Normally, I am not a fan or chains, but I am going to give this place a good review because of it's location in Irwin. Â There are not many places like this at all in Irwin and I give them props for being the first to land in the town.
It is a normal Applebee's as you would expect so your average chain restaurant, but for a town full of fast food and sit down restaurants like Denny's, I would say that this is a welcome addition.
At this time, this is the only full service, chain restaurant in the area. Â Without competition, there is always a wait of at least 30 minutes for dinner on the weekends. Curbside take-out is available, but call ahead seating is not. Since the place is newly opened, it is overstaffed, so you should not experience a noticeable wait for drinks, extra dressing, or food. Â
On this particular Saturday evening visit, we were seated at a table in the bar area (families with children were also being seated in the same area, so be sure to request the dining area if that is your preference). Â All televisions were set on the NFL playoff game or NHL hockey. Â Although we didn't order alcohol, there were drink specials and patrons were quickly being served since there were three bartenders. Â And for the ladies, there are hooks under the bar for your purses!
Our server greeted us immediately. Â She was knowledgeable about the menu, and was attentive without hovering. Â Dinner for two will likely be at least $30 since most entree salads and sandwiches are priced around $10. Â Soda (pepsi products) and iced tea are $2.39 each. Â Adding a side salad to your meal will cost $2.99 extra since it cannot be substituted for a side order.
We started our meal with chips and salsa ($2.99) which are comparable to Chili's in flavor. The salsa is a medium heat. Â The portion size is small, but you can get refills. Â
For my entree, I ordered a chopped chicken fiesta salad ($9.49) with dressing on the side.  The salad was flavorful and included grilled chicken, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, and tortilla strips. The salad portion was controlled: the greens barely covered the dinner plate and were not piled high.  My fiancé ordered a cowboy burger ($9.29) which included lettuce, tomato, fried onion straws, and bacon.  Instead of a specific temperature, our server asked him if he wanted pink or no pink, and the burger came out perfectly cooked.  The burger included a side order (about a dozen) french fries.
Overall, a pleasant dining experience. Â When competition does arrive, I can foresee an adjustment of price and/or portion size for this Applebee's.
Oh my delicious! Â I have been waiting for this Applebee's to open for a couple months now, and I can say with confidence that it is delicious. Â
The atmosphere and interior is beautiful and very welcoming. Â We were here for the grand opening, so the place was packed, but I don't expect anything less after having such a delicious meal.
We got the boneless wings appetizers and they were delicious; more than enough to share. Â The meals were excellent too. Â My dad's burger was pretty huge, and the toppings on the bourbon burger made it definitely something different and worth trying. Â My mother's salad was something that any omnivore or carnivore would love. Â Lots of greens, plus some fruits, nuts, and chicken to top it off. Â My chicken portabella was also something rather delicious. Â I am a huge onion fan, so I was in love with the major piling of chopped goodies.
Even if you are looking for a place just to grab some drinks, this could be a great find. All of us tried various items from the beverage menu: mixed drinks, specialties, and even wine. Â Everyone was pleasantly satisfied. Â They don't skimp on the alcohol either.
All in all, I would say I am very happy with our first experience, and my expectation of this place were completely fulfilled. Â The only question is, when will I be going back, adn will I be able to not order the same thing??