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In December, 2024, where can you find a modest, but full, custom-cooked breakfast - not fast food - for $7.00? Does such a thing even exist at a full-service, sit-down restaurant? Yes it does, and it's served weekday mornings at IHOP, located on Stanford Ranch Road, in Rocklin, CA. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little past 08:30 in the morning, Friday, December 20, 2024, and I took a short hike to IHOP to enjoy breakfast, which will fill me, and warm me up on this chilly, foggy morning.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll be greeted by your server, who will also seat you. Since the dining was lightly seated, Venus said "Sit anywhere you want to." I chose a booth by the window, as it make good lighting for photography.
Photo: The restaurant has two dining rooms, which are nearly identical, divided by the entrance, the greeting station and the kitchen. Furniture is mostly booths, with a few tables offering flexible seating. This arrangement seems to be pretty standard for IHOP, as the Roseville location - which I've yet to visit - features a similar form. The dining room, along with the restaurant, was decorated for the Christmas holiday.
Photo: The "House Faves" page of the menu, which lists the four $7.00 choices that are available weekday mornings.
Photo: The kitchen and work area, as seen from the dining room where I wasn't seated. Note the window to the kitchen and the plated meals ready to be delivered.
Photo: This colorful posted decorated the back wall of the dining where I was seated.
Photo: A basket of condiments, and the "House Faves" menu are placed on every table. Tabasco hot sauce is available upon request, but I passed on it, as I don't think it works with pancakes.
Photo: Two guests are seated in the dining room by a friendly staff member.
Photo: Meet my amazingly friendly server, Venus P., who brought my breakfast to me with a warm smile. Venus provided fast and friendly service, and treated my like a rock star. Next time I visit this fine restaurant, I'll make sure that she seats me. I normally avoid chain restaurants, but today I was getting new tires installed on my truck, and this fine restaurant was within easy walking distance, so it made sense to take the short hike and enjoy a fine breakfast while the tires were being installed. Plus, I'd heard about the $7.00 "House Faves" and it was something that I simply couldn't resist. I have nothing against chain restaurants, but I prefer a unique dining experience that only a local mom and pop restaurant can offer.
Photo: I'm a happy guy, as I'm hungry, and ready to enjoy my "Breakfast Faves Combo," along with a glass of ice water. Thanks, Venus, for snapping my photo.
Photo: From the "House Faves" special menu, I went with the "Breakfast Faves Combo," with a glass of ice water as my beverage of choice. You get the choice of bacon or sausage, and the eggs are cooked as per your request. I went with bacon, and my eggs fried over easy. The menu describes this amazing meal as, "From sunrise to sunset this combo hits the spot. Two of our fluffy, world famous buttermilk pancakes, two eggs, two bacon strips or two pork sausage links." The menu also lists this fine breakfast as "Combo de Desayuno Favarito." I list it as simply delicious American diner cuisine! I normally avoid pancakes, but I make an exception when I dine at IHOP and their pancakes are simply amazing! True to the restaurant's reputation, the pancakes were light, fluffy, with a perfect texture, and perfect taste. These are the de facto standard when it comes to pancakes, and today I wasn't disappointed. The two pancakes were topped with a dollop of semi-melted butter, with was actually window dressing, as the pancakes were standalone delicious. The condiment rack included maple syrup, but all I needed to do was to cut up my pancakes, and eat them with the eggs. I was pleased with the bacon, as it was grilled perfectly, with just a little bit of "wiggle," and not stiff and burnt, as seems to be the norm with many restaurants. I ordered my eggs fried over easy and they arrived exactly as ordered, perfectly fried over easy. The chef has talent... The breakfast was of a modest size, which was right for me, and should be just right for almost anybody, unless you're a linebacker or a lumberjack. Such a delicious breakfast! The pancakes, eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly, to order, and worked perfectly together to get my Friday morning off to a great start! For $7.00, plus state sales tax - of course - you can't beat the "House Faves" breakfasts ANYWHERE! You're dining at a sit-down restaurant and enjoying a hot, custom-made, diner-style breakfast, for about the price you'd pay for a prefab meal from a fast food store. No thanks... I'll go with IHOP!
Photo: A slice from one of the pancakes shows all of the fluffy goodness these world-famous pancakes have to offer. The "Breakfast Faves Combo" was delicious, the service was fast and super friendly, and the price reminded me of the price of a great breakfast, circa 2004. Compare this amazing breakfast to the pre-made, packaged "stuff" in a bag you pick up at a fast food restaurant for the same, or higher price, and you'll realize what a bargain this delicious breakfast is. IHOP, located on Stanford Ranch Road in Rocklin, CA is a great breakfast spot for all "foodies," in wester Placer County. IHOP #1716 Copyright(c) 2024 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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