I am the only one in my city who thinks Applebee's foods is BLAH

The parallel universe:
 
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=116232925082431
 
http://www.pitchengine.com/tlcannonapplebees/applebees-raises-22000-for-nys-special-olympics-in-one-night/31793/
 
http://nftblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/applebees-flapjack-fundraiser.html
 
http://www.wish.org/supporters/promotions
 
http://www.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/55271/
 
http://www.wicz.com/news2005/viewarticle.asp?a=15457
 
I'm not defending their food. At all. In fact, the IHOP thing makes sense because I've noticed a considerable drop in their food the past few seasons, of which I generally only get appetizers.
 
I don't "go" to Applebees, any more than Ruby Tuesdays or TGIFridays. In the Fall, as you know, I adjudicate HS marching bands across the country. The hotels I'm put in are usually airport area hotels - so after a competition, the only places near my hotel are chain restaurants, and the occasional local place that looks a little scary (like run down pool halls). The comfort of chains is that I know what to expect and the liquor for my nightcap taste the same there as any other place. Of the three I listed, Ruby Tuesday is the best food. I've happened to notice the Applebees were a little more focused on neighborhood outreach than the others. I noticed it particularly at an Applesbees in Nashville TN, VA Beach and Syracuse. I know the one in Fall Church, VA also does fundraising for the community.
 
Mom and Pop places tend not to be along these airport access roads. If I fly into these towns, I have no car to drive. So, we walk to the local chain and deal with it.
 
 

The Applebees around us is pretty awesome! We went there a month ago and ordered the Philly steak burger, and I was very impressed! It was delish! When we go there, we do tend to stick to their burgers, or the all you can eat chicken strips or shrimp!!!

as I've said before I never consider crApplebee's or any of those similar chains a place to "go out to dinner" to. only as a place to get something to eat like Mc Donald's, only they serve beer & charge more money & have funky crap on the walls.

Only in desperation would I go to an Applebees or any other chain. There's always a local joint that will be better and cheaper.