We go there all the time but not because we love the food or anything. It's one of a handful of places where our picky 4-year old likes to eat (the other notable one being Friendly's), so we go there to keep him happy. On the plus side, it is a child-friendly restaurant which is a must with a preschooler.

If we're talking about chain restaurants, I'll take Ruby Tuesday any day over Applebee's.

Crapplebees indeed.

I LIKE Applebees, but not love. Their Fiesta Lime Chicken is really good. And their frozen peach margaritas are really, really good. We used to go there in college to start out the weekend. I also ran up a $100 bar tab there once. Damn those margaritas.

But my vote is for Carrabbas. Yummo.

Applebee's is ok- they have a few good sandwiches. But for the price I can go to a real restaurant and get better, more interesting stuff (fast food joints are really not that cheap any more- for MAYBE 5 bucks more than a Mickey D's or Applebee's meal I can have sushi or indian or a good vegetarian meal elsewhere). I'm a food snob and I hate chains.

Almost all of my friends, past and present...and my family. I think this is a STL thing. Parking lots of various Applebee's are full most of the time, even at odd times like Tuesday at 10pm. On Sunday nights you see shitloads of social fraternity and sorority students eating/drinking there after their chapter meetings.

People over here seem to be huge fans of chain restaurants period. If you express dislike of chains, you'll be viewed as a snob.

Olive Garden rocks. That's one of the few chains I like.

I'll choose TGI Friday's over both.

I haven't had Applebee's in over a year.

I don't miss it because it IS overrated.

The people I hang with don't eat at a lot of chain restaurants.

Yeah, Friday's is good, too.

Carrabas is to die for! The closest one is in the next state which isn't too much of a drive but still...bring Carrabas closer damnit!

Correction: they used to be good. I liked it when they had their days-of-the-week burgers. Now they've revamped the menu and I really have to search for anything good. Plus they screwed AXO Alum's family over.

I like Applebee's appetizers but I like appetizers anywhere. I'm an appetizer hog. They have like one thing I like on their menu, the zesty ranch chicken sandwich or whatever. It's a buffalo chicken sandwich and I love buffalo sauce.
We go there because my mum is a celiac and that limits places she can eat out. She can eat the ribs there no problem. I like their fries too but that's it. If it's between Applebees and anywhere else you know where I'm headed.

They used to have this drink that tasted like an dreamsicle and was pure heaven. I wish I knew how to make it!

What's up with Friday's new menu that I see these commercials for?

Are any of the appetizers any good?

//slight hijack

Did anyone hear about the breast feeding protest crap that Applebees got involved in a few weeks ago? Thats what i thought this thread was going to be about....

http://breastfeeding.tribe.net/threa...d-c995185f2f8e

(I agree...cover up!)

//end hijack

The Blondie desserts are to die for....

Interesting reactions there.

I have to admit to a lack of impartiality though- I don't really understand this 'movement'. I can't imagine EVER being comfortable popping out a boob in public, even to feed my (imaginary) kid. I wouldn't ever feel comfortable putting all that out there (plus this being NYC I get nervous when I see babies out on the street or on the subway- there's so much that could happen to such a fragile lil person), and I don't understand the percieved need to do so.

//continuation of hijack since it appears everyone agrees Applebees ain't the bees knees...

I had 3 babies in 4 1/2 years and somehow managed to NEVER expose my lady parts in public. There's ways to do it to make sure the baby gets fed and you keep your parts and pieces to yourself and there's ways to do it just to prove some weird point that "hey, look, I have a baby and I can nurse!"

//back to food chain discussion

Who eats at places like this??? Oh yeah the people that shop at wal-mart.

-Rudey

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about those...I think my favorite was the Wednesday Burger (yummmmm).

As far as kid's meals go, Friday's has given us the best bang for the buck.