Comments on: Will Applebee’s New Menu Items Overcome Their Service ?

By: Mike Sigers

Mike Sigers — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:59:18 +0000

Thanks Vanessa. That took a lot of time and I appreciate you spending it on us.

I tried another Applebee’s yesterday, in Louisville this time, and the bruschetta burger was awful and the fries were dripping oil/grease.

The server was outstanding, but the food was not.

I’m done with them for a long, long time.

Back to searching for a go-to place. Any suggestions ?

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:21:37 +0000

While I agree with everyone except Carl, I do have this to say… Everyone does have off days and comparing surgery to waiting tables is a bit extreme. In my vast expirence waiting tables and in eating out, Applebees is most likely the worst restaurant I have ever eaten in, in fact the absolute only reason I step foot in one is to visit the bar which I seldom do because it is highly over priced. The Corporate Executives need to completely over haul the entire thing down to the crappy theme a Neighborhood Grill & Bar, designed to take the customer’s attention off of the less than desirable expirence. It will take a lot more than this Tyler who ever he is to fix the disater known as Applebee’s. Food for thought (pun intended) If they were really the Neighborhood’s Grill & Bar don’t you think they would take the time to find out who there neighbor’s were and include things such as vegetarian meals not just that gross veggie patch pizza on the menu, bigger bar tables, and a clean place to eat (see http://www.healthinspections.com/articles.cfm?YXJ0aWNsZUlEPTQ4). I am doing research for a paper and after what I have seen I will never step foot in that petry dish they call a restarurant chain again.
PS- Your daughters were right, even though food service is an art and should be taken as seriously as any professional job, one should always consider the high road and act accordingly (not always 15%)but if the service expirence was less then expected and not a one where you didn’t even recieve your food, please from one human being with bills to another at least leave something.

By: Mike Sigers

Mike Sigers — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:38:48 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts Amber, although I disagree.

If your surgeon has a bad day and you die, will your relatives forgive him for not being on his game ? Uh…..no.

Whether you work as a server, a salesman or a surgeon, you have to be ready when the whistle blows or you’ll be held accountable.

Life’s short – play hard.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:00:39 +0000

I used to work at the Applebee’s in Houghton, MI, as well as many other dine-in restaurants in the area. If you have not yourself worked as a server, you would have no idea how frustrating it can be. I’ve had days where I was just completely off my game. I would be busting my butt and it still seemed like I couldn’t get anything right. Just because your server made a few mistakes doesn’t mean she’s a bad server. She could have just been having a bad day. Everybody has them every once in a while. That’s no reason to frown upon the server. Furthermore, you should always leave at least a 15% unless your server treats you poorly. Its respectful if nothing else. Us servers work our butts off and make a good $2.25 an hour. So really all the money we earn comes from our tips and if we’re having an off day and nobody tips us, that’s a couple bills we can’t pay. And one more thing, there is a tip pool at Applebee’s.

By: Mike Sigers

Mike Sigers — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:46:45 +0000

That’s too bad about the service AND the food being less than best.

It’s always one of my favorite looking places to eat.

Sorry to say the service is usually one of the worst in all of the foodosphere.

Thanks for taking time to talk with us, Al.