Applebee's Should be Consistent

Applebee's is a very good place to eat. The prices are good, the food
is excellant, and the service is great.

If they didn't change the menu, people would be complaining that the
menu was boring. It just goes to show you, that you can't please
everyone all of the time.

Applebee's is the worst... it's a step below McDonald's at three times
the price. I ate there once and got that Veggie pizza and it's like
Cheeze Whiz poured over a slice of wonder bread. The "cheese" is
liquid, it runs off when you pick up a slice of pizza. Yuck, never
again!

What the hell is nacho about nachos without nacho cheese? That's the
whole point! Nachos without nacho cheese are called Tostitos.

And just so you know, Applebee's sucks anyway, but of course, that's
just my opinion.

This letter about the need for Applebee's to be consistent and
previous comments about why would anyone go to a chain restaurant
perfectly highlight the reasons chain restaurants exist:

1. People don't like to be guinea pigs; especially when it's their
money spent and their body the food goes into. They like to know what
they're ordering...look at all the different ways an omelet can be
prepared. Chains offer the ability to get the same thing no matter
which store you're in (although things do change on a regional basis).
It may not be gourmet but at least they know what they're getting.

2. People don't like change. Once they find something they like, they
tend to stick with it. If you live in Wichita, Kansas and are used to
the food at Bill's House Of Margarine, when you travel to Butte,
Montana, you're not likely to find that restaurant amongst your
choices. Whereas, with chains, there's at least one company likely to
be represented there that you've tried before. Therefore you have a
"safe" choice if you need one.

3. People are cautious animals. If they dare to try something
different and, god forbid, like it, then they'll be able to get it, no
matter which store they're at. This is also why people like this
letter writer get upset when a chain removes an item or changes the
preparation...they get used to one thing and suddenly someone else
tells them they cant have it or have it in the manner they're used to.


4. Sometimes an operator stumbles upon or brilliantly develops a
particular service method or food item that is totally awesome. Being
a chain allows that operator to spread the service or food to a market
well beyond that which they could reach with one location and expose
people to things they might not have experienced otherwise.

As despised as chains apparently are amongst the PFB commenters
(almost as much as Walmart, twould appear), they perform a much needed
service as outlined above. There are likely many more reasons chains
exist beyond what we've outlined however these points are definitely
key.

all applebees is is a microwave overrated resturant. You get what u
pay for!

I like them too. I wasn't too impressed with TGIF the last time I was
there and will choose Applebees over them any day of the week.

I'm not usually a fan of chain restaurants, and they're not my first
choice, but if I'm going with a friend or two who I know aren't
adventurous eaters (and don't want to spend a lot of money), I think
Applebee's is okay. I mean, I've never had the best meal of my life
there, but I haven't had the worst either.

It's the only thing I've ordered in a year (although, I'm tempted to
ask them to make it with their orange chicken instead of the other
chicken). If it weren't for that, I'd probably not go. But damn,
that wrap IS TASTY.

Ewwwww I HATE applebees...... Its like eating a giant TV dinner..

I think you're just going to have to start reading the menu to keep up
with the changes. As someone else said below, it's not like they can
post someone at the door to give you the rundown of every single item
on their menu. I'm also not sure how the server could have informed
you the veggie patch pizza was no longer half off. Did she recognize
you from a previous visit? Is this something you order all the time
from her? If not, she has no way of knowing you expect it to be a
certain price.

Unfortunately, as this economic slump continues, I think we're going
to see more restaurants making changes to their menu in order to
maintain a profit level. As long as those companies communicate those
changes via the menu or a flyer designed specifically for happy hour,
I think it's reasonable.

Asking Applebee's to be consistent would mean that they would never
make any changes.
But since you are a consistent customer I would think you would know
that there are specials, happy hours and that prices change
occasionally.

As for the nachos issue...I agree that nachos without the nice melted
cheese is crummy. Shredded cheese just does not do it...but they may
have run out of the other cheese and were substituting.

Re the happy hour - your shots were priced according to the time your
ordered them...you started during happy hour and ended up buying more
after happy hour ended. You could have asked if it was stil happy hour
or not. You knew there was a stop time and just as well as the server
could have reminded you that it was ending.

If you do not know - ask - assuming results in letters like this.

Specials come and go with any restaurant or store. It is not their
responsibility to tell you, "Oh, by the way, that item was 1/2 off
last week but not now". It is YOUR responsibility to know. Everything
is posted clearly on fliers, menus, and advertisements.
"...at least informed your consistent customers...." I suppose they
could have someone at the door, as you walk in, personally explain
every new item, finished specials, upcoming specials, items that
they're out of, along with the history of Applebee's. They did not
deceive you. It is YOUR responsibilty to read and be in the know, not
theirs. I'm sorry, but your letter tends to ramble, all of it pointing
toward your own failure to figure out what's going on around you.

Nachos with SHREDDED cheese? Ick!

Applebees is rather annoying. Every time I go there the menu has
changed.

Have you considered checking out their website before you go? I don't
know if these are chain or independently owned restaurants, but the
company website would seem like a good place to start.

I agree, I go once in a blue moon and have something decent, then go
back in a couple months and it's gone!

Last time I went with my mother who wanted to go and I was really
disappointed in the menu. I looked and looked and it all seemed so
ordinary and blah. But it is a chain "we all look the same" type of
place. And I really hate that a tossed salad is not included. I do not
like the a la carte option that they do. So I rarely go. Find me at an
old mom and pop joint that fills you up for 7.00.

Applebee's DOES change its menu offering frequently. I guess that
means you will need to check the menu every time, which is too
bad--regular customers won't be able to count on anything.

They should keep the recipes and procedures for creating menu items
the same.
If a menu item changes, they should change the name of it on the menu,
or not revise recipes at all. If a dish is doing poorly or is not
profitable, come up with something else.

Yes, this is very annoying and good feedback. I eat at Friday's, used
to eat at Applebee's, and both change their menus and promotions
often. Maybe it is so they can offer "new" ones, and attract new
customers. But they irritate the current customers in the process.

At Friday's, many servers have rolled their eyes and complained "the
menu changed again" before I even order. So it even bothers them.