Flying J/ Huddle House

The Iron Skillet has change up their menu in the last few weeks, had a great steak there this week out. The buffet tends to be nothing but starchy junk food and battered meat, but on Fridays there is usually steak & shrimp and scallops. I just wish the coffee wasn't so hit or miss...

 

I've had good luck with Iron Skillit, except one time at the one in Beaumont. Good thing I was parked close to the restroom.
I avoid buffets at any joint -

 

I like the Flying J hot food. The mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, etc.

 

I had Huddle House once (I wanted to try it). It was alright. However, it did not sit that well with my stomach the next day.

 

I haven't gotten out Fargo way in almost a year now, but used to stop at the J quite a bit. Only once did I have any problem at the Huddle House, and that's when I waited almost an hour between sitting down and finally getting my food. There was a reason for that, though... the cook had quit in the middle of his shift and the supervisor was trying to cover. Once I finally got it, the food was actually better than usual LOL. Got a 50% discount for my trouble without asking. Their biggest problem seems to be keeping staff. Considering that twice when I stopped there the supervisor was reading the riot act to kitchen staff, I'm not surprised. I'll tell you this: I sure as heck wouldn't do their job for what they get paid.

 

I had a plate of hash browns and onion rings there once. In Alabama somewhere. Very clean. And very nice people. Hash browns were okay but the onion rings were nasty.

 

Huddle House is a franchise, so the quality will vary between locations. That is their corporate problem, not watching their franchisees closely enough.
If I get a meal that is not in my best interest to consume, I leave the full plate of food there, pay the check and walk out. They get the picture. Tipping if the service was on par(service and food quality are two separate issues). I never complain or send it back. Restaurants that serve lousy meals know they are serving lousy meals. It goes with the nature of this occupation.
But to say an entire chain of restaurants is bad because you had one bad experience is not fair.

 

I refuse to eat the food at the Flying J restaurant (though I will sometimes in a weak moment get a slice of pizza from the hot deli, and in all fairness they DO have I think is the best coffee). Once upon a time the J had what IMO was the best truckstop restaurant of them all....Country Market. But after Pilot bought them, they do what they always do whenever they buy out someone....take out the food that was in there, as nice as it may be (I remember the Big Dugas at the old Gateway T/S in East St Louis for example) and put in a bunch of fast food crap. Then they went "upscale" with Denny's & now Huddle House. Nope sorry guys, you keep insulting us with this garbage and I 'll keep refusing to spend my money there. Called voting with my wallet.

I have been stopping in to the Iron Skillets once in awhile and I've noticed the food off the menu HAS been getting better. Had a steak there not long ago too and it was pretty good.

 

Big Dugas!!! Thank you! Everytime in pass by there I try to recall what the name of that restaurant was. Knew it was Big "something".

 

Believe it or not the restaurant at the Flying J in Grand Forks, ND serves great food, don't believe it is a franchise, it was a pleasant suprise