It was (literally) a dark and stormy night when I set foot in an Applebee's for the first time anywhere in the world. Although it was still fairly empty, my party was quickly ushered to the upstairs level, where we were seated in a dark corner directly beneath a speaker blaring loud, generic music from a low ceiling. On the TV screens, nothing but the cable TV menu screen the whole time we were there.
After figuring out the confusing menu and ordering one of the specials, I was told they didn't have the beer I wanted (having a decent beer selection on the menu is no use if they don't have what you want). When my order finally came, the plate was so hot that it gradually proceeded to turn my ribeye steak into a charred hockey puck. Very disappointing! read more