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Screaming Child Not Handled by Managers
StarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 2/51

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN -- Recently had a very bad experience here but over the past year, bad experiences I have had at Applebee's have been becoming more regular. A few days ago, we had a party of 7 and one of our party was served very late and another, the server forgot her order entirely. Okay, a mistake that can be made anywhere.

A few days later we returned with a party of 6. After ordering, our food took over 35 minutes to be served (this we have found to be a common problem at many Applebee's we have been). That was the best part of our evening. A few tables away, two men in tee shirts, an older lady, a young boy and a toddler were sitting. The toddler was a "screamer". No, not a cryer or a loud talker, a "screamer" (130 decibel average).

Intermittently, he would be screaming to get what he wanted (mostly attention) but the man sitting with him would stick a glass in front of him with a straw and continue with his conversation with his friends. So far, so bad but where does Applebee's become part of this?

I indicate to our server, **, that this child's vocal chords could shatter glass and was causing havoc on our hearing. However, the child continued to serenade the section we were in, not with music but with screams that rattled our plate settings. Now I love kids and as a Psychologist who has been in practice 49 years, I am usually very patient. And I certainly wasn't angry with the child as he was doing what any stray and undisciplined dog would do, expressing himself the way he was taught! His parents (or father) lacked any parenting skills.

When the "manager" stopped by with her standard "courtesy" questions, I pointed out our distress over our bursting eardrums but she moved on as if we were enjoying our total experience. The very loud screaming continued and we noticed some people nearby leaving, some squirming at each outburst, and others changing tables. Our party of six, had nowhere else to go to get away from what sounded like a lone artillery barrage from screeching missiles.

Now the coupe d'état; at the end of our meal (a very distressing eating out experience), I asked to speak to the "manager" ** again. I wanted her to know that by not intervening by at least telling the parent that other patrons were being disturbed by his child's outburst, our continuation as regular customers will be changed. She then proceeded to tell me (as well as the rest of my party) that she just read an article about a restaurant asking a child like that be removed and the manager got "bashed" and she would not do this!

She pointed out that this was a "Family Restaurant" and therefore inferred this was acceptable. I didn't ask her what would happen if I gave off ear piercing screams in the restaurant of if I talked so loud to others that ears would be ringing what she would do, as she made it clear it was I who was not welcome and that no one else complained (most others in the section were intimidated) and her server wasn't complaining! In other words, she would rather accept the other's behavior then maintain me as a regular customer. What a twist on customer satisfaction.

So much for management of the restaurant, dealing with customer satisfaction and sensitivity. It will be the very last time I enter an Applebee's and should be fair warning of how this "Family Restaurant" (with a huge Bar in the middle), sets its priorities! As all in our party left with ears ringing and total disgust at the "manager's" response, and they, their friends and family as well, will be most hesitant before going to an Applebee's again. The potential for an enjoyable dining experience there will be rare.

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Non-Customer service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

EVERETT, WASHINGTON -- What ever happened to customer service? I had lunch at Applebee's today. On a Sunday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. I don't think I've ever been treated as badly as I was today. The waitress had a California valley girl attitude. And when I was finally able to speak to the manager, after waiting for 45 minutes, he wasn't interested in talking to me. so here is my warning, and my review. Don't go to Applebee's! If you live in the Everett Washington area, you're better off going someplace else for lunch, especially on the weekend. Try McMenamins, they have amazing food, and they appreciate your business.Unless, of course, you are interested in being told how unimportant you are, after spending $25 on lunch. Here's the long story a whole lot shorter: I had the southwestern steak salad, the steak was cold and under cooked. I asked for coffee....apparently coffee is something that is difficult for Applebee's to do... My coffee was terrible, and it was accompanied by either 1% milk from a plastic kids container, or the little plastic containers of cream. When I inquired about actual milk or cream the Valley girl response was, "Ya, we don't do fancy coffee here!" So... Hold on! Me asking for milk that isn't 1%, or half-and-half that isn't in little containers sitting out on tables for six months at a time is asking for "fancy coffee?" In Seattle?... Sure..... unnhaaaa! So I guess my response to this is, if I can't get decent coffee with cream for lunch in addition to spending $25 on a sandwich or salad. I'm not eating there anymore. The other conundrum comes when asking to speak to a manager about something, namely the cold steak on my plate that wasn't edible, and the manager tells me he doesn't have time to talk to me. Now I realize that Applebee's is a franchise; it doesn't take a rocket scientist... I also realize that my money can go elsewhere, and I have the ability to vote with my feet. So here's the story Applebee's, if you're not going to give me cream for my coffee... or even real milk, I am out the door! My coffee tasted horrible! In Seattle! Land of coffee! And my cold steak? You could have at least HEARD me.....You don't have time to talk to me about any of it? At 3 o'clock on a Sunday? In between the dinner crowd, and the lunch crowd? I am out the door! You don't want me there? No problem! I'm gone! I am never eating there again! And neither is my family! And the next time I have a function with multiple coworkers, or friends? We will be meeting at McMenamins! You can keep your cheap, horrible black coffee, and your cold steak. I'm done!

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Burned and Disrespected
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- I went to Applebee's on April 23rd with my mother and aunt who came to visit from out of town. The service that we received was terrible, the waitress had a very bad attitude. The soda was flat so we asked if she could take it back and bring some more, which was flat as well. We waited for her to come back, but it seemed like she wasn't going to. So when another waiter walked past we asked him if he could bring us some hot tea and a manager. When the manager came out we explained what was going on, while we were talking to the manager our server came out with the hot tea.

She sat it down in front of us and walked away, I went to move the kettle out of the way to get my cup and the hot water spilled out on my left leg due to the kettle being over filled. I yelled and rushed to the bathroom to check my leg, it was red and very painful. When I came back to our seat the manager was very apologetic and stated that those metal kettles were very dangerous and she doesn't know why they use them. The water was 260 degrees according to the manager. I had to take my pants off just to get in the car to go to the emergency room. The pain was so bad my pants couldn't touch my skin. I received treatment and medication at the emergency room.

When the risk management from Applebee's contacted me he asked for my medical records from the ER. The further contact that I've had with him and his boss has been very rude and disrespectful. I've asked to speak to someone higher up than them and he refuses to get the name of his supervisor.

Thank God I had leggings on and Thank God it wasn't a child who the water spilled on. But something has to be done, when a company treats its customer like this, not to mention called me a liar and said I spilled the hot water on purpose. Please help me get this story out so the world can know what kind of company Applebee's really is. I will never step foot into another Applebee's and I'll make sure to let all my family and friends know not to take their money there either!

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Poor Service and Substandard Food
StarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 2/51

TACOMA, WASHINGTON -- Got seated promptly, and ordered lemonades and food = Good. Waited over 15 minutes to get drinks = Not good, as the restaurant was not crowded. Appetizers - hot wings, waited over 15 minutes = Not good, also the wing sauce was not the same as before, not as good. The Club sandwich was bland and tasteless, the bottom slice of bread was soggy, the top slice was too dry, the bacon was dry and old, the fries were not very hot = Not good.

I asked for some hot sauce and didn't receive it until over halfway through my meal = Not good. My wife's chicken stir fry dinner tasted terrible = Not good. After asking for a refill on our drinks, we didn't get them for ten minutes = Not good. ASSESSMENT: Quality of service and food has gone down considerably. Applebee's is not what it used to be.

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Not a Good Experience, Wrong Food Was Brought
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA -- I ordered a hamburger off the menu and when the server brought it to table I ordered no tomato but, there was a tomato. I asked for mayo on the side, no mayo was on burger nor was it on the side, easy fix. The picture showed 3 pieces of bacon on the burger, so when I looked for the bacon I found bacon bits instead. Who would put bacon bits on a burger, if you are going to put a picture on your menu make it that way. The manager comped part of the bill. I've never had good food or experience at Applebees and will never go back.

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Stolen Jacket
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA -- On Wednesday, June third, 2015 I mistakenly left my rain jacket at their restaurant at 9601 Lyndale Av. S. in Bloomington, Minn. Since it quit raining when we left, I didn't miss my jacket until the following Sunday. (My house key was in a pocket. At this point I still had not realized I had left the jacket there and that my key was in it. I just thought, drat, I don't have a key. I had a spare key hidden, so I could enter my house.) I called Applebee's to report the incident. Then, I personally went there and talked to a manager. He looked in the lost and found area; no jacket. I gave them my telephone number in case it got turned in.

Today, June 15, I reported the theft to the local police. I also, a few days ago, had four locks re-keyed, $200. Also today, after I left the police dept., I stopped at Applebee's and talked to a different manager. She went to their office (note: not lost and found) and returned with my jacket. Key was still in the pocket. When I got home, upset because of the $200 I had to spend for the new locks, I asked myself why nobody called me; after all, they had my phone number. I called the restaurant, but so far no one has returned my call. I am a frequent guest at this location, but this incident left a bad taste in my mouth.

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Day Care Center Or Restaurant?
StarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 3/51

GRESHAM, OREGON -- My husband and I thought we would enjoy a late lunch after spending the afternoon at the movies. The food was good, however at a nearby table there was a young, unattended child playing with either a cell phone or another small electronic device. Said child was in and out of her booth and calling across the room, "Mommie." A waitress soon stopped by the table of the little girl, grabbed some food off of her plate and popped it in her mouth. The child addressed her as Mommie.

A little while later another female with a toddler in her arms came in and sat at the same table, the waitress came by, lifted the child and carried him back to the kitchen area. She soon returned, gave the child to the other female, then met another employee in the aisle and took two plates of food from her and took it to a nearby table.

I understand that there may be days when child care is unavailable to someone, but don't think that I as a customer should have these unattended children sitting at a nearby table. If it's necessary to bring them to work can they not be seated away from customers?

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Applebee's Has Poor Service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA -- Monday 25th - I will never eat at Applebee's again!! After we ordered we realized there was a Monday special from a hanging poster and our hamburger would be half the price. The server said they can't advise on daily specials if the patron doesn't know - he said it was the manager's advice. False advertising to me!!! AND then once we paid the bill they preferred we just leave as we were never asked again if we wanted anything else as we stayed another 30 minutes (lots of open tables). POOR SERVICE and not customer friendly!! Don't eat at Applebee's in ELK River, Mn.

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No One Was Happy.
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BETHLEHEM, GEORGIA -- I am at home with two others and we ordered from Applebee's. I have never eaten at that location and I never will again. We live down the street. The two burgers were cold and the cheese looked weird, like it had been on the burger overnight in the refrigerator and reheated in a microwave. The coleslaw had a huge chunk of cabbage in it.

My mashed potatoes were cold and had lumps so big in them, I had to mash them with a fork. My Fettuccine Alfredo was cold as well and had so little sauce on it that my noodles were incredibly dry. I had to add more Alfredo sauce (which I did actually have, but I shouldn't have had to).

I understand one thing not being great, but the entire order was a disaster. That was a lot of money to waste. All of us had to heat our food up in the microwave. I hate leaving bad reviews, but that had to have been the worst experience I have had with a restaurant in years. I don't like having to doctor a meal from a restaurant just to make it edible.

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Felt Taken Advantage of in These Sad Times
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

HOLBROOK, NEW YORK -- I'm alone this Easter Sunday, during the Pandemic. I ordered delivery from my local Applebee's. Steak, mashed, broccoli, Caesar salad. Very very basic. It arrived quickly to my home. Steak was not the size of my palm. Ordered medium rare, it came beyond well done. It literally looked like grey cardboard and the one bite tasted worse. Sawing into was a huge disappointment to someone who's been alone for a month. The mashed potatoes were browned like they had been on “blowup” in the microwave. Little over a tablespoon. Are you kidding me?

The extra side of sour cream didn't get opened because barely any potato on the plate to put it on. The Caesar salad is apparently the last few leaves left. I'm so sad. And I feel beyond ripped off. If they didn't have enough food, why not call me and tell me so, and I would have cancelled the order. Paid over $40 dollars with delivery for one person. I am in a very, very, large complex a block away from my Applebee's. I am definitely putting on our Facebook page my experience. Too bad.

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Applebee's Rating:
Star Half star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.5 out of 5, based on 71 ratings and
130 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Applebee's
4551 West 107th Street, Suite 100
Overland Park, KS 66207
888-592-7753 (ph)
www.applebees.com
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