Applebee’s

Not a very good experience today. On a positive note, upon walking through the door my wife and I were immediately greeted with a warm and professional reception from the manager Michael.
After that things went downhill. Our server named Rachel took over 20 minutes to bring two lemonades to our table. We still never found out why it took so long to bring our drinks, it doesn’t get much more simple than that. How hard could really have been to whip up something that easy? When she did finally return she brought our drinks along with the table behind us that arrived after we got to the restaurant. If she needed to make two trips in order to bring us our drinks first since we were there first then so be it. Maybe she was just having an off day or bad day.
When the food it finally arrived it was prepared to our liking and everything was satisfying in terms of the food. The manager Michael came to check on us and to make sure everything was OK and I thought that was very nice. Michael will do just fine for himself long after he leaves the Applebee’s franchise.
The menus were dirty greasy and sticking. And you could tell no one paid any attention to the small details around or about the table areas. It was disturbingly obvious that no one had come by and quite a long time to clean and wipe down the little electronic consoles that were on each table.
Not impressed overall and may not return.

If you’ve even remotely started reading my reviews, then you’ve likely already caught on that Applebee’s tends to be among the few chain restaurants to which I remain fairly loyal.
Yes, I will admit that the menu tends to be paint-​by-​numbers. In fact, so is the interior décor and the customer service.
Yet, there’s something relaxed and comforting about the place and I tend to enjoy it no matter where I am. This typically results in a 4-​star review, though on occasion I do find a location that isn’t up to par for a variety of reasons.
I visited this particular Applebee’s in Fishers primarily because it was amongst a group of retailers I planned to visit on a fun Sunday afternoon gift card spree that included having used a gift card for this meal.
Applebee’s lost a star before I even entered the doors. While the design of most Applebee’s locations is quite similar, there’s some individualization among the restaurants. While most locations have accessible parking all along one side with their «Curbside-​to-​Go» parking next to that, this location actually has the Curbside-​to-​Go parking first followed by accessible parking.
What?
So, individuals with disabilities have to walk/​roll farther to access your front entrance while Curbside-​to-​Go customers get the spots more in the front and, in actuality, a little bit farther away from the front doors? That doesn’t even make sense. To make matters worse, these spots are on a serious slant and this is a serious risk for anyone in a wheelchair. I actually had to catch my wheelchair from wheeling down into the street. This is a basic but important design flaw.
As you go in the standard two-​door entrance, you get to the host area with the typical Applebee’s design of bar in the middle and two dining areas to the left and right. As seems to be true of most Applebee’s locations, the left area is easily accessible and the right area requires that you go to the rear of the restaurant to go up a small ramp. The ramp itself is workable, but it’s particularly weird because this ramp is almost precisely where the side entrance (that is hardly ever used) is located. Again, this is just bad planning.
I ordered a simple cheeseburger w/​fries along with my usual unsweetened iced tea. My server was Braden, who was friendly but who seemed a tad overwhelmed by his table load despite it appearing the place was about ¹⁄₃ full. The food was decent, though not quite as good as usual and the sandwich actually was falling apart on the bun (ie, it was under-​cooked). I received one refill with no mention of another despite the fact that I lingered a bit to read my Sunday paper. On the plus side, I didn’t get any weird looks for using an e-​gift card.
There are Applebee’s locations where you get a sense of that whole «neighborhood grill» concept. These are the ones where you feel comfortable, feel welcome, and you feel like you can linger and enjoy your meal. Oh sure, they’re corporate settings and you never quite forget that, but they are corporate settings with an awareness of good customer service.
Then, there are locations that seem to have forgotten the customer service side and focus almost exclusively on the paint-​by-​numbers corporate scene that almost feels like they have a target goal of how long you can stay at your table. I felt more like a number here than a valued customer.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend this location for someone with mobility issues. The Castleton location isn’t; that far away and it’s got a far better design for wheelchair access along with generally friendlier staff.
Applebee’s continues to be one of my favorite chains, but today’s visit was a reminder why I still prefer to go local.

No two visits are the same even with the same staff.
We went here on a Sunday afternoon and had great food and service. We sat in the bar to watch the game and the service was great. Attentive, but not clingy where you can enjoy your party.
Two days later went back and where things different. The wait staff and manager where standing around holding court and not paying attention to paying attention to the needs of the customers. Several orders were sent back. The same manger from Sunday seemed less involved than aware and on point.
It will be a while before be go back even with the 2 for 20 menu.

It’s Applebees.
typically decent pub type food
service is usually good.

In a previous review, I stated that I’m not much of a chain restaurant girl but here I am, writing my second chain review in one week. Sigh.
I used to really like Applebees. It was kind of my secret shame.
I met a friend recently for lunch at this location and it was fine. I mean, the food came quickly and was fairly inexpensive — it was just … blah. I had a salad and half of a chicken roll-​up. Both were lacking in pizazz.
I know, I know — it’s Applebees — it just seems like it used to be better.

Love ½ price appetizers & ½ price beer.

The only thing I really like about this place is their mudslide. They just do it right. However, I will pass on the buffalo wings even if the menu says they have the best in town. There wasn’t enough sauce at all. It was dry. The buffalo sauce doesn’t have enough kick to it. Even a 5 year old can eat it.
I ordered their new strawberry salad with chicken. The strawberry didn’t taste fresh. It felt like it was soaked in sugar and water to make the fruit last longer. I ordered a basket of garlic bread and it wasn’t good either. However, they have fresh brewed sweet tea so I was a happy camper somehow.
My husband ordered one of the sizzling plates with bourbon in it. It was just ok for him.
Will probably come back again not for lunch or dinner but for their happy hour. Past 9 PM, their appetizers are ½ off. With their delicious mudslide, it will be worth a visit.

Visited after work for a salad. Lettuce was not fresh and grilled chicken was cold. Will not go back.

I used to work at an Applebee’s during college so you would think I wouldn’t go near one now. Au contraire my friend. I love their menu because it has something to make everyone happy. My absolute favorite is the white chocolate walnut blondie which comes on a hot skillet, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and then a small serving of this maple butter sauce to drizzle over the top. Simply amazing!
…because dessert should be eaten first.