difference in the appearance off cooked bananas and rotten bananas, these bananas were rotten. The bananas in the picture are black! You couldn't pay me to eat that. Her husband was sent home with rotten food, that is disgusting. Brenda, they were rotten bananas.

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Hard to tell from a photo, again how long from drive-thru till home and photo. A banana can look that way after five minutes on a kitchen table.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Princi, looks like our old friend is just out to "stir it up" on the threads again. Nothing new with that.

Rotten bananas. The end...

Posted by JohnInSoCal on 2008-08-02:

Thats disgusting! I know you probably did not want to take the time, but I would have taken the order back to IHOP and shown the manager and asked to speak to the cook myself. A cook, chef... whatever should not put any food out that they themselves would not eat. If the cook thought this was acceptable, visually appealing and would eat it, they should be fired on the spot!

Posted by LoisMustDie on 2008-08-02:

I guess it was no big surprise though since a year ago you posted the following.. (DAMN THIS PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY) :)

"*Brenda* (07/18/2007)
Rate this >

I wouldn't ever call Applebee's a fine dining establishment... but they do have decent food for a chain.
I wonder what Ihop will change. I hope they won't start serving the crap Ihop does! "

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Wow Lois, you'd think somebody with such a caustic outlook on a chain would advise her dearest against going there - especially for such a foo-foo dessert, only to be served up and disappointed in a foam box 20 minutes later in her home.

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-08-02:

Be sweet boys. It appears I missed something due to those deleted comments. Anyone care to fill me in?

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Nohandle, nothing worth repeating, just comments removed due to a very troublesome "new" member around here. Wonder how many have to get removed in one day to make the Admin's A List?

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Let's keep track of yours and find out.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

I don't get comments removed, but you're doing very well today.

^^^^^^@^@^^^^^^^^^

Four on one thread, not bad!

Carry on...

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

As well as your own, back in the feedback forum, good job.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Yours were all removed as usual, mine are still there.

@_@ pay attention and keep up if you can.

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

'scuse me, pardon me..breaker..breaker...
First a banana that is BLACK is a ROTTEN banana.
If it were a case of being left out a bit too long, it would turn brown, not black and anyone who has taken up cooking in the 7th grade KNOWS you're supposed to squeeze a little lemon juice on the fruit to prevent it from turning brown so quickly when preparing a dish...this cook did not serve a ripe banana that turned brown from the air hitting it...the cook served a rotten banana that was black.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Spot on DB, thank you Dear!

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

That's Debtor with a CAPITAL "D"...Don't be pulling a Stew on me!

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

Brenda...look what you've started!

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-08-02:

Brenda, you deserve another star if for no other reason than providing some much needed entertainment for a Saturday afternoon of cleaning up after houseguests. Carry on.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

LoisMustDie (08/02/2008)
I guess it was no big surprise though since a year ago you posted the following.. (DAMN THIS PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY) :)
"*Brenda* (07/18/2007)
I wouldn't ever call Applebee's a fine dining establishment... but they do have decent food for a chain.
I wonder what Ihop will change. I hope they won't start serving the crap Ihop does! "
_______________________
Yup, you're right. I never should have given them another chance. Obviously some things never change!

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

These ones weren't black from oxidation. I wish they were. Hubby tried one because he thought maybe they were just over ripe (against my advice). It was rotten. Eewwww!

Best part is, their response to rotten bananas. "Oh ok."

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Bananas turn black and oxidize withing minutes of slicing. How long before he got 'em, drove 'em home, opened the box and tried 'em? Let alone the photo - you had to look for your camera. Something like that has to be served and eaten pronto. This one's on you.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

THEY AREN'T BLACK FROM OXIDATION. How many times does that have to be explained to you?

Posted by barcode46 on 2008-08-02:

Then, give us a timeline from when he bought 'em, how far he had to drive, the time of day, ambient temperature, humidity, length of time from delivery to sample, and how long before you found your camera.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

I actually baked banana bread yesterday, cooked bananas are not BLACK! If I had any left I'd take a picture, they are brown. Cooked bananas are brown. Banana's Foster bananas are brown. These bananas were BLACK. They were ROTTEN. Even bananas that are over ripe will not be black inside when cut, they are spotted brown. There is a huge difference between cooked bananas and rotten ones.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

Yum Principissa! Send me some bread!

Yep, I always have bananas around and if they are over ripe I make some bread. They are never black inside.

I cut up bananas for my bird and stick them in her dish for a few hours. They never turn black, EVER. They just turn a brownish color.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

LOL! You'll have to fight the kids for it! I took it out of the pan and between hubby and the kids 3/4 of the loaf was gone!
Brenda I've been cooking for 15 years and I've never cut open a ripe banana to find the insides black. Even when preparing them for bread and mashing them they don't turn black. I've never even seen them turn black when cooking them or heating them. The bananas always turned dark brown, like dark brown sugar.

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

Once you go black, you never go back!

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Princi, I have made three of the recipies you gave me. Sausage with bow ties, OUTSTANDING! I changed the minced garlic to fresh chopped, other than that made it just like you suggested.

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

Super...do you have any leftovers???

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

I need a good recipe for ground veal.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

Not a chance, LOL. I'll make more next time.

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

super, the minced garlic was fresh! Only fresh garlic in this house! :)
I'm so glad you liked it! It's one of my favorites.

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

All this talk about black bananas....I had to go and pull out my two black frozen bananas from the freezer...I've been wanting to make a cocoonut cake and I think some banana in it would be good...gotta go whip up the buttercream icing...Yummmy!

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

I thought you were saying to use the pre-packaged minced garlic which is why I changed that part. Agreed, no pre packed garlic allowed around here either.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

Fresh banana bread with cream cheese is my favooorite!

Posted by Principissa on 2008-08-02:

Toasted with cream cheese! Pumpkin bread is even better toasted with cream cheese!

Posted by *Brenda* on 2008-08-02:

I make pumpkin cheesecake muffins. They are to die for!

Posted by LoisMustDie on 2008-08-02:

Go back and fourth all you want but there's one indisputable fact -- IHOP SUCKS ROCKS.

Posted by superbowl on 2008-08-02:

True.

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2008-08-02:

I like Peanut Butter on my banana bread.

Posted by HappyGoLucky726 on 2008-08-02:

Gross! Those bananas looked like they had black mold on them! I'm extremely surprised that your husband put that in his mouth. Thanks for the warning. (VH)

Posted by KenPopcorn on 2008-08-04:

Real bananas Foster are sauteed in butter and brown sugar (and rum) until they are reduced to basically a thick, hot sauce. I didn't see the pictures of the bananas, but I would expect themto be somewhat dark in color.
If you ever visit New Orleans, don't miss having Bananas Foster there. They'll give you artery disease for sure, but that's Ok, they are to die for!