Have You Tried IHOP's New Summer Signature Pancakes?

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary IHOP gift card to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

If you're like my family, you've seen the latest IHOP commercials and probably had to wipe drool off of your chin...(You should have seen the look on my teen's face when he saw the newest arrivals at this iconic restaurant!)

IHOP has 3 brand new pancake dishes, just in time for their 55th birthday! What better way to celebrate this milestone than by giving customer's more of what they love: Delicious, inventive breakfast foods, done the way only IHOP can do them?!

For a limited time, IHOP customers can enjoy this delectable trio at their local restaurant. Choices include Tiramisu Pancakes, Banana Graham Nut pancakes, and Jelly Donut pancakes. Yes. I seriously just said Jelly Donut pancakes! Here's a more detailed description of each variety:

·         Jelly Donut Pancakes – Fluffy buttermilk pancakes filled with layers of luscious raspberry jelly then topped with glaze, more raspberry jelly and powdered sugar.  

·         Tiramisu Pancakes - Buttermilk pancakes and sweet mocha cream topped with a drizzle of chocolate, whipped topping and a dusting of cocoa powder.

·         Banana Graham Nut Pancakes - Sliced fresh bananas grilled inside buttermilk pancakes layered with marshmallow cream, graham cracker crumbs and crushed honey-roasted pecans then topped with cinnamon cream cheese.

Don't they sound fantastic? These awesome new additions start at just $4.99, and can be ordered a la carte or as part of an IHOP Combo, which can include two eggs, done the way they like them, optional choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a grilled ham slice, along with IHOP restaurants’ signature golden hash browns.

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The awesome folks at IHOP generously gave my family the opportunity to try these tantalizing new menu items for ourselves. It was perfect timing, really. My son just ended his 7th grade year, and he made honor roll all year long! So of course, a celebration was in order!

We went to the IHOP on S. Arlington Rd. in Akron, Ohio. When we arrived, I was immediately impressed by the well-manicured landscaping at this location. You could definitely tell that the folks at IHOP take great pride in all the little details that make their customers' dining experience special.

The staff was very friendly and efficient, and we were immediately seated. We had a booth, along with a high chair for Xander. Our server's name was Heidi, and she greeted us with a smile and began by taking our drink orders. As you can see, Kyle was beyond thrilled to have a creamy chocolate milkshake! Of course, as most teens are, he is perpetually "starving", so he was eagerly awaiting his meal as well!

Our food arrived very quickly, which was impressive since the restaurant was quite busy for a weekday afternoon.

Dan, my husband, being the chocoholic that he is, ordered the new Tiramisu pancakes. These came drizzled with tons of gooey chocolate syrup, and topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. Yum! He actually ordered this as part of an IHOP combo, so he also got some scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, and golden hash browns to go along with his chocolatey pancakes!

Kyle also ordered a combo meal, but he chose the Banana Graham Nut pancakes. These looked amazing, and had fresh bananas nestled between hot pancakes. They were covered with a delicious marshmallow cream drizzle, honey roasted pecans, graham cracker crumbles, and a nice dollop of cinnamon cream cheese.

Sophie and Xander both wanted the "Funny Face" pancakes featured on the IHOP kids' menu. These chocolate pancakes were HUGE, and had a cheery smiley face drawn in whipped cream, along with maraschino cherry "eyes". How cute is that?!

Since everyone else ordered breakfast, I decided to give one of IHOP's non-breakfast items a shot. I ordered the Mega Monster Cheeseburger. Sadly, that was not what was served to me. (It was supposed to be a double cheeseburger with 2 different cheeses. I received a single cheeseburger with only American cheese.) I was so hungry, though, that I didn't bother sending it back. Still, I was disappointed because I really love cheese, and this sounded amazing!

We all really enjoyed our meals. Sophie and Xander thought the Funny Face pancakes were so much fun, and they giggled the whole time they ate them! It was really cute when Sophie, my 3 year old, started shouting "Look Mommy! I ate an eyeball!" (Yes. We got some funny looks!)

Xander also loved his meal. He literally shoveled forkfuls of chocolatey pancakes into his mouth, and we were surprised by the amount he ate. For a 2 year old, this little guy did some serious damage on his plate!

Kyle and Dan both ooh-ed and ahh-ed over their signature pancakes. They actually shared them, so they'd each get to try the other's meal. Dan and Kyle did a 50/50 split. Kyle preferred the Banana Graham Nut pancakes, while Dan preferred the Tiramisu. (No shocker there!) They both agreed that both dishes were fantastic, and they would definitely order them again!

Overall, we were pretty pleased with our IHOP experience. The new signature pancakes were a huge hit with my family, and we will definitely be back to try them again, along with the Jelly Donut flavor.

Heidi, our server, was very friendly and quick to get refills, etc. She was pleasant and definitely did her best to make sure we were enjoying our meals. The only problems we had were the fact that our orders were wrong. My cheeseburger wasn't what I had chosen off of the menu, and neither Dan nor Kyle ordered scrambled eggs in their combos. (They had both requested over-easy.) Since the restaurant was busy and we were dining with toddlers in tow, we chose not to bring attention to the matter, and we enjoyed what we received anyway. We all left with full-bellies and we all thought our meals tasted great.

So if you're looking for a great family-friendly dining experience and you love breakfast food, I would definitely recommend giving IHOP a try. Their new signature pancakes are inventive, delicious, and sure to satisfy! Hurry on over and try them while you can!

How to Connect :

You can check out the awesomeness that is IHOP on their website. Be sure to check out their handy restaurant locator to find an IHOP near you!

You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest offerings and promotions!