Applebee’s is hands-down my favorite restaurant, and I’ve been coming here for several years now, sometimes with family, sometimes with friends, and every once in a while, I dine alone. If you’re not sure what to order, here are some suggestions:
1. Boneless Wings
To the uninitiated, Applebee’s boneless wings might seem ordinary. It looks like your regular chicken nuggets, that’s true, but they’re so much more than that. Drench them in honey barbecue sauce and you’ll be amazed at how good this thing tastes. I recommend you request for extra sauce because you can never have too much of it.
2. Quesadillas
Applebee’s quesadilla is just perfect with crispy tortillas which nicely compliments what you get inside – pico de gallo, chipotle lime chicken, and melted cheddar cheese.
3. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Applebee’s serves its piping hot artichoke dip with salted white corn tortilla chips and a layer of parmesan cheese. You can ask for more chips if you run out.
4. Mozzarella Sticks
If you’re often served mushy mozzarella sticks, you’ll be glad to know this is not the case when you order it at Applebee’s. It’s always perfect and the cheese does not run out of the breading, which by the way is always cooked crispy.
5. Breadsticks
My all-time favorite breadsticks is Olive Garden’s but Applebee’s not so shabby either. Their breadsticks are the perfect mix of soft and crunchy, and you also get the white cheddar beer cheese which gives it a nice kick.
Applebee’s offers delicious steak options and while it’s no Peter Luger, their 12-ounce rib eye is a must try.
8. Double Glazed Baby Back Ribs
If steak is not your thing, try their double glazed baby back ribs as it’s also pretty good. The chain is well-known for its original riblets which are slow cooked and drizzled with honey barbecue sauce.
9. Chocolate Lava Cake
This chocolate cake is like nothing you’ve ever tried before. It’s rich and decadent, with hot fudge running from the melt-in-your-mouth moist cake when you get a bite.
10. Cookie Sundae
This sundae is composed of a tower of ice cream and melting warm cookie in the middle. This would surely bring back fond childhood memories.
What Not to Order
But just because Applebee’s is my favorite restaurant it does not mean I love everything on its menu. There are a handful of dishes which I’ve tried and wouldn’t recommend, and these are:
1. Buffalo Chicken Wedge Salad
Instead of getting a plate of crisp dark green leaves, you get chunks of a head of lettuce and more chunks of chicken wings. It’s an odd assortment of individual ingredients thrown onto a plate.
2. Four Cheese Mac & Cheese with Chicken Tenders
This is another one of those food fusions that just does not work. Don’t get me wrong, their four cheese mac & cheese is really good but when it’s topped with honey pepper chicken tenders the final product seems a little strange to me.
3. Tex Mex Shrimp Bowl
The grilled chipotle lime shrimp served on a bed of mixed greens, rice, pico de gallo, salsa, and guacamole, is basically a myriad of flavors that don’t blend well. The salsa is amazing, the pico de gallo is divine, but when blended together it’s just very busy on my palate.
4. Double Crunch Shrimp
There’s just a lot of breading that it hides the fresh seafood flavor of the shrimp. A light coating would have been better.
5. Garlicky Green Beans
This one is a hit or miss. It kind’a depends on who’s making it in the kitchen. Most of the time it’s delish, but when there’s too much garlicky butter sauce it becomes overpowering.
What You Should Absolutely Never Order At Applebee’s
