As recently as a few years ago, Applebee's was one of the largest chains of restaurants in the country that wasn't fast-food. It still has almost 2,000 locations, but it has gone downhill especially in the last 5 years.
The Charleston area at one point had over 10 Applebee's, in all the popular shopping areas of town. Now, only two are left. It seems like the quality of Applebee's food has dropped significantly, and the service is not very good.
Also, a lot of the places look outdated. I went to one in Ohio last year that didn't have any HDTV's. It still is popular in a lot of places, but their quality has gone down.
What are your thoughts on Applebee's?
It's one of the two chains that I avoid (that I can think of) that's not fast food or $15+ per person.
At least in my experience (it's been a while), Applebee's vegetables are covered in a sugary goo that defeats the purpose of vegetables being healthy. And it comes this way; you can't ask for the vegetables without the goo.
Applebees is OK, and the one near me seems to often be busy. But I wasn't particularly impressed with the food; it should have been better for the amount you pay. I'd venture they're going downhill overall.
I remember eating at Applebees when I was younger. Been a few years though...
The fact that some people still find the offerings at Applebee's edible is deeply disturbing to me.
Quote from: 1 on May 11, 2018, 07:02:34 PM
It's one of the two chains that I avoid (that I can think of) that's not fast food or $15+ per person.
At least in my experience (it's been a while), Applebee's vegetables are covered in a sugary goo that defeats the purpose of vegetables being healthy. And it comes this way; you can't ask for the vegetables without the goo.
The last several times I was there, the goo was not there. Maybe they got the message?
We waited 45 minutes before our food was served due to a "personnel issue" in the kitchen. No one at my table gave a damn about ever going back again.
If I wanted to overpay to eat barely-above-microwave-TV-dinner quality food in a sterile, over-commercialized restaurant environment, I'd go to Applebee's.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 12, 2018, 05:58:16 PM
If I wanted to overpay to eat barely-above-microwave-TV-dinner quality food in a sterile, over-commercialized restaurant environment, I'd go to Applebee's.
The sad truth has been spoken...
Quote from: webny99 on May 13, 2018, 12:35:32 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 12, 2018, 05:58:16 PM
If I wanted to overpay to eat barely-above-microwave-TV-dinner quality food in a sterile, over-commercialized restaurant environment, I'd go to Applebee's.
The sad truth has been spoken...
Motion on the table, motion seconded, all those in favor [aye!], those opposed same sign [sound of crickets], motion carried unanimously [sound of gavel!].
My thought on these casual chains in general is this: At one time they had good food and service for what they charged. As costs increased, they chose to cut costs to the point of hacking away at the quality of food and service. That is what to expect when so many of these chains became owned by investment groups looking only to squeeze money out of the assets but don't actually give a damn about the customers.
If I'm already spending $12 to $14 for a meal, I'd rather pay an extra buck or two if it means the quality is kept, versus keeping my price at $12 and serving me something that continually declines in quality. Am I in the minority on that?
Quote from: wanderer2575 on May 13, 2018, 10:02:46 PM
My thought on these casual chains in general is this: At one time they had good food and service for what they charged. As costs increased, they chose to cut costs to the point of hacking away at the quality of food and service. That is what to expect when so many of these chains became owned by investment groups looking only to squeeze money out of the assets but don't actually give a damn about the customers.
If I'm already spending $12 to $14 for a meal, I'd rather pay an extra buck or two if it means the quality is kept, versus keeping my price at $12 and serving me something that continually declines in quality. Am I in the minority on that?
Except that Applebees is worse than its competitors.
Quote from: 1 on May 13, 2018, 10:04:29 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on May 13, 2018, 10:02:46 PM
My thought on these casual chains in general is this: At one time they had good food and service for what they charged. As costs increased, they chose to cut costs to the point of hacking away at the quality of food and service. That is what to expect when so many of these chains became owned by investment groups looking only to squeeze money out of the assets but don't actually give a damn about the customers.
If I'm already spending $12 to $14 for a meal, I'd rather pay an extra buck or two if it means the quality is kept, versus keeping my price at $12 and serving me something that continually declines in quality. Am I in the minority on that?
Except that Applebees is worse than its competitors.
That's a matter of opinion; one decides what one likes. I'm talking about general principle.
If you want to get back into opinion, there used to be an Applebee's near me which Mrs. wanderer and I frequented danged near weekly. We always thought the food and service were good (granted, the latter may have been influenced by the fact that the staff knew us by our frequent appearances and we tipped pretty well). But the location closed about a dozen years ago. I don't know why; it always seemed busy.
I've recently had a couple experiences (not my choice) at another casual chain whose name rhymes with "Bed Bobbin." My experiences there make your Applebee's experience seem like a Michelin Five-Star dining event.
Applebee's reputation precedes it. So last Christmas when we had our company party there, I ordered nachos because you don't microwave those.
My understanding is that most of these chain restaurants are more in the food-heating business than actual cooking.
I've read by people who work at these places, that the freshest thing you can get is something fried, because even if its pre-cooked and frozen, they'll throw it in the fryer before bringing it out, rather than microwaving.
However, I say this as someone who comes from an area with no shortage of good restaurants. Maybe in smaller towns, your only option is an American chain restaurant.
It's been a few years, but the last time I went I saw no particular reason to return. Frozen dinner quality food. I'd rather take my chances on an unknown local diner.
Well, reading through this thread, I hope the OP wasn't expecting us to defend Applebee's :-D
The Applebees half-price appetizers after 9 o'clock was how I socialized with my other single late-20s friends during grad school.
Now there isn't a location within 30 miles of my house. It's a shame. Sure, the food was mediocre, but it was hardly bad.
Quote from: i-215 on May 14, 2018, 11:04:31 PM
Sure, the food was mediocre, but it was hardly bad.
But that's just it - the food has actually gone from mediocre to bad in recent years. Or at least that's the claim others are making.
Last Applebee's I went to was in Dubuque Iowa about 2 years ago, before that it was probably 5 or 6 years....
For some reason, this thread just happened to remind me of these two Tumblr posts:
(https://i.imgur.com/0z0spD6.jpg)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi0.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Foriginal%2F001%2F003%2F277%2F739.png&hash=8026a4b7cd97bb0f13c87133134754cb662d5a87)
Ahahahahahaha. Applebees. You mean garbage? Seriously, how can anyone stomach the food there? The head chefs there are the freezer and microwave.
I like that it is affordable and has a lot of different menu options, and cheap drinks. That being said it is 5 minutes from work and i go there maybe once a year
and the burgers used to be great. the last one i had a few years ago was awful
Applebee's around me does pretty good and none of the locations in my town have closed. It's ok I wouldn't say it's great but I go for the late night apps and that's all I order so I never get a good look at the place. Flint has a location that has closed, on Pierson Road in an area where just about everything is closing (Kroger, Meijer) and there is a lot of crime around the I-75 exit going all the way back to Dort Hwy. so maybe it's not Applebee's there but rather the crime ridden area and another Applebee's is 5 miles away at the Miller Road exit 117 as well as having two exits with an Applebee's going 15 miles north in Clio and Birch Run, no idea how those two do being so close together in an otherwise rural area where they just depend on I-75 traffic pretty much.
Quote from: texaskdog on May 15, 2018, 02:49:07 PM
I like that it is affordable and has a lot of different menu options, and cheap drinks. That being said it is 5 minutes from work and i go there maybe once a year
They have cheap drinks because they skimp on the booze.
Quote from: Flint1979 on May 15, 2018, 06:04:30 PM
Applebee's around me does pretty good and none of the locations in my town have closed. It's ok I wouldn't say it's great but I go for the late night apps and that's all I order so I never get a good look at the place. Flint has a location that has closed, on Pierson Road in an area where just about everything is closing (Kroger, Meijer) and there is a lot of crime around the I-75 exit going all the way back to Dort Hwy. so maybe it's not Applebee's there but rather the crime ridden area and another Applebee's is 5 miles away at the Miller Road exit 117 as well as having two exits with an Applebee's going 15 miles north in Clio and Birch Run, no idea how those two do being so close together in an otherwise rural area where they just depend on I-75 traffic pretty much.
I have college friends that live in Flushing and they told me never to cross the Pierson Road bridge over I-75 unless going to I-75 north. That same area has a former Kmart that closed during its 2002 bankruptcy. The Meijer on Pierson basically "moved" to I-69 and Morrish Rd.
Back on topic, Applebee's seems to do well in most of Michigan. Most of the larger Northern Michigan communities have a location, with the odd exception of Cadillac.
Quote from: ftballfan on May 15, 2018, 11:18:49 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on May 15, 2018, 06:04:30 PM
Applebee's around me does pretty good and none of the locations in my town have closed. It's ok I wouldn't say it's great but I go for the late night apps and that's all I order so I never get a good look at the place. Flint has a location that has closed, on Pierson Road in an area where just about everything is closing (Kroger, Meijer) and there is a lot of crime around the I-75 exit going all the way back to Dort Hwy. so maybe it's not Applebee's there but rather the crime ridden area and another Applebee's is 5 miles away at the Miller Road exit 117 as well as having two exits with an Applebee's going 15 miles north in Clio and Birch Run, no idea how those two do being so close together in an otherwise rural area where they just depend on I-75 traffic pretty much.
I have college friends that live in Flushing and they told me never to cross the Pierson Road bridge over I-75 unless going to I-75 north. That same area has a former Kmart that closed during its 2002 bankruptcy. The Meijer on Pierson basically "moved" to I-69 and Morrish Rd.
Back on topic, Applebee's seems to do well in most of Michigan. Most of the larger Northern Michigan communities have a location, with the odd exception of Cadillac.
A few years ago I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at the McDonald's on Pierson between I-75 and Jennings Road and a car pulled up on the side it was a white man driving and there was another passenger in the car I can't remember if it was a male or female but they were also white. The guy's first question to me was, what city is this? I told him it's Flint, Michigan and he proceeded to tell me that he was traveling back from U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor back to Au Gres and didn't have enough gas and didn't have any money to get gas. I told him I was broke and didn't have any money and then went on to tell him that this isn't a safe part of town and you shouldn't be randomly doing what you are doing unless you want someone to really mess with you and said my best advice is for you to get on I-75 and get outta here.
Another incident in Flint about a year or so ago, I was coming out of the Kroger on Richfield and Center and a lady approached me telling me that she needed gas to get to Saginaw and some people left her stranded in Flint. I told her I'd put 2 gallons of gas in her car for her so she could get to Saginaw which I did. As far as I know she was being honest because I was behind her on Richfield Road going back to Dort Hwy. and then she got on I-475 so I figured she was being honest about it. I had enough on me that it didn't hurt me to do that.
You could say the Swartz Creek Meijer took over for that Meijer it's a pretty good stretch in between them though. Kroger has a Flushing location on Pierson. I heard the old one that use to be a Hills Department Store in Hallwood Plaza is suppose to be a Hamady so Hamady is making a comeback 30 years after going out of business?
And as far as the area around there goes your friends are pretty spot on. The north end of Flint is by far the worst part of Flint and there really isn't much of a reason to be there. It's been a long time since Flint's last Kmart closed I can't remember the last one that was open but they have that one, the one on Miller, the one on Dort Hwy., one on Saginaw, one in Grand Blanc, some of them I can't even think of where they are now.
Ok back on topic, I was in the one in Gaylord last summer and it seemed to be doing alright. I've been in the one in West Branch too which was alright it's basically the same everywhere you go it seems like to me anyway. I think there are only three in the U.P. (Houghton, Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie). Surprised Escanaba doesn't have one. Saginaw has two of them and both seem to do pretty good too.
Funny I get people all the time saying they don't have gas to get somewhere....they never seem to have a car. Sometimes I see the same people in the same lot weeks later. Usually I'll ask them why they drove somewhere if they don't have enough gas to get to their destination.
Applebee's - My assumption is that Applebee's franchises are cheap to obtain and/or run contrasted to other similar places. There are lots of places where it is about the only chain table service restaurant around, and that seems to be its niche. If there are other choices, it gets avoided.
That is kind of my situation. In my exact local area it is Applebee's and two locals. Have to go a couple of exits to get more. So I go there now and then, just because it is there. Would never go there if there were other things as close.
The bartenders at Applebee's are awful. Really awful. The places have a good stock of liquor, but I think it is just for show. Maybe it is just colored water they never actually use. Because none of their bartenders can make any mixed drink other than the current invented specials, which generally are grain alcohol, food coloring, and some sort of fruit.
Gas bums - Get that a bunch. Usually either "going to a funeral" or "trying to get some distant hospital" (often in my area WVU's hospital, which is not a step-up hospital for the critically ill in my area, as both Charleston's and Huntington's hospitals can do anything it does, and past that you are talking Cleveland Clinic or UVa). I figure they are lying.
The more puzzling ones to me, and these people are not bumming so I figure they are honest, are I see people with beater cars and way distant, like 5 or 6 states away, plates in the parking lot of Advance Auto (which is, oddly, just across the driveway from Applebee's) , doing serious work on their cars (that chain allows that and loans tools). I mean, really, you thought it was a good idea to leave home in a 20 or 30 year old car in poor repair, and lacking the money to have it professionally maintained, to work on it in some random parking lot in some random place you know nothing about? Greyhound? Amtrak? Southwest? Heck, Enterprise rent-a-car, will loan you are brand new car for a week for less than $200.
Quote from: SP Cook on May 16, 2018, 09:32:50 AM
Heck, Enterprise rent-a-car, will loan you are brand new car for a week for less than $200.
Ooh, look at Mr. Moneybags here, with $200 to throw around at random. Yes, if only everyone could just afford that at will. :rolleyes:
When the alternative is endangering oneself and all other motorists with a car that is unable to perform the job, yes. Staying home is another option, and generally free.
In the mid 1990s Applebee's gained a major following because it was about the only nationwide chain of sit-down restaurants that would go almost anywhere in the country. You had chains like Houlihan's and Tony Roma's in bigger cities, but Applebee's would go anywhere. I've been to ones in Emporia, VA (a town of a little over 5,000 off I-95), and Marietta, OH (a town of under 15,000). Applebee's is the only sit-down place that would go to these smaller towns.
Last time I ate there was probably 4-5 years ago, when my wife and I were both doing Weight Watchers and they had a separate WW menu with the points on it.
I don't feel a strong desire to go back there, but I'd pick it over any number of other chains.
I will agree that the quality of their food has gone at least somewhat downhill in the past 10 years or so. Not particularly fond of them.
Quote from: Sctvhound on May 16, 2018, 12:05:16 PMYou had chains like Houlihan’s and Tony Roma’s in bigger cities,
In southeastern PA, Houlihans has been gone for close to a decade now.
The location closest to us (Covington, LA) closed within the last few weeks. Hadn't been in about 15 years -- too many better options. I couldn't get my wife to even consider going there after a series of bad experiences.
Quote from: PHLBOS on May 16, 2018, 01:28:17 PM
Quote from: Sctvhound on May 16, 2018, 12:05:16 PMYou had chains like Houlihan's and Tony Roma's in bigger cities,
In southeastern PA, Houlihans has been gone for close to a decade now.
And Tony Roma's is on life support.
Quote from: Sctvhound on May 16, 2018, 12:05:16 PM
In the mid 1990s Applebee's gained a major following because it was about the only nationwide chain of sit-down restaurants that would go almost anywhere in the country. You had chains like Houlihan's and Tony Roma's in bigger cities, but Applebee's would go anywhere. I've been to ones in Emporia, VA (a town of a little over 5,000 off I-95), and Marietta, OH (a town of under 15,000). Applebee's is the only sit-down place that would go to these smaller towns.
This would be consistent with my experience. I think the Applebee's in Jasper, Indiana is the only major sit down chain in town (unless you count Shoney's as a major chain). It's a fairly common place for people to want to eat when I'm visiting there. Personally, even in a small town like Jasper, there's a number of local places where I'd rather eat given the choice, but I try not to be a snob about it. Otherwise if I'm eating at an Applebee's it's probably because I'm on the road. More specifically, two of my most recent experiences eating there were both because it shared a parking lot with the hotel we were staying at and we didn't want to bother with driving someplace else, getting the kid back in and out of the car, etc. I try to keep my expectations pretty low when I do end up eating there. It usually manages to meet them.
I miss Shoney's breakfast buffet.
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 16, 2018, 01:44:49 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on May 16, 2018, 01:28:17 PM
Quote from: Sctvhound on May 16, 2018, 12:05:16 PMYou had chains like Houlihan's and Tony Roma's in bigger cities,
In southeastern PA, Houlihans has been gone for close to a decade now.
And Tony Roma's is on life support.
I hear they do very good until dessert, and then just completely mess it up so badly after that they ruined the whole dinner experience.
Quote from: SectorZ on May 18, 2018, 09:19:12 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 16, 2018, 01:44:49 PM
And Tony Roma's is on life support.
I hear they do very good until dessert, and then just completely mess it up so badly after that they ruined the whole dinner experience.
I see what you did there.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 18, 2018, 09:37:27 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on May 18, 2018, 09:19:12 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 16, 2018, 01:44:49 PM
And Tony Roma's is on life support.
I hear they do very good until dessert, and then just completely mess it up so badly after that they ruined the whole dinner experience.
I see what you did there.
I don't. No obligation to explain, though, if it will make it not funny.
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2018, 02:23:38 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 18, 2018, 09:37:27 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on May 18, 2018, 09:19:12 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 16, 2018, 01:44:49 PM
And Tony Roma's is on life support.
I hear they do very good until dessert, and then just completely mess it up so badly after that they ruined the whole dinner experience.
I see what you did there.
I don't. No obligation to explain, though, if it will make it not funny.
I didn't get it either, so an explanation might be warranted.
Quote from: Takumi on May 19, 2018, 07:48:38 PM
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2018, 02:23:38 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 18, 2018, 09:37:27 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on May 18, 2018, 09:19:12 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 16, 2018, 01:44:49 PM
And Tony Roma's is on life support.
I hear they do very good until dessert, and then just completely mess it up so badly after that they ruined the whole dinner experience.
I see what you did there.
I don't. No obligation to explain, though, if it will make it not funny.
I didn't get it either, so an explanation might be warranted.
I think it's a reference to pro quarterback Tony Romo.
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 20, 2018, 09:29:54 PM
Quote from: Takumi on May 19, 2018, 07:48:38 PM
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2018, 02:23:38 PM
I don't. No obligation to explain, though, if it will make it not funny.
I didn't get it either, so an explanation might be warranted.
I think it's a reference to pro quarterback Tony Romo.
It is, and the reputation he's earned (rightly so or not) as a choker in the last minutes of football games.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on May 20, 2018, 11:23:09 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 20, 2018, 09:29:54 PM
Quote from: Takumi on May 19, 2018, 07:48:38 PM
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2018, 02:23:38 PM
I don't. No obligation to explain, though, if it will make it not funny.
I didn't get it either, so an explanation might be warranted.
I think it's a reference to pro quarterback Tony Romo.
It is, and the reputation he's earned (rightly so or not) as a choker in the last minutes of football games.
Ah, so a reverse Tim Tebow.
Although Applebee's has never been a first choice, must go place for me, I have eaten there many times over the years. My wife will bring home food from there every once in a while when she has gotten off of work late and didn't feel like cooking. I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal from there, just like I have never had a really great meal there either. It is what it is. It beats grabbing some slop from the drive through at McD's, that's for sure.
Quote from: slorydn1 on May 22, 2018, 09:22:42 AM
Although Applebee's has never been a first choice, must go place for me, I have eaten there many times over the years. My wife will bring home food from there every once in a while when she has gotten off of work late and didn't feel like cooking. I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal from there, just like I have never had a really great meal there either. It is what it is. It beats grabbing some slop from the drive through at McD's, that's for sure.
Applebee's is a good place for a work meeting.
Quote from: kphoger on May 22, 2018, 12:45:40 PM
Quote from: slorydn1 on May 22, 2018, 09:22:42 AM
Although Applebee's has never been a first choice, must go place for me, I have eaten there many times over the years. My wife will bring home food from there every once in a while when she has gotten off of work late and didn't feel like cooking. I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal from there, just like I have never had a really great meal there either. It is what it is. It beats grabbing some slop from the drive through at McD's, that's for sure.
Applebee's is a good place for a work meeting.
If you don't eat anything, and if you order coffee gets lots of cream and sugar, even if you don't like them.
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 03:27:07 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 22, 2018, 12:45:40 PM
Quote from: slorydn1 on May 22, 2018, 09:22:42 AM
Although Applebee's has never been a first choice, must go place for me, I have eaten there many times over the years. My wife will bring home food from there every once in a while when she has gotten off of work late and didn't feel like cooking. I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal from there, just like I have never had a really great meal there either. It is what it is. It beats grabbing some slop from the drive through at McD's, that's for sure.
Applebee's is a good place for a work meeting.
If you don't eat anything, and if you order coffee gets lots of cream and sugar, even if you don't like them.
I have no idea why I quoted slorydn's post when I replied to this thread. Just habit, I guess.
Anyway, I've found it has good sandwiches and salads, and even some offerings for people on a diet. At the lunch hour, it's usually pretty quiet. Seems to work well for lunch meetings.
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:27:42 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
If you want us all to wear 37 pieces of flare, like your pretty boy over there, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flare?!?
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:29:07 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:27:42 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
If you want us all to wear 37 pieces of flare, like your pretty boy over there, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flare?!?
*extends middle finger* THIS IS MY FLAIR! THIS IS HOW I EXPRESS MYSELF!
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:30:23 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:29:07 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:27:42 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
If you want us all to wear 37 pieces of flare, like your pretty boy over there, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flare?!?
*extends middle finger* THIS IS MY FLAIR! THIS IS HOW I EXPRESS MYSELF!
I'll go ahead and make sure you get another copy of that memo.
Applebee's is often the first, and sometimes only, fast-casual chain restaurant that serves alcohol to come into some smaller towns and cities. I'm pretty sure it came to Frankfort before O'Charley's and Chili's sprang up nearby. My work group at the time ate there a couple of times to celebrate someone's birthday.
One opened in Winchester while I was living there. My wife and I went to eat there once. She wasn't really impressed. I think the seasoning on their fries was a bit off-putting for her.
Scott Kozel hosted a Richmond, Va., meet lunch at an Applebee's. By that time, they had a pretty tasty burger on their menu. I typically get chicken strips at restaurants of this type, but I got that burger instead on that trip.
Last time I ate at an Applebees was about five or six years ago. I'd been to Pikeville to see a co-worker play Ouiser in a community theater's production of "Steel Magnolias," and we went to eat after her performance. It was late on a Saturday and Applebee's was one of the few sit-down places that was open. (Trust me, there's better food to be had in Pikeville).
There's an Applebee's in Hazard, but I have never been there. You'll get a much better meal, with some southern-style cooking, at a local place called Coal River Grille.
I can count the number of times I've eaten at an Applebee's on two hands and have several fingers left over. I suppose living an hour from the nearest one might have something to do that. Or the mediocrity of the food for what you pay may be why I never eat there when I'm traveling.
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:42:26 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:30:23 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:29:07 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:27:42 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
If you want us all to wear 37 pieces of flare, like your pretty boy over there, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flare?!?
*extends middle finger* THIS IS MY FLAIR! THIS IS HOW I EXPRESS MYSELF!
I'll go ahead and make sure you get another copy of that memo.
How much time per day do you spend on TPS reports?
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 07:17:30 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:42:26 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:30:23 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:29:07 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:27:42 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
If you want us all to wear 37 pieces of flare, like your pretty boy over there, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flare?!?
*extends middle finger* THIS IS MY FLAIR! THIS IS HOW I EXPRESS MYSELF!
I'll go ahead and make sure you get another copy of that memo.
How much time per day do you spend on TPS reports?
We "fixed" the "glitch".
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 07:51:14 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 07:17:30 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:42:26 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:30:23 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:29:07 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 05:27:42 PM
Quote from: kkt on May 22, 2018, 05:13:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 22, 2018, 04:55:29 PM
I recommend the shrimp poppers, the pizza shooters, and the extreme fajitas.
I don't like to talk about my flare.
Don't you want to express yourself?!
If you want us all to wear 37 pieces of flare, like your pretty boy over there, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flare?!?
*extends middle finger* THIS IS MY FLAIR! THIS IS HOW I EXPRESS MYSELF!
I'll go ahead and make sure you get another copy of that memo.
How much time per day do you spend on TPS reports?
We "fixed" the "glitch".
Now Milton, don't be greedy!
I was told that I could listen... at a reasonable volume... while I am collating...
All of the locations in the South Puget Sound region of Washington are doing as well as ever. I haven't noticed any issues; many are just as packed as I remember growing up. Many of the restaurants were remodeled in the last five years. I've also been seeing a lot of commercials for the restaurant lately. Not usually the sign of a chain in turmoil.
The one in Norman went out of business–another Ed Noble Parkway victim–and was replaced by Denny's.
I really liked the riblets and chicken fingers basket when I was in high school, but I tried it again recently and didn't like it very much. I don't know if the food has gotten worse, or my palate has changed since I was a teenager. Same with that chicken fingers basket at Chili's - used to love it, now, not so much.
Thanks to a website I found a while back that has PDFs of old restaurant menus, I was reminded that Applebee's used to have the Boboli bread appetizer.
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 23, 2018, 10:32:47 AM
I really liked the riblets and chicken fingers basket when I was in high school, but I tried it again recently and didn't like it very much. I don't know if the food has gotten worse, or my palate has changed since I was a teenager. Same with that chicken fingers basket at Chili's - used to love it, now, not so much.
I really like the batter on Chili's chicken strips. It's more batter than breading. The texture and taste is similar to that used by Long John Silver's for their chicken planks, which I also like. I had Chili's most recently a couple of years ago while at TransComm in Charleston, WV. (Had walked across the street from the hotel to the mall to get Five Guys, but they were already closed). I had to hunt for the chicken strips on the menu. Prior to that, it had been several years since I'd been to Chili's, but the food tasted as I remembered it.
See, there's two more things I like. :bigass:
I never know what's going on.
Quote from: inkyatari on May 23, 2018, 02:03:39 PM
I never know what's going on.
There was this movie called Office Space, and part of it took place at a TGIFriday's/Applebee's/Bennigan's clone called Tcotchke's, and some of the appetizers they served were called Shrimp Poppers, Pizza Shooters, and Extreme Fajitas, because that's basically what the food TGIFriday's/Applebee's/Bennigan's was serving at the time was called, and...
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 23, 2018, 02:39:32 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on May 23, 2018, 02:03:39 PM
I never know what's going on.
There was this movie called Office Space, and part of it took place at a TGIFriday's/Applebee's/Bennigan's clone called Tcotchke's, and some of the appetizers they served were called Shrimp Poppers, Pizza Shooters, and Extreme Fajitas, because that's basically what the food TGIFriday's/Applebee's/Bennigan's was serving at the time was called, and...
... and if you haven't seen the movie, you should. (Warning, lots of cussing and other things inappropriate for children.)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogher.com%2Ffiles%2FMrClean-595.jpg&hash=25f236b5338bf2acaaea2806a9624f42f4cd89e7)
I find Applebees to be a crap shoot. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Outback is somewhat better, as is Chili's.
YMMV.
Quote from: US71 on May 23, 2018, 11:33:25 PM
I find Applebees to be a crap shoot. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Outback is somewhat better, as is Chili's.
YMMV.
I went through a period of several years where I kept letting people convince me to go to Applebees, and then afterwards would be a crap shoot, if you catch my meaning.
Quote from: spooky on May 24, 2018, 10:29:53 AM
Quote from: US71 on May 23, 2018, 11:33:25 PM
I find Applebees to be a crap shoot. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Outback is somewhat better, as is Chili's.
YMMV.
I went through a period of several years where I kept letting people convince me to go to Applebees, and then afterwards would be a crap shoot, if you catch my meaning.
You would go to Applebee's and then you'd go to a casino?
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 24, 2018, 12:25:56 PM
Quote from: spooky on May 24, 2018, 10:29:53 AM
Quote from: US71 on May 23, 2018, 11:33:25 PM
I find Applebees to be a crap shoot. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Outback is somewhat better, as is Chili's.
YMMV.
I went through a period of several years where I kept letting people convince me to go to Applebees, and then afterwards would be a crap shoot, if you catch my meaning.
You would go to Applebee's and then you'd go to a casino?
:-D
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 24, 2018, 12:25:56 PM
Quote from: spooky on May 24, 2018, 10:29:53 AM
Quote from: US71 on May 23, 2018, 11:33:25 PM
I find Applebees to be a crap shoot. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Outback is somewhat better, as is Chili's.
YMMV.
I went through a period of several years where I kept letting people convince me to go to Applebees, and then afterwards would be a crap shoot, if you catch my meaning.
You would go to Applebee's and then you'd go to a casino?
No, it's like skeet shooting, but for
really drunk rednecks.
Quote from: kphoger on May 24, 2018, 01:20:28 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 24, 2018, 12:25:56 PM
Quote from: spooky on May 24, 2018, 10:29:53 AM
Quote from: US71 on May 23, 2018, 11:33:25 PM
I find Applebees to be a crap shoot. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Outback is somewhat better, as is Chili's.
YMMV.
I went through a period of several years where I kept letting people convince me to go to Applebees, and then afterwards would be a crap shoot, if you catch my meaning.
You would go to Applebee's and then you'd go to a casino?
No, it's like skeet shooting, but for really drunk rednecks.
Is this the new "like shooting fish in a barrel"?