Applebee's Restaurant on Mentor Avenue in Mentor, Ohio.
Sunday the 16th of December was quite the day in our part of Lake County, but we just HAD to go out. The morning was fine but the forecast was for a blizzard. Strangely enough, the blizzard actually happened, which DID make it fun to watch the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills battle it out at Cleveland Browns Stadium while eating at the above named Applebee's. The game, though, was about the only thing that could have been deemed fun about the experience.
I must admit that I am not a big fan of chain restaurants to begin with, BUT I have been happily surprised on more than one occasion. This, as you already get the drift, was not one of them. The first thing I would like to say is that, having a wonderful greeter is a superb start, and these guys had one, but it must be followed up by comparable service. The next thing, though our server was there quickly to take our orders for drinks, is that you need to pare down that monstrous menu. Whether they admit it or not, no one wants to spend twenty minutes looking back and forth just deciding what to get. I personally hate that. The server must have been used to it, though, as she took about 15 minutes after we said, "two or three more minutes," when we had been asked if we needed more time. The problem with giving extra time is that the customer then finds something else intriguing, thereby needing yet more time AND becoming more aggravated.
When Kelly finally came back my companion and I had decided to just get the "Choose Three" combos. We both got burgers and the steak fajitas, while I got the dip and she got something I cannot recall. The cheese dip came out with a very strange salsa that contained a sweetness we ascertained had to be balsamic vinegar, what an odd flavor with the dip. The burgers were just OK and the fajita wraps were actually quite good.
Now the real problem. While we were eating one of the other servers was heard very loudly complaining about the "fact" that she had been stiffed by another patron AND that she had made only five dollars. We heard her say this at least seven times in less than five minutes. Frankly, I could not care less how much someone makes AND I most certainly do not want to hear some server talk about another patron. She was by the bar and we were in the booth closest to the door. I told our server to have the other female talk less loudly and Kelly only said that she was, "pretty loud, huh?" Then, Kelly made another faux pas when she began to complain about her lack of tips as well due to the weather. We were out in it, so were well aware of what was happening.
Kelly left, we thought to get our check, it took her another ten minutes to get back to us. For fuck sake there were only about ten people in the place. One would have thought she just might have been able to get the check before the dawn of the next millennium. Come on people. Train your servers to keep an eye on the customers rather than each other. Although the check was not huge, $35.00 is $35.00.
I must admit that I am not a big fan of chain restaurants to begin with, BUT I have been happily surprised on more than one occasion. This, as you already get the drift, was not one of them. The first thing I would like to say is that, having a wonderful greeter is a superb start, and these guys had one, but it must be followed up by comparable service. The next thing, though our server was there quickly to take our orders for drinks, is that you need to pare down that monstrous menu. Whether they admit it or not, no one wants to spend twenty minutes looking back and forth just deciding what to get. I personally hate that. The server must have been used to it, though, as she took about 15 minutes after we said, "two or three more minutes," when we had been asked if we needed more time. The problem with giving extra time is that the customer then finds something else intriguing, thereby needing yet more time AND becoming more aggravated.
When Kelly finally came back my companion and I had decided to just get the "Choose Three" combos. We both got burgers and the steak fajitas, while I got the dip and she got something I cannot recall. The cheese dip came out with a very strange salsa that contained a sweetness we ascertained had to be balsamic vinegar, what an odd flavor with the dip. The burgers were just OK and the fajita wraps were actually quite good.
Now the real problem. While we were eating one of the other servers was heard very loudly complaining about the "fact" that she had been stiffed by another patron AND that she had made only five dollars. We heard her say this at least seven times in less than five minutes. Frankly, I could not care less how much someone makes AND I most certainly do not want to hear some server talk about another patron. She was by the bar and we were in the booth closest to the door. I told our server to have the other female talk less loudly and Kelly only said that she was, "pretty loud, huh?" Then, Kelly made another faux pas when she began to complain about her lack of tips as well due to the weather. We were out in it, so were well aware of what was happening.
Kelly left, we thought to get our check, it took her another ten minutes to get back to us. For fuck sake there were only about ten people in the place. One would have thought she just might have been able to get the check before the dawn of the next millennium. Come on people. Train your servers to keep an eye on the customers rather than each other. Although the check was not huge, $35.00 is $35.00.
posted by johnathan e at 4:04 PM
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