Applebees? Ummm.... may I suggest another place?

[coyote-1]

Went to one of these last night as a guest of a church group for whom I played drums at their Xmas show. Now I know the evangelical movement says we atheists are supposed to be waging war on Christmas or something, but I guess I'm just not committed enough to my lack of belief

Anyway, they took me out to Applebees afterward and we had a great time. I had the pulled pork sliders, which come with fries. The pork wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't up to the quality level of so much other that I've had. And the fries were waaaay over-salted - as was the pork.

It's kind of a drag. The restaurant looks like it should be really good, and it certainly is a fun place. Or maybe I'm just spoiled since I know so many great cooks, and get advice from folk like y'all.

When this happens again I won't say NO because it's not terrible. But I will suggest some other place before we end up there. There's a genuine and delicious BBQ joint just a couple miles away....

 

[meatball]

When I go to places like this, I always order a burger. It's very hard to screw up a cheeseburger and the other stuff never seems to live up to its billing.

 

[cajunsmoke13]

I am not a fan of Applebee's. We have tried it several times and each time we were disappointed. Finally said "No more Applebee's"

 

[chisoxjim]

I avoid all chains, unless I am desperate. I wouldnt think of orering any "bbq" @ places like Applebees, Chilis, or Friday's. Bake-b-q, or boil-b-q doesnt appeal to me.

If I am forced to go, I stick with a burger, some nachos, and a mostly liquid(beer) meal...

 

[mballi3011]

I personally have a hard time going to resturants anyway. I hate to go and eat food and pay alot too cause most of the time I can prepare the food better than they can anyway. But I do get the satisfaction of preparing good food for others and then look back and see them eatng and enjoying the meal. Thats what I like.

 

[badfrog]

I would ALWAYS prefer to eat at home...the food is way better!!! When I am forced to eat out, my preference is to try something completely different than what I can or do prepare at home. I doubt there are very many here on SMF that will find any bbq (or for that matter probably anything else on the menu) in a chain that beats what any of us do at home...I have yet to see a fattie on any menu!!! stick with a salad and a burger...although I have been dissapointed with even a simple burger more than I care to remember!

 

[chefrob]

couldn't have said it any better!

 

[bman62526]

I see everyone's piont about wanting to avoid chain restaurants, at least I agree when it comes to BBQ. I'm sure 95% of the members here (if not 100?!?) could out-do Applebees when it comes to ribs.

However, I cook every single meal in our household of four...every - damn - one.

Therefore, if I get the chance to get out and let someone wait on me - I say, bring it!

But yeah...I stick to burgers and sandwiches, as the fancy stuff doesn't usually live up to the pretty pictures on the menu.

 

[coyote-1]

Yep, I learned that last night. Wife and I never go to those places so I'm somewhat inexperienced with it. But we had a good time, and the SamAdams was great

If/when it happens again, a burger it shall be!

 

[silverwolf636]

I know what you mean about Applebees. My wife and I have been there only three times and all three times we received discounts from the manager due to over-cooked, cold or didn't receive the proper meals. We did not complain to the manager, it was like they over heard our conversation and just came out of the woodwork or something. But as for the flavor, I think we, as smokers, are spoiled from some of the flavorful-art that we pull out of our smokers.
I don't want to knock down any restaurant, but we went to Damons and got ribs. After the first bite, we all looked at each other like, we have to pay for this? Prior to me building my smoker, I looked forward to going to Damons for a rack of ribs.
So, you can look at this two ways:
1) smokingmeatforums as destroyed all the fun we had going out and eating and spending lots of money for an overrated rack of ribs and over $3.00 for a Budweiser or:
2) smokingmeatforums has saved me a lot of money by staying home listening to my own jams, watch the game I want, working on "The Theory and Practice of Smoking Meat," and drinking a 12-pack for what it would've cost for 4 Buds at a rib shack. And, enjoying my family and friends.
I choose the second...
--ray--

 

[autoferret]

I with a lot of you guys. Why would i pay 10bucks for a burger i can make better at home. Still working on getting home cut fries to be crispy...

There is 2 types of food that i do go out for and that b/c i'm no way close to ever being able to make it as good as they do. Mexican and Sushi.

 

[chisoxjim]

I agree, I enjoy cooking, but sometimes get in a rut, and enjoy going out to eat(probably 3-4 times a month). I really enjoy ethnic foods that I cant make as well as I can get here in Chicagoland(Indian, chinese, japanese, sushi, thai, vietnamese, authentic mexican, etc.). I also enjoy getting treated to a nice steak and lobster dinner on occasion.

I just dislike chains, and try to support small dives, and family owned joints.

 

[coyote-1]

There was one chain restaurant here in NY a couple decades ago that was awesome. It was called El Torito. GREAT Mex food, great bar, attractive waitresses in mex-style bustier microminiskirts. Then they started changing... the food quality fell off, and the waitress' uniforms got more modest and they stopped hiring such hot waitresses. Needless to say, within a couple years they were gone.

Oh well.

 

[cajunsmoke13]

We do have an awesome Mexican restaurant here. Can't do what they do at home, cheap, a pile of food, and darn good. Most of the others I can do without. Love Chinese, but whenever I leave there I am stuffed and swell up from the MSG...Price I pay. Wish I could could get my fries to come out better also, like McDonald's. What is their trick?

 

[coyote-1]

McD's and BurgerKing used to have good fries around here - in fact, while I'd not go to those restaurants for anything else, I would occasionally get a batch of fries.

But that was years ago. 7 or 8 years ago they started coating the fries with some stuff that makes 'em almost unrecognizable as food. So now if I want fries, there's a great seafood joint a half mile from the house that does incredible fries. A bit more costly, but absolutely worth the price.

I don't want a fryer around the house, so when I do fries they are oven-style. Either regular potatoes or sweet. No coating, just a light spray of olive oil and in until they are somewhat crispy.

 

[scubadoo97]

Me too!

 

[bman62526]

Agree 100% when it comes to Mexican or Asian food...

I go out for those...anything else I can duplicate at home for a lot less cost and more taste!

Funny...there is a friend of mine that every once in a while, will bring me two slabs of baby backs - when he hears through the grapevine that I'm going to be smoking.

His only requirement, is that I give him back one of the two slabs...the other one is for me

Not a bad way to earn a free slab or ribs, huh?

 

[ronp]

One trick for fries is to blanch in oil first maybe at 330', let them cool, then crank up the heat and fry as normal till crisp and golden brown. You can also make a big batch and store in the fridge and fry as you need them.

 

[blue]

We have an applebee's about a 1/4 mile from our house and have not visited it once in the 10 years we have lived there.

 

[hoser]

Right on, Ron....double frying at 340, and then 375 is the only way to get a truly delicious fry.