Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Gig Harbor

I just had one of the worst experiences in a restaurant that I’ve ever had. I will never darken their door again.

My husband and I went in for dinner after an especially rough few days for me. We came in, the hostess blocked our path “holding open the door” forcing us to grab the other door to come in. She took us to a table flanked by the only other 4 tables in use in the restaurant, and got visibly irritated when we asked to be seated 3 tables over so that we could hear each other talk over the other loud groups. She tools us over, gave me a chance to sit down but not get my feet under the table before she blocked me with her body again preventing me from getting the rest of the way into the table. We were told that our server would be there in just a minute.

About 15 minutes later a server, who was not the one we ended up with, stop and asked if anyone had stopped by yet. We said no, ordered our drinks (mine wasn’t made correctly but I didn’t bother saying anything and just drank what she brought me which was good because that was the only drink we got) Another 10 minutes pass and we finally get to order.

As my husband had lost his voice I ordered for us. I made it clear that I wanted a certain ingredient omitted due to a severe allergy. She wrote it down. She then turns to my husband and asked if he wanted said item on his meal. He laughs and says no, I tell her that I can’t have the ingredient at the table, I will stop breathing. So now, in the space of about a minute we have told her twice that I have a severe allergy to this ingredient.

After we had been at the restaurant 45 minutes our appetizer comes out. Cold. And with said ingredient. She of course takes off and doesn’t reappear until after she gets flagged down from across the restaurant. Not even an apology from her.

The restaurant comped our meal telling us about how serious they take allergies and how well trained all of their kitchen and wait staff are. Apparently the process is that when a customer identifies an allergy a manager is immediately brought in and quality checks all of their food. The manager found out about the allergy when I asked to see him after our server completely disregarded everything that was said. The manager comped our meal and told us “as a consolation “ that the server “felt really bad for messing up your order”. But not bad enough to apologize.

In the two hours we ended up being there we heard complaints from no less than 3 tables. Appetizers didn’t arrive. Drinks never refilled. I watched a table come in and leave after 20 minutes with no one speaking to them.

I get that bad days happen to everyone. I hope that server reads this review. I hope she goes home and kisses her loved ones and tells them about her day where she was so focused on her bad day and herself that she nearly killed someone. And I hope she thinks about how her family members would feel if that ever happened to her. And I really hope that she either learns how to do her job or get out of the service industry before her incompetence actually does...

Was here tonight, poor customer service skills shown by server tonight - I assume Ashley, since that's the name on the receipt but she never told us. She was very short and brash with us, from the beginning when she came to the table and said "What do you want to drink".. no Hello, no nothing.. Came back about 5 minutes later, took our order.. seemed like we were inconveniencing her by being there. Fortunately, she worked to get us out of the restaurant as quickly as possible. This included not keying in my full order, not keying in no croutons for my gluten-intolerant wife's salad. Dropping our food on the table and then immediately leaving without asking if everything was ok, and then not coming back to check on us until she said "Everything OK" and put our receipt on the table. I did get 1 refill of my beverage, but nothing else. This meal ruined what would have been an otherwise great Sunday with my wife and my foster sons. Other staff was friendly and the food that we did get was good - hence the 2 stars. Due to this server tonight, we will probably go to the Silverdale location next time we head to Applebee's since we live almost the middle point between the two locations. Too bad Drake wasn't our server tonight, I'm sure this trip would have been completely different had he been. Course, it was partly my fault as well - my wife wanted to go to BJ's over in Tacoma and I convinced her we should go to Applebee's. Had I just listened to my wife and NOT gone here at ALL, I'm sure things would have turned...

Disappointing- Service was fast but so fast he had no time to actually pay attention to questions I had about dishes (which gave me an allergic reaction) which the waiter pointed out that I should have already known.

My daughter’s 1st burger was burnt. She was no kind of juice. Sent it back. The bun was not as burnt but the burger was still charred.

We flagged multiple servers all of which gave us what we asked for however it should have already been done. Such as water when we arrived, napkins, silverware. Those are basics I didn’t know I had to ask for ever AFTER my food already came.

We took our food and kindly left. I did let the manager kindly and quietly know on the way out and he asked what I wanted. I told him I hope others don’t get treated like we did.

There were also smokers by the front door.

Ultimately- We were offered a full refund but it doesn’t replace the service that spoiled a night out with my youngest daughter which I rarely get to do in the first place. Plus, it was her 1st time there. It’s a bummer all around. Sadly, I will not be bringing my girls back to this restaurant again.

*2 stars were for cleanliness and really nice hostess service. The manager Trevor was really kind as well. I could tell when I began to talk he was like, “ugh, another person complaining” but I was quick to explain at a maximum if he was able to just change someone else’s experience that’s be...