Came here one day when I had an extra-long lunch break from work. Sat at the bar, as it was quick seating and not crowded. Bartender was very friendly and good at recommending meals that she thought were great without seeming pushy.
I ordered the 4 cheese mac and cheese with honey pepper chicken pasta dish based on the recommendation of my step-sister, who had eaten it at another location. The bartender thought that was an excellent choice that I would just love. I took a few bites and was honestly already not loving it. It was bland and you would never mistake it for having an ounce of cheese flavor. I drizzled some of the honey pepper sauce that I had them put on the side in case I wasn't a fan to see if it helped. I was forking in for another bite when I felt my utensil hit something decidedly more solid than pasta or cooked chicken. Search and discovery yielded a small, round plastic lid in the bottom of my bowl. I flagged down the bartender and asked her if this was, indeed, an ingredient in my meal.
She was understandably embarrassed (after her rave review) and immediately took the bowl back to the kitchen. The manager came out and, also seeming embarrassed, explained that the dish ingredients were pre-portioned, blah, blah, blah, and offered to remake it as well as not charge me and also gave me a coupon for a free future meal. I accepted the offer because it was a plastic lid and not a cockroach or anything, but after I already waited twice to eat, I told them to make it to go. Although I didn't have time to eat it by then.
(Side note: I neglected to tip the poor bartender who was actually a credit to the place because in my head, my meal was on the house and I was already miffed at having to wait extra long and not even get to eat, so if you ever read this, I am SO sorry).
I mean, everyone knows that restaurants take shortcuts. We just choose to believe someone is taking some care to make our food because we can't see what's going on back there and it ain't cheap. But pre-portioned or not, how freaking lazy and oblivious to you have to be to not to notice that you dumped the lid in the bowl...or ask yourself where did that lid go?? I didn't think having plastic in my food bothered me that much...I mean, would I not eat it if I did such a thing at home? Nah, that's ridiculous. But it's a enough of a thing to make me wonder what other "short-cuts" people who don't give a crap are making back there.
Not to mention, I have thought much of the Applebees menu has been bland, over-priced and not worth the effort in the last few years.
I stayed away for awhile, but I went back again to use my coupon and (don't ask me why) tried the 3 cheese chicken penne which was likewise bland. Add to this, my visit to another Ohio Applebees where one of the bathroom stalls was covered in shredded paper towels and menstrual blood...I think I'm done. read more