Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Copley Township

Placed a to go order today Friday Nov 22 at around noon-1 o'clock for Holly Hemsworth. When I got home and opened 1 of my to go's I was hit in the face with a moldy mildewy smell. Caught a wiff instantly. Upon further inspection I realized the mashed potatoes that went with my steak were completely mildewy. They were so bad they made the whole plate of food taste awful. The green beans, my steak, everything tasted like a wet basement. The potatoes were so bad I instantly spit them out! Called and asked to speak to a manager, and I got "Ory" on the phone. She instantly told me I was pretty much lying. Her response to me getting served moldy mashed potatoes was, "I've been eating the mashed potatoes for months, all the time, and there's nothing wrong with them." I asked her if she thinks the mashed potatoes she's been eating "for months" are the same batch of mashed potatoes I got in my to go. (Wouldn't surprise me with what I was served) 🤦‍♂️ but probably not... I pleaded with her to go too the kitchen and taste them because they're so bad they ruined my entire plate of food. She insisted she did taste them, and there's nothing wrong. In the end, I told her I'm calling the health department. She's completely indenial. She's lying to customers on the phone. There's no way she went and tasted them and didn't taste the mold. They're so bad it made my green beans and steak taste bad. I mean I can smell it from 2 feet away as its sitting on my kitchen table. In the end, she said she's refunding me for the order and hung up on me. Didn't make me feel like she was taking care of the issue at all though. Pretty much told me I'm wrong when I'm a chef myself and I know for a fact they're moldy. I guess it won't be until someone gets sick that she will care. You would think she gets paid a salary and has a brand new model s tesla outside paid for by applebees the way she completely denied my complaint and told me I was wrong. Like the way she argued with me, you could swear she owned the applebees. Like why would I call and complain and lie? The woman is going to end up getting people sick because she's indenial when it comes to the restaurant she's managing. I couldn't imagine being a manager and having a customer call me and tell me my establishment's food is moldy, and I just completely disregard the customers complaint. She didn't give me any closure at all that she was going to take care of the issue to ensure customers do not get sick. Called the health department since "Ory" rather argue with me and tell me I'm wrong. I told "Ory" it's either A.) SHE'S LYING, and she never went to the kitchen and tasted the moldy food she's serving to good paying customers... or B.) She doesn't have a pallete. Regardless, I'll never be back. "Ory" needs to step down from her management position and let someone else manage the restaurant. Customers served mildewy food are not going to be happy, and they might have an attitude. It's part of working in customer service. People aren't going to be happy when served moldy food. She matches the customer's energy and gets just as upset as the the customer who just paid for mildewy inedible food! She's not fit for the job. And obviously doesn't care if customers get sick from moldy food. Never again. Good to know that if you go to this establishment and get served food that could potentially get you sick, that this is how they rectify the situation. The refund is irrelevant at this point. How about...

Stopped by for dinner and to try out their $1 Margarita Limited-Time promotion. Sadly, I am unable to think of a single positive during my visit to share in this review.

When we arrived at approximately 6 PM, there were 22 empty tables in the dining room, and the hostess notified us that there would be a 10 minute wait. What? Either the store had 6 people call off, or they were unprepared to receive guests; We waited almost 15 minutes to enter the half-full dining room.

The server was completely unprepared to perform her job on the day of visit; By this I mean that there were multiple awesome promotions going on in the store on the date of my visit ($1 Margaritas, Half-price Apps and Dinner Deal for 2,) Yet she suggested a fountain beverage. We asked about the All-Day App special, which was clearly featured in the entry foyer, and she told me it was only 3-6 PM. I suggested she look into it, and 10 minutes later she returned and said the promo was going on, but the discounted apps were limited to select items. We ordered a total of 2 apps, thinking dinner was also in the offing, but the server did not return to ask about a dinner order until well after the appetizers arrived, at which point it just seemed unnecessary.

We attempted to order the margaritas, then the server asked if we had our ID's; She didn't want to see them, just wanted to know if we had them on our person. (As an aside, both myself and my dining companion were over 40.) My companion said it was in her purse in the car, and the served made me go out and get the purse, but STILL didn't want to see the ID. I've never run into this in well, forever, so it made it into this review. This process also took more than 10 minutes to complete, so we're more than 30 minutes into our visit and haven't received a single item...Did I mention that our server was also training a new employee? Unbelievable.

Food and Beverage quality was far less than positive. Both of the apps appeared to have salt as their primary ingredient, to the point that other flavors were not clearly discernible, and it's pretty tough to overpower a beer cheese dip. The Margaritas tasted more like a Tequila Sour than an actual lime margarita, served up with a generous portion of liquor in the bottom of the mug, with the mixer riding on top; It had not been shaken or mixed before service.

In closing, it appeared upon arrival that the store was not prepared to serve guests, staff did not handle guests efficiently, almost appearing to go out of their way to delay and disturb dining groups to the point of disruption (Don't get me started on the staff using the bar to drop off dirty food dishes around couples seated at the bar!) The food was so overly salted, it appeared to be designed to appeal to older guests with a reduced sense of taste. All in all, a complete explanation on why younger guests were not present in the restaurant at the time of my visit. There are multiple better options currently available in...

During my visit to Applebee's in Fairlawn on November 30, 2023, I encountered a disappointing situation that overshadowed our dining experience this evening. Upon receiving an incorrect order – a dish I hadn't requested – the waitress initially attributed the mistake to the kitchen, due to saying she felt confident that she put it in correctly. Later, when she came back to acknowledge the the error was being corrected, an uncomfortable incident arose. The waitress unexpectedly demanded the return of half of the plate containing the incorrect ribs, treating the situation as if I were intentionally trying to take advantage of the restaurant. It was disheartening to be made to feel like a dishonest customer simply for receiving an incorrect dish. When the food came out my fiancé was already done, eating his food, and we were technically ready to go. I would have to take this food home and eat it there, which was not the plan at all. I asked the waitress for a box which she brought me and she brought the check. Upon looking at the check, I realize that it was indeed the waitresses fault. Which people make mistakes I’m not coming down hard on her for any reason she did what she was supposed to do somewhat. She rang it in wrong and gave me the “2 for whatever discount” when I had asked for I had asked for the full rack of ribs. They re-rang the correct items took, off the discounted meal for two.

Due to the fact that the manager never came over to say anything to me or even be the one to deliver me the corrected meal, I asked to speak with him. After discussing with him the situation, and realizing that he already knew what had happened I told him that I didn’t feel it was suitable for me to have to pay for the meal that I couldn’t even eat there because we were done. He told me that if he takes the food off the bill he would then have to take the ribs with him…….. WTH….. Well I never! I will never return due the disrespect that...