Ordering at a restaurant can be tricky, especially when photos and descriptions make everything seem irresistible. At Applebee’s, certain menu items might catch your eye with their appealing presentation, but the reality often differs from expectations. Understanding which items to skip can save you money and prevent disappointment during your next visit.
Popular mixed drinks that miss the mark
The dollar drink specials at Applebee’s might seem like an unbeatable deal, but many customers report disappointment with these heavily promoted beverages. The $1 Dollaritas and Long Island iced teas are particularly notorious for their watered-down taste and questionable quality. These drinks often contain minimal alcohol content, making them more like sugary mixers than proper cocktails.
Former employees have revealed that these budget-friendly beverages are made with the cheapest possible ingredients and pre-mixed in large batches. The drinks are typically diluted with excessive amounts of water and ice, explaining their weak taste. Many customers note that ordering two or three dollar drinks still results in less alcohol content than a single properly made cocktail.
The presentation of these drinks can also be misleading. While promotional photos show garnished glasses with fresh fruit and proper proportions, the reality often involves plain glasses filled mostly with ice. The actual drink mixture makes up a surprisingly small portion of the total volume, leading to rapid dilution as the ice melts.
Rather than falling for the appealing price point, consider ordering from the regular bar menu where drinks are made to standard proportions. While these options cost more upfront, they provide better value in terms of quality and satisfaction. The standard margaritas and cocktails contain proper amounts of alcohol and fresh ingredients.
Pasta problems and microwave mishaps
The pasta selection at Applebee’s presents several issues that make these dishes poor choices for your money. Many customers report receiving pasta that’s either undercooked and tough or overcooked and mushy, indicating inconsistent preparation methods. The four-cheese mac and cheese with honey pepper chicken tenders, in particular, frequently disappoints customers with its texture and temperature problems.
A key issue stems from the preparation method used for many pasta dishes. Instead of being cooked fresh to order, pasta is often pre-cooked and reheated in a microwave when ordered. This process can result in uneven heating, with some portions remaining cold while others become scalding hot.
The sauce quality also suffers from this preparation method. Cream-based sauces frequently separate or become grainy when reheated, while tomato-based sauces might develop a metallic taste. The chicken accompanying these pasta dishes often arrives dry and rubbery, having been reheated multiple times throughout service.
Portions can be inconsistent, with some customers receiving generous servings while others get notably smaller amounts for the same price. The pasta-to-sauce ratio often varies significantly, resulting in either overly dry or swimming-in-sauce dishes that don’t match the menu descriptions or photos.
Skip these sodium heavy sandwiches
Several sandwich options at Applebee’s contain surprisingly high sodium levels that make them poor choices for most diners. The Prime Rib Dipper stands out as a particular offender, packing an excessive amount of sodium into a single serving. This sandwich, while appearing simple, combines multiple high-sodium components that create an overwhelming salt content.
The chicken sandwiches also present similar issues with their sodium content. The breading, seasoning, and sauce combinations push these items well beyond reasonable sodium levels for a single meal. Many customers report feeling extremely thirsty after consuming these sandwiches, a clear sign of their high salt content.
Additionally, the portion sizes of these sandwiches often don’t justify their price points. The meat quantity can be inconsistent, with some customers receiving thin slices that barely cover the bread. The quality of the bread itself varies significantly between locations, sometimes arriving stale or overly toasted.
For those still craving a sandwich at Applebee’s, consider requesting modifications like sauce on the side or less seasoning. This allows better control over sodium intake while still enjoying the basic components of these menu items. Alternatively, opt for grilled options that typically contain less sodium than their fried counterparts.
Ribs and riblets that miss expectations
The ribs and riblets at Applebee’s consistently rank among the most disappointing menu items according to customer feedback. These dishes often arrive with meat that’s tough, chewy, and filled with unappetizing gristle. Despite the tempting photographs showing tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, the reality frequently falls short of these appetizing images.
Many patrons have noted that the quality of the meat used for these dishes is inconsistent at best. The riblets, in particular, often contain more fat and gristle than actual meat, making them difficult to eat and unsatisfying. The portion sizes can also vary significantly between visits, creating uncertainty about value for money.
The sauce application presents another common issue. Some customers report receiving ribs drowning in sauce, while others get barely enough to enhance the meat’s flavor. The consistency of the sauce itself can be problematic, sometimes appearing watery or separated, indicating potential quality control issues in preparation.
Temperature problems frequently plague these dishes as well. The ribs might arrive lukewarm or with cold spots, suggesting they may have been pre-cooked and reheated rather than freshly prepared. This reheating process often results in dry, tough meat that doesn’t match the tender, juicy description on the menu.
French onion soup serving surprises
The French onion soup at Applebee’s often disappoints customers with its inconsistent quality and preparation. Reports indicate that this classic dish frequently arrives with fundamental components missing or poorly executed. Some customers have even received bowls where the actual soup portion is notably absent, leaving them with mostly bread and cheese.
The quality of ingredients used in this soup raises concerns. The cheese topping sometimes appears barely melted or burnt, while the bread often becomes too soggy or remains too hard. These issues suggest problems with both the ingredients used and the preparation method.
Temperature consistency poses another significant problem with this dish. Many customers report receiving soup that’s scalding hot on top but barely warm in the middle, indicating uneven heating. This temperature disparity can make enjoying the soup difficult and potentially dangerous.
The broth itself often lacks the rich, deep flavor expected from traditional French onion soup. Instead of a well-developed onion base, customers frequently note a salty, one-dimensional taste that suggests the possible use of pre-made soup base rather than house-made broth.
Wing options that fall flat
While wings remain a popular choice at many restaurants, Applebee’s wing offerings often disappoint customers in several ways. The boneless wings, despite their convenient eating experience, aren’t actually made from wing meat. Instead, they’re processed chicken pieces shaped into wing-like portions, which might surprise customers expecting traditional wing meat.
Both traditional and boneless wings at Applebee’s arrive pre-breaded and frozen rather than being freshly prepared in-house. This preparation method can result in inconsistent texture and quality. The breading often becomes soggy or separates from the meat, especially when tossed in sauce.
Sauce application presents another common issue with these wings. Some customers receive wings with minimal sauce coverage, while others report their wings swimming in sauce, making them messy and difficult to eat. The sauce consistency itself can vary significantly between visits, sometimes appearing watery or separated.
The size and meat quality of traditional wings can be inconsistent, with some customers receiving mostly small pieces with limited meat. Temperature problems also occur frequently, with wings sometimes arriving lukewarm or with cold spots, suggesting they might have been sitting under heat lamps or improperly reheated.
Pretzel problems and pricing concerns
The pretzel appetizer at Applebee’s represents one of the most significant disconnects between price and value on the menu. A serving typically includes just four pretzel sticks for approximately $12, making it an expensive choice for what amounts to a rather basic appetizer. This pricing seems particularly high when compared to similar offerings at other restaurants.
Even employees acknowledge that these pretzels are overpriced for what customers receive. The portion size remains notably small, especially for groups wanting to share. The accompanying cheese sauce portion often proves inadequate for the number of pretzels served, requiring additional charges for extra sauce.
Quality issues frequently affect this appetizer as well. Customers report receiving pretzels that are either too hard or too soft, suggesting inconsistent preparation methods. The texture problems might result from improper storage or reheating procedures, leading to an unsatisfactory eating experience.
The temperature of both the pretzels and cheese sauce can be problematic. While the menu promises warm, soft pretzels with hot cheese sauce, the reality often involves lukewarm pretzels and quickly cooling sauce. This temperature issue significantly impacts the overall enjoyment of this appetizer.
Questionable value in the two for deals
The “2 for $25” deal at Applebee’s might seem like an attractive option for budget-conscious diners, but hidden costs often make this promotion less valuable than it appears. Many menu items included in this deal come with additional upcharges that can significantly increase the final bill beyond the advertised price point.
A closer look at the fine print reveals that several popular items require supplementary charges when ordered as part of these deals. These hidden costs can add several dollars to each item, sometimes pushing the total bill significantly higher than the advertised promotional price.
The portion sizes in these promotional deals often appear smaller than their regular menu counterparts, though they’re priced similarly when including the upcharges. Many customers report feeling misled when discovering their selected items incur additional fees, only learning about these charges after placing their orders.
Another consideration is that these deals frequently exclude more popular or premium items entirely, limiting diners to a restricted selection that might not include their preferred choices. This limitation often leads customers to pay upcharges for their desired items or settle for less appealing options to maintain the promotional price.
Steak selections that disappoint
Steaks at Applebee’s frequently receive criticism for inconsistent cooking and quality issues. Many customers report receiving steaks cooked to incorrect temperatures, with some arriving well-done when ordered medium-rare or vice versa. This inconsistency suggests potential problems with kitchen training or quality control procedures.
The meat quality itself often falls short of expectations, with customers noting tough, gristly textures and inconsistent marbling. The Bourbon Street Steak, in particular, receives numerous complaints about its taste and texture, despite its promising menu description.
Portion sizes can vary significantly between visits, creating uncertainty about value for money. Some customers report receiving thin, small cuts that don’t match the menu photos or descriptions. The accompaniments, such as garlic butter or mushrooms, sometimes appear in notably small portions or arrive cold.
Temperature problems also plague these dishes, with some steaks arriving barely warm or with cold spots. These issues might result from inadequate resting time or poor timing in the kitchen, significantly impacting the dining experience and overall satisfaction with the meal.
Dessert disappointments and sugar overload
The dessert menu at Applebee’s presents several items that don’t deliver on their appetizing descriptions and photos. Many of these sweet offerings contain excessive sugar content that overwhelms other flavors, making them difficult to finish or enjoy fully. The sugar-dusted donut dippers, in particular, often prove too sweet even for those with a pronounced sweet tooth.
These desserts frequently suffer from preparation inconsistencies. Some items arrive partially frozen or too cold, while others seem to have been sitting under heat lamps, affecting their texture and taste. The Blue Ribbon Brownie, for example, sometimes arrives with an unappetizing hard edge or cold center.
Portion sizes for these desserts often appear unnecessarily large, making them impractical for individual diners and potentially wasteful. The presentation frequently falls short of the polished photos in the menu, with haphazard plating and melted components creating an unappetizing appearance.
The quality of ingredients used in these desserts also raises concerns. Many items taste processed or artificial, suggesting the use of pre-made components rather than fresh, house-made desserts. This becomes particularly noticeable in items featuring whipped cream or sauce toppings.
Making informed choices at Applebee’s requires looking beyond appealing menu descriptions and photos. While some menu items deliver satisfactory experiences, others consistently fall short of expectations. Understanding which items to avoid can help ensure a more enjoyable dining experience and better value for your money. Consider trying some of the restaurant’s more reliable options or requesting modifications to problematic dishes to improve your overall satisfaction.
