Applebee's or Crapplebee's or Applebye bye's

I was driving along today and noticed the large billboard outside of this chain restaurant. It proudly proclaimed "Join us for our Margarita Luau." Now if any of you patronize this place of eats, would you kindly tell me what in the world a Margarita Luau would be.........can't this place get anything right?

It's held right after the tamale smorgasboard....very popular

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

It's held right after the tamale smorgasboard....very popular

Is this the place with the Kosher Ham and Cheese sandwiches?

So does one take a hat for the hat dance or a grass skirt for the hula? And do you think that I might be able to bring my own martini with me? (I would be sure and salt the rim of the glass) I do want to do everything properly for such a gala evening .

Tyler will be serving up Margaritas......YES!

Is a full moon out tonight???

I have done lunch, dinner and whatever at Applebee's. Although they are not the greatest, I have never had anything there that I found unappetising. I got good service, good drinks and it was clean.

Personally, I could not complain.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Oh its gotta be any Hard Rock location!! I can't even go near the places as they're soooooo loud!! My friends always want to go there when they come to town and the food is lousy and we can never hear each other speak. Good times!

...try the lasagne salsa and the matzoh lo mein as well....

Sundancer - I agree, although not my fav. place to eat I have found that their menu is quite extensive and something for everyone. I go when everyone else in the group wants to go. They have a great chicken asian wrap and their mini-bbq ribs aren't bad either.

I think the original comment was not so much about their food, but about the paradoxical mix of Hawaii and Mexico in the Margarita Luau concept.

Tony's right. I even submit it might not be so far away from each other. Lomi lomi salmon vs. ceviche, kahlua pork and puerco al pastor, margaritas and mai tais, tamales and lau lau. They even have the Pacific Ocean in common!

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Bad

I think the original comment was not so much about their food, but about the paradoxical mix of Hawaii and Mexico in the Margarita Luau concept.

Thank you, Tony. I knew some people would know what I was talking about.

It's 3:08 in the afternoo and I'm at work - wish I had a MaiTai right now and wouldn't care where it came from.

i've eaten there like their like 10 times and every time the food has been cold... i don't want to eat cold fries. that place is terrible.

is Knoxville that bad a food town that you've had to repeatedly patronize that Sysco microwave hut

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I have done lunch, dinner and whatever at Applebee's. Although they are not the greatest, I have never had anything there that I found unappetising. I got good service, good drinks and it was clean.

Personally, I could not complain.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

The only good thing I can think of to say about Applebee's is that Ruby Tuesday's is worse.

quote:

Originally posted by Niagara

The only good thing I can think of to say about Applebee's is that Ruby Tuesday's is worse.

While I would never again so much as pull through the parking lot of an Applebee's, I did consider Ruby Tuesday's to be pretty much a really last resort type of place. Then, about a year ago my grandson wanted to go there and we, I reluctantly, went. I just had a hamburger, but that hamburger was pretty darned good.

So, last September when I had to get a quick meal while in South Carolina and the closest place, other than a Shoney's, was Ruby Tuesday, I remembered the burger and went in. At the last minute I decided to order a strip steak and a baked potato. I was quite pleasantly surprised. My steak was cooked exactly as ordered -- medium rare -- and it was very flavorful and tender. The baked potato was fluffy, with a bit of crispness to the skin.

All in all, it was a pleasant experience, and I will no longer be reluctant to have a meal at a Ruby Tuesday's.

Michael, I second your thoughts on Ruby Tuesdays. Great salad bar and the burgers are really good.

This concept was developed by two University of Tennessee students and they still keep their roots around Knoxville (Maryville).

They really try hard and they are very good to their community.

I have not visited Applebees very often. I use to have a cocktail there after work with a colleague. I had nacho's and a Canadian. The Nacho's and the cocktail was very good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Actually, Paul, I've never had anything from their salad bars. Of course, I've never had anything from any salad bar since 1965 when I used to go to a place called Chucks Steak House in Orange, Connecticut. I don't do buffets, either.

Michael, I understand your reluctance at consuming from any salad bar or buffet. I also feel very similar but Ruby Tuesdays is very very good and their Blue cheese is outstanding.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by Niagara

The only good thing I can think of to say about Applebee's is that Ruby Tuesday's is worse.

While I would never again so much as pull through the parking lot of an Applebee's, I did consider Ruby Tuesday's to be pretty much a really last resort type of place. Then, about a year ago my grandson wanted to go there and we, I reluctantly, went. I just had a hamburger, but that hamburger was pretty darned good.

So, last September when I had to get a quick meal while in South Carolina and the closest place, other than a Shoney's, was Ruby Tuesday, I remembered the burger and went in. At the last minute I decided to order a strip steak and a baked potato. I was quite pleasantly surprised. My steak was cooked exactly as ordered -- medium rare -- and it was very flavorful and tender. The baked potato was fluffy, with a bit of crispness to the skin.

All in all, it was a pleasant experience, and I will no longer be reluctant to have a meal at a Ruby Tuesday's.

I think Ruby's must vary location to location. We have one near us, and it's pretty poor, yet I've been to others, and they were good.

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

Tyler will be serving up Margaritas......YES!

This is quite an old photo of Tyler Florence. I ran across him in NY recently, and he has ballooned up to approximately the size of John Candy. (OK, that's an exaggeration, but he did get quite fat.)

I like Applebee's, especially their salads, their Riblets, and their appetizers.

I'm not defending Applebees or any other establishment. A few times, maybe 3, I've enjoyed an item there at lunch. A grilled Tilapia filet, mango salsa,grilled veggies, bed of rice and topped off with half a grilled lemon to squeeze over the top. I like it!
Our daughter, finishing college and working at Bennigans gives me a boat load of grief when I mention the word Applebees. I mention the A word often, she gets excited, old men can have fun also!

When we go there, I usually get the veggie patch pizza. Once in awhile, the steak with bleu cheese on it, or cajun style. Meh. Nothing to write home about, but still edible.

Here in Columbia, the land of big box stores, chain restaurants, and one huge mall, we end up eating at Applebees or Bob Evans fairly often. This is because my kids like it, and we often have freebie coupons for them. They give out free meal coupons when the kids are student of the week, etc. Pretty smart of them -- it gets families like us to go in and eat.

At any rate, I know what to stick with to keep things "safe"...of the two chains, I like Bob Evans much better, but I can be happy with some sort of appetizer at Applebees, or if I'm feeling like keeping the cals low, Applebees has their Weight Watchers items. Again, very smart marketing, in my opinion.

Sometimes, the food is secondary. I'd prefer every meal to be wonderful, but it just doesn't work that way when you are a busy professional with kids. Lots of times, dinner is cereal at our house!!

quote:

Originally posted by joanie41

Here in Columbia, the land of big box stores, chain restaurants, and one huge mall, we end up eating at Applebees or Bob Evans fairly often. This is because my kids like it, and we often have freebie coupons for them. They give out free meal coupons when the kids are student of the week, etc. Pretty smart of them -- it gets families like us to go in and eat.

At any rate, I know what to stick with to keep things "safe"...of the two chains, I like Bob Evans much better, but I can be happy with some sort of appetizer at Applebees, or if I'm feeling like keeping the cals low, Applebees has their Weight Watchers items. Again, very smart marketing, in my opinion.

Sometimes, the food is secondary. I'd prefer every meal to be wonderful, but it just doesn't work that way when you are a busy professional with kids. Lots of times, dinner is cereal at our house!!

I'm with you when it comes to Bob Evans. It's one of the few chain restaurants where I've never had a bad experience. The food at Applebees doesn't impress me that much, although the salads are pretty good.I'm a little more partial to Ruby Tuesdays, however the one near my office is very inconsistent when it comes to the quality of their service. The food, on the other hand, is pretty darn good.

As far as chain restaurants, I'll stick with Outback and Johnny Carino's.

Got a quick fix at Ruby Tuesday at the Wheaton (MD) Westfield Mall. The burger was quite good. So, I definately would choose Ruby Tuesday's over Applebees. But, I still say Applebees is good for the 10pm-midnight drink and appetizer. They sell the same alcohol as everyone else, and their apps are 1/2 price. The bartenders are as friendly as anywhere else.

I just ate at Applebee's last night - a friend insisted! I tried to convince him to go to a local 24 hour diner, but no, he was intent on going to Applebee's.

I have always had decent food at Applebee's, so I can't really complain. Last night, I had the house sirlion, loaded mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies. We ordered onion peels for an appetizer, and for dessert? A chocolate martini. The food was really good, our server was nice, the atmosphere was perfect. Can't complain!

~Jessica