Applebee's Grill + Bar — Restaurant in Toms River

Horrible experience. We waited 20 min to get our drinks and got 2 plates for 4 people. And only 2 knives for 4 people. We were patient and understanding the entire time. I forewarned the server that I had a $10 off of $40 promo code for doing a survey and I also had a $10 bonus gift card for buying a $50 gift card that I also was gonna use. I had to explain the $10 off of 40 coupon,like three times, to the server who's telling me she wasn't sure if I could use it. And as far as I'm concerned the $10 bonus gift card should be considered a gift card for payment, period. Weeks before I used both the promo code $10 off of $40 another $10 bonus card without any problem. Today not only was the service horrible but now I couldn't even use the bonus card that expires in a few days because I was told that I was stacking coupons. Then when I said fine you're not going to accommodate me even though the four of us sitting at this table could have easily had split the check into 2 separate checks...but I said we will play this game and I said that I will just then leave all my comments in the new survey I was going to do. Low and behold, the survey code doesn't work and says invalid. Isn't that convenient. So it seems that one of the staff members heard I was going to do the server and actually did the survey before me so that I could no longer get in the survey to share my opinion with the franchise owners and the company. I will never come back to eat here ever again ...even though I have spent over $500 on gift cards this year, and have been in here at least once or twice a week for the past year. Not to mention every Friday we try to come here and there is over 10 to 15 tables empty, no one's sitting at them, but there is a hoard of people outside the restaurant and in the foyer being told there is over an hour wait!!!?? I can understand this happening maybe once or twice on a Friday but to happen every single Friday? You would think management would staff properly so that no table goes unsat, and no one has to wait to be sat when there's empty tables. Does the franchise owners know that you are walking customers because tables are being left empty and customers are being made to wait over an hour to be sat on Friday nights??? We went and ate at Olive garden yesterday and gave our $150 to them instead. Again, is the franchise owners aware of all the money they lose every Friday by forcing people to look at empty tables ,that are not being sat, because you're understaffed and customers being told to wait an hour to wait for a table??? Horrible horrible service and a horrible way to...

It happens every time we go out to eat. I have a 6yr old, who is not shy at all. So when she's asked what she would like, she will just tell the waitress/waiter literally everything she likes on the menu, which by the way are pictures to make it easier for kids to read and choose what's on the menu. So, of course, I get that waiter. He asks what my kid what she would like( instead of asking for an adult approval to even speak to her and /or accept her order) . She answers: " I would like a pizza, corn dog apple sauce, French fries ... and I had to stop her because she would have named almost everything on the menu. So I had to make him start over on his order pad because he we was literally writing her entire order down. She don't even like corn dogs lol. Than she asks for a chocolate milk with her food. I was ok with that so I didn't say anything.

My older daughter however is shy and suffers from multiple anxiety disorders,so normally someone else will order for her. Her food order came back fine and she actually ordered her food by herself this time but I ordered her drink. She ordered a Virginia Shirley temple.

Ok fast foward to us getting our food and drinks. My 6yr old wound up with a chocolate milk and lemonade ( that we never ordered but he insisted that my 6yr old did, while I was sitting next to her and paying attention to what she was telling him she would like) and my Oldest wound up getting a sprite that she never ordered. And although we accepted the sprite incase she didn't like the Shirley Temple, we still had to wait longer for the proper drink order and I got stuck paying for a drink that I didn't order.

Than I started choking on my salad because the rub on the chicken was so dry. That was fun and...

Had an Uber eats order for a customer that I drove 8 miles to get to this Applebees for and was denied service by the manager. The host was extremely polite brought me to the pickup counter noticed the customers drinks were still there as well and host told me he’s not sure what happened and checked the kitchen and not sure where the food went for the order. The host got the manager and I even showed the manager the order and the manager Tom didn’t seem to care about the Uber customers order who had got stolen by somebody else nor did he care about me for wasting my time and gas as well. Instead the manager rudely tells me “oh well somebody else came and took it and were not making it again.” Tried to even explain to him that somebody simply swiped it that wasn’t even a driver and that it’s impossible for me to have the same active order that another driver had and that’s why the drinks were still there. Instead he rudely tells me oh well and just walks away. Was absolutely shocked that a manager would even act like that, especially even to a driver picking up food from their place helping out giving them business. Ended up having to cancel my order and am sure the customer was left wondering why he was never able to get his food. The General Manager Alicia also took the time to call and was not the most polite person either. Nothing was resolved at all. Seemed like she wanted to argue and debate and protect Tom the manager, it was a struggle even getting his name out of her. Completely unprofessional for sure will never be back there. Took zero accountability for how they even let somebody take the food under their watch that was meant for me really. Also failed to apologize for wasting my time, gas and mileage...