Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Marion

We arrived on a visit from TN to have lunch with our family at this location. Applebees is a family favorite! We waited nearly 30 minutes before a waitress came to our table bc she overheard that we hadn't placed our drink order yet. She took our drink order and we waited probably another 30 minutes when the host Ariel came to our table to apologize for the wait that the waitress for our section was having a mental breakdown and that the other waitress, Summer, in the other section was overwhelmed with her 3 tables in her own section. We asked our host if she could just take our order and her response was she would but she isn't allowed to do so. We asked for the manager if they were able to take our order but she wasn't able to be found. Ariel the HOST was very apologetic and finally returned to us with a pen and a notepad to write our orders down. Meanwhile we expected maybe the manager would come out to help the 1 waitress and host as we assume would be the managers duty considering her position is MANAGEMENT. We had decided to order 3 mudslides but were told we would have to wait for Summer the only waitress in the OTHER SECTION bc the host was not allowed to make those drinks and then we were told there wasn't enough ingredients for the 3 drinks so we decided on other drinks instead and after a wait we received them. The host and waitress apologized. The drinks were delicious. Still no sign or visit from the manager to walk the floor or even help her staff. The food arrived and was brought to us by the host Ariel and Summer with another apology for the wait. The food was also very good. A total by this time in the restaurant waiting was approximately 2 hours which we visited with our family but still no sign of help or communication from a manager. At the end of our meal our host organized how our tickets would be divided and apologized again. We praised her for her initiative and her help as she was helpful and was clearly eager and more than willing to be helpful in any way to us and to her fellow coworker. Another manager comes in and we are told by the host that she is a manager to which our reply was how disappointing it is to not have seen or heard from the other manager for the inconvenience or the wait or the lack of help. Before we get our tickets the manager finally approaches our table and says "I was told you all wanted to talk to me " and so we let her know how disappointed we were with the wait and the unprofessionalism in the establishment but wanted to praise the host for how well she handled the floor and for how helpful she was. The manager then apologizes with the excuse that she was doing something else and that the waitress for our section was indeed having a mental breakdown. As a manager with experience in the food industry amongst other industries I exclaimed to her that management has a clear definition of MANAGING and maintaining an establishment when trouble or the unexpected arises and she agreed, apologized and left our table in a manner of just taking the complaint without any care or regards to the experience any of the customers in the restaurant at the time. I expected and was clear that we expected some sort of adjustment for the experience and the wait and our discount that was given was a total of $3.91!!!!! This is a HIGHLY disappointing performance of management and gratuity for the customers. The adjustment was insulting to say the least. This will not be the only review written. I would expect to hear from some sort of management above store management out of respect at the very least. We are on a time limit as I said before as we are visiting and expected to be back on the road at a certain time however we are completely behind due to the wait and performance of this location. We ALL have bad days and I am not insensitive to that. I literally had gasoline sprayed on me during our road trip before arriving and still managed to make the beat of our trip. I work every day with melt downs on the regular every morning from my special needs child and STILL manage...

The first time I came into this location I sat at a booth with my kindle watching the game. The waitress brought me my meal, drink, and later the check -in which the refill I ordered, and waiting for, was on it - yet, the waitress did not bring me the refill nor return to the area I sat (near entry corner). I guessed the waitress got busy or forgot so I did not include tip as I did not get 2nd drink. I almost left a bad review at that time. However, I really enjoy the salads at Applebee's so decided next time I would start sitting closer to kitchen and bar area to read my kindle and watch game. On next visit, I confronted the prior waitress about prior visit, and the waitress stated she brought me my drink but while I was in restroom someone must have took it. I apologized for not leaving a tip, was offered a replacement drink by that days' waitress ( Brittney), and ever since, have chosen this place to eat when visiting the area. In retrospect, I am glad these waitresses looked out for me, and my drink, while I went to restroom and did not cause stir in the moment. I have since ate at this location many times and have watched the staff work really hard, to point it gives me anxiety watching them trying to please everyone while remaining neutral in matters that is not their responsibility ( such as food not cooked right- or putting bread or something on a plate despite informing them not to). I'm glad I returned and got to know a few of the staff. It really is a lottery on if the experience goes good at this location but the odds are higher when Brittney or Christine...

I'd give it negative stars if I could!

Everyone ordered, we got our drinks and 1 hour later our food finally came. Our waitress was attentive, doing all she could, her service was very good.

The food on the other hand was a miserable experience all around, appetizer was hard, oily chips, twice! Again, after an hour our meals came out, all in various stages of cold food, from lukewarm ribs and burger, to frozen brisket tacos, yes, actually still FROZEN pieces still in the taco.

My burger, in addition to being lukewarm, had a piece of lettuce that was limp and literally transparent from being wilted so long. The manager, who I was told was the only one that could take something off a bill due to a "cracking down" by the waitress, was apparently used to subpar food going out. I helpfully asked if he would like to eat a cold burger while showing him my wilted lettuce covered meat disc I refuse to call that offering a Burger. He obviously didn't understand as he asked what was wrong.

I would say this could just be a one-time bad night but the last time I went to this Applebee's, nearly 5 years ago, it was the same. Cold food, long wait, bad time management in the kitchen.

Unfortunately, this will be the last time I go to this place, I like the menu at Applebee's but this location seems to have some serious problems that aren't getting taken care of in years.

All in all, a cheap lesson that I'll never repeat, STEER CLEAR OF APPLEBEE'S OF MARION.

Too many other much better options in Marion...