Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Rapid City

A bad experience turned into a worse one. My son and I went to Applebee’s to have a nice lunch today. After quickly being seated we waited 15 minutes for a server to even come say hi to us. He kindly apologized for the wait, which I appreciated and took our drink order. The manager brought back my sons juice and I patiently waited for my water. After about five minutes my water shows up and we place our order. I ordered the quesadilla burger and my son ordered the chicken tenders with yogurt and strawberries. When our food finally showed up his order was incorrect, I kindly told the lady that it was incorrect and she brought out yogurt. At this point we had not received napkins, straws, or silverware. After she returned with the yogurt I asked for a minimum of napkins and she returned with some. I look at my food and my burger is a big disappointment. Nothing like how I have had it in the past and maybe lukewarm at best. I ate it as I truly do not like to complain but not before taking a picture. After finishing eating our server finally comes over to check on us for the first time since ordering and I ask for our check and a box, my son never finishes all of his food. I stacked my plates while we waited for the two things and he returns with a box and states he will be right back with the check. A few minutes later he returns. I look at the receipt and notice a charge for “dressing” times two. I am instantly confused as no where does it state we would be charged for ranch and I have never been charged for ranch unless you ask for more than a normal serving of it and the server never mentioned that they would charge for it when he asked if we wanted some. I put cash in the book and we get up and head for the door, by this time I’m very upset and feel as a manager if it was me I would want to know about the poor experience so I asked the hostess to speak to the manager. This gentleman slumps his way to the front radiating that he did not care for his job. I told him about the expierencr how I appreciated his server acknowledging we had waited and that his food was disappointing at best, he doesn’t say anything. Then I mention I noticed a charge for ranch and he states”it is his GM’s belief that if they pay for it they charge for it” I asked where it stated there would be a charge and he states when you get “extra ranch” you should expect to be charged. I inform him that I did not ask for extra ranch, I was asked if I wanted ranch and not told there would be a charge and as a manager and someone who works in a restaurant I have never been charged nor was it right to charge someone and not inform them it was extra(even drive through a tell you extra costs more, but again I didn’t order extra) he says he cannot speak for other restaurants but that is how they charge and I again asked where it was stated and he rudely tells me “well it doesn’t say that is free” and at this point I am fuming and I remain calm and inform him I would never return the the restaurant again. He didn’t not say anything just stood there still radiating his lack of care for his position.

In this and every case a customer is always right, and when brought to his attention he should of acted as though he cared a little for my business and tried to correct the situation and he didn’t. I also keep thinking what if I had ordered a salad? I would be charged for something that should automatically come with it? Isn’t that why things are marked up? To cover the costs of operations and unforeseen problems? If Applebee’s own manager doesn’t care about their customers why should I spend my hard earned money at a business that truly doesn’t appreciate my or anyone else’s business. I am sad to say I will never return to this Applebee’s or any others. They have lost a customer for life and before anyone steps foot in the Rapid City restaurant, they should highly consider my story and...

Our group of 5 went to lunch here after church yesterday. We had a long wait which is understandable with businesses being short staffed. With better planning they could have put us in the huge section that was closed and made some of the smaller groups after us wait if the servers couldn't handle more customers.

The spinach and artichoke dip was kind of runny but tasted okay. The chips however, we're awful. They looked and tasted like old stale hard ones were mixed in with newer ones and thrown in the deep fryer to try to revive them. I ended up eating it with a spoon instead.

My friend and I both ordered French onion soup. I love French onion soup and I know it should be made with "firm bread like sourdough or french". The bread was extremely soggy and slimy. The soup itself was watered down and the cheese on top (which I ate because I was hungry) was melted but certainty not placed under a broiler or torch to brown it.

They also brought our soup out on other people's plates as a side which was easily fixable but it meant they had to go back and get the correct sides. My boyfriend got a bacon cheeseburger that came out with no cheese so the server brought a cold slice of cheese on a plate for him.

I very politely brought it to the server's attention that while I didn't blame her I was not happy with the food. We saw her go back and talk to the manager. The manager then proceeded to hide the rest of the time we were there. She did not make any attempt to make things right or apologize. No discounts were given even though the soup and chips were inedible.

I am not one to make a scene, so I paid the bill and...

I'm sitting here at my table and haven't even gotten my meal yet, but I am prompted to write a review because my waitress, Dani, has been super friendly and nice and helpful. Thank you Dani! I gave "atmosphere ' 4 stars because it's really cold in here - all of the people dining here right now (except one table) have their hoodies and coats on and I'm sure they'd be more comfortable if they could take them off but they can't because it's like 60 degrees and we're shivering ... but otherwise the vibe and ambiance is solid. Staff overall seem energetic and happy. I was a little disappointed that they are not offering the Really Big Meal Deal for $9.99. The Applebee's corporate website says it is available in all locations for both dine-in and takeout, but I was told that they are not honoring that here. I suspect they just don't want to sell meals for $9.99 when they can get people to spend at least $11.99 when that special isn't available. The location manager could change this if they wanted to .... but they just don't want to. I ordered the chicken sausage penne pasta dish for $11.99. It was really good! If I came back to this location I would order it again because it was tasty, prepared properly, and a decent value. It seems like it should have come with a dinner roll or a piece of garlic bread or something, but it didn't .... but that's okay. I'm not upset that it didn't come with some form of bread, but it just seems odd...