Applebee’s

In 1980, Applebee’s was started in Decatur, Georgia by husband and wife Bill and T.J. Palmer. Their goal was to create a neighborhood restaurant or pub setting where people could come and get good food at a relatively low price. They were looking to provide an alternative to a missing market between fast-food and more upscale steakhouse restaurants. Today these restaurants (i.e., Olive Garden, Chili’s, O’Charley’s) would be called Casual Dining Restaurants. The concept was simple yet widely successful all following the lead of Applebee’s.

General Restaurant Information

Food Type: American

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

U.S. Locations: 1,857

States: 50 states, Applebee’s Locations

Company Slogan: There’s no place like the neighborhood

 

Contact Information

Website: applebees.com

Questions: Contact Information

Phone number: 888-592-7753

Email: guest.relations@applebees.com

Blog: No

FAQ Page: Applebee’s Frequently Asked Questions

 

Ownership

Who Owns Applebee’s? Dine Brands Global

Headquartered: Glendale, CA

Contact Information: 

Website: dinebrands.com

Email/contact page: Dine Brands Contact

Phone: 866-995-3463

Address: 450 N. Brand Blvd., 7th Floor, Glendale, CA 91203

Do They Franchise? Franchise Information

 

Instead of the average “grill and bar” title, the founders wanted to stand out, so they replaced the then-subpar description with “edibles and elixirs.” Clearly, that didn’t last too long. (source)

 

What Is It Like To Work At Applebee’s?

Applebee’s Employment Page (applebees.com)

3.6/5 or 72%; 10,400 Reviews (indeed.com)

3.1/5, or 62%; 3,000 Reviews (glassdoor.com)

 

 

The History of Applebee’s

Original Location: 4705 Memorial Dr, Decatur, Georgia

Founded: November 19, 1980

Founded By: Bill and T.J. Palmer

Founder Obituary: Still Living

Name Origin: Originally the founders wanted to call it “Appleby’s” but the name had already been registered in Georgia.  They finally settled on “T.J.Applebee’s Edibles and Elixirs”  (thedailymeal.com)

Applebee’s History Page: Company History Page

Current View of Original Location:4705 Memorial Dr as it is today (link may not work on mobile devices without Google Maps)

Historical Articles: 

Applebee’s Company History (fundinguniverse.com)

 

Social Awareness

Charity Focus: Community & Veterans

Green | Eco-Friendly: No resources found

Animal Cruelty: 

Applebees Commits to 100% Cage Free Eggs by 2025; Switching to 100% gestation crate-free pork by 2022 (cagefreefuture.com)

Applebees Pledges To Stop Supporting Gestation Crates (humanesociety.org)

 

Even if your location doesn’t technically offer it. Just call in (or order online) what you’d like and the restaurant will have it waiting for you when you arrive. Launched in 2004, the take-out service operates like an old-school drive-in restaurant, where employees bring your hot order directly to your car window. (source)

 

Discounts At Applebee’s

Rewards Program: Applebee’s Reward Program 

Do Kids Eat Free at Applebees?

What day do kids eat free at Applebee’s?

Summary: There are only a couple of resources found related to kids eating free at Applebee’s:

“One free kid’s meal for each paid adult meal (Ages 12 and under)” (pennypinchinmom.com)

“Kids eat free on a select day of the week. Participating locations only; day of the week varies by location.” (bradsdeals.com)

Does Applebees Offer Military Discounts?

Summary: The following resources were found related to military discounts offered at Applebee’s

“Veterans and active duty military receive a free meal from a limited menu, on November 11” (military.com)

“Veterans and active duty military can select a free meal from a limited menu on Veteran’s Day. Provide proof of service required.” (militarybenefits.info)

“Discount varies per location, simply ask and have a valid military ID with you” (militaryconnection.com)

“Stop into a participating Applebee’s on Saturday, November 11, 2017, to get your Veterans day free meal.” (thebalanceeveryday.com)

“Get a free entree at this “neighborhood” eatery on Veterans Day.” (countryliving.com)

What Does Applebee’s offer for My Birthday!?

“Get a free birthday dessert when you sign up for their email list” (urbantastebud.com)

“Free dessert” (hustlermoneyblog.com)

“Dessert’s on the restaurant for members of the E Club” (thrillist.com)

“Get a free birthday dessert when you sign up for their email list” (people.com)

“Register First, Free Dessert” (clark.com)

Does Applebee’s Offer First Responder Discounts?

Summary: No resources found

Does Applebee’s Offer Senior Citizen | AARP Discounts?

“10-15% off (varies by location) MAY require Golden Apple Card (60+) ” (theseniorlist.com)

“Golden Apple Card program discounts range from 10 to 15 percent” (aarp.org)

“10%-15% off on your meal if you are 55 or older.” (wisebread.com)

“10-15% off (varying by location) and may require a Golden Apple Card (60+)” (bradsdeals.com)

“10 percent to 15 percent off. Most Applebees locations have discontinued the “Golden Apple Card” program, the restaurant chain’s original senior discount offering. However, many locations continue to provide a senior discount ranging from 10 percent to 15 percent.” (usnews.com)

“Those who are 60 and up get 10% to 15% off at participating locations. This deal may require a Golden Apple Card. (clark.com)

Are There Any Other Discounts or Benefits at Applebee’s?

Summary: Their website states that if you join their eclub, you will receive “sweet deals, new dishes, and even a birthday special!”

 

Amenities

Order Online: Online Order

WiFi Available: Yes

Use Apple Pay: No  

Reservations: No 

Catering: Applebee’s Catering  

Drive-Thru: No 

Open 24 Hours: No  

 

Customer Reviews of Applebee’s

Yelp: 1.90/5 or 48%, 1,473 reviews sampled

Tripadvisor: 3.40/5 or 68%, 4,986 reviews sampled

Overall Average: 2.94/5 or 59%, 6,459 reviews sampled

 

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Food & Nutrition

Menu:  Applebee’s Menu

Kids Menu:  Applebee’s Kids Menu

Secret Menu:  

Secret Menu (fastfoodmenuprices.com)

Secret Menu (menupriceguru.com)

Most Popular Menu Item:  Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp and Four Cheese M&C w/ Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders

Coke or Pepsi: Pepsi

Serve Alcohol: Yes

Nutritional Information: Applebee’s Nutrition Guide

Vegetarian | Vegan Options: 

145 Vegan Chain Restaurant Menus Every Vegan Needs to Know (urbantastebud.com)

Eating Vegan at National Restaurant Chains (Insteading.com)

Farm to Table | Organic Options | Clean | Non-GMO: No resources found

Miscellaneous Nutrition Resources: 

10 Best & Worst Dishes (eatthis.com)

These Popular Restaurant Chains Have Deadly Chemicals in Their Food (cheatsheet.com)

‘The Most Popular Chain Restaurants—Ranked! (eatthis.com)

The 50 Unhealthiest Meals of 2017 (eatthis.com)

The 8 Best Dishes At Applebees, According To Nutritionists (womenshealthmag.com)

The Healthiest Menu Items at Applebee’s (thedailymeal.com)

The 6 dishes health nuts order at Applebee’s (foxnews.com)

Order This, Not That (foodnetwork.com)

The Healthiest Menu Items You Can Order At Applebees (delish.com)

This Is One of the Unhealthiest Things You Can Order (countryliving.com)

 

Allergy Information

Allergen Information: Applebee’s Allergen Guide

Gluten Free Options: 

11 Gluten-Free Dishes You Have to Try (spoonuniversity.com)

Applebees Gluten-Free Menu (stockpillingmoms.com)

Applebees Allergen Information (scribd.com)

Applebee’s Gluten Free Menu (glutenfreeguidehq.com)

Hey Applebees: We’re Celiacs…We’re Not Psychotic (glutendude.com)

Applebee’s Gluten-Free Menu (nogluten.io)

Dairy Free Options: 

Applebees Dairy Free Options (godairyfree.org)

Restaurant Guide For Dairy-Free Dining (godairyfree.org)

Peanut Free Options: 

Guest post – Applebee’s disappoints! (allergyeats.com)

Food Allergy Guides For Many Chain Restaurants (verywellhealth.com)

Ways to Eliminate Risks of Peanut Allergy When Dining Out (healthguidance.org)

 

Does Applebee’s Have Any Secret Recipes?

Secret Recipes:  

Every recipe you’ve ever wanted from Applebee’s (38 and counting!) (topsecretrecipes.com)

 14 Recipes (geniuskitchen.com)

Drinks:

Perfect Apple Margarita (topsecretrecipes.com)

Mud Slide (topsecretrecipes.com)

Blue Skies (topsecretrecipes.com)

Perfect Margarita (topsecretrecipes.com)

Summer Squeeze (topsecretrecipes.com)

Bananaberry Split (topsecretrecipes.com)

 

Appetizers:

Queso Blanco Dip (theslowroasteditalian.com) (copykat.com)

Hot Artichoke & Spinach Dip (genuiskitchen.com)

Onion Peels (topsecretrecipes.com)

 

Entrees (including low-fat options):

Grilled Chicken Oriental Salad (copykat.com) (sixsistersstuff.com)

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes (tasteofhome.com)

Thai Shrimp Salad (chelseasmessyapron.com)

Honey Grilled Salmon (topsecretrecipes.com) (genuiskitchen.com)

Santa Fe Chicken Salad (topsecretreceipes.com)

Chicken Fajita Roll-up (topsecretrecipes.com)

Bourbon Street Steak (topsecretrecipes.com)

Low-Fat Veggie Quesadilla (topsecretrecipes.com)

Tequila Lime Chicken Reduced-Fat (topsecretrecipes.com)

 

Desserts:

Maple Butter Brownie(the-girl-who-ate-everything.com) (tasteofhome.com) (foodnetwork.com)

White Chocolate and Walnut Blondie (topsecretrecipes.com)

 

Did You Know?

Fun Facts: 

Bill and T.J. got the idea for from a trendy restaurant chain in Atlanta called Billy’s. They bought one of the locations but was then repurchased back by Billy’s management with a bad check. (source)

They are currently owned by IHOP

The original menu included things like guiche, quail and finally gumbo which was a top-seller in the beginning. (source)

The recipes for their menu items are confidential and for legal reasons, they can not disclose them. (source)

If you are ever in NYC, stop by the Applebee’s on 42nd street between 7th and 8th, it is the busiest location they operate. (source)

Some names considered for the original restaurant were Appleby’s, Cinnamon’s and  Pepper’s. Due to those already being registered names in Georgia, the couple ended up with T.J. Applebee’s Edibles and Elixirs before later shortening it to what we know it as today. (source)

Bill Palmer purchased his first franchise in 1985 and currently owns 35 locations. (source)

They have been awarded multiple times as a top restaurant chain to work for. (source)

Their appetizers are half off every day after 9 pm. (source)

The most unhealthy menu item is New England Fish & Chips (1,970 calories, 136 grams of fat and the list goes on). The most healthy item is Pepper-Crusted Sirloin & Whole Grains (350 calories and 10 grams of fat). Be careful what you order. (source)

Soda isn’t offered on the kid’s menu

Interesting Articles:

10 Things You Don’t Know About The Chain (thedailymeal.com)

What You Need To Know Before Eating There (delish.com)

Things You Don’t Know About Applebee’s (eatthis.com)

 

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Social Media

Followers (as of August 2018) –  

Facebook: 5,938,377

Twitter: 623,000

Instagram: 485,000

Mobile Apps

Alternatives

Better Options: Coming Soon

Similar Restaurants: 

O’Charley’s

TGI Friday’s

Chili’s

 

In Summary

Applebee’s began by being one of the first national chains in American (if not the first) to offer families an alternative to fast-food and higher priced steakhouses. The concept is still virtually the same, a very casual atmosphere focusing on an extensive menu with affordable family prices. Their menu items aren’t winning any awards for quality or nutrition especially with failing grades, but they continue to draw that neighborhood crowd with tons of locations, affordability, and a particular atmosphere that is appealing to a significant amount middle-class Americans. If you are more focused on a very relaxed atmosphere, drinks, a variety of options to chose from on a budget, it may be an appealing restaurant chain for you.

I hope you found the information on Applebee’s helpful. The more we know and understand about the restaurants we eat at, the better decisions we can make of where we should eat. If you found this article helpful, would you please help by sharing this with your friends and family. If there is anything you would like to see about a restaurant that’s not already listed, please leave a comment below, I would love your feedback! You can also email me at anytime backofthemenu @ gmail.com.

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