My oldest son for his 7th birthday asked if he could go to Applebee's which we haven't been to in years. If we go to one of these type places it's usually Chili's and where we live there is an Applebee's and a Chili's on opposite sides of a major highway. The Chili's is ALWAYS packed and has a wait.

We should have known this wasn't going to go well when this past Saturday night we get to Applebee's and it's not busy at all inside. Get seated right away.

Then it begins:
1. No salt or pepper or ketchup on table (Chili's is back to normal this way)
2. No menus offered, you have to use a stupid QR code and your phone (Chili's is back to normal this way)
3. No water offered (Chili's is back to normal this way)
4. Menu seems very dated and BLAH
5. Food was OK, not great but edible at least
6. Waitress kept disappearing for long periods of time
7. No drink refills were offered, even after after I flagged someone down
8. Dirty dishes were never cleared and just sat there the entire time, even as multiple waitstaff/runners walked past all night. They clearly got rid of the busboys
9. My one son got his dessert right away but the other had to wait 10 minutes or so for his
10. Waitress FINALLY offers to refill my ice tea when we are packing up and leaving, I told her "forget it, we are leaving"
11. Had to flag waitress down for check
12. Had to flag her down again for payment

The place just seemed sad and haphazardly run and on it's last legs and I noticed it hasn't been updated in years inside unlike Chili's which does do that every couple years it seems. I could understand the waitress disappearing if they were full and slammed but the place was barely 1/4 full and 2-3 people at the bar.

This chain seems like it's dying and I will not miss it.

Crapplebees...

Sorry for your bad experience

Not sure if it's regional but I decided long ago never to dine at Applebee's. Back around Pensacola they are just depressing.

Chili's reigns Supreme in that category of middle of the road dining. One step above take out but not quite a real sit down experience.

In Hawaii Chili's is one of the best values. Love me some Chili's, their chips and salsa is a must with every order.

Yeah, my experiences have been the same. Very underwhelmed.

My go-to restaurants are Thirsty Lion, Olive Garden and a local grill here. Excellent food and prices.

Tony.

I am under the impression that most of their entree's are shipped to each location frozen, much like TV dinners.

Methinks this would be a good rant in the What's Your Deal thread, no?

And I agree, our regional Applebee's used to be a go-to spot and would run specials on riblet nights (all you can eat, IIRC), and it was packed. Then they just kinda quit caring.

quote:

I am under the impression that most of their entree's are shipped to each location frozen, much like TV dinners.

Right you are Ken. The majority of chain restaurants operate that way. Still, the service should have been better. Sorry for your bad time.

Too many good local places here to spend money at a chain. I know, tough problem to have...

I went there years ago. The food wasn't bad. The drinks were.

I left the table and walked to the convenience store to get two bottles of Pepsi and a YooHoo.

The meal was better when there was something to drink.

Haven't been back since.

Not making excuses for Applebee's, I haven't eaten there in over 12 years, but a lot of the poor service may be due to the labor situation.

Years ago, our business was just a mile or so from one of the original Applebee's and if we had a late night at the shop, we'd swing in for a quick bite. They used to be pretty good in those days. I've read the entire franchise is on the chopping block and the employees probably know this so there's not much motivation. They probably look around and think, "what the hell am I doing here, I could make more money sitting on my ass and getting Biden money, and that jerk on table 8 wants more water".

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:
Not making excuses for Applebee's, I haven't eaten there in over 12 years, but a lot of the poor service may be due to the labor situation.

I won't give them that out, I haven't had a good experience in Applebee's in the last 20 years. And I'll admit I've given them way too many chances. So the last 19 years is on me, haven't been to one in more than a decade though.

I have not eaten at a commercialized type restaurant in a long time. We have several small local cafe's and diners that serve mostly home made food. All very good. A very good friend of ours has transformed his sports bar/restaurant to more of a supper club. He's offering pasta dishes, high end steak and sea food dinners and other unique dishes along with the standard pub style food. We eat there almost exclusively when we do go out.

We do have a Applebees, Olive Garden and a Green Mill pizza none of which I have been to for the reasons you stated.

We've pretty much given up on any chain restaurants altogether. There are just too many family owned places to go to that we enjoy.

Jim

NOT a chain restaurant fan, at all. Personally I'd rather cook for myself.

The Applebee's near me was once a decent place, but started heading south about 7-8 years ago. I knew most of the staff, who were just ok or even bad, but 2 of the managers were top notch. Most of their problem here is the customers, who continually want well above average service/product(yes, at Applebee's) and bitch until they get all or most or their entire meal comped. I'm talking about customers who knew exactly what they were doing, literally berated/tortured staff until they got what they wanted, just to get them out of the store. Cops called multiple times per week to escort freeloading "customers" outside. I won't bother mentioning the demographic of these "customers"... Honestly don't know how they have stayed in business, it's that bad.

Fast forward through da rona, the staff is still meh, but those 2 managers have been plucked from the store for an expanding Texas franchise called The Toasted Yolk. The franchise lifted some of the best personnel from all over town, very specific and targeted personnel moves. Both of these managers had been with Applebee's for 15+ years each, yet chose to take the chance and move to the new franchise, very telling.

Personally I'm hoping The Toasted Yolk puts the Applebee's out of business, just to prevent the crappy customers from getting over on people.

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:
Not making excuses for Applebee's, I haven't eaten there in over 12 years, but a lot of the poor service may be due to the labor situation.

In this Covid-world, where gov have done their bumbling-best to torpedo private business', this is a reality not just in food service but, all levels of customer-facing retail. Probably half of my favorite food places I've gone back to, aren't the same either due to not enough workers or, their suppliers aren't able to get them the goods that they used to have, which is what made me patronize their business. I'll keep supporting them but, I really feel for the independent shops.

As for Applebee's, I loath the vast majority of thematic-chain restaurants, its low-hanging, garbage food, nothing tastes like it should, usually over-salted and packed with pre-made preservatives/stabilizers. I get it, it was his son's birthday request so, some indulgence is deserved. I didn't get many gifts as a kid but, family dinners where the birthday person got to pick where was one delight.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: corsair,

Our Chilis is absolute crap.

Shitty food, even worse service.

Nothing new, last time I was there was 2001. Party of 15+ eating, drinking, and watching Tech game.

They put our entrees on top of our dirty appetizer plates, never cleared a cup or bottle. When I got the manager to complain he took TWO plates away of 20+ and cleared zero empty bottles or glasses.

Last time I've been in an Applebee's and one of the 2-3 times I've left without leaving a tip. I think the only person who did leave a tip was the girl in our party who worked there. Wait staff missed out on $120+ in tips, bill was $500+.

Applebee's sucks. Gave it up years ago. Locally, the bars serve better food than the big restaurants. I get hot, fresh food in minutes. Typically, I can get and eat a meal in under 30 minutes, with refills. That's where my money goes.

I quit going to Applebee's years ago. Never had a satisfying meal and the service was lousy. It's always packed so some people like it. Chili's in town is so-so. Rather go elsewhere.

Seems to be hit and miss. We went to one in Mesa AZ that was excellent. Went to the one here in my home town; not so excellent. It was terrible. Haven't been to an Applebee's in 15 years.