Applebee’s
reviews and complaints

1[3] star because restaurant failed to serve curbside as ordered and delayed our trip. Excited because we thought ordering curbside to go via this app would prevent delay in our cross-country trip. Arrived when food should have been ready. Went inside after 10 minutes and our food was sitting there. Waited for someone to show up so we could get our food. FYI-Gallup, NM.

Addendum: today I discovered that I was charged full price for the meals ordered despite the fact that the app recognized the gift card I applied and noted that it was applying $25 toward the payment. I almost took a screen shot and wish I had. Today, under past orders, it does not show the gift card amount. We threw away the gift card before realizing this. I have downgraded to 1star but I would give zero. Completely awful experience.

On Thursday evening I decided I wanted a burger. Since I had a $10 gift card I decided to use that as part of my payment. I ordered 2 main entrees, a Bourbon Bacon Burger Nd a chicken salad.
I arrived a few min prior to schedule pickup, and received my order very quickly. After getting home, my roommate and I dove right in. The salad was excellent and the burger was very satisfying. It was a messy burger and very tasty and hot. The lettuce was lacking. (One small leaf of lettuce which was became very limp fried m the heat of the sandwich). More lettuce is needed to stay fresh and crisp. Limp lettuce is not tasty and difficult to bite into. I wound up just removing it.
The fried es were cold and hard. I don’t think the fries were cooked fresh. I believe that they were fried that had been cooked for a while.

We love Applebee’s for their food but more for their customer service. We have a favorite waitress And we won’t sit in another section- we wait for an opening in Shawna’s section even on super busy nights. She knows what we drink, how we like our meat cooked, What we like and she even makes great recommendations based on her knowledge of us and it’s never gone wrong.
She treats us like royalty, she hugs us before we leave, we know about each other’s kids like who graduates when, she has become our Applebee’s friend that don’t happen everywhere you go but we like it. We pass about 2 other locations to get to the one on 51 Curtner Ave in San Jose because of her great attitude and smile, i don’t usually give reviews unless I’m ticked off about something but not this time.
We look forward to our date nights, thank you Applebee’s.

Jeez! It’s a good thing I didn’t want the food for several hours. I was trying to use the Free Delivery function and had a great deal of problems with the app not adding order correctly, then it said I didn’t have a valid phone number (which I double checked and it was correct). I tried ordering from several locations and encountered the same problem. So I called one location (closest to my house) and the employee there knew nothing about the app and wasn’t helpful at all. I hung up and tried one more time to place order. It went thru so quick that I didn’t realize at first that it was for pickup. So we will go get it but if you are offering free delivery in this time when people are supposed to stay in (and we are seniors who want to help the restaurants by ordering when we can) then you better make sure your app works right.

Our Activities Director was going to be gone and our scheduled Applebee’s pickup for our nursing home. Instead of canceling I was able to place my order next day as a guest (to begin with) and was so impressed with the APP that it allowed a pickup date, time in advance, and the store I was going to. After paying it allowed me (yes allowed because I was so upset that I only did my first visit as a guest) to join as a regular customer with the extra benefits. I don’t know why these people are saying these things about the app. I was able to get a medium steak and added mushrooms to it, I and added cheese to my mashed potatoes! My green beans were awesome, my whole meal was! This was a pickup meal that came from Lake Mary to Sanford and was still hot, ice in drinks weren’t melted. Hats off to our Asst. Activities Dir. and y’all for a great meal!

So much for being a time-saver.

Needs options to deduct/delete unwanted ingredients (like -no bacon or -no ketchup etc.

Needs options to indicate "put ingredients on the side".

Would be great to have a comment section of say 500-1000 character space to indicate dietary needs (halal, kosher, low carb, no shellfish, no bread etc).

The two for $20 and two for $25 paper menus in store do not accurately reflect on the app. It's too confusing.

Need payment code or coupon options to add on checkout for pre-pay and then just give coupon to clerk when I come in for pick up.

The "Carry out Deadline Time" needs to be stated up front for the specific location.

Thanks. Maybe I would order more often if online was smoother. For deaf people like me, this could be a God-send (even the waiter had difficulty understanding me when we had to come in and order.).

First off, I live Applebee’s. Decided to order a curbside order on my way home so downloaded the app. I finished my order and paid and the app just closed ‍♀️ so I didn’t know if my order went through. No email, no text, nothing on the app showed that my order went through. So, I’m thinking it crashed before it had submitted it. I should have called first, but I just went through order again...it happened again! So called the store and sure enough I have 2 orders and they can’t cancel one because I ordered online and it’s already paid for! I’m ok with that because I’ll eat it tomorrow. BUT...there should be some type of confirmation to let you know your order was processed...period! A text, an email, something on the app...anything!

I give it 2 stars because I love Applebee’s and just can’t rate it a 1, but the app definitely needs work!

The car side side service is quite nice and the people I deal with have been quite friendly. However, I have had issues twice now with getting the right side dishes. Double Crunch Shrimp typically comes with fries and Cole slaw. I can select fries as a side dish but cole slaw is not an option. I have tried to working with this system - even using the advice of the server from the first attempt - but to no avail. Last night, I only ended up with one side dish although I paid for two. This seems like an easy fix for the app. Also, there should be a place to write special instructions - like hold the tater sauce and double the cocktail sauce. I still love you Applebee's but you have some room for improvement in this app.

I'd be remiss if I did not add that both times, the food was hot and delicious. Quite thoughtful packaging to make sure the food gets home in great shape!

Convenient to pick up curbside, and to prepay using app. The app should have windows that prompt you to select pick up inside or curbside delivery, followed by a window asking time of pick up. I had to call store each of the three times I've used this app to clarify my requests because the app used the defaults. Also, I found the order review feature lacking. Extra items I selected were not listed. Nor did I receive them. When I wanted to review the order to check for an error, I saw a generic entry for 'food' that appeared to be my extra items. There was no entry to tell me if I paid sales tax. I hope they fix this, we enjoy Applebee's but don't always want to go out to eat. I would like to have confidence my order is as I planned, but so far they are 0/3. Also, the in-store staff needs full access to the online order to make adjustments as needed or confirm. Staff at our location seemed unable to assist due to lack of access.

Aesthetically, this app is great. Functionality wise? Awful. This app doesn’t acknowledge what hours all locations are open, so if I ever select to place an order, it always says “Closed” and doesn’t let me place an order, no matter what location. I’ve deleted and re-downloaded the app multiple times, and I’ve had to resort to using the actual Applebee's website on my browser to place orders to-go, which is very inconvenient considering that has the tendency to mess up as well. Not to mention the menus are inaccurate... Look, this app has great potential and people obviously seem to be working on it considering the patch notes (despite their vagueness), but as of right now, I recommend the developers to stop focusing on looks and actually get the thing to work... I get that y’all are trying, but you guys are working for a chain that boasts a big name. Please try to back it up and prove that it’s actually worthy to be downloaded. ‍♀️

Ordered at 8:55 while in the parking lot. Sat and waited to see how long it would take for someone to come out and assist me or asked me if I needed to be assisted. Someone what standing outside smoking a cigarette when I ordered and parked. I watch this person over the next 40 minutes smoke three cigarettes without asking me if I had been attended to. After witnessing the set in ploy a walk to the car beside me twice and ask them if they had what I had ordered I decided to roll down my window and ask for help. I then waited another 20 minutes before calling once the phone with aunt Siri I was told it would be right out. I waited another 15 minutes before the manager came out. I was actually not bothered by the waiting but what bothers me most is that when the manager came out he proceeded to say that I parked in the furthest spot and they weren't looking for me. He didn't even apologize for my wait. Once I received my order it was actually cold. I will never order curbside to go service from this location again. The customer service is Horrendous.

Reason for only 3 stars is I called from car to see how long it will be and the hostess answered the phone in a rush, said wait I’ll go check, never asked for my name or order number! Really!?!? how was she going to check? I blurted the number before she got away.

I watched through the window while on hold for 5 minutes. Finally went in and said "Hi im the customer you currently have on hold to see when my order will be ready" that's when she ran back to ask! Guess what, they are putting it on now would you like to pay! Okay so I have learned you pay before you get the food in the curbside order industry! Yes I fell for that too!

Hey here comes my order now! Hurrying waitress said “No this is not yours it’s C “You have one more item and yours will be ready!” Guess what both our names start with a C. I waited anxiously wondering what’s next haha.

Guess what’s next. Waitress brings out C food (car beside me) then she comes to my window “what’s your name again”? “C***” I say.

1/2 hour and on my way home. Stay tuned to see how good the food is and if it’s really mine!

I downloaded the app & ordered carside to go but it wouldn't let me because of the weather, I assume, because it was snowing outside, it said it wasn't available. Well, that's alright, I had been working all day & my feet hurt, so I was looking forward to the convenience of carside to go. I also downloaded the app to get 5OFF25 for a first time online order, but it wouldn't accept it. Of course my original order equaled $24.98...funny huh? So I just HAD to order a brownie bite for $1.00 but then I couldn't activate the coupon. Oh well. I'll pay inside when I hobble in on sore feet hee hee, and see if I can have them give me the $5 off. I enjoy the food at Applebees and appreciate the good food and reasonable prices. I'm sure I'll use the app again in the near future. Merry Christmas everyone & God bless you
Adding to my review: When I hobbled inside, they gave me the $5 off. So I was happy about that. I really enjoy Applebee's food, especially when I work so much I often don't have time or energy to cook at home & I get tired of junk food. Applebee's is far from junk food! It's like eating a real wholesome meal. Thanks Applebee's.

Two of Applebee’s Best

I have to say that tonight I was very impressed
with Napyria - Hostess and Jeffery - Server. These two people were the most patient and kind people I have ever met, and I’m 70 so I’ve met a few.
Jeffery was soft spoken never made one feel the need to rush, he was very thoughtful about the people he served as I listened to the way he was with other customers besides us.
Napyria is the most customer oriented hostess I’ve ever met. She was like a shark. Looking for things that needed to be done and doing them without ever missing a beat with phone calls and customers coming in.
My wife needed sugar and even though Napyria was cleaning a table she stopped and asked the type of sweetener my wife wanted and came back with it in a blink of the eye.
Napyria was constantly cleaning up very polite on the phone and to customers. She would prepare Menu’s to give customers as she seated them.
I ran a production department for 40+ years. I wish I had more employees like Napyria who has total control of her responsibilities and is
so very polite and patient with customers.
Thank you Jeffery and Napyria for making my Thursday night fantastic.
Wally M

I placed and order through the app for car side to go and was given the option to either go inside or have it brought to my car, I chose to have it brought to my car at 8:45 at the La Plata, MD location. I showed up at 8:40...20 minutes go by and it's now 15 minutes past the time my food was supposed to be ready. Check the app and it says my food is completed. Go Inside and asked if my food was done and asked why it wasn't brought to my car. The girl says "oh, we don't take food outside after it's dark outside." REALLY?! So why was I given the option of having it brought to my car then? Needless to say, my boneless wings were skimpy and dried up and had no celery with them as normally provided. The spinach dip was horrible and cold. The wonton tacos had started getting soggy and the mozzarella sticks had started getting cold as well. Maybe the app hang compensated for the time change yet and when it will get "dark outside" but don't give me the option of having something brought to my car and then not even tell me or notify me when my order is done. My phone number was attached to my already paid order. I guess they would have only called if I didn't pay first. Horrible service and didn't even offer to provide me with fresh food.

After getting a coupon to use the app and get $5.00 of my first order. I loaded the app added all my info. Placed my first order. The coupon was not accepted. I waited at the curbside spot and the app showed my order was complete and I gave a description of my car. No on came out. I went inside. Went to the bar area. The servers were waiting so I went to the front door and the host stand. The 3 employees hanging out there one of them walked away. The other 2 told me to go back to the bar. I mentioned he was busy but got no response. Went back to the bar. Waited some more while he made some drinks for other customers. And other waited staff walked past me. One did ask if I needed help. I told him the bartender was helping me but he was busy. So he said he would see what he could do. Then someone else asked and I said 2 people already weren't helping me.
The 2 nd waiter came out with food told me the bartender would ring it up. I explained again I paid on line and repeated for the 3!rd time the coupon did not work. He looked at it and said he would find one not expired. I showed it to him and explained that it did not expire. It was for a first order on the app. He then said he would find a manager. I think the manager was around during one of the conversations but did not offer to help. All the while my food is getting cold.
So I took it. Paid full price and sorry to say did not leave a tip. Can't imagine who it would go to anyway.
Won't do that again.
By the way after I heated up the food at home it was okay. But definitely not worth that much trouble.
This store is not ready for curbside to go.

first of all, the online website is so difficult and glitchy. it wouldn’t let me change my store location. so i got this app thinking it would be easier. NOT. they need to fix the apps system because it definitely does not add up the numbers properly. took my coworkers and i 45+ minutes to put in our order. we tried using a $5 off $25 coupon for using the app for the first time, we were getting our order together and our subtotal was $27 and it wouldnt take the $5 off ? so we made the subtotal $30 and then it kept saying it didn’t equal the right amount and when we were adding a tip it wasnt letting it work either. so we said screw it and didnt add a tip (lol dont kill us) and it went through and it said our total paid was $22? which is interesting because our total WITHOUT tax was $30 and then the $5 coupon would’ve made it $25 and then some tax. so wheb we saw $22 we were very confused but said whatever. then i get my confirmation order email and see that it charged me $30? we looked at the details and the tax was $2.28 and then it DID take out a tip of $3? so whatever that makes sense that a subtotal of $30 -$5 coupon +$2 tax & $3tip. =$30 ish dollars. but the process of this was such a HASSEL. im not complaining about the $30 or anything its just annoying that the app was completely messing up the numbers in the first place making it so confusing. also it IS weird that it took out a tip when we opted out. BUT we were going to try to tip anyway in the first place if the app was working. this was such an annoying process and it really makes me not want to use the app again or even order from apple bees. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS APP. lol shoulda just called an order in.

I was traveling on Memorial Day weekend during the COVID-19 crisis, and finding food to eat was a bit challenging. I therefore made it a habit to order from McDonald’s using the restaurant’s app. Doing so had been relatively inexpensive and convenient, and my orders were always efficiently processed. However, I can only take so much fast food, so after I checked in to my hotel in Ukiah, California, I downloaded the Applebee’s app and treated myself to a Bourbon Street Steak with garlic mashed potatoes. I added on a Caesar salad for $2.99. Unfortunately, after picking my order up and returning to my hotel, I discovered my mashed potatoes were missing. I guess my positive experiences ordering online from McDonald’s has led me to believe it is unnecessary to check my orders, especially when they include only a few items.

After calling the restaurant and speaking to someone that I believed to be a manager, I was told that they thought the salad was a substitution for the mashed potatoes (even though the app does not offer the salad as a “different side” AND it was listed on the receipt as a charged add-on). The only solution the manager could offer was for me to return to the restaurant and allow him to make it right. He said he was unable to do anything else in my absence, such as credit my card the $2.99 that should not have been charged for the salad if it was just a substitution. Needless to say, I took the loss because I did not want to go to the trouble to return to the restaurant and leave my meal to get cold. Furthermore, doing so on another day would be impossible since I was just passing through Ukiah; my hometown is hundreds of miles away.

I’m sure there are other, better online ordering options, even during the current crisis, so I do not foresee using the Applebee’s app to get food anytime soon. I also recommend you consider other options if you plan to use it in Ukiah for yourself.

We ordered a party platter of the chicken fingers ENTREE, which claims to serve 5-7 people. While the chicken fingers appetizer platter also feed 5-7, it clearly stated that the fries (in menu the picture) were not included. For $8 more you can order the ENTREE VERSION and presumably receive fries for 5-7 people as well. Another reason you might believe fries were included with the $8 up charge could be the fact that a mandatory selection for a side order had to be made for the order to process. On the list of side order choices, fries were nowhere to be found. And why would they. Since the picture displayed the fries as part of the package and the appetizer version clearly stated that it did not include fries. So, I was confused and surprised when once again I arrived home to feed the family and my order was incomplete. Giving it more thought, the restaurant had contacted me by phone 5 minuets after my order should have been completed to inform me that the garlic bread I ordered and paid for was unavailable. I thought when I said “no big deal, I understand. You can just take that off the order” I did not realize, until I checked my receipt, that it was up to me to remind them to also remove the charge from the bill. When we returned to pick up the fries and clarify the prices, we were expected to appreciate the single serving of garlic mashed potatoes that were supposedly included for free. FYI the mashed potatoes cost less then the garlic bread we were not refunded our money for. Additionally, the $5 coupon they are promoting was also not honored. Instead, after a 10 minute debate on the subject and our offer to return home to retrieve the food that was at this point ice cold, we were again expected to appreciate the $10 coupon they provided us in place of the money we were overcharged. Thanks a lot! But I prefer to choose how and where I spend my money instead of being forced to redeem it through more products and services of the same restaurant that screwed up the last three orders my family and I have placed in the past year. Here’s my suggestion...try to order from your own app and see how that goes. Items are often removed from the app menu and other items are advertised poorly and incorrectly.

I tried to order from the app and it wouldn't let me select any options on the kids menu. You should add the option to type in your selection. My daughter is 2 and it only gave me the option of a shake for a drink and didn't give me the option for broccoli. Very disappointing. Also it stated "car side to go is closed please choose other option"...soooo why can't the do car side to go if they will let you come in and pick it up? Why have the option even listed? Our store has always been lazy so I'm not surprised that they would turn the option off if they have that option on their end.

Its unusable. You go to use a gift card. It keeps removing it. I have input the same gift card countless times now. Why cant i do credit card and gift card? Im .70 cents above the 25 dollar gift card. Cant i pay .70 cents when i get there? Whys paying upon arrival not an option if the app itself wont do combined payment.

Why does the app keep removing my gift card from the screen when i go to add my credit card? Shouldn't it just have your stuff there. Even when i hit remember credit card it still removes it

The app is slow. Buggy. Reminds me of the app store when the iPhone 1 came out

I don’t like this app because I placed an order on a Saturday night for Sunday at noon. I could find no way to edit my order online Sunday morning at 8:00. All I could come up with was the phone number for the restaurant. When I spoke to the manager at 8:00 she said the order could not be cancelled or altered. That seems really dumb to me.
Plus, there is no incentive to use the app. It’s not like you are collecting points for a free coffee or dollars off a future meal or anything.
If i decide to use Applebee’s car side in the future I will just phone an order in. I’m taking a this app off my devices!

The coupon for using the app didn't work. Trying to modify your order even slightly was impossible, unless you wanted to remove an ingredient. Extra dressing...not an option. Dressing on the side...not an option. The way the 2 for $20 ordering works on this app is frustrating, because it's not helpful or intuitive. Any error messages that pop up don't tell you how to easily solve your mistake so you have to troubleshoot it when you get an error message and all you really want is to order your darn food. This makes me want to avoid Applebee's more in general because it seems they are getting less and less customer friendly.

You get a coupon code for $5.00 off your first order. I make my selections, add my cc info, add the coupon code at "redeem coupon code." It gives me a total. Asks if I want to leave a tip. I did. I hit "continue" to check-out. I then get a msg saying "guest coupons are not valid for this order." Gee, in the corporate jargon world, "guest" means customer. What am I, chopped liver. It WAS my first carry-out order. I did order despite the misleading crap about the $5. If you are really counting on the discount, don't waste your time. It takes several minutes to finalize a multi-person order. Disappointed. Hate being lied to.

I tried to use the app to order food easily for pickup and use the coupon code I saw for first time users of the app. I was just ordering a burger for my husband and wings for myself, and with the coupon I would have gotten $5 off of a $25 purchase, so to get our cart above the minimum, I was going to get a drink and a milk shake. After entering the coupon, I kept getting an error message saying that it couldn't be used on my order. I was so frustrated that I decided I would just not use the coupon and get our food and be done with it, but then it wouldn't let me delete the coupon. I was so frustrated, I said forget it and deleted the app from my phone.

There are three Applebees in our town - Erie, Pa. - none of them accept online ordering or carside to go. So if you have this app, you’ll receive email offers occasionally - THEY WON’T ACCEPT THEM AT ANY LOCATION HERE!

You can’t order online here!
You can’t get delivery (also on the app)

And try looking at the app’s menu - it wants to know your location, then informs you that the locations here don’t do online, carside, pickup or delivery - so there is no way to look at the app’s menu!

So, you have to look online at their menu, then call and order - only to find out they won’t accept any of the offers from the app!

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS ONE!

I placed my order at 8pm. According to the app it would be ready at 8:15 however I didn't arrive until 8:25. I couldn't park in the Carside Parking spot because it was taken by someone either dining in or an employee (car was unoccupied and still there 20 minutes later). I observed the waitstaff playing with each others' hair while standing in the view of the Carside To Go door. I am still waiting for my order and I have now been waiting for 20 minutes. Someone finally came out to see if I needed assistance and informed me they can't do Carside after 8pm. Maybe they need to revise the app to note that so people aren't waiting 20 minutes while their food gets cold!

I downloaded this app to put in a very large order of apps for a group of 20 during a big football game, and also because my local Applebee’s wasn’t answering their phone.

After downloading the app, every time I clicked on the icon to open it the app would immediately quit while the splash screen was up. Tried again after restarting phone multiple times and quitting all other running apps to no avail. Their website didn’t even allow me to order online. Sadly, I have to rate this app very poorly as it was unusable. My local Applebee’s also missed out on an $800 takeout dining bill that went to TGI Friday’s instead because Applebees was completely unreachable via phone, app, or internet.

I am constantly logged in to the app. Went to a local restaurant, wanted to use the app to pay the bill. While it caught the bill, once I entered the payment method information, I got charged and brought back to the main screen, no receipt whatsoever. Nothing in my recent orders even when I paid them 2 minutes prior. I had to ask the waiter for a copy of paid receipt, which defeats the purpose of using the app to pay.

Also my prior orders do not show up (while being logged in).

Cannot access the menu unless you start the order. Once you start the order in order to see the menu and then order at the table you cannot access the pay from the table option as the app is forcing you to continue your previous order.

The latest version (late June 2022) is not ready to be released! Buttons are missing to navigate through an order (this issue existed in the previous version as well) and the user has to guess what blank area of the screen to press. The newest version also lost my credit card info so I had to enter the info again and there is no button to save the card info after entering. It’s there, but you can’t see it, so again you have to click blank areas of the screen until it works. This is very poor app development and Applebee’s should do better. Do the executives not try a new version before it’s released? (Hint: they should!) We use the app one or two times each week but it’s almost becoming unusable. Please fix the errors and test the app thoroughly before releasing.

Creating an account with a strong password is impossible. Can’t paste in a password from an app like one password. Suggested strong password won’t take either

Entering credit card impossible. No keyboard shows up. Tried multiple times. Needs some serious help. How am I supposed to pay? No Apple Pay option either. Who’s running this show?

Can’t use photo/scan of credit card. Just doesn’t work tried 3 cards. Just remove this and use Apple Pay. It’s 2020. These thing are table stakes.

App crashes on submit of order 95% of the time.

I want this to work. Every other dining app gets it. Applebee’s should concentrate on the app a bit more and maybe make something that’s a bit more functional. Might as well fax my order in at this point.

I’d give this 0 stars if I could.

The app is nice to place your order but unless you have a gift card u can't pay using the app. If You choose car side to go and are paying with a card, you have to hand over your card to someone you don't know and hope they don't take your card information. Also there is no place to enter comments for special request, like if you want something put on the side. I do like the design of the app and is easy to use. Would be nice to have an edit button when reviewing your order instead of having to keep going back to find the page with the info you need to edit. Also if car side pickup isn't available after a certain time why let it be an option. Frustrating to go all the way to almost placing the order only to find out car side pickup isn't an option and then having to go all the way back to change it.

This review is for the Applebee’s app, not the restaurant itself. I could not place my order through the app, I have used it before but it would not work today when I tried to order. The whole purpose of the app is the convenience & it failed on that! It should not be a problem for a company of this size to have a workable, user friendly app. Also, there needs to be a place to add special instructions on each separate item you order for a variety of different reasons. I’m sure adding the app has increased Applebee’s business at every location they have, put some of the increased revenue back into creating & maintaining a user friendly, workable app! If this is not done, that revenue is going to disappear plus more because of customer’s increasing annoyance & frustration with the entire Applebee’s chain!

I don't personally know what it take to make an ordering app but with the huge number of them I don't think it should be too hard. With that said this needs a lot of work.

1) there is no way to say you want more or less of something that is listed on an item(for example: I want a wrap that normally comes with cheese to hold the cheese I cannot put that or I want extra wontons on my salad)

2) (this is specific to the chicken tender basket and platter) If you list an item comes with fries then why is it I am forced to choose a side of which you do not have fries listed!

3) I should be able to make comments on my order overall(for example: I want my fries on all my orders well done)

Like I said I don't know how hard it is as I haven't tried to create one but I don't think these thinks are unreasonable.