Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Maryland

I don’t usually leave reviews, but after several visits to Applebee’s—both dining in and ordering takeout—I felt compelled to share how consistently fantastic the experience has been.

Atmosphere: From the moment you walk in, the vibe is warm, welcoming, and family-friendly. The lighting is comfortable—not too bright, not too dim—and the mix of upbeat music and sports playing on the TVs gives it an energetic but relaxed feel. The décor has a cozy, Americana charm, with neighborhood photos and nostalgic accents that make it feel personal rather than corporate. You can tell they’ve put thought into creating a space where everyone—from families to date night couples to coworkers catching up—can feel at home.

Customer Service: The service has been top-notch every time. The hosts greet you with a smile and seat you quickly. Our servers have always been attentive without hovering, knowledgeable about the menu, and genuinely friendly. On my last visit, our server even remembered our drink preferences from a previous visit—small detail, big impact! Even when the place is busy, they keep things moving smoothly and maintain a positive attitude.

Dine-In Experience: The dine-in experience is where Applebee’s really shines. The menu has something for everyone—steaks, salads, burgers, pasta, and more—and everything arrives hot, fresh, and exactly as ordered. Portions are generous without being overwhelming, and there’s a balance of indulgent comfort food and healthier options. The timing of the food is perfect, with appetizers arriving just before entrees, and everything is beautifully plated.

Takeout Experience: I’ve also ordered takeout a few times, and I was impressed by how well they handle it. The online ordering system is simple and clear. The food is packaged securely to prevent spills, and everything is clearly labeled. Even after the drive home, the meals still taste fresh and warm, with nothing missing or incorrect—a rarity with takeout these days!

Customers Enjoying Themselves: One thing I always notice is how happy the other guests look. Whether it’s a birthday celebration with balloons and cake, a group of friends laughing over appetizers, or a solo diner enjoying a quiet meal, there’s a real sense of community and comfort here. The staff genuinely seem to enjoy making guests feel good, and it shows in the cheerful atmosphere.

Food Quality: Every dish I’ve tried—from the Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp to the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger to their new pasta specials—has been cooked to perfection. The flavors are bold and satisfying, and everything tastes fresh and well-seasoned. Even the side dishes, like the garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, are given care and attention. No soggy fries or overcooked meat here—it’s clear the kitchen staff takes pride in their work.

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Final Thoughts: Applebee’s has mastered the balance of comfort, quality, and consistency. Whether you’re dining in for a full evening out or grabbing takeout after a long day, you can count on great food, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s no wonder I keep coming back. Five stars...

We've been here a quite few times over the years and it's always been hit or miss. But this time was probably the worst. My wife and I were sat pretty quickly in a booth. The waitress was friendly enough and took our drink and appetizer order. We ordered the Brew Pub Pretzels + Beer Cheese Dip appetizer for $8.49. A few minutes later the waitress brought us our drinks and took our meal order. About 10 minutes later our appetizer came out and the first thing we noticed was that there was barely any beer cheese dip. Just a smattering at the bottom of the bowl, (See attached picture). Barely enough for dipping 4 large pretzels. We figured that they made a mistake since we've ordered this appetizer before and it had come with more cheese and immediately called the waitress back to let her know about it. She took the appetizer back to the kitchen and we assumed that they were going to make it right, but that wasn't the case. A minute later the manager came to our table with the appetizer and proceeded to tell us that they did give us the proper amount of cheese dip and that it's measured out exactly at 2 ounces. Really? 2 ounces? Those tiny little bottles of shampoo that you're allowed to bring on airplanes are 3 oz. and 3 oz. of cheese still would not have been enough to dip 4 pretzels. She then told us that, "the bowl we used was not the proper bowl we normally use to serve the cheese dip in and if you would like, we can have the kitchen staff put the cheese in the proper size bowl so it looks like you would be getting more." WHAT??? My wife and I looked at each other in disbelief. We could not believe that actually just came out of her mouth. To actually presume that we would that stupid. We cancelled the rest of our food order and left. What ever happened to keep the customers happy? Is Beer Cheese Dip such an expensive commodity that they can't afford to provide the appropriate amount for 2 people to enjoy the entirety of their appetizer after they complain? If this manager had 2 oz. of common sense she would know that customers are not getting their $8.49 worth. Sorry Applebee's, you're now on our list of banned restaurants for your poor customer service and management treating us...

I’m giving 3 stars because I’ve had better experiences in the past

First off I just really want to say I’ve always liked Applebee’s, but tonight was a very unpleasant 🤦🏽‍♀️. I don’t know if this location LITERALLY hired all new staff TODAY or what but I have never watched so many unprofessional people on the clock in my life!... my server smelled like she just got finished having hard long sweaty sex when she walked up to our table🤢.... me my mom ordered our drinks at the same time... it took the server atleast 10 minutes to come back with JUST MY MOMS WATER... I got my drink minutes later and it tasted watered down as if it had been just sitting there for a while. When I let the ( manager)? Know that my drink tasted watered down she looked so careless and responded “umm ok I guess I can take it and get you a new one” ( I GUESS ?🤔) ... Literally EVERY staff had to cover their mouths when they came walking up to ALL tables because they were all in the middle of chewing on food😒. ON TO THE REAL DISAPPOINTMENT!!!! once again me and my mom ordered the same thing! We ordered sizzling chicken and shrimp with potatoes(2 for $25) .. the potatoes that came on the side WERE COLD, the chicken and shrimp were dry af and seemed like they reheated that part. I asked for extra bourbon sauce ( just so I wouldn’t get cotton mouth & choke on the dry chicken) from our server and she never came back with it, I had to ask another server (who was in the middle of chewing something she just put in her mouth ) can she please get me some. THE SECOND ENTREE that comes with the deal my mom and I told the server to just have it boxed (in the beginning when we first sat down). When I got home I wanted to just taste it , I opened it and what I thought was supposed to be “4 cheese Mac and cheese” was just straight noodles and some type of sauce?(not Mac n cheese sauce what so ever) I GUESS.... it’s was very thrown together CLEARLY A rush and sloppy job. I wouldn’t even give this away to a homeless person because that would be offensive. Hopefully this location does some type of undercover boss pop up because this whole staff needs new training on how to be professional and...