Anyone Else Disappointed With Applebee's?

[MindytheOrganist]

Applebees has recently touted a new allergen menu, but it only reads, "Wheat Allergies." I still consider that a no-no because wheat and gluten are two different things, right?

Am considering contacting them and saying, "not enough to get us to return."

[Dixiebell]

Gluten is in wheat and barley and rye and contaiminated oats.

I will not eat at ours because the service and the food is so bad.

[kareng]

Before going gluten-free, we used to try to eat at an 3 different Appleby's all within 2 miles of Appleby's headquarters. Worse than poor service. If they can't get it right near the headquarters on regular food, I wouldn't expect they would be careful & attentive to a special diet.

[lynnelise]

I've been to Applebee's twice since going gluten free. The first time was about a year ago. This was before the wheat allergy menu. The manager told me that basically all I could have was ground beef. Everything else was pre-packaged and unsafe. So I endured an uncomfortable meal in which my husband and a friend had dinner and I just sat there with no food. (Normally we would've gone elsewhere but we had a gift card so I told my husband to go ahead and use it.) I had my second experience there this October. My friend wanted to go for her birthday lunch and mentioned the wheat free menu. So I got a bunless burger and a salad. Went through a whole discussion with the manager about cross contamination. Ended up in the bathroom 3 times before we left. Applebee's is permantly off my list of places to eat!!!

[kareng]

Just looked at the regular menu then the gluten-free menu. The gluten-free menu warns that fryers are shared. On the regular menu there are onion rings & moz sticks which are coated in bread crumbs and fried in the same fryer as the fries. The gluten-free menu lists fries. I think this is a case of "we don't put gluten in the food but have no way to cook them gluten-free".

[cap6]

I will never go to Applebee's. I have been there twice and both time went home sick. They really don't care at all. I prefer not to eat at chains but have had very good service at mimi's and chili's. Outback and olive Garden both make double sure things are kept seperate. Was a little nervous about olive Garden with all of that wheaty pasta floating around but the server explained that when a gluten-free order goes in it is highlighted in red on their order board. Nice feeling!

[MindytheOrganist]

Thanks for the inputs. We probably won't be going to Applebee's anyway. The last time we were there, the service was poor and food not that great. We have had very good luck with Olive Garden, Biaggi's, Chili's, Red Robin, even Red Lobster. Several local places here have also been very helpful.

Then again, husband is not very sensitive. He accidentally ate the regular bread at Biaggi's a while back, and no reaction.

[cap6]

Red Lobster? Yum! Will have to try that one.

[lovegrov]

Before you go to Red Lobster look at their allergen menu. Stuff you would think would be gluten-free, like broiled seafood, isn't. I think this is because the spice blends they use contain wheat. About your only choices are shrimp scampi, blackened fish, crab legs and lobster. According to them, even their cocktail sauce has gluten. And their fresh broccoli and asparagus.

richard

[msmini14]

I went to Applebees once years ago and the food and service was terrible. And it tasted like they cooked everything with some kind of alchohol. I tasted my dish and a friend's dish and it tasted like brandy or something. I cant stand the taste of any alchohol so it was a huge turn off for me.

I would like to try Red Lobster but then again I prefer to cook my own food these days. I know it sucks cleaning sometimes but at least I know what goes in it, its cheaper and it tastes better lol.

[cap6]

Before you go to Red Lobster look at their allergen menu. Stuff you would think would be gluten-free, like broiled seafood, isn't. I think this is because the spice blends they use contain wheat. About your only choices are shrimp scampi, blackened fish, crab legs and lobster. According to them, even their cocktail sauce has gluten. And their fresh broccoli and asparagus.

richard

well, I love lobster & crab legs however it doesn't sound like it would be worth the risk! Think it's better to make them myself.

[Juliebove]

I have not eaten at Applebees in many years. Both times I hated to food. It all seems so gloppy with like...sauce and stuff. Not for me. The current menu seems the same.

[BethJ]

Friends invited us to join them after church at Applebee's last month and I quickly looked up their gluten-free menu online. Not much! I ordered a grilled shrimp spinach salad without the dressing. I ended up with five of the tiniest shrimp I've ever seen and a pile of spinach with random pieces of tomato sprinkled on top. No bacon, egg or anything else you'd expect on a real spinach salad.

The others at our table had less than desirable meals which is what I remember from my pre-gluten-free days. My husband had a gristly little steak with brown glop over the top . . . obviously their attempt to hide the inferior meat.

I didn't get glutened so I guess I can be thankful for that.

[dube]

I know this post is a couple of months old, but I was at applebee's 2 days in a row....both days had the Sante Fee Salad with Dressing, Chips and Salsa! On the Allergin Menu....I'm paying the price 2 days later!!!!!!! Guess it was not the best desicion for me!

[brittanymaine]

I've eaten at applebee's very many times. I always get the fiesta lime chicken with the rice, ask for no tortilla chips, and you should be fine! I have never felt sick after it, and when I am glutened I ususally feel sick that day or the next.

[norahsmommy]

I won't eat there, only have drinks or coffee with friends. My youngest dd got sick there last time we ate there (before I knew I was gluten intolerant too, my problems are more mental than physical)I looked at their website and came to the conclusion that the only gluten free item (pretty much ) are the plain tortilla chips.