Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in South Hill

We go here on a weekly basis. Never had an issue until tonight. Three adults, 2 children, 1 of which is strapped safely into a car seat.(this will come into play later, TRUST ME.) Upon arriving, the only hostess up front was a woman in a motorized wheelchair. Not an issue except that she should have help. We get seated and we are not offered a sling for the car seat. I figured it must be in use. There were no other tables sat next to us and it was not busy for the most part, so I grabbed a chair and set the car seat on the chair. We order drinks, appetizers and food. We receive the appetizers and drinks. About halfway through finishing our appetizers, a man walks over and grabs a chair from somewhere and places it into the spot where I grabbed the chair that my child, still strapped safely into the car seat, was placed onto. He walks away and comes back with a sling. Didn’t even realize he was a manager until he is telling me, nay demanding, that I put the car seat into the sling. So, I grab the car seat and put him into the sling. All the while, this manager is directing me on the position the sling is supposed to be sitting, not this way but that way. I also explained we were not offered a sling to begin with, if we were, I would have gladly used it. He walks away. Never introduced himself. I got up, frustrated, and asked if there was another manager to speak to. A server told me there was another one on at 8-8:30. I thought I’d stick around. Unbeknownst to me, while I was speaking to the server, the male manager walks up to the hostess stand and scolds the woman in a wheelchair. (Um. What?) Shortly after receiving our food, the same server said the second manager showed up early and would be over to speak with me. Great! Instead, the same male manager from before, comes over and feigns like he hasn’t a clue as to why someone would want to speak to the manager. I explained for the second time, we were not offered the sling. He tells me that’s why he brought it over. I said that there was a better way of approaching us, a more friendly approach instead of curtly telling me that the car seat needs to be in a sling. He tried talking over me to which my family members step and yet again, explain the approach was the issue. The attitude. This man looks me in my face and says he was looking out for the safety of “the kid”. THEN starts to talk down to me, “aren’t you concerned about the safety of the kid? That was my concern.” I stopped and looked at my family member and said “is that supposed to be a dig at my parenting abilities?” To which they answered yes. At this point, I’m seeing red. he looked GOBSMACKED like he couldn’t believe I was upset. He quickly scurried away without really even saying anything, just seemingly like he wanted to lecture me. Then I see the other manager, standing nearby, watching. She watched the entire thing unfold and didn’t say a word. The server I had spoken to earlier came to our table and was so incredibly apologetic. She couldn’t even believe what he said. I got up to go to the bathroom and when I left, I asked the same server for corporate’s number. She gave me the card for the Area Manager. I thanked her to which she told me that I am not the only one to have a nasty encounter with him, it happens all the time. I called the Area Manager, did not expect him to pick up but he did. I told him the story and also added, I’ve worked in restaurants and bars before, for a really long time actually. I’ve never met someone as vile as the male manager. And as a manager, your job is to fill in where you are needed. The hostess upfront, god bless her, THAT’S where he should have been, helping. Not once outside of the chair, sling and the return visit, did I see him on the floor. To which the area manager agreed, “oh, absolutely”. So JJ or Jaime, whatever you call yourself, you’re the reason you are losing business. I know I won’t be going back ever. And Joe, make good on your word and TRAIN people. Your word is your...

Applebee's holds a quirky spot in my heart. It was a random restaurant that I ended up at a lot while dating my wife 15 years ago.

Unfortunately it has not stood the test of time.

We visit less and less often and each time come away wondering why we did at all. The chain seems to lose sight of the basics more and more with each ensuing visit. Whether that's a cost cutting effort or a lack of unique value in the market, I don't know.

Our last visit missed on all points- When we arrived, it looked and felt dead. Background music was dated, lots of hostesses hanging around the front door, and maybe 5 other guests / parties seated at dinner time. Lights were super low throughout (and not in an atmospheric sort of way). Due to the emptiness we were seated quickly and introduced to a friendly waitress. (Highlight of the experience..). From then on, it continued downhill. We ordered quickly, and the food came out quickly (too quickly in fact (microwaved?)). The beverage order for our kids was wrong and the food, though flying from the kitchen was somehow awkwardly warm (like if you overheat in the microwave then let sit for too long because it was too hot at first). None of the food was good except the buffalo wings and fries. Whiskey burger had a weird sauce and was overly dry. A chicken and shrimp dish was underseasoned and somehow ridiculously greasy. Kids mac and cheese was worse than store bought Kraft. Kinda lumpy. Couldn't get water or drink refills in a timely fashion and just ended up ordering a dessert and paying through the table top thing.

All in,...

I'm not a good choice to review Appleby's or any other homogenized American chain restaurant. Why not? Because I LOATHE them! Having said that, I couldn't decline my parents' invite & so, as it happens from time to time, I end up at table in places I normally wouldn't willingly set foot in. It was exactly what you'd expect. The server can make a big difference, but ours was too focused on pulling off an I'm-so-into-serving-you-nothing-else-matters-you're-the-best-most-important-people-in-the-history-of-people-but-really-i-should-still-be-the-center-of-attention-look-look-look-I'm-just-so-gay! performance with a Tiny Cooper (wannabe) twist to make much of a difference one way or the other. I will admit that I enjoyed my 3 appetizer dinner for $12.99. I had steak quesadillas, chicken wonton tacos (!) and French Onion soup done perfectly. The tacos were surprisingly delicious - somebody had a crazy idea that turned right out! Kudos. The quesadillas were on the higher end of O.K. & the soup, as I said, was great. My Dad & Hubby had combo plates with ribs & chicken. The ribs were disappointing big time - very dry. Chicken was mediocre. Ma had dry salmon. The garlic green beans were fantastic. The side of bacon Mac n cheese hubby had was pretty good, but the noodles were a bit overcooked, at the point where they're almost mooshy, moosh, moosh. We didn't do desert. However, I won't be back anytime soon...really anytime at all of i can help it. And that's my I-have-time-to-kill-while-I'm-waiting-for-that-friend-you-adore-who's-always-late! LOL &...