Applebee’s, Edgewood Towne Center

Applebee’s

I’m continually perplexed as I drive by the Applebee’s in Edgewood Towne Center.  The parking lot is always packed no matter what day of the week it is.  Maybe it’s the location- maybe it’s the food or service; I’m just not sure why a chain restaurant has so much business every day of the week.

Applebee’s is similar to Friday’s in many ways- the servers are adorned with matching uniforms, trendy hats, and sometimes buttons to match.  The walls are covered with movie and television memorabilia, and there are colored lamps above the tables that add a homey feeling to the atmosphere.

It’s a kid-friendly atmosphere, evident by the baskets or crayons, and connect-the-dot placemats at the hostess station as you enter.

When we arrived during the weekday at 6pm, most of the tables were taken, but we lucked out, and got a booth by a window.  I was meeting my Mom and sister for dinner, and since this was the closest restaurant we decided to give it a try.

Our waitress arrived immediately after we were seated and took our drink orders.  No booze for me- tomorrow was a work day.  My sister got a margarita, and my Mom had lemonade.  From the look on my sister’s face, the drink was packing plenty of tequila.

My Mom and sister ordered to share a cheeseburger ($7.99), and I got the Crispy Orange Chicken ($10.99).  I always have some greens before my meal, so I also ordered the house salad with bleu cheese.  My salad arrived first; the lettuce was fresh, and it was topped with cheese, tomatoes and carrots- the blue cheese dressing was tasty.   The burger was next, and arrived with an extra plate for sharing.  It was ordered medium rare, and was cooked to the correct temperature. My Crispy Orange Chicken was fried golden-brown, and the orange dipping was a good accompaniment.

If you’re looking to save money, Applebee’s is running a two for $20.00 special right now.  That includes an appetizer (to share) two (2) entrees from the allotted menu choices, and a dessert- that’s really not a bad deal, and considering the current economic climate, could explain all of the cars in the parking lot.  If you’re watching your diet, there’s also a section with offerings under 550 calories.

Applebee’s isn’t a fancy restaurant by any means.  Some of the food is pre-prepared, and not all of the dressings are homemade.  However, if you’re looking for a restaurant to take the whole family, and you’re on a budget, this might be a good choice for you.

Chef Chuck Kerber

chuck@cooksandeats.com