The negative reviews here are from 2024. We went for the first time March 28, 2026 and it was a 5-star experience. W were greeted with a smile and promptly seated. The server, well dressed and groomed arrived immediately and took our drink order. We ordered an appetizer- the pretzels arrived in perfect timing (All ticket times were excellen, not too fast, not too slow). Pretzels were crisp and soft inside like they are supposed to be made with two excellent sauces. The grilled chicken dinner with broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes my fiancee had she said was cooked just right. Broccoli not hard or soggy, just right, chicken well but moist and excellent potatoes taste and texture. My fish and chips served a generous portion of fish with tasty cole slaw. I had asked for the fries crispy and the cook made them just right. I'm very picky about my fries and these were the best I've had in a very long time. Refills were provided without having to ask. Which brings us to the service. Emma our server was superb. She was friendly, professional and extremely efficient. I admit we had several requsts for sauces, extras, etc and she met every request quickly and with a smile. Also, a manager was walking the floor and greeted us after our drinks were brought. Prices are also a bit lower than chains serving similar fare. 5-stars plus. read more

I've never written a bad review about anything on the internet so tonight is a first. I went excitedly to order the $15.99 all you can eat special combination one 2 entree combination. So I selected riblets and shrimp. You had to choose one entree to begin with so I chose riblets. Unfortunately when I requested shrimp after finishing my riblets, it was 25 minute wait before the server brought out a large plate with only 6 pieces of small fried shrimp. The waiter said that 6 shrimp was all that he could bring out at a time. OMG I was so shocked because my guest started out with a large plate of shrimp and then requested riblets and was brought out 2 large and thick pieces of riblets. I requested the Manager on duty to explain why I only received 6 pieces of shrimp after waiting over 25 minutes. She stated: "what do you want me to do, we only have one cook back there." She was very curt and unapologetic. She then stated she could bring me out 6 more shrimp. I told her I've already waited 25 minutes for 6 shrimp and asked if I'd have to wait another 25 minutes. I previously ordered an extra side of garlic potatoes and told her that this situation was unacceptable and that at the very least I should not have to pay for the extra side of garlic mash potatoes. She removed them from my bill. However, it's important to know that if you order the so-called "all you can eat $15.99 current special" that it's best you start out with the shrimp first instead of being so disappointed to served "6" shrimp after you start out with riblets. I was very disappointed and felt very bad for our server because he was a wonderful server but I could not leave a tip after what I experienced with the Manager and her attitude and lack of understanding. I've worked in food service for over 15 years as a Manager and would have never exhibited such unprofessionalism. So customers beware of the skimpy all you can eat protocols in place at the Bloomington, IN Applebee's. read more

We really enjoyed our late dinner at Applebees. If you find yourself needing a great deal, then check out the half priced appetizer hours. My wife and I ordered several appetizers and split them. The food was cooked very well. The quesadilla is one of our favorites, especially among other chain restaurants. Considering these are appetizers it is surprising how large the portions are. Everything is typically pretty calm at this restaurant; complete with quiet music and low lighting. read more

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Fancy like Applebee's on date night. It's an Applebee's. When my mom visited, we went out to dinner. I picked Applebee's because I wanted to try one of their Halloween drinks. This is Dracula's Juice. The server called it "Dracula smackula" and that cracked me up. It was okay. I wish I had tried the zombie drink, instead. ‍ read more

Applebee's Grill + Bar - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Service was great! Our waiter was so helpful and nice. Plenty of parking but it gets crowded fast. The margaritas were in fact "perfect" and so was my zombie drink. My only criticism was the pasta was lukewarm and not 4-cheese. Great place to grab a casual fun bite with a friend! read more

Applebee's Grill + Bar - Zombie drink - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Food was great. My quesadilla burger was not as warm as it could be as well as the fries is the only down fall with the food. Dessert was good. The atmosphere was nice, clean and spacious inside with TV's. The reason this gets 3 stars is because of the waitress and serving time. She was hardly around and we sat waiting for a long time with hardly any customers in the restaurant. She had a stinking attitude when we asked for change back for a client that has special needs. Just threw the money on the table in front of us. Disrespectful but we did not retaliate. We still left her a tip as we were planning to because we always tip. But not as much for her because of her rudeness and miscommunication. Her name is Tabitha, I believe her last name may start with a G. Please train her on respect on letting customers know service will be slow or something. As well as her being prompt and RESPECTFUL. Very sad. But appreciative and thankful for the food. Thank you! read more

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Beautiful ambiance. 10/10 french onion soup. Wait staff was immaculate. Bathrooms were clean! Loved it

Love this place it's cheap as heck and the best deal around during half off apps. Wait staff is kind and good and the food generally doesn't take too long. Great food as well read more

It was a great place, very clean very quiet as well as very friendly staff. The food was good I had a salad and the breadsticks were hot out of the oven it definitely feel that and tell that by the taste from and to top it off I had a triple chocolate melt I believe it was cold and very hot very good I have no complaints at all all about the mid-20s for the price that's more than reasonable for the good meal out for one person. I will definitely be coming back here again but even if I don't I do highly recommend this location. read more

Applebee's Grill + Bar - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Good food and the drinks were perfect. Has been a while since we ate here and now that we live down the street, we are gonna go back soon!

We stopped at Applebee's on the way home from church. Social distancing and wait staff in masks was part of the new way of dining. The staff took good care of us. Our waiter treated us well. We tried the two for $22. It was more than enough food for two. The innovation brought about by the pandemic is great. Don't be too timid to try them out. read more

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Had not been to Applebees since they closed the one on Pike Plaza. I was excited to stop here especially since there was no waiting and i was hungry. We were greeted with a friendly hostess who seated us as soon as we walked in the door. After sitting down a handsome young man named Maddie (his nick name) greeted us and said he would take care of us, took our drink orders and then we looked over the menu. Yes, the menu had changed since i hadn't been....they had a lot of drink options but i just looked. However i wanted different things so i chose to create my own appetizers i got the wonton tacos, spinach artichoke dip, chicken quesadillas and the crunchy onion rings....i know that sounds like a lot of food but i was thinking about having leftovers for lunch!!! And that i did. I was surprised the food came out so quick, i bet it wasnt even 15 minutes, everything looked fresh and good. I wasn't used to the spinach artichoke dip being so hot that was the first thing i put in my mouth and it was hot that i burned the roof of my mouth...lol... i thought wow i guess it has never been hot in the past. The onion rings were nice and crunchy, and everything tasted good. Our server Maddie did come to make sure everything tasted good and we were satisfied.... if I'm in Bloomington again I'll stop by. read more

Applebee's Grill + Bar - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

They have the pay things on the table. Went to pay the bill. Says someone is entering something on then I'll to try again. Did this three times. It charged my card 150.00 and the bill showed it hadn't been paid. The manager a female said she didn't know what to do. I told her I wasn't paying again they already had 150.00. She said oh it will go back on in a couple days. I said nope. I ask where the nearest bank was to use atm. She didn't know. I said ok we will go find one and bring cash back. She walked away shaking her head. We went back and paid it. Right away with in 5 minutes. They said the machines do that all the time. I am giving this a 1 because wouldn't let me post until. read more

Yes, this is a chain resturant so if you've been to one Applebee's you've been to all. Service, cleaniest and food are the three defining features important to me at any restaurant. We've been to this location multiple times over the years. We've had a several spotty servers and inconsistent food but not for sometime now. I'm one of those that feel Management can't correct a problem they don't know about, so yes, I speak out nicely. The large bar area has abundant seating, friendly bartenders and quick service. The bar area is for those over 21 years of age. Family seating surrounds the bar area. You can pick up your to-go orders at the bar or use the car side service. One of my favorites when the weather is crappy. We've had phenomenal service by Dean, our favorite server. He was spot-on providing prompt, friendly service and everything exceeded our expectations. I love how he refilled our drinks without interruptions and removed our trash and dirty plates swiftly while with a big smile. We like to grab appetizers while their half price which is 2:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to close. The Brisket Quesadillas, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Boneless Hot Wings, Chicken Wonton Tacos and even Soup and Salad are among our favorites and can double as a main course for us. We enjoy many of the specials Applebees offers especially the 2 dinners for $22. The 1/2 rack of Ribs with a 6 or 8 oz. Sirloin, Bourbon Street Steak or the Chicken Tender Platter is popular with hubby. I order the Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp (620 calories) often or the Classic Chicken or Blackened Shrimp Penne (not low carb lol!). Whether you go for the appetizers, sandwiches, salads, pasta, seafood or steak options their more often consistently good than bad at our location. Oh, and don't pass up the Triple Chocolate Meltdown...so rich and scrumptious. read more

I've visited this Applebee's for several years as a local, and had the worst experience this visit by far. I do want to stress that out waiter was great. He was attentive and very kind. He did seem a bit stressed but as the visit continued, I feel I may know why. A gentleman that I assumed was the manager on duty behaved strangely while we sat, and there was an uncomfortable awkwardness from the other employees when he passed by. On top of that, at one point he pushed himself between our waiter and another table as he was taking that table's order. It appeared like a weird flex and the waiter was clearly flustered by it. Our appetizers were good, though partway through the main course my husband found a lengthy blondish brown hair cooked into the burger/melted in with the cheese. He lost his appetite. At that time I got the (again, I'm assuming) manager's attention and he kinda shrugged with his hands in his pockets saying "eh sometimes that happens". I'm not unreasonable, I have pets, I get it, but his actions and word choice was unprofessional and nonchalant. We turned down a replacement, and he did take the meal off the bill, but the way he handled seeing a long hair in food coming out of his kitchen was very concerning. When the waiter found out he was very apologetic and eager to fix the situation - I believe he handled it much better than the manager did. That being said, we appreciated the discount, but the lack of concern from the manager has my family agreeing on one thing - we won't be returning to this Applebee's. read more

June 2021 - This location is hit or miss on food quality and service. In this visit I tried the Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp. My Mom had the French Onion soup. She said the cheese was too thick. The chicken and shrimp was good. The restaurant was half empty and the service was still very slow. I suspect our server had never been a server before and needed more training. read more

Our evening started out wonderful! Cody, our server was personable, friendly and real joy to have as our server. It was very nice to finally get a decent server at Applebee's. The past 3 or 4 times that we have gone we have very basic servers. Not bad but not great either, just average service. Cody brought our food out to us and everything was just perfect! He didn't bring everything put at once, brought the salads, then the steaks then the shrimp. Everything was good and hot. As we are enjoying our meal we could hear the manager " Jamie " yelling at someone in the kitchen. We are on the other side of the restaurant, close to the front doors. As the yelling continued we could make out that she did not like the way our server had brought the food out to us. She said to leave it in the window until it is all ready to go out at once. We did not agree with that because for once our food was served to us sizzling hot and we didn't have to hurry and eat our food before it got cold. The way Jamie handled the issue of serving the food was very unprofessional and really changed the atmosphere of our dining experience and not in a positive way. In all honesty if my manager had to talked to me like Jamie did to Cody, I would have quit on the spot. No one deserves to be humiliated and embarrassed like that. I would be surprised if Cody sticks around after that! If Cody leaves Applebee's will loose a wonderful asset to the company. Maybe the managers need to take a class on how to lead your staff and help them grow. Not belittle them and humiliate them. We will come back one more time and ask for Cody to be our server. If he is no longer with the company, we will and not return. read more

I haven't reviewed Applebees in years. Recently (November 11, Veterans Day) I had dinner with companion at around 9 pm. First off they are serving late which is good. The food, Steak, steamed broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes were well received. They also are one of the few restaurants that keep Hard Cider on tap! Companion, who rarely can be coaxed to drink readily accepted a pint, along with me (great) Every time I've visited Applebees the food is consistently good, and this time was no exception. If you are looking for a pleasant meal, with attentive waitstaff, anytime or late night, Applebees will fill the bill. They support Veterans, so ilour meals were complimentary. Even if I had paid for them, the value was good. Thanks Applebees for YOUR service! The only thing that was off was that certain booths (not most) were under the air vents, which pump out cold air. If this is a problem (seasonal) just ask to be seated elsewhere. read more

Ate indoors during COVID times and this place had light business traffic. My strawberry balsamic chicken salad was just mediocre. Overcooked chicken and mostly iceberg lettuce. Service was just as under-whelming. Tables were bused by same server. Table top mobile device couldn't read my credit card. Plus I think I was overcharged for my meal. All TVs working which saved the night. Wish I could give open businesses a better rating but this 2 * is justified. read more

I absolutely loved the food and the waitress was super nice. Shout out Sunny A. for being awesome.

Never get chicken from applebees, it's always undercooked and WILL give you food poisoning.

The dining room was clean and staff were following COVID guidelines and safety procedures. We chose Applebees because it is attached to the mall and is known for having a variety of food choices. Our food was cooked well and tasted good. Our server, Adrianna, was very nice and helpful. As we move forward post-pandemic and start going out more, it was a nice, simple lunch in a clean, safe place with nice staff. read more

I go (am dragged here) twice a year. This time, not so bad. Food quality, service, and selections have increased dramatically. There's something for everyone, even vegans (tell them to hold various things and you not gnashing your teeth). It's more expensive. The wine selections are in no way of thinking gourmet, yet will satisfy many. Plenty of low-cost appetizers after 9pm. Has it turned into my go-to place? You must be high. read more

Well, its your run of the mill family spot. Good for a drink or two, but bad food options for vegetarians like me. I really don't mind going there because I like a good drink. Bit they just rolled out these green bean crispers. Those were really good. So good that I slammed down the plate.... I thought about the Asian salad. It looked quite good. They have some fairly attractive meaty options...and frankly, its quite average pricing. Go ahead and give it a try. I wouldn't argue. Parking sucks here though read more

I had sworn off Applebees for a long time but due to some other places being closed and a tight timeline, needed to stop by for a quick bite with the family. Was pleasantly surprised. The new burger menu really makes a big difference, with unlimited fries and homemade patties. read more

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In Genesis 19, the command is given: "Flee for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, lest you be swept away." Lot's wife resists the command and looks back. Accordingly she is transformed into a pillar of salt. Such was my experience at the Applebees of Bloomington's college mall. Earlier in the day I was asked, "what are you doing tonight?" "I'll probably just go and drink alone at an Applebee's," I cleverly quipped. Lo and behold, as the evening drew near, I myself drew near the Applebee's. Beyond anthropological curiosity, there is no sound excuse for patronizing an Applebee's. That obvious insight dawned on me the moment I sat down at the signature U-shaped bar and ordered a room-cold coors light. Cost? Retail price of one six-pack coors light, and a chunk of your dwindling dignity. The coors was operating slower than the sad waitstaff, and it was at this point that I committed yet another misstep. I ordered a burger. Knowing that it's all bagged and microwaved back there, I was relying on the idea that you know what you're getting. There is consistency in these dire pits of American culture. They don't change. The ceiling never rises, it just gets repainted, moving fractionally lower with each new coat. A mid level manager wearing exceptionally poor-fitting clothing shuffled over to me with what amounted to the worst meal of my entire life. Even he could not pretend to muster the false corporate enthusiasm that usually marks such men. Perhaps his soul remains in tact. Perhaps the shame of this particular transaction had struck him on this particular night. Perhaps there is hope. But, upon the first bite, I learned that there is not. Salt. Pure salt. No other taste. Even the French fries were utterly inedible. I took three bites, asked for a box so as not to seem abjectly impolite, and proceeded to leave the leftovers in my trunk for three weeks. When I threw them away, they were exactly as they had been on the night they were born. You shouldn't need me to tell you this, but don't come here. As long as we continue to come to franchises like this, they will continue to overcharge their customers and underpay their employees. We facilitate their existence. Think about that next time you're feeling good about yourself. I award this Applebee's nine and one half thumbs down, as well as the coveted "Barrel Scraper" Award. read more

I took the family shopping at the Bloomington Mall today and we stopped and ate at Applebee's. It was clean, the service was good, the food was good and the prices were average. read more

I ordered a mojito. It was sour and void of any good qualities of my favorite drink. I politely asked the waitress to take it off the bill and told her that I would prefer not to order another drink. Then a few minutes later, the manager came back and started questioning me on the drink . He said "I was actually curious if you had ever had one before" and then "I watched the staff make it and it was done correctly ". I replied with yes, in fact I have had many, it is my favorite drink and this was BY FAR the worst I had ever had. He never apologized and was completely rude to me for no reason. I had been very polite when sending the drink back and didn't deserve the disrespect of this manager. I will not be returning. read more

Applebee's Grill + Bar - Omg - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Applebees is no thrills, but it is consistent. We often time eat pretty cheap on half price apps after 9. They have changed the menu a few times that made us shy away from coming here for a full meal. It really depends on the server you get at this location. We have had some amazing servers and we have had some poor servers. If you have a sweet tooth, the blondie dessert is real good. read more

What a shame. Took my daughter for lunch. Ordered Caesar salad and Tomato soup. Daughter had a sandwich. Caesar salad tasted like maybe it had sat on the shelf since last week. Was just old brown lettuce which should never have been served. Tells me nobody was paying attention. On to the tomato soup. When is the last time you had greasy tomato soup? If it is done well the answer is never! The taste and mouth feel were off putting to say the least. No interest or need in going back. read more

This is the worst experience I have ever had at any restaurant. I have never been more unsatisfied with a waitress before. This was the worst experience I've ever had at an Applebee's in general. I won't be back read more

Ben awhile since I'd been to Applebees and it was pretty darn good! Neighborhood Nachos - Yum. House Margaritas - Great! Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp - tasty and delicious! read more

Applebee's is another one of those places people love to hate because it's a big chain and it's obviously not fine dining. But it's okay Applebee's, I love you! Favorites: - Artichoke spinach dip (huge dish, definitely for sharing, with freshly fried tortilla chips) - Orange chicken bowl (though I'm a little scared to eat it now that I know the calorie count - The Weight Watchers menu! Applebee's is remarkably diet-friendly with a variety of options that are low cal, low fat, or meet other dietary restrictions. And the food is actually good, except maybe the veggies which can be a bit dry and flavorless. I like to get steak skewers and onion soup. Mmmm. The only issues I've ever had at an Applebee's came with a surprise ending. We came in here for lunch, and sat there for FIFTY-FIVE minutes, constantly being told the food "will be out soon". Finally at the 55 minute mark we got one appetizer. We told them we'd just eat that and then go, because my husband needed to get back to work asap. They apologized profusely, and then, for some reason, brought another one of the same appetizer out haha. I have no idea what was going on in the kitchen, but they then offer to box up the other appetizer, as well as the rest of our meal, and send it home with us, COMPING THE ENTIRE CHECK. So we got our entire meal to go, for free, plus an additional free appetizer, and of course the free drinks we'd enjoyed. Now THAT is customer service. We could've/would've left very angry, especially since my husband had to get back to work (and the restaurant wasn't busy), but instead we left with huge amounts of free food, and apologies from several people. We were very impressed, and have gone to Applebee's more often since. Just goes to show that great service really can make up for nearly anything. read more

We just sat at the bar and drank, so thats what I'm reviewing. The perfect margherita is indeed perfect. No sour mix in it, which i despise! Tequilla, triple sec, lime juice and a touch of agave syrup. Oh and two green olives, just try it its amazing. Very attentive bartender. This location is at the mall , so drink here instead of shopping 'cause the bloomington mall sucks! read more

As chain restaurants go, this one is near or at the bottom. The people are nice, and the atmosphere is nice, but I tend to put the quality of food high on the list of why I go to a restaurant. That being said, the food is certainly not the reason to ever visit Applebee's. I had a chicken/pasta dish and my wife had the fish. The appetizers were OK, spinach dip and slightly undercooked cheese sticks. The main courses looked as though they were simply unfrozen or something. There is certainly no true food preparation in the kitchen. Each meal looked like a kit that was assembled. The fish was very oily and nearly inedible. Most of it went to our dogs. The pasta was OK, and the portion of chicken included was negligible. It was, in fact, hidden under the tiny tomato cubes on top. As chains go, there are so many better choices. Let this place be a last resort. If EVERYTHING nearby is full and you are about to pass out from hunger, then Applebee's might fit the bill, but that's about it. read more

I give Applebees (4) Stars because, their beer is ice cold, and they have very tasty Appetizers. Our favorites are Chicken Quesadillas. Boneless chicken wings with Sweet Asian Chile sauce read more

I like this place, their weight watch meal is good if you don't eat too much fat, and I really like their bite desert for around 2 dollars, which has one scope of ice cream and brownie^^ read more

Applebee's Grill + Bar - Chicken salad and chicken&shrimp - American Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Food here was average, and I only went t this place for twice. One for steak, and the other one for BBQ ribs. Just remember one of their appetizers w: chips was good, and the atmosphere is good here. read more

I've eaten here numerous times and never had an issue besides lazy service but today I was delivering for Grubhub and while waiting for my order, patiently and quietly, by the bar, the bartender walks behind the bar without acknowledging me and says to her guest at the bar: "Sorry, we got like 14 Grubhub orders at once. Stupidest company in America and the drivers are usually no better." This was at 6pm on a Sunday night (June 23). I don't think I'll be returning as a guest any time soon. Attitudes need to be adjusted in front of guests. read more

$4.49 appetizers after 9 durring the week, 2 for $20, $3.29 Margarita's!!! The cheapest appetizers in town, and the perfect margarita is literally the most perfect margarita! Great for all ages. easily the best chain restaraunt in town. also, if you like wings, ask for the ranch chicken sandwich, nothing will prevent and cure a hangover faster, great for college students b/c it is attached to the mall. read more