Gut Reaction | What is all the buzz about at Applebee’s?
It had been a while since I had stepped into an Applebee’s and ordered a rib basket. I heard about their new menu and menu section called Shareables, Pub Plates and Bar Snacks (mix-and-match options at super reasonable pricing) so I decided to swing by.
After being greeted by a friendly hostess and reminded of the cheerful atmosphere, I noticed the bar still dominates the restaurant front and center and tempted me to order a Fireball Whiskey Lemonade. I didn’t and moved on to my comfortably worn booth.
The menu seems huge but I noticed many items are repeated for selection.
I noted the same yummy ribs I have had before and remember them as fall-off-the-bone tender. I ordered the Shareables, Pub Plates and Bar Snacks as I intended.
Our waitress brought us Brew Pub Pretzels with Beer Cheese Dip, Sweet Potato Fries with Dips (Sriracha Chile Lime, BBQ Bacon Ranch and Maple-Flavored Cream Cheese Sauce), Salsa Verde Shredded Brisket Nachos, Kobe-Style Meatballs, Green Bean Crispers (with Lemon Aioli) and Churro S’mores for something sweet to take away the heaviness.
The food choices can be ordered for “Choose any 2 for $8.99 or 3 for $11.99” with additional items at $3 each. You can’t get a couple fast food orders for that.
The regular prices of individual items, if ordered alone, are churros $3.99, Pretzels $6.69, sweet potato fries $3.99, meatballs $6.99, green beans $3.99 and nachos $9.99.
Also on the new menu are Sweet Chile Brisket Sliders at $8.99, Sriracha Shrimp $7.99, Pot Stickers (shrimp and pork filled) $6.99 and Double Crunch bone-in Wings (choice of sauces) $4.99.
I enjoyed the sea salt flakes atop my sweet potato fries which were cooked perfectly and had a vibrant flavor. The fact that they are offered with three (as opposed to just one or two) sauces is smart.
The Maple Cream Cheese sauce with a touch of sweetness was almost dessert (which is a good idea for a party snack).
The Kobe-Style (fat marbling in perfect ratio supposedly) Meatballs were my favorite dish I tried. The Pomodoro sauce tasted homemade and the huge balls (and huge portion) were served with a soft freshly toasted ciabatta roll. Delicious.
The Beer Cheese dip was to die for but the two skinny pretzels not so much. I kept thinking Applebee’s needs to get Mellow Mushroom-style soft pretzels!
I did find myself, however, dipping anything I could get my hands on in that Beer Cheese dip … I even asked for another ciabatta roll just to do so.
If there had been another couple tablespoons of the tenderest of brisket meat and some authentic verde salsa on the Salsa Verde Brisket Nachos, the nachos would have been a triumph. As it were, they were slightly dry. The flavor of the brisket was memorable, though.
Breaded and fried Green Beans are one of my family’s favorite appetizers. These were very good and the sauce was tasty as well. I wish the Green Bean Crispers’ breading would have been a touch lighter. Nice dish, though.
The Applebee’s menu truly has something for everyone. Classic Fish and Chips (beloved and hard to find these days), Four-Cheese Mac & Cheese (topped with Applewood bacon) with Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders, both just a few cents over 11 bucks, are listed along with Cedar Grilled Lemon Chicken with Granny Smith apple relish (over a Quinoa rice, glazed pecan, cranberry and lemon-olive oil vinaigrette) for $9.99 impressively, Sweet Asian Pineapple Burger $9.99.
The Chicken Fajita Roll-up (wrap) delicious smell wafted by as a nearby table received their order. Fiesta Chicken Chopped Salad (tortilla strips and jalapeno dressing) also $9.99. You can even order just a good old American BLT for $7.99.
Mix and matching full-size entrees at 2 for $22 or 2 for $25 (different dishes) and lunch combos are offered, too. The Thai Shrimp Salad and Classic Turkey Breast on Ciabatta is only $8.99. I like it.
There’s a pretty good dessert selection ranging from Butter Pecan Blondie to Triple Chocolate Meltdown (desserts from $2.79 to $6.29). The Churro S’mores we ordered were a little more chewy and less doughnut-y than I think they should have been with the chocolate sauce a bit too thin but the toasted marshmallows on top saved the day.
My bill was $32.47 and with tip $40.47. Not bad for SIX mix-and-match items. I’ll go again with my family and, next time, order the Fireball Whiskey Lemonade!
Applebee’s hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays and Sundays and open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. With locations in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, North Myrtle Beach and Florence.
This story was originally published April 30, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Gut Reaction | What is all the buzz about at Applebee’s?."