Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Bear Creek Township

Had a terrible dinner experience. We were there TRYING to celebrate my wife's 55th Birthday with all children and grandchildren, well SOME of them. There were 9 of us. We had to wait after ordering our food for an hour and 20 minutes. The adults food was brought out first and the young ones were left waiting, then everyone got their food except for one little one who had to wait another 15 minutes and we had to ask when he was going to get his food. Everyone around us who came in well after us were getting served before us and we had the largest table in the establishment so it was hard to NOT see or be aware that we had not been served, no one even came by as a courtesy check. One daughter ordered, I think it was a breakfast burger that everything was burnt to a crisp, she couldn't even eat it. When we informed the waitress and asked if they could re-do it...is when the attitudes started...of course that one daughter used to work for Applebee's and she is very Attention-To-Detail oriented even without the training from Applebee's so she is aware of the procedures that are taught to be followed by staff. Then comes to my wife and I's steaks, we ordered the 2 for $25 steak dinners. We ordered medium rare, however, and mind you we waited for an hour and 20 minutes, her food was cold and was not done and was supposed to be accompanied with Broccoli ... Neither of us received broccoli. My steak was also raw, was warm but there was so much grissle and fat that was as hard as grissle...so much so that it was too difficult to cut through and the few pieces that I managed to cut through and chew, I had to spit it out. After the attitude given to the one daughter asking her meal to be re-done, w my wife and I decided not to bother. No waitress or no one came to check on us, ask how our meals were or ask if we needed our drinks refilled. Then the one daughter tried to inform the waitress that we were there celebrating her Mom's and my wife's birthday and we tried to do it as a surprise, again we were met with attitude, yet we ordered chocolate cake and ice cream...waited about another 15 minutes. By this time it was pretty late at night, around 11PM, we informed the waitress to just forget about the cake, the waitress with her attitude responded: "Well you ordered it...it's on it's way out...it'll be here in a minute." Okay, now IT comes out, the cake and ice cream, my wife bites into the ice cream - and bites into ice cubes ... And she has bad teeth because of a calcium deficiency. Earlier we talked to the manager who did not seem very knowledgeable or really too empathetic and seemed semi-aloof, like she really didn't want to be bothered. We felt really disrespected. We finally left around 11:30PM or so very displeased and probably will not come back ... And we have always been patrons...

I want to alert the Petoskey Applebees about my experience today (1/7/25 @ 2:13pm)…..

My Granddaughter & I had a couple hours to burn between my Dr Appointments so we chose to go to Applebees for lunch. We were seated at the bar as they were pretty busy and there was only us 2. Zero Comlaint. Our Server was Aaron Ecker. Very personable, friendly man with a charming smile and warm aura. I explained that we were a bit pressed for time so when we ordered I needed To-Go Containers as we could not be late to my appointment. This Gentleman didn’t bat an eye and when we ordered, he even let the Chef: Logan Kipp know and Logan got right on it so we weren’t delayed.

I ordered the Big Chicken Sandwich, Fries & Coffee which was a $9.99 Limited Time Special. My Granddaughter had the Burbon Swiss Burger, Fries & a Water.

When I tell you that I have never had a better Chicken Sandwich & Fries I mean…. I HAVE NEVER HAD BETTER! They Hand Batter their own 1/2 Chicken Breast that is SO HUGE I only could eat 1/4 of it…. Legit! I have never seen that much chicken in a sandwich before in my entire life and it was the most delicious thing I have ever eaten!!!!! My Granddaughter said her Burger was every bit as AWESOME as the Culver’s BUTTER BURGER (her Favorite)and I would have taken a picture of that Monster Size Burger but for the fact that she INHALED IT and there was no picture opportunity for me…. It was GREAT! I Did take a picture after cutting into mine because I was so shocked at the Size Of that chicken…. I mean, less money than McDonalds where you leave hungry and I took 3/4 of my sandwich HOME!!! Oh and the fries…. UNLIMITED so if you wanted a reorder you could just ask, but who needs fries with a Sandwich fit for Goliath himself.

I simply HAD to write this GLOWING REVIEW of our Food, Service & the Price! I am so HAPPY with my Total experience, I want to contact their superiors and Alert them to the fact that they have a FANTASTIC PAIR of Employees there (the only 2 I dealt with though to be fair to the other employees) and they DESERVE RECOGNITION.

If you get to eat at Petoskey Applebees…… Sit at the bar and ASK FOR AARON ECKER because “Sheri LaFave” said he is THE BEST server EVER ….. and then ask if Logan Kipp could cook your meal on My Recommendation. I guarantee Shoe Leather would taste Gourmet and Aaron would serve it with style like it was a Filet Mignon ……..

Just can’t praise up this service & meal enough……

YUMMMM! THANK YOU AARON & LOGAN for making Applebees CLASSY!!!!!!! Y’all deserve a RAISE! We...

We did take some time figuring out what we wanted to eat once we ordered my steak came out okay but hers was nowhere near what she ordered she likes hers really rare. So she sent it back next steak came out like she wanted it cooked but it had so much gristle in it she couldn't even cut into it. By the time the third steak comes out we were tired of being there shouldn't take 2 hours and 20 minutes to eat lunch. The waitress was not. Did not offer me a refill on my coffee until about 5 minutes before we were done with our lunch and charged us for appetizer that was supposed to be free with our dinner. The manager did come out and comped my friend $10 and didn't charge her for her steak but meanwhile we left sorrly disappointed and two and a half hours of our life we can't get back. Used to be the BEST place to eat but has really went down hill especially during the afternoon hours. My husband and I have noticed that too when we have stopped there to have a later lunch. Seems like the only time you get really good meals or services at night. Also they have made every little thing extra if you want a salad instead of two of the things that they offer you for your special you can't switch it out with out them charging you extra money if I don't want two starches and prefer a salad and french fries what's the difference instead of getting a pile of macaroni and cheese. And they want $2 for a small tiny side of gravy that my friend wanted for her french fries. $2 for gravy are they kidding me?! I hope someone takes notice of this because I loved Applebee's and sure would like it to be back...