Waffle House Celebrates Valentine's Day by Candlelight

by Hanna Raskin, Posted Feb 11th 2010 @ 12:00PM

Photo: Marshall Astor- Food Pornographer, Flickr

Waffle House customers who love scattered, smothered and covered hash browns as much as they love their significant others are in luck this year: The restaurant chain is expanding its Valentine's Day program, offering candlelit dinners in more than 40 outlets.

A district manager in Johns Creek, Ga., dreamt up the romantic evening concept in 2008, impressing the Waffle House corporate office so much that all managers are now urged to gussy up their eateries on Feb. 14.

"We put out suggestions," spokeswoman Kelly Thrasher explains. "A lot of units will have white tablecloths and soft mood music. If the staff wants to dress up in ties, they can do that."

There's no additional cost for Valentine's Day dinner, which features the restaurant's standard menu.

"I think a lot of people who come are regulars, so they'll probably order their signature breakfast items. But probably a few people will order a steak dinner," Thrasher says.

Seating is by reservation, although participating restaurants do set aside a few tables for hungry truckers, lone college students and other walk-in guests who might not be so keen on the love theme.

The event has become so popular with Waffle House fans that one restaurant had already logged 38 reservations before this year's edition was publicly announced.

"Once you get there, you realize it's as cool as any place else," Thrasher says.

Filed Under: Restaurants
Tags: featured, valentines day, valentines day at waffle house, waffle house, waffle house menu

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-11-2010 @3:41PM Al Schrader said... I ordered a waffle at the Waffle House. Sorry, but I've had better frozen Eggo things.
The hockey puck they served me was definitely not made from waffle batter poured the same hour into a hot waffle iron. But to the rescue is the Black & Decker waffle / griller. And this is my most guarded waffle mix recipe: Warm half a cup of milk with half teaspoon of sugar in a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup in a microwave until it is 120 to 130 F (luke warm, not hot.). Stir in enough Pilsbury Self rising flour to make a thick batter. Let it sit on the counter for ten minutes to get poofy. Quickly rub a stick of unsalted butter over both halves of the B&D waffle iron. Pour in the batter, pop it out when light blinks. Serve with more butter & syrup...Alfred-
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2-11-2010 @7:25PM Chuck said... Trust me when I tell you, I have worked for Waffle House since 1992 and was a unit manager, and you could not be more WRONG about the way the waffles are made! They are the BEST Waffles anyone could ever eat. And I don't say that because I use to work for them, but because they are. They use REAL half and half, eggs, and yes there secret mix! You would never be able to touch it bud!
Chuck B.
Augusta, GA

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2-12-2010 @5:58AM Al Schrader said... Chuck- That sounds like a waffle cook-off challenge. Ok, here is the challenge: We'll both make waffles for a panel of 3 judges for the cameras on WMFE-TV ...Alfred-

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2-11-2010 @5:19PM amy3e said... Sorry, but Waffle House for Valentines day doesn't do it for me.. Much more fun to plan a get together with kids, fam or friends.. I found a ton of great ideas for celebrating Valentines here:
http://www.celebrationideasonline.com/valentines-day-ideas.html There is a wonderful idea there for games like Be Mine Bingo.. free to print and play as well as a thoughtful gift idea that is inexpensive and you can do last minute.
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2-11-2010 @5:24PM steve said... What is a "food pornographer"? Here's a Copy/Paste from the Waffle House article.

Photo: Marshall Astor- Food Pornographer, Flickr
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2-11-2010 @6:38PM Giles said... The term is just Astor`s way of amusing himself. He takes explicit photos of naked food, glamorizing it, making it seem almost irresistable,,,and good enough for an already generally way over weight, food addicted, America to eat.

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2-11-2010 @5:29PM Shannon said... My husband and I love waffle house but there isn't one near us. I think it is nice that a chain is offering to do something special for v-day. There are alot of people who can't afford to spend $200 on a generic "romantic" dinner jam packed in a room with a million other couples. Most of the time my husband and I will cook a romantic dinner at home, but people tend to think that the more expensive things equal more romantic when in fact I think it shows unoriginality. A dinner at a place where you had your first date, or where you first fell in love, or even at a place you love (like waffle house) to me is more romantic. Guys if your girl is not happy with sentimental things like that that don't cost too much then she doesn't care about you and you should dump her immediately. A real woman will be just happy to spend time with you if she really loves you.
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2-11-2010 @5:54PM rosemary said... More like awful house. They should do candle lit meals for all of the time, so you don't have to look at how gross the food looks.

Although the nasty taste would still be there
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2-11-2010 @6:24PM abc said... #1. Waffle House needs to make ALL of their restaurants non-smoking. The buildings are so small, there is no way to avoid the huge clouds of smoke from the old guys who sit and drink coffee, while chain smoking.

#2. Clean up your restaurants. The area behind the counter and the cooking area is always disgusting and filthy.
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2-11-2010 @6:49PM Sky Fiske said... If I was taken to Waffle House for Valentines I would dump the person on the spot!
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2-11-2010 @7:01PM All Winners LOVE Winners said... The WAFFLE HOUSE? - Lord Have Mercy HOWEVER Johns Creek, GA is Upscale.
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2-11-2010 @7:27PM lisa b said... My boyfriend and I love waffle house if its to eat or just sit chat and drink coffee. We visit the wf in Evans, Ga where the waitresses ROCK! It doesn't matter if it Red Lobster or Waffle House as long as my boyfriend and I are together.
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2-11-2010 @7:31PM Chuck said... I worked at the one in Evans a while back...It is one of the better ones, try the one on georgia ave in North Augusta, you will get really good service...ask for Chuck to wait on you!

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2-11-2010 @7:44PM Sharyn said... WOO-HOO! Forget spendy snooty restaurants with $50 price tags on their steaks....we're headed to Waffle House! Scattered, smothered. Grits, steak....and COFFEE!! YESSSSSSSS!
Order UP!
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2-11-2010 @7:48PM Sharyn said... My daughter works at Waffle House and she just turned 18 the other day. So if you happen to hit the House on Valentine's Day....PLEASE...TIP THE WAITRESS! They have to set the table, take your order, bring your food, refill your coffee, keep bringing food to the bratty kids who make a game of throwing food on the floor....THEN wash the dishes! And CHURCH PEOPLE- I know Valentine's Day is Sunday, so don't be cheap skates....Waitresses DO NOT want a Bible tract for a tip! GOD KNOWS WHEN YOU STIFF THE WAITRESS! Just letting you know. ;)
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2-11-2010 @7:58PM Charlene said... i have friends that have worked for them for yrs and when they quit that company could of cared less,,,these women and man gave over 20 yrs to that company,,think that company would of gave these people some kind of thank you,,i'm sure for that many yrs these people made them plenty of money,,
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2-11-2010 @8:41PM lisa b said... Thank you for the invite Chuck we may just come across the river this week-end and check ya'll out. Happy Valentine's Day to all of ya'll
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