Waffle Wars
 

I arrived Sunday in a SC RI that opened up February of this year.
About a month ago, I had my assistant call all the properties I am going to during two weeks of driving in the SE USA.
I remember that when she called this RI the response was something like they were waiting on ‘cups’. I asked when I checked in and was told waffles were off in the future despite several requests.
I asked the cook staff this morning and they said the waffle maker was here waiting to be put to use. I was driving so used to app chat to ask for a status update.
The manager who was not here said they are waiting on those juice size cups and a plastic fork? I cannot talk directly to him or her until tomorrow, but am curious about such a response.
Do I just need to move on or would others who follow appreciate me talking directly to the manager?

At many hotels with a waffle maker (both at Bonvoy and non-Bonvoy chains), I've seen it set up where there's a batter dispensing machine where people use single-use plastic juice cups to get the batter and pour into the waffle maker. And then sometimes there's a communal fork or spatula-type utensil to remove the waffle from the machine, but I suppose in COVID-times, hotels may prefer to have people use their own plastic fork to remove the waffle from the waffle maker.

To me the reasoning in the responses makes sense, that they don't want to put out the waffle maker if they don't have the supplemental equipment available. I'd put myself in the "move on" camp, but then again waffles aren't usually the thing I go to at a hotel breakfast, so to each their own I suppose. (shrug)

Every other property has their waffle maker out. One fills a juice size cup with the batter then places it in the waffle maker. A long plastic fork is used to remove the waffle from the machine.
While not risk free, I was drawn in part because the other items on these buffets seem higher risk to me.
Since they opened in Feb and the manager keeps saying waffles in about two weeks, I see this as primarily as a management decision not a COVID policy.

Little known insider tip for the Southeastern USA: give the secret handshake and ask a local and they might cue you in on an obscure, well-hidden restaurant called Waffle House.

Failing being able to ask a local, look for any interchange on an Interstate or US highway and pick whichever Waffle House is on the right side of the road for you.

:tu:

When people ask me my favorite restaurant, I say I have two: Per Se, and Waffle House. OP, skip the buffet and go get some hashbrowns to go with your Waffle House waffle.

Scattered covered and smothered.

although I have to admit being impressed that someone has an assistant to call ahead and check on waffle availability. ;)

I really don’t think Covid has anything to do with waffle cup availability but I cannot imagine them not wanting to bring out the waffle maker without having the cups that measure the batter correctly because I could imagine the mess.

FTFY (x2; triple negatives are hard :p)

All this talk has me planning my next trip to CVG (which has multiple WHs within a few miles of the airport)

As for the assistant, I guess OP doesn't waffle on waffles!

I'm surprised any restaurant has a self-serve buffet these days. Terrible idea. That was the first thing to go on cruise ships.

A large percentage of self service buffets are back, including in airport lounges (Centurion etc), in Vegas (I just went to Wicked Spoon), and at places like Texas de Brazil.

Seems like a lot of hoopla for waffles.

They are back and kind of nice to be able to serve myself at a buffet again. Went to Texas de Brazil for my birthday dinner and the full usual buffet was out. They did have a basket of gloves and a bottle of hand sanitizer by the plates.

This is my favorite all-time post on Flyertalk.

Apparently Puff the Magic Dragon showed up in the middle of the night as two waffle makers with all necessary items were in place at 6:30 am this morning.
I ignore waffles on flying trips, but carry a special ingredient with me on driving trips. I like the convenience of walking no further than the lobby after taking my dog for a walk.
And, if it matters, my assistant asked a series of questions about COVID policies (i.e. masks, social distance, cleaning procedures and sanitizer stations) in addition to food, location of preferred rooms, elite benefits, and pool access.

glad it worked out and they had the waffle machine out eventually

If you're not getting your WH hash browns well done, you aren't living life.