Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Joliet

Not sure what is going on with this place? It could be great! If they just had properly trained staff!!! First red flag. Walked into a half full restaurant. Hostess tells us. It was a 20 minute wait. So we waited. Then watched as the hostess had to bus tables. The entire time we waited. Watched a waitress stand next to the kitchen door way near the bar. NOT DOING ANYTHING! She could have been at least bussing the tables. So the Hostess could work on seating customers. In our time waiting we witnessed at least 5 groups of customers walk out! As the wait times continued to increase. Why? No one else had been seated. So finally we get our table. After the 20 minute wait. A table that was open and empty. Our entire wait time. We get seated. Then nothing. Another 20 minutes goes by. Before we even have a waiter come to our table for drinks. Then when he comes back. He brings me a soda. That had no flavoring at all! Just carbonated water. Wait 15 more minutes for him to even come back. He then informs me. They are out of their Applebee's signature mountain dew flavor. So i switched soda. Fine. Next come to our food. We had been in 2 weeks prior. Had the burgers. They were cooked perfectly. Not this time around. They came out like hockey pucks. Took a bite. We could not eat them. Waiter never came back to check on us! So my wife. Had to get up and find the manager. Because our waiter was no where to be found. The manager ended up cooking our burgers. And bringing them out to us. After about 10 minutes. Our waiter reappeared. Not even knowing about our issue! The manager ended up taking care of food bill. But we feel had the staff did their JOBS properly. This would have never happened. Our total time being there. Was almost at 2 hours! For just 2 burgers. And appetizer and 2 drinks. This should be unacceptable! They need bus staffing! To focus on bussing the tables! And cleaning the restrooms! I've seen cleaner restrooms at a truck stop! We truly appreciate having an Applebee's in our town! We just would like them to service the customers more quickly and be more friendly! And lastly. How about turning on the outside lightning and signs outside at night time! To let your customers know your open and that the parking lot is safely lit! Please do better! We want you...

Horrible. I LOVE Applebees( normally) . My first visit to the one on Joliet though. There were a total of four tables occupied and we were told we had to wait 10-15 minutes. I assumed they were short servers so whatever not a big deal. Once we were sat at a table ( I asked for a booth because I had 4 kids with me) I was told there weren't any available ( as I looked around the restaurant that had 4 tables occupied. The food took almost an hour to come out and Once our appetizers came they were so over cooked the cheese was evaporated from the mozzarella sticks. We were also FREEZING because thry had the AC on full blast and sat us right infront of the vent. I asked the hostess if we could be moved because my children were freezing and was told no. Shortly after, the same booth I asked to have for me and my kids and was told no because no booths are available was now occupied by some new guests. Once our food came out it took about one minute for it to all be cold because of the AC blowing right on it. I went ahead and put my desert order in when we ordered our food because I seen it was taking forever. None of my kids wanted their cold food that dried up quick from the air blasting on it and WE were all so cold I had them just go to the front to wait. I waited for my desert for 20 mins. Then the server said ..itll be another 10-15 minutes so I said nvm can you just bring the check and remove the desert . I also informed none of my kids ate because it became cold and dry almost instantly and she replied she cant take it off the bill. Server never apologized, never said youre welcome, no manners. I'll NEVER be back. Nobody there gave a sh&% to be remotely understanding, empathetic or accommodating. We planned on having a huge group go for father's day.. NEVERMIND. I'll never recommend or be back. EVER . Oh AND the breads ticks never came with the pasta we ordered and we kept being told they'll be...

I only gave 1 star because it won't let you put in 0. First off when we got there at 7 it was busy, no big deal we waited about 25 mins to sit. Once we got to the table it took about 10 minutes for the waitress to come grab our drink order. After ordering drinks another girl brought over 1 drink...which mind you there were 5 of us all together. Another 10 minutes or so yet another girl came with 3 more drinks, my fiance said could you please bring a water thats all we need. She looked at him and said yeah...I only have 2 hands. I couldn't believe the attitude. Finally our original waitress brought the water and we ordered. I proceeded to the woman's bathroom, it was absolutely disgusting. Looked as though it hadnt been cleaned in weeks!!! Once back to the table we received our salads and appetizers. When we had finished we had to ask a random waitress to remove our plates because we had no room on the table. Then yet again another waitress brought out a random salad we didnt even order. They left quite abit on the table. So our food comes out finally after waiting 40 minutes. Again another random waitress came out and shoved a hot plate right in my son's face barking at him the food order, she tried to set the food down but couldn't because he still had 2 cups and 3 plates sitting in front of him because no cleared our table. She had an attitude but I tried to explain that no cleared our table!!! So at that time that waitress and another gave 3 plates of food to us as 2 of us sat there for another 15 mins to get our last 2 plates. By the time they gave of those 2 plates the other 3 people were done eating. I was so disgusted about our experience I didn't even eat. We asked for the bill to be ready, we paid and left. The whole experienced sucked!!! We will never...