Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Mesa

Applebees I just want to say this was the strangest service provided and I can’t help but feel like it was because of the way we looked.

Upon entry we weren’t greeted, now, to be clear it’s just after opening time on a Sunday because the day prior it was extremely busy so we decided to go in the next day.

The guy at the front wasn’t friendly in fact when trying to seat us, he was declining the options we saw and wanted (we’re a family of 5 which includes two adults, a set of 2-year old twins and a 9 year old) mind you the entire place was empty besides two groups completely spread apart. One was actually sitting right next to the door to which he told us “they had an attitude” so he sat them there because “they got angry” not the professional response or appropriate one and I have a bachelors degree in business administration focused on Human Resources management. I then felt like I had to agree to this knee high table with my pregnant belly and giant husband. As we sat down more people were being seated in taller tables and in the area he said wasn’t available because the server wouldn’t be in for another 3 minutes. What’s interesting is our waitress also took orders and helped out in those very sections (I know because my husband and I were on high alert after the first interaction).

Stacy our waiter came and took our order, we ordered a starter dish (spinach and artichoke). Each of our girls ate it and as did we the adults. We finished and as per the photo you will see she never removed the dishes from that starter meal prior to bringing our food (this prevented space and made our table look trashy)we did witness her remove dishes from other people’s tables before they ate the main course. We did mention it was our daughter’s birthday but even then we felt like the small little black family who didn’t deserve sitting near anyone at all. I hate to put it that way but it’s the truth. I hate going out as it is but to feel that out of place in Applebees is crazy.

Anyway, there was one waiter/server who I think I caught his name (Owen) who wasn’t even waiting on us came and spoke to us even chatted with our twins. That felt welcoming, in fact, at the beginning of our meal I requested lemons for the broccoli side we had and my Tex mex shrimp bowl & Stacy brought back three of the skinniest lemons slices, one even looked pre-squeezed. But, we were able to ask Owen and he came back with a mini bucket (a bit dramatic but it put Stacy’s lemons to shame).

If we could leave a tip it would have been to him, but I told my husband not to leave a tip. At the very end as we had such a horrible taste in our mouths we requested the check & I asked her specifically what her name was again. After I asked she then comes back after running my husband’s card and ask “would you like me to get these dishes out of your way?” Okay, lady, now be for real, you need to get the dishes and prepare for the next paying customers. But to ask me if she could clear the table as I’m literally standing with a to-go box and my toddler in my arms is diabolical.

If I could talk to a manager I would I think I may even call corporate for this one because this was out of pocket. After I asked for her name and she proceeded to grab the dishes she brings my daughter an ice cream that we left (we don’t eat dairy) but you brought this after we paid and got ready to leave because I asked for your name and wouldn’t have additional conversation. I felt so disrespected and annoyed. I’m very sad about it and we will never attend another Applebees restaurant again. thank you door greeter and Stacy.

I don’t see where to post the photo but I...

First I wanna say that I thought our waitress did a pretty nice job, I think she was a little new but overall she was really great with our granddaughter, her name is Teagan. Overall we were impressed with her service. As you see if you look at my reviews I don’t do reviews very often, I either do it because it’s amazing or I do it because it’s the worst thing ever. I pretty much just had the worst meal I’ve ever had in my wife completely agreed. And that says a lot being that we are in our 50s and we had a lot of restaurants over the years. My wife and I both used to be store managers at McDonald’s for a lot of years. So we’re probably a little more critical and things but we also understand the frustrations in the struggles of running a restaurant so we get it that things happen.

My wife got the oriental salad, the chicken was hard and cold, the salad seem like it was an old mix, completely soggy and overall extremely gross, it takes a lot more sour than it should’ve.. When they deliver the food of course they forgot our granddaughters food. They said they go check on it nobody came back for at least 10 minutes finally, I came back so so sorry it was taking longer to make a chicken quesadilla. Like that’s the best thing ever make. And then of course the tortilla shell was rockhard probably sitting under the lamp and the one of the runners just forgot it.

I asked for a double shot of bourbon over ice, and then I pasted it and of course it was a double shot of Jack Daniels whiskey. I ended up returning it. They offered to replace my wife’s play something else which is the right thing to do. But then they brought out some chicken Alfredo pasta within seconds like they had a police sitting there and they just microwaved it because it was all goopy and the Alfredo sauce with breaking down. This is by far the worst restaurant experience that my wife and I ever had. And that’s saying a lot being that we’re in our 50s and we enjoy going out to eat. They did it right and they took off the pasta that we did not eat they took off the oriental salad that we did not eat I took off the whiskey that they made a mistake on, it’s just such a poor experience.

Lastly, I got the ribs, the full slab, because I’m on a keto diet and it was pretty much one little tiny bite her bone and it was hard. I’m guessing that whoever the manager is of this facility is either brand new or has lost his or her desire two produced an experience for the customer. If it was one or two things I probably wouldn’t even give a review, and I still did give the waitress Reagan 20% tip. Because she did a nice job. I’m thinking she might’ve been a rookie, but she was extremely personable friendly, went out of her way to be amazing to my granddaughter. I don’t write bad reviews, if you look on my previous reviews I’ve done only a few in my life and I believe they’re only positive.

I had a side salad out the lettuce was all wilting we were pulling out black pieces, really didn’t eat much of our $60 meal, and that was after all the discounts of taking food off because it was absolutely disgusting and we couldn’t even eat it. Now my wife and I literally go out to eat probably one time a month, as just a nice night out. This definitely...

My food was obviously sitting under a heat lamp since even mustard takes a while before it gets nasty on top. I got sick trying to eat my pretzels later on, but bc I didn't choose to send it back, they wouldn't take it off the bill. Really wish I could also add the video where I was able to LITERALLY PET THE "CHEESE DIP", which sure as hell ain't cheese dip, but likely Alfredo sauce.

Also really good place if you're under the age and want to drink since they don't check anyone's ID. I am 24 and don't support that sentence, but they seriously didn't card me or ANYONE at the bar so I seriously don't think they care.

My friend ordered grilled chicken with fries, didn't give fries the first time and everything he had was "just edible". Seriously, don't waste your time here and go to a million other options for Tex Mex, burgers, drinks, ect. Don't go to a place that leaves food around until it's barely edible, mess up orders constantly, and will put everyone's safety at risk by not carding for alcohol.

Edit: I did end up reaching out to a manager. Though the system they had me use to even get to that point is very annoying. I don't understand why they send a generic bot reply to reviews with a link that you can not copy. That only connects you to the store's manager. I could have called the store directly myself and had that handled, but I am just over it. But the manager handled the situation.

I found out the "cheese dip" is made with parm, hence why it was pretty much just alfredo. However, I'll be honest that most people assume a beer cheese dip is going to be cheddar and that a change of that assumption should have been noted. All in all, disappointing food, disappointing training, and kinda mediocre handling of the aftermath.

I will say thanks to Applebee's though for managing to be the very first restaurant I can put on my "warn others and not let my family...