Food received 40 min after order.

I worked at a large fast food joint in the 70's ($25,000 worth of
hamburgers and tacos a week) and managed a restaurant all through the
80's. At the fast food place, the turnover rate was remarkable. I
never witnessed it, but there were employees who spoke of doing things
to obnoxious customer's orders. I never witnessed it, but that
doesn't mean it didn't happen.
When I managed a restaurant,we dropped the ball on occasion. I had
pretty decent customer service ratings and tried to always treat a
customer in a manner that I would want to be treated. I was perplexed
if a customer waited a long time before coming and approaching me,
usually leaving me with little alternative for solutions.
You don't mention whether you verbalized your complaint to anyone. In
the future, kindly prompt your server to check on the progress of your
order as soon as you feel it's taking too long. Then you have a basis
for a complaint if you are not satisfied.

I have been in this situation before only with dinner. The thing that
your letter doesnt say is that what did the mangaer do when you spoke
with them. If you dont bring it to managers attention you cant expect
them to rectify the problem.
I hope you kept the receipt as it usually shows the time and can help
you to prove the time possibly.

and sadly amusing, that respondents here write things like "no
free dinner for you", as though they are the arbiter of such
things.

As to speaking to manager at the time, I think it's generally the best
thing to do. I realize too though, that some people who might be
willing to call upon a manager in another setting, are unwilling to do
so in a restaurant. We've all heard horror stories (and undoubtedly
some are true) of disgusting and unhealthy things being done to the
food of people who complain.

If servers and managers are as kind and generous as PFB posters, I'd
be doubly concerned about this. :)

What did the manager day when you brought it to his attention?

What did the waitress say when you asked her about the long wait?

You need to bring matter such as this to the attention of management
on the spot. That way the problem can be addressed, and management
has the opportunity to compensate you.

I don't know how you can prove this happened after the fact. I don't
agree they owe you a meal (now).

Wow, that is quite a long time to wait for an appetizer sampler.
However, I am in agreement with other posters when they say that you
should have brought this up to management so they could have done
something for you right there on the spot.

At any time did you ask your waitress about your order or ask for a
manager? If not, no free dinner for you.

Applebees has this really neat thing called "carside to go"
or "curbside to go" when time is of the essence, and it just
must be "Applebees", calling your order ahead and picking it
up is the way to go.
Why do places hire managers?

When you are on a lunch break you must always let them be aware of
that so they can get you in and out on time.

Did you really just sit there for 45 minutes without asking your
waitress, or another member of the waitstaff, where your food was?
Your order should have taken 15 minutes tops.

If you paid your bill and didn't utter a word to a manager, no free
dinner for you.

I'd also like to ask, because your letter is unclear, did you ever ask
your server where your meals were? And if you never got to eat your
lunch, why on earth did you pay for it?

Please, let me be the first to ask...what did the manager say when you
brought this to his/her attention?