Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Council Bluffs

I will never step foot into another Applebees as long as I live. Went to Applebees in Council Bluffs with my husband, friend Tony, and intellectually challenged brother Terry. We ordered the all you eat ribs, strips, and shrimp. First of all they refused to allow us a sampler of each item. We had to order one and finish to recieve a different one of the three. Perhaps their advertising should reflect this. None of which were very properly prepared. Ribs were inedible and the one item we did like they acted as though was in very short supply bringing like 4-5 pieces at a time with a huge portion of cold french fries. But this isnt my complaint. My reason for contempt is when my intellectually challenged brother choked on a piece of shrimp and I had to render aid on the spot. Another old couple of patrons sitting across from us complained to the manager that they couldnt eat their dinner after witnessing my brother cough up food which I made sure I used plenty of napkins to discreetly handle the situation. First of all they should mind their own business and secondly it is not like the situation was overtly noticeably gross. He coughed up food into a napkin. The older gentleman acted like a prissy lady who just couldnt eat after witnessing this. They have no idea of what its like to care for someone with special needs. Another patron who sat near us was very caring and asked if he was ok and if we needed anything. Very kind gesture. It gets better. The manager and waitress was listeninng to the uncaring cry baby older gentleman when they turned to us and pointed at us and stated, "who them, I totally understand." Then the manager comped their meal. It made my brother as well as all of feel very unwelcome. Not once did any staff ask if we were ok. They acted as though they wanted us out of there as soon as possible. The way we were treated was completely uncalled for and Applebees will never have our business ever. We will encourage others to avoid the establishment as well. These folks dont know how fortunate they are not to have a family member with special needs let alone have to be born this way. It hasnt been easy for my brother nor my family. These are the type of people who institutionalize family members who are born this way rather than raise them with love and care. I am truly sorry if my brothers unfortunate incident caused anyone discomfort or ruined their appetites but perhaps Im just immune to incidents such as these and handle them with grace and dignity for my brother but the way these ignorant people reacted and more disheartening the way the staff reacted was completely disrespectful and insensitive. Showed their lack of tact and class. Shame on you Applebees for hiring managers and staff members of...

Not usually one to complain but our visit last week was as bad as an experience as we've ever had. We sat down around 7:20. Restaurant was not business, few tables. Our service takes our order then leaves. We see her one more time to fill drinks the remaining hour we were there. Our food is brought out by manager, wings dry and cold no sauce. All our grilled items were burnt as can be, ribs, chicken and a steak for my son. They forgot to give us any knives for our items. We had to ask the hostess if she would get us those. Myself, my wife, my son at prolly half our food, well we ate around the burnt parts. Once we finished our meal we waited another 25 minutes for our check after we waived down our service. The entire time she stood at the corner of the bar. Our drinks were empty most the meal, we didn't get the sauces we asked for and no manager stopped at our table to ask how things were. We paid our tab after finally waiving down our server. The food was terrible, the customer service was non existent. I believe the grill cook was likely doing closing duties and not paying enough attention to his cooking. Our tab was $90 and our meal was terrible. I wrote the corporate email they have on the website. Increasing prices and decreasing service seems to be an increasing problem with these large chain sit down Restaurants. We won't be eating here again anytime soon. We give takeout from there a try once or twice a month but even that food as began to drastically decline in quality. Very disappointed in the visit. Typically don't do bad reviews but this was our worst restaurant visit in years. Servers name was Vernice or something similar to that. I still left a tip as it would be rude not too but terrible terrible experience. Have not heard back from the...

This review doesn't even deserve 1 star but I had to put something. My boyfriend and I were celebrating an important night for us and he decided to take me to Applebees. We got seated right away at a high top by the door which was fine. Then we waited 7 minutes for someone to acknowledge us to take our drink order. No one ever came. We had the store manager look at us, other servers look at us and even the host told someone hey these people have been waiting a while. I finally got fed up and we decided to leave. Not exactly how you want to spend your anniversary dinner. So as we were leaving I called the store and asked to speak with the manager, I was told since It is a busy time the manager would have to call me back. Not even 15 minutes later, after we already picked a different restaurant I get a phone call as I am trying to order my food the manager calls me. She apologizes for the inconvenience and said that's not how service works. She then offered to send me something by email or the mail to make it right. That was almost 3 months ago, I still have yet to receive anything by email or by mail. She did say that since it was coming from corporate it would take a while to get it but I was thinking a week or 2 not almost 3 months later and still nothing. Me and my boyfriend will NOT be going back to this location. We will travel across the bridge and go to one in Omaha before we go to this...