Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar

I wouldn't normally take the time to write a review about Applebee's, since I'm sure almost everyone has eaten there at least once in their life and they're all pretty standard, but I was especially disappointed with this one so I had to share.

I think service is everything and I'm usually pretty easy to please as long as I'm served something edible and with a smile. I've been a server so I know how pain in the butt picky people can be, so I'm never one of them. If I'm served something I don't like, I usually don't complain, I just chalk it up to lessen learned and don't order it again. Bad service however, that's a reason for not going back. That being said...

I stopped in today between the lunch and dinner crowd (2pm). We were sat quickly and our server Missy came over, introduced herself, and asked how we were. I answered politely 'Good, thanks. You?' She responded deadpan 'Busy. You ready?' Mmmmmmk......

We ordered the spinach and artichoke appetizer, the shrimp fettuccine, and a kids hotdog (just me and the mini me). The appetizer arrived quickly and we polished it off in no time. I'm five months preggo and skipped breakfast due to some tests at the hospital so yes, I was like a hungry hungry hippo.

Anyway, the food arrived and the waitress ran by to check on us less than 20 seconds later. I said yes, we're fine, thanks. Once I had a chance to take a bite, I realized the shrimp was pretty fishy. Second bite to make sure, and yes...really fishy fishy. I confiscated the breadstick and pushed the fishy mcgross to the other side of the table so I didn't yak on it.

Like I said, I was like a hungry animal here so I chowed on my breadstick and thought of what else I was going to order when she came back.  Well, 15 minutes, a breakstick, and half my daughters order of fries later, Missy finally shows up. She notices I've eaten none of the entree and asks if it's ok. Not wanting to be a complainer I say in the nicest way possible 'It's probably just me, but it's really fishy'. She asks if I want to take it home....No, duh. So she takes it and walks away.

Honestly, I just sat there a little confused. Is she coming back? Isn't she going to offer me something else? She looks like she might be a little overwhelmed, maybe she's just going to get a manager because she doesn't know what to do. Maybe she's new. Nope, not coming back huh? Hmmmm. No it's ok, I'm good. I'll just sit here and eat my arm or something.

Oh well, we're on a schedule and we've already been there a while so I figure I'll just order dessert instead and she'll probably take the Fishy McGross off the bill. When she comes back we order two of the cheesecake shooters and she drops the bill. Hmmm....nope she charged for everything. $32 for a couple chips, a kiddie hotdog, and two shot glasses of cheesecake. $37 after tip cause even though she's terrible at her job maybe she's got a hard life and who am I to judge, I'm not a total jerk.

Maybe I'm just crabby cause I'm pregnant and my hormones are crazy and oh yeah...I'm freaking starving. That's ok. Woosah. From now on I'll save my arm, skip it and go somewhere else.

Applebee's: Where you should go if you want a large selection of mediocre food, weak drinks, and over-the-top friendly service.

Really, if you take it for what it is, a chain restaurant that doesn't have to modify its business plan because people will always patronize it, it's fine. You can probably always find something that looks decent on the menu, which has been the case for me (although it doesn't always come out tasting decent). But that's really more a criticism of the chain as a whole. They have reasonable food and drink specials, and they're not about making it an "experience," so you can get in and get out if necessary.

My main complaint is that smoking is allowed at the bar, which happens to be inconveniently located in the middle of the restaurant. There are no partitions or any kind of separation between the smokers and non-smokers. That alone would be enough to keep me from coming back, but it's the boyfriend's favorite, so I guess I have to oblige once in a while.

My dad and my step mom like going to Applebees, so we did.

The server ok and the store was clean. The wait time was not long. Nothing made this trip golden; it was just standard.

I did loved my stuffed meatball plate.  When you go to Applebees, of course 20 for $20 is always cool. We also had the spinach dip is also was a winner.

Hungry? you can stop at Applebees.