Shelley Taylor
Applebees
Published on Wed, Jan 13, 2010 by Shelley TaylorRead More Taylor
APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL & BAR
Weekday Hours: 11 am - midnight
Weekend Hours: Breakfast served from 10 am -1 pm; Open 'til 1 am
Carside To Go hours same as walk in
130 River Road
Sequim
683.9090
683.9185 fax
$$
Applebee's has a lot going for it. For one thing, being a nationwide chain, you can expect consistency. The interior design is a slick mix of eye candy overload showcasing collectibles of your favorite team sport; breweriana which of course includes neon signs, and a smattering of Hollywood and music memorabilia - all of which is a hallmark of corporate savvy and deep pockets.
The waitpeople are friendly and chivalrous (the host greeted me by opening the door!).
Applebee's excellent and informative website (www.applebees.com) boasts it's "the largest casual dining concept in the world," with over 1900 restaurants in 49 states and 16 countries (when last I checked). The first Applebee's opened in Atlanta, Georgia over a quarter century ago.
The full bar is right out of Cheers - a homey place where you could see yourself coming in at your regular time and getting that pep talk before you face what's awaiting you at home. There are multiple TVs tuned to your fav sports event and the U-shaped bar is conducive to making new friends. The bar area tall bistro tables are just right for an after-work get-together and a feast of appetizers. Otherwise seating is all roomy booths.
Besides the hard stuff, wines and a wide choice of beers, there are margaritas, martinis, specialty drinks with fruit and liqueurs as well as non-alcoholic smoothies and shakes. They give you plenty of time to imbibe with two daily happy hours: from 3pm to 6pm and then again from 9pm to close. And they'll throw in selected appetizers at half price.
Speaking of appetizers, their Ultimate Trios ($11.99) allow you to mix and match any three of the following: Chicken Ranchers (with bacon, lettuce, tomato and tangy ranch), Steak Quesadilla Towers (with onions, pico de gallo, peppers and cheese), boneless or traditional buffalo wings, spinach and artichoke dip, mini bacon cheeseburgers, mozzarella sticks, or Dynamite shrimp. It you can't seem to narrow down the field, order a sampler of four from this group where they make the choices for you: onion rings, Baja potato boats (with cheese, bacon bits and pico de gallo, salsa and sour cream), nachos, chicken quesadilla, or veggie patch pizza.
The menu is "All American" which definitely means burgers. Full-meal offerings include grilled fish, steaks, ribs, chicken, pasta, salads, fajitas and other variations on the Mexican theme. If you can't find anything here to your liking, well, you're just not hungry.
When Applebee's first appeared in Sequim about a year or so ago, we were overjoyed: here was a place that was open weekdays 'til midnight! And since our home-building project often goes past normal dinner times, this was great news and we soon became regulars, grabbing a bite to eat at the end of a long day.
I love salads and they had one with a perfect combo: grilled, marinated chicken breast, a fresh mix of greens, crisp
Granny Smith apples, sweet candied walnuts and tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
By now you know, when it comes to places we frequent frequently, I find my favorite choice and stick to it and I had quickly gotten into the habit of ordering that Apple Walnut Chicken salad. Greg usually went for a variety of hardier fare.
But one day, "my" salad was no longer on the menu. Seemed strange because it had to be popular. Our waitperson explained that Applebee's is constantly rotating menu items (although they are doing less of that nowadays). But really, my salad was a simple one and not being the shy type, I asked why they just couldn't whip one up for me. Then our waitperson explained that most items are made elsewhere and brought in - just like the airlines do (or used to do before they stopped feeding you and began processing you like cattle).
So, after a call to their corporate offices I found out that salads and their fixins' are preassembled, breaded items are pre-breaded, and steaks are marinated before delivery; and like their burgers are then cooked to order.
Currently their salad menu is comprised of: steamed veggies with house salad, "my" Apple Walnut Chicken salad, grilled chicken Caesar, and Oriental chicken salad.
A popular lunchtime destination, most selections will cost you only $7.49 and there are neighborhood specials. Applebee's menu let's you create up to 60 different combinations so you can never complain of "same old same old" for your midday meal.
If you're watching your diet, they offer meals for Weight Watcher fans which is nice to know since most of the food is fried and/or breaded or of the high cholesterol variety.
If you could care less about your diet, then let me recommend their dessert menu which is a veritable sinner's paradise. Their just-right sized Dessert Shooters are a buy at $1.99. Try chocolate mousse with oreos, strawberry cheesecake, hot fudge sundae, key lime pie on graham cracker crumbs, or Apple Caramel Supreme with cinnamon and whipped cream on fluffy white cake. For those determined to consume as many carbohydrates and calories as one serving will allow - and attract attention while you're at it - there's Triple Chocolate Meltdown cake with dark and white chocolate and ice cream and hot fudge; Maple Butter Blondie with nuts and ice cream covered in sizzling maple butter sauce and served warm at your table; or Sizzling Apple Pie served in a skillet with walnut streusel, caramel butter and vanilla ice cream.
If you're in a hurry, you can call ahead and pick up your order as you drive by their "Carside to Go" window.
Before I sign off, I must make a full-disclosure statement and report that months ago both my husband and I were felled with what sure seemed like food poisoning within hours of dining there. To be fair, I have no proof that anything on Applebee's menu was the culprit.
Weekday Hours: 11 am - midnight
Weekend Hours: Breakfast served from 10 am -1 pm; Open 'til 1 am
Carside To Go hours same as walk in
130 River Road
Sequim
683.9090
683.9185 fax
$$
Applebee's has a lot going for it. For one thing, being a nationwide chain, you can expect consistency. The interior design is a slick mix of eye candy overload showcasing collectibles of your favorite team sport; breweriana which of course includes neon signs, and a smattering of Hollywood and music memorabilia - all of which is a hallmark of corporate savvy and deep pockets.
The waitpeople are friendly and chivalrous (the host greeted me by opening the door!).
Applebee's excellent and informative website (www.applebees.com) boasts it's "the largest casual dining concept in the world," with over 1900 restaurants in 49 states and 16 countries (when last I checked). The first Applebee's opened in Atlanta, Georgia over a quarter century ago.
The full bar is right out of Cheers - a homey place where you could see yourself coming in at your regular time and getting that pep talk before you face what's awaiting you at home. There are multiple TVs tuned to your fav sports event and the U-shaped bar is conducive to making new friends. The bar area tall bistro tables are just right for an after-work get-together and a feast of appetizers. Otherwise seating is all roomy booths.
Besides the hard stuff, wines and a wide choice of beers, there are margaritas, martinis, specialty drinks with fruit and liqueurs as well as non-alcoholic smoothies and shakes. They give you plenty of time to imbibe with two daily happy hours: from 3pm to 6pm and then again from 9pm to close. And they'll throw in selected appetizers at half price.
Speaking of appetizers, their Ultimate Trios ($11.99) allow you to mix and match any three of the following: Chicken Ranchers (with bacon, lettuce, tomato and tangy ranch), Steak Quesadilla Towers (with onions, pico de gallo, peppers and cheese), boneless or traditional buffalo wings, spinach and artichoke dip, mini bacon cheeseburgers, mozzarella sticks, or Dynamite shrimp. It you can't seem to narrow down the field, order a sampler of four from this group where they make the choices for you: onion rings, Baja potato boats (with cheese, bacon bits and pico de gallo, salsa and sour cream), nachos, chicken quesadilla, or veggie patch pizza.
The menu is "All American" which definitely means burgers. Full-meal offerings include grilled fish, steaks, ribs, chicken, pasta, salads, fajitas and other variations on the Mexican theme. If you can't find anything here to your liking, well, you're just not hungry.
When Applebee's first appeared in Sequim about a year or so ago, we were overjoyed: here was a place that was open weekdays 'til midnight! And since our home-building project often goes past normal dinner times, this was great news and we soon became regulars, grabbing a bite to eat at the end of a long day.
I love salads and they had one with a perfect combo: grilled, marinated chicken breast, a fresh mix of greens, crisp
Granny Smith apples, sweet candied walnuts and tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
By now you know, when it comes to places we frequent frequently, I find my favorite choice and stick to it and I had quickly gotten into the habit of ordering that Apple Walnut Chicken salad. Greg usually went for a variety of hardier fare.
But one day, "my" salad was no longer on the menu. Seemed strange because it had to be popular. Our waitperson explained that Applebee's is constantly rotating menu items (although they are doing less of that nowadays). But really, my salad was a simple one and not being the shy type, I asked why they just couldn't whip one up for me. Then our waitperson explained that most items are made elsewhere and brought in - just like the airlines do (or used to do before they stopped feeding you and began processing you like cattle).
So, after a call to their corporate offices I found out that salads and their fixins' are preassembled, breaded items are pre-breaded, and steaks are marinated before delivery; and like their burgers are then cooked to order.
Currently their salad menu is comprised of: steamed veggies with house salad, "my" Apple Walnut Chicken salad, grilled chicken Caesar, and Oriental chicken salad.
A popular lunchtime destination, most selections will cost you only $7.49 and there are neighborhood specials. Applebee's menu let's you create up to 60 different combinations so you can never complain of "same old same old" for your midday meal.
If you're watching your diet, they offer meals for Weight Watcher fans which is nice to know since most of the food is fried and/or breaded or of the high cholesterol variety.
If you could care less about your diet, then let me recommend their dessert menu which is a veritable sinner's paradise. Their just-right sized Dessert Shooters are a buy at $1.99. Try chocolate mousse with oreos, strawberry cheesecake, hot fudge sundae, key lime pie on graham cracker crumbs, or Apple Caramel Supreme with cinnamon and whipped cream on fluffy white cake. For those determined to consume as many carbohydrates and calories as one serving will allow - and attract attention while you're at it - there's Triple Chocolate Meltdown cake with dark and white chocolate and ice cream and hot fudge; Maple Butter Blondie with nuts and ice cream covered in sizzling maple butter sauce and served warm at your table; or Sizzling Apple Pie served in a skillet with walnut streusel, caramel butter and vanilla ice cream.
If you're in a hurry, you can call ahead and pick up your order as you drive by their "Carside to Go" window.
Before I sign off, I must make a full-disclosure statement and report that months ago both my husband and I were felled with what sure seemed like food poisoning within hours of dining there. To be fair, I have no proof that anything on Applebee's menu was the culprit.
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