Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Santa Fe

This experience was not as horrible as the previous visit but very close to it. We had 3 adults and 2 children; 5 and 7 years of age. The waitress started our visit as if it was her first day on the job; she couldn't answer questions, she had no idea of the food offered on the regular menu or the children's menu. Our family dines out fairly regularly and have a routine that works for the benefit of both us and the waitress. I asked for specific delivery of the different parts of our meal; ie, drinks for children only with meal, requested a pitcher of tea on table to eliminate having to ask for it and wait for the "busy" waitress to get around to responding along with other simple requests. The appetizers were brought in without any individual plates to use...it took 3 requests to get 2 plates and 4 extra napkins, the two salads were delivered on hot plates...the wrong dressing was on both salads. When the main courses were being delivered we were trying to clear enough space on the table. One of the servers put a plate in front of my 5 year-old grandson that was so hot he burned his hand to the point of crying. All main courses were delivered except mine...I waited and when the waitress came around to check on our table; maybe 2 - 3 minutes I asked her if my meal was coming anytime soon...she looked at me with surprise and offered to "check" on it...2 minutes later one of the managers on the floor brought my sizzling plate. The meal...as usual was very tasty. We had promised an Oreo milkshake to the children when they finished eating their meals. So, the adults decided we wanted to order and share 2 desserts from the menu since the kids were going to be working on their shakes. The 2 adult orders arrived and we patiently waited for the 2 Oreo milkshakes...and waited...and waited. During this "waiting" the adults were finishing their desserts and had asked about the milkshakes numerous times. Finally they arrive and the children were pleased with their shakes. We requested our check so we could pay and leave. Checking the invoice we found a few errors and brought it to the attention of the waitress. We had been charged for a 2nd side that we never received, and then requested a manager because the waitress began to argue about not receiving the 2nd side...our meal was a little over $122.00 and trying not to be to petty...I mentioned that our family had always enjoyed the food at Applebee's but didn't appreciate the wrong charges, poor service or having a manager act as if I was trying to rip off the restaurant for a lousy $1.99...really... The waitress, and mid-level management need much more training and really ask themselves if customer service and/or being a waitress or restaurant manager is something they can do well or really want to. The manager argued over every concern we had. ..the shakes arrived looking more like milk with cookies. Both waitress and manager were rude. We patiently waited for anybody to come to the front to get seated; nobody seemed to know who was doing what or what sections were open. We had special needs because I am in a wheelchair. By the time we were seated the waiting area was full with 10 to 15 people. Its shameful that this restaurant is so poorly ran and your food is tasty. Once again we will be taking our appetite to some other...

It's a prelude to this is that this is no judgement on people working at Applebee's, sounds like Applebee's literally couldn't care less as a company about anything service related.

Also: It's Applebee's ¯⁠\⁠⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠⁠/⁠¯

Do you want to go somewhere where they never have the appetizer you're looking for, even after eight visits?

Do you want company policies that make it to where showing up at 8:50 and 9:00 is when happy hour starts, they won't give you the discount until you order after that?

Do you want mid-tier food for a price that is not even decent food standard?

Look no further than Applebee's. In a town where the Chili's is at what a traditional Applebee's experience normally is, our Applebee's really sets the bar.

The food is okay, the drinks are weak, and they never have anything you're asking for, and the server that's got like 3 of the 9 tables in the house is never able to be found.

I don't blame the servers and the people who work there because Applebee's sounds like a hellish company to work for. Applebee's corporate, you're dog water and it really trickles down the bowl to your consumer base.

What I will say is you could take your $60 to anywhere in town to go get a meal for two with drinks and entrees and have a far better experience. However, if you're cool with just vibing for okay food and looking for something quick and easy and it supports some local twenty something you tip really well, do that.

Just tip your servers, if you can't afford a tip, go cook something better at home for your person and get the bang for your buck without stiffing someone working their max hours a week while not being able to pay bills.

Side note- their breadsticks that come with the Caesar salad are way better than Olive gardens and I don't know what they did, but that's the one thing that Applebee's corporate...

Unfortunately this place is the worst place I've gone to eat. We were sat quickly enough and a drink order taken. 20 Mins later after finally coming to take order and we asked for our drinks 3 of the 4 of us got our drinks (water). The 4th person being my small son waited an additional 10 mins to get his apple juice. So 30 mins into our dining and we finally have our drinks. Next 40 mins in one of our salads arrived. There was suppose to be two and waiter stated would be right back with other. 15 mins later still no salad. In fact at about an hour into dining experice all we had to show for it was a salad for one person and empty water glasses. We were then brought entrée place at our table and then taken away because was wrong table. Waiter comments were sorry wrong table and that the cooks are backed up so entrees taking longer to come out. I asked would I be getting my salad soon and again was told the cooks were backed up. We left im sorry but for any dining establishment standard are drinks within 5 mins of sitting down, appetizer within 15 mins of sitting and entrees around 25 to 35 min. At this point 60 min in we got our drinks 30 to 40 mins in and was only water and 1 of our 2 salads 40 mins in. At hour time frame with only one salad (untouched) and empty water cups (never came to refill and was asked 3 times and 10 mins for lemons) we left. I expect to have a dining experience with my family and enjoy a meal together but that didn't happen. Nor was there any chance of that happening when only pieces leave the kitchen. I believe is standard for all appetizer for table to arrive at same time just as should entrees. I'm not sure if is lack of management or experience but they lost my family and I business and as local...