Applebee’s

With the lack of bars in the area, Applebee’s is a great place to grab some food, drink some beers and watch the game. I’ve been there several times and have always enjoyed it. Food is good and my service has always been excellent.

My hamburger and fries were good but the onion rings were not good at all the rest of the food was great so was the service

Sorry, Applebees. I gave you a chance. The experience we had at this location was so bad I’m surprised I actually paid the bill and left a tip for our poor server. She was clearly overworked, but that’s no excuse for ignoring us for so long. Other employees were marching back and forth, other customers were getting their food, but we just sat and waited. No explanation. No eye contact. We should have taken the hint and left. Our food finally arrived 50 minutes after we placed our order. I’m being kind when I say it was mediocre. Cold. Bottom of the barrel salad ingredients. Just sad.

I stopped here randomly while driving from DC to Charlotte when I found myself on 29 south of Lynchburg and I wanted something more than fast food. From the moment I entered the service was phenomenal. My server was very friendly and attentive, and the manager came by multiple times to check on me even though I was just sitting by myself at the bar. Just over the top, exceptional service throughout. My steak was good, a generous cut cooked a perfect med rare. Sides were kind of disappointing, mashed potatoes not bad but not special and the mixed veggies were definitely frozen. Food was very solid for a corporate casual chain, but the service was truly impressive.

Went in for breakfast over the weekend. No one acknowledged we were there. All staff went about their business, you would have thought we were invisible. Not even an «I’ll be with you in a minute», no eye contact, nothing. After standing there for what seemed like forever, we left. Will never go back. Was never an Applebee’s fan to begin with, now definitely not. Stay away from chain restaurants.

Andrea’s recent review reminded me that on the few times we have been back to Applebee’s since I wrote my initial review, the service has been spotty, and the last time they were «out of grilled chicken» for an Asian chicken Salad. by 8pm, which I thought was a bit odd, especially because they still had fried chicken nuggets. They had also closed off a good portion of the place, mounting the chairs on top of the tables and running a vacuum around the same time, pretty much adjacent to our table.
The servers are often a bit «over the top» (I really don’t like to be called «Sweetie») but that’s to be expected in this sort of place. Generally they are attentive and efficient. Never had one screw up and order We’ll still go back as they are the ‘only game in town’ here in Altavista.

It will be a long time before we eat here again, if we ever do. The past two visits they have messed up our food. This last time it took the 20 minutes to tell me they were out of ½ of what I ordered so I only had a baked potato for dinner. They had brought the potato and only went looking for the rest when I asked where it was! That was after they brought my husbands main meal to the table before we received our appetizer. He ordered dessert for dinner and even though it sat there for 10 – 15 minutes while we ate our appetizer it was so cold the ice cream didn’t melt. You would think a blondie would have been heated! Then the waitress came and took one of the plates I was eating off of and when I tried to stop her she suddenly couldn’t hear too well. Or maybe it was the blaring music all through the place that made you have to yell to be heard. They initially seated us next to the kitchen and when we asked for one of the 20+ other tables that were open we were told those had been closed off for the night. It was 8:30! Seems a little early to be closing off sections to clean and get out early. The manager later came over and told us we could move. Service has continued to decline and each time we go there are less people there. Wouldn’t be surprised if this one closes.