Applebee's Restaurant, Kingsland, GA - Most recently, I visited the above local Applebee's three times, ordering the exact same entree - the Bourbon Street Steak. None of the three meals was adequate. However, the last meal finally prompted me into action

Applebee's Restaurant, Kingsland, GA - Most recently, I visited the above local Applebee's three times, ordering the exact same entree - the Bourbon Street Steak. None of the three meals was adequate. However, the last meal finally prompted me into action. It was the first of the three meals to actually cook the steak to the correct level of doneness requested.

Applebee's Food Preparation and Service

Applebee's Restaurant, Kingsland, GA

The quality of the service has continued to degrade over the past 10 years, as long as I have resided in this community. Most recently, I visited the above local Applebee's three times, ordering the exact same entree - the Bourbon Street Steak. None of the three meals was adequate. However, the last meal finally prompted me into action. It was the first of the three meals to actually cook the steak to the correct level of doneness requested.

I wanted to applaud the chef for that accomplishment. Unfortunately, the seasonings used have either been changed into a much less desirable mixture or the chef's at this restaurant have lost the art of proper application. Both are correctable, I believe.

I ordered the small caesar salad for this third meal, and it tasted great. Unfortunately, the romaine had not been chopped into small or medium pieces. That's correctable on two levels. (1) The preparer could do an appropriate job of cutting up the romaine. (2) My food server could have observed the lack of preparation and brought me a knife to cut the romaine myself. Either would have been fine with me.

But neither happened. The server did not reappear until after additional personnel had brought meals to the other members of my party.

My entree was delivered late, separate, and the potato's looked horrible. I reserved judgment, as sometimes looks are deceiving. My server made a hasty exit and did not reappear until after the meal had been finished. The potato's were absolutely just as they looked, lukewarm, very old, and unpalatable. In my opinion, they should have been suspect by both the chef and the server, by inspection alone.

After observing that my party was finished eating, the absent server reappeared. I informed him that I had comments about the food, and wanted to discuss them once he had returned with my credit card. Before he left I specifically mentioned the potato's. The waiter returned, placed my bill and credit card on the table, said nothing, and again made another hasty retreat. Since I had his full attention when informing him that I had comments, I can only assume that he did not want to hear my comments. So, for the first time in 25 years, I gave their tip to myself as compensation for their lack of service towards my meal and myself.

In the past when I have reported problems to the manager's at this location, they offer their apologies and usually offer a free dessert.

I always decline the offer, for two reasons. (1) I don't really like dessert. (2) I am uncertain as to how that adequately compensates me for paying for an inadequately prepared or served meal.

Here is what I want Applebee's Corporation to tell me.

(1) Has your company changed either the ingredients or food preparation techniques for the Bourbon Street Steak? If the spices have been changed then please change back to the original mixture.

(2) What should I do when the service and food quality is not adequate?

(3) Why does getting a free dessert compensate for being provided intolerable portions of food? If your people mess it up, why am I responsible for buying it? What is your exact policy?

(4) Do you ever perform incognito quality checks? Please do so at my restaurant.

(5) Why am I going to a third party web site to register a complaint, instead of directly to your headquarters? I keep hoping that things will get better at my local Applebee's, and return to the quality and service of 10 years ago. Prior to my recent three visits, I had stopped going for about nine months. Believe it or not some (very marginal) improvements had occurred. It's a real pity, as we used to go several times a month. I am looking forward to hearing from Applebee's ... soon. S. Sales Click this link to e-mail the above consumer: //