Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Fayetteville

I have been a patron at this establishment for a few years now. I am saddened by the recent accusations which depict this restaurant as a “racist/heartless” environment.

As the old saying goes… there’s always two sides to a story…. So please, read this to its entirety.

Many homeless individuals have meandered through over the years (my favorite was always Mr. Joe).

Same as everyone else, they have been properly greeted, sat, and politely attended to (though most prefer the bar area so they aren’t sitting alone).

As casual conversation occurs in any establishment, you get to know these folks. You get to know their trials, tribulations, and sorrows and why they are in the situation they are in.

Over time… you along with other patrons buy the person a drink, a meal, or even leave a few dollars w/o them knowing who it came from.

THIS IS THAT TYPE OF RESTAURANT!!!! This is from both patrons and THE STAFF!!!

Now here’s the difference in that versus what took place the other evening:

The homeless individuals I am referring to are kind and polite. They are not rude to the staff or other patrons. They would never go table to table bothering families and causing a scene.

The individual from the other evening was being rude and intrusive. He went to several regular patrons (same ones who would normally have bought a meal for him) and actually asked for sips from their beers, puffs off their nicotine pens, and a chicken sandwich. So why wasn’t everything reported in Mr. Drew Ellis’s initial post? I’m curious as to how comfortable Mr. Ellis is w/ allowing a random stranger (who could have a potential for flu, covid, or even HERPES) to put his/her mouth on his beer bottle or vape. I’m sure we can all admit this was strange. When initially rejected in a polite manner, the homeless individual proceeded to go table to table interrupting and disturbing patrons. Mr. Drew Ellis failed to report this as well. Now let’s get to the “racist” commentary. The bartender that night was a white woman. The majority of the staff is black. The majority of patrons on any given evening are also black. That said… it was the BLACK homeless person who started yelling racial slurs across the bar to the man who refused to buy him the chicken sandwich he demanded earlier. What I find odd is how Mr. Drew Ellis failed to mention that the patron being publicly targeted, harassed, and humiliated was also BLACK. When the WHITE bartender noticed the homeless man’s actions were angering the majority of the fellow patrons and employees, she asked that he leave. There is nothing racist about the situation. After the situation was handled everyone laughed it off as a situation that was de-escalated. Kind of like “Dang man … he actually asked for sips off yall’s beer?” “What the heck??” Ha ha ha… I, along with the majority of people who go to Applebees have no problem buying a meal or a drink for someone who is down on their luck… but I’ll be damned if you’re going to pressure me or retaliate against me verbally or otherwise if I choose not to. Mr. Drew Ellis, these are key facts that you left out of your review.

Even better, since you are so heartfelt and concerned about this “unhomed” man as you call him, I’m sure you have done your due diligence and gave him your contact information. When he contacts you, pass it on to him… I’m willing to hire him for $17.00/hr guaranteed 40hr work week. Let’s get this man HOMED!!!! Put your $ where your mouth...

My family (children included) dined in for dinner. One of my children has a gluten allergy, and the appetizers that I wanted for us, she wouldn't be able to have, so while checking out the appetizers, I noticed that the waffle fries weren't listed as gluten free. I inquired as to what disqualified them, i.e., were they battered or was it a seasoning issue. Depending on her answer, it may have been possible to omit the ingredient. She indicated that she wasn't sure, that it could be the cheese. I asked her if she could find out bc my daughter can eat cheese. She said that would, and I told her that if it couldn't be made GF that we'd do a side of fries as an appetizer for her. I ordered our appetizers as appetizers, as well as our entrees. While waiting on our appetizers and the answer to my question, she informed me that the two riblet entrees that I'd ordered were no longer available. I changed those orders, and didn't see our server again until our entrees came out. We'd never received silverware, our appetizers, nor did I receive the answer to my question. The food runner asked was there anything else that she could get for me, and that's when I mentioned the silverware and appetizers. A few minutes later, we got our appetizers, but nothing for my GF child. Fries were later brought back so I guess that was the answer to my question. I never received an apology, a manager never came to speak with me, nothing...it was business as usual. I was a server for 5 years and I was truly disappointed in the way everything was handled.

The check was $154, pre-tip. That's too much to spend for substandard service. FYI, don't get the peach tea. It's not good at all

**********UPDATE I was contacted by Nicole, a manager, and was promised a meal pass for the inconvenience. I'm pleased to say that she made good on her word. I recently received a gift card that I can use at our local Applebee's, since I live out of State. Keeping her word says a lot, and I'm very...

Posted on Facebook group.. if you're reading this, and know this is about you, I hope you have a terrible life:

Tonight is the last time my wife and I will show our faces in the Ramsey Street location of Applebees. I would urge others to do the same.

When we arrived, there was an unhoused person who simply wanted to get a plate of fries and a chicken sandwich. He was given a side of fries, which a gentleman from Florida offered to pay for. The unhoused man, still hungry, much like any person who only gets a side of fries for dinner, asked a few more times what it would cost for him to get the sandwich.

People at the bar were making fun of the man, people at tables were saying things like “if you ask again I’m gonna throw my sandwich in your face”, and the management was completely dehumanizing to the unhoused man. Eventually they kicked the man out. A good Samaritan went out to see if the unhoused person could wait outside while he ordered some food for him. While he was out, another at the bar kept loudly (jokingly, and in very bad taste) shouting out to the rest of the restaurant that he was going to get “chicken sandwiches for everyone”. The Good Samaritan came in, heard this, and got reasonably upset by the whole ordeal. He said something to the guy at the bar, and got kicked out told the restaurant with his wife in tow. Management called a bouncer, who later was calling the Good Samaritan racial slurs in the kitchen. Meanwhile, the restaurant patrons and staff were laughing away and saying things like “if only I had my piece on me, he’d get to eat something real quick”.

If this was a case study on how Fayetteville treats others, we would fail. There are many other examples as to how this town dehumanizes and disregards those who need help. It does not cost anything to be a kind and empathic...