Can Applebee's ever be a 'neighborhood' restaurant?

I pondered this question last week as I grabbed lunch at the Medallion Center Applebee's, which is adorned with all kinds of neighborhood-y memorabilia from schools like Lake Highlands High School. The photos, pendants, etc. were collected and hung before the restaurant opened last year.

At one point, the Applebee's commercial jingle was "Eatin' good in the neighborhood", and it clearly likes to bill itself as a down-home gathering place. In the movie "Talladega Nights", it was spoofed as the "fancy" restaurant for the Nascar set, a joke probably appreciated by people on either side of the cuisine spectrum.

But with more than 3,300 restaurants worldwide, I'm just not convinced that it can ever be a "neighborhood" restaurant, no matter how many photos of Lake Highlands students it hangs on its walls.

If we're just talking food, though, the lunch "pick and pair" menu, with salads, soups and sandwiches for $6.99, is definitely worth a try. And Applebee's recently introduced dessert shooters, similar to the P.F. Chang's concept, but about twice the size for the same price. They key lime pie was yummy.

Comments

[Not an Applebee's Fan]

Someone needs to tell the Medallion Applebee's manager to take the salt shaker away from the chef. We visited one time and the over use of salt by the cook ruined our meals. We were not impressed and have not returned.

[Triple Wildcat]

I would never criticize a restaurant for adding some local flair to their establishment. I love all the Lake Highlands memorabilia, including the wall adorned with Morgan Fairchild photos.

At least they're trying, unlike most generic chain restaurants. If they back it up with financial support for local groups and causes, even better.

[rarepair]

Applebee's was a big contributor to our Lake Highlands Elementary November 2007 Science Night, giving us lots and lots of free food. Thanks to them (and Wendy's and Wal-Mart and Tom Thumb and Albertson's and Realtor Lainie Parker) we were very successful in raising money for the 2008 Sky Ranch fund. They also, every month, choose and reward a teacher. I think at last count, about 1/2 dozen of our LHE teachers have been beneficiaries of Applebee's. As to Morgan Fairchild, as an alum of LHE, she's interested in purchasing a brick in the Commemorative Patio. Her assistant and I have been playing email tag!

[chris]

I think it's nice they try to be local but in all honesty, Applebee's is the WORST CHAIN SIT DOWN RESTAURANT IN AMERICA. No questions asked. You'd have to pay me to eat there. All the LH memorabilia in the world cannot save them.

[Tim]

I don't think Applebee's has a Chef.

[AF]

I don't think Applebee's or Medallion Center should be considered part of LH and therefore not a 'neighborhood' restaurant. It’s nice they have LHHS and Woodrow and probably now Conrad schwag on the walls but it takes more than that. It’s like calling Bennigan’s a true Irish Pub because they decorate with Irish pictures and stuff and have some Guinness on tap.