Applebee's Grill + Bar

Well, I haven't been to Applebee's in about 20 years, but i decided to give it a try tonight because of the combo special recently advertised.
I walked into the restaurant and was not greeted with a smile.
I asked the two hostesses, "Why do you look so sad?".
They looked at each other, quite confused, which made me chuckle.
I sat at the bar and was nicely greeted by the bartender.
I ordered a margarita with my dinner.
I couldn't help but immediately notice that the atmosphere was dead (maybe 10 people) & three staff members were trying to fight to stay awake while leaning on the bar yawning, drinking to maybe hydrate because the bar area was so darn hot.
I couldn't help but laugh and stated that someone needs to turn down the heat a few notches.
My drink arrived ( I still don't get ordering a margarita and having to pour it into a martini glass, no matter what bar I sit at, let alone the price of 13 bucks for one.
Still messy.) and after a while, so did my plate.
I requested my steak for medium well ( I'll let you be the judge of it) but decided to eat it anyway.
As I continued to eat dinner, it seemed that there was a party/live action going on in the kitchen, which explains why the staff would disappear to the back to avoid the heat wave to maybe wake up.
Once the heat came down, I started to notice people staying in seats and 11 tables full.
I intended on staying to have a few drinks, but as I finished my meal and paid the tab, I turned around to make my way towards the ladies' room.
At the corner bar table were seven staff members sitting & occupying the corner table.
I was quite surprised.
Come on, staff! Get it together.
Never have I had dinner in a place like this.
No wonder Applebee's branches are closing, and those that are open are failing to bring back their customers.
Sorry, but I don't believe that I will be returning to another Applebee's.

Owner response

General manager was moody and short tempered when my party arrived.
Luckily Jessica showed up with a bright smile and turned the energy around.
She is an amazing server

Wow, I waited for over seven minutes to get a table and not even an acknowledgement from the staff.
I finally left.
There was a big party as soon as you walk in and I get it, the server gets busy.
Another server walked towards me and then turned around and walked away.
He came back about 2 minutes later, dropped off some menus, went to "photo bomb" the pictures of the group, and then he walked away.
The server taking the photo looked at me twice and went the other way after takingthe photos.
I understand helping others who were there first but a simple acknowledgement of, "Hi, someone will be right with you" goes a LONG way.
With this type of service, or should i say, no type of service, maybe the one on San Mateo shouldn't have been the one to have been closed.

Owner response